Maersk rules out early return to Gulf of Aden
Maersk will continue to divert vessels away from the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea and toward the southern tip of Africa despite Yemen's Houthis announcing they will curb their attacks on ships, the container shipping giant said on Friday.The Danish shipping company said the announcement by the Iran-backed militant group was "a very welcome step in the right direction towards stability and eventual normality for the global shipping industry".However…
Third Straight Weekly Loss for Baltic Index
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, fell on Friday and posted its third straight weekly loss, weighed down by weaker rates across vessel types.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, dropped 46 points to 778 points, its lowest level since February 2023. The index was down over 21% for the week.The capesize index slipped 98 points to 983 points…
Baker Hughes: US oil & gas rig count at lowest since Dec 2021
U.S. energy firms this week cut the number of oil and natural gas rigs operating for a third week in a row to the lowest since December 2021, energy services firm Baker Hughes BKR.O said in its closely followed report on Friday.The oil and gas rig count, an early indicator of future output, fell by four to 576 in the week to Jan. 24. RIG-USA-BHI, RIG-OL-USA-BHI, RIG-GS-USA-BHIBaker Hughes said this week's decline puts the total rig count down 45…
Solstad Offshore Scoops Multiple Vessel Contracts
Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Offshore has secured contracts with undisclosed clients for three of its offshore support vessels.The vessels that have been hired are Normand Jarstein, Normand Australis, and Normand Scorpion.Normand Jarstein construction support vessel (CSV) has been awarded a 135 days firm plus option contract for providing subsea support and services, partnering with Omega Subsea.
DNV, HMD, KSOE Join Forces for Electric Propulsion Digital Test Standards
DNV has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with HD Hyundai Mipo (HMD) and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) to collaborate on developing new standards for using digital twins to test electric propulsion systems.The collaborative project aims to resolve issues related to the integration of highly complex vessel systems for electric propulsion. Utilizing hardware in the loop…
Sulmara Assists Fuel Recovery Op from Typhoon-Struck Cargo Ship
Scottish subsea specialist Sulmara has supported a major fuel recovery operation from typhoon-struck cargo ship in shallow waters off Taiwan.At the request of the Taiwanese government, Sulmara mobilized a WAM-V 16 uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) and a team of survey specialists to assist in the emergency fuel recovery operation for the heavy transport vessel, Yu Zhou Qi Hang.The operation was launched…
USACE Turns 250
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is highlighting it 250 years of service to the nation by celebrating its birthday throughout 2025. USACE was established on June 16, 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized the first Chief Engineer to oversee the construction of fortifications and other military infrastructure.Over the centuries, USACE has been at the forefront of engineering excellence…
Iranian Military Exercise Causes Commercial Vessel VHF Challenges, says UKMTO
Vessels in the northern Gulf have received multiple VHF radio challenges, including demands to alter course, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said on Friday, adding they could be part of an Iranian military exercise.The UKMTO, which monitors marine security in the region, advised seafarers that vessels near Iranian waters may experience such VHF hailing during the Islamic Revolutionary…
Rolls-Royce banks $11B Deal to power UK Nuclear Subs
Britain said on Friday it had awarded Rolls-Royce RR.L a $11 billion eight-year contract to design, make and support the nuclear reactors that power its fleet of submarines, amid U.S. calls for higher defence spending.The deal will strengthen the Royal Navy's continuous at-sea deterrent - under which at least one nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine patrols the seas at all times - while also boosting the AUKUS defence pact with the United States and Australia…
VIDEO: AIRCAT Crewliner takes Shape to Service Offshore for TotalEnergies Angola
AIRCAT Vessels, in collaboration with ESNA, delivered the first three AIRCAT 35 Crewliners, a 35-m Surface Effect Ship (SES) technology vessel that can reach speeds of more than 50 knots even in challenging maritime conditions.Each vessel has a capacity of 80 passengers with a cabin designed to business class standards. In addition, two operational modes have been integrated to help ensure comfort: The Motion Control System (MCS)…
WinGD’s New Ammonia-Fueled Engine Passes Initial Trials
Swiss marine power company WinGD has conducted early testing of its new X-DF-A ammonia-fueled engine design, proving that the key parameters are in line with expectations.A 52-bore single-cylinder version of the X-DF-A engine is running at the company’s Engine Research and Innovation Centre (ERIC) in Winterthur, with final validation to be completed in time for the first engine deliveries in June 2025.Single…
MOL Picks Up Long-Term Charter for Three VLECs with Thai Firm
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has signed a long-term charter contract for three newbuilding very large ethane carriers (VLECs) with SCG Chemicals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Thailand's Siam Cement Group (SCG).The 100,000 m3 VLECs, spanning 230 meters in lengths and with breadths of 36.6 meters, will be built at Samsung Heavy Industries, and are scheduled for delivery in 2027.The vessels will be equipped with dual-fuel ethane propulsion engines…
Acceptance Test Completed for Powerful Dual-Fuel 4-Stroke Engine
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries - Engine and Machinery has completed the factory acceptance test (FAT) of the world’s first H54DF HiMSEN engine at HD Hyundai Engine in South Korea.The 6-cylinder H54DF engine is a dual-fuel engine capable of running on both natural gas and diesel, with a power output of around 12,000 horsepower. It boasts the highest power output per cylinder among 4-stroke engines worldwide.
Carbon Intensive Ships Face Supply and Demand Risks
A rapid transition could lead to premature scrapping of over a third of the global fleet, valued at over $400 billion, unless the vessels undergo costly retrofits to remain competitive, according to a new report from UCL's Energy Institute Shipping and Oceans Research Group.The report assesses the financial risks to the shipping industry from stranded assets due to stricter GHG regulations, due for adoption at IMO this year…
Doomscrolling
This week at MarineLink…The term doomscrolling was one of the Oxford English Dictionary's words of the year in 2020.“the action of constantly scrolling through and reading depressing news on a news site or on social media, especially on a phone”It rose to prominence during the pandemic, but today’s social, political and economic unrest keeps it current.The behavior is rooted in the part of the brain…
HX Expeditions Debuts New York to Greenland Tour
HX Expeditions (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions) is launching the first-ever cruises from New York to Greenland: a roundtrip from Newark Liberty International Airport.Starting on June 21, 2025, Greenland’s National Day and the summer solstice, the itineraries feature dedicated flight allocations on United Airlines’ direct route to Nuuk.Crafted with Greenlandic communities, they provide authentic access to Greenland’s west coast aboard the hybrid-powered MS Fridtjof Nansen…
IACS Introduces Recommendations to Enhance Safety of Surveyors
The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) has published guidelines on safety standards for class surveyors work, Rec. 184.Highlights of the guidelines include:Comprehensive Risk Management: The document provides guidance for surveyors to exercise appropriate risk assessment and situational awareness prior to commencing work for prevention of accidents, near-misses, injury or…
DP World: Freight Rates could fall 20% if Red Sea attacks curbed
Ships not linked to Israel could begin returning to the Red Sea in as little as two weeks, DP World's deputy chief executive said, adding that could see freight prices "come crashing down".Sea freight prices could drop "at least 20%, 25%" and that could happen over two to three months, Yuvraj Narayan told Reuters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum meeting taking place in Davos, Switzerland.It is hard to predict a specific timeline…
Naval Fleets power Vestdavit's record 2024 sales
Vestdavit has achieved a new sales record for the third successive year as its order intake hit an all-time high of Nkr380m in 2024, fueled by increased davit orders from its core naval market as well as the offshore energy sector.“It has been another fantastic year. The significant orders boost was achieved despite a transition in our Sales & Marketing department that saw us start the year with an almost entirely new sales team…
Baltic index extends fall to 23-month low
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index .BADI, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, extended losses to a 23-month low on Thursday, dragged by weaker rates across all vessel segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, dropped 69 points to 824 points, hitting its lowest since February 2023.The capesize index slipped 155 points to 1,081 points, dropping to over five-week low.
