MOL Picks Up Long-Term Charter for Three VLECs with Thai Firm
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has signed a long-term charter contract for three newbuilding very large ethane carriers (VLECs) with SCG Chemicals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Thailand's Siam Cement Group (SCG).The 100,000 m3 VLECs, spanning 230 meters in lengths and with breadths of 36.6 meters, will be built at Samsung Heavy Industries, and are scheduled for delivery in 2027.The vessels will be equipped with dual-fuel ethane propulsion engines…
Acceptance Test Completed for Powerful Dual-Fuel 4-Stroke Engine
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries - Engine and Machinery has completed the factory acceptance test (FAT) of the world’s first H54DF HiMSEN engine at HD Hyundai Engine in South Korea.The 6-cylinder H54DF engine is a dual-fuel engine capable of running on both natural gas and diesel, with a power output of around 12,000 horsepower. It boasts the highest power output per cylinder among 4-stroke engines worldwide.
Carbon Intensive Ships Face Supply and Demand Risks
A rapid transition could lead to premature scrapping of over a third of the global fleet, valued at over $400 billion, unless the vessels undergo costly retrofits to remain competitive, according to a new report from UCL's Energy Institute Shipping and Oceans Research Group.The report assesses the financial risks to the shipping industry from stranded assets due to stricter GHG regulations, due for adoption at IMO this year…
Doomscrolling
This week at MarineLink…The term doomscrolling was one of the Oxford English Dictionary's words of the year in 2020.“the action of constantly scrolling through and reading depressing news on a news site or on social media, especially on a phone”It rose to prominence during the pandemic, but today’s social, political and economic unrest keeps it current.The behavior is rooted in the part of the brain…
HX Expeditions Debuts New York to Greenland Tour
HX Expeditions (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions) is launching the first-ever cruises from New York to Greenland: a roundtrip from Newark Liberty International Airport.Starting on June 21, 2025, Greenland’s National Day and the summer solstice, the itineraries feature dedicated flight allocations on United Airlines’ direct route to Nuuk.Crafted with Greenlandic communities, they provide authentic access to Greenland’s west coast aboard the hybrid-powered MS Fridtjof Nansen…
IACS Introduces Recommendations to Enhance Safety of Surveyors
The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) has published guidelines on safety standards for class surveyors work, Rec. 184.Highlights of the guidelines include:Comprehensive Risk Management: The document provides guidance for surveyors to exercise appropriate risk assessment and situational awareness prior to commencing work for prevention of accidents, near-misses, injury or…
DP World: Freight Rates could fall 20% if Red Sea attacks curbed
Ships not linked to Israel could begin returning to the Red Sea in as little as two weeks, DP World's deputy chief executive said, adding that could see freight prices "come crashing down".Sea freight prices could drop "at least 20%, 25%" and that could happen over two to three months, Yuvraj Narayan told Reuters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum meeting taking place in Davos, Switzerland.It is hard to predict a specific timeline…
Naval Fleets power Vestdavit's record 2024 sales
Vestdavit has achieved a new sales record for the third successive year as its order intake hit an all-time high of Nkr380m in 2024, fueled by increased davit orders from its core naval market as well as the offshore energy sector.“It has been another fantastic year. The significant orders boost was achieved despite a transition in our Sales & Marketing department that saw us start the year with an almost entirely new sales team…
Baltic index extends fall to 23-month low
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index .BADI, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, extended losses to a 23-month low on Thursday, dragged by weaker rates across all vessel segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, dropped 69 points to 824 points, hitting its lowest since February 2023.The capesize index slipped 155 points to 1,081 points, dropping to over five-week low.
Four Seasons Yachts Luxury Cruise Ship Launched
Fincantieri and Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings LTD, Joint Owner/Operator of Four Seasons Yachts, celebrated the launch of "Four Seasons I" at the Ancona shipyard, the first ultra-luxury ship under construction for Four Seasons Yachts, which will be delivered to end of this year and which will set sail in January 2026. The launching ceremony was attended by Fincantieri's President, Biagio Mazzotta, the CEO and General Manager…
Rubio to visit Panama, source says
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Panama during his first overseas trip in the post, a source told Reuters on Thursday, as President Donald Trump makes a push for the United States to take back the Panama Canal that has angered the Central American country.Rubio is expected to depart on Jan. 31 and travel during the first week of February, making additional stops in Guatemala, Dominican Republic…
$5B India Submarine Deal Clears Hurdle
German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp and its Indian partner have cleared field trials for building six advanced conventional submarines for the Indian Navy, according to an exchange filing, emerging as the sole contender for the $5 billion project.Their potential rival, Spanish state-held shipbuilder Navantia, which partnered with India's Larsen & Toubro (L&T), could not meet the navy's requirements in trials held in 2024 for testing key technologies…
Dearth of Tanker Vessels Sets Russian Oil Freight Rates Soaring
Freight rates for Russian ESPO Blend oil loading from the Far Eastern port of Kozmino have jumped fivefold amid a lack of vessels after fresh U.S. sanctions cut availability of tankers, three traders said and data showed.Higher freight costs cut Russian oil sellers' revenues that are already under pressure from U.S. sanctions and complicated logistics, while a lack of vessels in the region during the winter season may lead to loading disruptions, traders said.On Jan. 10 the U.S.
Marine Equipment: Free Software Update for SAILOR VHF Radio
Cobham Satcom released what it calls a significant software update for its flagship SAILOR 7222 VHF DSC Class A radio, an update that introduces new features to improve safety and simplify operation while exceeding the IMO’s Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) standards.The software delivers enhancements to improve overall functionality and reliability. With the new software installed…
Kongsberg to Equip Indonesian Navy's New Fast Attack Crafts
Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract to supply advanced propulsion and maneuvering technology for two new KCR-70 Fast Attack Craft for the Indonesian Navy.The vessels are currently under construction at the Sefine Shipyard in Türkiye.The Kongsberg Maritime equipment package includes propulsion system that combines twin controllable pitch propeller (CPP) Promas systems for high efficiency at patrol…
Addressing the M/V Dali Incident: Infrastructure, Trade and the Future of U.S. Maritime Policy
On March 26, 2024, the M/V Dali, a massive Neopanamax (the terms for the size limits for ships travelling through the Panama Canal, 1201 ft. long and 168 ft. wide) container ship, collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge,an incident that highlights the growing tension between U.S. maritime infrastructure and modern shipping practices. This accident is poised to create ripple effects across infrastructure…
US Stands by Philippines, Rubio Classifies China's Actions 'Dangerous'
New U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed China's "dangerous and destabilizing actions in the South China Sea" with his Philippine counterpart on Wednesday and underscored the "ironclad" U.S. defense commitment to Manila."Secretary Rubio conveyed that (China's) behavior undermines regional peace and stability and is inconsistent with international law," the U.S. State Department said in a statement…
AIRCAT 35 Crewliner Vessels Delivered to Service TotalEnergies Angola
AIRCAT Vessels, in collaboration with ESNA, delivered the first three AIRCAT 35 Crewliners. Designed to meet the demanding needs of the oil and gas sector, the 35-m vessels, based on SES (Surface Effect Ship) technology, achieve speeds of more than 50 knots, even in challenging maritime conditions. Each vessel has a capacity of 80 passengers with a cabin designed to business class standards. In addition…
Huisman to Deliver Crane to Asia-Pacific Offshore Support Vessels Owner
Huisman has signed a contract with Zhenjiang Jiangsu Shipyard for the delivery of a 100 mt Pedestal Mounted Crane to Eastern Navigation, a provider of maritime support fleets in the Asian-Pacific offshore energy industry.This marks the fifth Pedestal Mounted Crane Huisman will supply for Eastern Navigation's fleet.It follows the delivery of 300 mt and 100 mt cranes over several years, as well as the addition of another 100 mt crane currently under construction…
GTT Finds Chinese Partner to Build Its Membrane Containment Systems
GTT has signed a technical assistance and license agreement with the Chinese shipyard Hengli Shipbuilding (Dalian), part of the Hengli Group, to build its membrane containment systems for various types of vessels.This agreement strengthens GTT's presence in China, enabling the broader deployment of its advanced technologies across the region.It will enable Hengli to offer advanced solutions using GTT’s membrane containment systems…
