Tag: maritime executive

Tallvine Partners Launches North America Marine Infrastructure Platform [By: Tallvine Partners] Tallvine Partners (“Tallvine”), an independent investment advisor focused on value-add middle-market infrastructure opportunities, today announced the acquisition of Donjon Marine Co., LLC (“Donjon Marine”), a critical marine infrastructure platform based in New Jersey with operations across the U.S. The acquisition marks the creation of Tallvine’s…

UK Planning to Open an Additional Submarine Dockyard   In response to a parliamentary written question, the British Ministry of Defence has confirmed that as part of a $460m upgrade to Rosyth Dockyard on the East coast of Scotland, a docking facility is to be created able to receive Dreadnought Class nuclear ballistic missile submarines.…

U.S. Revokes Sanctions Waiver on Iran’s Chabahar Port   The U.S. government has revoked a sanctions exemption policy on Iran’s Chabahar port, a move seen as likely to affect the India-led development in the facility. In the past few months, the U.S. has declared a maximum pressure policy to isolate the Iranian regime, with tighter…

White House Releases Video of Third Venezuelan Boat Strike   On Friday, the Trump administration announced a third strike on a suspected smuggling boat off the coast of Venezuela, resulting in the deaths of three individuals on board. The attack brings the fatality count for the new interdiction campaign to 17 in total.  According to…

Shanghai University’s Uncrewed Vessels Support China’s Maritime Expansion   [By Astrid Young] ASPI’s newly expanded China Defence Universities Tracker reveals how leading Chinese research institutions, including Shanghai University (SHU), are developing advanced uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) to boost China’s military and territorial ambitions. SHU’s Jinghai series are reportedly the first Chinese uncrewed vessels to operate in the…

Iranian Navy Stokes a Political Problem in South Africa   The Iranian Navy, and its potential participation in a South African naval exercise, is being used as a tool to prosecute political objectives, both in South Africa and in Iran. Iran has lost many friends and allies, along with regional influence, since the conflict in…

Pulsar International & Inmarsat Maritime Widen With 300+ Nexuswave Rollouts [By: Inmarsat Maritime] Pulsar International and Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat (NASDAQ: VSAT) company today announced a significant milestone in their long-standing collaboration, with Pulsar committing to rollout NexusWave across more than 300 vessels operated by its customer base over the next 12 months. Pulsar was the…

Eastern Shipbuilding Group Supports Unit Production of U.S. Navy Destroyers [By: Eastern Shipbuilding Group] Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. (ESG) is pleased to announce an agreement with HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding Division to support the limited production of outfitted structural units for the U.S. Navy’s Flight III Arleigh Burke-class (DDG 51) guided missile destroyers. Building on the success…

ABS Chairman and CEO Urges IMO to Pause and Rethink the Net Zero Framework [By: ABS] “Shipping and the IMO are on different trajectories. There is no clear pathway for green fuel availability and scalability and infrastructure support. LNG and biofuels are mission critical to any success and should not be overlooked, over penalized or…

Sperry Marine Paper Sets Out S-100 Step Change For Marine Navigation [By: Sperry Marine] Sperry Marine, a global leader in navigation solutions for seagoing vessels, has issued a whitepaper to explain how new S-100 standards lay the foundation for enhancing the quantity, quality and appearance of the information navigators need to ensure vessel safety, efficiency…

OceanWings Receives Type Approval Design Certificate from DNV [By: OceanWings] OceanWings has today received a Type Approval Design Certificate (TADC) from DNV. This certification marks a major milestone in the industrial validation of the company’s automated wingsail propulsion system, which is designed to support shipping’s transition toward cleaner energy and compliance with emerging regulations. The…

OceanWings Receives Type Approval Design Certificate from DNV [By: OceanWings] OceanWings has today received a Type Approval Design Certificate (TADC) from DNV. This certification marks a major milestone in the industrial validation of the company’s automated wingsail propulsion system, which is designed to support shipping’s transition toward cleaner energy and compliance with emerging regulations. The…

U.S. Oceanography Cornerstone Research Vessel Retires After 50 Years   A research vessel that has been the cornerstone of ocean science in the U.S. for five decades is set to retire, marking an end to an illustrious career. The R/V Endeavor, which has been synonymous with ocean research in the modern era, will retire on…

USCG Releases Dramatic Video of Interdiction of Narco Fast-Go Boat   The U.S. Coast Guard began an enhanced drug interdiction program in the Pacific during August, known as Operation Pacific Viper. To date, it reports that more than 75,000 pounds of cocaine have been seized in the Eastern Pacific. Highlighting the law enforcement portion of…

Chief Engineer Pleads Guilty in 2024 MSC Runaway Incident in Charleston The chief engineer working on the MSC Michigan VII in June 2024, when the vessel had a runaway incident as it was departing Charleston, South Carolina, entered into a plea agreement with the U.S. attorney’s office. In filing the agreement in the U.S. District…

BOEM Tells Court it Wants to Resume Review of Permits for SouthCoast Wind The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management formally filed with a federal court on Thursday, September 18, calling for the court to set aside the actions of the Biden administration so that it can restart the environmental review on a Massachusetts offshore wind…

Video: Turkey Uses Helicopter to Rescue Crew from Grounded Cargo Ship   Turkish authorities responded to reports that a small, Ukrainian-owned cargo ship had gone aground early on Thursday, September 18, on the eastern side of the Sea of Marmara. Weather conditions prevented the Coast Guard from reaching the vessel and required calling in a…

EU, UK, and Australia Launch New Sanctions for Russian Energy and Tankers   The European Union announced earlier than planned its 19th sanction package, as Australia also moved to expand its efforts, and the UK added Russian supporters from Georgia. The steps come as Donald Trump has reportedly been pushing the Europeans to cut energy…

Dutch Expand Emission-Free Inland Shipping with Swappable Battery Packs   Zero Emission Services (ZES), working in collaboration with Nefcargo and Inland Terminals Group, highlighted the launch of its ZES 2.0 service for electric-powered inland cargo shipping. The next phase of the program provides more powerful containerized batteries for the inland ships, which will provide a…

Cruise Ship Transits the Suez Canal Bound for Saudi Arabia   The cruise ship Aroya, which was launched by  the Cruise Saudi initiative, made what has become a rare transit of the Suez Canal for ships with passengers. Like all the other segments of the shipping industry, most cruise ships began diverting away from the…

Divers Confirm Identity of Long-Lost Trawler on Georges Bank   The private diving and artifact-recovery company Atlantic Wreck Salvage has discovered the wreck of the long-lost trawler Seiner, a large fishing vessel that went down off Nantucket in 1929.  Seiner was a steam trawler delivered in 1921 and homeported out of New London, Connecticut. The…

Study Supports Growing Case for Long-Term Use of Biofuel Blends The maritime industry has undertaken a range of tests exploring the use of biofuels, blending fats with diesel to create a more environmentally friendly transition fuel, with the latest test confirming the long-term operational feasibility of biodiesel. The results conducted using an NYK car and…

Real-Time Engine Oil Quality Monitoring is Now in Reach   Lube oil contamination is one of the fastest ways to get into trouble in the engine room, and engineers monitor their oil closely for signs of problems. But it’s hard to catch everything without a lab on board – at least, until recently. Castrol has come up…

Former U.S. Navy Admiral Gets Six Years for Influence-for-Hire Scheme   Adm. Robert Burke (USN, ret’d.) has been sentenced to six years in federal prison for making a deal to trade his influence in the Pentagon for a lucrative post-retirement job. As a four-star admiral, Burke is among the highest-ranking officers ever convicted of a…

MAIB Cites Mechanical Failures, Modifications, and Crew Response to Fire   The UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch issued a report on a 2021 fire aboard a RoRo cargo ship as it was departing the Port of Hull, England. It found a broad series of mechanical failures, improper parts used in non-standard modifications, and a failure…

Navantia to Build First Fleet Solid Support Ship in Spain, Not Belfast   Historic shipbuilder Harland & Wolff will not be building the first-in-class of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary’s Fleet Solid Support (FSS) vessels because its facility isn’t ready for the job, new owner Navantia says. Instead, the first ship will be constructed in Cadiz…

New Zealand to Clarify Conflict Between Offshore Wind and Seabed Mining The government of New Zealand reports that it will be taking steps to encourage the development of its offshore energy and natural resources. It plans to revise legislation to resolve potential conflicts between offshore wind energy development and seabed mining as a key step…

In Daring Hoist, Coast Guard Swimmer Recovers Victim From Thor’s Well   On Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard responded to a report of a drowning tourist in Thor’s Well, a deep hole in the rocky shoreline south of Yachats, Oregon. The spot is both a roadside attraction and a hazard to the unwary, and not…

Construction Update as Wind-Powered Cargo Trimaran Gets Biopharma Customer   Construction on what is being billed as the first of a fleet of wind-powered cargo trimaran vessels is proceeding as the French company Vela Transport reports it has booked a major biopharmaceutical client for the service. Last fall, the company reported it had raised the…

Fight Forces Cruise Ship to Return to Port in Miami   Just hours after leaving the pier in Miami on Monday night, the Royal Caribbean cruise ship Wonder of the Seas returned to her berth to deal with an onboard fight, passengers reported and the line confirmed.  After departure, two guests aboard Wonder of the Seas…

ITF London Staff Start First-Ever Strike Against the Union Federation The unionized office staff of the International Transport Workers’ Federation, represented by the union Unite, has taken the unusual step of going on strike against their union employer. More than 100 workers at the London headquarters walked off the job on Monday, September 15, and…

Germany and the Netherlands to Overhaul Subsidies for Renewable Energy   The governments of both Germany and the Netherlands are examining how they structure renewable energy subsidies, looking to spur the industry while managing costs for the end users. Both countries faced disappointments earlier this year when planned auctions for offshore wind failed to generate…

U.S. Coast Guard Invests $50M to Revamp Mariner Licensing System American mariners are used to dealing with an extended and time-consuming administrative process whenever they go for a license upgrade or renewal. The U.S. Coast Guard’s credentialing system works, but only slowly, and with considerable friction – a known impediment to creating new mariners and…

Amateur Pilot Pleads Guilty to Landing at Naval Base and Stealing a Truck   A man who decided to fly a small private airplane onto a far-flung naval base off California – twice – has been charged with criminal offenses and faces a sentence of up to 10 years in jail. Along the way, he…

China – Philippines Vessels Collide as Water Cannons Used on Supply Mission   The Philippines’ monthly supply mission to the disputed area in the South China Sea near the Scarborough Shoal resulted in another incident between the two countries, with accusations of illegal activity from both sides. While the versions of the incident differ, both…

20-Foot Standard Containers: Why They Remain a Popular Choice   When it comes to storage and transportation needs, 20 ft standard containers continue to stand the test of time. These containers have been a staple in the shipping and logistics industry for decades. Their compact size, robust durability, and incredible versatility make them a go-to…

Bulgarian Police Arrest Owner of Beirut’s Notorious Explosives Ship   Officials in Bulgaria have arrested the owner of the Rhosus, the aging freighter that brought a cargo of explosives-grade ammonium nitrate into Beirut in 2013. In 2020, that cargo exploded, destroying half the port and killing more than 200 people.  The cargo of ammonium nitrate…

AI Tool Launched to Detect Misdeclared and Dangerous Goods in Containers   The latest tool in the fight against misdeclared and undeclared dangerous goods in containers is being launched by the World Shipping Council in its Cargo Safety Program. The industry-led initiative is using a new AI-powered screening tool in an attempt to identify the…

Photos: Progress as More Containers Are Removed in Long Beach Recovery Efforts are continuing in the Port of Long Beach to clean up from last week’s container collapse. The Unified Command overseeing the operations reported as of Sunday, September 14, that nearly half of the containers estimated to have fallen from the vessel have been…

UK Government and Industry Pledge Over $1.4B to Shipping Decarbonization Timed to the opening of the London International Shipping Week 2025, the UK government announced plans for another massive investment into the decarbonization of shipping that will also include further commitments from the private sector. The government is adding approximately $610 million to its UK…

Drew Marine Acquires Fuel Treatment Solution CD92 Mycronizer Technology   Drew Marine, a global leader in maritime solutions, has acquired all rights, intellectual property, and technical documentation related to CD92 Mycronizer from Schiffs & Industrietechnik GMBH (SIT). For decades, Drew Marine has offered a wide range of products and solutions designed to address various challenges…

Australia is Buying Dozens of Autonomous Subs. What Will They be Used For?   [By Sam Goldsmith] Autonomous submarines that Australia has launched into production are likely to relieve operational pressure on the country’s crewed submarines, undertake the most dangerous undersea missions, and present an enemy with greater risk of detection and attack. While the government…

U.S. Air Force Tests Out Anti-Ship Bomb Near Russia’s Doorstep   Earlier this month, the U.S. Air Force and Royal Norwegian Air Force tried out the USAF’s new antiship bomb against a maritime target in the Norwegian Sea, achieving the desired effect. Quicksink is designed to follow a ship’s movements while in mid-flight, with enough…

Cutting the Cost of Killing Drones at Sea   [From our correspondent at DSEI] Shooting down Houthi drones in the Red Sea has been an expensive business. Royal Navy Type 45 guided missile destroyer HMS Diamond (D34) was deployed in zone in the Red Sea for several months in early 2024, and on one night…

India Pledges to Support Mauritius in Surveillance of Chagos Islands   As the UK plans to hand over Chagos Islands to Mauritius, India is eyeing to exert its influence on the archipelago. Last week, Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam made a state visit to India, where together with Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed on several…

ICJ Climate Ruling May Help Fight Against Shell’s S. Africa Drilling Plans   [By Angela van der Berg] The International Court of Justice’s landmark advisory opinion on climate change has come in handy for South African communities that are trying to stop global oil company Shell from drilling for oil and gas off the coast. The opinion,…

Libya Targets Economic Rebound Through Port Development   As part of the ongoing economic reforms, Libya has reported progress on the development of Sirte Port and its connecting infrastructure. During the peak of hostilities between forces of west and east Libya in 2016, Sirte was one of the fiercest battlegrounds. With tensions between the two…

Human Element Is Key As Information Overload Emerges As New Risk [By: Inmarsat Maritime] The 2025 edition of the Future of Maritime Safety Report from Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat (NASDAQ: VSAT) company, reveals that distress calls at sea remain high, underlining the vital role of human factors in safe shipping. According to the report, the number of…

DNV Awards AiP to HD HHI for Innovative LNGC and VLEC Designs [By: DNV] At Gastech 2025, DNV awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) for the design of next-generation LNG carriers (LNGC) and Very Large Ethane Carriers (VLEC) with forward accommodation and Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS).  The innovative…

Lloyd’s Register Approves SHI Next-Gen SnapWind Float Offshore Wind Design [By: Lloyd’s Register] Lloyd’s Register (LR) has granted Approval in Principle (AiP) to Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) for its new Floating Offshore Wind Turbine (FOWT) design, SnapWind Float.   Announced this week at Gastech 2025 in Milan, SnapWind Float has been developed to deliver floating wind…

Historic 1927 USCG Cutter McLane Sold for Scrap by Michigan Museum   A U.S Coast Guard cutter built in 1927 that has been part of the USS Silversides Submarine Museum exhibits in Muskegon, Michigan, for years, has been towed away and will be scrapped. The decision came following what the museum said was significant deterioration…

CBP Intercepts Stolen Bulldozer Being Smuggled Out at the Port of Baltimore Criminal syndicates stealing vehicles in the U.S. and shipping them to countries in West Africa are becoming daring, reports U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Its officers were recently surprised when they found a stolen bulldozer being smuggled out of the Port of…

HMM Continues Growing Dry Bulk as Part of Diversification Strategy HMM continues to take steps designed to execute on its strategy of diversification of its shipping operations. While the company continues its role as a leading container carrier, it is also following a strategy to expand its dry bulk operations as a means of stabilizing…

Norway Seizes Russian Fishing Vessel That Overstayed Its Welcome   The Norwegian government announced today, September 12, that after months of trying to get a Russian-owned fishing vessel to leave its port, it has resorted to seizing the vessel. The government reports it will take into consideration outstanding claims from the Port of Batsfjord, but…

Interior Department and Maryland Offshore Wind File Counter Claims in Court   The legal battle over Maryland’s planned offshore wind project is heating up as the United States followed through on its earlier statement and filed to vacate the Construction and Operation permit granted in late 2024 to US Wind. Anticipating the move after earlier…

Salvage Master on Way to Cargo Ship Grounded in Remote Canadian Arctic Nearly a week after the Dutch cargo ship Thamesborg grounded in a remote part of the Canadian Arctic during a trip on the Northwest Passage, a salvage master and naval architect were due to reach the vessel. They are working on a plan…

Norse Ship Management Deploys Inmarsat Nexuswave To Enhance Experience [By: Inmarsat Maritime] Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat (NASDAQ: VSAT) company, together with distribution partner Station Satcom have secured an order to install NexusWave on a bulk carrier managed by Singapore-based Norse Ship Management as the ship manager looks to meet the growing demands for crew and business…

DNV & HD KSOE Collaborate on Next-Gen Operator Training Solution [By: DNV] DNV and HD KSOE have announced a strategic collaboration to deploy a next-generation digital twin-based Operator Training Solution (HiDTS-OTS), successfully demonstrated at Gastech. The solution is designed to enhance the safety and efficiency of maritime operations. The HiDTS-OTS (Hyundai Intelligent Digital Twin Ship…

India’s Largest Terminal Operator Bans Sanctioned Vessels Adani Group, which is India’s largest private terminal and port operator, has sent out a circular to all operators advising that it is banning all sanctioned vessels from all its operations, according to reports in the Indian media. They are confirming the earlier story from Reuters, which said…

Wärtsilä to Equip Danish Ferries with Integrated Electric Propulsion System [By: Wärtsilä] Technology group Wärtsilä has been selected to deliver a fully integrated electric propulsion system with waterjets for two new high-speed catamaran ferries being built for Danish ferry operator Molslinjen. The battery-electric vessels are being built at the Incat shipyard in Tasmania, with Wärtsilä supplying…

Recovery Proceeds in Long Beach as Unified Command Looks for Answers   The operation to remove containers from Long Beach harbor continues as the Unified Command is also working to understand the cause of the container collapse from the docked ship Mississippi on Tuesday morning, September 9. The port emphasizes that it is operational while…

Could Ukraine’s Drone Boats Fight for America Too?   Red Cat, a prominent American drone builder, wants to begin making battle-proven Ukrainian drone boat designs for U.S. military customers. Unmanned systems are a top acquisition priority for the Navy and for the Pentagon as a whole, and Red Cat’s newly-formed Blue Ops division hopes to…

Disney Adventure’s MV Postponed Three Months Citing Construction Delays Disney Cruise Line informed passengers that it is delaying the maiden voyage for its new Singapore-based cruise ship, Disney Adventure. The news came a day after the ship completed its first sea trials after seven years of construction. The new cruise ship, which is the largest…

Taiwan to Review Ship’s P&I Coverage and Expand Patrols to Protect Ports Taiwan has been on high alert as it fears Chinese efforts at sabotage of the island’s critical offshore infrastructure. Officials are now detailing a number of new steps planned to further increase its deterrence, including a new insurance requirement designed to ensure the…

Classic WWII-Era Yacht Sinks Near Bremerton   The U.S. Coast Guard has set up a unified command to respond to the sinking of the historic yacht Cairdeas near Bremerton, Washington. Cairdeas is a classic 34-meter yacht built in 1943 at the Fellows & Stewart Yard, and according to private databases she was designed by the famed naval…

Davie Unveils Plans for $1B “Icebreaker Factory” in Galveston   An American affiliate of Canadian shipbuilder Davie has released its first detailed plans for a proposed “American Icebreaker Factory” at the Gulf Copper yard in Galveston, Texas. The budget for construction is in the range of $1 billion, according to Davie, and the facility would…

Deal Finalized to Save Oregon’s Only International Container Terminal After more than 15 months of effort, the Port of Portland (Oregon) has completed a long-term agreement for the operation of Terminal 6, which is the state’s only active international container terminal. The port had announced in early 2024 that it planned to close the terminal…

Croatia Marks Opening of New Rijeka Terminal as a Gateway for the Region Officials gathered in the Port of Rijeka, Croatia, to mark the arrival of the first commercial container vessel as the port transitioned from trial operations. Rijeka Gateway, they reported, represents the largest private investment in logistics in Croatia, and it becomes the…

Cruise Passenger Jumps Overboard to Avoid Debts and Cash Duties   According to officials in San Juan, Puerto Rico, a passenger from the cruise ship Rhapsody of the Seas jumped over the side during disembarkation – not because he wanted to end his life, but because he wanted to escape his gambling debts.  Jey Gonzalez-Diaz…

Port of Long Beach Resumes Operations After Container Collapse   The Port of Long Beach, California, is reporting that all its terminals have resumed operations a day after the dramatic container collapse on a berthed vessel. Pier G, where the vessel Mississippi is berthed, is open and operating except for the immediate area around the…

Netherlands Fights Shadow Fleet’s Use of Fake Caribbean Flags   Dutch authorities are taking steps to challenge “shadow fleet” tankers that pretend to operate under the flags of island states in the Netherlands Antilles.  According to the Royal Association of Netherlands Shipowners (KVNR), several dozen tankers are flying the flags of Aruba, Sint Maarten and…

U.S. Container Imports Are Projected to Decline for the Remainder of 2025 The start of the U.S.’s reciprocal tariffs and the continued uncertainty over longer-term trade policies have begun to weigh on imports, report both the National Retail Federation and Descartes Systems Group, a software provider for logistics-intensive industries. The latest monthly forecasts highlight a…

Stemming the Tide of War Insurance Costs   War risk insurance costs have soared by up to 60% thanks to recent escalated Middle East tensions. Is this increase surprising? No. Is it substantial? Yes. The increase reflects heightened volatility in regions like the Red Sea and Persian Gulf, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz. For instance, premiums…

Warnings of Recent Spike in Off-Spec Marine Fuels Including VLSFO in Europe There are renewed quality concerns for the most popular marine fuels, and especially for very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) used by many vessels to meet emission requirements. A range of sediments and impurities raises concerns not only of accelerated wear but also…

Bridging Land and Sea: FMSDI and the Future of Coastal Insight   Coasts are places of convergence. They are where ships meet ports, where cities meet tides, and where human infrastructure must coexist with dynamic natural forces. They are also where our data systems often fall apart. On land, survey agencies and municipalities maintain elevation…

Maersk Declares General Average After Container Fire Aboard Marie Maersk   The containership Marie Maersk is still making its way to Malaysia after fighting a box fire, and now the carrier reports it has declared General Average. Maersk is using the well-established law to share the cost of the firefight, which required bringing in additional…

U.S. Navy Retools its Unmanned Programs for Speed   The U.S. Navy continues to restructure its unmanned-systems bureaucracy, pulling more responsibilities out of Program Executive Office for Unmanned and Small Combatants (PEO USC) and putting it in new places. Structural adjustments ordered by Navy Secretary John Phelan will reform the way that the Navy develops…

WSC Warns 11 Percent of Containers Have Safety Issues   The issues of mis-declared or improperly packed cargo in containers are again being highlighted in new data from the World Shipping Council. The trade group reports based on port state inspection data that the number of containers found with potential safety issues has risen to…

Op-Ed: Facing the Fuel Facts About LNG   The current drive to decarbonize the maritime industry strikes me as a similarly important and dramatic change to that which Malcom McLean organized with his sailing of the Ideal X in 1956. The almost unbelievable growth we have seen in international trade, sparked by the now ubiquitous…

Op-Ed: Worried About China’s Rise? Beijing’s Ambitions are Mostly Regional   [By Sam Roggeveen] Australia’s former prime minister Tony Abbott wrote in the Wall Street Journal recently that “a world dominated by Beijing would resemble China, with the silencing of dissent, the confiscation of wealth, and the brutal exercise of power.” It’s a dark but plausible vision, given…

Five Dead in Collision Between Migrant Boat and Turkish Coast Guard Vessel   On Sunday, a migrant vessel collided with a Turkish coast guard vessel at high speed off the coast of Turkey, killing five people and wounding one more.  The collision occurred off Ayvalik on Turkey’s Aegean coast, near the island of Lesvos. According…

Freighter Goes Aground in Northwest Passage   A freighter has gone aground in the remote reaches of Canada’s Northwest Passage, at a location in the southern half of the Central Canadian Archipelago. According to local outlet Cabin Radio, the freighter Thamesborg was en route from China to Quebec when it grounded in Franklin Strait, just…

Venezuela Deploys Iranian Missile Boats to Fend Off U.S. Navy   In response to a concentration in the southern Caribbean of a substantial US Navy force, the Venezuelan Navy has reportedly deployed some of the Peykaap III Fast Attack Craft that Iran supplied it with several years ago. The Venezuela Navy deployed Iranian-built Peykaap-III (Zolfaghar-class)…

Op-Ed: It’s Time to Invite Taiwan to America’s Biggest Naval Exercise   [By Jim Halsell] The Taiwan Strait remains one of the most volatile flashpoints in the world. With the People’s Republic of China (PRC) accelerating its coercive behavior aimed at “reunifying” Taiwan with the mainland, the United States must adopt a clearer, more deliberate…

Höegh Autoliners Names Höegh Moonlight at Port of Gothenburg [By: Höegh Autoliners] Höegh Autoliners today celebrated the naming of its sixth Aurora-Class vessel in commercial operation at Sweden’s leading port and the largest in the Nordic region. The vessel was sponsored by Jenny Westermark, Senior Vice President, GTO Production Logistics at Volvo Group, who performed the traditional…

Ernst Russ Orders First New Ships in Years in Partnership with Eimskip Germany’s Ernst Russ is moving forward with its first newbuild orders in years, an innovative pair of feeder containerships specially designed for Iceland’s Eimskip and the challenges of the North Atlantic. The companies report that the design incorporates future technology while also being…

Med Marine Launches Third RAmparts 2800 Tug to Reinforce OMMP’s Fleet [By: Med Marine] Turkey’s leading shipbuilder and tug operator, MED MARINE, proudly announces the successful launch of the MED-A2800SD tug on August 23, marking the third vessel in the six-unit RAmparts 2800 series ASD (Azimuth Stern Drive) fleet being built for Tunisia’s renowned port…

President Mulino & Japanese Shipowners Meet to Improve Panama Ship Registry [By: Panama Maritime Authority] President José Raúl Mulino met with more than 40 representatives of shipping companies from Japan’s Kanto region, where he presented Panama’s new ship registry strategy aimed at safeguarding its global leadership through enhanced safety standards and fully digitalized processes. Mulino emphasized…

Construction Starts on First Short-Sea, Ammonia-Fueled Containership Nearly two years after the project was unveiled, construction started today in China for what is likely to become the world’s first ammonia-fueled containership. The project, which is being led by CMB.TECH, as part of its efforts to accelerate the transition in the shipping industry, will launch a…

Turbines Installed for France’s Pilot Deep Water Floating Wind Project   Ocean Winds reports it has successfully completed the third and final turbine installation of its Éoliennes Flottantes du Golfe du Lion (EFGL) project located in southeast France along the Mediterranean. Developed as a pilot project in partnership with Banque des Territoires, EFGL is now…

Philippines Hails Shipbuilding Revival as HD KSOE Starts at Subic Yard The Philippines is celebrating the revival of its shipbuilding industry after South Korean giant HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) commenced the construction of a large bulk carrier at its newly leased facility in Subic Bay, Philippines. It will be the first…

After Six Years, CSSC Completes its Megamerger With CSIC   After years of preparation, the megamerger of Chinese shipbuilding giants CSSC and CSIC has finally been completed. Though the two enterprises have both been under CSSC’s control since 2019, they retained their independent stock listings – until Thursday, when an exchange filing completed the integration of CSIC…

USCG Exercises Austal Option for Offshore Patrol Cutters Austal Limited announces that the United States Coast Guard has exercised options worth US$314 million (A$480 million) with Austal USA for the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) program. The contract options approve Austal to order long lead time materials (LLTM) for another three OPCs, Austal USA’s 4th, 5th,…

China Unveils Large Shipboard Laser System for “Maritime Attack”   China’s military has unveiled a previously-unseen laser weapons system at its massive parade in Beijing. The new LY-1 laser is designed for shipboard applications, but for the reveal, it was fielded in a truck-mounted mobile version. The LY-1 is the latest in a series of…

Land-Based Tests Underway for Seawing Automated Kite System Japan’s Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (“K” LINE) reports its subsidiary Oceanic wing completed the first phase of land-based testing for the Seawing kite system. The company is continuing to pursue the commercialization of the concept as a more productive means of wind-assisted propulsion. They acknowledged that while there…

Russia: First NSR International Boxship Route to Start as Box Volume Grows   Russian officials are again highlighting the growth of shipping and specifically containership along the Northern Sea Route. In just 10 days, they expect the first containership following an international route to European ports will start an NSR transit, while data shows a…

U.S. Coast Guard Keeps Close Watch on Chinese Icebreakers off Alaska   The U.S. Coast Guard has been closely watching China’s Arctic research flotilla for the past month, and continues to monitor the operations of two Chinese-flagged vessels in waters of the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf – outside the bounds of the U.S. Exclusive Economic…

Q&A: Kathy Metcalf, President Emeritus, Chamber of Shipping of America   Kathy Metcalf has been a trailblazer from the moment she walked through Vickery Gate at Kings Point as a member of the first coed class of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. That was 51 years ago. Since then, she has sailed aboard oil tankers…

Russian Union Wins Compensation for Death Aboard a Sanctioned Tanker   The Russian Seafarers’ Union (SUR) has begun publicizing cases of labor rights enforcement against “shadow fleet” tankers, the lightly-regulated and questionably-insured vessels that carry most of Russia’s oil to market. The calibrated “price cap” G7 sanction regime has restricted Russia’s access to Western tanker…

Salvors Narrowly Avert a Capsizing After Trawler Burns at Pier in Ribeira   Salvors have successfully prevented the capsizing of a trawler at the port of Ribeira, Galicia, limiting the impact from a severe onboard fire.  At about 1630 hours on Monday afternoon, the Mauritanian-flagged fishing vessel Awadi caught fire alongside the pier in Barbanza,…