Tag: maritime executive

Korean Shipbuilders Top Chinese in January After Return to Profits in 2024 The rivalry between China and South Korea’s shipbuilders continues to heat up. While there is growing concern due to China’s apparent domination of the market, South Korea’s shipbuilders achieved strong results in 2024 and continue to carve out the high-end market. After posting…

The Evolving Market for LNG Bunker Vessels Entering 2025, the prospects for LNG as a marine fuel appear a bit brighter than the previous year thanks to an expanding demand. The global orderbook for this propulsion has found new buoyancy in 2024 after retrenching somewhat in 2023. DNV assessed the jump at 103 percent from…

NYK to Expand Cruise Business Operating Japanese Disney Cruise Ship   Japan’s NYK Line will be expanding its cruise ship operations as part of a new agreement with Oriental Land Co., the operator of the Disney theme park at the Tokyo Disney Resort. The companies entered into a partnership agreement for the operation of a…

Report: Offshore Wind Energy Surpassed Installed Capacity of 80 GW in 2024 While many critics continue to question the viability of offshore wind energy, the UK trade group RenewableUK is out with a new market analysis highlighting the “extraordinary speed” of growth for the sector. The report details that installed capacity grew by 15 percent…

New Premier Alliance Agreement for HMM, ONE, and Yang-Ming Takes Effect The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission reported tonight, February 6, that the new alliance between HMM, Ocean Network Express (ONE), and Yang Ming to share vessels and routes will take effect on Sunday, February 9. The Premier Alliance replaces the former working arrangement known as…

Video: One Dead, One Saved in Challenging Rescue off Washington   On Monday night, the U.S. Coast Guard rescued two people from a grounded sailboat in the San Juan Islands, braving high winds and snow to pull them to safety. Tragically, one of the survivors later succumbed to her injuries.  At about 1900 hours Monday,…

Trump Reinstates “Maximum Pressure” Sanctions Enforcement on Iran   Reinstituting a policy from his first administration, President Donald Trump has instructed the State Department to “impose maximum economic pressure on the government of Iran,” including ramped-up enforcement of the extensive list of existing sanctions.  The executive order is intended to deny Iran the ability to…

Inland Cargo Ship that Destroyed Moselle Lock was on Autopilot German prosecutors are continuing to investigate the accident in December that paralyzed river traffic on the Moselle and trapped numerous inland cargo ships in France and Luxembourg. They believe the cargo ship that destroyed the critical lock was sailing on autopilot and failed to break…

Finland Says Odds of Accidental Subsea Cable Damage “Extremely Unlikely”   Despite U.S. intelligence leaks that suggest that recent cable-cutting incidents in the Baltic may be accidental, Finland’s foreign minister says that it is “extremely unlikely” that four cable-damage incidents could happen in one region in a year without some amount of intent.  Finnish police…

Interior Department Cancels Wind Project Meetings Following Trump’s Order   The first demonstration of the new Trump administration’s efforts to derail the offshore wind energy sector emerged as the Department of Interior began reversing steps taken in the last days of the Biden administration. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management canceled meetings for the review…

Denmark Targets Shadow Tankers in New Port State Inspection Program   The Danish Maritime Authority announced that it will begin taking steps to strengthen the supervision and monitoring of tankers anchoring in its waterways. It is part of an effort that they said will ensure compliance with the rules for safety at sea, environmental protection,…

Shanghai Port Handled Record 5 Million TEU in January as U.S. Imports Surge   Officials in Shanghai are hailing a new record throughput for the port in January 2025 while saying that the ports are a “barometer” of foreign trade. It comes after a record volume at the port in 2024 and is the fourth…

Quakes Send Tourists Fleeing From Santorini By Ferry   A series of small earthquakes in and around the resort island of Santorini has prompted thousands of residents and tourists to evacuate, creating delays at ferry terminals.  Up to 200 tremors a day have shaken the Cyclades over the past several days. A 4.9 magnitude quake…

Japanese Captain Faces Prosecution for Ferry Grounding   The captain of a K Line-operated ferry has been referred for prosecution in connection with a grounding on the island of Hokkaido last year.  In the early hours of July 2, 2024, the ferry Silver Breeze was arriving at Tomakomai, Hokkaido when it struck a breakwater. No…

Hybrid SOV Design Lowers Costs Supporting More Wind Farms As the offshore wind energy sector continues to evolve, operators especially in the maintenance and operations phase are faced with the challenges of lowering costs and increasing efficiency.  Norway’s Ulstein has developed a new hybrid design for a smaller service vessel that they believe fills a…

NTSB: Wake From Passing Ships Pushed Barge Tow Into Algiers Lock Gate   The National Transportation Safety Board has released its final report on the allision of the towing vessel Kitty (and its tow) with the Algiers Lock in New Orleans. A deluge of water coming into the lock from the wake of passing vessels…

Gibraltar Calls for Use of Pilots Saying OS 35 Master Misjudged Departure Two and a half years after the accident which caused the loss of the bulker OS 35, Gibraltar’s maritime authority issued its report finding poor planning and that the captain misjudged the maneuver resulting in the casualty. The report calls for considering the…

Italian Navy and Messina Hold Exercise Practicing Boarding and Inspection   The Italian Navy is highlighting one of its regular training exercises working with the merchant fleet. It is part of a long-term project also involving the trade association Assarmatori designed to build cooperation and familiarize the navy personnel and merchant sailors in the routine…

Changes in Oil Trading Raise Doubts About SPOT Terminal A lack of customer interest and a delay in permitting have created doubt about the future of Enterprise Products Partners’ Sea Port Oil Terminal (SPOT), a deepwater tanker loading facility off the Texas coast. If built, Enterprise’s SPOT would be the largest offshore terminal in the…

ReCAAP Sounds Alarm About Tripling of Robberies in Singapore Strait in 2025   The monitoring and coordination operation for piracy and criminal activity against shipping in Asia, ReCAAP ISC, issued a new alert on February 3 highlighting that the number of robberies has nearly tripled in the Singapore Strait this year. They report that just…

Government Inquiry Finds Evidence of Crime in Failed Greek SAR Response   Greece’s government ombudsman has completed an inquiry into a disastrous migrant shipwreck off Pylos in 2023, and has recommended a disciplinary investigation for eight senior officers of the Hellenic Coast Guard.  On June 10, 2023, the aging trawler Adriana got under way from…

Hanwha and Baker Hughes Partner for New Carbon-Free Ammonia Gas Turbines   Hanwha Group through its shipbuilding and power systems divisions is partnering with energy technology company Baker Hughes to develop a new generation of small-size ammonia gas turbine engines. By using the proven design of gas turbines, the companies believe it will be possible…

Project to Develop High-Power Methanol Fuel Cells Targeting Cruise Ships A new project uniting leaders in German industry and funded by the German government looks to develop a new generation of fuel cells using methanol to provide power for cruise ships. In the zero4cruise project, the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), will be working with Meyer…

After Trump’s Threats, Panama Offers Free Canal Passage to U.S. Warships   Panama’s government has promised to give free passage to U.S. warships through the Panama Canal, a U.S. official informed Bloomberg on Sunday. The bilateral U.S.-Panama treaty on canal operations requires neutral treatment for vessels of all nationalities. President Donald Trump has pledged to…

Northern European RoRo Operator Wallenius SOL Expands Acquiring Mann Lines Regional RoRo operator Wallenius SOL is further consolidating the market reporting it has acquired the UK-based Mann Lines. The companies highlighted the complementary nature of their operations saying the combination expands the customer base and reach they can provide. Wallenius SOL, based in Sweden, calls…

The Art of the Transit Deal: Canada Holds Trump Card on Great Lakes Trade   US President Donald Trump has imposed a 25% tariff on Canadian Goods entering the USA. Canada holds a trump card in that the economy of several American states benefit from trade carried aboard ships that sail through Canada, between the…

India Plans to Spend $6 Billion to Support its Maritime Sector   India has firmed up its ambition to become a global maritime powerhouse, with the government allocating around $6 billion to the shipping sector in the 2025-26 fiscal year. On Saturday, India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented to Parliament budget documents, revealing billions of…

Russian Drone Aircraft Destroys Ukrainian Drone Boat   Drone-on-drone warfare is a major component of the Russia-Ukraine war, and social media posts from both sides of the conflict are filled with videos of airborne drones destroying the other side’s drones on land and in the skies. For the first time, Russian forces have released footage…

Asyad Shipping Expands With Addition of 33 New Vessels   The Asyad Group, Oman’s state-owned integrated logistics group, is planning to acquire an additional 33 vessels to add to the mixed fleet operated by its subsidiary Asyad Shipping. Asyad Shipping currently operates 22 crude tankers, 34 product tankers, 10 gas carriers, and 23 dry bulk carriers,…

India’s Huge Artificial Reef Rollout May Cause More Harm Than Good   [By Haritha John] Kasimedu is one of the largest and busiest fishing villages in Chennai, on the south-eastern coast of India. On one side of the port, large trawlers bring in substantial catches. On the other are moored small fiberglass boats belonging to…

AD Ports to Battle DP World for Cargo Business at Port of Luanda, Angola   The Port of Luanda in Angola is set to become a battleground of competition for two giant Arab companies after AD Ports officially commenced operations at the port under a long-term concession. AD Ports, the Abu Dhabi-based operator, announced that…

Canada Aims to Restore Reliable Ferry Service on Critical Route to PEI Canada is hoping to restore reliable ferry transport on the critical Prince Edward Island (PEI) and Nova Scotia route following the arrival of ro/pax ferry MV Northumberland. The government acquired the ferry in November 2023 as an interim replacement for the former MV…

Fire Cleanup Underway as Blaze Continues to Smolder in Bulker’s Cargo Hold Fire crews at the Port of Aberdeen in Scotland have spent several days battling a cargo hold fire aboard a Panama-flagged bulker docked in the port. The ship and the port are reported to be in no immediate danger as several fire departments…

Historic Washington State Ferry Cheats Scrappers to Become Floating Office One of the storied ferries familiar to residents of Washington State for its more than 50 years of service is cheating the scrappers and by a quirk of fate will be saved through creative reuse.  Everett Ship Repair and Washington State Ferries have reached terms…

Ørsted Ousts CEO as Pressure Continues in Offshore Wind Sector Danish renewable energy giant Ørsted reported today, January 31, a change in CEOs as the company continues to struggle with pressures in the offshore wind sector. The news of the change in leadership came just days after Ørsted reported it would be taking a further…

Rescue Plan Emerges for Germany’s FSG and Nobiskrug Shipyards   At a press conference on Friday, January 31, at the now closed FSG Shipyard (Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft) the provisional insolvency administrators announced their rescue plan for the group’s two shipyard groups. They have reached terms for the two divisions to be sold independently of each other…

Video: Massive Fire Damages Shipyard in Egypt   [Brief]  A massive fire broke out overnight in one of the Egyptian shipyards south of the Suez Canal. According to local media reports the yard area that was damaged by the fire was used for fishing boats and pleasure craft. The fire began late on Thursday, January…

MOL Launches Innovative “Green” Ship Aptly Named Prima Verde Mitsui O.S.K. Lines marketed the delivery on an innovative new “green” multi-purpose cargo ship incorporating a series of innovations. The vessel was aptly named Prima Verde (first or spring and green in Italian) and the hull was painted bright green. “The vessel has a range of…

Hapag’s Preliminary Results Show Financial Strength of Boxships in 2024   Hapag-Lloyd released preliminary financial results for 2024 coming in at the top of the profitability forecasts the company had already revised upward in October 2024. As the first of the major carriers to release results it also gives a glimpse into the financial strength…

How to Get Ready for the U.S. Coast Guard’s Cybersecurity Rule   On January 17, the US Coast Guard released its much-anticipated final rule on cybersecurity in the US Marine Transportation System, which establishes mandatory minimum cybersecurity requirements for the maritime sector. The new regulations are effective July 16, 2025 and represent the most significant maritime…

Two Men Get Three Years for Smuggling Drugs Inside Buses on a Ro/Ro Two men have been sentenced to three years each for their roles in a plot to import nearly 140 kilos of cocaine into Australia, hidden inside a shipment of 13 luxury buses. At a street-level retail value of $200,000 per kilo on…

Report: Targeted Subsidies, Hefty GHG Levy Needed to Ensure E-Fuel Adoption A new report looking at what will be needed to spur the transition to e-fuels and the early adoption in the maritime sector concludes that targeted subsidies and a hefty GHG levy are needed to close the gap between scalable zero-emission fuels and other…

Navantia Commits to Investments After Closing Harland & Wolff Acquisition   Navantia UK announced plans to invest in Harland & Wolff’s facilities to strengthen Britain’s defense, maritime, and clean energy industrial capabilities after the Spanish parent company completed the acquisition of the four UK shipyards including the historic Belfast, Northern Ireland facility. Government and industry…

Trump: U.S. Will Order 40 Big Icebreakers for the Coast Guard   In a speech last week in North Carolina, President Donald Trump suggested that the U.S. would soon be ordering 40 big icebreakers for the Coast Guard, and that Canada wants in on the deal.  Asked about U.S. trade relations with Britain, Trump explained…

Japanese Coal Carrier Completes First Trip with Retrofitted Rotor Sail   A coal carrier operating for Japan’s Iino Lines and power company J-Power completed its first voyage after the installation of a rotor sail manufactured by Norsepower. It is part of an effort by the Japanese shipping industry to accelerate the use of technologies to…

Hull Floated for Innovative Neoliner Wind-Powered Ro-Ro   The project to deploy the first wind-powered Ro-Ro as part of an innovative program for sustainable shipping moved a step closer to reality. Turkish shipbuilder RMK Marine reported today, January 29, that the hull of the Neoliner Origin has been floated for the first time. The vessel…

Captain Claims Bulker’s Anchor System Was Sabotaged by Russians The head of Bulgarian shipping company Navibulgar maintains that the bulker Vezhen accidentally “leaked” anchor chain out past the chain stopper in rough weather, and that any damage that the vessel may have inflicted to a subsea cable between Gotland and Latvia was not an act…

ADNOC L&S Selects Seagliders for Offshore Energy Logistics in the UAE   The deployment of the seaglider technology, a modern”wing in ground effect” WIG craft is taking another step forward with plans for the first deployment for crew transfer to offshore infrastructure. ADNOC Logistics and Services (ADNOC L&S), part of the Abu Dhabi National Oil…

Sean Duffy Confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Transportation The U.S. Senate has confirmed the appointment of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, a former congressman from Wisconsin and a prominent Fox News host. Multiple U.S. maritime stakeholders have lined up to welcome Duffy and support his selection.  “The Shipbuilders Council of America congratulates Sean Duffy on his…

Plan Announced for Greece’s First Offshore Wind Farm   A new partnership between two leading Greek companies was unveiled announcing its plans for the first offshore wind farm in Greece. It is part of a plan rolled out by the Greek government in October 2024 that looks to expand its successful onshore program to floating…

Containership Schedule Reliability Stabilized Absorbing Red Sea Diversions   Containership schedule reliability absorbed the shocks from the diversions away from the Red Sea and leveled off despite the demands on capacity and the longer travel times. Sea-Intelligence published its end-of-year report which tracked reliability across 34 different trade routes and showed consistency for much of…

Video: Russian Nuclear Icebreaker Damaged in Collision   The Russian nuclear icebreaker 50 Let Pobedy (50 Years of Victory) has collided with a freighter in the Kara Sea, causing extensive damage to her bow.  Video circulating on Russian social media appears to show that the icebreaker was maneuvering in close quarters when her port bow…

Celebrity Cruises Expands to River Cruising Saying “This is How We River” Royal Caribbean Group which operates 66 ocean-going cruise ships announced today, January 28, that it will be entering the fast-growing river cruise segment through its upper premium brand Celebrity Cruises. The company was attracted to the river segment which it sees as highly…

India Rewards Pilot for Air-Drop Raid to Capture Somali Pirates   The Indian Air Force has awarded a medal for gallantry to a cargo jet pilot who dropped off the commando team that rescued the bulker Ruen from Somali pirates early last year.  On December 14, 2023, Somali pirates boarded the Bulgarian-operated bulker Ruen at…

US Arrest Conspirators in $200 Million Smuggling Scheme Through SoCal Ports The U.S. Attorney’s Office in California today, January 27, announced indictments and arrests breaking up an elaborate smuggling operation that they estimate smuggled at least $200 million worth of counterfeit and illegal goods from China into the U.S. through the ports of Los Angeles…

Nine Rescued From Capsized Landing Craft in Indonesia   Last week, a landing craft capsized off the coast of Kalimantan, Indonesia, forcing the crew to abandon ship.  On Thursday, the landing craft Cahaya Dana Reza was under way from Samarinda to Buntok, Central Kalimantan. That evening, as it was under way off the coast of…

Crime Wave Continues Near Singapore with More Vessels Boarded Security consultants and the monitoring operation ReCAAP are warning of increased activity in the region around the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. It continues the trend which saw 62 vessels boarded and robbed while underway in the region in 2024. Since the start of the year,…

Fourth U.S. Training Ship Floated at Hanwha Philly Shipyard MARAD’s program to build the first modern training ships for the U.S. merchant marine marked about milestone with the floating of the fourth vessel of the class. The future Lone Star State which has been assigned to Texas A&M Maritime College took to the water for…

Is Russia Helping China Build a Hybrid-Nuclear Submarine?   [By Dr. Sarah Kirchberger and CAPT Christopher P. Carlson, USN (Ret)] On September 27, 2024, news broke that a previously unreported new type of Chinese nuclear-powered submarine, dubbed the “Type 041,” had suffered a major mishap at its fitting out pier at the Wuchang shipyard in…

Iranian Ships Load Ballistic Rocket Fuel in China   According to a widely-quoted report in the Financial Times datelined Washington and Taipei, intelligence officials in two unidentified countries have briefed the paper that two Iranian ships are loading ballistic missile propellant in the Yangtze river port of Taicang north of Shanghai.  Once loading is complete, the…

Latvia Reports New Case of “External Damage” to a Subsea Cable   Early on Sunday morning, a subsea fiber-optic cable between Gotland and Latvia was “significantly damaged,” according to the Latvian State Radio and Television Centre (LVRTC). Vineta Sprugaine, Head of Corporate Communications at LVRTC, said in a statement that there is reason to believe…

The Naval Show of Force That Wasn’t   Several weeks ago, the Iranian authorities announced that the IRGC Navy (Nesda) would hold a major exercise in the Straits of Hormuz on January 11, involving 300 ‘combat vessels’, to be followed by an exercise January 18-23 within the Gulf, all to be concluded by the IRGC’s…

Danica Strengthens its Representation in Athens [By: Danica Crewing Specialists] Danica Crewing Specialists is delighted to announce it now has an in-person presence in Athens, strengthening its representation in Greece. Seasoned crewing expert Dimitris Liolios has taken office as Danica’s representative in Athens to provide direct contact for Greek ship owners. Dimitris is the Director and…

WinGD Reports Ammonia Engine Progress Targeting First Deliveries in June   The competition to deliver the first ammonia-fueled engine continues to report progress with Swiss-based WinGD now reporting it expects to complete final validation in time for the first engine deliveries in June 2025. After achieving results with a single-cylinder in line with expectations, the…

Sistership to Containership Dali Breaks Down in Pacific   One of the sisterships to the containership Dali which destroyed Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key bridge is reporting engine troubles in the Pacific. The vessel which is also managed by Synergy Marine and sailing under charter as the Maersk Saltoro is reported to have experienced an engine…

Historic WWII UK Warship Secured Grant to Support Revitalization Program   A historic World War II UK warship, HMS Wellington, has won a critical grant which will help to provide a reprieve from a very uncertain future. The last survivor of the “Battle of the Atlantic,” the grant will enable the Wellington Trust to proceed with…

Video: USCG Rescues Four from Sinking Boat After Fishing Boats Collide The Coast Guard received a call for assistance Thursday night, January 23, after two fishing boats collided approximately 10 miles south of Block Island, Rhode Island in Long Island Sound. Four people were rescued from one of the vessels after efforts to stop the…

France Faces More Port Strikes to Protest Lack of Action on Pension Reforms The long-running dispute between the French government and the powerful trade unions over proposed pension reforms is again prompting threats of port strikes across the country. The government has been pushing for pension reforms and changes to France’s work rules since 2023.…

With Support From Japan, Oceanographers Resume Study of “Dark Oxygen”   Japan’s Nippon Foundation plans to fund a new study of “dark oxygen,” the recently-discovered ability of polymetallic nodules to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen. The small black nodules are coveted by deep-sea miners, who hope to make a fortune off of a new and abundant…

French Mayor Calls for Cruise Ship Ban on French Riviera   The mayor of Nice, France, a popular tourist destination along the French Mayor Calls for Cruise Ship Ban on French Riviera, joined the growing number of destinations calling for restrictions on cruise ships. He cited the now familiar complaints of overtourism and pollution while proposing…

World’s Largest Iceberg Drifts Slowly Towards South Georgia The world’s largest iceberg is slowing heading towards the island of South Georgia, where it may have serious affects on local wildlife.  Iceberg A23a is so big that it ihard to visualize: at 1.1 million acres in area, it is about 75 times larger than Manhattan (and…

Video: USCG, Crowley Cargo Ship, and Fisherman Team Up to Rescue Boaters The U.S. Coast Guard is highlighting the importance of emergency equipment and good teamwork all of which contributed to the rescue of four boaters stranded in the waters off the Dominican Republic. The combined efforts make for a good sea story. Four people…

Italian Coast Guard Responds to Fire on Oil Platform in the Adriatic   The Italian Coast Guard has overseen a successful response to a fire aboard Rospo Mare B, an oil platform off the coast of Vasto on Italy’s Adriatic coast. The fire was swiftly extinguished and all workers safely evacuated from the facility.  After…

Quick Response Saves Fisherman From Sinking Vessel off Gloucester   Last week, the U.S. Coast Guard saved the crew of the fishing vessel Miss Sandy when the vessel began to flood off Gloucester, Massachusetts. Efforts to combat the flooding were unsuccessful, but all were rescued before the vessel went down.  On Friday, the crew of…

Lithuania Launches Pioneering Hydrogen, Electric-Powered Ship   Lithuania is preparing to join the elite ranks of the shipping industry with the launch of a pioneering hydrogen, electric-powered vessel that will provide harbor services. The ship which was recently floated fat the West Baltic Shipyard is among the first to adopt hydrogen technology and will be…

High Seas Bust on Russia-Bound Boxship Leaves Spanish Police Empty-Handed   After a high seas boarding, Spain’s Guardia Civil brought the boxship Baltic Summer into port at Vigo to be searched for drugs – the latest in a series of busts at the quiet port of Vigo, just north of the Portuguese border. This time,…

Captain of Costa Concordia Seeks Release from Prison After Eight Years The captain of the ill-fated cruise ship Costa Concordia is back in the news 13 years after the loss of the ship which created global headlines. Italian media is reporting that Francesco Schettino, now age 64, has petitioned the courts in Italy for a…

UK Tells Offshore Developers “Make Less Noise” During Bomb Disposal The UK government is telling the developers of offshore sites including wind farms to adopt new tactics to ”reduce harmful noise” as they continue to build the projects. During surveys and development, they often encounter unexploded shells and bombs left over from the two World…

An IMO Commitment to Polar Fuels Could Cut Black Carbon Emissions   The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR) subcommittee meets in London from January 27th to 31st to consider important unfinished business related to the environmental and climate impacts of international shipping’s growing presence in the Arctic. With this sensitive region…

Royal Caribbean Orders Sixth Edge Class from Chantiers de l’Atlantique   Cruise ship construction orders continue to be placed as the industry reaches new heights in its growth. Royal Caribbean Group announced the order for the sixth ship of Celebrity Cruises’ Edge class, which also becomes the third firm order along with two options placed…

Feasibility Studies ID Technology to Address Fugitive Methane Emissions   An industry collaboration known as the Safetytech Accelerate reports its latest round of supported feasibility studies has shown strong potential to cut fugitive methane emissions in the maritime industry. They report after the successful studies efforts are now underway to advance these research projects to…

Ørsted Takes $1.7B Charge in Q4 Citing Decline in Value of US Seabed Leases Ørsted which is focused on offshore and onshore wind farms, solar farms, energy storage facilities, renewable hydrogen and green fuels facilities, disappointed investors by announcing on Monday, January 20, an additional $1.7 billion in impairment charges. The company cited developments relating…

Trump Elevates Sola to Head Federal Maritime Commission   Louis Sola a commissioner on the Federal Maritime Commission is being elevated to chairman of the regulatory body by President Donald Trump. The White House released a listing of 15 designees to lead agencies ranging from transportation to labor, communications, Securities Exchange Commission, on Monday which…

Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Signal Plan to Release Seized Car Carrier   After announcing a long-awaited halt to attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea, Yemen’s Houthi militant group said Tuesday that it is preparing to release the car carrier Galaxy Leader, which it captured in late 2023.  The group’s commando forces boarded the PCTC…

In Inaugural Address, Trump Pledges to Take Back Panama Canal   In his inaugural address on Monday, President Donald Trump devoted more than a minute to his pledge to take the Panama Canal back from Panamanian control. In response, Panamanian president José Raúl Mulino, an American-trained maritime lawyer and anti-migration conservative, reiterated that the Canal…

China Says 20MW World’s Largest Floating Wind Turbine was Hoisted for Tests A new 20 MW wind turbine designed for floating applications was recently successfully hoisted in China ahead of the start of testing. The state-owned company CRRC is calling the new unit the world’s largest power-class floating wind turbine and an important step in…

Marcura Acquires VesselMan Expanding Digital Solutions Offering Digital maritime solutions provider Marcura is acquiring VeelMan to further expand its suite of solutions to manage complex repair, maintenance, and drydocking projects. Marcura which made another major acquisition in 2023 called the deal with VesselMan a significant step forward in enhancing its comprehensive suite of data-driven solutions.…

Expansion of Shore Power Capabilities at Italian and Mediterranean Ports Efforts are continuing to build out the capabilities to support vessels to use shore power as ports seek to transition to more environmentally friendly systems in advance of pending EU regulations. Switzerland-based Cavotec reports it received multiple orders at the end of 2024 valued at…

Salvage Complexities Delay Raising of Lost Superyacht Bayesian   The raising of the lost superyacht Bayesian, which went down off Sicily last year with the loss of seven lives, has been temporarily postponed to wait for better weather and approval of a final salvage plan. The hull is considered a piece of evidence in an…

Suspension Lifted at Vineyard Wind with New Plan Calling for Blade Removal A revised Construction and Operations Plan has been approved for the troubled U.S. offshore wind farm known as Vineyard Wind approximately six months after one of its turbine blades fractured. In one of its final acts, the Biden administration’s Bureau of Ocean Energy…

Svalbard’s Glaciers Have Lost an Area the Size of Manhattan Into the Sea   [By Tian Li, Jonathan Bamber and Konrad Heidler] The Arctic has warmed nearly four times faster than the global average since 1979. Svalbard, an archipelago near the northeast coast of Greenland, is at the frontline of this climate change, warming up to seven times faster than…

Fraud Charges Against Singaporean Oil Trader Dropped After His Death The founder of a Singaporean oil trading firm that collapsed amidst a financial crime scandal has died, his attorneys told a court earlier this month.  Xie Chun, an experienced oil trader who founded ZenRock Commodities, was accused of fraud in connection with his company’s collapse.…

Energy Politics   Climate activists recently completed their annual get-together, this time in the iconic oil city of Baku, Azerbaijan. The annual U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP 29) provides a forum for energy executives, climate activists, NGO leaders and policymakers from nearly every country on Earth to mingle while assessing the progress on climate change…

After More Than a Month, Russian Flotilla Remains Stalled off Tartus Commercial maritime traffic at the Syrian port of Tartus is picking up again under the new management of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which overthrew the government of longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad in December However, Russian military cargo ships remain stalled off Tartus’ harbor, where…

Op-Ed: Maritime Education Starts With Local Action   Over 400 years ago, Jamestown was founded, chosen for its deep waters and defensible position—an ideal seaport. Today, our region thrives as a maritime hub, home to commercial, private, and military vessels that benefit from our central location, extensive waterways, and the bounty of the ocean. The…

AI is Empowering Shipowners to Tackle New Safety Management Challenges [By: WiseStella] The maritime industry is undergoing a digital transformation, and one of the key innovations making waves is the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into safety management systems. The increased documentation required following the gamut of new rules and procedures place increasing demands on…

Nor-Shipping Adds Finance, LNG & Seabed Minerals to 2025 Conference Program [By: Nor-Shipping] Nor-Shipping is enhancing its conference programme for 2025 with a bold line-up of new events targeting evolving ocean business opportunities. This year’s Nor-Shipping, taking place 2-6 June in Oslo and Lillestrøm, Norway, sees the arrival of dedicated conferences focused on financing, LNG…

Kongsberg Maritime Delivers First REACH REMOTE USV [By: Kongsberg Maritime] A new era of offshore operations has begun with the successful delivery of REACH REMOTE 1, a 24-metre unmanned surface vessel (USV) designed by Kongsberg Maritime. This ground-breaking achievement marks a significant milestone through collaboration between Kongsberg Maritime, REACH SUBSEA ASA, Massterly, and Trosvik Maritime. Designed to…

Bardex Strengthens Presence with Hire for Director of Business Development [By: Bardex] Bardex, a leading global provider of products and engineering solutions for marine-based heavy lifting, transfer, and restraint, is thrilled to welcome Ian Finch as its Director of Business Development for the EMEA region. Finch brings an impressive breadth and depth of knowledge and…

Syria’s New Regime Seizes Cargo of Iranian Weapons in Tartus   Under the administration of former dictator Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s government gave Iran a logistics pipeline to supply Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah, the most powerful member of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” in the Mideast. Assad was ousted in December after 13 years of civil war,…