Maritime News Capsule | Rubymar's impact, 2,000-Y-O Antikythera wreck discoveries & more
From Sweden's ban on toxic scrubber water discharge by ships to the environmental threat posed by the sunken bulk carrier Rubymar off Yemen's coast, the fire incident at Lürssen Shipyard to Singapore grappling with a surge in off-schedule ship arrivals attributed to Red Sea crises, here's a roundup of recent significant maritime news and updates.
Singapore Port faces large-scale delays in ship arrivals
Representative image
Owing to diversions in the Red Sea, a vast majority of container vessels faced delays in arriving at the Singapore port. With almost 90% arriving late, up from 77% last year, the cause has been attributed to the ongoing Red Sea crisis, which is compelling ships to take longer routes. The off-schedule arrivals has been impacting Singapore and its status as a global transshipment hub for container operations.
Lürssen Shipyard Fire in Germany forces evacuations, halts Kiel Canal traffic
A fire at Lürssen shipyard in Schacht-Audorf, Germany, destroyed a large building hall and a superyacht, suspected to be the Honolulu. Starting on Tuesday morning, the blaze prompted the evacuation of 100 employees and nearby residents. However, coming to the rescue, firefighters, while battling temperatures of 1,000 degrees, were able to contain the situation.
IMO urges cleanup operations as bulk carrier Rubymar sinking threatens Yemen's marine environment
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has raised alarm over the environmental threat posed by the sunken bulk carrier, Rubymar, off Yemen's coast since March 2024. Carrying ammonium phosphate, heavy fuel oil, and marine diesel, the Belize-flagged vessel's sinking resulted in a significant oil slick and sparked concerns over remnant pollutants.
With Yemen lacking adequate oil spill response equipment, the IMO has urged international support for containment and cleanup efforts, citing risks to the biologically-diverse Hanish Islands.
Expedition 2024: Significant finds unearthed at Antikythera wreck
Excavation efforts in the Aegean Sea at the 2,000-year-old Antikythera wreck site has yielded ground-breaking finds. Notable discoveries include a well-preserved section of the ship's hull with original fasteners and protective coating, an array of artifacts including pottery fragments, marble fragments from statues, human bones, metal objects, and personal items, totaling some 300 pieces.
Analysis of the same suggests that the ship was constructed using an ancient "shell first" method, giving crucial insights into ancient marine trade and, in turn, challenging modern techniques.
Union Marine Management Services, NAPA join forces to optimize voyages & bolster fuel efficiency
Union Marine Management is all set to enhance fuel efficiency for its fleet of 55 bulk carriers by implementing voyage optimization strategies. Via an agreement with NAPA, savings in bunker fuel consumption are projected to range between 5% to 10%. By optimizing routes and adjusting operational parameters, such as speed and engine settings, the company anticipates reducing overall fuel usage during voyages.
Sweden introduces new regulations to fix marine pollution
Following Denmark's footsteps and a host of countries to walk the path, Sweden has prohibited scrubs and discharge of scrubber water in Swedish territorial waters. Effective July 1, 2025, with the amendment of the Sulphur Regulation, the government will ban open loop scrubbers or wastewater exuding from ship scrubbers.
"Reducing emissions into the air by moving pollution to the sea is not a sustainable solution. Therefore, a proposal is now being submitted to ban the scrubbers’ discharge into the water," stated Andreas Carlson, the infrastructure and housing minister.
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