Tag: maritime executive

Drones Follow U.S. Coast Guard Boat Off New Jersey Police in Asbury Park, New Jersey have reported a huge cluster of drones arriving from offshore, including more than a dozen that appear to have tracked a Coast Guard motor lifeboat. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) reported Tuesday that about 50 drones arrived from seaward over Asbury…

Dutch Freighter Goes Aground off Denmark [Brief] A Dutch cargo ship has gone aground in the shallow waters of the Odense Fjord, at the north end of the island of Funen, and work is under way to refloat it.  In the early hours of Monday morning, the freighter Amadeus Gold was under way on a…

U.S. Navy Defends Three American Merchant Ships From Houthi Attack Overnight Monday, the U.S. Navy blocked an attack on three U.S.-flagged ships off the coast of Yemen, continuing the service’s run of success in thwarting Houthi aggression against American (not foreign-flag) vessels.  Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree claimed Tuesday that the terrorist group attacked three American…

Eastern Pacific Shipping Expands Use of Wind Propulsion to a Newbuild   Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS), one of the largest shipping companies and recognized as an innovator, is expanding its use of wind-assisted propulsion to one of the company’s newbuilds, the first time it has used the technology on a new construction vessel. It follows…

Israel Destroys Entire Syrian Navy at the Pier   Overnight Monday, Israeli forces struck Syrian Navy vessels at Latakia and Tartus, destroying the majority of the country’s fleet. In a statement, the Israeli Defense Forces took responsibility for the attack and said that it had targeted Syrian assets afloat and ashore “to prevent them from…

Greenpeace and Shell Settle Multi-Million-Dollar Lawsuit for Boarding FPSO   The UK’s Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is the beneficiary as activist environmental group Greenpeace and oil major Shell agreed to settle a multi-million-dollar lawsuit brought after protestors boarded and occupied an FPSO while it was being transported in Europe. Shell had sued in 2023…

ONE and Ningbo Zhoushan Use Containerized Power for First Time in China   Ocean Network Express (ONE) and Ningbo Zhoushan Port Group (NZPG) recently completed the first demonstration in China of shore power for a containership utilizing a self-contained Lift-on/Lift-off operation. The novel approach to providing shore power helps to address situations where cabling and…

Stevedore Firm to Take Over Oregon’s Only Large Container Terminal   Months after threatening to suspend container operations due to mounting financial losses, the Port of Portland (Oregon) has reached a framework agreement for the future management of the state’s only international container terminal. The port is currently being operated by the state with government…

Ferry Crew and Firefighters Respond to Burning Boat Off Seattle   On Sunday afternoon, a boat caught fire just off the downtown Seattle waterfront, sparking a full-scale response from the Coast Guard and local fire and rescue agencies. At about noon, the Coast Guard received a report of a boat on fire near Duwamish Head…

Iran’s Allies are In Retreat – Except in the Red Sea   Iran’s Axis of Resistance – its network of allies across the Middle East, which it has nurtured and invested in heavily for decades – is under pressure and in retreat almost everywhere. Hamas in Gaza has lost its leadership and much of its fighting force.…

Orange Juice Tanker Rescues Skipper From Burning Yacht on the High Seas On Friday, a good Samaritan ship rescued a yachtsman whose vessel caught fire in the Atlantic off Puerto Rico.  That morning, Sector San Juan received an alert from an unregistered EPIRB at a position about 400 nautical miles to the north. The station’s…

Ukraine’s UDP is Auctioning Unprofitable Sea Fleet to Focus on River Ops   The Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company (UDP), a state-run shipping company, is starting an auction to sell its six antiquated ocean-going vessels that used to operate on the Black Sea, Sea of Azov, and the Mediterranean. The company called it a “painful but…

Dominican Police Set Record With 10-Tonne Cocaine Bust   Last week, authorities in the Dominican Republic announced the nation’s largest cocaine bust in history. It is the latest in a series of busts that appear to show a revival of Caribbean island routes to the major markets in Europe, where cocaine commands a high price and…

MSC Criticized for South Asian Demolition Sales   An environmental and human rights campaign group has asked MSC to change its ship recycling policy. The NGO Shipbreaking Platform, a global coalition of advocacy groups focused on shipbreaking practices, has highlighted MSC’s continued practice of selling old tonnage for eventual demolition on tidal beaches in South…

Iran’s Navy is Powerless to Intervene in Syria or Lebanon   Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri has used the occasion of Iran’s recent Navy Day to repeat once again the claim that Iran’s regular Navy (Nedaja) and the IRGC Navy (Nesda) have a ‘powerful presence in international waters’,…

Who is Paying for Cambodia’s Massive New Canal?   [By Grace Stanhope and Hannah Buckley] Speculation swirls around Cambodia’s newest megaproject, the Funan Techo Canal. It’s a US$1.7 billion project (at least) – but where’s the money coming from? The 180-kilometer waterway will link two major rivers in the south of the country, the Mekong and Bassac, with…

France’s First Hydrogen-Powered Inland Cargo Vessel Enters Service The Sogestran Group has commissioned France’s first-ever hydrogen-powered river vessel, the Zulu 06.  The 55-meter vessel, formally christened on the Seine in Paris on Tuesday, has a cargo capacity of 400 tons. It is designed to deliver small deck cargoes for customers in the urban environment of…

Wind Tunnel Tests Mark Next Milestone Toward Wind-Powered Vehicle Carrier Wind tunnel testing got underway today in Sweden to further the design of what could become the world’s first wind-powered PCTC (Pure Car and Truck Carrier) vessel. Wallenius Marine highlights the tests calling them a milestone in the development of the vessel. Between December 6…

Forecast: China is Taking Steps to Dominate Shipbuilding for Decades China is plotting to dominate the shipbuilding industry for decades to come says Greek shipbroking and shipping services firm Intermodal Group. In a new analysis of the shipbuilding industry, Intermodal highlights the reopening of numerous dormant shipyards and the expansion of existing facilities capacity as…

FMC Delays Approval of New Alliance Between ONE, HMM, and Yang Ming FMC Delays Approval of New Alliance Between ONE, HMM, and Yang Ming The Federal Maritime Commission announced on Friday, December 6, that it is deferring the approval of the new alliance planned by Ocean Network Express (ONE), HMM, and Yang Ming as the…

M/V ARC Endeavor Enters Maritime Security Program Fleet   [By ARC] American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier Group Inc. (ARC) is pleased to announce that M/V ARC Endeavor entered the Maritime Security Program (MSP) fleet on December 1, further strengthening ARC’s best-in-class position for U.S.-flag Roll-on Roll-off (Ro-Ro) shipping services. M/V ARC Endeavor replaces ARC’s M/V Endurance in the MSP fleet. MSP is the bedrock…

Ship Abandoned off Yemen Listing and Leaking Oil as Crew Reaches Djibouti The crew from the Panama-flagged cargo ship ISA Star arrived in Djibouti on Friday, December 6 after having left their vessel at the northern reaches of the Bab al-Mandab Strait off Yemen. While the crew is reported to be in good condition, warnings…

Containers Spilled in Apparent Navigation Incident With Autonomous Barge On Thursday, Dutch media reported that a container ship collided with an inland vessel on the river Scheur near Rotterdam, spilling at least four containers into the water. One of the vessels appears to be an autonomous barge, one of the first vessels of its kind in…

Greece and Mexico Move Ahead with Cruise Passenger Taxes Two of the most popular destinations for cruise ships both moved forward with their proposed tax increases on passengers due to be enforced starting in 2025. Cruise industry associations complained of a lack of consultation by the respective governments and called for efforts to work together…

Indian Dockworkers Stage Protests Ahead of December 15 Strike Deadline Dockworkers in India are continuing to express this dissatisfaction at the slow pace of progress and promise to implement wage and service reforms. Workers on Thursday, December 5, staged nationwide protests demanding action as a December 15 deadline established by the national union collation looms.…

Container Ship Spills Boxes in Apparent Collision With Autonomous Barge On Thursday, a container ship collided with an inland vessel on the river Scheur, the Netherlands, spilling at least four containers into the water. One of the vessels appears to be an autonomous barge, among the first of its kind in the world – though…

Denmark “Disappointed” as it Receives No Bids in New Offshore Wind Tender   The Danish Energy Agency is reporting that it received no bids in its new tender which was for three offshore sites in the North Sea. It is the latest tender that failed to generate interest in an industry that continues to be…

India and Pakistan Coordinate to Rescue Crew from Sinking Cargo Ship   The Coast Guard from India and Pakistan along with the Pakistan Navy coordinated in an effort to save the crew of a small Indian cargo ship sinking in the Arabian Sea. In a demonstration of cooperation and coordination, the forces were able to…

NATO Wants to Use Drone Boats for Maritime Security in the Baltic NATO’s maritime forces may soon deploy unmanned systems for surveillance purposes in the Baltic, where member states have serious concerns about subsea infrastructure security.  Adm. Pierre Vandier (Marine Nationale), former chief of staff of the French Navy, heads up naval transformation for NATO.…

Latin America’s First Electric Tug is Launched at Sanmar Yard in Turkey   Latin America’s first electric tug was launched with Sanmar and the operating partnership between Enap and SAAM celebrated the event on December 3. It comes as Sanmar is moving forward aggressively to build its leadership in electric tugs and battery-powered tugs are…

HII Expands Shipbuilding Capacity Acquiring South Carolina Metal Fabricator   To further expand production capacity and meet increased demands from the U.S. Navy, HII reported it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all the assets of W International SC and Vivid Empire SC. The deal had been rumored for weeks as the…

Netherlands Trains Ukrainians to Operate Donated Minesweepers    The Netherlands reports its Royal Navy has completed an intensive training program for Ukrainians to eventually take command of two retired minesweepers the Netherlands will be donating to Ukraine. The Dutch along with the British and Belgians have committed to donating vessels to Ukraine which it is…

Two Crewmembers From Carrier USS George Washington Found Dead   Two more crewmembers from the carrier USS George Washington have died while ashore, both within days of arriving at the vessel’s homeport in Yokosuka.  USS George Washington gained notoriety in 2022 for a string of three back-to-back suicides, all in one week. The ship was…

US Makes Arrest for Smuggling Weapons Via Port of Long Beach to North Korea The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations announced that they have arrested a Chinese national residing in California and charged him with smuggling weapons through containers in the Port of Long Beach to North…

Malaysia Evacuates Crew from Burning Car Carrier   [Brief]  The Malaysian Coast Guard reported the evacuation of 19 crewmembers from a car carrier that caught fire on December 2. The crew of 18 Filipinos and one Malaysian were safely removed and transferred to shore by a Malaysian patrol boat. The vessel named Malaysia Star (9,300…

U.S. Coast Guard Delivers $180 Million Worth of Cocaine to Port Everglades   On Monday, the crew of the Coast Guard cutter USCGC Hamilton delivered more than seven tonnes of cocaine to the pier in Port Everglades, Florida, enough for one gram for every inhabitant in the Miami metro area. But this cocaine is not…

Milestone as MAN Starts First Full-Scale Tests of Ammonia Two-Stroke Engine   MAN Energy Solutions reports it has reached a key milestone in the development of its first dual-fuel ammonia engine. They have commenced testing of a full-scale, two-stroke engine running on ammonia at its Research Centre in Copenhagen. The company has previously said it…

Maryland Offshore Wind Projects Receive Final BOEM Approval The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced its approval of the Construction and Operations Plan for the Maryland Offshore Wind project. This is the final approval needed from BOEM for the project which has also received approvals from Maryland and recently the National Marine Fisheries Service.…

BOEM Identifies Environmental Measures for NY Bight Wind Energy Development   The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management today issued a Record of Decision identifying environmental measures expected to be applied to future wind energy development of the six lease areas offshore New York and New Jersey in an area known as the New York Bight.…

Construction Study Starts for Larger, Elevated Pressure LCO2 Carrier   As efforts continue to develop the anticipated carbon capture and transport market for storage, a new project continues to advance a promising technology called Elevated Pressure which could be more efficient and less costly for LCO2 transport. Japan’s NYK Group and its partnership Knutsen NYK…

Lightering Planned After Bulker Stuck in St. Lawrence Fails to Budge   Officials report a new plan is being developed after the Canadian bulker Tim S. Dool (28,471 dwt) failed to budge in several refloating attempts on the St, Lawrence River southwest of Montreal. The vessel has been stuck for more than a week. The…

Search Called Off for Lost Seiner’s Crew in Icy Strait   On Monday morning, the U.S. Coast Guard suspended its search for five missing crewmembers from the fishing vessel Wind Walker, which capsized south of Haines, Alaska in the early hours of Sunday morning. U.S. Coast Guard crews and good Samaritan vessels searched for nearly 24…

Two Senators Want Navy to Stop Working on Large Unmanned Warship   Two key senators with defense oversight powers are asking the U.S. Navy to drop its Large Unmanned Surface Vehicle (LUSV) program, one of two major acquisition initiatives aimed at bringing crew-light or crew-free surface combatants into reality.  According to a letter obtained first by…

170 Nations Deadlock on Plastic Pollution Treaty The world’s nations have failed to deliver a promised agreement on a global treaty on plastic pollution after deadlocking on the question of production caps on virgin plastic from oil and gas. A weeklong meeting in Busan ended without a formal treaty, reportedly due to disagreement between petroleum-producing…

Alaskan Fishing Vessel Capsizes in Icy Strait, Five Missing   A search is under way for the crew of a commercial fishing vessel that capsized in frigid waters and severe weather off the coast of Couverden Island, Alaska. At about 0010 hours on Sunday morning, Coast Guard Sector Southeast Alaska received a VHF mayday call…

India Adopts UK Electric-Propulsion Tech for Next Series of Amphibs   India is tapping the UK’s expertise in design and development of electric propulsion systems for its planned new fleet of Landing Platform Docks (LPDs). Last week in Portsmouth, the Ministries of Defense of India and UK signed a cooperation agreement that will see the…

Op-Ed: To Compete With China, U.S. Needs a Policy on Deep-Sea Mining   [By Georgina Lancaster] Deep-sea mining is emerging as a new frontier of resource extraction. A race is underway for underwater resources with important economic, environmental and geopolitical implications. For Pacific island countries, deep-sea mining offers economic opportunities and international leverage but risks…

Brazil Unveils Investment Plan for Port Privatization   Last week, the Brazilian Ministry of Ports and Airports unveiled an investment plan for the upcoming privatization of the country’s major terminals. The plan targets over 50 projects, including port leases and concessions slated for the next two years. The privatization plan is expected to attract investment…

Port Canaveral Marks Arrival of First Homeported Princess Cruise Ship [By: Port Canaveral Authority] Port Canaveral continues to expand its fleet of homeported cruise ships with today’s arrival of Princess Cruises Caribbean Princess, the first “Love Boat” to be homeported at the Port, kicking off its slate of 4- to 14- day itineraries to the…

Stella Maris Opens in Southampton UK A home away from home best describes the new Stella Maris Southampton Seafarers’ Club which was officially opened on 26th November. The launch kicked off with a Blessing by Bishop Philip Egan of Portsmouth Roman Catholic Diocese. Later in the day, a ribbon cutting ceremony was held with representatives…

Glamox’s Smart Lighting Contracts for Hi-Tech North Sea Oil & Gas Platforms [By: Glamox] Glamox, one of the world’s leading lighting companies, today announced contracts to provide around 5,000 energy-efficient marine LED lights for new oil and gas platforms being built for the Yggdrasil and Valhall PWP-Fenris developments in the North Sea. The contracts include…

AME Renews Partnership with Fluke Reliability/PRUFTECHNIK Group [By: Advanced Mechanical Enterprises] AME is excited to renew its partnership with Fluke Reliability and PRUFTECHNIK Group, enhancing our focus of providing technology solutions for maritime and industrial mechanical applications. As the official sales representative for Florida, Georgia, North, and South Carolina, AME is ready to provide reliable…

Crowley Announces Cal Maritime Academy Scholarship Recipients [By: Crowley] California State University Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime) deck cadets Jake Jacobsen and Jan Johnson have been awarded Crowley’s Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarships. The scholarship recognizes the cadets’ success and their dedication to a career in the maritime industry.  Jacobsen, entering his final year at…

MSC Completes Investment in Hamburg Container Terminal Operator HHLA   Fourteen months after proposing its investment in the Port of Hamburg’s Hamburger Hafen und Logistik Aktiengesellschaft (HHLA) and despite political and labor opposition, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company completed the transaction yesterday, November 28. The new joint venture was completed with the City of Hamburg holding…

High Tide: Workboat Stocks Are Doing Just Fine   It’s time for our annual review of workboat stocks and companies that make their living off Big Oil. While not as gangbusters as a year ago, these companies are enjoying steady profits and benefiting from a rosy outlook. The ups and downs of oil prices are…

Antwerp Receives Europe’s First Electric RSD Tug in Sustainability Drive   The Port of Antwerp-Bruges celebrated the arrival of six new energy-efficient tugs including Europe’s first fully-electric RSD tugboat. The vessels built by Damen in Vietnam are the next step in the port’s ambitious sustainability plan. Damen began construction of the tugs in 2023 at…

Houthis Threaten Shipping, But Blackmail Earns Them Little   Speculation continues regarding reports that the Houthis are successfully blackmailing ship owners to pay fees for guaranteeing safe passage through the Red Sea. Quoting the annual and normally authoratitive UN Panel of Experts on Yemen letter to the Security Council – but in draft before it…

Westinghouse and Core Power Partner for Floating Nuclear Power Plants   Westinghouse Electric Company, one of the leaders in nuclear power, and Core Power are launching a cooperation for the design and development of a floating nuclear power plant using a microreactor. According to the companies, by leveraging shipyard capabilities, it will be possible to…

ONE and Evergreen Strengthen Positions in Asia with Terminal Investments   Carriers are continuing their efforts to ensure space and strengthen their port operations through investments. Both Ocean Network Express (ONE) and Evergreen this week took steps to strengthen their position in Asia to support network operations. ONE announced an investment in Jakarta, Indonesia’s New…

Hapag-Lloyd Follows Maersk with Large Methanol Supply Agreement from China Hapag-Lloyd Follows Maersk with Large Methanol Supply Agreement from China Germany shipping major Hapag-Lloyd reports it has completed a long-term supply agreement with Chinese energy company Goldwind to ensure a source of green methanol for the long-term power of its vessels. The deal comes almost…

Cleanup Under Way for Fuel Oil Spill in San Juan Harbor On Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard responded to a spill between a tanker and a fuel dock in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The spill was quickly shut off and contained, and cleanup is under way.  At about 1930 hours on Wednesday, Sector San Juan…

Video: British Farmers Block Ferry Ports to Protest Government Budget   Farmers across the UK are angrily speaking out against the proposed Labour Government budget which they say is the latest blow to their way of life and the future of the UK’s farms. Seeking to influence the government and call attention to their demands,…

Passengers Return to Ferry After it is Refloated off Fiji   The Maritime Safety Authority of Fji and a local ferry company called Goundar Shipping are reporting the safe recovery after one of the company’s ferries grounded overnight. The authorities had been closely monitoring the situation as 245 passengers were aboard the stranded vessel. Lomaiviti…

Commercial Fishing Vessel Sinks Off Galicia   [Brief] On Monday, a commercial fishing vessel began taking on water and sank just off the coast of Galicia, according to local search and rescue authorities.  On Monday, the 2005-built fishing vessel El Cañavera reported that it was in danger of sinking just one nautical mile off Punta…

Fake Gibson Guitars Worth $18M Seized at Los Angeles/Long Beach Ports   U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the seizure of the 3,000 guitars that were intercepted at the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport. The counterfeit Gibson electric guitars, which originated from Asia, would have been worth an estimated $18 million had they been genuine.…

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners Plans Ammonia Shipping with Partners The well-known Danish fund manager Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) which focuses on renewable energy investments is moving forward to develop ammonia-fueled carriers to lead in the energy transition. Its Energy Transition Fund entered into agreements with Norwegian shipping company Faerder Tanks and with Singapore-based BW Epic Kosan…

Trump Picks Investment Manager John Phelan as Next Navy Secretary   President-elect Donald Trump has selected investment manager John Phelan to be the next Secretary of the Navy, replacing former surface warfare officer and shipbuilding reform advocate Cmdr. Carlos del Toro (USN, ret’d).  “It is my great honor to announce John Phelan as our next…

USN’s First Forward-Deployed Virginia-Class Sub Arrives in Guam In a move that is seen by analysts as a critical strategic step to counter both China and North Korea, the U.S. Navy reported the USS Minnesota arrived on November 26 at its new homeport of Naval Base Guam. It is the first of the new, more…

Forgotten Bulker Crew Stage Sit-In After Year of Detention in India   After a year in detention, while charges of drug smuggling were being investigated, the 21 crewmembers of the bulker Debi (37,000 dwt) have staged a protest to call attention to their plight. They are demanding action by the Indian authorities to resolve their…

Former New Zealand Port CEO Guilty in Relation to Dockworker’s Death A judge in New Zealand announced the verdict in a first-of-its-kind case that sought to hold a senior executive responsible in their role for protecting the safety of workers. The former CEO of Port of Auckland, Tony Gibson, was found guilty of failing to…

Above-Water Applications of Voith-Schneider Propulsion The Voith Schneider propulsion system rotates on a vertical-axis and is well-proven in tug boat and ferry boat propulsion. A new-generation Austrian company has advanced that technology to rotate on a transverse-axis above water in aeronautical application, with capability for vertical lift-off. Their technology has possible application in wing-in-ground (WIG)…

Startup Supported by Bill Gates Demonstrates Folding Floating Wind Platfom Startup floating wind technology company Aikido Technologies is ready to launch the first demonstration of its unique folding floating wind platform. The company promotes its technology as providing a faster and more cost-effective solution to the deployment of floating offshore wind turbines. Aikido Technologies was…

Singapore Stops Moving Empties After Falling Box Injures Forklift Operator An investigation is underway and the authorities in Singapore have ordered terminal operator PSA to suspend handling empty containers after an accident on Monday, November 25. One worker was seriously injured by the falling box. The incident took place at the Pasir Panjang Terminal, the…

First Liquid CO2 Carrier for CCS Ready for Delivery in China   Ceremonies in China last week marked the completion of the world’s first liquified CO2 carrier for a carbon capture and storage operation. The vessel named Northern Pioneer is the first of four being built for a CCS operation set to launch in Norway…

TotalEnergy Says it Paused US Offshore Wind Due to Political Uncertainties   TotalEnergies has reportedly decided to pause its U.S. offshore wind energy projects citing political uncertainties after the U.S. presidential election. The move comes as many in the industry are waiting for the new Trump administration’s policy toward wind energy and renewables. Reuters is…

Navy Petty Officer Gets 1.5 Years for Stealing $850,000 in Supplies   A federal court in Rhode Island has sentenced a former U.S. Navy petty officer to 1.5 years in prison over his role in a criminal gang that stole hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of gear from Navy warehouses on the East Coast.…

HMM Joins Ranks of LNG Boxship Companies with Korea’s First LNG Vessels Shipping companies operating LNG-fueled vessels were part of an elite club that is continuing to grow and is now being cited as a fleet differentiator. South Korea’s HMM celebrated the name of its first two LNG-fueled containerships along with HJ Shipbuilding & Construction…

Lloyd’s Register Completes Acquisition of Ocean Technologies Group [By Lloyd’s Register] With OTG now part of LR and combined with LR OneOcean, LR is uniquely positioned to lead the way in maritime digitalisation and decarbonisation. Lloyd’s Register Group (LR), a global provider of maritime professional services and digital solutions, has completed the acquisition of?Ocean Technologies…

Novel New Ro/Ro Wind Component Carrier Launched at Zhenjiang Shipyard The offshore wind service vessel company Deugro is building two unique and specialized cargo vessels for turbine components, which keep getting bigger and bigger every year.  Deugro Danmark secured a firm charter agreement with turbine builder Siemens Gamesa for its “Rotra” concept of wind component transport.…

Up to a Third of BWTS Are Failing Port State Inspections   Over 30 percent of all installed ballast water treatment systems fail Port State compliance inspections despite 95 percent of systems having successfully passed commissioning tests according to a new analysis submitted to the International Maritime Organization as it is reviewing BWTS requirements. The…

Australia Selects Damen Design Built by Austal for New Littoral Fleet The government of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia is moving forward to create a new littoral fleet capability as part of its investment program expanding Australia’s defense capabilities. Australia’s Defence Ministers announced the selection of the design and will commence commercial negotiations with…

Geared Bulker Hits Coastal Freighter off Istanbul   [Brief] On Thursday, a freighter dragged anchor off the coast of Istanbul and struck another anchored ship, startling the crew and causing minor damage.  The yard-and-stay geared bulker Marla Orca anchored off Kartal – a district of Istanbul on the Sea of Marmara – on the afternoon of…

Chinese Ship Suspected of Subsea Cable Sabotage Has a Twisted Anchor A Chinese bulker happened to be maneuvering near two subsea cables at the time they were severed last weekend, and it appears to have a damaged anchor, according to Danish public radio outlet DR.  The bulker Yi Peng 3 was outbound from St. Petersburg…

The U.S. Army’s Role in Deterring China in the Pacific   [By Major General James B. Bartholomees III] Chinese Coast Guard vessels are ramming Philippine Coast Guard ships at an alarming rate in the South China Sea. Chinese military planes are increasing dangerous intercepts with U.S., Allied and partner planes over the international waters of East Asia. While the…

Op-Ed: Xi Jinping Wants a New World Order Centered on Chinese Trade   [By Michael Pezzullo] In October 2017, Xi Jinping declared that the world is experiencing ‘great changes unseen in a hundred years’. He often uses this signature phrase, the century-ago events being the tumultuous ones at the end of World War I, which saw…

U.S. Navy’s Afloat Accident Rate Hits Decade High, Led by MSC   The U.S. Naval Safety Command has released its accident numbers for FY2024, and the report shows a rising rate of serious mishaps in the fleet. The number of afloat Class A mishaps – accidents resulting in a fatality, permanent disability, or property damage…

New Report on Global Port Trends: Automation & Digital Innovation Grows [By: FERNRIDE] A new report has been released, highlighting the key automation and digitalization trends transforming the global port and terminal logistics sector. Jointly presented by FERNRIDE, passify, and heyport, with support from HHLA Next and HPC Hamburg Port Consulting (HPC), the report provides…

SCHOTTEL de Colombia: Cutting-Edge Thruster Workshop to Fill Gap in LATAM [By: SCHOTTEL] SCHOTTEL de Colombia is currently constructing a new workshop in Cartagena, a strategic prime location with access to the Caribbean Sea. This facility will be the only maintenance and repair workshop in Colombia by a propulsion system provider, offering benefits for customers…

First Damen Combi Freighters 5000 Maiden Voyage to Squtrixo General Trading [By: Damen Shipyards Group] Damen Shipyards Group has delivered two Combi Freighter (CF) 5000 vessels to Squtrixo General Trading. Additionally, Damen will soon hand over a third vessel to Squtrixo, a CF 3850. A product of continual evolution During the maiden voyage of the…

Hutchison Ports BEST Receives Lean & Green Award for Emission Reduction [By: Hutchison Ports BEST] Hutchison Ports BEST has been awarded the prestigious Lean and Green award, earning 4 stars for its outstanding performance in reducing emissions in logistics processes. This European recognition is awarded to companies that have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to sustainability and…

Maersk Surprises Industry Abandoning Felixstowe for Smaller London Gateway   Maersk shocked the container shipping industry this week with the news that come February 2025 it will transition its large containerships along with those of its new partner Hapag-Lloyd from the UK’s Port of Felixstowe to the smaller London Gateway. It is a significant competitive…

China Commissions Its First Deep-Ocean Drillship   In its quest to access deep-ocean resources, China commissioned its first drilling vessel at a shipyard in Guangzhou. The ultra-large drillship, the Meng Xiang (Dream), is a significant leap in China’s ambition for deep-sea exploration, including mineral resource surveys.  In a congratulatory letter to celebrate the commissioning of…

New Leadership to Guide INTERTANKO Tanker Trade Group in 2025   INTERTANKO, the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners, had an eventful Council of Members meeting this week discussing key issues facing independent tanker powers and the liquid bulk trade. The trade group which was established in 1970 also confirmed new leadership as its long-term…

Shareholders Sell 1.5M More Shares in Revised CMB.TECH (Euronav) Tender   The revised tender period related to the offer to acquire EURONAV (now known as CMB.TECH) closed yesterday, November 21 with the company reporting investors sold another nearly 1.6 million shares to CMB. It brings to a close the contentious acquisition of the former EURONAV…

U.S. Confirms Plan to Idle 17 Auxiliary Ships to Improve MSC Workforce U.S. Navy commanders confirmed yesterday, November 21, that they will be taking steps to realign the operations of the Military Sealift Command under the guise of improving working conditions for the mariners and strengthening logistic support operations. Reports had surfaced during the summer…

Activists in Australia and France Target Ports to Highlight Causes   Ports have become the renewed target of activists seeking to highlight their causes and advance their complaints against their governments. In Australia, hundreds of protestors descended on the Port of Newcastle and the surrounding beach while in France farmers finally withdrew their blockade of…

Warning: Marine Engines May Also Be “Allergic” to Cashew Nutshell Biofuel Fuel suppliers and shipping companies continue to look at a wide range of non-FAME biofuels, but a leading testing firm is warning against Cashew Nutshell Liquid biofuel. Singapore-based CTI-Maritec which provides marine environmental services and fuel testing solutions issued the warning after finding high…

USCG Instructs Owners of Chinese STS Cranes to Take More Security Steps The U.S. Coast Guard this week reported it has made available a further cyber risk management directive for all the owners of Chinese-made maritime ship-to-shore cranes. It is in addition to a previously released MARSEC Directive in February 2024 after President Joe Biden…

Study: A Speed Limit on 3% of the Ocean Would Protect Whales   An international group of researchers has published a new study that maps areas of whale activity with areas of high shipping activity in order to find the places with the highest risk of whale strikes, a leading cause of whale mortality (alongside…

MAIB Cites Lack of Safety Protocols, Poor Communications in Officer’s Death   The UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) released its report into a fatal accident while a bulker was berthing in Chile citing safety failures, not following the port’s established docking procedures, and communication issues. They are calling for better communication and planning as…