The Naval Architect
@navalarchitect
A Professional Engineer (PE) with decades of experience in ship design, construction, repair and conversion, having worked in the international maritime industry in Europe, USA, N Asia and New Zealand.
Fire extinguished. Holed above waterline. Thank goodness for double skin design and construction. Ship clearly at anchor.
I hope military strategists have factored in the threat of blockage of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, because the diversionary route represents a huge increase in cargo sea miles. Reference to the “Gate of Tears” would indeed be prophetic. www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03...
Analysis courtesy of Alphaliner: there are 137 container ships currently located within the Gulf, west of #Hormuz
It’s one thing for an insurer to offer coverage for an oil tanker to sail inbound through the Strait of #Hormuz in ballast, quite another to cover the same ship outbound in laden condition - carrying 2m barrels at $100+/bbl. Until this is resolved AND naval escorts organised, the “blockade” remains.
Extraordinary images of Russian LNG tanker ARCTIC METAGAZ (IMO 9243148) destroyed by explosion and subsequent fire in the Mediterranean Sea, attributed to “sea drones” from Libya, according to Lloyd’s List www.lloydslist.com/LL1156509/Sa...
Latest advisory issued by the Joint Maritime Information Centre ( #JMIC ) containing details of merchant ship casualties reported since the weekend
Iranian Navy frigate ablaze at the port of Konarak… seems like these ships are “sitting ducks”. Satellite photo courtesy of Vantor (USA)
Tragic railway accident - Spain’s equivalent to the Hatfield rail crash in the UK 25 years ago. Sincerest condolences to all those who’ve lost loved ones in this awful accident.
Lots of red flags on the latest tanker seized by US authorities - rogue aframax by the name of VERONICA (or is it GALLILEO?) - IMO 9256860 - Guyana (false) flag (or is it Russian? Previously Iranian?) Operated by Transmorflot (or is it Burevestmarin which owns MARINERA ex BELLA 1?) Lots to unravel!
Drybulk ship ASB BONITO (IMO 9015577) caught my eye, was allegedly sold for scrap by Kiran Holding (reputable owner) and destined for Aliaga but seems to have gained a new lease of life under Guinea-Bissau flag, sailing haphazardly to Tuapse then to Port Said. One to watch?
Indian Coast Guard ships fighting a fire on abandoned container ship WAN HAI 503 (IMO No. 9294862) (Singapore-flagged, DNV-classed, built 2005, approx. 43,000 gross tons, owned by Wan Hai Lines of Taiwan)
Photo of the beautiful New Zealand port of Lyttelton taken last month with passenger/cruise ship CELEBRITY EDGE (IMO 9812705) alongside. As they say, “A picture tells a thousand words…”
The below excellent photo by Daniel Briot (credit) shows the presentation of the sail training ship CUAUHTEMOC on entering the port of Rouen a few years ago. Approx. 90 of the crew are trainees, many of whom routinely stand on the yardarms as depicted in this photo.