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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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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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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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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Samsung Heavy Industries announced on 4 February 2026 that it has signed a business cooperation memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Qatar Shipyard Technology Solutions (QSTS) during LNG 2026, one of the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) conferences and exhibitions, held in Doha, Qatar.
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China-US trade is undergoing a gradual adjustment, with analysts and business leaders noting signs of slow recalibration rather than a full-scale decoupling. Rising tariff barriers, technology restrictions, and heightened geopolitical uncertainty are reshaping bilateral trade flows, making them more structurally complex.
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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.
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.
The Thai Navy successfully rescued all 16 crew members from a cargo vessel that was in danger of sinking off the coast of Phuket on February 7, according to Amarin TV. The operation was launched after authorities received an alert about the Panamanian-flagged cargo ship Sealloyd Arc, which has a displacement of 4,339 tons, facing critical conditions near Koh Kaew Noi, about 10 nautical miles from shore.
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The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC), tasked with developing an international legally binding treaty to tackle plastic pollution, including in the marine environment, has elected Ambassador Julio Cordano of Chile as its new Chair. The announcement was made during the third part of the fifth session (INC-5.3) held at the Geneva International Convention Centre.
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Chevron Philippines Inc., together with government agencies, community groups and private partners, has released 146 olive ridley sea turtle hatchlings into open waters, marking another milestone in its long-running coastal conservation efforts at the Batangas terminal. The release comes five months after a large-scale shoreline cleanup helped restore the area as a safe nesting ground for the vulnerable marine species.
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Bangladesh and the Maldives have reiterated their commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation, with renewed focus on establishing direct shipping links and enhancing collaboration in the halal food sector to support trade growth, transport efficiency and resilient supply chains. The discussions underscored shared ambitions to deepen economic ties and improve connectivity between the two countries.
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Australia and the Philippines have strengthened their maritime partnership by reaffirming mutual recognition of seafarer certificates, a move aimed at reducing administrative barriers and supporting smoother shipping operations and bilateral trade between the two countries. The agreement is expected to enhance maritime logistics while improving protections and career mobility for seafarers operating across both jurisdictions.
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Brazil has officially declined to join the U.S.-led Mineral Security Partnership, a strategic initiative from the Donald Trump administration designed to secure a steady supply of lithium, niobium, and rare earth elements for American industries. The Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Itamaraty, stated that the proposed pact treated Brazil merely as a supplier of raw materials rather than a technological partner, prompting the country to prioritize domestic industrial development.
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Hong Kong’s commerce chief summoned the Panamanian Consul General in the city on Friday to protest a court ruling that annulled CK Hutchison’s contract to operate two ports at the Panama Canal. The move follows warnings from China’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office that Panama could face “heavy prices” over the decision.
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