Top Chinese Yards Finalize Merger
The merger between China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) and China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), underway since 2019, has been completed following a share-swap deal.The result is the world’s largest shipbuilding group with an orderbook of more than 530 vessels, about 17% of the global market and including commercial, defense and offshore engineering.Local media reports indicate the group will be positioned to take a stronger lead in high-value and green shipbuilding…
MOL Cruises Announces Name for its Latest Ship
MOL Cruises has named its new cruise ship, scheduled to enter service in late 2026, the Mitsui Ocean Sakura.The vessel will enter service as a Japanese-flagged ship in late 2026, offering a wide range of itineraries centered on short- to medium-term cruises departing from and arriving at various ports in Japan.With a gross tonnage of approximately 32,000 tons and a length of less than 200 meters, the new cruise ship can call at ports in various regions…
MOL Partners with ITOCHU on Ammonia Bunkering
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has reached an agreement with ITOCHU Corporation to conduct ammonia bunkering demonstrations in Singapore.MOL and ITOCHU will demonstrate ship-to-ship ammonia bunkering using their owned ammonia bunkering vessel and ammonia dual-fuel Capesize bulkers.Through the demonstrations, which are planned to be carried out in the second half of 2027, MOL and ITOCHU aim to promote…
Time to Rethink SFOC as a Fuel Efficiency Measure
The maritime sector’s longstanding reliance on Specific Fuel Oil Consumption (SFOC) and manufacturer power curves to measure fuel efficiency masks real performance as well as real inefficiencies at sea, according to Rob Mortimer, CEO of Fuelre4m:These legacy metrics, rooted in idealized factory conditions and theoretical assumptions, fail to capture the complexities of actual vessel operation. This results in an industry managing appearances rather than actual fuel-to-thrust efficiency…
Columbia Group Asia CEO Refutes Claims of Lower Standards in Asian shipping
Demetris Chrysostomou, CEO of Columbia Group Asia Region, has strongly rejected suggestions that Asian shipowners are falling behind their European and American counterparts when it comes to operational standards, describing such claims as outdated and misleading.Speaking in response to growing industry commentary around regional divides in shipping performance, Chrysostomou pointed to the operational…
Coast Guard Establishes Robotics Office
The U.S. Coast Guard has set up the initial operating capability of a Robotics and Autonomous Systems Program Executive Office.The office is a key component of the Service's Force Design 2028 (FD 2028) plan, and the Coast Guard claims it is poised to be the most transformational enhancement to capability since the inception of aviation. The office is dedicated to the rapid operationalization of the…
Transpetro to Relaunch Tender for Barges in Brazil
Brazil's Transpetro, the logistics subsidiary of state-run oil firm Petrobras, is set to relaunch a tender for building barges after low interest in a May bidding process, Transpetro Chief Executive Sergio Bacci said on Tuesday.In May the firm put up the tender for the four barges intended for fuel transportation operations, four push boats and one tug boat, but only one shipbuilder put up bids, at a price point considered too high by Transpetro…
Philippines, Australia, Canada Navies Sail South China Sea
The navies of the Philippines, Australia and Canada were conducting a joint sail in the South China Sea on Tuesday, an area of flaring tensions following a collision between two Chinese vessels last week.The Philippine frigate BRP Jose Rizal, Australian destroyer HMAS Brisbane and Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Quebec were participating in the operation, which a Philippine military official said was…
Trump Shock Spurs Japan to the Unthinkable: Nuclear Arms
It was at an 18th century Georgian manor house outside London that Japanese lawmaker Rui Matsukawa began to have serious doubts about America’s commitment to defending her country.Matsukawa, a former deputy defense minister, traveled in March to historic Fordham Abbey for a top-level bilateral conference. At the estate, now home to a Japanese-owned sake brewery, she said she learned from British lawmakers, diplomats and business leaders that a tectonic shift in their thinking was underway.U.S.
US Unveils Schedule for Over 30 Offshore Lease Auctions
U.S. President Donald Trump's administration on Tuesday unveiled a comprehensive schedule to hold more than 30 offshore oil and gas lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska's Cook Inlet over the next 15 years.The plan fulfills a directive in Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which passed last month, and is aligned with his administration's energy dominance agenda to boost domestic fossil fuel production.The schedule marks a significant departure from former President Joe Biden…
Ships Queue at Russian Grain Port
Russian grain exports via the Black Sea port Kavkaz, which accounted for almost a quarter of all seaborne exports last season, have been significantly hampered this month due to new ship entry and inspection requirements, industry sources said.Foreign vessels require permission from port authorities and approval of Russia's FSB security service to enter the country's ports, according to a decree in July by President Vladimir Putin.Since the beginning of August…
Briggs Marine Awarded Contract for Royal Navy Maritime Services
Briggs Marine has announced its role as Key Subcontractor to Serco following the recent award of the Royal Navy’s Maritime Services contracts.This milestone marks the continuation of a partnership that has spanned over 17 years, delivering critical marine support services to the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD). The contract will see Briggs deliver Range Safety and Aircrew Training (RSACT) services at…
Oil Prices Fall Ahead of Possible Cease-Fire
Oil prices fell on Tuesday as traders thought a possible cease-fire in Russia's war with Ukraine might lead to easing or the end to sanctions on Russian crude oil, which would in turn boost global supply.Brent crude futures were down 50 cents, or 0.75%, at $66.10 a barrel at 10:38 a.m. CDT (1538 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures for September delivery, set to expire on Wednesday, were down 72 cents…
Alewijnse Joins Oceanco Group
Maritime systems integrator Alewijnse has joined the Oceanco Group, a leader in the yacht sector.With this step forward, Alewijnse is entering a new phase following seven years as a portfolio company of Strong Root Capital. During this period the company strengthened and professionalized its operations, which now enables it to accelerate its proven course with greater momentum.Alewijnse brings more than 135 years of experience in electrical engineering and automation…
Van Oord Awarded Land Reclamation Project in Dubai
Van Oord has secured a contract for the land reclamation of Naïa Island Dubai, a new development located just off Jumeirah’s coastline. The project marks another milestone in Van Oord’s long-standing presence in the region, following its role in the development of projects such as Dubai Harbor, the World Islands and Palm Jumeirah.Naïa Island Dubai, a landmark project by Shamal Holding, will span approximately 13 hectares and feature 6 kilometers of pristine beaches.
Tariffs Hit India Shrimp Farmers Hard
On India's southern coast, V. Srinivas thrived for two decades by farming shrimp, as the country became the top supplier of the delicacy to the United States. Now, Donald Trump's 50% tariff threat is forcing many to consider other ways of making money.Andhra Pradesh state sends the most shrimp from India to the U.S. and farmers there have spent millions of rupees (hundreds of thousands of U.S. dollars)…
SFL Beats Q2 Profit Estimates
SFL Q2 net income of $1.5 mln beats analyst expectations, per LSEG data Adjusted EBITDA of $104 mln misses analyst estimates, per LSEG dataCompany says sold older vessels, increasing capital but reduc
Baltimore: Bulk Carrier Afloat After Explosion
The US Coast Guard and local partners are responding to an explosion aboard the 751-foot Liberia-flagged bulk carrier W-Sapphire in Baltimore Harbor.Responders from Coast Guard Sector Maryland - National Capital Region were dispatched to the area to assist. No injuries have been reported, and the cause of the explosion is under investigation.The vessel remains afloat and is being assisted by tug boats.The Coast Guard has established a 2…
LNG Carrier Al Zuwair Delivered to QatarEnergy
The 174,000 cubic meter capacity LNG carrier Al Zuwair has been delivered from the HHI Ulsan Shipyard of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and will be deployed under a time-charter contract with QatarEnergy. The vessel will be managed by the NYK Group.Al Zuwair is the third of 12 new LNG carriers being built for QatarEnergy by a joint venture comprising NYK, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, MISC Berhad, and China LNG Shipping (Holdings) Limited.This delivery marks the first of these vessels built at HHI.
$1 Billion Fine for X-Press Pearl Disaster
The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka has found the owner, operator, and local agent of the container ship X-Press Pearl liable for environmental and economic damage caused by the 2021 fire and sinking of the vessel.The ship's registered owner, EOS Ro Pte. Limited, along with others, has been fined $1 billion under the polluter pays principle.The Singapore-flagged vessel had 1,486 containers on board at the time, 81 of which were identified as containing hazardous.
