Jim Wilson

Mis-declared cargo is still a major contributor to container ship fires, that’s one finding from the Allianz Safety and Shipping Review 2026. Recent years have seen ship fires are their highest level in over a decade and mis-declared cargo has been a leading cause, the Allianz report says, noting that it has been a contributing...

A ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz has been attacked and the International Maritime Organization evacuation scheme has been halted. International trade media publication, Lloyd’s List, has described the vessel as a containership. An unidentified projectile has struck a cargo ship on the starboard side near the Strait of Hormuz approximately 7.5 nautical miles south...

Yesterday was the International Day of the Seafarer 2026. We posted a message on Linkedin yesterday from the Shipping Australia CEO, Capt Melwyn Noronha, and we repeat that message here today. Capt Noronha comments: On the occasion of the International Day of the Seafarer, I’d like to take a moment to reflect upon the people...

The Federal Department of Agriculture has released several import industry advice notices of relevance to Australia’s physical import trade.   96-2026: Commencement of the Conveyance Waste Recycling Policy – Commercial and Cruise Vessels What: a new policy for waste recycling for cruise and commercial vessels. From 1 July 2026, cruise and commercial vessel operators can...

ANL (part of the CMA CGM Group), COSCO SHIPPING Lines Co. (COSCO) and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) have joined forces to launch the China Australia Express (ACX) — a dedicated weekly express loop connecting China and Australia. The A3 Consortium will now offer what it describes as “its most comprehensive port coverage” to and...

The Hon. Natalie Ward, NSW Member of the Legislative Council and the NSW Shadow Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, will speak at the forthcoming Shipping Australia Luncheon! Mrs Ward has been a member of the Liberal Party since 1991 and served in various capacities including on the NSW State Executive. Mrs Ward entered the Legislative...

Next Thursday is the U.N. recognised “Day of the Seafarer”. The day highlights the hardship, pressures, and risks of life at sea, especially in conflict-afflicted areas. The recent Middle East conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran, is a prime example as the conflict saw 46 vessels attacked with the loss of 14 seafarer...

Multiple, diverging, standards are not helpful for a global industry like shipping. Nor, indeed, are they generally good for society either. A new case study and analysis, commissioned by the International Chamber of Shipping and the European Shipowners Association supports the need for single standards. There are key areas of divergence between the EU Ship Recycling...

Stop Thinking in Degrees of Autonomy; Start Thinking in Operations. You may still hear autonomous ships being explained through the four degrees of autonomy. The language is familiar, simple, and easy to repeat. It helped the maritime industry begin a difficult conversation about ships that may operate with automated processes, remote control, or higher levels...

A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by the U.S. and the Islamic Republic of Iran, to immediately and to permanently end their conflict. The belligerents have agreed not to undertake, nor initiate, any military operation against each other, to refrain from the threat of force, to respect each other’s territorial integrity and to refrain...