Maritime Current News

Insights, Updates, and Maritime Intelligence

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Maritime Current News

Insights, Updates, and Maritime Intelligence

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

Author: Maritime Current News

Tragic Boat Sinking: At Least Three Egyptians Dead, Dozens Missing Off Greek Coast
Maritime Safety , Security and Technology
Maritime Current News

Tragic Boat Sinking: At Least Three Egyptians Dead, Dozens Missing Off Greek Coast

CAIRO –Egypt has confirmed the deaths of at least three of its nationals after a migrant boat carrying dozens of irregular migrants sank en route to Greece.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the vessel was carrying 50 irregular migrants, including 21 Egyptians. Three Egyptians have died, while 18 remain missing. The ministry is closely coordinating with Greek authorities to support search efforts and expedite the repatriation of the deceased.

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IMO Launches Open Call for Shipping Companies to Join NextWave Alliance to Upskill Seafarers
Maritime Safety , Security and Technology
Maritime Current News

IMO Launches Open Call for Shipping Companies to Join NextWave Alliance to Upskill Seafarers

The International Maritime Organization has launched an open call inviting global shipping companies to join the NextWave Alliance and support the upskilling of seafarers through expanded onboard training opportunities.

As part of its workforce development strategy, IMO will host a dedicated workshop on 9 April 2026 at its headquarters in London to explore the global expansion of the NextWave Seafarers Project. The initiative is designed to provide essential onboard training placements for cadets from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS), helping to address the global shortage of qualified seafarers while building a future-ready maritime workforce.

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Maritime Safety , Security and Technology
Maritime Current News

Global Treaty on Fishing Vessel Safety to Take Effect in 2027

The long-awaited global fishing vessel safety treaty is officially set to enter into force in February 2027 after Argentina acceded to the 2012 Cape Town Agreement, closing a major gap in the international maritime safety framework.

Argentina’s accession was confirmed on 24 February 2026 when H.E. Ms. Mariana Edith Plaza, Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to the United Kingdom, deposited the instrument of accession at the headquarters of the International Maritime Organization in London. The move brings the total number of Member States that have consented to be bound by the treaty to 28, collectively representing 3,754 qualifying fishing vessels of 24 metres or more in length. Under the treaty’s conditions, it enters into force 12 months after at least 22 States representing no fewer than 3,600 qualifying vessels join, requirements that have now been fulfilled.

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ABB Selects Corvus Energy Battery Systems for Washington State Ferries’ New Hybrid Vessels in Major US Maritime Electrification Project
Ports and Shipping
Maritime Current News

ABB Selects Corvus Energy Battery Systems for Washington State Ferries’ New Hybrid Vessels in Major US Maritime Electrification Project

ABB Marine & Ports has selected advanced battery systems from Corvus Energy for a new series of hybrid ferries being built for Washington State Ferries (WSF), marking a significant milestone in US maritime electrification.

ABB, acting as propulsion single-source vendor for WSF, will integrate Corvus’ Dolphin NxtGen Energy Storage Systems into two new ferries, with an option for a third vessel. The 1,500-passenger ships, each capable of carrying 160 vehicles, will be constructed by Eastern Shipbuilding Group in Florida, with delivery scheduled for 2030–31.

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CK Hutchison Suspends Panama Port Activities over ‘Unlawful’ Takeover Claim
Ports and Shipping
Maritime Current News

CK Hutchison Suspends Panama Port Activities over ‘Unlawful’ Takeover Claim

Panama Ports Company (PPC) container terminals in Cristobal and Balboa, following a ruling by the Panama Supreme Court of Justice that declared the PPC concession unconstitutional. An Executive Decree issued by the President of Panama mandated the occupation of the terminals by the state, leading government representatives to arrive unannounced and assume control. PPC employees were instructed to comply with government directives, transfer out of PPC, and cease communications with the company, under threat of criminal prosecution, effectively giving the state full control of the facilities.

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PSA Panama Launches Advanced Container Scanner and Inspection Area to Boost Trade Security
Ports and Shipping
Maritime Current News

PSA Panama Launches Advanced Container Scanner and Inspection Area to Boost Trade Security

PSA Panama has inaugurated a state-of-the-art fixed container scanner and a new physical cargo inspection area at UNITEC, marking a key milestone in its Master Plan to elevate service standards to a world-class level. These advanced facilities are designed to enhance Panama’s capacity to prevent and combat illicit activities in international trade, including drug trafficking and smuggling, while strengthening trust in the country’s logistics ecosystem through collaboration between public and private sectors.

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Cameroon announces Crackdown as 13% of Sanctioned Dark Fleet Tankers Fly Its Flag
Maritime Environment Policy and Law
Maritime Current News

Cameroon announces Crackdown as 13% of Sanctioned Dark Fleet Tankers Fly Its Flag

Cameroon has announced a sweeping crackdown on its ship registry after becoming a major flag state for sanctioned shadow fleet tankers, which now account for 13% of all sanctioned vessels broadcasting their flag via AIS in 2026.
The Government of Cameroon has pledged to deregister all shadow fleet tankers following diplomatic representations from Brussels and mounting scrutiny over a surge in registrations from sanctioned and previously stateless vessels in late 2025 and early 2026. According to Windward Maritime AI™ intelligence, more than 20 vessels reflagged to Cameroon in the past 30 days, and 43 in the past 60 days. Most of these tankers were previously flagless or stateless after using fraudulent registries or being removed by other flag administrations under international pressure.

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Ancient Fossils from Western Australia Reveal Globe-Trotting ‘Sea Monsters’ That Roamed 250 Million Years Ago
Maritime Environment Policy and Law
Maritime Current News

Scientists Discover Globe-Trotting Marine ‘Sea Monsters’ that Lived 250 Million Years Ago after Mass Extinction

The arid plains of the Kimberley region in Western Australia may seem far removed from the sea today, but around 250 million years ago the landscape was submerged beneath a shallow bay teeming with early marine life. New research has uncovered evidence that this ancient ecosystem was home to diverse, globe-trotting marine amphibians that thrived shortly after Earth’s most devastating mass extinction event.

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US Shipbuilder HII Integrates AI to Automate Unmanned Shipbuilding Tasks
Maritime Safety , Security and Technology
Maritime Current News

US Shipbuilder HII Integrates AI to Automate Unmanned Shipbuilding Tasks

HII, a leading U.S. shipbuilding firm, is set to enhance unmanned shipbuilding operations by testing artificial intelligence (AI) to automate welding tasks. The Virginia-based company has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Path Robotics, aiming to integrate AI-driven welding into shipbuilding production. This move is expected to improve throughput, strengthen the maritime industrial base, and support the shipbuilding workforce.

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Maritime Labour Convention Marks 20 Years: ILO and IMO Reaffirm Commitment to Seafarers’ Rights
Maritime Safety , Security and Technology
Maritime Current News

Maritime Labour Convention Marks 20 Years: ILO and IMO Reaffirm Commitment to Seafarers’ Rights

The International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006), a landmark treaty that has transformed working and living conditions for seafarers worldwide while promoting fair competition in global shipping.
Adopted on 23 February 2006 through a historic tripartite consensus involving governments, shipowners, and seafarers, the MLC, 2006 established a comprehensive global framework regulating employment conditions, wages, working hours, accommodation, health care, welfare, and social security for seafarers. Strong compliance and enforcement mechanisms have ensured that these standards are implemented effectively, contributing significantly to decent work at sea.

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EU Rejects any US Tariff Increases after Supreme Court Ruling: 'A Deal is a Deal'
Maritime Trade & Economy
Maritime Current News

EU Rejects any US Tariff Increases after Supreme Court Ruling: ‘A Deal is a Deal’

The European Commission has urged the United States to fully respect the terms of last year’s EU-U.S. trade agreement following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down former President Donald Trump’s global tariffs. The Commission, representing all 27 EU member states, called on Washington to provide “full clarity” on its next steps after the ruling.

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US Customs to Halt Collection of Supreme Court-Blocked Tariffs Starting Tuesday
Maritime Trade & Economy
Maritime Current News

US Customs to Halt Collection of Supreme Court-Blocked Tariffs Starting Tuesday

The United States will stop collecting certain import tariffs ruled illegal by the Supreme Court starting early Tuesday, according to an announcement by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
CBP confirmed that it will halt the collection of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) at 12:01 a.m. EST (0501 GMT) on Tuesday. The move comes more than three days after the U.S. Supreme Court determined that the duties were unlawful.

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Italy Launches First Next-Generation OPV Ugolino Vivaldi to Strengthen Italian Navy Maritime Security
Maritime Safety , Security and Technology
Maritime Current News

Italy Launches First Next-Generation OPV Ugolino Vivaldi to Strengthen Italian Navy Maritime Security

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has launched Ugolino Vivaldi, the first of four next-generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) ordered by the Italian Navy, marking a significant milestone in Italy’s naval modernization program. The 95-meter vessel is designed to enhance maritime surveillance, protect Italy’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and reinforce sea line security operations across the Mediterranean.

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Trump Increases Global Tariffs to 15% Following Supreme Court Decision
Maritime Trade & Economy
Maritime Current News

Trump Increases Global Tariffs to 15% Following Supreme Court Decision

US President Donald Trump has announced a sharp escalation in US trade policy, raising global tariffs to 15% just one day after a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States struck down his previous tariff measures.
The move increases the tariff rate from the 10% announced last Friday, when Trump invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, a rarely used provision that allows the president to impose tariffs of up to 15% for a period of 150 days. Under the law, Congress must take action if the tariffs are to remain in place beyond that timeframe.

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