The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which advises vessel operators on incidents involving shipping, has reported that up to five armed masked men boarded a tanker in the Gulf of Oman in the early hours of this morning.

Breakbulk operator Intermarine is expanding its fleet with the long-term charter of four vessels.

Chinese electric car maker BYD’s first car carrier BYD Explorer 1 has launched into operation exporting vehicles to Europe.

War in Gaza has so far led to attacks on merchant vessels transiting the Red Sea, but some experts are also concerned about the spread of vessel attacks to Somali pirates operating in the Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea region.

Houthi rebel leader Muhammad Ali Al-Houthi has ordered his forces not to fire on vessels transiting the Red Sea which declare they have no connection to Israel.

Mental Health Support Solutions (MHSS) is offering pro bono critical mental health support to vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden high risk areas.

The Institute of Marine Engineering, Science & Technology (IMarEST) has announced the appointment of Chris Goldsworthy as its new chief executive.

A Master and Chief Engineer were reported to have been abducted by pirates in the west African Gulf of Guinea region on New Year’s Day, off the southern coast of Cameroon.

Anti-ship ballistic missiles were fired into the Red Sea on January 2, demonstrating the continued threat to merchant shipping despite an international naval presence.

Maersk announced it will extend a 48 hour pause to transits through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden until further notice following the attack on one of its ships over the weekend.