Maritime Briefing of 22 September 2026

The Liberia-flagged bulker CAPE FALCON, IMO 9916202, ran aground outside the marked channel on passage from Hay Point towards the Gladstone anchorage, with no pilot aboard, and has been detained by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. No pollution has been reported, and a salvage operation is expected.

The 1998-built, 8,556 dwt freighter JACUAR, IMO 9181821, flagged in Saint Kitts and Nevis, grounded and took on water while carrying 7,007 tonnes of cargo from Mozambique to Egypt. Its 18 crew, from India, Syria and Egypt, were reported rescued on 18 September. The ship has a long record of port state deficiencies, including detentions in Jordan in September 2024 and April 2025.

The Philippine Coast Guard says a China Coast Guard vessel cut across and then struck the BRP Datu Magat Salamat, a Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources ship supplying fuel to fishermen, causing severe damage to one side. No injuries were reported. China placed responsibility with the Philippine side.

A 22-foot recreational vessel struck rocks between Needle Rock and Lime Point Lighthouse on 17 September. Three people were recovered in critical condition and one later died in hospital.

The Singapore investor has ordered six 64,500 dwt bulkers, six 49,800 dwt product and chemical tankers, eight stainless steel chemical tankers and four 319,000 dwt crude tankers, with options on another 16, lifting its portfolio to 98 vessels including options. Twelve of the 75 firm newbuildings have already been resold.

Hanwha Ocean has cut steel on a vessel for the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, due in service in 2030, with more than twice the tonnage of Araon, Polar Class 3, dual-fuel LNG and MGO propulsion and the ability to break 1.5-metre ice continuously at 3 knots.

Ho Chi Minh City ranked 22nd on more than 8.9m TEU, up about 14.5 percent, Hai Phong climbed three places to 26th on over 8.2m TEU, and Cai Mep ranked 31st, the sixth consecutive year all three have appeared.

Terminal Cuenca del Plata was hit by a 24-hour strike from 23:00 on 18 September, less than a day after operations resumed, ahead of a nationwide port stoppage called from 07:00 on 21 September to 07:00 on 22 September over a new collective agreement and minimum-service rules.

China has opened the Pinglu Canal, cutting more than 560 km from some inland journeys and expected to reduce logistics costs by 18 to 30 percent. Thirty cargo ships used it on the first day. Intra-Asia deployed capacity now exceeds 2.6m TEU, up 6.2 percent year on year.

Alport has signed a 35-year operating rights transfer for GÜBRETAŞ's port at İskenderun, committing about $190m to rehabilitation and expansion, with the owner retaining the asset and expecting about $350m of revenue over the contract.

Bangladesh has spent Tk 15,691 crore over 13 years on the port, but only 29 of the 2,962 vessels that called in 2025-26 were foreign, and the Rabnabad Channel falls to 5 to 6 metres in the monsoon against a 10.5-metre design draught. A fresh Tk 4,600 crore dredging proposal is with the Planning Commission.

The 704 MW Rhode Island Sound project, a 50-50 partnership between Orsted and Skyborn Renewables, completed its 65th turbine and expects to finish commissioning by the end of the year after two stop-work orders and two injunctions.

LS Marine Solution won a KRW 156.9bn contract from Hanwha Ocean to transport and install cables for the 390 MW Shinan Ui offshore wind project, equal to 64.2 percent of its 2025 consolidated revenue.

Hapag-Lloyd started a weekly Germersheim to Rotterdam rail service on 18 September, running to 31 December with 88 TEU of capacity each way, as an alternative to its barge network.

The carrier plans 1.47m TEU across 166 containerships and 13.52m dwt across 110 bulkers by 2030, alongside 14 VLCCs with six on order, LNG tonnage on long-term charter, a return to car carriers and investment in offshore wind installation vessels.

Opening the IUMI conference in Rotterdam, president Frédéric Denèfle said hull and cargo premium income is growing while offshore energy remains subdued, and that insurers must be prepared to cover the trades and routes now emerging to avoid areas of tension.

The former Italian Navy ship Giuseppe Garibaldi arrived at Tanjung Priok and is due to be commissioned as KRI Sriwijaya on 24 September, initially for humanitarian and disaster response work, making Indonesia the second Southeast Asian operator of a carrier after Thailand.

The 56.6-metre reconstruction of the 1628 East Indiaman was towed from Lelystad to Damen Shiprepair Amsterdam on 19 September to be lowered onto an 87.2-tonne steel cradle, the first step in moving her permanently ashore on 2 October.