Discover the Arrhenius: Ratings & Maritime News

On May 27, 2026, the oil tanker 'Arrhenius,' which was en route from Antwerp to Ust-Luga, faced a critical situation when divers conducting a routine underwater inspection uncovered suspected explosive devices attached to its hull. The purported magnetic mines were located near the engine room, raising immediate safety concerns. A specialized explosives team quickly conducted a preliminary assessment, revealing that each mine contained approximately seven kilograms of explosive material. The crew was promptly evacuated as a safety precaution while the mines were carefully removed and rendered safe, avoiding any damage to the vessel or harm to the personnel onboard. Following this incident, local authorities initiated a criminal investigation to trace the origin of the explosives and ascertain how they were affixed to the ship's hull. As of May 27, the 'Arrhenius' remained anchored outside Ust-Luga, positioned at coordinates 59° 52' N 028° 24' E. The tanker was scheduled to load a cargo bound for Samsun but had encountered significant delays. After departing Antwerp on May 16, the vessel was diverted to St. Petersburg on May 12, where it was instructed to anchor offshore due to terminal unavailability, attributed to a strike by Belgian port workers. The ship endured a 36-hour wait before it could dock, followed by an unloading period that extended 25 hours. Preliminary reports from Russia’s Investigative Committee suggested that the magnetic mines could not have been installed within Russian territorial waters, sparking further inquiries into the matter. For detailed images and further developments, check the full report at Reuters.

On June 17, 2015, the tanker 'Gaschem Bremen' successfully completed a humanitarian mission by handing over four fishermen to officials from the National Institute of Migration at the port of Lazaro Cardenas. These fishermen, three from Ecuador and one from Colombia, had encountered severe challenges at sea while fishing between the ports of Lazaro Cardenas and Acapulco, leading to their boat being compromised by harsh weather conditions linked to storm and hurricane 'Carlos'. After being adrift for an exhausting seven days, the rescuers found the castaways and provided them with safe passage. The 'Gaschem Bremen', which was carrying a cargo of 8,000 tons of ammonia destined for Sadcom West, was en route from Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela, at the time of the rescue.