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Water flows through a damaged hull of Stena Immaculate oil tanker ship after it collided with a cargo ship off the northeastern coast of England, Britain, March 11, 2025. REUTERS/Phil Noble
Hello Club Members! Here is your weekly Dispatch with all the maritime news you need to know to end your week.
Ship Photo of The Week
An aerial view of the damaged hull of US-flagged Stena Immaculate oil tanker after it collided with a cargo ship off the northeastern coast of England, Britain, March 11, 2025. REUTERS/Phil Noble
Top Stories
North Sea Collision Sparks Chaos—And Questions
Things got a little too close for comfort off England’s East Yorkshire coast near the tow of Hull this week when the containership Solong barreled into the anchored oil tanker Stena Immaculate at 16 knots—causing explosions, fires, and an all-hands-on-deck salvage response.
The Stena Immaculate took a serious hit, suffering a ruptured cargo tank filled with Jet-A1 fuel belonging to the U.S. military. But thankfully, all crew aboard are safe. The same can’t be said for Solong—as one crew member remains missing.
SOLONG pictured on 11 March 2025 (Photo: Maritime and Coastguard Agency)
Humberside Police wasted no time in arresting the Solong’s 59-year-old Russian captain, who has now been formally charged with gross negligence manslaughter after his ship inexplicably failed to dodge the stationary tanker. Investigators are now sifting through Voyage Data Recorder (VDR) data, crew accounts, and maintenance logs, in an attempt to figure out what happened.
While online conspiracy theories are swirling, early evidence points to an unfortunate case of human error rather than an intentional act. According to the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), which is leading the inquiry, the Solong last altered course onto a heading of approximately 150° a full eight hours before it struck the anchored Stena Immaculate.
With Stena Immaculate operating under the U.S. government’s Tanker Security Program and on charter to the Military Sealift Command, the incident carries some geopolitical significance.
As of Friday, salvage teams had boarded both vessels, and an exclusion zone remains in place as authorities work out next steps—including finalizing a towage plan.
Beijing Not Sold on CK Hutchison’s Port Deal
China isn’t exactly thrilled with CK Hutchison’s latest business move. The Hong Kong-based firm planned to sell most of its massive $22.8 billion global ports portfolio—including strategic assets near the Panama Canal—to a consortium led by BlackRock. But China’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO) publicly called the sale a “betrayal” of national interests, suggesting the deal prioritizes profits over patriotism.
After the critical comments appeared on Beijing’s official HKMAO website, investors grew jittery, sending CK Hutchison shares down more than 6%. The core issue? Concerns that Beijing could derail the deal, fearing U.S. control over key maritime logistics might restrict China’s global trade.
Adding another twist, President Trump is reportedly planning an executive order imposing fees on China-linked ships docking in the U.S., aiming to boost American shipbuilding. With politics mixing into business, CK Hutchison now faces a rocky path ahead—and investors are closely watching Beijing’s next move.
China’s New ‘Invasion’ Barges Making Waves
China’s so-called “invasion barges” pictured March 13 on a beach in China. Photo via social media
China appears to be bridging the gap—literally—in amphibious warfare. A newly surfaced video on Chinese social media has revealed Beijing’s new self-propelled jack-up barges, dubbed “invasion barges” online, featuring extendable bridges that can connect together to rapidly deploy tanks and heavy vehicles directly onto shore.
Satellite observers spotted a handful of these unique vessels leaving Guangzhou Shipyard late last year for sea trials. Now video has emerged showing the three of the vessels assembling at a nearby beach, linking together to form an impressive 821-meter landing platform, essentially creating a floating roadway for rapid troop and vehicle deployment.
Unlike standard civilian barges, the vessels boast sturdy jack-up legs for extra stability during rough conditions and dedicated docking platforms at their stern. Experts have noted that these mobile landing platforms could fundamentally change invasion strategies and neatly complement China’s existing fleet of military-useful roll-on/roll-off ferries.
The new footage has captured worldwide attention, with defense analysts closely monitoring Beijing’s efforts to bridge its maritime military gaps. In a potential Taiwan invasion scenario, these capabilities could prove critical by enabling rapid deployment across previously inaccessible locations. Taiwan’s latest defense assessments indicate that more coastal areas may now be vulnerable, compelling a strategic reassessment of how to counter China’s expanding amphibious capabilities.
OFAC Drops the Anchor on Iran’s Shadow Fleet
The U.S. Treasury turned up the heat this week, unveiling fresh sanctions targeting Iran’s oil sector—including the Minister of Petroleum himself, Mohsen Paknejad, who’s been steering billions in oil funds toward Iran’s military. According to U.S. officials, by the end of 2025, over half of Iran’s oil revenues could end up fueling its armed forces.
At the heart of the U.S. crackdown is Iran’s elusive “shadow fleet,” a group of vessels accused of secretly shipping Iranian oil, mainly to China. The new ships designated this week are responsible for transporting some $5.4 billion worth of Iranian, Venezuelan and Russian oil. Meanwhile, several shipping firms from Hong Kong, Seychelles, Bangladesh, and Suriname also found themselves added to the sanctions list.
These sanctions represent OFAC’s third round of designations since February, when President Trump initiated his maximum pressure 2.0 campaign. Maritime stakeholders take note—violations incur severe civil and criminal penalties. As Washington ratchets up enforcement, those running Iranian crude might soon find their covert operations in troubled waters.
Dockworkers’ Delight: East Coast Ports Seal Historic Deal
Dockworkers can breathe easier after union leaders and shipping industry bosses signed a landmark six-year labor deal this week, keeping cargo flowing smoothly at major U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports until September 2030. The agreement between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) grants unprecedented worker benefits—including significant wage hikes, retroactive to October 2024. After months of tough talks, union chief Harold Daggett proudly labeled it “the greatest contract in ILA history.”
Negotiations nearly ran aground over concerns about port automation, with union fears of robots stealing jobs. But after months of tense bargaining—and some timely encouragement from former President Trump—a deal was finalized.
USMX praised the outcome, emphasizing the deal supports port modernization while safeguarding workers’ interests. With this agreement signed, cargo terminals and dockworkers alike can sail smoothly, at least for another six years.
Canada Locks in Arctic Icebreaker Deals
Canada is making waves in the Arctic with two historic icebreaker deals. Quebec’s Davie Shipbuilding and Vancouver’s Seaspan Shipyards just landed multi-billion-dollar contracts under Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy to build the country’s first domestically-produced polar icebreakers in over 60 years.
Davie’s 139-meter-long vessel, dubbed “Polar Max,” will be constructing with input from Finland’s Helsinki Shipyard expertise, renowned globally for icebreaker construction. Seaspan’s polar powerhouse will be massive—158 meters long and weighing over 26,000 tonnes—making it one of the most advanced and capable icebreakers in the world.
Aside from boosting Canada’s strategic Arctic presence amid increased geopolitical tensions involving Russia and China, the projects promise thousands of local jobs and investment into regional businesses. Canada’s Arctic ambitions stand in sharp contrast to the U.S., whose icebreaker program remains bogged down in delays.
While President Trump floated the idea of building “48 icebreakers,” Canada has officially jumped ahead, making moves while America navigates through icebreaker limbo.
FMC Sounds the Alarm on Global Shipping Chokepoints
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has launched a deep dive into seven major global shipping chokepoints, investigating how foreign regulations and vessel operations may be worsening transit bottlenecks.
The probe will scrutinize key waterways, including the Suez and Panama Canals, the Strait of Gibraltar, and the Northern Sea Passage. With geopolitical tensions disrupting trade—such as Houthi attacks near the Suez and Russia’s control over Arctic routes—officials are concerned about increasing instability.
Recent infrastructure failures, like the Baltimore bridge collapse, only highlight the fragility of global supply chains. The FMC is now calling on industry stakeholders to weigh in on the causes and possible fixes, with a 60-day public comment window open through the Federal eRulemaking Portal.
With global trade facing mounting pressures, this investigation could shape policies aimed at keeping cargo moving—and preventing further maritime gridlock.
As always, we’d love to hear your feedback. Email [email protected] with any questions, comments, tips, or concerns. Don’t forget to check out the Club Discord and gCaptain.com for the latest maritime news.
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