News

To allow for maintenance works on the 'Loch Shira', serving on the route Largs-Cumbrae, the Ferry 'Loch Tarbert' was operate this route on March 20. Due to a reduced vehicle capacity, wait times might be increased. While the repairs were progressing, there was currently an approximately 30 min waiting tim for vehicles departing Largs aboard the 'Loch Tarbert'. After the successful completion of the works, the 'Loch Shira' finally resumed its service departing from Largs at 4:15 p.m., allowing the traffic queues to be cleared in the aftermath.

On March 13, 2025, the 'Daban', carrying Russian crude transferred from three smaller tankers that are under U.S. sanctions unloaded at a berth run by the privately-controlled Qingdao Haiye Group at the port of Qingdao, ending an unusual month-long voyage highlighting the efforts of producers and traders to keep Moscow's oil flowing despite tightened curbs. The VLCC was carrying two million barrels of Russian Sokol oil. The cargo was initially headed to the port of Yantai in Shandong province, a refining hub and top destination for oil sanctioned by the United States. Yantai, part of Shandong Port Group, rejected the cargo.The 'Daban' had transferred oil from the tankers 'Vladimir Arsenyev' on Feb 3, the 'Kapitan Kostichev' on Feb 9 and the 'Victor Konetsky' on Feb 10 at Nakhoda Bay in Russian territorial waters. These three vessels had come under U.S. sanctions on Jan 10. Nakhoda Bay is not known as a regular site for ship-to-ship transfers of oil, making the 'Daban's movements more conspicuous. The tanker is managed by Hong Kong-based Confident Apex Ltd,, while contact information for the company was not available.

On March 3, 2025, the 'Dagat Mas' was detained in Dalian with 11 deficiencies, two of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Propulsion and auxiliary machinery - Propulsion main engine Not as required 2) Fire safety Other (Fire safety) Other The vessel, which had arrived from Lome on Feb 1 and finally berthed on March 2, left Dalian again on March 7 and remained moored off the port in pos. 38° 53' N 121° 58' E as of March 21. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591

A Russian naval force consisting of four ships was close to rounding Skagen Reef on the afternoon of March 19, 2025, heading towards the Great Belt. The Royal Navy, along with NATO allies, had conducted a coordinated operation to monitor the Russian naval task group since entering the English Channel on March 16. The Type 23 frigate HMS 'Somerset', the minehunter HMS 'Cattistock' and the RFA 'Tidesurge' had participated in the monitoring operation, which began south of Portsmouth. The operation involved both naval assets and aerial surveillance, including a RAF P8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth. The ships were on their way back from Syria, where they have picked up military equipment that is no longer needed after the Russian-backed President Assad's regime fell in Dec 2024. The ships have been continuously shadowed by aircraft and warships from the NATO countries they have passed, a task that was taken over by units from the Danish Navy when the naval force have passed Skagen. The convoy consisted of the destroyer 'Severomorsk', the landing craft 'Aleksandr Shabalin', and the cargo ships 'Sparta IV' and 'Siyanie Severa', both of which sailing for the Russian Navy. The naval force was on its way to St. Petersburg with the 'SParta IV' having an ETA as of March 24, where equipment from Syria has previously been brought ashore. The Russians are negotiating with the new rulers in Syria for permission to continue using the strategically important naval base in Tartus. The Russians are prepared to pay for the base with Russian oil. The status of these negotiations was unknown. Report with photos: https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news/2025/march/19/250319-royal-navy-shadow-russian-task-group-returning-from-syria-in-the-channel

Already on Nov 5, 2024, the 'Gotland' was detained in Liverpool with ten deficiencies, six of which being regarded as seriously and grounds for a detention: 1) Structural conditions - Steering gear Inoperative 2) Life saving Appliances - Rescue boats Inoperative 3) Fire safety - Evaluation of crew performance Lack of familiarity 4) Propulsion and auxiliary machinery - Propulsion main engine Inadequate 5) Propulsion and auxiliary machinery - Auxiliary machinery Inadequate 6) ISM - Ism certificate Not as required The vessel was released again only on March 13, 2025, after 129 days,, and left Liverpool en route to the port of Hambur with an ETA as of March 23. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063576908591