Maritimes Crimes

Oil tanker rerouting is never a neutral decision. Depending on the chokepoint avoided, the cost can range from around $100,000 to more than $850,000 per voyage, excluding additional insurance, security, …

A transparency pledge from Mombasa Illegal fishing became a central maritime security issue on 17 June 2026, when governments meeting at the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa adopted the …

A close approach south of the Isle of Wight The Admiral Grigorovich warning shots incident took place on 16 June in the English Channel, around 20 nautical miles south of …

Protected waters reopened U.S. President Donald Trump has reopened parts of several Pacific marine sanctuaries to commercial fishing through a proclamation signed on June 11, 2026. The order covers the …

The Strait of Hormuz reopening has become the main maritime issue in the new agreement announced by the United States and Iran after months of war in the Middle East. …

Beneath the turbulent surface of the open sea, where sunlight fades and the pressure mounts, lie some of the most powerful and mysterious forces on Earth: submarine volcanoes. Invisible to …

French Navy checks Tagor in the Atlantic France has boarded the Tagor, a Russian shadow fleet tanker, during a high-seas operation in the Atlantic on 31 May 2026. The vessel …

A civilian cargo ship hit near Odesa Maritime risks in the Black Sea continue to worsen after a new reported attack on a civilian merchant vessel. On May 29, 2026, …

China accuses the Netherlands near the Paracels China said on 27 May that a South China Sea incident involving the Dutch frigate HNLMS De Ruyter led its naval and air …

Mines found on the Arrhenius tanker Russian authorities said on May 25, 2026, that magnetic mines had been found on the hull of the Arrhenius, a Liberia-flagged LPG tanker that …

Why shark attacks seem to be on the rise Shark‑human interactions have become a frequent topic in the news, and this trend is backed by real data. Record‑breaking numbers of …

When French biodiversity is discussed, one tends to think of oak forests, the lynx of the Vosges, or the coral reefs of New‑Caledonia. Yet, at the far southern end of …

U.S. Marines intercept tanker near Iran The Iranian tanker M/T Celestial Sea was boarded by U.S. Marines in the Gulf of Oman on May 20, 2026, after U.S. Central Command …

A strategic choice for Baltic Sea security Sweden has selected France’s Naval Group to supply four Sweden FDI frigates, marking one of Stockholm’s largest defence investments since the Gripen fighter …

SECREN shipyard revival in Antsiranana emerges as Indian Ocean’s pivotal geopolitical contest. After the Kremlin recruited 800 Malagasy mercenaries for Kiev and plundered fishery resources through illegal 2018 agreements, Moscow …

Pipelines offer partial alternatives The alternative oil routes around the Strait of Hormuz are becoming a major test for global energy security. The strait normally handles a large share of …

Satellite images reveal a suspected oil slick A suspected Kharg oil spill has raised new concerns in the Persian Gulf after satellite images showed a grey and white slick near …

The French carrier strike group (GAN) built around the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle has crossed the Suez Canal and is now heading toward the Red Sea as France increases …

By Argenis RODRIGUEZ (maritime lawyer) In last couple of months, the Islamic Republic of Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz by laying mines in its waters and charging a …

The Hormuz Strait container ship attack has once again highlighted the growing risks facing commercial shipping in one of the world’s most strategic maritime corridors. A container vessel chartered by …

A tanker hijacking in the Gulf of Aden is raising fresh concerns over maritime security in one of the world’s most strategic shipping lanes. On 2 May 2026, the tanker …

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 …