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On April 9, 2022, the bulker Hagen Oldendorff turned to port and ran aground in the narrow entrance channel at Port Hedland, Australia. The rudder angle indicator on the bridge had short-circuited, and the pilot had run the ship aground in response to a "rudder failure" that did not in fact exist, according to the Australian Transportation Safety Bureau (ATSB).

The U.S. is seeking to continue the pressure both on the regime in Iran and its efforts at financing its proxies including the Houthis and Hamas. The U.S. Department of the Treasury and its Office of Foreign Asset Control each announced additional sanctions today, December 19, targeting Iran’s oil industry.

South Korea’s Hanwha Group completed the acquisition of Philly Shipyard on December 19 in a deal valued at approximately $100 million. The company emphasized its plans for the growth of the yard’s operations and has openly spoken of its goal to use the yard to expand into U.S. naval defense contracting.

The embattled German shipbuilding group FSG-Nobiskrug Holding along with its two shipyards and its design group have been provisionally declared insolvent by a German court due to a filing by an insurance company.

The famed UK shipbuilder Harland & Wolff is set to be saved for a second time from bankruptcy as reports indicate Spain’s Navantia and the UK Government have reached terms on a bailout for the shipbuilder’s parent group.

The twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach each achieved strong results in November which in part is being attributed to a range of geopolitical issues on top of continued strong consumer spending in the U.S. In what is typically a slower final month of the calendar year and into the New Year, both ports are expecting a continued surge in volumes driving them to record years.

As a massive fuel spill from the lost tankers Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239 washes up in Russia's corner of the Black Sea, a third ship in the same fleet has reported an internal tank leak. 

The CMA CGM Group, which is already pursuing its environmental initiatives with large investments in LNG-fueled containerships, will also develop a unique, electric-powered, cargo barge for inland service in Vietnam.

Countries in Europe, the European Union, and the UK announced further steps over the past two days designed to tighten the controls and expand the sanctions on the so-called fleet of shadow fleet of tankers moving crude oil and products from Russia.

Dutch shipbuilder GS Projects has contracted DMC by to supply the steering, control and propulsion equipment for four dry cargo vessels

The government through its Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has stepped in to revive a project to domestically build a containership as a feeder ship operated by the national shipping corporation.

In what is being called a commercial milestone for autonomous shipping, Korea’s H-Line and Avikus, HD Hyundai’s Autonomous Navigation Technology division, signed an order for the first installation of autonomous technology on ocean-going ships.

U.S. Central Command confirmed tonight, December 17, new attacks on Houthi command and control facilities just hours after reports of Houthi missiles aimed at Israel. Earlier, Central Command also confirmed the arrival of the carrier Harry S. Turman strike force in the region after transiting from the Mediterranean.

The MS ARTANIA, a distinguished cruise liner built in 1984 with a capacity for 1,200 passengers, continues to offer a unique maritime experience by blending classic elegance with modern amenities. Since 2011, the vessel has been operated by Phoenix Reisen

Petrobras announced plans for an investment of $2.73 billion as part of an effort to modernize its offshore support vessel fleet. The company looks to expand its capabilities while also enhancing the performance of its vessels.

The containership Kaimana Hila (50,981 dwt) has returned to service after completing the third LNG conversion for Matson. When she was completed in 2019, Matson highlighted that commercial supplies of LNG were not available along its network but the vessel along with her sister ship Daniel K. Inouye were designed LNG-ready anticipating a future conversion.

According to Russian transport agency Rosmorrechflot, the aging river-sea tanker Volgoneft 212 sank in a wintertime storm Sunday about five nautical miles outside of the Kerch Strait. Waves in excess of 25 feet were forecast by Russia's meteorological agency, according to TASS. A video taken by a crewmember shows that the aging vessel broke up in the storm.

Anger at the cost of the Houthi blockade is growing as the balance of power changes in the region

Despite multiple attempts to connect an emergency tow, a runaway barge has gone aground on the picturesque beaches of Sotteville-sur-Mer, France. It was one of many marine casualties stemming from Storm Darragh, which swept over the British Isles and the coastline of northern France last weekend. 

The engine room fire aboard the ro/ro Stena Europe last year was caused by a commonplace failure: leaking fuel on exposed exhaust components. A loosened flange connection in a pressurized fuel line sprayed diesel onto a hot exhaust manifold, igniting a fire and causing extensive damage to the compartment - a risk that investigators believe could have been mitigated with proper repairs.