Shipping associations have welcomed the European Union’s operation Aspides, a defensive maritime security operation to protect shipping in the Red Sea.

Beauty, they say, is in the eye of the beholder, but few observers would describe the widening chasm that has opened between western and some Middle Eastern interests in the Red Sea as objectively attractive.

Geopolitics, regional conflicts, and the prospect of more global unrest continues to limit the supply of ships for recycling.

Seafarers covered by International Bargaining Forum (IBF) agreements can refuse to sail through the Southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, but it takes a high level of pre-planning according to ITF head Stephen Cotton.

US Central Command (Centcom) announced its latest success in capturing arms destined for the Houthi Movement, however, attacks continue with a strike against a Greek ship on 15 February.

The Lloyd’s Register (LR) and five Greek ship owning companies have banded together to launch a global nonprofit Maritime Emissions Reduction Center (M-ERC) in Athens to optimise the efficiency of the existing fleet.

UK-based wind propulsion specialist, BAR Technologies, and Spanish floating wind developer, Nervion Naval Offshore, have set up a partnership to manufacture, sell and supply BAR Technologies’ WindWings sails in Spain.

Four people died when a disgruntled former employee went on a shooting rampage at a shipping company in the southern Athens suburb of Glyfada on the morning of February 12.

Finnish manufacturer Norsepower has signed the largest order for rotor sails, 18 units in total to install on three cargo vessels for Airbus.