US Waters Down China Ship Fee Plans, COSCO Remains Indignant
On April 17, the Trump administration shielded domestic exporters and vessel owners servicing the Great Lakes, the Caribbean and U.S. territories from port fees to be levied on China-built vessels.The Federal Register notice posted by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) was watered down from a February proposal for fees on China-built ship of up to $1.5 million per port call.Ocean shipping transports about 80% of global trade - from food and furniture to cement and coal.
Tech, Digitalization Reshape Traditional Maritime Jobs
The maritime industry is a cornerstone of the global economy, facilitating over 90% of world trade and generating billions in economic activity. In the United States, waterfront employment represents a critical sector, supporting nearly 21.8 million jobs and contributing approximately $2.89 trillion to the national GDP. Despite its enormous impact, the industry faces unprecedented challenges that demand…
Hanwha Moves to Build LNG Carriers in U.S., Bloomberg reports
As tariffs and trade wars continue to unsettle markets globally, some astute companies are moving to fill the void. One is South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean, which according to a report by Bloomberg is moving to build the LNG tankers in the United States, responding to new policy recommendations from the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) aimed at curbing China’s dominance in global shipbuilding.The USTR proposal, unveiled Thursday, includes tariffs on Chinese-built vessels calling at U.S.
Shell to Complete Marine Survey at Venezuela Gas Field Ahead of License Cancellation
Shell plans to complete a marine survey at Venezuela's offshore Dragon gas field before a U.S.-set May deadline to wind down all licenses related to energy projects in the country, sources close to the preparations said.Colombia-flagged survey vessel Dona Jose II arrived in U.S.-sanctioned Venezuela this month to gather data for Shell and Trinidad's National Gas Company, according to LSEG vessel monitoring data.The exploration work…
LPG Market Faces Shifts Amidst Trade War
The global liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) market is facing an upheaval as high tariffs on U.S. imports force Chinese buyers to swap American cargoes for alternatives from the Middle East, while U.S. shipments divert to Europe and elsewhere in Asia.The shakeup is expected to depress the shale gas byproducts' prices and demand, hurt the bottom lines of U.S. shale producers and Chinese petrochemical companies…
Philippines, US: Annual Joint Combat Drills Begin in "Full Battle Test"
More than 14,000 Filipino and American soldiers kicked off annual military exercises on Monday for a "full battle test" between the two defense treaty allies in the face of regional security concerns, including tensions in the South China Sea.The annual "Balikatan" (shoulder-to-shoulder) exercises will run for three weeks until May 9, showcasing an array of U.S. weapons that include the NMESIS anti…
NUWC Division Newport: $2 Billion Impact on Economy in 2024
The total funded program of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport reached $2 billion in 2024, according to the recently released economic impact report.Of its total operating budget, $776 million was spent by Division Newport in civilian payroll and labor, materials, operational expenditures, property maintenance and repair, and military payroll, while $1.2 billion funded contracts.One of two divisions of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center…
MarLEN Project Launches for Zero-Emission Waterborne Transport
The maritime and inland waterway sector is at a turning point in the transition towards zero-emission waterborne transport. To accelerate this transformation, the MarLEN (Maritime Low Emission Network) project has been officially launched under the HorizonEurope program. Coordinated by Forschungszentrum Jülich, this 54-month Horizon Coordination andSupport Action (CSA) brings together 14 ministries…
Chevron Shipping, Austin High School Team to Inspire New Generation
Students departed this morning to board the Carnival Breeze in Galveston for a five-day learning experience as part of Austin High School’s Maritime Studies Program.From April 17-21, while onboard and underway, senior students will have six hours of classroom time each day that will include engagement with the Captain, Chief Engineer and crew, as well as behind the scenes tours of vessel operations to include the bridge, engine room, galley, steering gear and mooring and anchoring equipment.
Imabari Maritime Fair “Bari-Ship 2025”
Imabari Maritime Fair, "Bari-Ship 2025" is schedule to be held from May 22- 24, 2025 at Texport Imabari (Imabari, Japan)."Bari-Ship" is the largest international maritime exhibition in Western Japan, held every two years in Imabari, Japan’s leading maritime city. The event serves as a venue for maritime industry professionals from not only Japan but around the world to gather, engage in business matching…
Strategic Marine Delivers Another Fast Crew Boat to Truth Marine Services
Singaporean aluminum boat builder Strategic Marine has delivered another fast crew boat (FCB) to Truth Maritime Services (TMS) in Thailand.Following the successful handover of the first two Gen 4 FCBs, TMS RANOD and TMS RAMAN, in 2024, these vessels have been operating efficiently and meeting the needs of TMS’s clients.The addition of two more 42-meters vessels underscores the company’s commitment…
NYK, Partners Name First of 12 New LNG Tankers for QatarEnergy
A joint venture, comprising NYK, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, MISC Berhad, and China LNG Shipping (Holdings), has held a naming ceremony for a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier for QatarEnergy, the first of 12 being built for the state-owned energy company of Qatar.The ceremony was held at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) in China, and the vessel was named Al Tuwar, after the name of a hill in Al Wakrah…
NYK Conducts Joint Counterterrorism Drill with Hong Kong Police
On April 17, NYK and the Hong Kong Police Force jointly conducted a counterterrorism drill aboard NYK's NYK Daniella, a 210-m, 2,664-TEU containershipThe drill lasted about an hour in Hong Kong's territorial waters. Based on the scenario of terrorists entering the vessel by boat, Hong Kong special forces searched and suppressed the terrorists, while all parties, including the crew and the ship-management company, worked together to verify response procedures.
Atlantic Zonda Drillship Starts its Maiden Job with Petrobras
The seventh generation Atlantic Zonda drillship, managed by Ventura Offshore Midco, has started operations for Petrobras under a three-year drilling contract.The Atlantic Zonda is managed by Ventura Offshore through marketing and operating agreements with the rig owner, Eldorado Drilling, and the company will earn its management fees and reimbursable revenues from these agreements.Following the delivery of the Atlantic Zonda from Samsung shipyards…
US Launches Preps for Expanded Offshore Drilling
The U.S. Interior Department on Friday said it would begin taking public input for a new five-year offshore oil and gas leasing program that could include new zones in the Arctic and elsewhere to maximize energy development.President Donald Trump has ordered government agencies to identify ways to increase already record high U.S. oil and gas production, arguing past administrations had unnecessarily curtailed drilling to combat climate change.
China Tariffs Concern Ship Recycling Markets
Even though dry markets were up for the week by 1.6%, overall, they have declined a massive 24% this month (according to Baltic Exchange Dry Index), reports cash buyer GMS.This comes as oil climbed over 3% to end the week at nearly USD 64.50/barrel, in the face of OPEC+ countries now reversing course on increasing output amidst a rampant decline in global energy demands.Sub-continent markets have also had to endure knock on effects of the tariffs as the standoff between China and the U.S.
Timeline of Tall Ship Collision Released
An Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation interim report outlines the sequence of events leading up to the collision of a container ship with the berthed tall ship STS Leeuwin II in Fremantle last August.The 333m, Singapore-flagged container ship Maersk Shekou was being piloted towards its assigned berth in Fremantle’s inner harbor when it collided with and substantially damaged STS Leeuwin II alongside Victoria Quay on the morning of August 30…
US Plans New Offshore Oil and Gas Lease Sales
US Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum has directed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to begin a public engagement process to develop a new schedule for offshore oil and gas lease sales on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.“Launching the process to develop the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Program marks a decisive step toward securing American Energy Dominance,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum.
