South Africa will spin its port authority out of Transnet, ending a long player-referee conflict at its ports.
Splash247 Article: Historic TNPA Split Promises Level Playing Field at South African Ports
gCaptain Article: Port of Savannah Sets September Container Record as Imports Rise
Savannah moved a record 504,015 TEUs in September as imports rose and the peak season stretched later than usual.
WorkBoat Article: Pilot Taking Shape Across the U.S. Reflect the Operating Needs of Each Region
New pilot boats for New York, the lower Mississippi and Alaska are each built around very different local conditions.
Professional Mariner Article: Coast Guard Proposes Eliminating Six STCW Training Requirements
The Coast Guard wants to drop six mariner training requirements it says exceed international STCW minimums.
Maritime Executive Article: Bulker Comes Free on High Tide After Being Aground for a Week off Australia
The Capesize bulker Cape Falcon came free on the morning high tide off Gladstone, Australia, ending a week-long grounding. No injuries or pollution were reported, but authorities have detained the vessel pending a transport safety investigation.
Maritime Executive Article: GAO: Coast Guard Addressing Marine Firefighting Challenges, but Gaps Remain
A GAO report finds the Coast Guard has made strides addressing marine firefighting risks since a deadly 2023 Newark fire, yet gaps persist in training, funding, and response planning—particularly for vessels using alternative fuels like lithium-ion batteries and ammonia.
Maritime Executive Article: Maersk Completes First Ethanol Bunkering in US Testing Bioethanol
Maersk has completed the first 100 percent bioethanol ship-to-ship bunkering in the US, fueling the dual-fuel container vessel Tangier Maersk with POET-supplied ethanol — a milestone trial exploring alcohol-fuel interoperability for the industry’s ongoing decarbonization efforts.
Maritime Executive Article: Greek Cargo Ro/Ro Continues to Burn After Three Days
Three days after fire broke out aboard the Greek ro/ro Blue Carrier 2 near Mykonos, firefighting tugs remain on scene as the vessel, towed to calmer waters, continues to burn, list, and face possible total loss.
gCaptain Article: Panama Canal Adds Transit Capacity as Rainfall Brings Relief
The Panama Canal is easing draft limits and daily transit restrictions after improved rainfall and conservation measures stabilized Gatun Lake levels, giving shipowners added flexibility as global routing pressures continue to strain capacity.
Maritime Executive Article: Crew Rescued After Abandoning Small MSC Boxship off Vietnam
All 25 crew of the MSC Hermes III were safely rescued after abandoning the containership east of Vietnam, with the larger MSC Ruby recovering them from a lifeboat as Singapore’s MRCC coordinated the response.