Scientists from the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) have reported that the annual upwelling phenomenon in the Gulf of Panama failed for the first time in recorded history in 2025, marking a major shift in oceanographic patterns and raising concerns for local fisheries.
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A landmark European Union–India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) was officially signed on 27 January 2026, ending nearly four years of negotiations and setting the stage for transformative economic cooperation between the EU and India.
The negotiations were formally relaunched on 17 June 2022, alongside separate discussions on an Investment Protection Agreement and an Agreement on Geographical Indications (GIs). After years of intensive engagement, the FTA has now been concluded, opening unprecedented trade and investment opportunities between Europe’s largest economic union and India, the world’s most populous nation.
India is positioning itself for energy independence with investment opportunities worth $500 billion in its energy infrastructure, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Tuesday during the India Energy Week conference.
“We are moving away from energy security to energy independence,” Modi said, highlighting the South Asian nation’s ambitious energy infrastructure drive. India is focusing on expanding affordable refining and transport options while boosting its capacity in natural gas. “We are aiming to make LNG transportation vessels domestically,” he added, signaling a push toward local liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipbuilding.
The Destin Fire Control District (DFCD), home to Florida’s largest fleet of firefighting vessels, has received a state-of-the-art 52-foot (16-meter) coastal fireboat, the M-19, from Mobile, Alabama-based boatbuilder Silver Ships.
The aluminum deep-V hull vessel is powered by four 425hp Yamaha outboard engines, enabling a top speed of 45 knots. Equipped with two Darley firefighting pumps capable of discharging 3,000 gallons (11,000 liters) per minute, M-19 provides 360-degree firefighting coverage via two forward and two aft monitors. One monitor is remotely controlled, minimizing crew exposure during hazardous operations.
Georgetown, Guyana — Guyana’s economy is poised for strong expansion in 2026, with overall growth projected at 16.2 per cent, a slight moderation from the 19.3 per cent recorded in 2025, according to Finance Minister Ashni Singh in the presentation of the 2026 National Budget.
The country’s oil and gas sector remains the primary engine of growth, expected to expand by 17.9 per cent this year. Average crude production is forecast at around 840,000 barrels per day (bpd), reinforcing Guyana’s position as a rapidly growing energy producer on the global stage.
Finland is planning to establish a maritime surveillance centre in the Gulf of Finland to help prevent damage to critical undersea infrastructure, including submarine cables and pipelines, the Finnish Border Guard said on Monday. The centre will be developed in cooperation with other Baltic Sea nations and the European Commission.
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US President Donald Trump has announced a sharp increase in tariffs on imports from South Korea, raising duties to 25% after accusing Seoul of failing to fully implement a trade agreement reached last year.
In a social media post, Trump said tariffs would rise from 15% on a wide range of South Korean products, including automobiles, lumber, pharmaceuticals and other goods covered under what he described as “reciprocal tariffs.” He claimed South Korean lawmakers had been slow to approve the agreement, while the United States had acted quickly to reduce its own tariffs in line with the deal.
Three people lost their lives and two others were injured after a tourist boat capsized in the Gulf of Oman on Tuesday, January 27, according to local authorities.
Officials said the vessel was traveling to the popular Ad Dimaniyat Islands when it overturned around 2.5 nautical miles off Sultan Qaboos Port in Muscat shortly after 9:00 a.m. local time.
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Russia and China continue to maintain steady deliveries of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project despite ongoing U.S., UK and EU sanctions, highlighting the resilience of Russian energy exports and growing Sino‑Russian energy cooperation. The Chinese Beihai LNG terminal received the first Arctic LNG 2 cargo of 2026, with data from LSEG showing that the vessel Buran LNG carrier loaded LNG from a floating storage unit near Murmansk on December 25 and proceeded toward China via the Suez Canal route.
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Asia Pacific Maritime (APM), Asia’s leading exhibition and conference for shipbuilding, workboats, offshore operations, and electric and hybrid marine technologies, will return for its 19th edition from 25-27 March 2026 at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, featuring its largest event to date. Organised by RX and themed “Future of Vessels, Solutions for Tomorrow,” APM 2026 aims to bring together global maritime leaders to explore how next-generation energy technologies and innovations are shaping the future of shipping.
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Barcelona— Wind propulsion specialist bound4blue has successfully completed the first installation of its eSAIL® technology under a landmark agreement with Maersk Tankers, marking a significant milestone in the adoption of wind-assisted propulsion within the tanker sector.
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Kuwait has approved a $3.3 billion contract for the construction of its largest sewage treatment facility, marking a major step toward strengthening the country’s wastewater management infrastructure. The contract, valued at 999.85 million Kuwaiti dinars, was announced through Kuwait’s official gazette.
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Athens — A migrant boat carrying more than 50 people sank off the Greek coast near the island of Ikaria in the northern Aegean Sea, leaving a woman and a young boy dead and three others missing, Greek coastguard authorities confirmed on Sunday.
According to officials, at least 50 migrants were rescued from the sea and are now receiving care from local authorities. Search and rescue operations remain underway, with coastguard vessels deployed to the area and additional rescue teams and divers expected to join efforts later in the day.
The Second International Submarine Cable Resilience Summit is scheduled to take place on 2–3 February 2026 in Porto, Portugal, bringing global attention to the protection and resilience of critical submarine telecommunications infrastructure. The International Submarine Cable Resilience Summit 2026 will feature high-level plenary sessions, expert panels, and interactive discussions focused on strengthening the reliability of global connectivity networks.
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Pakistan is a maritime nation by geography, yet much of its marine wealth remains unexplored and undervalued. The coast of Pakistan is over 1000 km long, which consist of Sindh and Makran coast includes a number of beaches, various islands and mangrove swamps. The coastal belt around Buleji, Hawks bay, Manora, Sandspit, Paradise Point, Nathia Gali, Pacha and Cape Monze have various species of seaweeds. Among the most neglected of these are seaweeds.
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