Recyclers See Jump in Aging Bulkers
Nearly all recycling nation currencies reported dips this week, reports cash buyer GMS, with the Bangladeshi Taka taking the largest slice of the week’s depreciation pie.Even the Baltic Shipping Index has been reporting an overall downward trend in nearly all sectors, which has caused dry bulk markets to close another week with a near 6% decline.“As forecasted in weeks prior and based on the trajectory of charter rates through the tail end of 2024 and even thus far in 2025…
China Adds Green Shipbuilding to its Booming Industry Record
COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers has taken delivery of the Green Rizhao, a 77,000dwt general cargo ship which was certified as being built with zero carbon emissions by China Classification Society (CCS).The vessel’s maiden voyage will involve transporting machinery and containers from Chinese Ports to Brazil.The news comes as China's shipbuilding boom saw the nation account for 55.7% of deliveries and 74.1% of orders in 2024.
IHO Member States Adopt S-100 Operational Standards
International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) member states have adopted the first set of operational standards within the S-100 framework.The S-100 framework enables the integration of diverse datasets within a single Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS). Mariners will now be able to combine various data layers such as Electronic Navigational Charts (ENCs), detailed depth information…
The Five Greatest Risks Facing the World in 2025
The Global Risks Report 2025, produced by the World Economic Forum in collaboration with Marsh McLennan and Zurich Insurance Group, finds that nearly two-thirds of over 900 surveyed experts anticipate a turbulent decade ahead.The top five risks identified are:State-based armed conflict: Wars in Ukraine, the Middle East and Sudan have brought unprecedented instability, propelling armed conflict to the top of the global risk list.
US Coast Guard Publishes Final Rule on Cybersecurity
The US Coast Guard has published a final rule in the Federal Register to update cybersecurity requirements for U.S.-flagged vessels, outer continental shelf facilities and facilities subject to Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA).The rule addresses current and emerging cybersecurity threats in the marine transportation system by adding minimum cybersecurity requirements to help detect risks and respond to and recover from cybersecurity incidents.
Nordic Countries Boost Transport Crisis Preparedness
The Nordic countries are strengthening their transport preparedness with a new cooperation agreement signed January 16, 2025.The Nordic Transport Preparedness Cooperation aims to ensure that land, sea and air transport can better manage crisis situations such as natural disasters, major accidents and other societal crises.The collaboration involves sharing resources, knowledge, and experiences, as well as developing joint models and practices for transport systems.
Charcoal to be Treated as Dangerous Cargo
In response to a series of devastating fires caused by improperly handled charcoal, shippers should be ready to see carriers phase in new tighter regulations this year, says the World Shipping Council, ahead of mandatory IMO regulations in 2026. The new regulations require all charcoal shipments to be declared as dangerous goods under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. There are also new treatment, packing and stowage requirements for shipments of charcoal.
Slow Speed Zone Established in Miami After Accidents
The Captain of the Port for Coast Guard Sector Miami has announced the establishment of a new regulated navigation area for certain waters surrounding Port Miami.The new rule establishes a slow speed zone for vessels less than 50 meters (164 feet) in length transiting throughout Fisherman’s Channel and the Main Ship Channel. Slow speed means the speed at which a vessel proceeds when it is fully off plane…
China Classifies US Shipbuilding Probe as a 'Serious Violation' of WTO Rules
The U.S. probe targeting China's maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors is a "serious violation" of World Trade Organization rules and an outright protectionist act…
APA Applauds Withdrawal of NARW Speed Restriction Regulations
On January 16, 2025, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) formally withdrew its August 1, 2022, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that sought amendments to the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Strike Reduction Rule that would have had the unintended consequences of endangering pilots, weakening navigation safety, and damaging the maritime supply chain on the East Coast. While the American Pilots’ Association (APA) announced that it welcomes the proposal’s withdrawal…
Shipbuilder Resumes Trading of Shares
Swan Defense and Heavy Industries Limited (SDHI), a private player in commercial & defence shipbuilding, ship repairs, and heavy fabrication in India, will recommence trading of its shares at BSE/NSE under the script code – 533107/SWANDEF. The shares will be available for trading with effect from January 20, 2025.Swan Energy Limited gained management control of Swan Defense and Heavy Industries Limited in January 2024.
SouthCoast Wind gets final BOEM nod
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) today announced its approval of the Construction and Operations Plan for the SouthCoast Wind Project. This is the final approval needed for the project from BOEM following the Department of the Interior’s December 2024 Record of Decision. “We are proud to announce BOEM’s final approval of the SouthCoast Wind project, the nation’s eleventh commercial-scale offshore wind energy project…
Baldwin Applauds Shipbuilding Report, Calls on Trump to Act
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) is applauding the newly released report from the United States Trade Representative outlining how China has used unfair trade practices to undercut American shipbuilding, hurting American workers, businesses, and national security.Senator Baldwin called on the administration to fight China’s unfair trade practices, leading her colleagues in support of the United Steelworkers’…
Oil set for fourth week of gains on US sanctions
Oil prices edged lower on Friday but remained on course for a fourth consecutive week of gains, as the latest U.S. sanctions on Russian energy trade added to worries about oil supply disruptions.Brent crude futures were down 41 cents, or 0.5%, at $80.87 per barrel by 11:30 a.m. ET (1630 GMT), having gained 1.4% this week. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 89 cents, or 1.1%, at $77.81 a barrel…
Port of Long Beach Marks 20 Years of Leading Green
The Port of Long Beach is accomplishing its environmental, operational and commercial goals and is setting its sights on even greater achievements in the years ahead, CEO Mario Cordero said Thursday during his eighth annual State of the Port address.While reflecting on the Port’s record-setting 2024, with 9.6 million cargo containers moved with zero disruptions or backlogs, Cordero said Long Beach is making progress in transitioning operations to zero emissions…
FSG Nobiskrug Shipyards negotiations at "advanced stage"
FSG Nobiskrug shipyards has received several offers from potential investors. These are industry-related companies from Germany, not financial investors.This was reported by the provisional insolvency administrators Dr Christoph Morgen and Hendrik Gittermann at an event in Rendsburg on 17 January. The occasion was the visit of Schleswig-Holstein's Prime Minister Daniel Guenther and State Minister of…
Baltic Index logs second straight weekly drop
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, hit a one-week low on Friday and marked a second straight weekly fall as rates across all segments weakened.The index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, slipped 36 points at 987 points, its lowest level since Jan. 9. It was down 5.8% for the week.The capesize index fell 89 points to a one-week low of 1,393 points and lost 3.8% this week.
Sanmar to Build Fully Electric Tug
Sanmar has signed a contract with major towage and marine services provider Svitzer to build a fully electric tug to be deployed in Scandinavia to provide services between Denmark and Sweden.The Denmark-headquartered global operator has ordered a new ASD, 1,818 kWh, 70-ton bollard pull, tugboat based on the exclusive-to-Sanmar ElectRA 2500-SX design from Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd.Measuring 25.4m LOA…
Industry Executives: Red Sea too risky even after Gaza ceasefire
Companies transporting their products around the world are not ready to return to the Red Sea trade route in the wake of a Gaza ceasefire deal because of uncertainty over whether Yemen's Houthis will continue to attack shipping, industry executives said.The leader of Yemen's Houthis said on Thursday that the Iran-aligned group would monitor the implementation of a ceasefire deal between Israel and…
Philippine Navy Drills Near Scarborough Shoal
The Philippine navy said on Friday its ships were holding drills near a contested shoal in the South China Sea, a day after Manila and Beijing agreed to seek common ground and find ways to cooperate despite ongoing disputes.The exercise around the Scarborough shoal, one of Asia's most hotly contested areas, was aimed at enhancing the navy's capability to secure what it said were Philippine waters and the country's territorial integrity…
