Bangladesh has officially emerged as the world’s second-largest compliant ship recycling nation after 17 local shipbreaking yards were added to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) global list under the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships.
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Today, 18 May 2026, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) observes the International Day for Women in Maritime under the theme “From Policy to Practice: Advancing Gender Equality for Maritime Excellence.
The choice of words is not incidental , it is an admission. After years of resolutions, commitments, and award ceremonies, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez acknowledged this week: “Despite our longstanding commitment to fostering gender diversity across the maritime sector, persistent challenges remain. It is time to reflect deeply and ask, where are we falling short, and what practical measures can we implement to move beyond rhetoric and achieve meaningful, lasting change?” (IMO, 2026)
The global maritime industry is marking the International Day for Women in Maritime 2026 on 18 May with a renewed focus on transforming gender equality policies into real-world action across the shipping sector.
This year’s theme, “From Policy to Practice: Advancing Gender Equality for Maritime Excellence,” highlights the urgent need for practical measures that support women working both at sea and ashore , from seafarers and marine engineers to port professionals and maritime executives.
A humpback whale that previously made headlines after a complex rescue operation in Germany has been found dead near a Danish island, raising renewed attention on marine wildlife protection, whale stranding incidents, and rescue intervention ethics in the Baltic Sea region.
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The world’s most ambitious ocean exploration programme has reached a landmark moment. The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project has confirmed that 28.7% of the global ocean floor is now fully mapped , a figure that represents approximately 104 million square kilometres of charted seabed, an area larger than two-thirds of Earth’s entire land surface.
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Egypt and Eritrea have signed a landmark maritime transport cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening Red Sea connectivity, boosting regional trade, and deepening strategic ties between the two neighboring nations during high-level talks held in Asmara on Saturday.
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Iran is preparing a new maritime control mechanism in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz that would allow Tehran to regulate vessel traffic and charge fees for what it describes as “specialized services,” according to a senior Iranian lawmaker.
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The International Maritime Organization’s Legal Committee has officially approved a groundbreaking set of international guidelines designed to combat maritime fraud, prevent fraudulent ship registrations, and eliminate the misuse of national flags by criminal networks , marking one of the most significant regulatory developments in global shipping law in recent years.
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South Korea has begun a detailed investigation into debris recovered from the cargo vessel HMM Namu after the ship was damaged in an alleged aerial attack in the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest maritime oil shipping routes.
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A deadly deep-sea diving accident in the Maldives has left five Italian scuba divers dead after a cave exploration mission went wrong in the waters of Vaavu Atoll, authorities confirmed Friday.
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US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed during a high-level meeting on Thursday that the Strait of Hormuz must remain open to ensure the uninterrupted flow of global energy supplies, according to a White House readout of the summit.
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coast of Oman, raising fresh concerns over maritime security, environmental pollution, and the growing risks facing global shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz.
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The Caribbean’s coral reefs, long considered the region’s natural shield against hurricanes, storm surges and coastal flooding, are increasingly being left without adequate protection, even as climate change intensifies risks for coastal communities and maritime infrastructure.
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Qatar has reportedly instructed liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers operating near the strategic Ras Laffan export terminal to switch off their tracking transponders as regional security threats intensify around the Strait of Hormuz. The move is seen as part of emergency maritime safety measures aimed at protecting vessels linked to one of the world’s most critical energy export hubs.
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A second Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker is making its way through the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz toward Pakistan, signaling that energy cargo movements are continuing on a tightly managed, case-by-case basis despite escalating regional tensions linked to the ongoing Iran conflict.
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