Maritime Briefing of 25 September 2026

Seventeen senators voted unanimously in favour of accession to the 1979 International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue on 21 September. The vote does not complete it: accession takes effect when the instrument is deposited with the IMO secretary-general, and the convention enters into force for the country 30 days later.

The Dutch edible oil tanker Star Bonaire, detained at Ghent since 14 September after port state control found several deficiencies, had left the port by 23 September, the deficiencies having been put right.

The system went through an extreme rapid intensification cycle from 21 September, strengthening from a tropical storm overnight.

Feeder services between Indian ports and Sohar have increased fourfold since the war between the United States and Iran disrupted traffic through Hormuz, and the port is in talks with Indian terminal operators interested in setting up there.

The North Sea Transition Taskforce puts UK oil and gas employment at about 115,000 jobs, with an estimated 25,000 lost since the last general election, and wants the Energy Profits Levy replaced from 2027-28 rather than 2030.

IUMI put global premiums at USD 4.8bn, up 0.1%, with the London market writing about 60% of the total and attritional claims still rising.

Two 211,000 dwt newcastlemaxes at Wuhu Shipyard, two MR tankers at Jingjiang Nanyang, an LR2 at Guangzhou Shipyard International, two stainless chemical tankers at Fukuoka and two handysizes at Imabari take its orderbook close to 80 ships, with deliveries from 2027 to 2029.

The Beijing Stock Exchange-listed dry bulk owner has set out RMB2.49bn ($372m) for three 115,000 dwt LR2 tankers and three 62,000 dwt multipurpose heavylift vessels. No yards have been chosen, and it intends to raise up to RMB700m through a share issue.

The semi-submersible heavy transport vessel, 230 metres long and able to carry up to 60,000 tonnes, is being built at Guangzhou Shipyard International for delivery in the first quarter of 2028. She is designed to sit in the bow slot of Pioneering Spirit and transfer structures directly to her.

The 54,300 gt Viking Astrea was floated out at Fincantieri's Ancona yard on 11 September and is due for delivery in May 2027.

Aryabhatt 1 and Vivekanand 1 will take over Gulf of Thailand work now held by Energy Drilling's tender-assist units EDrill-1 and T-15, starting in February and April 2027.

The Swedish company will provide remotely operated vehicle services for subsea surveys at RWE's wind farms in UK and European waters.

The venture would offer engineering, procurement, construction and installation for offshore wind cables and include a newbuild cable-laying vessel, owned together with Poland's state industrial development agency ARP.

The commander of its Unmanned Systems Force puts the count at 134 in the Sea of Azov and 166 in the Black Sea since the campaign began on 6 July, mostly tankers and dry bulk carriers.

ENISA's Threat Landscape 2026 says China-nexus groups kept up a particular interest in maritime organisations, alongside telecommunications, semiconductors, manufacturing and government.

A technical problem on Commodore Clipper ended the route before its planned last sailing on 28 September; the operator is closing it for financial reasons.

Ard-Jan Kooren of Kotug International was appointed Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau at the company's Rotterdam headquarters, marking his 60th birthday and three decades in its management.

Jan Kleijn, who has spent more than 30 years at the heavy lifting specialist, including a period as chief executive, leaves on 1 February 2027.