Maritimes Crimes

Astronomers confirmed the first close-orbiting supermassive black hole binary (SMBHB) at galaxy Markarian 501’s core, 464 million light-years distant in Hercules constellation. Max Planck Institute’s Silke Britzen led 23-year Very …

Japan naval exports enter a new strategic phase Japan naval exports are entering a new phase as Tokyo lifts long-standing restrictions on the export of lethal weapons. The decision has …

A Somalia piracy resurgence is raising new concerns for maritime security after several vessels were hijacked off the northeastern coast in April 2026. According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade …

Oil slicks detected near Iranian islands Satellite images reveal a growing oil spill threat across the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz after strikes damaged Iranian oil facilities and …

Japan oil imports are entering a new phase as the country receives its first U.S. crude shipment since disruptions in Middle East supply chains. The tanker Otis delivered around 910,000 …

The Sabetta case: the strategic evolution of the Dark Fleet in West Africa The recent berthing of the cargo vessel Sabetta (IMO: 9347061) at the Port of Conakry between March …

A chance discovery in the Weddell Sea The recent Antarctic island discovery in the Weddell Sea highlights how dynamic and uncertain polar maritime environments remain. In February 2026, a scientific …

Strategic geography at Indian Ocean crossroads Antsiranana Bay in far northern Madagascar commands exceptional strategic value as one of the world’s premier natural harbours. Spanning over 250 km² with its …

By Argenis RODRIGUEZ (maritime lawyer) The Strait of Hormuz is one of the main “chokepoints” in international maritime transport, that is,“narrow waterways where sea routes converge due to geography.” Its …

Beneath the perennial ice of Antarctica’s Weddell Sea, a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) named “Lassie” uncovered more than 1,000 meticulously organised fish nests during the 2019 Weddell Sea Expedition aboard …

China’s aircraft carrier Liaoning sailed through the Taiwan Strait on April 20, according to Taiwan’s defence ministry, which said it kept close and continuous surveillance during the transit. Taipei also …

In mid-April 2026, Greek maritime authorities conducted a series of large-scale search and rescue (SAR) operations, rescuing over 300 migrants off the coast of Crete within a 48-hour window. This …

On 7 April 1989, the Soviet Project 685 submarine K-278 Komsomolets sank in the Norwegian Sea following a catastrophic fire in its seventh compartment. Resting at a depth of approximately …

The South China Sea cyanide dispute has added a new layer of tension between the Philippines and China, combining environmental risks with maritime security concerns. In early 2025, Philippine authorities …

Swedish coastguard intercepts bulk carrier after pollution discharge A Baltic Sea pollution investigation has drawn attention to two separate maritime incidents off Sweden in early April 2026, highlighting growing environmental …

Rising mediterranean migrant deaths in 2026 Mediterranean migrant deaths continue to rise in 2026 as sea crossings between North Africa and Europe become increasingly dangerous. According to recent reports, nearly …

A chokepoint with multi-commodity exposure The Strait of Hormuz is a systemic maritime interface, not a single-commodity artery. UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) estimates it carries ~25% of global seaborne …

North Atlantic: Russian submarines tracked near cables British authorities say three Russian submarines were tracked for several weeks near critical undersea infrastructure in the North Atlantic, highlighting renewed concern over …

Global maritime piracy fell sharply during the first quarter of 2026, reaching its lowest level for the period since 1991, according to the latest report from the ICC International Maritime …

Europe’s campaign against the so‑called “shadow fleet” is entering a more assertive phase. In March 2026, Swedish authorities boarded the tanker Sea Owl I in the Baltic Sea over suspected …

The French court sentenced Chinese tanker captain Zhangjie Chen to one year in prison in absentia, underscoring a growing European resolve to curb Russia’s “shadow fleet.” Chen, 39, was convicted …

Indian Ocean Naval Symposium 2026 Hosted in Kochi New Delhi – The Indian Navy opened the **Indian Ocean Naval Symposium 2026 (IONS 2026)** in Kochi on 12 April, bringing together …

A Russian LNG tanker drifting in the Mediterranean is raising serious environmental concerns as authorities warn the vessel could trigger a major marine pollution disaster. The Arctic Metagaz, a liquefied …

The Strait of Hormuz mining threat has become one of the most serious maritime security concerns in the Middle East. This narrow passage between Iran and Oman connects the Persian …

The Nigerian Navy says it has disrupted a suspected sea robbery attempt and rescued 16 civilian passengers after an armed group seized a fibre passenger boat on the Ibaka–Calabar Channel, …

France sends carrier strike group amid Middle East tensions The Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier Mediterranean deployment highlights France’s rapid naval response as tensions rise across the Middle East. In …

Kharg Island oil terminal plays a central role in Iran’s energy system and maritime traffic across the Persian Gulf. Located about 25 km off the Iranian coast in Bushehr Province, …

Explosions and fire reported aboard the LNG carrier A Russian LNG tanker attack in the Central Mediterranean has raised new concerns about maritime security linked to the war between Russia …

Shipping halted after US strikes on Iran The Strait of Hormuz closure has triggered immediate disruption across global oil trade after US strikes on Iran this weekend reportedly killed Supreme …

A suspected Russian drone near Charles de Gaulle was reported on 26 February 2026, as the French Navy’s aircraft carrier was docked in Malmö, Sweden, during a NATO-linked port visit. …

European Union naval coordination is moving to a new level as commanders from three EU maritime operations met in Rome on 25 February 2026 to strengthen cooperation across a rapidly …

Summary Firefight occurred near Cayo Falcones, off northern Cuba Four killed, six injured aboard a Florida-registered speedboat Cuba alleges terrorist infiltration attempt US authorities conducting a parallel investigation Incident increases …

Maritime cybersecurity is becoming a critical pillar of global security as ships and ports rely more on digital systems. At the crossroads of technology and policy, Strahinja “Strajo” Janjusevic is …

Strategic stop in the Eastern Mediterranean The USS Gerald R. Ford, the world’s largest aircraft carrier, has anchored at Souda Bay in Crete for a four-day logistical stop before redeploying …

Maritime patrol disrupted during MDA flight China signal jamming allegations have escalated tensions in the West Philippine Sea after the Philippine Coast Guard reported satellite disruption near Bajo de Masinloc …

The Cuba fuel crisis entered a new phase on February 16 as the product tanker Nicos I.V. docked in Matanzas Bay, western Cuba. The 183-meter vessel, flying the flag of …

In a significant step for European naval innovation, unmanned maritime platforms Italy cooperation was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in Naples on February 17, 2026. HAVELSAN, Piloda Defence …

The Argentina maritime strike has disrupted port operations nationwide as unions protest President Javier Milei’s labor reform. Maritime federations including FESIMAF launched a 48-hour stoppage, while the CGT called a …

The Arctic has long been a place of exploration rather than routine trade, because sea ice, darkness and limited infrastructure made navigation uncertain and costly. That equation is changing. As …

Turkey and Israel are no longer separated only by rhetoric and episodic diplomatic crises. Across the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond, the relationship is increasingly interpreted—by officials, lawmakers and analysts in …

Rebuilding shipbuilding and reshaping fleet economics The U.S. Maritime Action Plan, released on February 13, 2026, sets out a long-term strategy to revive the US shipbuilding industry and strengthen the …

Iran holds live-fire drills in key shipping lane Strait of Hormuz shipping security came under renewed scrutiny after Iran temporarily closed parts of the strategic waterway during live-fire military drills. …

Marine litter has become one of the most pressing environmental and maritime governance challenges worldwide. Across the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean, plastic …

The Jeanne d’Arc 2026 deployment is the French Navy’s five-month training and operational mission, briefed on 5 February by Capt. (N) Jocelyn Delrieu. Sailing on the amphibious assault ship Dixmude …

Introduction When the oil tanker Grinch was boarded in the Alboran Sea and diverted under escort to the Marseille-Fos terminal area in January 2026, the episode was presented not as …

The French Navy cocaine seizure of 2.4 tonnes in French Polynesia confirms the Pacific Ocean’s growing role as a strategic corridor for cocaine trafficking. Conducted in cooperation with the United …

Government suspends registrations amid fraud concerns The Cameroon ship registry is facing intense international scrutiny after the government announced the suspension of new registrations for vessels operating outside national waters. …

Captain pleads not guilty to infrastructure damage The Baltic Sea cable damage case involving the Hong Kong-registered container ship NewNew Polar Bear has entered a new judicial phase. On February …

By Argenis Rodriguez, maritime lawyer Part 2 While international law clearly establishes the obligation for vessels to have a nationality, it remains largely silent on the legal consequences faced by …

The Lightfish unmanned surface vessel was launched for the first time from a partner nation ship during Exercise Cutlass Express 2026 off Seychelles in the Indian Ocean on February 9–10, …