Cruise Ship Hantavirus Outbreak Points to Virus Spreading Among Humans
Cruise ship MV Hondius docks off Cape Verde port, as passengers were not allowed off the ship, while health authorities investigated suspected cases of hantavirus aboard the vessel, in Praia Port, Cape Verde, in this screengrab obtained from a video, May 4, 2026. REUTERS TV via REUTERS
Cruise Ship Hantavirus Outbreak Points to Virus Spreading Among Humans
Bloomberg
Total Views: 0
May 5, 2026
By Marthe Fourcade and Jason Gale (Bloomberg) — The cruise ship where a handful of passengers
contracted a rare respiratory virus
, stranding hundreds aboard, will travel to the Canary Islands once two ill crew members are medically evacuated, the World Health Organization said, adding it suspects limited transmission between passengers.
Two passengers have so far been confirmed to have a variant of hantavirus, a rare infection that typically spreads to humans through contact with infected rodents and their droppings. One was among three people who have died in the outbreak and the other is in inte
OceanScore Pool-Price Index Market Commentary: May 2026
OceanScore Pool-Price Index Market Commentary: May 2026
in
International Shipping News
,
Monthly OceanScore Pool-Price Index
06/05/2026
With the pooling window for 2025 compliance balances now closed, attention has moved to 2026.
The OceanScore Pool-Price Index (OPX) increased to €225 per ton of CO₂e in May, up from €196 in April.
The pattern resembles what we saw one year ago. The year starts with a wide spread of offers, reaching up to €300, reflected in the higher OPX level. At the same time, market activity remains low.
Most offers currently sit between €170 and €210.
Athens-based Maritime Emissions Reduction Centre welcomes Cargill as newest member
Athens-based Maritime Emissions Reduction Centre welcomes Cargill as newest member
in
Hellenic Shipping News
06/05/2026
Cargill’s membership underlines MERC’s expanding international reach and highlights the increasing influence of commercial operators in driving emissions reduction.
The Maritime Emissions Reduction Centre (MERC) has welcomed Cargill as its newest member, broadening the industry collaboration working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the existing global shipping fleet.
Cargill’s membership strengthens MERC by adding the perspective of a major charterer to the Centre’s work. This addition reflects the growing role that commercial operators can play in helping identify, assess and scale practical emissions-reduction measures for ships already in service.
Together with Drydocks World, who joined MERC earlier this year, the expanded membership strengthens the MERC’s role as a collaborative industry platform to pursue practical emissions reduction measures.
MERC is an
Why are 110 certified Indian ship recycling yards frozen out by Brussels?
Why are 110 certified Indian ship recycling yards frozen out by Brussels?
in
International Shipping News
06/05/2026
In February, the European Commission adopted the 15th edition of the European List of Ship Recycling Facilities. The list now contains 41 facilities of which 30 are in the European Union (EU), Norway and the UK, 10 are in Türkiye and one is in the United States.
Once again, the EU member states have voted to support the Commission’s recommendation to not add any recycling facilities in South Asia despite a significant transformation at many yards in the region.
Today, over 110 Indian recycling yards hold a Hong Kong Convention (HKC) Statement of Compliance, issued by International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) members. In addition, 23 yards in Bangladesh have been authorised to conduct ship recycling by their national authorities as per HKC requirements.
Greek Owners Invest Over $10 Billion in Newbuildings
Greek Owners Invest Over $10 Billion in Newbuildings
in
Hellenic Shipping News
06/05/2026
G
reek owners have placed newbuilding orders worth over $10 billion during the first quarter of the year, with interest across all major shipping markets. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Xclusiv said that “Greek newbuilding activity reached an exceptional threshold in the first quarter of 2026, with orders placed across all four sectors totalling 102 vessels at a combined value of approximately $10.1 billion — a 3.6-fold increase in volume versus the 28 vessels ordered in Q1 2025, and the most capital-intensive quarter on record in this dataset. The tanker sector was the unambiguous driver, but the breadth of the commitment — spanning large crude, LNG, dry bulk, and smaller containers — reflects a strategic repositioning by Greek principals at a pace and scale not seen in recent cycles”.
Source: Xclusiv
According to Xclusiv, “the tanker sector accounts for both the volume and the financial
IACS publishes results of Concentrated Inspection Campaign on onboard Emergency Power Supply
IACS publishes results of Concentrated Inspection Campaign on onboard Emergency Power Supply
in
International Shipping News
06/05/2026
Inspections conducted on over 36,000 ships during 2025, and recommendations made to improve emergency power supply tests
5th May 2026 – IACS, the membership organisation for the world’s leading classification societies, has published the results of its Concentrated Inspection Campaign on Emergency Power Supply Tests on ships, conducted during 2025, and made a number of recommendations that will improve compliance with SOLAS requirements.
The campaign was launched in response to concerns raised by the Tokyo MoU over risks in the testing procedures, following observations raised by Port State Control officers over the reliability of ‘simulated blackout’ tests as demonstrating SOLAS compliance.
The Concentrated Inspection Campaign commenced on 1 January 2025 and ended on 31 December 2025. During this 12-month period, emergency power supply inspections were
Presentation of the ECB Annual Report 2025 to the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament
Presentation of the ECB Annual Report 2025 to the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs of the European Parliament
in
World Economy News
06/05/2026
It is a privilege to present the ECB’s Annual Report for 2025 to this Committee. As you may know, it is the last time I will do so, as my eight-year mandate as Vice-President comes to an end later this month. That makes today’s exchange particularly meaningful for me.
Alongside the Annual Report, we are publishing our formal response to the European Parliament’s resolution on last year’s report.
Synthetic rope replaces steel wire on deepwater support vessel, changing how crew work on deck
Synthetic rope replaces steel wire on deepwater support vessel, changing how crew work on deck
Posted to
Maritime Reporter
(by
Teijin Aramid
)
on
May 3, 2026
Stabbert Maritime has retrofitted its multipurpose offshore support vessel Ocean Guardian with a synthetic hoisting system after steel wire rope began dictating how and where crew could safely work during daily deepwater operations.
The Seattle-based operator runs Ocean Guardian on continuous subsea, survey, and scientific support missions to depths of 6,000 meters. At that depth and frequency, lifting is not an occasional event. It is a daily routine, and the properties of the hoisting rope directly affect how every other task on deck gets done.
Steel wire created three compounding problems.
Pakistanis among hijacked oil tanker crew face food, water shortages — rights group
Pakistanis among hijacked oil tanker crew face food, water shortages — rights group
in
International Shipping News
05/05/2026
Ten Pakistani nationals among the crew of a hijacked oil tanker are facing worsening shortages of food and drinking water, a rights group said on Monday, raising alarm over their safety as the standoff drags on with no clear resolution in sight.
The oil tanker, MT Honor 25, was seized on April 21 off the coast of Somalia. Its multinational crew includes 10 Pakistanis, four Indonesians, and one national each from India, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
Ansar Burney Trust International, a Pakistani human rights group that established contact with the Somali pirates who hijacked the vessel, said while the sailors were safe, the humanitarian situation aboard the vessel was deteriorating.
“They are currently stable but if food and medical supplies are not delivered to them promptly, the situation may become difficult,” Ansar Burney, chairman of the Pakistani human rights organ
Usage of Algorithms in Bridge Simulators to Enhance Learning
Usage of Algorithms in Bridge Simulators to Enhance Learning
Sponsored
Total Views: 0
May 5, 2026
By Capt. Abhinandan Prasad MNI
Lecturer – SUNY Maritime College, New York
In recent years, advances in computing — from artificial intelligence to adaptive learning
systems — have shown how algorithms can transform the way we work and more
importantly, the way we learn. In maritime education, where hands-on practice is just as
important as conceptual classroom theory, the potential for algorithms to refine simulator-
based training is exceptionally appealing.
Bridge Resource Management (BRM) courses, guided by STCW requirements and the IMO
Model Course for the same, aim to develop competencies ranging from clear communication
to effective teamwork.