Houthis Free Galaxy Leader’s Crew After More Than One Year
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have released the crew of the Galaxy Leader more than a year after they seized their Bahamas-flagged vessel off the Yemeni Red Sea coast, Houthi-owned Al Masirah TV reported on Wednesday.It said the crew were handed to Oman "in coordination" with the three-day-old ceasefire in Gaza's war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas."The release of the Galaxy Leader…
Four Rescued from Life Raft in Atlantic Ocean
US Coast Guard aircrew, the crew of the Crowley container ship El Coquí and fishermen from the fishing vessel Bonanza rescued four men from a life raft in Atlantic Ocean’s Silver Bank waters north of the Dominican Republic on Tuesday.The men were forced to abandon the sailing vessel Mariposa after the vessel reportedly struck a submerged rock and was then overtaken by a wave which caused the vessel to roll on its port side.
Trump Designates Houthis a “Foreign Terrorist Organization”
U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday re-designated Yemen's Houthi movement, known formally as Ansar Allah, as a "foreign terrorist organization", the White House said.The move will impose harsher economic penalties than the Biden administration had applied to the Iran-aligned group in response to its attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and against U.S. warships defending the critical maritime chokepoint.Proponents of the move say it is overdue…
Ships with Missile Propellant Ingredient Depart China
Two Iranian cargo vessels carrying an ingredient for missile propellant will sail from China to Iran in the next few weeks, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing intelligence from security officials in two Western countries.The reported transactions could make the Chinese entities involved subject to U.S. sanctions aimed at curbing Iran's weapons programs, as the two Iranian vessels are already under U.S.
CO2 Electrolyzer Development Aims to Promote Green e-Fuel Production
The ECO2Fuel project is testing a prototype direct, electrochemical CO2 conversion system that produces sustainable liquid e-fuels and chemicals such as methanol and ethanol.The aim is to scale the system up to achieve the world’s first low-temperature 1MW CO2 electrolyzer in 2026.The ECO2Fuel system works by directly reducing CO2 through electrocatalytic conversion in a single-step process. This process uses water and renewable electricity, without the need for hydrogen.
Baltic Index sags as all vessel sectors disappoint
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, fell to its lowest level in 23 months on Wednesday, as rates dipped across all vessel segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, dropped 35 points to 893 points, hitting its lowest since February 2023.The capesize index slipped 48 points to 1,236 points, dropping to a near two-week low.
Texas ports begin resuming operations after winter storm
Several Texas ports began to resume operations on Wednesday, after winter storm Enzo moved out of the state, according to ports and a shipping notice seen by Reuters.The port of Freeport had resumed vessel operations on Wednesday morning, while the ports of Houston and Galveston were planning to reopen to vessel traffic later in the day.The storm brought several inches of snow to Texas, Louisiana and Florida, where extreme winter conditions are rare.
Lyondell to begin closure of Houston Refinery this weekend
LyondellBasell Industries will begin the permanent closure of its 263,776 barrel-per-day Houston refinery this coming weekend, said people familiar with plant operations.Layoffs of up to 400 employees at the refinery are scheduled to begin two months after the shutdown begins, the sources said.A Lyondell spokesperson did not immediately reply to a request for comment.Lyondell plans to convert existing…
NAWE Urges Quick Confirmation of Sean Duffy to Lead DoT
The National Association of Waterfront Employers (NAWE), the leading organization representing U.S. marine terminal operators and stevedores, has expressed its support for the confirmation of Sean Duffy as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).In a letter sent to Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD), NAWE emphasized the importance of experienced leadership at DOT to ensure the vitality and efficiency of the nation’s transportation infrastructure. “Mr.
IMO Secretary-General weighs in on release of Galaxy Leader crew
Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Mr. Arsenio Dominguez has welcomed the release of the crew of the MV Galaxy Leader, after more than a year in captivity.The Secretary-General issued the following statement: "I welcome the release of the 25-member crew of the Galaxy Leader, who have endured over a year of captivity since they were taken hostage in November 2023 while transiting the Red Sea.
John Deere unveils New Engines, Expanded HP for Workboats
Deere & Company announced the unveiling of new engines — the JD14 and JD18 marine engines.With the addition of these engines, John Deere will be able to offer marine customers heavier duty cycles* and a more comprehensive power range, from 298 up to 599 kW (400 up to 803 hp). Production is anticipated to begin in 2026.“The vessels powered by our marine engines are part of hardworking, relentless commercial operations that need uncompromising power and reliability…
ICS Addresses Release of Galaxy Leader crew
Statement from Guy Platten, International Chamber of Shipping Secretary General, following the release of the Galaxy Leader crew:We welcome the news of the Galaxy Leader crew being released today and that they will be reunited with their families after being held in captivity since the 19 November 2023. The fact that the innocent crew were held for over 430 days is unacceptable and a truly dreadful situation.
Schottel's SRP-D Efficiency Confirmed
The increased performance of the SCHOTTEL RudderPropeller Dynamic SRP-D has once again been confirmed by external sources. At the request of the Dutch Damen Group, the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN) carried out extensive research to demonstrate the added value of the SRP-D for Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOV).While an earlier study had already demonstrated a reduced DP footprint and fuel savings…
RODA responds to Trump EO on Offshore Wind & Permitting
The Responsible Offshore Development Alliance (RODA) extends gratitude to President Trump for his decision to temporarily withdraw all areas on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) from consideration for new or renewed wind energy leasing.This important move recognizes the vital role our communities, industries, and ecosystems play in the broader national interest. The decision is a much-needed pause…
Asyad Group Outlines Plans to Sell 20% of Shipping Business via IPO
Oman's state-owned logistics firm Asyad Group plans to sell shares in its shipping subsidiary through an initial public offering, it said on Wednesday, as part of the Gulf country's privatization drive.The group, owned by Oman's sovereign wealth fund, plans to sell a stake of at least 20% in Asyad Shipping Co and float it on the Muscat stock exchange, it said in document detailing its intention to…
Oil Tanker Vessel Deliveries Plummet 74% in '24
“In 2024, new crude oil tanker deliveries dropped to a 36-year low as only 17 new tankers, with a capacity of 2.5m deadweight tonnes (DWT), joined the fleet. Compared to 2023, the capacity delivered dropped by 74%,” says Niels Rasmussen, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.During the year, the recycling of crude tankers increased to 1.7m DWT wherefore the fleet ended only 0.2% larger in 2024 than at the end of 2023…
USCG Adm. Lunday Orders Surge of Assets Toward Border Protection
The Coast Guard announced immediate action on executive orders issued by the White House Tuesday.“The U.S. Coast Guard is the world’s premiere maritime law enforcement agency, vital to protecting America’s maritime borders, territorial integrity and sovereignty,” said Adm. Kevin Lunday, the Coast Guard’s acting commandant. “Per the President’s Executive Orders, I have directed my operational commanders to immediately surge assets—cutters…
Cybersecurity Moving Up Priority Lists for Energy Firms, DNV Finds
The latest Energy Cyber Priority report from DNV Cyber has found that energy companies have started to boost investment in cybersecurity to manage the ‘greatest risk’ to the industry today as the importance of securing businesses from cyber threats reaches highest company levels.Energy companies are taking cyber threats seriously at the highest levels, as two in three energy professionals (65%) say their leadership views cybersecurity as the greatest current risk to their business…
Wallenius Wilhelmsen Opens its Brunswick Terminal
Wallenius Wilhelmsen has marked the official opening of its South Atlantic hub - the Brunswick terminal, Equipment Processing Center (EPC) and Vehicle Processing Center (VPC). The grand opening marks another strategic investment for the Wallenius Wilhelmsen group with the signing of a 20-year lease with the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), with options of up to 30 years. With this investment, Wallenius…
Solstad Plans Oslo Stock Exchange Listing
Norwegian vessel owner and services provider Solstad Maritime Holding has outlined plans to apply for a listing of its shares on Euronext Oslo Børs during the second quarter of 2025.The listing is in line with the company’s previously expressed intention to list within 12 months after completion of its $66 million (NOK 750 million) equity raise in June 2024, and supported by its three main shareholders…
