This footage shows a 12000 ton ship steaming into a Storm force 10 in the Bay of Biscay with high seas and very long, deep swell.

Rampant pirate attacks. Empty containers piling up. Laid up car carriers filling up anchorages. The worldwide shipping picture is changing each day, and it does not appear to be change for the good.  For those of us who read the news at Lloyd’s List, it seems that a grimmer picture forms every morning in our [...]

“We’ve fetched up hard aground, north of Goose Island, off Bligh Reef and evidently leaking some oil and we’re gonna be here for a while.” Exxon Valdez has indeed been here a while.  One can only wonder if CAPT Hazelwood realized the impact his ship would have on the maritime industry when he made that [...]

The folks at gCaptain made a post concerning the recent final rule on the consolidation of Merchant mariner Qualification Credentials, often referred to the MMC or Merchant Mariner Credential.  Essentially, the Coast Guard is moving to a single credential that documents all of a mariners qualifications and is in-line with international standards.  The MMC is going [...]

Hard labor….Hell on earth….Toxic Words that for many describe the many ship breaking yards of the far east. A recent Bangladesh High Court ruling has environmentalists joyful, and upwards of 36 ship recycling yards dealing with a potential shut down. India’s ship breaking business is known worldwide for its environmental hazards, exploitation and poor workers [...]