Maritime Coastal Border Security and the Role of USCG R&D
The United States' maritime coastal security poses a significant challenge due to the vastness of its coastline and the complexity of its maritime borders. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Geodetic Survey there are approximately 95,000 miles of coastline. According to the Department of Homeland Security 2007 Transportation Systems publication there are “361 ports, and 3.3 million square miles of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to secure”.
Tariffs On Canadian & Mexican Crude Spark Debate
U.S. Refiners’ Adaptability and Resilience Remain the KeyRecent tariffs placed on Canadian and Mexican crude imports have generated much controversy among experts regarding their potential effects on U.S. refining industries. While some experts anticipate difficulty, analysis of past market trends indicates that American refiners can adapt quickly while maintaining competitive advantages in an ever-evolving marketplace.U.S.
Seaward Banks 5-Year MSC Contract
Seaward Services, Inc. (SSI), a subsidiary of Hornblower Group, has been awarded a new five-year contract by the U.S. Navy for the continued operation and maintenance of the USNS Guam. This contract, secured through a competitive bidding process, will take effect in March 2025.Seaward has been the primary operator of the USNS Guam since 2013, overseeing its delivery from Norfolk, Virginia, to its current homeport in Okinawa, Japan, in 2017.
Lock Repairs Completed, Mosel River Reopens to Shipping
The Mosel river in west Germany has been reopened to cargo shipping after repairs to a damaged lock were completed faster than expected, navigation authorities said.The river, an important transit route for grains and rapeseed between Germany and France, was closed to inland waterways shipping in December after an accident which damaged a lock at Mueden south of Koblenz.New lock gates have now been installed and the river was reopened to commercial shipping over the weekend…
Seaspan Energy Completes Canada's First Ship-to-Ship LNG Bunkering
Seaspan Energy (Seaspan) completed the first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering in Canada, which took place in the Port of Vancouver in the Upper Harbour. The Seaspan Lions performed the ship-to-ship LNG bunkering to a tanker at anchor, named after the twin peaks of the North Shore, or known as Ch’ich’iyúy Elxwíkn (“Twin Sisters” or “Two Sisters”) to the Squamish Nation.Seaspan Energy’s first ship-to-ship LNG bunkering took place in December 2024 in the Port of Long Beach to a containership.
SHI taps GTT for Tank Design of a new LNG Vessel
GTT received an order from Korean shipyard Samsung Heavy Industries for the tank design of a new LNG carrier. The vessel will feature a total capacity of 180,000-cu.m.
Baltic Sea Cable Break an Accident, says Sweden
Bad weather, bad equipment and poor seamanship ... the recipe for many at sea accidents ... was the culprit in a recent subsea cable break; not sabotage with Russia and China fingerprints.These are the findings of a Swedish prosecuter when discussing why the Maltese-flagged cargo ships Vezhen was released, because the did damage it did to the subsea cable linking Sweden and Latvia was an accident, not sabotage.The incident took place on Jan.
Charges Could be Coming in Wake of Deadly Migrant Shipwreck
A Greek Ombudsman has recommended disciplinary action against eight coastguard officers for alleged dereliction of duty in one of the deadliest migrant shipwrecks off Greece in which hundreds died in 2023.The inquiry is the first to conclude on the circumstances surrounding the shipwreck off the southwestern coastal town of Pylos on June 14, 2023, which sank in plain sight of Greek coastguard authorities with about 750 people on board.The trawler…
Sanmar Secures Landmark Tug Contract with New Bulgarian Client
SANMAR signed a contract with PORT FLOT – BURGAS, one of Bulgaria’s leading towage companies, to build a multi-purpose tug to join its fleet, providing services in the Bay of Burgas.The new tugboat will be one of the Turkish tug-builder and operator’s Boğaçay Series and to be known as BOĞAÇAY LXXXI while under construction. It will be based on the exclusive-to-SANMAR RAmparts 2400SX-MKII design from…
Baker Hughes, Hanwha Ocean Partner Up on Ammonia Gas Turbines for Ships
Hanwha Power Systems and Hanwha Ocean have signed a joint development and collaboration agreement with Baker Hughes to design and produce low carbon ammonia gas turbines, to contribute towards reaching the goal of completely carbon-free operation of ships.Hanwha Group plans to complete the development of liquefied natural gas carriers and container ships using the ammonia gas turbine propulsion system…
MPCC’s First Dual-Fuel Methanol Container Ship Hits Water
Norwegian shipowner MPC Container Ships (MPCC) has taken delivery of its first dual-fueled methanol container ship newbuilding from Chinese-based shipyard Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering.This is the first of the two dual-fuel methanol container ships up for delivery from the Chinese shipayrds, which are secured by 15-year time charter agreements with North Sea Container Line (NCL).The vessels feature dual-fuel engines that enable operation on green methanol, and according to MPCC, the methanol us
WALLENIUS SOL Acquires British RoRo Operator
Swedish shipping company WALLENIUS SOL has acquired British Mann Lines, expanding its customer base, service offerings and presence in key markets.WALLENIUS SOL, based in the Bay of Bothnia, has acquired Mann Lines, a provider of liner RoRo and container vessel services, logistics and forwarding.The acquisition reinforces WALLENIUS SOL’s platform for growth, supporting the development of a more sustainable…
Upward Trend for Alternative-Fueled Vessel Orders Continues in 2025
According to the latest figures from DNV’s Alternative Fuels Insight (AFI) platform, a total of 12 new orders for alternative-fueled vessels were placed in January 2025, marking a continuation of the trend towards the fuel in the second half of 2024.All new orders placed came from the container segment, DNV’s AFI informed.“Although we have seen fewer orders for alternative-fueled vessels in January compared to other months…
Tidal Transit Secures Funding for ‘World’s First’ Electric CTV Fleet
U.K.-based offshore wind crew transfer vessel (CTV) owner Tidal Transit has secured equity financing from maritime and logistics investor HICO Investment Group to expand its fleet with six new electric CTVs (E-CTVs).The strategic expansion is a direct response to growing demand for zero-emission CTV solutions from offshore wind operations, according to Tidal Transit.The six newbuilds, to be delivered from 2026, will complement Tidal Transit’s existing fleet of electric CTV’s.
Cadeler’s Wind Mover WTIV Lines Up First Offshore Wind Contracts
Danish offshore wind installation firm Cadeler has signed two contracts with undisclosed clients for the utilization of its newbuild wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV), Wind Mover, starting immediately upon delivery.The vessel, currently under construction at Hanwha Ocean Shipyard in Korea, will support operations and maintenance (O&M) activities, along with potential installation work, in Europe.The contracts, which are part of a combined agreement, will cover the entire period from Wind M
Recycling Market Eases
Despite a frantic start to 2025 that saw a marked return of recycling tonnage at the bidding tables, sale and purchase activity across the global ship recycling spectrum eased further this week as Chinese New Year holidays descended upon the world, says cash buyer GMS.“It is the Year of the Snake, and it is indeed expected to be a far busier one than the preceding years, with record low volumes of…
Owner Sentenced to Prison After Vessel Capsize
The owner of the vessel Stimulus Money, Richard Cruz, was sentenced to 18 months in prison on Thursday after pleading guilty for his role in the July 2022 capsizing of the vessel while underway on the Hudson River that resulted in the death of two passengers, a seven-year-old boy and 48-year-old woman.Cruz was arrested in March 2024 along with the operator of the vessel, Jaime Pinilla Gomez, and charged with one count of misconduct and neglect of a ship officer resulting in death…
AWO Urges Newsom to Act on CARB Rule Amendments
The American Waterways Operators (AWO) recently sent a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom in California, urging him to withdraw the 2022 amendments to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Commercial Harbor Craft rule, particularly in light of CARB’s withdrawal of its requests to enforce emissions rules for California’s truck and rail industries, leaving only harbor craft subject to CARB’s stringent regulations.The AWO is the tugboat…
European Shipowners Welcome Focus on Competitiveness
European Shipowners (ECSA) welcome the focus of European Commission’s new Competitiveness Compass on competitiveness and open trade as a prerequisite to the continent’s security, resilience and growth.Shipping is a cornerstone of Europe’s energy, food and supply chain security, moving around 76% of EU’s international trade, promoting international partnerships and reducing strategic dependencies.The…
Trump's Tariffs a Boost for European and Asian Refiners
U.S. President Donald Trump's trade tariffs on Canadian and Mexican oil imports will offer European and Asian refineries a competitive advantage against their U.S. rivals, analysts and market participants told Reuters.Trump on Saturday ordered 25% tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports and 10% on goods from China starting on Tuesday to address a national emergency over fentanyl and illegal aliens entering the U.S., White House officials said.
