Tag: maritime executive

Regent Seven Seas Cruises® Enhances Onboard Enrichment and Entertainment [By: Regent Seven Seas Cruises] Regent Seven Seas Cruises®, the world’s leading ultra luxury cruise line, has enhanced its all-inclusive onboard offering for the curious traveller, revealing a new guest speaker and entertainment program. Cultural enthusiasts and history buffs will enjoy expert discourse led by thought…

CMA CGM Group New Custom-Designed AI Solutions from Mistral AI [By: CMA CGM Group] The CMA CGM Group, a global player in sea, land, air, and logistics solutions, and Mistral AI, a pioneering company in generative artificial intelligence, today announced a five-year strategic partnership to revolutionize the shipping, logistics, and media sectors through artificial intelligence (AI).…

At a Pivotal Meeting, Nations Decide Whether to Cut Ship Emissions   [By Simon Bullock, Christiaan De Beukelaer and Tristan Smith] You’re probably reading this article on a device assembled in Asia, using materials shipped there from all around the world. After it was made, your phone or laptop most likely travelled to your country on…

OSV Engineer Electrocuted While Troubleshooting a Mud Pump   The U.S. Coast Guard has released the results of an investigation into the death of an engineer aboard the OSV Red Stag in Port Fourchon, Louisiana in 2023. The crewmember was electrocuted after opening a high voltage electrical panel without authorization.  On the afternoon of October…

MAN 175D Wins Portuguese Navy Projects [By: MAN Energy Solutions] MAN Energy Solutions reports that its MAN 175D engine has recently won two separate orders to power newbuildings for the Portuguese Navy. Damen Shipyards Group of the Netherlands has ordered multiple MAN 175D engines in connection with the construction of a multi-purpose vessel (MPV). The…

New Spill Spotted Near Kerch Strait Tanker Wrecks   A new fuel slick has been spotted on the surface near the Kerch Strait, the Russian-controlled waterway between the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, according to a Russian environmental scientist. The pollution is near the site where two aging tankers broke up and sank…

U.S. Transportation Secretary Wants to Rebuild USMMA   In a visit to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy last week, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy pledged to help find the resources needed to restore the institution’s infrastructure – an investment that DOT has not prioritized before.  “You don’t deserve to have an academy that’s dilapidated,” Duffy told…

U.S. Backs Diego Garcia Deal for 99 Years of Rent-Free Access   A deal appears to be in the last stages of negotiation between Mauritius and the UK over the continued use of Diego Garcia, a key base for U.S. naval and air operations in the Middle East and Africa.  This follows President Trump’s approval…

Iran Has Thousands of Ballistic Missiles. Here’s Where They Are.   The deployment of B-2 Spirit strategic stealth bombers and KC-135 refueling aircraft to Diego Garcia, plus the dispatch of the USS Carl Vinson to make up a second Carrier Strike Group in the region, make up only part of a well-publicized reinforcement of US…

Study: Scrubbers Have Less Environmental Impact Than Low-Sulfur Fuel   Since the introduction of a global sulfur cap in marine fuel oil by IMO (International Maritime Organization) in 2020, there has been uncertainty on the environmental impacts of scrubbers for vessels using heavy fuel oil (HFO). But a new study released last week claims that the environmental impacts…

CSSC Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Delivers Final CMA CGM Container Ship [By: Bureau Veritas] Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV) has successfully delivered the CMA CGM TIGA, the last of ten 5500TEU container ships built for CMA CGM at CSSC Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding. This marks the completion of a major project for which BV provided classification services…

Work Starts on the First “Fremm Evo” Unit for the Italian Navy [By: Fincantieri] Fincantieri has started construction on the Italian Navy’s first of two next-generation FREMM frigates, known as the “EVOLUTION” version or FREMM EVO.  The milestone was marked with a steel-cutting ceremony held at the Riva Trigoso (Genoa) shipyard.  The construction contract for…

Vard Signs a New Contract with Dong Fang Offshore for a Subsea Vessel [By: Fincantieri] Vard, the Norwegian subsidiary of the Fincantieri Group and one of the major global designers and shipbuilders of specialized vessels, has signed a new contract for the design and construction of one offshore subsea construction vessel with Dong Fang Offshore (DFO), a leading provider of…

Cruise Passenger Charged with Assault After “Barefoot Dancing” Incident   In recent years there have been many reports of passengers acting badly and even a few brawls aboard cruise ships. Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and lawyers are confirming the CEO of a California-based title insurance company was charged in San Juan,…

Shipbuilding Orders Rebound as South Korea Looks to Benefits from U.S. Fees South Korea’s shipbuilding industry is highlighting a rebound in orders in March after a slow start to the year. It comes as the industry looks for ways to benefit from the proposed U.S. fees on Chinese-built ships. To combat the growing Chinese domination…

USACE, Eastern Shipbuilding, Royal IHC Start Construction of New Dredge   The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers joined contractors Eastern Shipbuilding Group and Royal IHC on April 4, 2025, in Panama City, FL for a steel cutting ceremony, kicking off construction of a Medium Class Hopper Dredge (MCHD) to replace the Dredge McFARLAND of the…

St. Johns Ship Building Receives Two New Contracts Valued at Over $17M [By St. Johns Ship Building] St. Johns Ship Building, a Palatka, Florida-based Jones Act facility, today announced the award of two new contracts totaling approximately $17 million in value. The projects include the construction of a state-of-the-art Crew Transfer Vessel (CTV) and two…

New Zealand Court of Inquiry Identifies Training in Loss of Survey Vessel The Royal New Zealand Navy released the final results of its Court of Inquiry into the shocking October 2023 loss of its survey vessel HMNZS Manawanui, the first vessel lost by the Navy since World War II. While the preliminary report released in…

Construction Order Placed for World’s First Sail-Powered Containership   The French cooperative Windcoop completed the construction order for its revolutionary open-hatch sail-powered cargo ship, the first of what the group envisions will be a pioneering fleet of ships. The order was placed with Turkey’s RMK Marine, which is also building the sail-powered RoRo Neoliner Origin.…

Seaspan Begins Construction on Heavy Polar Icebreaker [By: Seaspan] Today, Seaspan Shipyards (Seaspan) cut steel on the Canadian Coast Guard’s (CCG) new heavy polar icebreaker, signifying the start of construction on one of the most advanced conventional polar icebreakers ever to be built. This marks the first time a heavy polar icebreaker has been built…

Massachusetts Maritime Academy Named Best Return on Investment Institution [By: Massachusetts Maritime Academy] Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA), a top-ranked public university with undergraduate degree programs focusing on science, engineering, technology, math, and business that blend academics and experiential learning, is thrilled to announce its recognition as a “Best Return on Investment” four-year school nationwide by U.S. News…

Canada’s First Large LNG Export Facility Enters Final Commissioning Stage LNG Canada received its critical cooldown shipment of LNG on April 2, as the project which is poised to become the country’s first major LNG export facility, continues on track to achieve its first export cargo by the middle of 2025. It will open a…

MSC Group Cruise Division Officially Inaugurates New Terminal in Barcelona [By: MSC Cruises] MSC Group’s Cruise Division today officially inaugurated the new MSC Barcelona Terminal on the first call of Explora Journeys’ luxury ship EXPLORA II. Dignitaries who attended the commemorative ribbon-cutting ceremony included Jose Antonio Santano Clavero, the Spanish government’s State Secretary for Transport…

Chilean Navy Searches for Seven Fishermen After Sudden Capsizing   Chilean authorities are searching for seven crewmembers who went missing when a fishing vessel sank off the coast of Coronel, Chile. Their boat, the Bruma, capsized early Sunday morning in a crowded area in calm conditions, and an inquiry is under way to determine whether…

ABS Expands Singapore Footprint with New Office and Services [By: ABS] Increasing demand from shipowners for ABS services in Singapore has prompted ABS to invest in an expanded regional head office housing industry-leading research and development capabilities. The opening ceremony was prefaced by a traditional lion dance and reception, which saw ABS Chairman and CEO Christopher…

Dredger Pulls 500-Kilo WWII Bomb From the Bottom in Koblenz On Tuesday, a dredger working on the Rhine pulled up a large bomb dating back to World War II, prompting an immediate security response.  The dredge Innovatie was working near the Pfaffendorf Bridge in Koblenz when the crew discovered a 500-kilo WWII bomb, which had…

Kongsberg Maritime Secures Equipment Contract for Offshore Support Vessel [By: Kongsberg Maritime] Kongsberg Maritime is pleased to announce that it has secured a contract to supply an integrated package of equipment for a new Offshore Support Vessel (OSV) being built for ship owner DOF. The new 110 metre OSV, with a capacity to accommodate 164 people, is…

Kongsberg Discovery Takes Innovative Approach to Ocean Business 2025 [By: Kongsberg Discovery] Kongsberg Discovery is gearing up to make a splash at Ocean Business 2025, with high profile product demonstrations, a new digital innovation launch, and a range of domain experts on hand to help stakeholders navigate a future of ocean opportunity. Get onboard The…

Marlink New Cyber Company to Meet Customer Demand for Security & Compliance [By: Marlink] Marlink, a leader in managed services for business-critical IT solutions, has created Marlink Cyber, a dedicated cyber security company to address growth of cyber threats and the increasing need for compliance. Marlink Cyber combines legacy expertise within Marlink with the skills,…

Port Fees for Chinese Ships May Prompt Genco to Leave US Market   Smart shipowners are getting prepared to pass any extra U.S. fees for Chinese ships onwards to their charterers, insulating the owner from the impact of millions of dollars in extra regulatory cost per port call. Special new charter party clauses will ensure…

21 Years of QUALSHIP 21 Recognition for Republic of the Marshall Islands [By: The Marshall Islands Registry] The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Registry’s long-term and consistent commitment to high quality shipping continues to be recognized by the international community. At INTERTANKO’s North America panel meeting held in Stamford, Connecticut, the United States Coast Guard…

Underwater Stern Tube Seal Repairs in Algeciras and Antwerp [By: Hydrex] Recently, our diver/technician teams were deployed to ships in Belgium and Spain for stern tube seal replacements. The first operation took place in Algeciras on a 225-meter container ship, while the second was carried out in Antwerp on a 295-meter RoRo vessel. Both ships…

Compliance Assurance   Compliance is a top priority for shipowners, and that includes the handling of effluent and emissions. Merchant ships have at least five major waste streams – exhaust, bilge water, solid waste, ballast water and sewage – each with stringent limits. Of these, ballast water requires treatment for almost every deepsea shipping application,…

StarCruises Relaunches in Asia Three Years After Bankruptcy Three years after the bankruptcy of Genting Hong Kong which resulted in the collapse of both Star Cruises and Dream Cruises the corporation has relaunched the brands. Earlier this year they announced plans to rebrand away from Resorts World Cruises back to the traditional brand names as…

Shore Leave: Rare, Brief and in Danger of Extinction [By: ITF Seafarers’ Trust] A new report from the ITF Seafarers’ Trust (ITFST) and the World Maritime University (WMU) highlights the continuing absence of shore leave for the world’s seafarers. Analysing the data from 5879 seafarers who responded to the ITFST’s Shore Leave Survey, WMU researchers concluded that more…

Norway to Invest $1.5 Billion for Stakes in Two RWE Offshore Wind Farms   Providing a strong demonstration of confidence for the offshore wind energy sector and helping Germany’s RWE fend off pressure from activist investors, Norway’s sovereign wealth fund has agreed to acquire stakes in two under construction wind farms. Norges Bank Investment Management…

Yang Ming Buys Methanol Containerships as First Step in Fleet Optimization   After reporting strong financial results for 2024, Taiwan’s Yang Ming took the first steps in a fleet optimization and expansion program first announced in December 2024. The company reported it is buying three under-construction dual-fuel methanol containerships from Japanese leasing company Shoei Kisen…

Nationwide Strike Paralyzes Belgium’s Ports, Airports, and Services   Upset by Belgium’s new collation government’s plans for budget cutting, public and private workers walked on their jobs on Monday, March 31, for a 24-hour strike that stopped many parts of Belgium for the day. Officials for the Port of Antwerp-Bruges said the disruptions began on…

Report: Time to Invest in Cybersecurity for U.S. Sealift Forces   A panel of senior cyber experts has called for more investment in maritime cybersecurity in order to ensure American military mobility in wartime. Most cyber analyses focus on the economic and commercial impact of cyber meddling, but this study is squarely focused on defense…

Federal Judge Tosses Biden-Era O&G Lease Sale Over Climate Effects   Last Thursday, a D.C. circuit court judge ruled that a Biden-era oil and gas lease sale was unlawful because the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management failed to consider the impact of climate-warming emissions from the project, or the potential effect of extra activity on…

Finding Zero   The global maritime industry is racing to cut emissions with solutions ranging from cutting-edge tech to, well… sails. Yes, we’ve come full circle. The same technology that powered pirates is now hailed as the future of sustainable shipping. What a time to be alive! While we await warp drives and fusion reactors,…

Trump Threatens “Secondary Tariffs” on Russian Oil After weeks of negotiations with the Kremlin, U.S. President Donald Trump is beginning to show impatience with Russia’s continued aggression in Ukraine, and on Sunday he threatened to create a new penalty on Russian oil: “secondary tariffs” imposed on the nations that buy it. In practice, this would…

Somalia Offers U.S. Full Control Over Somaliland’s Port of Berbera   The geopolitics in the Horn of Africa have taken a new turn, with Somalia indicating that it is ready to offer the U.S exclusive control of it ports in the Gulf of Aden. This was revealed in a letter leaked last week, which appeared…

Shipload of Rocket Fuel Arrives in Iran   Early on March 29, a vessel bearing a strong resemblance to MV Jairan, the second of two sanctioned Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) ships carrying sodium perchlorate from China, was spotted in Bandar Abbas Anchorage at 56.3515N 26.9960E midway between the islands of Qeshm and…

EU Scrutinizes Fraud in Certification of Biofuels   The scrutiny on the use of biofuels in Europe has intensified, with reports emerging last week that the EU is planning to suspend recognition of the ISCC certification of waste-based biofuels. The International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) has an EU certification scheme that verifies that biofuels…

Kongsberg Maritime Invests Quarter of a Million in Advanced Simulator [By: Kongsberg Maritime] Kongsberg Maritime, a leading technology partner for the maritime industry announces the launch of its cutting-edge K-Sim Offshore DP3 Anchor Handling Simulator, setting a new standard for training and operational excellence in the Maritime sector. With an investment of over £250,000, this…

Fincantieri: Keel Laying of “Seven Seas Prestige” in Marghera [By: Fincantieri] Today, the keel laying ceremony for “Seven Seas Prestige”, the ultra-luxury cruise ship which Fincantieri is building for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, took place at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Marghera (Venice). The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2026. The ceremony was attended, among others,…

Alfa Laval PureBallast 3 Ultra Secures Orders from Leading Shipyards [By: Alfa Laval] Alfa Laval PureBallast 3 Ultra is the latest ballast water management system (BWMS) built on proven PureBallast 3 technology. Just a few months after its introduction, PureBallast 3 Ultra has already secured orders from top shipyards worldwide, with deliveries set to begin in Q3…

ABS Announces Industry Leading New Singapore Maritime Safety Center [By: ABS] ABS has launched the ABS Singapore Maritime Safety Center, a cutting-edge training center supporting adoption of alternative fuels, in conjunction with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s (MPA) Maritime Energy Training Facility (METF) project. Part of a family of advanced new ABS safety…

First Ammonia-Fueled Tug Completes Three Months Demonstrating GHG Reduction   The world’s first commercial-use ammonia-fueled vessel, Sakigake, completed a three-month demonstration voyage. Engaged in tugboat operations in Tokyo Bay, NYK which owns the vessel reports it achieved a GHG-emission reduction of up to approximately 95 percent. They believe it illustrates the potential of ammonia as…

Carnival Cruise Line Completes Integration of P&O’s Australian Operations Carnival Cruise Line marked a new step for the brand as it completed the expansion of its operations in Australia taking over its former sister brand P&O Cruises Australia. With two P&O ships officially entering Carnival service on Saturday, March 29, the brand with 29 ships…

USCG Finds Hazardous Ammonia at Puerto Rico Terminal Violating Safety Order   The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating after an inspection team on Wednesday, March 26 discovered a tank containing hazardous anhydrous ammonia at the terminal in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The tank represents a violation of an order by the USCG issued last month…

ABS Wavesight Strengthens Maritime Collaboration with Vision & Value Summit [By: ABS Wavesight] ABS Wavesight™, the ABS-affiliated Software-as-a-Service company, proudly hosted its Vision and Value Summit in Singapore. The event brought together users of ABS Wavesight software products, industry stakeholders, and regional experts for a dynamic day of collaboration, innovation, and forward-thinking discussions. The event…

Japan Launches Its First Dedicated Ice-Class Arctic Research Vessel Japan celebrated the naming and launch of its first purpose-built ice-class Arctic research vessel, Mirai II. Construction on the vessel began in 2021 and it represents a significant step forward for the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), which will be responsible for the…

Study: To Keep Seafarers From Quitting, Stop Shipboard Harassment   The shipping industry faces its worst shortage  of crewmembers in nearly two decades, and could be 90,000 people short by next year. The Global Maritime Forum’s “All Aboard” consortium has conducted extensive research on methods to improve life at sea and boost retention, and it…

Dutch Project to Design Liquid Hydrogen Powered Bulk Carrier A new project launched by a consortium of Dutch companies and supported by the government is focusing on what they are calling the world’s first zero-emission general cargo ship powered by liquid hydrogen. According to the project organizers, this initiative is a key pillar of the…

Designs for CO2 Carrier and Floating Storage Using Elevated Pressure   Knutsen NYK Carbon Carriers, a subsidiary of NYK and Knutsen Group reports it is moving forward in the development of its concepts for the transport and storage of carbon as part of the emerging CCUS (Carbon capture, utilization, and storage) sector. The company obtained…

Report: Panama Poised to Purge Sanctioned Tankers from Registry After an extended pressure campaign from the United States and activist groups such as UANI (United Against Nuclear Iran) the Panama Maritime Authority is poised to purge its registry of sanctioned tankers. Bloomberg is citing comments by the General Director of Merchant Maine for PMA, Ramon…

The Maritime Hacking Village: Cyber Hacking for the Maritime Community   It is time to get serious about hacking  — and engaging the hacker community — as a pathway to a stronger maritime environment. All of us in the maritime industry appreciate our respective nation’s reliance upon the maritime transportation system (MTS) for our very…

OMSA Proposes a Daily Fee on Chinese-Made Offshore Vessels in US Waters   America’s offshore vessel operators are pleased with the White House’s proposal for steep fees on Chinese ships, and they would like the administration to go one step further – with a daily tax on Chinese-built vessels operating in U.S. waters.  Despite the protections…

What the IMO Does Next Will Decide Shipping Decarbonization Success [By: ABS] “The IMO really has to step up now if we are to deliver on the pace and scale of the change required. A lot of this comes down to the question of how we address the significant price differential between fossil and alternative…

AD Ports Group and Columbia Group Launch Ship Management Joint Venture   Columbia Group, a leading global ship management and crew management service provider,  will take over the management of the ocean-going fleet operated within the AD Ports Group. The two companies are forming a new strategic partnership which they said aims to elevate in-house…

DNV Awards MARIC AiP for New Ammonia Ready Kamsarmax Bulk Carrier [By: DNV] As part of Singapore Maritime Week, DNV has awarded Marine Design and Research Institute of China (MARIC), Approval in Principle (AiP) for their new wide beam ammonia ready Kamsarmax bulk carrier. The vessel has a shallow draft for flexible port calls, as…

ABS is Founding Member of New MIT Maritime Consortium [By: ABS] ABS, in collaboration with leading players in the maritime industry, has joined an ambitious initiative from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to tackle challenges facing global shipping. The MIT Maritime Consortium unites academia and industry to support the development of cutting-edge technologies that…

U.S. Senate Confirms Navy Secretary John Phelan   The U.S. Senate has confirmed the appointment of President Donald Trump’s nominee for the next Secretary of the Navy, the financier, political donor and art collector John Phelan. He was confirmed by a vote of 62-30, securing more than a dozen votes from senators in the political…

HMM Joins Pioneers with its First Methanol-Fueled Containership The ranks of container shipping companies employing methanol-fueled vessels continue to grow with HMM becoming the latest among the early adopters of the fuel. DNV calculates there are just 26 methanol-fueled containerships in service currently with orders for 200 more vessels having been placed. By comparison, there…

White House Nominates Navy Submariner to Run Maritime Administration   Former submarine officer Capt. Brent Sadler (USN) has been nominated to run the U.S. Maritime Administration, the unit of the Department of Transportation responsible for the Ready Reserve, the Maritime Security Program, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and several other maritime-related programs. MARAD has been…

Shipping Company Blames “Captain’s Carelessness” as LPG Carrier Strands Residents in the area around Pattaya City, Thailand panicked when they saw a gas tanker stranded on the shoreline at daybreak. There were rumors that the vessel was releasing gas, but it was quickly stopped by the authorities which announced the vessel’s tanks were empty and…

Vattenfall Approves Construction of Germany’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm Swedish offshore wind developer Vattenfall announced that it has taken the final investment decision to proceed with the construction of Germany’s largest offshore wind farm. The announcement was seen as a vote of confidence for the sector and comes as Germany is embroiled in a political…

U.S. to Assist Russia in Increasing Ag Exports, Lifting Bank Restrictions   Russia, Ukraine and the United States have agreed to a tentative ceasefire deal in the Black Sea, allowing most combat on shore to continue. The contours of the agreement largely align with Russian proposals, and Ukrainian leaders said that they would watch Russian…

Ocean Carriers Raise New Concerns About Steep U.S. Fees for Chinese Ships   On Monday, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative held its first hearings on a plan to charge the owners of Chinese ships an additional fee for every port call in the U.S., ranging up to $3.5 million for each instance. If…

Crowley Appoints Jenny Fuss as Chief Financial Officer   Crowley has named Jenny Fuss as its chief financial officer, leading all of the company’s financial strategies and operations to enhance economic performance and business growth.  With more than 20 years of experience as an executive for global institutions, Fuss brings to Crowley’s Senior Leadership Team…

U.S.-Russian Talks on Black Sea Ceasefire Wrap Up in Riyadh   U.S. and Russian negotiators have wrapped up their first day of talks on a Black Sea ceasefire, according to Russian media. The Saudi-hosted conversation in Riyadh lasted 12 hours, and the details of the results should be released tomorrow in a joint statement. Diplomats…

U.S. National Security Leaders Leaked Houthi War Plans to a Journalist   Senior members of the Trump administration, including the secretary of defense, accidentally texted the Pentagon’s future war plans for bombing strikes in Yemen to a journalist whom they had invited into a group chat. The White House has confirmed that the conversation was authentic,…

Maersk Will Invest Over $500M as Part of 33-Year Port NY/NJ Lease Extension The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and Maersk’s APM Terminals have agreed to a 33-year lease extension for the port’s second-largest container terminal. The company plans to make significant investments in the terminal located in Elizabeth, New Jersey in…

Competing Japanese Yards Partner for Efficiency and Improved Bulker Design Two of Japan’s leading shipbuilders, Onomichi Dockyard and Tsuneishi Shipbuilding, have taken the unusual step of partnering to develop designs for a new dry bulk carrier. The project sought to leverage the experience and expertise of each yard to advance the design concepts for a…

Chinese Researchers Build Saw That Can Cut Cables at 4,000M Depths   A handful of advanced nations have the capability to cut subsea cables in ultradeep water, but the technology is usually a closely-held state secret. In a research paper published late last month, a Chinese scientist detailed a unique submersible diamond saw that can be used…

U.S. Navy Force Planning With a Pertinacious Marine Corps   [By Bruce Stubbs] “A requirement is a requirement, pure and simple.” —Lieutenant General Karsten Heckl, USMC  “One man’s requirement is like another man’s wish.” —Admiral Frank B. Kelso II, USN (retired) A Team of Rivals The United States Marine Corps has an outsized effect on…

Australia Needs Public’s Help Raising Sniffer Dogs for Ports   The Australian Border Force is looking for members of the public to foster puppies that may eventually serve as sniffer dogs for maritime and border enforcement.  The puppies, available beginning at nine weeks of age, need temporary homes where they can develop and have opportunities…

DRC’s Banana Port Achieves Construction Milestone   The development of DRC’s first deep sea port has achieved a new milestone, with operator DP World selecting Mota-Engil to lead the construction. Banana Port – located along the DRC’s narrow coastline of 22 miles on the Atlantic Ocean – is planned to be the single maritime gateway…

Iran Puts Diego Garcia on its Target Deck   Iran’s Press TV, which normally identifies with hardline factions within the Iranian political system, has included the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia amongst a list of US bases in the Middle East region which would be ‘within Iran’s cross-hairs’ for retaliatory strikes should either the…

Cargo of Rocket Fuel Now Just Three Days From Iranian Port     MV Jairan, loaded with sodium perchlorate in China, is an estimated three days’ sailing from its home port destination in Bandar Abbas, Iran. As of Sunday, the vessel is cruising at 12-13 knots west of Mumbai and has about 850 nautical miles to go.…

Soo Locks Opens Early for Head Start on 2025 Upper Great Lakes Season The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers celebrating the opening of the Soo Locks on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula this morning, March 21, providing an earlier-than-anticipated start to the 2025 shipping season on the Upper Great Lakes. The lock is reported to be one…

Work to Begin Expanding London Gateway Into UK’s Largest Container Port DP World reports that it has gained the necessary permitting and is poised to begin work in just a matter of weeks on a planned expansion of its London Gateway. It represents a £1 billion (US$1.3 billion ) project which when completed will add…

Report: Ireland Again Tracked Cargo Ship That Anchored Near Undersea Cables According to reports in the Irish media, a small cargo ship that raised the suspicions of German authorities earlier this year has now been tracked twice by Ireland’s Defense Forces. The incidents came as many countries remain on alert and worry about potential damage…

Cyber Hackers Claim to Have Disabled Iranian Ship Communications A shadowy group of cyber hackers is claiming that it launched a massive attack and has successfully disabled communications for much of Iran’s merchant fleet. While the report cannot be independently verified, the group which calls itself Lab Dookhtegan is known and according to experts is…

Canadian Coast Guard Reports Progress on MSC Baltic III Salvage   The weather conditions in the areas around Canada’s Newfoundland have given salvage teams their first opportunities to make progress on the efforts to reduce the pollution risk from the grounded containership MSC Baltic III. The Canadian Coast Guard highlights the dangers remain, but that…

Pirates Abandon Yemeni Fishing Boat After Four Days The EU’s operation monitoring security in the Horn of Africa region reports the pirates have abandoned the fishing vessel Al-Hidaya that they hijacked last weekend. EUNAVFOR Atalanta notes it is the third piracy-related case involving a Yemeni fishing vessel and is in addition to a Chinese fishing…

Ferguson Marine Names New CEO Graeme Thomson Scottish shipbuilder Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Ltd today announced the appointment of its new Chief Executive Officer, Graeme Thomson, following an extensive search process. Graeme will officially take up the position on Thursday 1 May 2025, following on from former interim CEO, John Petticrew. Graeme joins Ferguson Marine…

Alfa Laval Secures First Ammonia Fuel Supply System Contract Alfa Laval has signed its first contract for the ammonia fuel supply system, FCM Ammonia, reinforcing its position as a frontrunner in developing solutions for decarbonizing the maritime industry. The FCM Ammonia will be installed onboard seven LPG/ammonia carriers for Tianjin Southwest Maritime. Ammonia-powered shipping becoming…

USCGC Stone Delivers 20 Tonnes of Cocaine to Port Everglades   The U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Stone has had an unusually successful tour of duty off the coast of South America, and has delivered more than 20 tonnes of cocaine – nearly one percent of the world’s annual production – to a pier in Florida. The…

Chouest Group Acquires Kystdesign The Chouest Group is proud to announce the acquisition of Kystdesign, a premier manufacturer of remotely operated vehicle (ROV) systems. This strategic move reinforces Chouest’s commitment to innovation and excellence in underwater robotics, further solidifying its position as a global leader in subsea technology. Dino Chouest expressed enthusiasm for the partnership,…

UK Calls for Safety Rules, Training After Stevedores Die in Enclosed Space   Nearly three years after an enclosed space incident that claimed the lives of three stevedores, the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch issued a detailed report while calling for enhanced training and safety rules incorporating shoreside personnel into the efforts for enclosed space…

Trump Threatens Houthis With “Annihilation”   U.S. forces continued airstrikes on Houthi positions in Yemen for the fifth day on Wednesday, hitting targets in Sanaa and al-Bayda, according to Houthi media. The strikes followed one day after Houthi forces launched a ballistic missile at Israel; the attempt was not successful, and the missile was shot…

Military Sealift Marks Milestone with First Ship of New Class The U.S. Military Sealift Command has marked a key milestone nearly a decade after it started the program to introduce a new class of fleet replenishment oilers, now known as the John Lewis class. Construction was authorized in 2016 and began in 2018 on the…

Ukraine Releases Video of Drone Boat-Launched Drone Attacks   Ukraine’s military intelligence division has released a new video of drone attacks on multiple targets in Crimea, including what appears to be a confirmation of a previously-reported attack on an offshore tug that Russia captured from Ukraine in 2014.  The three-minute video is a compilation of…

Maine Maritime Academy Selects Craig Johnson as 16th President The Board of Trustees of Maine Maritime Academy announced the appointment of Craig Johnson ’91 of Castine, Maine as its 16th President following a formal search which launched last fall. Mr. Johnson has served as the Academy’s Chief Operating Officer since August of 2022, and Interim…

IMO to Develop Global Strategy for Maritime Digitalization The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is taking action to create a comprehensive strategy that harnesses emerging technologies to turbo-charge efficiency, safety and sustainability in the shipping industry. A roadmap for digital transformation  During its 49th session in London from 10 to 14 March, IMO’s Facilitation Committee (FAL)…

Project for Hybrid Hydrogen-Diesel Engine Retrofits to Start Tests in 2025 As the maritime sector works toward meeting IMO decarbonization targets, shipowners are searching for solutions to extend the service lives of their existing vessels. A new partnership between the innovation arm of Lomar Shipping, lomarlabs, is launching a partnership with a startup called Newlight…

DP World to Expand Port of Santos Capacity Linked to Deal with Maersk   DP World signed a long-term strategic agreement with Maersk as part of its plans to expand maritime services at its terminal in the Port of Santos, Brazil. DP World operates one of Brazil’s largest private terminals at the Port of Santos…