Category: Opinion

Can Europe’s new e-fuel strategy for maritime help solve the fuel availability conundrum? WFW’s Valentina Keys discusses how the EU’s Sustainable Transport Investment Plan reaffirms the European Commission’s commitment to supporting maritime decarbonisation Valentina Go to rivieramm

2026 in marine environmental protection: rules tighten to reduce ship discharges post-2026 From Brazilian hull fouling limits to mandatory container loss reporting, 2026 ushers in a more demanding agenda for operational discharges from ships Craig Go to rivieramm

Rapid tug co-ordination needed to rescue distressed ships in harbours Regular columnist Simon Tatham examines the legal issues encountered when ships break their moorings in harbours, prompting tugboat assistance Simon Go to rivieramm

Fatal accident drives industry to improve tugboat safety Industry associations have responded to the UK MAIB’s report on the Biter tragedy, says Workboat Association chief executive Kerrie Forster Kerrie Go to rivieramm

Banks can step up the fight for biodiversity in the world’s oceans We have heard a lot about the decarbonisation of the shipping industry and have concentrated our efforts on reducing emissions into the atmosphere, fuel efficiency and other measures Paul Go to rivieramm

BIMCO: Container rates see worst first quarter in decades with 28% drop “Average container freight rates for Chinese exports have posted the worst first quarter development of the past 20 years,” says BIMCO chief shipping analyst Niels Rasmussen Niels Go to rivieramm

Reviewing maritime security in the Red Sea as Gaza ceasefire tabled Reed Smith partner Jeb Clulow looks at the legacy of Houthi attacks on commercial vessels and how a Gaza ceasefire could impact shipping trade routes and global supply chains Jeb Go to rivieramm

2025 in international tug and salvage: electric and alternative-fuelled tugs, automation among key trends Trends impacting the design, construction and operation of tugboats and towage delivery in the coming years Martyn Go to rivieramm

2025 in maritime technology: key digitalisation technologies impacting shipping Shipping will be fundamentally transformed by upcoming technology developments Martyn Go to rivieramm

What LNG shipping and terminals operators want in 2025 As the LNG shipping and terminal industry prepares for another year of evolution, certain themes will guide critical discussions and shape the strategies of shipping and terminal operators worldwide Craig Go to rivieramm

2025: ballast water compliance advances amid regulatory shifts Langh Tech, S&SYS, Miura and HANLA IMS advance ballast water solutions as 2025 regulations reshape compliance, reporting and USCG testing frameworks Craig Go to rivieramm

2025 outlook for marine propulsion: more regulatory heavy lifting ahead FuelEU Maritime, layered on top of EU ETS and IMO’s Carbon Intensity Index, creates a complex regulatory compliance headache for shipowners that doesn’t figure to get any easier in 2025 John Go to rivieramm

2025 in the OSV sector: tight capacity, strong demand underpins positive outlook Promising near-term outlook for OSV owners buoyed by continued strong demand for their tonnage, with only limited new capacity entering the global fleet John Go to rivieramm

2024: a crucial year for innovative, energy-efficient tugboats What a year we have had in the towage, tug and salvage sector. 2024 has become a phenomenal period for constructing and delivering technically advanced vessels Martyn Go to rivieramm

2024 in marine propulsion: a tumultuous year 2024 was a tumultuous year for the marine industry, marked by a rapidly changing regulatory landscape, technological triumphs, geopolitical upheaval and significant danger and suffering endured by crews John Go to rivieramm