INTERNATIONAL Marine News Photo credit: Incat
4,000 tons of oil lost due to spills in 2025
According to a recent edition of ITOPF’s Oil Tanker Spill Statistics, the total volume of oil lost to the environment from tanker spills in 2025 was approximately 4,000 tons, compared to 10,000 tons in 2024.
Based on ITOPF data, for the year 2025, three large spills (>700 tons) and three medium spills (7-700 tons) were recorded from tanker incidents. The three large spills involved crude and fuel oil and occurred in Asia and Europe. The three medium spills also involved crude and fuel oil; these all occurred in Asia.
This brings the decade average to date to 7 spills per year. This is a slight increase on the average for the 2010s, but a dramatic reduction from the numbers reported in earlier decades.
Australian builder commences harbour trials of new large electric ferry
Australian shipbuilder Incat has begun conducting harbour trials of what it says is the largest battery-electric vessel ever constructed. The vessel, a catamaran Ro-Pax ferry, has moved under its own battery-electric propulsion, thus indicating the transition from construction to operational testing for the 130-metre ship.
The harbour trials will see the vessel undertake a carefully managed series of movements on the Derwent River in Tasmania, allowing crews to test propulsion, manoeuvrability, control systems, and onboard operational performance in real- world conditions.
Incat said the trials represent the first time a ship of this size and passenger-vehicle capacity has operated solely on battery power anywhere in the world.
Canada’s new high-endurance search and rescue lifeboat fleet is completed
The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) is highlighting the use of its 20 new high-endurance search and rescue lifeboats, two of which are stationed on Vancouver Island.
The “new” search and rescue lifeboats, called “Bay Class” vessels, are the culmination of 10 years of domestic ship building. The project kicked off in 2015, with the final of the 20 new vessels being completed in 2025.
While the majority are stationed along the East Coast, four are assigned to the West Coast, with two located in northern Vancouver Island, one in the Prince Rupert area, and a fourth has yet to be assigned a home port.
All of the new search and rescue lifeboats measure 19 metres long and have a cruising speed of 14.5 knots, and a top speed of 25 knots. The vessels can travel 100 nautical miles offshore and were built to self-right if capsized.
Safety alert issued by U.S. Coast Guard on immersion suits
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has issued a safety alert regarding immersion suit defects caused by adhesive failures between the main zipper and the suit body. It is reported that USCG inspectors frequently find immersion suit defects caused by adhesive failures between the main zipper and the suit body. These failures compromise watertight integrity and pose serious survival risks from water ingress.
Contributing factors to the defects include improper maintenance (e.g., the use of non-approved petroleum-based lubricants or scented powders), improper storage, and neglecting to conduct periodic pressure testing. Seam and closure deterioration may not always be detectable during routine visual inspections.
Adhering to USCG regulations, manufacturer instructions, International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations and guidance, and performing regular inspections and testing are essential to ensuring immersion suit reliability.
THE REPORT | MAR 2026 | ISSUE 115 | 11
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