As the global dark fleet grows amidst restrictions on Russian oil, vessel safety is becoming a primary cause for concern. Local maritime authorities in China are now carrying out enhanced safety inspections on vessels more than 15 years old after two vessels, one of which was carrying Russian oil, had trouble offloading cargo at the port of Qingdao.

Countries are calling for increased monitoring and action against illicit ship-to-ship oil transfers at sea as fears grow over environmental ramifications. Unregulated oil transfers undermine international maritime law and threaten global efforts to mitigate shipping pollution.

Controversy ensues over EU-flagged fishing vessels breaching international and EU flag laws by going dark while in operation, particularly in the Indian Ocean.

At least 16 vessels from Iran's ghost fleet have moved to Russian crude, as the premium on Russian trade soars to around 150% of normal market rates.

The fleet of oil tankers operating as dark ships to trade Russian oil continues to grow, with estimates showing approximately 20% of the global fleet shifting from mainstream trades to Russian oil.

The new technology developed by Reutech can passively detect dark ships not transmitting radar or AIS data, unlike traditional radars that need an active signal to identify.

Researchers identify area in Qatar where an oil spill could disrupt an already volatile energy supply chain. Over 20% of the global LNG supply is shipped from a single port on the country's peninsula.

The results from one of IMOs latest surveys shows that many in the industry lack knowledge on the issue of flag hopping and other illicit activity that threatens the integrity of the maritime industry as a whole.

The shipping industry is still far from finding a "true" green fuel solution on the journey to decarbonization. With maritime trade accounting for around 3% of the world's carbon emissions, the time for change is now.

Barbados continues to remain a target of flag-hopping dark fleets, particularly from Iranian-linked organizations.

The dark fleets responsible for the majority of Russian sanctions circumvention may be growing, according to numerous sources. Cargo includes everything from sanctioned oil to weapons - providing additional strength and resources to powerful Russian forces.

After an aggressive end to 2022, China seems to be releasing pressure in their push for the South China Sea. All of this happening as Quad buckles in to gain full control in the Indo-Pacific region.

Russia continues to find new ports and open ocean locations to make port calls and STS transfers for the continued trade of Russian oil, despite harsh international sanctions.

Authorities in the Mekong Delta are strategizing and executing to minimize IUU fishing in the region. The efforts come alongside the 'yellow card' warning given by the European Commission for Vietnam's lack of ethical seafood exports.

Although western authorities have capped Russian oil exports at $60, Russia's dark shipping fleets are running at a greater capacity than ever - keeping western efforts to cripple Russian exports at bay.

The US Treasury's OFAC recently sanctioned two Chinese individuals and their network of controlled or affiliated assets - with sanctions covering 157 Chinese fishing vessels for human rights and IUU fishing violations.

The growing global fleet of dark ships is posing significant reputational risks for those operating legally in the shipping trade. While these damages are bad enough, dark ships also put shipping crews, wildlife, and the natural environment at a heightened risk - leaving many of us wondering, "when will the issue be met with a harsher approach?"

2018 European Commission data mapped for visualization of carbon emissions across every industry, from shipping to aviation. The data is used to represent industry-wide challenges regarding emissions and compares current emissions data with 2050 decarbonization goals.

Estimates show that over 50% of recent tanker sales have been made by undisclosed buyers, increasing the risk and concern over dark shipping complications. A continued lack of transparency could spell trouble for the industry.

The US government pledged to assist Indonesia in enhancing its maritime domain awareness and mitigating IUU fishing activity in Indonesian waters ahead of the G20 Summit last week. Two upcoming US programs will also help protect Indonesia's marine biodiversity and vital coastal mangrove ecosystems.