NOAA Satellites Helped in Rescue of 411 People in 2024
The same NOAA satellites that followed the moon’s shadow along the path of the Total Solar Eclipse and tracked Hurricanes Helene and Milton in 2024, also helped rescue 411 people from life-threatening situations in the U.S. and its surrounding waters last year.NOAA’s polar-orbiting and geostationary satellites are part of the global Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking system, or COSPAS-SARSAT. The system uses a network of U.S.
Successful Onboard CCS Industry Needs Downstream Value Chain
The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) has released a new report offering industry guidance on the adoption of onboard carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.It states: “A secured downstream value chain is the most important pre-requisite for onboard CCS implementation. Societal acceptance for onboard CCS is only expected when captured CO2 can be securely transferred into long-term permanent storage…
Sanmar Starts 2025 with Order from Ultratug Mexico
Sanmar has signed its first contract of 2025, an order for one of its Boğaçay Series tugboats to Ultratug Mexico, which operates at Lazaro Cardenas Port on Mexico’s Pacific coast.Ultratug, headquartered in Santiago, Chile, is one of the leading operators in the harbor towage, salvage, and offshore industry in the Americas, with over 55 years of experience.Ultratug Mexico has been operating under a…
Rystad Energy: No Surprises on Trump’s Day 1
Donald Trump’s first day as president saw him take action on the energy industry, but there were no surprises, says Rystad Energy’s Head of New Energies Research, Artem Abramov.“In line with his election promises, Trump declared a national energy emergency and set out a general policy direction aimed at accelerating domestic oil and gas supply, immediately revoking former President Joe Biden’s pause on new LNG permitting.“In terms of the impact on low-carbon energy sectors…
Vantage Automation v7.2: Next-Level Control for Superior's Cones
Superior Industries, Inc., a US-based manufacturer and global supplier of bulk material processing and handling systems, announces the release of Vantage Automation version 7.2, the latest evolution of its cone crusher control platform.Designed to improve the user experience and enhance data gathering for diagnostics, v7.2 delivers a significant upgrade for both Patriot Cone and Dakota Cone Crushers.
Louis Sola Designated FMC Chairman
President Donald J. Trump has designated Louis E. “Lou” Sola to serve as the Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC).The designation was made on January 20, 2025.
New GAO Report addresses Maritime Cargo Security
GAO-25-106953, published today, says, "Additional Efforts Needed to Assess the Effectiveness of DHS's Approach."Fast FactsThe U.S. economy depends on the efficient flow of millions of tons of cargo each day throughout the global supply chain, most arriving by ship. The Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection monitor these vessels for potential national security risks, like smuggling.At the 8 ports we reviewed…
U.S.-Flag 2024 Cargo on Lakes Down 6.3 PCT
U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) moved 76.3 million tons of cargo in 2024, a decrease of 6.3 percent compared to 2023. The 2024 float was 4.6 percent below the fleet’s 5-year average.Compared to 2023, salt shipments increased by 5.8 percent while sand shipments increased by 15.2 percent. However, shipments of all other commodities decreased in 2024. Both iron ore and grain cargos decreased by less than one percent to 42 million tons and 312,345 tons, respectively.
Suez Chair: Canal Expansion to be operational Q1 2025
The new stretch of the Suez Canal near Egypt's Little Bitter Lake will be operational in the first quarter of this year, the chairman of the canal authority Osama Rabie said on Tuesday.In a statement, Rabie said the navy would reissue navigational maps after adding the 10-km (6.2 mile) extension to the canal.Egypt said on Saturday it had successfully tested the new 10-km stretch near the canal's southern end…
GDMS inks $800m Deal for US Navy Torpedoes
General Dynamics Mission Systems was awarded a fixed-price-incentive, firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee, and cost-only contract from the U.S. Navy in December…
ABS grants AiP for HD KSOE's Hydrogen Vacuum Insulation System
HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) has received ABS approval in principle (AIP) for a tank design that enables large-scale hydrogen transport and storage.The vacuum insulation system from HD KSOE is designed to reduce the time required to create a vacuum in large tanks, essential for transportation. The new technology allows maintaining a vacuum state at –253℃, which KSOE says enables…
European firms exposed as Trump targets US offshore wind
U.S. President Donald Trump in his first day of office on Monday suspended new federal offshore wind leasing pending an environmental and economic review, saying wind mills are ugly, expensive and harm wildlife.Former President Joe Biden supported the offshore wind industry, setting a target for 30 gigawatts (GW) of projects by 2030, up from 42 megawatts at the end of 2023, prompting many European…
ESAB Reminder for AWS Scholarship Application Deadline
For all welding students who want to focus on education and training rather than the burden of paying for school, ESAB reminds students that the deadline to apply for AWS 2025 Foundation national, district, and section scholarships is March 1.The American Welding Society (AWS) awards more than $2.5 million in scholarships each year, including 12 scholarships in the amount of $5,000 each made possible…
Baltic Index Declines to 1-year Low
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index .BADI, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, fell for a sixth straight session on Tuesday to an over one-year low as rates weakened across all vessel segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, dropped 29 points, or 3.03%, to 928 points - its lowest since June 2023.The Baltic index is expected to decrease in the lead up to the Chinese new year…
US NatGas Demand Could Hit Record High
U.S. spot natural gas and power prices soared to multi-year highs in several parts of the country with extreme cold expected to boost gas demand to a daily record high on Tuesday.Extreme weather has created havoc for power and gas markets in recent years as demand has come close to outpacing supply.In February 2021, a freeze in Texas killed more than 200 people and left millions without power, water…
OMSA's Aaron Smith Reflects on Offshore Wind Development Pause
The Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) views President Trump’s Presidential Memorandum to pause offshore wind development projects as a critical opportunity to reassess the industry’s direction.While offshore wind offers tremendous potential for economic growth and job creation in the U.S., OMSA agrees that over-reliance on foreign renewable energy companies, foreign vessels, and foreign mariners…
Hornblower Appoints Wolin as President of City Experiences
Hornblower Group is excited to announce the appointment of Len Wolin as President of City Experiences, effective January 20. In his new role, Wolin will lead the strategic direction of City Experiences, which encompasses Hornblower Group’s diverse portfolio of water- and land-based experience companies. Wolin will be responsible for driving the unified strategy across the City Cruises, Walks, and Devour Tours brands…
Box Sector bullish after stellar 2024, but risks abound in 2025
The time charter (TC) rates for Post Panamax container vessels rose by 111% year-on-year (y-o-y) in 2024, hitting 73,330 USD/Day, and has led to a huge uptick in newbuild orders and a slowdown in demolitions according to Veson Nautical’s ‘2024 End- Of-Year-Report’.The report states that the bullish market conditions for the container sector are reflected in the TC rates as well as the 76% y-o-y increase in new ship orders which witnessed 321 deals including options…
USCG Commandant Fagan Fired by Trump Administration
The Trump administration fired U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Linda Lee Fagan, the first female uniformed leader of an Armed Forces branch, for putting diversity issues over border security, Fox News Digital reported.See Related story on the US Coast GuardWhile the White House and Homeland Security Department did not immediately return a request for comment on the report, it appears valid from…
MOL Grows Dry Bulk Carrier Fleet with Gearbulk Acquisition
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has completed the acquisition of 72% shares in Gearbulk, growing its fleet of dry bulk carriers to 338 vessels.The completion of acquisition means Gearbulk is now MOL’s consolidated subsidiary.Gearbulk has a proven track record of growth through the transport of semi-finished products such as pulp. MOL has had a 34-year partnership with Gearbulk since its equity participation in 1991.With the consolidation…
