A collision between two container ships, ESSENCE and X PRESS MULHACEN, occurred in the Kiel Canal on 6th February at around 6:00 AM UTC, near the north port of Kiel in front of the Holtenau locks. At the time, ESSENCE was sailing from Kotka, Finland, to Rotterdam, Netherlands, while X PRESS MULHACEN was en route from Rotterdam to Gdynia, Poland. Following the collision, both vessels were temporarily detained for investigation by the Kiel water police, assisted by law enforcement vessel STOER. While ESSENCE was able to resume her voyage after a few hours, X PRESS MULHACEN remained detained until the evening, with tug STEIN assisting her. No injuries or pollution were reported. Here’s a playback of the vessels' movements before and after the incident. Read more: #MarineTraffic

Tanker ABHA - Suspicious Activity Raises Alarms A #NATO warship closely watches the tanker ABHA after it strayed from established shipping lanes. Using MarineTraffic’s Past Track feature, we can see the vessel altering course and slowing down near key submarine cable infrastructure—a movement pattern eerily similar to past incidents involving cable disruptions. Adding to concerns, Kpler’s Risk & Compliance terminal flags ABHA with both operational and sanctions risks, including involvement in a high-risk ship-to-ship transfer and the recent loading of HSFO from Russia within the last 30 days. With growing scrutiny on maritime security, sanctions compliance, and critical infrastructure protection, this incident underscores the need for enhanced monitoring and intelligence-sharing. #marinetraffic

RT @flightradar24: AIS data from @MarineTraffic shows boats part of ongoing rescue efforts in the Potomac. https://…

@flightradar24 Thank you for mentioning us, @flightradar24. Here's a full playback of the SAR operations since the incident happened till now:

American Airlines Flight 5342, flying from Wichita, Kansas, collided with a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River near Ronald Reagan National Airport in #Washington, D.C, around 9 p.m. local time. Reports indicate that the plane had 60 passengers and 4 crew members on board, while the helicopter carried 3 soldiers. Rescue operations started right away. According to #MarineTraffic data, the first rescue vessel arrived within minutes, while five SAR vessels are now participating in the operations. Here's the playback of the rescue operations.

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Collision in northern Horsburgh waters On 21 January, the bulk carrier SHANDONG MISSION, en route from Singapore to Port Hedland, Australia, collided with the tug SINHIN 5 in northern Horsburgh waters near Indonesia. According to MarineTraffic data, at approximately 1:42 UTC, the vessels reported a drop in speed, as shown in the playback below. Τhe collision resulted in minor damage to the stardow bow of the SHANDONG MISSION, while SINHIN 5 suffered portside hull damage, according to reports. Despite the incident, SHANDONG MISSION resumed her voyage after inspection and was deemed seaworthy. Here’s a playback of the vessels' movements before and after the incident. Read more: #marinetraffic

Russian vessel Yantar monitored in the UK’s exclusive economic zone On 21 January, the #Russian research ship #Yantar was tracked navigating within the UK’s exclusive economic zone. UK Defence Secretary John Healey identified the vessel as a spy ship, allegedly tasked with gathering intelligence and mapping the UK’s critical underwater infrastructure. According to reports, HMS Somerset and HMS Tyne closely monitored Yantar. Notably, the vessel switched off her #AIS signal on 21 January at 23:48 UTC, further raising concerns about her intent. This marks the second recent sighting of Yantar in #UK waters. #MarineTraffic data confirms her earlier presence in November when she reportedly lingered near critical undersea infrastructure. This activity comes amid growing threats to underwater infrastructure, with reports of Russian and Chinese-linked commercial vessels allegedly cutting cables in the Baltic. Track Yantar’s movements in detail with our Playback feature.

Proud Partner of the Vendée Globe 10th Edition! We are honoured to support the legendary @VendeeGlobe ultimate test of endurance and skill in solo, non-stop, and unassisted sailing. On November 10th, 40 fearless sailors departed from Les Sables-d'Olonne in Vendée, embarking on an epic 45,000 km journey around the globe. Their course led them past the three legendary Capes: Good Hope, Leeuwin, and the formidable Cape Horn, before returning to the starting point. Though the race continues, we are thrilled to celebrate Charlie Dalin for claiming first place and setting an incredible new record of 64 days and 19 hours! Huge congratulations also go to Yoann Richomme and Sébastien Simon for their impressive performances, finishing in second and third place. We look forward to cheering on the remaining sailors as they conquer this extraordinary challenge and complete the final rankings. Here’s to pushing limits and sailing beyond boundaries! ⛵️🌍 📷: @VendeeGlobe #marinetraffic

"Four Plus" tanker seized by Venezuelan authorities for unauthorised entry under false flag On 13 January 2025, Venezuelan authorities detained the tanker FOUR PLUS for unauthorised entry into Venezuelan waters while flying the Guyanese flag without permission. Guyana’s Maritime Administration Department confirmed that the vessel was not registered in Guyana, marking this as a case of using a false flag. The FOUR PLUS had a history of frequent flag changes, with MarineTraffic data revealing four changes between May and September 2023. Her most recent change to Guyana on 26 September 2023 occurred despite no official registration in the country. Dimitris Ampatzidis, Risk and Compliance Analyst at Kpler, comments: "The seizure of FOUR PLUS underscores the pervasive issue of flag fraud in sanctions evasion, with its unauthorised use of the Guyanese flag and links to sanctioned entities exemplifying deliberate non-compliance. Strengthened flag registration oversight and enforcement are critical to addressing such high-risk practises in the maritime industry." This incident highlights a broader issue of vessels using false flags, a practice tied to violations involving sanctioned countries such as Syria, Iran, and Venezuela. The topic will be addressed at the 112th session of the IMO Legal Committee in March 2025. #marinetraffic

Are commercial vessels the new face of hybrid warfare? Recent incidents in the Baltic and Pacific reveal a troubling trend: old commercial ships increasingly linked to damaging undersea cables. These attacks jeopardise critical infrastructure essential to global communication and energy systems. As geopolitical tensions escalate in the Baltic and around Taiwan, maritime security gaps become harder to ignore. Leveraging platforms like MarineTraffic and Kpler for vessel #tracking and Risk & Compliance is crucial for safeguarding this vital infrastructure. What additional solutions do you think authorities like the #IMO should explore? Our Senior Ship Tracking Manager Alex Stuart-Grumbar delves deeper into this evolving story: #MarineTraffic

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On January 6, 2025, the tanker SANWA MARU ran aground off the Cape Esan in the Tsugaru Strait, Japan, amid challenging weather conditions. The vessel had departed from Tomakomai the previous evening and was en route to Akitafunagawa port when the incident occurred. Salvage efforts are underway, but SANWA MARU remains stranded while strong winds persist in the area, according to the MarineTraffic data. In the meantime, an investigation is ongoing to determine the source of an oil slick that formed on January 8, 2025. According to reports, the tanker was carrying diesel fuel and kerosene. Here’s a playback of the vessel's movements before the incident, along with updates on the ongoing refloating operations. Read more here: #marinetraffic

The Eagle S, a commercial vessel, has been detained by Finland amid allegations of sabotaging critical infrastructure, including the Estlink 2 power cable and Baltic Sea communication cables. ▪️Marine Traffic and Kpler data show suspicious movements by the vessel leading up to the incidents on December 25th. ▪️Evidence suggests the vessel was transporting potentially sanctioned Russian oil products and conducting high-risk STS transfers in locations like Malta Light and Augusta Light. ▪️Growing concerns point to the use of commercial vessels for sabotage operations, raising alarm over the vulnerabilities of maritime and critical infrastructure security. Read more: #MarineTraffic

Critical Threat: Estlink 2 Sabotaged On December 25, the Estlink 2 undersea cable connecting Finland and Estonia suffered significant damage in what is suspected to be an act of sabotage. Investigations have placed the vessel Eagle S under scrutiny due to suspicious activity in the vicinity and alleged ties to Russian oil interests. With repair efforts expected to take up to seven months, this incident underscores the growing vulnerabilities in critical maritime infrastructure. As such incidents escalate, maritime security is facing intensified scrutiny, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced monitoring and risk mitigation measures. Read more: #MarineTraffic

In the early hours of 24 December 2024, a collision occurred between the vehicles carrier Neptune Avra and the crude oil tanker Seaviolet south of Karystos in the Aegean Sea. Both vessels sustained minor damage above the waterline but safely reached anchorage under their own power, with no pollution or water ingress reported. Neptune Avra was en route to her reported destination of Constanța, Romania, while Seaviolet was travelling to her reported destination of Castellón, Spain. Both vessels have since moved to Piraeus Port for inspections and issuance of seaworthiness certificates. Below is a playback of the incident, showing the vessels’ courses before and after the collision. #MarineTraffic