Maritimes Crimes

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 …

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. …