21 APR 2022 How might Russian maritime forces be brought to bear against the United States and its allies? This question is particularly critical as fears of inadvertent escalation in Ukraine increase. Understanding the answer requires a close reading of what Russian military theorists themselves write about warfare, matched with an examination …
Read More »SHOULD WE BE WORRIED ABOUT XE, NEW COVID HYBRID?
20 APR 2022 A new hybrid COVID-19 variant dubbed XE has sparked fresh concerns recently. XE is a combination of the highly transmissible BA.1 and BA.2 Omicron variants and was first detected in the UK in mid-January. Its spike protein derives from BA.2, which is potentially good news for New Zealand since this is the dominant …
Read More »PIRACY PLUMMETS IN GULF OF GUINEA
17 APR 2022 Southeast Asian waters are replacing the Gulf of Guinea as the most dangerous for commercial shipping, accounting for nearly half of piracy incidents in the first quarter of this year. The ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB)‘s quarterly piracy and armed robbery report shows a nearly flat top-line …
Read More »WAR CRIMES AGAINST SEAFARERS WARRANT ACCOUNTABILITY
16 APR 2022 Six weeks into the war between Russia and Ukraine, and the intensity of the conflict shows no chance of de-escalation. Seafarers remain in the firing line. The number of civilian deaths is rising exponentially day by day, and incidents of indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure continue. Trapped …
Read More »DELIVERING THE THINGS SEAFARERS NEED IN THE PANDEMIC ERA
15 APR 2022 Thousands of guests board and disembark the nine massive cruise vessels at the Port of Canaveral on a regular basis. The enormous vessels are geared to entertain and attend to patrons. Yet, for the approximate 2,200 employees per ship who serve these guests, being at your best …
Read More »THIEVES STEAL $325,000 WORTH OF DIESEL FROM ROYAL NAVY’S MAIN BASE
19 APR 2022 Thieves have made off with about $325,000 worth of diesel from the Royal Navy’s main base in Plymouth, England, the UK Ministry of Defence has confirmed. The theft occurred last year at Her Majesty’s Naval Base Devonport, the largest naval base in Western Europe and the only …
Read More »ITF, V.GROUP HELP 100 RELATIVES OF UKRAINIAN SEAFARERS ESCAPE FIGHTING
18 APR 2022 A coalition of unions and shipmanagers have successfully helped over 100 seafarers and their family members to find refuge from ongoing hostilities in Ukraine. The joint humanitarian initiative was set up by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), the ITF Seafarers’ Trust, the Marine Transport Workers’ Trade …
Read More »FATIGUE AFTER COVID IS A REAL ISSUE. HERE ARE 5 THINGS YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT
17 APR 2022 People are often surprised by how fatigued they are during a COVID infection. Fatigue is more than being worn out or sleepy. It’s an excessive tiredness that persists despite resting or good sleep. It’s likely a result of our body’s strong immune response to the virus. But in some …
Read More »UKRAINE ACCUSES RUSSIANS OF TAKING CREWS FROM SHIPS STUCK IN MARIUPOL
14 APR 2022 Further reports are emerging from Ukraine that Russian forces are possibly taking crews from foreign-flagged ships that have been trapped in ports including Mariupol since the fighting began nearly two months ago. Russian media is reporting that the crews have been removed for their safety as fighting continues …
Read More »RUSSIAN NAVY FIRES ON TURKISH-OWNED BULKER NEAR MARIUPOL
13 APR 2022 On Sunday (10th April), Russian state media claimed that the Russian military has attacked another civilian vessel near Ukrainian waters. The incident is at least the seventh Russian attack on merchant shipping reported since the start of the invasion in February. In a statement carried by Russian …
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