Tag: maritime executive

Op-Ed: The Houthis’ Ambitions Are Not Yet Blunted   For the shipping community, the Red Sea route between the West and East using the Suez Canal remains a dangerous choice. Attempts at the beginning of July to test the viability of the passage ended in the loss of two Greek-owned bulk carriers, Magic Seas (IMO…

First Hybrid Electric, Hydrogen Capable, CSOV Nears Delivery The first of a series of unique vessels, the commissioning service operation vessel Windcat Rotterdam, recently completed sea trials and is nearing delivery. According to CMB.TECH, its Windcat division, and Damen, which is building the six ships, they represent advances in efficiency, performance, and comfort and will…

Two Children Dead in Collision Between a Barge and a Sailboat   On Monday, a small sailing vessel from a summer-camp program in Miami was involved in a deadly accident with a barge tow in the port’s inner harbor.  At about 1100 hours, Coast Guard Sector Miami received notice from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue of a…

Drew Marine Launches Comprehensive Newbuild Program Drew Marine is proud to introduce its newly launched New Build Program, a purpose-built initiative backed by a specialized team dedicated to supporting vessel construction from concept through commissioning. This program is designed to provide shipowners, operators, and shipyards with seamless, end-to-end technical support and advanced chemical solutions that…

China Lashes Out As U.S. Reports Tracking Chinese Research Vessel in Arctic The U.S. Coast Guard reported on July 26 that it has been tracking a Chinese-flagged research vessel that it contends entered U.S. waters in the Arctic, and this came after a similar report from the Canadians. China was quick to respond, through its…

Israel Boards and Seizes Activist Vessel in International Waters   On Saturday night, the Israeli military intercepted and boarded an activist aid ship in international waters, preventing it from approaching Gaza with a cargo of food.  The British-flagged vessel Handala (AIS reporting name Navarn) got under way from Italy in mid-July, carrying 21 passengers and crew. The…

Interview: Randall Crutchfield, Chairman & CEO of Colonna’s Shipyard   The fifth generation to run the family business, Randall Crutchfield is both humbled and challenged by his new role. Welcome, Randall, and congratulations on 150 years of achievement! Let’s start with a brief history of the company, in your own words, and some of the…

Undersea Sensors: A U.S. Trump Card That China Knows it Must Eliminate   [By David Axe] Unseen, largely unknown and, until recently, highly classified, the US Navy’s vast network of underwater sonars is one of its greatest advantages over rival fleets. The United States can detect many, if not most, enemy submarines through much of…

Guyana Rolls Out Sweeping Port Reforms   In the past one decade, Guyana has become a global energy powerhouse, with the oil boom reshaping the country’s international trade. Last year, Guyana’s economy expanded by 44 percent, marking the fifth consecutive year of double-digit growth. But the growing trade is putting a strain on Guyana’s aging…

Russia Cancels Navy Day Parade After Wave of Ukrainian Drone Attacks Every July since 2017, St. Petersburg has held a massive Navy Day parade for Russian President Vladimir Putin and other members of Russia’s senior leadership. This year, for the first time ever, the event was called off at the last minute – likely because…

Royal Navy Plans to Withdraw its Sole Frigate in Bahrain   The United Kingdom’s Royal Navy appears about to withdraw its permanently deployed frigate in the Gulf, HMS Lancaster. HMS Lancaster (F229), a Type 23 frigate, is approaching the much-delayed end to its working life, having been the forward deployed frigate home-based at the UK’s…

TOTE Group Announces Appointment of New Chief Financial Officer [By TOTE Group]   TOTE Group, a recognized leader in transportation and logistics overseeing some of the most trusted companies in the U.S., announced the appointment of Jason Grear, CPA, as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective today. Grear brings over 20 years of accounting and…

Ship Operators to Join Trial To Prevent Two-Stroke Engine Scuffing CM Technologies (CMT), a leader in advanced condition monitoring solutions, is calling on shipowners and managers to join collaborative trials designed to capture vital data on one of the shipping industry’s most costly problems: cylinder liner scuffing in two-stroke engines. Scuffing, a form of sudden…

Canada to Retire Aging Kingston Warships as it Plans Fleet Modernization The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) intends to retire eight warships that have been instrumental in coastal surveillance and patrol for more than three decades. It is the latest move in the Navy’s ongoing plan to modernize its fleet to meet evolving maritime threats. RCN…

Weakened Iran Clings to Russia in the Caspian Sea   Iran and Russia have concluded a short naval exercise in the Caspian Sea, which both nations may have regarded as an opportunity to shore up relationships in a region where both have recently lost friends. Iran, in particular, felt let down by the lack of…

Icon of the Seas Crewmember Stabs Female Worker and Dies Jumping Overboard   The Royal Bahamas Police Force provided additional details about an incident between two crewmembers on Royal Caribbean International’s cruise ship Icon of the Seas. The report clarified the widely covered media report of a crewmember “falling” overboard and being recovered by the…

Captain of Lost Vologoneft Tanker Had Expired License Russia Says in Court Russia’s state environmental organization, Rosprirodnadzor, alleged in court this week that the operator of the two tankers that were lost in December 2024 had multiple violations. The latest accusations of expired licenses came as the environmental watchdog is seeking further compensation and actions…

Vineyard Wind 1 Expects to Reach Full Commercial Operations by End of 2025   One year after GE Vernova confirmed it had found “materials defects” in the wind turbine blades for the Massachusetts offshore wind farm, new reports reveal the project is making steady progress. Iberdola, parent company of Avangrid, the investors along with Copenhagen…

Saipem and Subsea 7 Agree to Merger Terms to Form Offshore Giant  Saipem and Subsea 7 announced terms for their previously proposed merger to create a giant in the offshore services sector, supporting the oil and gas and other industries. The companies initially proposed the merger in February, saying terms would be set for the…

Industry Leaders Take Action to Revolutionize the ARA Bunkering Market   In a groundbreaking development for the global marine fuels industry, leading shipping and bunkering companies have come together to launch a Bunkering Services Initiative focused on solving the widely reported issues of fuel quantity shortages and fuel quality opacity across the marine fuel supply…

Russian Security Temporarily Closes CPC Terminal in the Black Sea   Russia has been tightening security at its main crude oil loading terminals, which must function in order for the Kremlin to pay for its ongoing war in Ukraine. This week, these precautionary measures briefly closed key oil ports in the Black Sea, affecting both…

Trinity House Grant Boosts Service at Seafarers Advice & Information Line [By: Seafarers Advice and Information Line] The Seafarers Advice and Information Line (SAIL) has been granted an extra £30k by leading maritime charity, Trinity House. The extra funds will be used to employ another part-time adviser to join the existing SAIL team in providing vital…

Poor Welding Caused Bulker to Lose its Rudder and Nearly Run Aground Investigators at New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) released their final report on a July 2023 incident with the Achilles Bulker, reporting that poor welding during maintenance led to a series of failures that ultimately saw the vessel lose its rudder and…

CMA CGM in JV with TotalEnergies to Offer LNG Bunkering from Rotterdam   CMA CGM is making a unique move, announcing it is forming a joint venture with TotalEnergies to launch an LNG bunkering and logistics operation based in Rotterdam. It is the first time a shipping company is partnering with an energy provider for…

Israel Can Deliver Active Suppression of Houthi Attack Boats   The Israeli attack mounted in the early hours of July 21, targeting port infrastructure in Hodeida, was conducted by drones, in contrast to previous Israeli attacks that employed manned aircraft. Employing relatively light-payload drones means that the weight of ordnance that can be launched at…

Brookfield Sells Stake in PD Ports to Billionaire Founder of Spain’s Zara Canadian investment manager Brookfield Asset Management has agreed to sell a 49 percent stake in the ownership of UK ports and logistics company PD Ports to an investment company controlled by Spain’s Amancio Ortega, the owner of brands including Zara, Pull & Bear,…

Spin-Offs From the Suction Sail     The suction sail is an innovative design that uses a small amount of energy to redirect a large flow of crosswind to assist ship propulsion, reducing the amount of thrust required from ship propellers. Spin-offs from the suction sail concept can be applied to other maritime transportation applications.…

Interview: TOTE’s Jeff Vogel on Delivering America’s New Training Ships   Shipbuilding in America is a costly enterprise, especially government shipbuilding. The extra requirements of a government shipowner add friction for a shipyard during construction, resulting in cost growth and delays. When it came time for the Maritime Administration to order a new generation of…

Top Russian University Offers a Program in Sanctions Evasion   In a busy week in the world of sanctions – with President Trump threatening 100% tariffs on those evading US sanctions on Russia, the European Union announcing an agreement on its 18th round of anti-Russian sanctions, and the UK launching a further 137 listings of…

Wind-Assisted Propulsion Expands to LR2s with Landmark Dual-Fuel Order In what is believed to be the first application of wind-assisted propulsion combined with a dual-fuel tanker, the UK’s Bar Technologies reports it has confirmed what it calls a landmark order for its WindWing technology to be installed on two new LR2 dual-fuel tankers to be…

Grimaldi Names First of 10 Giant, Ammonia-Ready Car Carriers Grimaldi Group is marking a major expansion of its car carrier operations along with the launch of what the company is calling “a true technological gem.” During a naming ceremony on July 21 at China Merchants Heavy Industry’s shipyard in Jiangsu, the company highlighted the technological…

Independent Driller Discovers Poland’s Biggest Offshore Oil Reservoir   An independent Canadian E&P firm has discovered what it believes to be the largest offshore oil find in the nation’s history. Though modest by global standards, it sets a new bar for oil and gas prospects in the Baltic. According to Norwegian-owned, Calgary-headquartered driller Central European…

U.S. Treasury Sanctions UAE-Based Fuel Traders Who Supply Houthi Ports   The U.S. Treasury is continuing its crackdown on the petroleum-shipping networks that support Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The group has long profited from its oil-marketing agreements with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, but it also earns hundreds of millions of dollars a year in taxes…

MARAD Announces $8.75 Million in Grants to Revitalize U.S. Shipyards [By MARAD] U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today announced the Maritime Administration (MARAD) awarded $8.75 million in grants to revitalize U.S. shipyards and advance America’s maritime dominance. The funding is part of the Small Shipyard Grant program, which supports advanced training, workforce development, and…

India Targets Fake Seafarer Training Certificates in Sudden Crackdown   India’s shipping directorate is cracking down on the age-old problem of fake seafarer training certificates, sourced from low-quality foreign registries and sold to Indian mariners by crewing agents. Indian officers and engineers who hold such documents will be banned from sailing, and the agents who…

Japanese Shipping Industry Plans Donation of New Training Vessel Three of Japan’s leading shipping companies report they have begun discussions to explore building and donating a new training vessel to the country maritime training program operated by the Japan Agency of Maritime Education and Training for Seafarers (JMETS). Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), Nippon Yusen Kabushiki…

Video: Boater Arrested After “Hit-and-Run” with Famed Aircraft Carrier Port of San Diego Harbor Police Department responded to reports of a pleasure craft that was sailing erratically and allided with the famed aircraft carrier Midway, which is now a museum ship in San Diego harbor. The incident happened on Friday, July 18, 2025, at approximately…

CSSC Completes Conversion of Aging Bulker into Aquaculture Vessel China celebrated the re-delivery of the world’s largest ocean-going aquaculture vessel, Zhe Dai Yu Yang 60001 (Senhai Pioneer), on July 20 in its quest to develop new resources for food development. The project was unique as it is the first time a large ocean vessel was converted…

First Female Leader of US Naval Academy Replaced by Marine Corps Officer   For the first time in 180 years, a Marine Corps officer has been appointed to run the U.S. Naval Academy.  Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte – a helicopter pilot who rose through the ranks to become the Marine Corps’ top…

Tourist Vessel Capsizes in Ha Long Bay, Killing at Least 35 People Dozens of passengers have died in the capsizing of a passenger vessel in Ha Long Bay, an area east of Haiphong which is world-famous for its towering islands. Ha Long Bay has a thriving tourism industry, and millions of visitors come to the…

Puntland Forces Intercept Freighter Full of Turkish Weaponry   On Friday, Somalia’s northern state of Puntland reportedly intercepted the general cargo ship Sea World while it was en route to the Port of Mogadishu. The Comoros-flagged vessel was carrying a consignment of Turkish military equipment, allegedly destined to a military training facility operated by Turkey…

Chevron Completes Hess Acquisition, Including Offshore Guyana Stake Despite objections from ExxonMobil, Chevron has completed its planned acquisition of privately-held rival Hess, including a 30 percent stake in Exxon’s lucrative Stabroek Block developments off Guyana.  Exxon attempted to block the Hess acquisition by filing an arbitration case through the International Chamber of Commerce. Hess’s contract…

Fear, Pride or Miscalculation Could Start a War in the Pacific   [By Henry Yep] Thucydides famously observed that nations go to war for reasons of fear, honor, and interest. In today’s Indo-Pacific, rational interests often dominate strategic analysis. A US Marine Corps War College war game – distinct from a scenario recently featured in The Interpreter – suggests that…

Ferry Fire Kills At Least Three off Sulawesi   On Sunday, a major fire broke out aboard a ferry off the coast of Sulawesi, forcing the passengers and crew to abandon ship into the water.  At about 1200-1300 hours, a blaze broke out in the upper decks of the ferry Barcelona V as it transited…

Peter Brennan Ports & Waterways New Department Manager at Urban Engineers [By: Urban Engineers] As a vital part of our communities, Urban Engineers, Inc.’s (Urban) skilled Ports and Waterways team effectively meets maritime infrastructure needs and conducts assessments and inspections of waterfront structures. As the department’s growth continues, Urban is pleased to announce the promotion…

ClassNK Launches ‘ClassNK Fleet Cost Simulation’ Service [By: ClassNK] ClassNK has launched a new service, ‘ClassNK Fleet Cost Simulation’, as part of its ‘ClassNK Transition Support Services’, which aims to facilitate the maritime industry’s transition to decarbonized fuels. This new service estimates the cost impact of GHG emission reduction regulations including IMO’s mid-term measures, EU-ETS,…

Pace of Digitalization in Maritime Industry Is Now Moving at a Rapid Rate [By: Inmarsat Maritime] The pace of digitalisation in the maritime industry is now moving at a rapid rate, driven by an ever-increasing demand for data. Stay ahead of the curve with NexusWave and get the essential high-speed connectivity, unlimited data, global coverage,…

Marine Group Boat Works Announces New Ownership of San Diego Shipyard [By: Marine Group Boat Works] Marine Group Boat Works (MGBW), a San Diego-based boatbuilding and repair company, has been purchased for an undisclosed amount by Co-Founder and President Todd Roberts, who has joined forces with entrepreneurs Chip Besse, a MGBW customer with successful investments in multiple…

Test of Onboard Carbon Capture on HMM Feeder Proves System Feasibility   A year of testing has proven the effectiveness and commercialization potential of onboard carbon capture and storage systems (OCCS), reports Samsung Heavy Industries. In partnership with HMM, Panasia, and the Korean Register of Shipping, they have been conducting tests aboard an HMM feeder…

Matson Suspends Shipping EVs Citing Hazards of Lithium-ion Batteries   Matson surprised customers this week with an announcement that, effective immediately, it would suspend transporting battery-powered electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles due to the hazardous material classification of their lithium-ion batteries. The ability to ship cars between the mainland of the United States, Hawaii,…

China Pushes the Envelope, Rolling Out 17MW Floating Wind Turbine China’s offshore wind industry continues to push the limits for offshore wind turbines, looking to increase the capacity and durability of its units. In the latest development, it reports completing the development of a prototype, which is the world’s largest direct-drive floating offshore wind turbine.…

Port of Barcelona Reduces Cruise Terminals to Limit Overtourism   The city of Barcelona is taking action to address the growing complaints of overcrowding and overtourism that critics say is linked to the cruise ships. The city, which claims to be the largest cruise port in Europe unveiling plans to redevelop its seaport, a move…

New Zealand Forces Coordinate with Tanker for Challenging Nighttime Rescue Maritime New Zealand is recounting the details of a high-seas nighttime rescue. The operation was successful due to the coordination of the Rescue Coordination Center along with the New Zealand Defence Force and a Good Samaritan commercial tanker. The incident began on the afternoon of…

Putting More Women on Boards Is Not Enough Without Rethinking Leadership   For the past decade, the maritime industry has made increasing efforts to improve diversity at the top, most visibly through a focus on gender balance in boardrooms. But while headlines around the number of women appointed to shipping boards suggest progress, the reality…

Navigator Joins with Amon to Build Two Ammonia-Fueled Gas Carriers   The ammonia-fueled vessel sector took another major step forward with the news that Navigator Holdings and Amon Maritime have formed a new joint venture and ordered two ammonia-fueled liquefied ammonia carriers. The news came a day after WinGD reported the installation of the first…

Vinci Acquires Wartsila’s Marine Electronics to Strengthen Defense Business   Vinici, which provides energy solutions, reports it has reached an agreement with Wartsila to acquire its Marine Electric Systems business unit, which will be used to enhance the company’s position in the defense market and other industrial sectors. The sale is part of Wartsila’s strategy…

NTSB: Fatigued Pilot Distracted by Cell Phone Caused Towboat Collision   The National Transportation Safety Board is yet again highlighting an example of distracted navigation through the use of a personal cellphone and other non-operational tasks, which it says contributed to the collision of a towboat on the Lower Mississippi, causing more than $800,000 in…

More Than a Month After Fire, Wan Hai 503 Remains Under Tow Off India   The burned-out boxship Wan Hai 503 remains under tow and awaiting a confirmed port of refuge, according to Indian shipping authorities. When Wan Hai 503 suffered a cargo explosion and fire off Kerala on June 9, few expected that the…

Fairbanks Morse Defense Completes Rolls-Royce Naval Propulsors Acquisition Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD) finalized its acquisition of the Rolls-Royce Naval Propulsors business. It includes facilities in Mississippi and Massachusetts and is seen as a key step in strengthening FMD’s role in supporting U.S. naval shipbuilding. The deal was announced in September 2024 with Rolls-Royce saying the…

First Two-Stroke Ammonia-Fueled Engine Installed as Newbuild Proceeds The race to launch the first commercial ammonia-fueled engines marked a key milestone, reports marine engine designer WinGD. The first two-stroke engines built from the company’s designs were tested and recently successfully installed in the first new ammonia carriers being built in South Korea. WindGD is highlighting…

The Undisputed Superpower Of The Seas   Daniel Aritonang graduated from high school in May, 2018, hoping to find a job. Short and lithe, he lived in the coastal village of Batu Lungun, Indonesia, where his father owned an auto shop. Aritonang spent his free time rebuilding engines in the shop, occasionally sneaking away to…

Netherlands’ Government Says Offshore Wind Targets Are No Longer Realistic Addressing the Dutch Parliament, the interim government’s Minister for Climate and Green Growth has said the current goals for offshore wind energy are “no longer realistic.” The Ministry reports it is working on a new plan that will reset the country’s targets, lowering the near-term…

Report: Hyundai to Enter Competition for Morocco Shipyard   Reports from the Korean media indicate the HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, the holding company for the group’s shipbuilding operations, is exploring participating in the upcoming bidding for the rights to operate Casablanca’s new shipyard. It is part of an international strategy by the group, which has…

USTR Port Fee Proposal Puts a Dent in China’s Shipbuilding Dominance   Chinese shipbuilders are already feeling the pinch from the Trump administration’s unprecedented port fee proposal, even though the details have not yet been released in final form. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative’s fee schedule would increase the cost of doing business…

Is Australia Doing Enough to Ensure Confidence in the AUKUS Sub Deal?   [By Jennifer Parker] At an estimated $368 billion cost, a Pentagon review underway and talk of the United States seeking a guaranteed commitment in the event of conflict, Australia’s push for nuclear-powered submarines under AUKUS is never far from the headlines. But the idea that Canberra…

With Korean Support, Amogy Takes Ammonia Propulsion Tech Ashore   One of South Korea’s policy banks has made a significant investment in clean power company Amogy, which is designing a system to run hydrogen fuel cells with an ammonia fuel source.  Ammonia is one of the most promising available fuel options for low-emission propulsion, but…

The Shrimp Factory Whistleblower   On October 29 2023, a 45-year-old American named Joshua Farinella flew into the city of Amalapuram near India’s eastern coast to start his new job as the general manager at a shrimp processing plant owned by a company called Choice Canning. Farinella, who is softly spoken with a shaved head,…

EU Border Patrol Crew Rescued After Grounding and Sinking [Brief] On Monday, a European border patrol vessel ran aground and sank off the coast of Lesvos, Greece during a search and rescue mission, according to the Hellenic Coast Guard.  At about 1800 hours on Monday evening, an unnamed Frontex rescue boat was engaged in a…

MSC Baltic III Response Shows Significant Progress   After months of effort, salvors have removed the majority of the bunker fuel aboard the stricken boxship MSC Baltic III, substantially reducing the risk of pollution.  Taking advantage of calmer summer weather along the coast of Newfoundland, the salvage response team has been bringing a barge alongside…

Trafigura Employee Named in Pertamina Oil Graft Investigation   Commodity trader and shipowner Trafigura has been named in past scandals in Angola, Ivory Coast, Brazil, Myanmar and Mexico, and one of its employees is now implicated in Indonesia’s oil-import fraud scandal as well. A sales manager of the Switzerland-based commodities giant has been detained in connection with an…

How a Tragic Pilot Ladder Accident Led to Enhanced Protections   In a milestone for maritime pilots’ safety, on June 26, 2025, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) significantly improved Pilot Transfer Arrangement (PTA) requirements by adopting amendments to International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) regulation V/23, as well as new mandatory…

IMO and ILO Highlight Growing Issue of Seafarer Criminalization   Earlier this month, in my capacity as Director for the Seamen’s Church Institute’s (SCI) Center for Mariner Advocacy (CMA), I had the good fortune to attend two significant international meetings in London, both addressing critical issues concerning the rights and safety of seafarers. The first…

Challenging China’s Shipbulding Dominance   China has become the most dominant player in the shipbuilding industry since World War II, when American builders like Henry Kaiser cranked out thousands of ships for the war effort. U.S. tonnage ruled the waves in the 1940s, but times have changed. Chinese yards took home three-quarters of the world’s…

Terminal Expansion Project Kicks Off at Port of Long Beach International Transportation Services (ITS), which operates one of the six container terminals at the Port of Long Beach in California, started a major expansion program that will create 19 acres of new space for stacking containers. When the project is completed in 2028, it will…

Pioneering Ammonia Bunker Vessel Ordered by Itochu for Singapore Launch   The early efforts to develop the infrastructure for ammonia-fueled ships are taking another key step forward with the order of what is likely the first dedicated ammonia bunker ship. The vessel is being built in Japan for use in Singapore, which is at the…

Syria’s New Rulers Hand Operatorship of Port of Tartus to DP World   After booting out the previous Russian operator of the port of Tartus, the newly-installed government of Syria has handed its operation to blue-chip ports concessionaire DP World. The announcement follows just five days after the U.S. formally lifted its longstanding Foreign Terrorist Organization…

In a Conflict With China, Access to Indonesia’s Straits Isn’t Guaranteed   [By Michael Roach] While the United States spends billions on military infrastructure from Guam to Darwin, one crucial enabler of Indo-Pacific deterrence remains noticeably underdeveloped: rights to pass through Indonesia. The sea and air space of the archipelago would be hard to avoid…

Spanish Police Bust Harbor Supply Boat for Picking Up Smuggled Cocaine Spanish authorities have arrested three people who are suspected of retrieving cocaine from the sea chest of a merchant ship off the coast of Las Palmas. It is the latest in a long string of drug busts in and around the Canary Islands, a…

Coast Guard Aircrew Receives Flight Medals for Texas Flood Response   On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security awarded its highest honor to a rescue swimmer who made a heroic effort to save lives after the disastrous Guadeloupe River flood.  During the response, Petty Officer 2nd Class Scott Ruskan, 26, set an all-time Coast Guard record…

Homeland Security Cancels Contracts for Two Offshore Patrol Cutters The Department of Homeland Security has canceled orders for the third and fourth Offshore Patrol Cutters at Eastern Shipbuilding Group, citing delays and cost growth. The Coast Guard had already put the third and fourth hulls on hold, even though early stages of work had started on…

US-Australian Exercise Talisman Sabre 25 Commences   The eleventh iteration of Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 commenced on July 13 with an opening ceremony aboard HMAS Adelaide (L01) in Sydney Harbor. 30,000 troops are scheduled to participate across land, sea and air domains, in an exercise area stretching from Christmas Island in the west to Papua…

Vancouver Pushes Forward with Controversial Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority is taking the next key step in its plans to add a major new container terminal to expand Vancouver’s capacity and efficiency.  They announced that the search has begun for a contractor for the mega terminal with the goal of…

Austal USA Delivers Last Independence-Variant LCS to USN   Austal USA reports the U.S. Navy officially took delivery today, July 11, of the future USS Pierre, the final ship of the Independence program. LCS 38 is the 19th Independence-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) delivered by the company in a program that dates back to the…

Report: Israel Asks U.S. to Resume Attacks on Houthis After Ship Losses Reports in the Israeli media are saying that the Israeli government has approached the United States, calling for a resumption of the attacks on the Houthis, saying that a wider coalition is necessary. The call comes as the Houthis have continued to launch…

Iranian Naval Forces Still Dispersed at Sea   As has been seen previously, the dispositions of Iranian naval forces seen over the last few days give some indication of the dilemmas now facing Iran’s clerical leadership, and the difficulties they now have to face up to regarding their adversarial position with Israel and the United…

Norway to Tighten Restrictions on Russians Navigating in Local Waters The Norwegian government is the latest to report it will tighten the restrictions on Russian navigators sailing in its waters in response to the perceived dangers to navigation and espionage. The step comes as the EU and many Scandinavian and Baltic countries have moved to…

Royal Caribbean Takes Delivery of Next Giant as MSC Confirms Orders The mass market segment of the cruise industry continues to push forward with its efforts to build a new generation of ultra-large cruise ships designed to compete with theme parks and land-based resorts. Royal Caribbean International marked a milestone with the delivery of the…

Turkey’s Shipbuilders Face Economic Headwinds in Export Market   Turkey’s shipbuilding sector has been a dominant force in the specialty-vessel market for years, but it appears to be losing ground, based on a string of disappointing sales numbers. Last month, sales of Turkish ships and yachts fell by more than 60 percent year on year,…

U.S. Cracks Down on Iran’s Oil Marketing Network in Hong Kong   After cracking down on the “shadow fleet” of gray-market tankers that serve Iran’s oil exporters, the U.S. Treasury is now taking aim at the financiers that help Iranian oil traders move money. It has designated 22 different entities for violating U.S. sanctions on…

Advanced Ocean Research Vessel to be Built by Fincantieri’s VARD   VARD, which is already known for unique specialized vessels, reports it has received the contract for what is being billed as one of the most advanced research vessels ever built. The custom-built research vessel, designated Project RV6000, is specifically designed for scientific exploration and…

Netherlands Provides Support to Damen Naval as German Frigates are Delayed   Reports in the Dutch media and by Bloomberg indicate that the Netherlands government has decided to provide support to help Damen Naval as it works to address challenges in its building program for a new generation of German frigates. The shipbuilder has reportedly…

Hamburg to Invest €1.1B to Expand Port and Modernize Operations for Growth   The Port of Hamburg announced a series of new projects that will be undertaken to enhance operations and modernize and expand terminal operations, especially for the largest containerships. It comes as the port continues to experience strong competition and needs to support…

Greece Moves to End Asylum Claims for All Maritime Migrants From Libya   Greece’s government is seeking to close its doors to asylum-seekers from North Africa amidst a surge of maritime migration and a breakdown in talks with the militia that governs eastern Libya.  “The Greek government sends a message . . . to all…

American Cruise Lines Celebrated July 4th Christening New American Patriot [By American Cruise Lines] American Cruise Lines christened American Patriot in Newport, Rhode Island last week—celebrating the holiday and simultaneously marking the countdown to the country’s 250th birthday on July 4th, 2026. American Patriot is the first ship in the company’s new Patriot Class—a fleet…

China Attempts to Suppress Documentary on South China Sea   China’s embassy in New Zealand attempted to suppress a public screening of a documentary about Philippine fishermen, according to producers of a film festival in Auckland.   China’s government believes that it has sovereignty over the vast majority of the South China Sea under its…

Brief Surge Expected This Month for U.S. Retail Imports as Tariffs Loom   The seesaw of tariff implementation continues to cause uncertainty for businesses, with the National Retail Federation predicting that July will see a strong rebound as stores attempt to build inventory ahead of the latest date for the rollout of tariffs. The trade…

Belgian Pilot Critically Injured in Fall From Pilot Ladder [Brief] In the early hours of Monday morning, a marine pilot was seriously injured while boarding a vessel from a pilot boat.  At about 0015 hours Monday, a 66-year-old pilot was transferring from a boat of the Belgian Pilotage Service to a ship. While climbing the…

Eight People Sentenced to Prison for High-Stakes Cocaine Bust Off Ireland   Eight people have been sentenced to spend more than a decade in prison in connection with the 2023 drug bust aboard the merchant bulker Matthew, the largest cocaine seizure in Irish history.  In September 2023, Irish authorities received intelligence indicating a planned handoff…

Former STX Shipyard For Sale as Investors Seek to Cash Out After Turnaround   Once one of the leading shipbuilders in South Korea, the former STX Yard, which was relaunched as K Shipbuilding, is celebrating a remarkable turnaround. According to a report in The Korean Economic Daily, after having posted its first profit in 14…

Canada Grants Investigational Permit for West Coast Offshore Wind Farm Canada granted an investigative Use Permit to Oceanic Wind Energy for what could become the country’s first offshore wind farm. The company, which is in partnership with a First Nation company, Coast Tsimshian Enterprises, is calling the permit a milestone in its effort to advance…