Maritime Current News

Insights, Updates, and Maritime Intelligence

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Maritime Current News

Insights, Updates, and Maritime Intelligence

Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Author: Maritime Current News

Maritime Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry Advocates Sea-to-Steel Green Corridor to Achieve National Steel Self-Sufficiency and Boost Sustainable Shipping
Pakistan Maritime News
Maritime Current News

Maritime Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry Advocates Sea-to-Steel Green Corridor to Achieve National Steel Self-Sufficiency and Boost Sustainable Shipping

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry chaired a high-level review meeting today to accelerate progress on the Sea-to-Steel Initiative at Port Qasim.
The meeting focused on the Integrated Maritime Industrial Complex (IMIC), a flagship initiative aimed at modernizing industrial operations through port infrastructure upgrades, shipbuilding and recycling facilities, and the establishment of an integrated steel mill.

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UK Shipping Industry Warns of High Costs and Risks from ETS Extension to Domestic Vessels
Maritime Environment Policy and Law
Maritime Current News

UK Shipping Industry Warns of High Costs and Risks from ETS Extension to Domestic Vessels

UK shipping industry leaders have voiced strong concerns over the government’s plan to extend the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) to domestic maritime operations from July 1, 2026, warning that the move could raise costs, impact island communities, and undermine competitiveness without delivering significant emissions reductions. The Draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) (Extension to Maritime Activities) Order 2026 was passed in the Commons on February 11, drawing criticism from industry groups for what they described as limited parliamentary scrutiny.

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Asian Coastal States Join First IMO Workshop to Enhance Ships’ Routeing and Navigation Safety
Maritime Safety , Security and Technology
Maritime Current News

Asian Coastal States Join First IMO Workshop to Enhance Ships’ Routeing and Navigation Safety

Government officials and maritime experts from Asian coastal states gathered in Singapore from February 2–6, 2026, for the first IMO workshop on ships’ routeing and ship reporting systems, aiming to strengthen regional expertise in navigational safety, IMO procedures, and effective implementation of maritime traffic management systems. The workshop focused on enhancing safety for coastal States experiencing rising shipping activity and congestion in busy sea lanes.

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IMO Net Zero Framework Sparks Debate Over Trade Costs in Africa
Maritime Trade & Economy
Maritime Current News

IMO Net Zero Framework Sparks Debate Over Trade Costs in Africa

African maritime and trade officials are weighing the economic costs and strategic opportunities of proposed global shipping decarbonisation reforms under the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Net Zero Framework (NZF), as concerns grow over potential impacts on freight rates, port competitiveness and trade flows across the continent. The debate took center stage on February 12, 2026, during the Regional African Port States Meeting on the IMO NZF held in Mombasa and convened by the Association of African Maritime Administrations (AAMA).

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Sudan Ferry Sinks in Nile, 21 Confirmed Dead as Rescue Efforts Continue
Maritime Safety , Security and Technology
Maritime Current News

Sudan Ferry Sinks in Nile, 21 Confirmed Dead as Rescue Efforts Continue

At least 21 people have been killed after a passenger ferry capsized and sank in the Nile River in Sudan, triggering a desperate search and rescue operation for survivors. The tragic river accident occurred on Wednesday in the Tayba Al-Khawad area, north of Khartoum, when the vessel overturned while carrying 30 passengers between the villages of Tayba Al-Khawad and Deim Al-Qarai.

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Hanwha Ocean and Canada Explore Industrial Cooperation under Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP)
Maritime Safety , Security and Technology
Maritime Current News

Hanwha Ocean and Canada Explore Industrial Cooperation under Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP)

Minister Skeete and a Quebec delegation visited Hanwha Ocean’s advanced shipbuilding facilities in Geoje, South Korea, to explore cooperation opportunities related to the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP), gaining firsthand insight into the KSS-III submarine proposed for Canada’s future fleet. The visit highlighted potential industrial collaboration between Canada and South Korea in the defense, naval shipbuilding, and submarine manufacturing sectors.

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EBRD Completes Exit from Moldova’s Giurgiulesti International Free Port
Ports and Shipping
Maritime Current News

EBRD Completes Exit from Moldova’s Giurgiulesti International Free Port

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is set to complete the sale of Danube Logistics, the operator of Moldova’s Giurgiulesti International Free Port (GIFP), to Romania’s state-owned Port of Constanta, marking a significant development in Black Sea and Danube regional trade. The transaction, expected to close imminently, follows the signing of a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) on 31 December 2025 for the sale of 100 per cent of EBRD’s shares in ICS Danube Logistics to Romania’s National Company Maritime Ports Administration SA Constanta. Approval of the SPA was announced by the Port of Constanța on 12 February 2026, confirming that the Romanian port authority will become the sole owner of Danube Logistics.

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IMO Secretary-General Urges Global Enforcement of Maritime Safety and Environmental Rules under 2026-2027 World Maritime Day Theme
Maritime Environment Policy and Law
Maritime Current News

IMO Secretary-General Urges Global Enforcement of Maritime Safety and Environmental Rules under 2026-2027 World Maritime Day Theme

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has launched a two-year global campaign for the 2026-2027 World Maritime Day theme, “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence,” with a strong call for the worldwide implementation of maritime safety and environmental standards. Announcing the initiative, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez emphasized that the organization’s global regulatory framework must not only be adopted in principle but fully implemented to deliver concrete, real-world results across the shipping industry.

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Pakistan, Bangladesh Explore Ferry Service and Direct Shipping Line to Strengthen Trade and Tourism
Bilateral Trade & Strategic PartnershipsPakistan Maritime News
Maritime Current News

Pakistan, Bangladesh Explore Ferry Service and Direct Shipping Line to Strengthen Trade and Tourism

Pakistan and Bangladesh are exploring the launch of a ferry service and the establishment of a direct shipping line to enhance bilateral trade and tourism, according to an official statement released on Wednesday.
The proposal was discussed during a meeting between Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, and Bangladesh’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Iqbal Hussain Khan, in Islamabad. The two officials focused on strengthening maritime cooperation and boosting economic ties between the two countries.

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Maritime Security Exercise Sea Guard-26 Culminates at Karachi
Pakistan Maritime News
Maritime Current News

Maritime Security Exercise Sea Guard-26 Culminates at Karachi

Maritime Security Exercise Sea Guard-26 culminated at Karachi with a debrief session. Vice Admiral Raja Rab Nawaz, Chief of Staff, Pakistan Navy, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
During the debrief, representatives of participating organizations were presented with an analytical review of the conduct of the exercise, encompassing various scenarios executed to validate information-sharing and response mechanisms among stakeholders against maritime sector contingencies.

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53 Migrants, Including Two Babies, Dead or Missing After Dinghy Capsizes off Libya
Maritime Safety , Security and Technology
Maritime Current News

53 Migrants, Including Two Babies, Dead or Missing after Dinghy Capsizes off Libya

At least 53 migrants, including two infants, are dead or missing after a large rubber dinghy capsized off the coast of Libya, the UN migration agency said on Monday, marking another deadly incident in the central Mediterranean Sea.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the overcrowded vessel overturned in freezing waters north of the coastal town of Zuwara last Friday. The boat had departed from Zawiya at around 11:00 p.m. on Thursday and began taking on water approximately six hours later before capsizing.

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LNG Bunkering Suspended After Container Collapse at Port of Rotterdam
Maritime Safety , Security and Technology
Maritime Current News

LNG Bunkering Suspended after Container Collapse at Port of Rotterdam

Operations at the Port of Rotterdam were temporarily disrupted on 6 February 2026 after a container stack collapsed aboard an ultra-large container vessel during cargo handling activities.
According to maritime industry reports, the incident occurred on the German-flagged Bangkok Express while it was undergoing discharge operations in the Nieuwe Maas area. A section of the vessel’s container stack gave way, causing multiple containers to fall.

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Pakistan Navy Chief Undertakes Official Visit to Malaysia for Maritime Security Cooperation
Naval Diplomacy & International RelationsPakistan Maritime News
Maritime Current News

Pakistan Navy Chief Undertakes Official Visit to Malaysia for Maritime Security Cooperation

Pakistan Navy Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf paid an official visit to Malaysia, underscoring Pakistan Navy’s commitment to strengthening cooperative maritime security and advancing naval diplomacy in the region. During the visit, the Chief of the Naval Staff held high-level engagements with the leadership of the Royal Malaysian Navy to deepen bilateral naval cooperation.

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