CJC appoints Law, Jackson as new directors
Campbell Johnston Clark (CJC) has announced that Kate Law and Neil Jackson have become directors in the international maritime law firm with effect from 1 January 2025.Bringing the number of CJC partners to 22, across offices in London, Newcastle, Singapore and Miami, the appointments exemplify the company’s commitment to promoting from within. Now one of the leading firms focusing solely on maritime law and celebrating 15 years of practice this year…
ABYC names Board Members, Award Recipients
The American Boat & Yacht Council (ABYC) welcomed new board members and honored industry leaders at its annual meeting on Jan. 6 in San Antonio, Texas. The event marked the official start of ABYC Standards Week, where experts across the marine industry gather to review and update safety standards for the design, construction, and repair of recreational boats.ABYC Board Chair Jeff Wasil and President…
NUWC Employee Shares Family Legacy with USS Fort Lauderdale
When the USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD 28) docked at Naval Station Newport in Rhode Island from Nov. 21-24, it was especially meaningful for a Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport employee whose family name is linked to the ship’s name.John Lauderdale, a resident of New London, Connecticut, serves in Division Newport’s Undersea Warfare Electromagnetic Systems Department as principal for safety for electronic warfare…
Exail sells first DriX O-16 Transoceanic USV
Exail announced the first sale of its DriX O-16, a transoceanic Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV). Designed for long-range maritime operations, it has been acquired by an Indo-Pacific customer operating in the civil sector.Equipped with advanced sensors, including a full-depth Multibeam Echosounder, the DriX O-16 enables operators to collect precise data for hydrographic, geophysical, and environmental missions.
USCG RADM Timme (Ret.) Joins OMSA as Senior Advisor
The Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) announced that Rear Admiral Richard V. Timme, U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.), has joined OMSA as a Senior Advisor.This appointment underscores OMSA’s longstanding commitment to working collaboratively with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and other regulatory agencies to develop practical, common-sense solutions that enhance the safety and security of the U.S. maritime…
Clarksons 2024 Global Shipbuilding Review Released
Clarksons Research have released their latest annual review of shipbuilding markets, including full year 2024 data points, tracking key developments across a strong year for the shipbuilding industry.Summarising the annual review, Steve Gordon, Global Head of Clarksons Research, commented: "With the largest order intake in 17 years, 2024 was an incredibly active year for the global shipbuilding industry with contracts totalling 66m CGT and $204bn placed.
AES Acquires CWind from Inspirit Capital
All Energies Services Group (AES Group) has announced the acquisition of CWind Ltd, a market provider of offshore wind services, from private equity firm Inspirit Capital.This strategic acquisition marks a significant milestone in AES Group's mission to expand its footprint in the renewable energy sector and reinforces its commitment to driving the global transition to clean energy.Founded in 2010…
All Segments Decline as Baltic Index Sags
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, dipped to a more-than-17-month low on Wednesday, hurt by falling rates across all vessel segments.The index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, lost 49 points to 966 points, its lowest since late July 2023. The capesize index was down 118 points to 1,100 points.
New Line Handlers for SAAM Vancouver Fleet
The new line handlers joining SAAM Towage Canada's fleet were unloaded from the MV Jumbo at the Port of Vancouver on January 6th after completing their journey from Hong Kong.“These multipurpose vessels play a key role in berthing and unberthing vessels by transferring mooring lines from the ships being assisted to crews on the ground. They also assist with emergencies, rescuing people from the water and scanning for incipient changes in weather…
Great Lakes 2024 Iron Ore Trade Dips 2.5 PCT
Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 4.6 million tons in December, a decrease of 4.5 percent compared to a year ago. Shipments were just slightly above the 5-year average for the month.The year-end total for the iron ore trade stands at 49.8 million tons, a decrease of 2.5 percent compared to 2023.Compared to the trade’s 5-year average, 2024 iron ore loadings were up 3.8 percent.Since 1880…
New Zealand Ports Order Damen’s Dredger
Damen Shipyards Group has signed a contract with Port Otago and its partner Napier Port for the delivery of a Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD) 1000.At nearly 60 meters in length, the dredger has a maximum hopper volume of 1000m3 with twin azimuth thrusters and bow thruster to ensure appropriate maneuverability in the long entrance to Port Chalmers and Dunedin.The TSHD will arrive in New Zealand with a Green Passport under the IMO rules…
SEA-CARE Team to Tackle Maritime Safety Challenges Via Improved Data Sharing
Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, supported by Maritime London, have established SEA-CARE as a new industry working group whose goal is to scrutinize maritime safety and how pooling information can improve it.The new working group, comprised of stakeholders from industry, regulators, and the UK government, establishes Maritime London as an impartial broker to ensure that the right organizations are represented in SEA-CARE discussions between Inmarsat and industry stakeholders.Jos Standerwick…
Van Oord Takes Delivery of Giant Offshore Installation Vessel Boreas
A brand-new offshore installation vessel Boreas has been handed over to Van Oord during a festive ceremony at the Yantai CIMC Raffles Offshore shipyard in China.The Boreas, named after the Greek god of the Northern winds, is purpose-built for the transport and installation of the next generation of foundations and turbines at offshore wind farms.The vessel will be the largest of its kind once operational…
DeepOcean Adds High-Spec Subsea Vessel to Its Fleet
Ocean services provider DeepOcean has signed a charter contract for the high-spec subsea vessel Orient Adventurer.The new capacity aligns with the company’s service offerings and subsea capabilities across both the offshore renewables and conventional energy sectors in multiple regions.Under a new contract with Dong Fang Offshore (DFO), DeepOcean will take on the Orient Adventurer as part of its fleet…
Shipbuilding: Container Ship Order Book Soars to New Heights
“At the end of 2024, the container ship order book was 8.3m TEU, a new record compared with the previous high of 7.8m TEU in early 2023,” says Niels Rasmussen, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.As 4.4m TEU were contracted during 2024, the second highest ever, the order book grew despite deliveries hitting a new record high of 2.9m TEU.“Making up 92% of the order book capacity, ships 8k TEU or larger dominate the order book.
Vessel in Baltic Cable Cut Case "Has Serious Deficiencies", says Finland
Finland's public transport agency said that an oil tanker suspected of damaging undersea cables in the Baltic Sea was found to have serious deficiencies and will not be allowed to operate until repairs have been made.Baltic Sea nations are on high alert after a string of power cable, telecom link and gas pipeline outages since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. The NATO military alliance has said it will boost its presence in the region.Finnish police on Dec.
COSCO Shipping Responds to Sanctions Listing
The U.S. Department of Defense released on the Federal Register on January 7, 2025 a "Notice of Chinese military companies operating in the United States." A trio of prominent maritime companies Cosco Shipping Holdings Co.; China State Shipbuilding Corp. and China Shipbuilding Trading Co. made the list, as "the Deputy Secretary of Defense has determined that the entities listed ... qualify as “Chinese military companies” in accordance with the William M.
Information Sharing Platform Helps EU Tackle Smuggling
EU-funded researchers have been working to optimize a common platform that makes sharing information among different maritime authorities much easier.On 1 July 2024, the EU’s Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE) became operational in a project coordinated by Isto Matilla, an expert in maritime security and information sharing at Laurea University of Applied Sciences in Finland.A hypothetical scenario: A container ship sailing at night through the Baltic Sea…
Japanese Leaders Reflect on “The Year of the Snake”
In his New Year’s greetings, NYK President Takaya Soga reflected on the disasters of 2024 and looked forward to change in 2025.“This year is the Year of the Snake, and when combining the 12 zodiac signs with the 10 heavenly stems, it is referred to as ‘Kinotomi.’ The Year of the Snake symbolizes regeneration and change, inspired by the image of the snake shedding its skin,” said Soga. “The stem “Ki” also represents flexible growth despite challenges.
Trump Says He Will Revoke Offshore Drilling Ban Immediately
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Tuesday he will move quickly to revoke an offshore oil and gas drilling ban announced by outgoing Democratic President Joe Biden."Banning offshore drilling will not stand. I will reverse it immediately," Trump said at a news conference. He added: "I will revoke the offshore oil, gas drilling ban in vast areas on day one."Republican Trump takes office on Jan.
