krogragg

Category: Americas

  • Baker Hughes secures Petrobras contract extension for vessel duo

    Baker Hughes secures Petrobras contract extension for vessel duo Oilfield services giant Baker Hughes has signed a multi-year agreement with Petrobras to extend the deployment of two stimulation vessels. The award, which followed an open tender, also includes the provision of associated chemicals and services. The 2008-built Blue Marlin and the 2013-built Blue Orca will…

  • SSI: AI and the business of building ships

    SSI: AI and the business of building ships Canadian shipbuilding software specialist SSI has been working at the intersection of technology and shipyards for decades. Today, Denis Morais, the company’s CEO, believes the industry is entering a pivotal moment — and AI is at the centre of it. “I’ve never seen shipyards more open to…

  • ABS boss urges ‘timeout’ on IMO climate push

    ABS boss urges ‘timeout’ on IMO climate push With 28 days to go until the vital extraordinary session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) convenes at the London headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the battle lines have been drawn sharply.  In a surprise intervention, Christopher Wiernicki, the departing chairman and CEO of…

  • Mexico pushes 50% tariff on China-built cars

    Mexico pushes 50% tariff on China-built cars Mexico is preparing to more than double tariffs on cars from China and several other Asian countries, with duties rising from 20% to 50% under a proposal sent to Congress by President Claudia Sheinbaum. The draft bill, expected to pass given the government’s majority, would take effect 30…

  • US unleashes its largest sanctions package aimed at the Houthis

    US unleashes its largest sanctions package aimed at the Houthis Yesterday, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) unveiled its largest sanctions to date against the Houthis, designating 32 individuals and entities, including a Dubai shipmanager as well as four vessels – two MRs and two handy tankers “The Houthis…

  • CMA CGM rules out surcharge ahead of US fees on Chinese tonnage

    CMA CGM rules out surcharge ahead of US fees on Chinese tonnage France’s CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest containerline, has told clients it is fully prepared for next month’s hiked port fees in the US for Chinese-linked tonnage, and that it does not envisage implementing surcharges because of the new ruling.  In April, the US…

  • Curtin Maritime orders eight hybrid-electric tugboats

    Curtin Maritime orders eight hybrid-electric tugboats US-based marine firm Curtin Maritime has invested $160m for eight hybrid-electric ship assist tugboats. The tugs will be built by the Snow & Co shipyard and will be equipped with Arc’s vertically integrated electric powertrains, delivering over 4,000 bhp and backed by a 6MWh battery buffer. According to Arc,…

  • 67 boxes tumble overboard from ZIM-chartered vessel berthed at Long Beach

    67 boxes tumble overboard from ZIM-chartered vessel berthed at Long Beach A ZIM-chartered containership suffered a serious cargo accident while alongside at the Port of Long Beach yesterday, with 67 containers falling into the harbour during discharging operations — some striking a clean air barge moored nearby. The accident involved the 2024-built, 5,504 teu Mississippi…

  • Anglo Teck merger creates top five global copper producer

    Anglo Teck merger creates top five global copper producer Global mining group Anglo American and Canadian miner Teck Resources have agreed to merge in a deal that will create one of the world’s largest copper producers with a combined market value of over $53bn. The combined group, to be named Anglo Teck, will rank among…

  • HSBC warns COSCO and OOCL face $2.1bn hit from looming US port fees

    HSBC warns COSCO and OOCL face $2.1bn hit from looming US port fees The looming US port fee regime aimed squarely at Chinese-linked tonnage could saddle COSCO and its Hong Kong-listed subsidiary OOCL with a combined bill of more than $2.1bn in 2026, according to fresh calculations from HSBC. The US Trade Representative (USTR) is…

  • US visa crackdown creates turmoil for shipmanagers

    US visa crackdown creates turmoil for shipmanagers Shipmanagers are warning of mounting operational chaos as fresh US visa restrictions begin to bite, Splash has learned. Multiple sources at leading shipmanagement companies confirm growing problems with obtaining valid US visas for crewmembers. The issues stem from a raft of executive orders signed by the current US…

  • Fugro scores ROV deal brace with Constellation

    Fugro scores ROV deal brace with Constellation Dutch surveyor Fugro has signed two three-year contracts with offshore energy services company Constellation to support deepwater exploration activities in the Campos Basin and the Equatorial Margin off Brazil. Fugro’s work will involve deploying advanced ROVs aboard Constellation-managed vessels to carry out subsea equipment inspections, interventions, and a…

  • Carlyle moves into FPSO market with Altera acquisition

    Carlyle moves into FPSO market with Altera acquisition Global investment firm Carlyle has agreed to acquire Altera Infrastructure’s entire FPSO business, bolstering its footprint in offshore energy infrastructure. The deal, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, includes ownership of multiple FPSOs and an FSO, as well as a 50% stake in the Altera&Ocyan…

  • BW Offshore picked as preferred FPSO supplier for Equinor project in Canada

    BW Offshore picked as preferred FPSO supplier for Equinor project in Canada Floater specialist BW Offshore has signed a head of agreement with Equinor confirming its selection as the preferred bidder for the FPSO unit for the Bay du Nord project offshore Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Bay du Nord, Canada’s first deepwater oil project, is…

  • 30-ton hatch recovered from coal ship explosion in Baltimore

    30-ton hatch recovered from coal ship explosion in Baltimore Baltimore’s shipping traffic was disrupted for nearly a week after an explosion on a fully laden coal carrier in the Patapsco River forced the recovery of a massive 30-ton hatch from the harbour. The 81,681 dwt W-Sapphire, managed by Athens-based W Marine and flagged in Liberia,…

  • Splash Wrap: Koreans bankroll America’s rusting docks

    Splash Wrap: Koreans bankroll America’s rusting docks Shipbuilding has become a central part of trade diplomacy in the Trump era. As well as a customised gold putter, it was noticeable that the Korean president, Lee Jae Myung, also presented Donald Trump with a model of an ancient Korean battleship when the pair met up earlier…

  • Hanwha bankrolls Philly revival in showpiece of Korea-US shipbuilding pact

    Hanwha bankrolls Philly revival in showpiece of Korea-US shipbuilding pact Hanwha Group has unveiled a $5bn expansion plan for Hanwha Philly Shipyard as well as ordering 10 tankers to be built in Philadelphia, in a landmark moment for Korea-US industrial cooperation designed to revive American shipbuilding. The announcement was made on Tuesday at the christening…

  • OrbitMI expands with Gale Force acquisition

    OrbitMI expands with Gale Force acquisition US-based maritime software company OrbitMI has acquired Swedish advisory firm Gale Force, expanding its portfolio in voyage optimisation and environmental compliance. The deal follows OrbitMI’s recent purchase of AI specialist AuQub and reflects the company’s strategy to blend maritime expertise with digital tools for shipowners and operators. Gale Force,…

  • Carriers reroute fleets to sidestep US levy

    Carriers reroute fleets to sidestep US levy Global shipping is realigning fleets in anticipation of October’s extra port fees to be levied by the US on China-linked tonnage. This is already being reflected in chartering decisions for transatlantic tanker and dry bulk fixtures with Chinese-built tonnage shifting to other parts of the globe. In the…

  • Seoul bets on shipbuilding to keep Trump sweet

    Seoul bets on shipbuilding to keep Trump sweet South Korea is making shipbuilding the anchor of its trade diplomacy with Washington, rolling out billions in promises to revive America’s rusted yards in a bid to keep Donald Trump on side. President Lee Jae Myung’s first US trip saw him push a $350bn investment package, with…

  • OOCL admits upcoming US port fees will have ‘relatively large impact’

    OOCL admits upcoming US port fees will have ‘relatively large impact’ Orient Overseas (International) Ltd (OOIL), the listed entity of Hong Kong container line OOCL, has conceded that October’s likely introduction of extra port fees for Chinese-linked tonnage could be painful. OOCL, owned by China’s COSCO, posted its interims yesterday in which it noted in…

  • Bill Gates in Korea to further nuclear-powered ships project with HD Hyundai

    Bill Gates in Korea to further nuclear-powered ships project with HD Hyundai Bill Gates, in his role as founder of TerraPower, met with HD Hyundai’s executive vice-chairman Chung Kisun in Seoul today to further a strategic partnership aiming to commercialise small modular reactor (SMR) propulsion. The meeting—after their March rendezvous in the US—centred on scaling…

  • CMA CGM invests in US bio-LNG supplier

    CMA CGM invests in US bio-LNG supplier French liner giant CMA CGM is making a strategic minority investment in US-based Vanguard Renewables through its energy fund PULSE, securing long-term access to volumes of renewable natural gas (RNG). Vanguard, which runs anaerobic digesters powered by farm and organic waste, will dedicate up to four projects to…

  • Explosion rocks bulk carrier departing Baltimore

    Explosion rocks bulk carrier departing Baltimore Baltimore’s already bruised maritime sector was dealt another scare on Monday evening when a Greek-owned coal carrier suffered a spectacular explosion as it departed the port. The 81,681 dwtW Sapphire, managed by Athens-based W Marine and flagged in Liberia, had just cleared CSX’s Curtis Bay terminal around 6:30 pm…

  • Seaspan grows newbuild pipeline with 12-ship deal in China

    Seaspan grows newbuild pipeline with 12-ship deal in China Seaspan Corporation has inked a fresh round of newbuilding orders in China, adding twelve 9,000 teu containerships to its fleet pipeline. The vessels will be built at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding, part of China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), with deliveries slated to begin in 2028. The deal is…

  • Splash Wrap: Red, white, and fume

    Splash Wrap: Red, white, and fume The United States’ formal rejection of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) proposed net-zero framework for the shipping industry led coverage at Splash this week.  This framework, which includes carbon levies and fuel standards, aims to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships by 2050. The US administration views this…

  • Shipping navigates net-zero waters without US support

    Shipping navigates net-zero waters without US support The US decision to go public on its offensive against the International Maritime Organization’s proposed net-zero framework has created considerable debate within the shipping community.  Various ministers within the Donald Trump administration issued a joint statement this week branding the plan a “global carbon tax on Americans” and…

  • US rejects IMO net-zero framework

    US rejects IMO net-zero framework The United States has formally rejected the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) proposed carbon levy, branding it a “global carbon tax on Americans” and vowing to rally opposition ahead of a key vote in October. In a joint statement, secretary of state Marco Rubio, commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, energy secretary Chris…

  • Transpacific bump in rates tipped as Trump delays China tariffs again

    Transpacific bump in rates tipped as Trump delays China tariffs again The US tariffs on China have been postponed another 90 days until November 10. The US will keep its tariffs at 30%, and China will maintain its levies at 10% through to the autumn as negotiations between the world’s two biggest economies continue. Commenting…

  • Diana Shipping re-fixes ultramax to Cargill at lower rate

    Diana Shipping re-fixes ultramax to Cargill at lower rate New York-listed Greek bulker owner Diana Shipping has secured a fresh charter deal with Cargill for one of its ultramaxes, albeit at a slightly reduced rate compared to its previous contract. The Semiramis Paliou-led company has fixed the 60,508 dwt DSI Pegasus until at least May…

  • Splash Wrap: Flags, fines and fakes

    Splash Wrap: Flags, fines and fakes Sanctions, the shadow fleet, and the many ways authorities are trying to clamp down on this illicit trade kept Splash reporters busy all week, with clear evidence that the dark fleet is growing quicker than the West can contain.  The grey fleet – as tracked by broker BRS –…

  • Panama cracks down on STS transfers in bid to clean up fleet

    Panama cracks down on STS transfers in bid to clean up fleet The Panama Ship Registry has become the first flag in the world to implement stricter controls and mandatory traceability for offshore ship-to-ship (STS) transfers of hydrocarbons. Non-compliance—depending on its severity—may lead to the cancellation of a vessel’s Panamanian registration. The regulation requires all…

  • Genco confirms Japanese capesize swoop

    Genco confirms Japanese capesize swoop US-based dry bulk owner Genco Shipping & Trading has confirmed its return to the secondhand market with the acquisition of a modern Japanese-built capesize. The John Wobensmith-led outfit, with currently 16 capes out of 42 bulkers in its fleet, has picked up a 2020 Imabari-built, 182,000 dwt scrubber-fitted vessel for…

  • Seacor Marine sells liftboat tandem to JAD Construction for $76m

    Seacor Marine sells liftboat tandem to JAD Construction for $76m US offshore vessel operator Seacor Marine has sold two of its 335-foot liftboats to JAD Construction for total gross proceeds of $76m in cash. The net proceeds from the sales of the are unencumbered, and the transaction is expected to close during the third quarter…

  • Trump slaps India with new tariffs over Russian crude ties

    Trump slaps India with new tariffs over Russian crude ties US president Donald Trump has signed an order imposing an additional 25% tariff on goods from India, in response to the country’s continued imports of Russian energy, the White House said on Wednesday, a move that could reshape the global tanker trades. The decision came…

  • International Seaways picks up modern VLCC as it sheds six ageing product tankers

    International Seaways picks up modern VLCC as it sheds six ageing product tankers US tanker owner International Seaways has snapped up a modern VLCC while disposing ageing product carriers. The New York-listed firm said in its quarterly earnings report it had struck a deal to buy an unnamed 2020-built scrubber-fitted supertanker for $119m. The purchase,…

  • Panama will not register tankers and bulk carriers older than 15 years

    Panama will not register tankers and bulk carriers older than 15 years In its most firm action to date to counter dark fleet registrations, the Panamanian Ship Registry, the world’s second-largest flag, will no longer accept tankers or bulk carriers aged more than 15 years old.  “By prioritizing quality over quantity and implementing more rigorous…

  • DOF awarded new vessel contracts with Petrobras

    DOF awarded new vessel contracts with Petrobras Norwegian offshore vessel owner DOF has secured two new long-term contracts with Petrobras for AHTS vessels Skandi Fluminense and Skandi Lifter. The latest wins bring DOF’s total count of Petrobras-contracted AHTS vessels to seven. Both vessels have been awarded four-year contracts under the same competitive Petrobras tender that…

  • Diana Shipping reaches near 10% stake in Genco

    Diana Shipping reaches near 10% stake in Genco Greek dry bulk owner Diana Shipping has increased its stake in US-listed peer Genco Shipping & Trading. Filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission shows the Semiramis Paliou-led Diana paid a total of around $61.7m for 4.29m of Genco’s shares, corresponding to a 9.99% stake. In…

  • Hutchison faces court challenge for control of ports in Panama

    Hutchison faces court challenge for control of ports in Panama The future of two of Panama’s most strategic ports is hanging in the balance after president José Raúl Mulino said on Thursday that public-private partnerships could assume control of the Balboa and Cristobal terminals if the courts strike down the operating contract of Hong Kong-based…

  • Nexans and Crowley team up for first Jones Act cable lay barge

    Nexans and Crowley team up for first Jones Act cable lay barge France’s Nexans has partnered with US-based Crowley Wind Services to develop and operate the first Jones Act-compliant cable lay barge, tailored for offshore wind, telecom, and subsea industrial cabling. The 300-foot barge, built in Louisiana and tested in the Gulf of Mexico to…

  • South Korea to invest $150bn in US shipbuilding

    South Korea to invest $150bn in US shipbuilding South Korea has agreed to invest $150bn into a dedicated US shipbuilding revitalisation fund, as part of a $350bn bilateral trade agreement signed Wednesday in Washington. The move—touted as the largest Korean industrial investment in US history—aims to inject new life into America’s struggling shipyards while simultaneously…

  • US Treasury unleashes largest Iran shipping sanctions since 2018

    US Treasury unleashes largest Iran shipping sanctions since 2018 In its most expansive sanctions package against Iran in nearly seven years, the US Treasury has imposed sweeping measures on over 100 individuals, companies, and vessels linked to Iranian maritime and sanctions-evasion network. The action, unveiled Wednesday, is aimed at dismantling what the US calls a…

  • US rail giants in $85bn coast-to-coast tie-up

    US rail giants in $85bn coast-to-coast tie-up Union Pacific has struck a deal to acquire rival railroad Norfolk Southern in a stock-and-cash transaction valued at $85bn, in a move that would form the first coast-to-coast freight rail network in the US. The combined operator would span more than 50,000 route miles across 43 states and…

  • Hutchison eyes Chinese strategic partner to get $22.8bn ports deal over the line

    Hutchison eyes Chinese strategic partner to get $22.8bn ports deal over the line CK Hutchison, the Hong Kong-based conglomerate, confirmed on Monday that it is in discussions to bring a “major strategic investor” from China into the bidding consortium for its $22.8bn global ports business. The move follows the expiration of a 145-day exclusivity agreement…

  • CTM taps in-transit hull cleaning robots

    CTM taps in-transit hull cleaning robots Monaco-based dry bulk pool giant C Transport Maritime (CTM) has invested in CRABI Robotics, a US-based startup developing an autonomous hull cleaning system aimed at tackling biofouling while ships remain in transit. The partnership will also see CTM serve as a pilot partner, helping the robotics firm bring its…

  • NATO warns of surging state-linked cyber threats targeting ports

    NATO warns of surging state-linked cyber threats targeting ports Ports are facing a deluge of cyber attacks from state-backed hackers, according to a new policy brief from NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCDCOE). Handling 80% of world trade and underpinning NATO’s logistics chain, ports are now “magnets” for cyber aggression from Russia, Iran,…

  • Hanwha orders historic LNG carrier from US yard

    Hanwha orders historic LNG carrier from US yard South Korea’s Hanwha Group has placed a landmark order for a liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier at its US-based Hanwha Philly Shipyard — the first such export-market-viable vessel to be built in the United States in nearly half a century. The order, valued at a minimum of…

  • BIMCO issues clause to tackle US fees on China-linked ships

    BIMCO issues clause to tackle US fees on China-linked ships The Documentary Committee of the world’s largest shipping association, BIMCO, has adopted a standard clause aimed at addressing contractual uncertainties that may arise from the US Trade Representative’s notice of actions to impose fees on Chinese-related ships calling US ports. A BIMCO subcommittee comprising legal…

  • Splash Wrap: Shipyards and geopolitics

    Splash Wrap: Shipyards and geopolitics Shipbuilding hogged the headlines at Splash this week with images of the White House and its occupant down considerably week-on-week. The East Asian shipbuilding tango – one of the persistent shipping news themes of 2025 – garnered the most column inches. A contraction in Chinese shipbuilding orders has been registered…

  • Diana Shipping makes move on Genco with $46m stock play

    Diana Shipping makes move on Genco with $46m stock play Greek dry bulk owner Diana Shipping has disclosed a 7.7% equity stake in US-listed peer Genco Shipping & Trading, further stirring interest around the Manhattan-based bulker player. A recent 13D filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission shows the Semiramis Paliou-led Diana has acquired…

  • Seaspan pens deal to reinforce Canadian shipbuilding steel supply chain

    Seaspan pens deal to reinforce Canadian shipbuilding steel supply chain Seaspan Vancouver Shipyards has signed a memorandum of understanding with Stigterstaal Canada and Algoma Steel to reestablish a domestic steel supply chain focused on bolstering and expanding shipbuilding in Canada. This move follows the current trend of countries trying to ensure their own shipbuilding supply…

  • Trump’s shipbuilding revival wavers as key maritime adviser departs

    Trump’s shipbuilding revival wavers as key maritime adviser departs The Trump administration’s early ambition to revitalise US shipbuilding appears to be losing momentum, following the departure of Ian Bennitt, the White House National Security Council’s (NSC) senior director for maritime and industrial capacity. Bennitt’s exit, alongside that of NSC chief of staff Brian McCormack, underscores…

  • Trump threatens secondary sanctions in 50-day ultimatum to Putin

    Trump threatens secondary sanctions in 50-day ultimatum to Putin US president Donald Trump on Monday announced a sweeping threat to impose secondary sanctions on nations importing Russian exports — a move that could shake up global energy markets and disrupt tanker trades from the Black Sea to the Indian Ocean. Sitting beside NATO secretary-general Mark…

  • Genco targets fleet and growth moves with new $600m credit line

    Genco targets fleet and growth moves with new $600m credit line US-based dry bulk owner Genco Shipping & Trading has completed an amended and upsized revolving credit facility, boosting its borrowing capacity to $600m as it positions itself for future growth and continued balance sheet flexibility. The new deal increases the New York-listed company’s credit…

  • Splash Wrap: Red Sea attacks lead coverage

    Splash Wrap: Red Sea attacks lead coverage The global shipping industry has been rocked by two deadly attacks this week in the Red Sea, with Yemen’s Houthi rebels launching their first campaign against merchant shipping of the year, sinking two bulk carriers, killing at least three seafarers, wounding others, and reportedly kidnapping crew. A new…

  • Panama Canal rebounds as container and LPG volumes rise

    Panama Canal rebounds as container and LPG volumes rise While the Red Sea has roared back to the front pages of the shipping press this week, and the Black Sea remains blighted by war, one other chokepoint that has caused supply chain chaos in recent years has reported that it is operating at full capacity.…

  • Trump wipes out subsidies for wind and solar power

    Trump wipes out subsidies for wind and solar power US president Donald Trump has signed an executive order to eliminate subsidies for green energy sources, more precisely wind and solar power, as he makes another step on his warpath against renewable energy. The order directs the secretary of the treasury to terminate the clean electricity…

  • New maritime electrification alliance out to change zero-emission game

    New maritime electrification alliance out to change zero-emission game Four maritime associations have launched the Global Alliance for Maritime Electrification (GAME), a coalition of nonprofit organisations looking to accelerate the electrification of maritime transportation. The new alliance will initially focus on inland, nearshore, and commercial vessels and push for zero-emission solutions through coordinated research, policy…

  • McDermott picks up Brazilian contract

    McDermott picks up Brazilian contract Houston-based McDermott has secured an offshore transportation and installation contract from BRAVA Energia for subsea work at two major deepwater developments in Brazil. The scope covers transportation and installation of flexible flowlines, umbilicals, and associated subsea equipment for four new wells—two each at the Papa-Terra field in the Campos Basin…

  • DP World to take helm of NovaAlgoma Cement Carriers

    DP World to take helm of NovaAlgoma Cement Carriers P&O Maritime Logistics, a unit of ports and logistics heavyweight DP World, has acquired a controlling stake in NovaAlgoma Cement Carriers (NACC), the leading operator of pneumatic cement carriers, in a move that positions the Dubai-based group deeper into infrastructure-driven dry bulk trades. The transaction, with…

  • Splash Wrap: Trump leads headlines in a calmer week for shipping

    Splash Wrap: Trump leads headlines in a calmer week for shipping Compared to almost every other week of 2025, from a shipping news/geopolitical point of view this week has been comparatively calm. Nevertheless, the word Trump featured in more Splash headlines than any other word once again. The big news at the start of the…

  • Trump’s signature legislative package contains significant shipbuilding provisions

    Trump’s signature legislative package contains significant shipbuilding provisions Donald Trump’s so-called big beautiful bill, a signature legislative package, which has just passed both the US House of Representatives and Senate, contains significant provisions aimed at revitalising American shipbuilding and the broader maritime industrial base. The bill allocates substantial funding and introduces new initiatives with a…

  • White House tariff deadline looms large on liner agenda

    White House tariff deadline looms large on liner agenda Donald Trump and tariffs are very much back in shipping news headlines, with one key deal seemingly agreed and plenty of others under negotiation ahead of a deadline next week. The July 9 expiration date for the White House’s pause on April’s reciprocal tariffs on a…

  • Trump’s shipbuilding ambitions face enormous hurdles

    Trump’s shipbuilding ambitions face enormous hurdles President Trump’s ambitious plan to rejuvenate the US shipping and shipbuilding industries is encountering significant challenges, just months after its announcement. Despite bipartisan support for revitalising the maritime sector as a matter of economic and national security, internal policy conflicts and administrative delays are hindering progress. A key setback…

  • Condon Claims Management acquires Marine Claims Associates

    Condon Claims Management acquires Marine Claims Associates Thomas Miller-controlled Condon Claims Management has acquired US-based Marine Claims Associates for an undisclosed price.  The acquisition will take place effective immediately and the entire Marine Claims Associates’ team will fall under the Condon Claims Management brand. “Having the knowledge and experience to broaden our services is essential…

  • Fugro scores $340m Petrobras deal

    Fugro scores $340m Petrobras deal Dutch contractor Fugro has emerged as the successful bidder in four multi-year tenders from Petrobras for the inspection and monitoring of subsea infrastructure in Brazil. The contracts, worth about $340m, should start in the fourth quarter of 2025 and span four years with potential one-year extensions. The work scope will…

  • DOF lands $275m in Brazilian vessel contracts

    DOF lands $275m in Brazilian vessel contracts Norwegian offshore vessel owner DOF has picked up two significant long-term contracts in Brazil with state-controlled oil giant Petrobras, securing more than $275m in combined value. The first contract involves the 2009-built anchor handling tug supply vessel (AHTS) Skandi Logger. The vessel will enter into a four-year contract…

  • The week in shipping: Iran dominates the headlines

    The week in shipping: Iran dominates the headlines Starting today, Splash will be bringing readers a weekly wrap to digest the important shipping news of the past few days. This complements Daily Splash, our free newsletter published Monday through Friday, as well as Splash Extra, our monthly digest. Conflict with Iran dominated the headlines in…

  • Maritime Partners swoops for Centerline Logistics

    Maritime Partners swoops for Centerline Logistics In a consolidation move within the US Jones Act market, Maritime Partners has inked a deal to acquire Centerline Logistics, one of the country’s top coastal tanker and marine services providers. The agreement will see an entity managed by Maritime Partners take over Centerline from its current backers, Macquarie…

  • Teekay Tankers ships out its oldest LR2

    Teekay Tankers ships out its oldest LR2 Teekay Tankers has continued to offload its ageing tonnage by selling its oldest LR2 unit. S&P sources show the New York-listed firm is shipping out the 2007 Hyundai Heavy Industries-built 105,200 dwt Limerick Spirit to unnamed Greek interests for around $27.8m. The Kenneth Hvid-led owner and operator has…

  • Fire-damaged Morning Midas car carrier sinks

    Fire-damaged Morning Midas car carrier sinks The salvors, Resolve Marine, have reported that the Morning Midas car carrier sank in international waters in the North Pacific, following a fire that broke out onboard on June 3. Damage caused by the fire, compounded by heavy weather and subsequent water ingress, caused the Morning Midas to sink…

  • Trump softens on Iran intervention amid maritime chaos in Gulf

    Trump softens on Iran intervention amid maritime chaos in Gulf Oil prices dipped 2% in early trading today as Donald Trump appeared to step back from joining Israel’s attacks on Iran, while the waters in the Middle East remain busy, and dangerous thanks to vastly increased GPS spoofing in the region in the week since…

  • Solstad pens two CSV contracts in South America

    Solstad pens two CSV contracts in South America Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Offshore has signed contracts for two of its construction support vessels (CSV). Solstad said in late April that it won deals for three vessels in Brazil. However, all of the contracts were subject to board approval. Two were for yet unnamed AHTS…

  • Freight market reacts to soaring Middle East tensions

    Freight market reacts to soaring Middle East tensions Tensions in the Middle East have reached a boiling point this week as senior US officials reportedly prepare for a potential military strike on Iran, a move that threatens to ignite a wider regional conflict. According to a Bloomberg report citing individuals familiar with the matter, the…

  • Wilson Sons to support TotalEnergies offshore oil production in Brazil

    Wilson Sons to support TotalEnergies offshore oil production in Brazil Wilson Sons, the largest integrated port and maritime logistics operator in Brazil, has signed a new agreement with TotalEnergies to provide logistics support to oil production activities in the Lapa field off Brazil. The field is located in the pre-salt layer of the Santos Basin,…

  • Oceaneering scores Gulf of Mexico vessel contract

    Oceaneering scores Gulf of Mexico vessel contract Houston-based oilfield services provider Oceaneering has, through its offshore projects group (OPG), secured a vessel services contract with an undisclosed major operator in the Gulf of Mexico. The agreement will see the US-flagged 2013-built multipurpose vessel (MPSV) Harvey Deep Sea deployed to carry out subsea inspection, maintenance, and…

  • Petrobras launches survey tenders for offshore wind pilot project

    Petrobras launches survey tenders for offshore wind pilot project Brazilian state-owned oil and gas company Petrobras has launched two tenders for an offshore wind pilot project off the coast of Rio de Janeiro state. One tender is for the acquisition and processing of geophysical data in ultra-shallow waters off São João da Barra. The acquisition,…

  • Nova Scotia premier pitches 40GW offshore wind energy plan

    Nova Scotia premier pitches 40GW offshore wind energy plan The Canadian province of Nova Scotia has proposed a major offshore wind project with the end goal of constructing enough turbines to generate 40GW of electricity over the next decade. The premier of Nova Scotia, Tim Houston, outlined the plan, which would, if executed, cover around…

  • Chicago PE firm teams with Manish Singh to set up shipping tech acquisition fund

    Chicago PE firm teams with Manish Singh to set up shipping tech acquisition fund Chicago-based private equity firm GTCR has formed a partnership with well-known shipping investment consultant Manish Singh, understood to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars, to acquire maritime tech companies. Singh will serve as CEO of the newly formed Maris Investments,…

  • Historic surge on the transpacific buoys liner profits

    Historic surge on the transpacific buoys liner profits Drewry’s weekly World Container Index (WCI) increased 41% to $3,527 per feu yesterday, the second highest leap dollars-wise since the index was created, with the busy transpacific leading the way once again amid a brief trade detente between the world’s two largest economies, the US and China.…

  • Salvors unable to reach fire-stricken Morning Midas until Monday

    Salvors unable to reach fire-stricken Morning Midas until Monday Efforts to bring the fire-stricken Morning Midas under control are facing a significant delay, with salvage teams not expected to reach the drifting vessel until Monday, nearly a full week after the crew abandoned ship. Zodiac Maritime, the manager of the Liberian-flagged car carrier, confirmed that…

  • BIMCO drafting standard clause to address US tariff measures

    BIMCO drafting standard clause to address US tariff measures The world’s largest shipping association, BIMCO, has begun drafting a standard clause to address legal and contractual uncertainties stemming from recent US trade policy developments. The move follows a notice of actions by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to impose new fees on vessels calling…

  • Dali VDR transcript released

    Dali VDR transcript released The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the US has released the audio transcript from the Dali containership’s voyager data recorder (VDR) on the night of March 26 last year when it slammed into Baltimore’s largest bridge, creating one of the most high-profile shipping accidents of the decade to date.  The…

  • Solvang and BlackRock’s GIP form liquefied gas shipping firm

    Solvang and BlackRock’s GIP form liquefied gas shipping firm Norwegian gas shipowner Solvang and BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) have established a liquefied gas shipping joint venture. The new 50:50 joint venture will be named Solvang Gas Carriers. It will initially own Solvang’s fleet of 13 VLGCs designed to transport LPG and ammonia, and will…

  • Appeals court temporarily reinstates Trump tariffs

    Appeals court temporarily reinstates Trump tariffs A federal appeals court has reinstated one of president Donald Trump’s broadest tariff actions, just one day after the US Court of International Trade ruled the move unconstitutional and blocked its implementation—triggering renewed uncertainty across global shipping and supply chains. On Thursday, the US Court of Appeals for the…

  • Eni selling nearly half of its carbon capture business to BlackRock’s GIP

    Eni selling nearly half of its carbon capture business to BlackRock’s GIP Italian giant Eni has signed an agreement to enter into a period of exclusivity with BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) regarding the sale of a 49.99% stake in its carbon capture business. During the exclusivity period, GIP will progress the confirmatory due diligence…

  • Noble fixes rig on UK carbon storage project

    Noble fixes rig on UK carbon storage project Offshore rig owner Noble Corporation has secured work for its jackup Noble Innovator on the UK North Sea carbon storage project. The New York-listed Texas-headquartered driller has won a new contract from BP which will see the 2003-built ultra-harsh environment unit drill six firm wells for the…

  • Federal court blocks Trump’s tariffs

    Federal court blocks Trump’s tariffs In the latest twist in the trade war unleashed by Donald Trump, an American federal court has blocked the president’s sweeping tariffs. The Court of International Trade has ruled that the emergency law invoked by the White House does not give the president unilateral authority to impose tariffs on nearly…

  • China United Lines reenters booming transpacific trades

    China United Lines reenters booming transpacific trades China United Lines (CUL) is making the most of the boom times suddenly being seen on the transpacific, with news from Linerlytica, a consultancy, that it reenter the tradelane with the launch of its Trans Pacific West Coast 1 (TP1) service calling at Shekou, Ningbo, Qingdao, Long Beach,…

  • Boxport congestion spreads from Europe to the US and China

    Boxport congestion spreads from Europe to the US and China Port congestion seen across key Northern European hubs is intensifying and is now spreading to China and the US, a situation expected to worsen as a result of Donald Trump’s on/off tariff strategy.  Compounding the situation, low water levels on the Rhine are limiting barge…

  • Japan-US Shipbuilding Revitalization Fund under discussion

    Japan-US Shipbuilding Revitalization Fund under discussion The Japanese government will issue a major new shipbuilding directive next month, aimed to revive an industry it used to lead the world in, as well as using the nation’s yards as a bargaining chip in trade talks with the Donald Trump administration in the US.  Using the 2022-promulgated…

  • Norden helps lower Microsoft’s maritime supply chain emissions

    Norden helps lower Microsoft’s maritime supply chain emissions Danish shipping giant Norden is working on a pilot project with global technology company Microsoft to help reduce its maritime supply chain emissions The company said that the pilot project involves the use of Norden’s biofuel voyage and Book and Claim solution. Norden’s book and claim solution…

  • Petrobras pens EPCI deal with Subsea 7 worth nearly $1.5bn

    Petrobras pens EPCI deal with Subsea 7 worth nearly $1.5bn Brazilian oil and gas major Petrobras has signed an engineering, production, construction, and installation (EPCI) contract with Subsea 7 for the Búzios 11 Project, worth R$8.4bn ($1.48bn) The contract establishes a minimum requirement of 40% local content, but the expectation is to reach a percentage…

  • Shanghai spot box rates to US west coast leap 31% in just one week

    Shanghai spot box rates to US west coast leap 31% in just one week Friday’s weekly publishing of spot rates from the Shanghai Shipping Exchange has given a stark picture of the frenzy building on the transpacific. Rates from China to the US west coast leapt 31% week-on-week, while rates to the east coast jumped…

  • HD Hyundai pitches port cranes to US Trade Representative

    HD Hyundai pitches port cranes to US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, the US Trade Representative, has been in South Korea this week where shipbuilding talks have taken place as well as pitches made to become an alternate supply of port cranes.  As well as meeting with government officials, Greer sat down with HD Hyundai vice…

  • Liners confident of pushing through rate rises on surging transpacific business

    Liners confident of pushing through rate rises on surging transpacific business Liner executives are reporting a dramatic pick-up in box bookings between China and the US this week as a 90-day mini-reprieve in the tariff war between the world’s two largest economies gets underway. The busier liner bookings have yet to translate into an immediate…

  • Fednav’s Paul Pathy takes over at BIMCO

    Fednav’s Paul Pathy takes over at BIMCO The world’s largest shipping association, BIMCO, has elected its first president from the Americas. Paul Pathy, president and chief executive of Canada’s largest dry bulk shipping company, Fednav, is taking over from Nikolaus Schües, CEO of German owner F. Laeisz, who is finishing his two-year term. “I am…

  • Tariff truce tipped to usher in covid era uptick in box fortunes

    Tariff truce tipped to usher in covid era uptick in box fortunes The 90-day tariff ceasefire between the world’s top two economies could see covid era surges in shipments and box freight rates, one leading analyst has suggested.  The US and China have agreed to slash reciprocal tariffs by 115% for the next 90 days.…

  • US and China agree to slash tariffs

    US and China agree to slash tariffs In a significant curtailment of the trade war between the world’s two largest economies, the United States and China have agreed to considerably slash tariffs for the next 90 days. As part of the deal reached in Geneva over the weekend, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said both countries…