Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2025 i Ships Monthly

FERRIES DFDS and TT Line have entered into a space charter agreement on three ferry routes in the Baltic. Under the agreement, DFDS will increase the number of sailings between Klaipeda and Karlshamn, as well as bringing new services to Trelleborg and Travemünde. Passenger and freight customers will be able to book all services to and from Klaipeda, regardless of which of the two ferry companies is operating the crossing. The agreement covers sailings on the Klaipeda to Karlshamn route, where both operators currently offer sailings. The agreement means that DFDS will now offer capacity on the Klaipeda to Trelleborg route for both passenger and freight customers and freight-only on the route between Klaipeda and Travemünde, both of which are operated by TT-Line. By sharing capacity, DFDS can offer better…

NEW CARGO VESSEL The new cargo vessel Baltic Star has recently entered service with the Baltic Shipping Company in Denmark. The new ship is the penultimate unit in a series of 13 built by GS Yard BV and Ships & Steelbuilding (SaS) in Waterhuizen, Netherlands. The final five vessels are being built for the shipping company Longship BV in Groningen. Baltic Sail, currently on the slipway, is the last vessel in this series. Baltic Star and her sisters were specifically designed for sailing in European coastal waters. During the summer, they can also be deployed in the Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean. The Eco Freighter 3700 type vessels were designed by Groot Ship Design in Leekand and measure 88m overall with a beam of 13.35m, and a single hold of…

NEW LIFEBOAT On 30 August the new Shannon class lifeboat Roy Barker VI was officially named and dedicated during a ceremony at Troon lifeboat station, with high spirits not dampened by the blustery rain. Representatives from the lifeboat station and invited guests were in attendance, with the ceremony being opened by Bob McMaster, the RNLI area operations manager. The lifeboat, which arrived at Troon in May, was handed into the care of the RNLI by Pamela Mottershaw, representing the donor Frederick Roy Barker, and was formallyacceptedbyLeanna Lakes, RNLI director of regions. After a service of dedication, the new lifeboat was christened by Pamela Mottershaw. WATERFRONT • shipsmonthly.com • The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hill, Yalding, Kent, ME18 6AL • t > 01959 541444 • e > sm.ed@kelsey.co.uk…

US ANTARCTIC The US National Science Foundation (NSF), operator of the United States Antarctic Program, announced in August that, as of 2026, they have terminated the lease of the 1992-built icebreaking research vessel (RVIB) Nathaniel B. Palmer (6,174gt), which is owned by Offshore Service Vessels. The Trump administration has proposed a 55 per cent budget cut to the NSF, which will result in ending the lease of the ship, which accommodates up to 45 science and technical personnel and supports two helicopters. Researchers have, via the NSF, urged Congress to reconsider the decision, especially as other countries are growing their marine capabilities in the Antarctic region, and the cuts will leave the US Antarctic Program without an Antarctic research vessel. TC…

WINDFARM The specialised cargo vessel Rotra Futura, which was delivered in April, officially commenced her role transporting wind turbine blades from Denmark to the United States in August. For Danish owners deugro this was a significant milestone in developing their fleet of ro-ro vessels dedicated to the offshore wind industry. The vessel’s first loading operation took place at the Port of Aalborg, where it collected 108m-long wind turbine blades. Rotra Futura is a state-of-the-art vessel which can efficiently handle high-value, oversized cargo. She is equipped with a ro-ro ramp, three Liebherr cranes and a unique gantry system, which allows the stowage of blades in three tiers.…

CHANNEL ISLANDS The publication of DFDS’ winter timetable has been met with consternation by Jersey’s Government and Hospitality Association, as it does not include a fast-ferry service from Poole between early November and the end of April. DFDS acknowledged there may be disappointment for travellers, but said the decision to suspend the high-speed sailings from Poole is based on low historical demand and the future sustainability of the route. As such, Levante Jet will cover the St Malo service in November, with Tarifa Jet due a dry-docking. The former will then be laid up until the summer season, with Tarifa Jet providing additional sailings to Poole at Easter. Last year the previous operator Condor Ferries paused the same route in November to mid-December but provided a reduced service over the…

ISLE OF MAN The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company experienced a torrid time during August, with a series of technical issues causing major disruption to schedules between the UK and the Isle of Man. On 19 August smoke was detected in a machinery room on Manxman during an overnight sailing from Heysham. The incident prompted an emergency response and the muster of all passengers at emergency stations. The company’s flagship was out of action for a couple of days for repairs, with Benmy-Chree, the contingency vessel, being activated to cover. However, her schedule was also delayed after fire-drencher pipework on the vehicle deck was damaged during freight-loading operations at Heysham Port. While she sailed with a temporary dispensation, permanent repairs in Douglas took longer than anticipated. On 11 August…

ROYAL CARIBBEAN Built by Meyer Turku, in less than two years from her December 2023 keel-laying, Royal Caribbean’s second Icon class ship, Star of the Seas, was delivered in July. With a gross tonnage of 248,663, she equals the size of her older sister, Icon of the Seas, and thus shares the title of the largest cruise ship in the world with her sister. Calling at Spain for the final details to be completed, she arrived at her homeport of Port Canaveral on 9 August, prior to a naming ceremony originally to have featured Diana Ross as the ship’s godmother. However, for personal reasons, Ross had to pull out and was subsequently replaced by astronaut Kellie Gelardi at the ceremony, which was held on 20 August, a little before the…

DISNEY CRUISE LINE The next addition to the Disney Cruise Line fleet, the 144,256gt Disney Destiny, was floated out of her building hall at the Meyer Werft shipyard at Papenburg on 9 August, ahead of a late September or early October River Ems transit to Eemshaven, to undergo sea trials. She is expected to be handed over in late October and is scheduled to begin commercial service from Fort Lauderdale on 20 November. Disney Destiny is ‘Heroes and Villains’-themed, featuring characters from Marvel, and the decoration on her stern shows Spiderman. There are two more ships of this class on order with Meyer, including one to be operated by the Oriental Land Company in Japan. After those, Disney is opting for smaller ships, with three vessels of around 120,000gt due…

US COAST GUARD The US Coast Guard has introduced its first polar icebreaker for more than 25 years with the commissioning of USCGC Storis (WAGB 21) in Juneau, Alaska. The medium polar icebreaker is the former civilian vessel Aiviq, acquired as a stopgap until the delivery of the new Polar Security Cutter class. The ship is manend by a hybrid crew of military cuttermen and civilian mariners. She will be temporarily berthed in Seattle, Washington, alongside the Service’s pair of ageing polar icebreakers, until necessary infrastructure improvements are completed in Juneau. The Trump administration has committed US$25 billion to fund the so-called Force Design 2028, an initiative introduced by the Secretary of Homeland Security, to transform the Coast Guard into a more capable fighting force. The investment includes US$4.3 billion…

CHINA COAST GUARD After a fatal collision between two of their own vessels, it will be interesting to see if China perseveres with its policy of reckless disregard of UNCLAS COLREGs and continues to harass ships in the contested waters of the South China Sea. Imagers of the incident were posted on social media by the Philippine Coast Guard. The footage of a China Coast Guard cutter sailing at high speed into the side of a PLAN Type 052D class destroyer as they both pursued a Philippine Coast Guard vessel went viral and is hugely embarrassing for the Chinese government. While the damage to the warship appeared superficial, the CCG vessel was left unseaworthy, with a crushed bow. At least four CG sailors seen on deck close to the impact…

BULKER The self-discharging bulk carrier Yeoman Bank has been retired and sold for recycling in Turkey, concluding over three decades of continuous service, during which she has been regularly seen around UK and near continent ports. Operated by Holcim UK, the vessel made her final call at Royal Seaforth Dock in August, marking the end of a long-standing operational service. Since entering service in 1991, Yeoman Bank has completed 195 calls to Liverpool, delivering nearly seven million tonnes of granite aggregate from Glensanda Quarry near Oban. The vessel played a central role in Peel Ports’ ‘virtual quarry’ concept, where cargo was discharged via overhead conveyors directly into storage, eliminating intermediate handling. Completed in Greece in 1982 as Ropner’s Salmonpool, the ship was relaunched and converted at Sandefjord, Norway before joining…

On Tuesday 27 May 2025 the first of the Royal Navy’s new Type 31 frigates, Venturer, was rolled out into the daylight from the assembly hall at Babcock International Group’s Rosyth shipyard near Edinburgh. In contrast to previous generations of British warships, Venturer’s unveiling was not accompanied by the traditional dynamic launch that has historically marked the advent of a new ship. Indeed, the last major Royal Navy vessel to have been launched in this way was the final Type 45 destroyer, HMS Duncan. She slid into the River Clyde from BAE Systems’ Govan shipyard on 11 October 2010, nearly 15 years previously. While such launches are certainly dramatic, they also come with a number of disadvantages. In addition to being an inherently risky practice – as the recent partial…

Is Methanol the answer to the maritime sector’s drive towards decarbonisation and compliance with new emissions regulations? Its appeal lies in its relatively simple storage requirements, compatibility with existing engine technologies, and potential for carbon neutrality when produced from renewable sources. Shipping giants like Maersk, COSCO, and CMA CGM are at the forefront of methanol adoption. Maersk made headlines with the launch of Laura Maersk, the world’s first methanol-enabled container vessel powered by an ME-LGIM engine. This 2,100TEU feeder ship marked a pivotal moment in sustainable shipping when she departed from Hyundai’s Ulsan shipyard in 2023. Maersk has since expanded its methanol fleet, aiming for at least 19 vessels in operation by the end of 2025. COSCO Shipping has also made significant strides. In July 2025 it took delivery of…

• Internally, Glen Sannox resembles Loch Seaforth in terms of her décor. On the main deck, amidships, is the main entrance for foot passengers, with a luggage storage area and onboard service manager’s office. • The small cafeteria at the forward end can be accessed from either port or starboard sides. • The starboard entrance features most of the seating and the servery. Forward of this is further seating, with ten porthole windows overlooking the bow. • Two stairways in the cafeteria lead to the observation lounges, which have reclining seats. • At the stern is a children’s room and two seating areas, separated by the combined shop and bar compartment. The latter is the ship’s ‘Coffee Cabin’ and serves light refreshments, hot drinks and alcoholic beverages. • The aft…

While I was researching Dominion Monarch, I came across some old documents from Ormos Shipping, the technical arm of Greek Line, based in London. When Dominion Monarch was offered for sale through London shipbrokers in November 1961, Ormos saw an opportunity and requested an inspection visit, plans, and a search of the quality assurance records held by Lloyds Register of numerous inspections and audits. The ‘records’ indicated that the ship had an active ‘condition of class’, a defect that had to be rectified within a specific timeframe. This was a serious indent in the hull plating caused by unspecified contact damage. Shaw Savill requested and was granted permission by Lloyds Register to disregard the condition based on the stipulation that the ship was to be scrapped by the end of…

NEW CSOV Windcat Rotterdam, the first of six vessels in Windcat’s new CSOV (Commissioning Service Operation Vessel) Elevation Series, constructed at Ha Long Shipyard in Vietnam and developed in collaboration with Damen Shipyards Group, Windcat and CMB.Tech, has been launched. The vessel can accommodate up to 120 people and has high standards of comfort, performance and decarbonisation. This delivery marks a milestone in the expansion of Windcat’s offshore service capabilities. Windcat Rotterdam will support construction, commissioning and maintenance activities at offshore energy projects, serving as a floating base for personnel and equipment. Designed for offshore deployment of up to 30 days, the vessel offers high safety standards, with a 3D motion-compensated gangway and the world’s first tenton 3D motion-compensated crane.…

NEWBUILD Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation, the largest provider of dredging services in the USA, has taken delivery of its newest Jones Act-compliant hopper dredger, Amelia Island. Built by Conrad Shipyard in Morgan City, Louisiana, the state-of-the-art vessel represents a major step forward in the company’s ongoing modernisation of its fleet. Purposebuilt for operations in shallow and narrow waters, Amelia Island is designed to serve all US coastlines. Measuring 346ft by 69ft, and 23ft in depth, the vessel has a total power of 16,500hp, is equipped with two 800mm trailing suction pipes capable of dredging depths up to 100ft, and a hopper with a capacity of 6,330 cubic yards. Amelia Island, with sistership Galveston Island, is ideally suited for beach renourishment, coastal protection, channel deepening and maintenance dredging.…

US FERRY LINK UAL has introduced the UAL Caribbean Shuttle, a fixed nine-day loop service linking Point Lisas (Trinidad & Tobago), Georgetown (Guyana) and Paramaribo (Suriname). The new service has been started in response to demand for reliable, multipurpose shipping options in the Southern Caribbean. The shuttle will be operated by the newly delivered UAL Transporter, a landing craft vessel with a shallow 5m draught (at maximum loading) and a capacity of 387 TEU. Purpose-built for regional conditions, the vessel allows access not only to major terminals but also to river ports at Georgetown and Paramaribo, where draught limitations often restrict larger tonnage. She has the ability to load all cargo types, and will thus handle a broad mix of cargoes, including containers, food, machinery and consumer goods, vehicles, and…

ROSSLARE-CHERBOURG Brittany Ferries has expanded its Rosslare-Cherbourg service to fill a gap left by the withdrawal of Stena Line from the route. From October, sailings from the Irish hub will increase from five to seven per week. This includes a new Tuesday departure at 2100, with additional sailings to be phased in as part of a broader strengthening of the route. The capacity boost is also good news for Brittany Ferries’ seafarers. Several ships that normally lay up Brittany Ferries only launched its Rosslare-Cherbourg route in 2021, in response to the post-Brexit demand from hauliers wanting to avoid the extra red tape needed to cross the UK land bridge. Since then, direct sailings between Rosslare Europort and the European continent have increased sixfold. Last year alone, freight traffic doubled, while…

FINLAND Wasaline has signed a contract with the Nordic energy company Gasum for the provision of liquefied biogas (bio-LNG) that, together with a Fuel EU Maritime pooling agreement with Stena Line, enables the Finnish shipping company’s Vaasa-Umeå route to become the first carbon-neutral shipping route on the Baltic Sea. The initiative also benefits Stena Line. By integrating Aurora Botnia into Stena Line’s FuelEU Maritime pool, they gain access to biogas previously unavailable to them, which enables further emission reductions for the entire pool, lowers fuel costs and strengthens their strategic position as biofuels become increasingly scarce under more stringent regulations. Aurora Botnia, Wasaline’s flagship hybrid ferry, also operates with 2.2MWh of battery power but is due to undergo a major upgrade. In autumn 2025 the ship will enter the BLRT…

VIRGIN VOYAGES After around two years in lay-up, Virgin Voyages’ fourth and final ship, Brilliant Lady, arrived in Portsmouth International Port on 18 August for a publicity visit, making Portsmouth the first port in the world to welcome the complete Virgin Voyages fleet. Brilliant Lady spent a week in the city hosting invited guests to experience the new ship, before she departed for her first commercial sailing to New York on 21 August. Her voyage took her via Dublin, Ponta Delgada and Halifax, and she arrived at her new home port on 9 September. Later, in October, she will reposition to Miami, and next year will be deployed in Alaska. Virgin Voyages’ first ship, Scarlet Lady, launched from Portsmouth in 2021 and has returned this year for a summer season.…

RFA With its origins marked by Admiralty circular letter number 9, dated 3 August 1905, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary recently celebrated its 120th anniversary. The occasion, however, is not a happy one. Fresh from a series of long-running strikes over pay, the first in their history, the Service is at a low ebb. Of a fleet of ten ships, only the tanker RFA Tidespring is operationally deployed, while none of the four vessels tasked with providing the UK’s amphibious warfare capability is readily available. Of the three remaining Bay class landing ships, Cardigan Bay has been inactive for almost a year at Falmouth, Mounts Bay is undergoing deep maintenance, and Lyme Bay recently returned to sea following completion of the same. Tiderace and Fort Victoria have also been laid up…

RAN The Australian government has chosen the upgraded Mogami class frigate as the preferred platform for the Royal Australian Navy’s future fleet of generalpurpose frigates. Defence will now negotiate contracts with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and the Japanese government, for signing in 2026. The upgraded Mogami is a larger follow-on to the 12 ships ordered by the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force, featuring an improved radar system and a 32-cell Mark 41 VLS, twice the number of the first batch. The first three ships are to be built in Japan, with the first scheduled to be delivered in 2029, becoming operational the following year. The remaining eight ships are to be built at the Henderson shipyard in Western Australia. Although the unit cost of the Japanese offering is considerably more than TKMS’s…

COMPANY NEWS Hoegh Autoliners has sold its pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) Hoegh Beijing for $43 million, continuing its strategic divestment of older tonnage. The vessel is scheduled for delivery to its new owner in September 1. The sale is part of Hoegh’s ongoing fleet renewal programme to modernize its car carrier fleet. Built in 2010, Hoegh Beijing was built by Xiamen Shipbuilding in China for Hoegh’s global automotive transport operations. The vessel has a capacity of approximately 4,940 CEU (Car Equivalent Units) and has served routes across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. This transaction follows several recent vessel sales by Hoegh, including divestments of older PCTCs, over the past two years. The company has been capitalising on elevated second-hand market values while reinvesting in its new Aurora class…

UKRAINE CONFLICT The oil/chemical tanker Excellion sustained damage following a Russian drone strike on the Ukrainian port of Izmail on 2 August. The vessel was berthed at the time of the attack, which targeted port infrastructure along the Danube River. The strike is part of a broader escalation in hostilities affecting Ukraine’s Black Sea and riverine logistics corridors. Excellion, a Panama-flagged tanker, was reportedly hit on her deck, causing structural damage and minor fires. At least two crew were injured, with one requiring hospitalisation. Emergency services responded, and the fire was contained. The vessel remained afloat while the extent of the damage was being determined. Excellion is owned by British-based Makoil Group and was built in 2008 in Turkey as Umay, being completed as Malou Theresa. The targeting of commercial…

WHERE WERE YOU BORN AND WHY DID YOU BECOME A SEAFARER? I was born in 1970 in Târgu Jiu in south-west Romania. I intended to leave the (then) communist bloc during my military service. The easiest way was to join the merchant navy and jump ashore at the first ‘free’ port. Fortunately, before l had a chance to do that, the revolution happened (in 1989), and by then l had begun to like seafaring. HOW DID YOUR SEA-GOING CAREER START? I studied four years at Constanta Maritime University from 1989, and a further year for the Master’s Certificate. We learned how to manoeuvre with tug boats and worked on cargo ships of all sizes, including eight months of service in the navy. I first worked on the small cargo ship…

During World War II the Royal Navy sustained significant losses across nearly every class of warship. Official figures list 50,758 sailors as being killed in action, 820 missing in action, and 14,663 wounded, and in the Women’s Royal Naval Service 102 killed and 22 wounded. Dozens of destroyers and submarines were sunk, often during convoy escort duties or offensive patrols. Additional losses included those of minelayers, minesweepers and auxiliary vessels of all kinds. Three battleships were sunk: HMS Royal Oak at Scapa Flow in 1939, HMS Barham was torpedoed by U-331 off Egypt in 1941, and HMS Prince of Wales was sunk by Japanese aircraft in the South China Sea in 1941. Two battlecruisers succumbed: HMS Hood was destroyed by the German battleship Bismarck in the Denmark Strait and HMS…

Standing on the banks of the Severn Estuary in Monmouthshire, the village of Sudbrook was built to house the workers engaged in building the Severn Railway Tunnel. Once the tunnel had opened in 1886, the contractor, T. A. Walker, turned his attention to building the Puerto Madero Docks in Buenos Aires. The stone required had to be carried across the River Plate from Uruguay to Argentina in a fleet of specialised steam hopper barges, which Walker decided to build himself. In 1887 he therefore established a new shipyard at Sudbrook, which initially concentrated on building hopper barges, coasters and two sailing ships for his company’s own use. It then began building vessels for a wider range of other customers, and gained a fine reputation for its design of bottom-dumping steam…

SHIPS MAIL CAN TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE KEEP UP WITH TECHNOLOGY? letter of the month I am sure that most UK marine professionals must be horrified and appalled in equal measure at the seemingly endless stream of technical problems that beset the Caledonian MacBrayne operations in general, and specifically those which have afflicted Caledonian Isles (see SM, Aug). For a number of years I was Fleet Manager for some marine aggregate dredgers. These vessels, in effect, almost selfdestruct when they are dredging and discharging a million tonnes of gravel each year, operating in conditions which are infinitely more demanding than carrying passengers and vehicles. We allowed ourselves a maximum of 30 days annual downtime and, because all operations were tidally constrained, a delay of one hour in port could mean at…

DFDS To consolidate and expand its footprint in one of Europe’s most important maritime corridors, DFDS announced in late August that it had acquired two ferries and associated assets from Naviera Armas, marking a significant development in the Strait of Gibraltar ferry market. The deal, valued at DKK 240 million, includes the transfer of the ro-pax ferry Volcán de Tamasite and the 1999-built high-speed catamaran Villa de Agaete, both of which are currently operating on DFDS’ existing services. DFDS will assume permits for the route operations and 200 employees from Naviera Armas, integrating them into current operations. DFDS operates two routes across the Strait of Gibraltar: Algeciras-Tanger Med and Algeciras-Ceuta. Naviera Armas’ two ferries are deployed on the same routes and the purchase will enhance the service. The capacity expansion…

BC FERRIES On 27 August Damen Shipyards Group launched the latest Island class ferry for Canada’s BC Ferries. The vessel is the second of four Island class vessels currently under construction at Damen Shipyards Galati in Romania. Once operational, the ferries will provide low emission services connecting coastal communities along the coast of British Columbia. When delivered, the ferry will be the eighth Island class vessel that Damen has built for BC Ferries. The Island class is based on the design of the Damen 8117 Electric Ferry (E3). In early July the Galati shipyard marked the grand block assembly of the ninth vessel in the class, and the keel-laying of the tenth, on the same day. The vessels are 81.2m long with a 17m beam. These ferries will operate between…

PADDLE STEAMER At the end of August the paddle steamer Waverley took the ‘long way round’ on a voyage of more than 1,200 nautical miles in order to undertake her annual cruise programme on England’s south coast. The ship was on Scotland’s west coast during August, but left the Clyde on 25 August at the end of her summer schedule in Scotland and was meant to go south. The crew had planned to head from Ayr to Falmouth down the Irish Sea, a journey of around 420 nautical miles, but instead, with bad weather predicted, they went the 1,150-mile route around the north of Scotland and down the UK’s east coast. She sailed through the Sound of Mull, under the Skye Bridge, with a fuel stop at Kyle of Lochalsh…

VETERAN FERRY The Interislander ferry Aratere has been retired after 26 years of service on the Cook Strait, during which time she has carried 3,456,094 passengers. New Zealand’s last rail ferry signed off on 18 August to enable work to begin in preparation for two brandnew rail-enabled ferries, which are scheduled to arrive in 2029. Aratere’s wharf in Picton is due to be demolished as part of the new ferry project, which requires specialised infrastructure for the new ships to load and unload, including integrated rail tracks. KiwiRail also carries rail freight on Kaitaki and Kaiarahi using a road bridging process, where rail wagons are moved by trailer onto the vessels, and reconnected to trains at the other end. Aratere was purpose-built in Spain in 1998. She was originally 150m…

BLOUNT SMALL SHIP Founded in 1966, American Canadian Caribbean Line operated three small coastal cruise ships, later reduced to two, until 2020, when the company ceased trading. By this time the name of the company had been changed to Blount Small Ship Adventures, and the two remaining ships, Grande Caribe and Grande Mariner, both designed to carry 100 passengers, and dating from 1997 and 1998 respectively, were laid up. Now, after five years, both have found new but quite different employment. Grande Caribe is serving as a floating hotel at Great Stirrup Cay, Norwegian Cruise Line’s private island, providing accommodation for workers employed on the upgrading of the Island’s facilities. Grande Caribe is operating sightseeing and party cruises for NYC Water Cruises in Manhattan.…

PRINCESS CRUISES The next ship to join the Princess Cruises fleet completed her sea trials in mid-August before returning to Fincantieri’s Monfalcone yard for her finishing touches. The second ship in the Sphere class, the 177,882gt Star Princess is the second ship in the Princess fleet to be fuelled by LNG. At 345m in length, she has a lower berth capacity for 4,300 passengers, served by 1,547 crew. She will be delivered on 26 September and start her first cruise in Barcelona on 4 October. On 21 October she will sail from Civitavecchia for a 26-night Mediterranean tour, culminating in a transatlantic crossing to Fort Lauderdale. After a winter in the Caribbean, she will relocate to the Alaska market in May 2026. This is the third Princess ship to carry…

INDIAN NAVY In an historic first, the Indian Navy has commissioned two major surface combatants at the same ceremony. The Project 17A frigates INS Himgiri (F34) and INS Udaygiri (F35) were constructed at shipyards in Kolkata and Mumbai respectively, but entered service together at the Eastern Naval Command headquarters in Visakhapatnam, on 26 August. Himgiri is the first P17A to be manufactured by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), while the Mazagon Dockbuilt Udaygiri has the distinction of becoming the 100th ship produced from designs by the Navy’s in-house Warship Design Bureau. It was also built in record time, taking just 37 months from start to finish. The Project 17A, also known as the Nilgiri class, is a follow-on to the Project 17 Shivalik class frigates, but with enhanced firepower…

INDUSTRY NEWS CMB.Tech has completed the merger of Golden Ocean’s dry bulk fleet into its own operations, marking a significant consolidation in the maritime sector. The move brings together two major players under the CMB.Tech umbrella, expanding its fleet and operations. Through the merger, John Fredriksen, who held a substantial stake in Golden Ocean, through Hemen Holdings, has increased its shareholding in CMB.Tech. This streamlines Fredriksen’s maritime interests and strengthens CMB. Tech’s position in dry bulk shipping. The combined fleet now includes over 140 vessels, with a mix dominated by Capesize and Panamax bulk carriers. Golden Ocean contributed a significant number of Capesize vessels, enhancing CMB.Tech’s capacity for long-haul dry bulk transport. The fleet also includes supramax and ultramax vessels. The merger process began with negotiations in early 2025, culminating…

INCIDENT The container vessel Marie Maersk, operated by Maersk Line, suffered an engine room fire while she was transiting off the southwestern coast of Liberia on 13 August. The incident occurred during a voyage from Rotterdam to Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia, as part of Maersk’s Asia-Europe AE4 service under the Gemini Cooperation network. Smoke was first observed rising from containers on deck, prompting the crew to activate onboard firefighting systems and initiate emergency protocols. The fire was contained but not fully extinguished, and the vessel was diverted toward Liberia for shore-based assistance. Two firefighting-equipped tugboats were dispatched to support the operation, coordinated by Dutch salvage firm SMIT. Marie Maersk is a Triple-E class ship built in 2013 by Daewoo SB&ME, and measures 399m by 59m, and has a capacity of approximately…

Cal Mac’s newest vessel, Glen Sannox, has been the subject of perhaps one of the most controversial and scrutinised public service contracts in Scotland. She entered service seven years later than originally intended, but her arrival at Arran in January was welcomed by many as she provided a much needed boost to the ailing and ageing Cal Mac ferry fleet. Sistership Glen Rosa is being fitted out at Port Glasgow, and is set to join Glen Sannox during summer 2026. However, the entire project has been beset by delays and cost overruns, leading to much scrutiny of the procurement process, as well as the operation of Cal Mac as a whole, with a need to reform the process of running the lifeline services to the islands on Scotland’s west coast.…

In 1939 the Shaw Savill & Albion company introduced a new express service to Australia for passengers and cargo that they dubbed ‘The Clipper Way’, named in honour of the great sailing clippers. The schedule from London was Cape Town in 15 days, Freemantle in 28, Melbourne in 32, Sydney in 34 and Wellington in 38 operated by the new 27,155gt passenger-cargo ship QSMV Dominion Monarch, which had been built specifically for the service. Dominion Monarch was the largest and most powerful motorship in the world, and her QSMV prefix denoted that she was a Quadruple Screw Motor Vessel. She was also the largest all-first-class cargo passenger ship when built, and set new standards for both her speed and her luxurious accommodation. She was ordered from Swan, Hunter and Wigham…

At the start of World War II the Revenge class battleship Royal Oak was already an old ship, having been launched in 1914. She had seen action at the Battle of Jutland, where she fired a number of rounds at the German fleet but sustained no damage herself. In 1918 she was anchored in the Forth when the nearby seaplane tender Carmania (an ex-liner) dragged her anchor and ended up hitting both Royal Oak and the nearby battlecruiser HMS Glorious, with the result that all three ships were damaged, and Carmania later sank.An incident which went down in history as the ‘Royal Oak Mutiny’ took place in Malta in 1928, in what started out as a dispute between a Rear Admiral and two senior officers about the band at the…

Queen Anne: A Photographic Journey Chris Frame and Rachelle Cross Published by The History Press, 97, St George’s Place, Cheltenham, Gloucs GL50 3QB; www.thehistorypress.co.uk; 120 pages; price £25 This volume showcases Cunard Line’s latest cruise ship, and its fourth Queen, the Fincantieri-built Queen Anne, which joined the fleet in April 2024. A foreword by the President of Cunard, Katie McAlister, provides the opening for a book which takes the reader through the ship in 12 main sections. The introduction looks at Cunard, and the rest of the book assesses what Queen Anne has to offer in terms of restaurants, such as Queens Grill, Princess Grill, Britannia Club and Britannia, the bars and lounges, as well as the public rooms. These are all wellillustrated using colour photographs, which are accompanied by…

FERRY FOCUS JAMES JOYCE Profile of James Joyce, the latest addition to the Irish Ferries’ fleet, which has recently taken up duties on the busy Dublin–Holyhead route across the Irish Sea, having started her career in the Baltic as Star. PLUS The 102,853gt Carnival Destiny in St Lucia, April 2007. BIRTH OF THE MEGA CRUISE SHIP • The size of cruise ships has grown since in the 1970s, but which were the first cruise ships exceeding 100,000gt, once regarded as groundbreaking? SIR WALTER SCOTT • Marking the 125th anniversary of the introduction of the steamship Sir Walter Scott on Loch Katrine in the Trossachs. FISHER FLEETS • History of the James Fisher group, one of the oldest British shipping companies, from sail and steamships to motor coasters, heavy-lift ships and…