MARTAC, Mystic Powerboats to Expand ASV Production Capacity
Maritime Tactical Systems, Inc. (MARTAC), a provider of autonomous unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), and Mystic Power boats, a leader in high-performance composite vessel construction, announced a co-production partnership to increase MARTAC’s domestic production capacity to meet growing requirements from U.S. and allied customers.MARTAC’s partnership with Mystic is the first of several pending domestic…
ABS: Rising Complexities Demand New Approach to Tech Adoption
“Access to innovation is no longer enough. Competitive advantage will be defined by how effectively we turn technology into safe, reliable performance at sea," said John McDonald, ABS Chairman and CEO at Capital Link at the start of Posidonia, as he set out the urgent need to close the gap between rapid technological advancement and real-world performance.He highlighted the increasingly complex operating environment facing shipping…
Sullivan Street Partners, Ancora Group Acquire Red7Marine
Sullivan Street Partners, a UK-based private equity firm specializing in mid-market buy-outs, announced that its portfolio company Ancora Group, an integrated group of marine contractors delivering infrastructure and coastal defense solutions across the UK, has completed the acquisition of Red7Marine, a UK marine infrastructure and engineering work specialist.This is Ancora Group’s first acquisition since it was acquired by Sullivan Street in March 2025…
Inchcape Shipping Launches NVOCC Service in the United States
Inchcape Shipping Services announced the launch of its new Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) service in the United States. The launch follows the company's receipt of an Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) license from the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), authorizing Inchcape Shipping Services to operate as a licensed NVOCC for cargo moving to and from the US. The new service marks an expansion of Inchcape Shipping Services' capabilities…
Wind-Powered Cargo Ships Pass the 100-Vessel Milestone
The latest installations of wind propulsion technology on large commercial vessels have pushed the global fleet of cargo ships capable of harnessing wind energy beyond the 100-vessel milestone, representing over five million tons of deadweight (DWT) cargo carrying capacity.The passing of this milestone marks a turning point in the uptake of wind propulsion in the commercial fleet. What was once widely…
Sanmar Shipyards Wins Orders for 10-Tugboats
Sanmar Shipyards won new build contracts for up to 10 tugboats, a milestone agreement that coincide with the shipbuilder's 50th anniversary.The contracts include fleet expansions for long-standing partners SAAM Towage and HAISEA Marine, as well as a landmark inaugural agreement with FAIRPLAY TOWAGE GROUP.On Wednesday, May 20, Sanmar formalized a new agreement with long-term partner SAAM Towage for five new vessels: four RAmparts 2400SX-MKIl tugboats and one RAstar 2900SX tugboat.
Methanol-Capable Container Ship Delivered to Mærsk
Tema Mærsk, powered by its X82DF-M/E multi-fuel engine platform with methanol capability and inherent compatibility with ethanol, was delivered to A.P. Moller - Maersk (Maersk). The naming ceremony took place at Yangzijiang Shipbuilding in China, attended by WinGD’s Chief Executive Officer Dominik Schneiter and Vice President Market Development Benny Hilström.The Danish container giant ordered WinGD’s X-DF-M dual fuel engines for a series of six 9,000 TEU container vessels in March 2023.
Seven Firms Advance in US Navy’s Medium USV Program
The U.S. Department of the Navy has selected seven companies to advance to the at-sea testing phase of its Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) marketplace initiative.The companies selected for the MUSV Family of Systems development program are Sea Machines, Leidos, Saronic Technologies, Galliano Marine Services, PacMar Technologies, Birdon, and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII).The Navy said companies…
Berg Propulsion, Stone Marine Formalize UK, Ireland Support Collaboration
Berg Propulsion has signed a formal partnership agreement with Scotland-based Stone Marine Services (SMS) to expand service and support capabilities across the UK and Ireland.The non-exclusive agreement formalizes a long-standing relationship between the two companies and is aimed at strengthening support for Berg's existing customer base while supporting growth in the region.Under the agreement, Stone Marine will provide service and support for Berg’s propulsion systems in the UK and Ireland.
French Navy Boards Suspected Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker in Atlantic
France's navy has intercepted a sanctioned tanker linked to the Russian oil trade in the Atlantic Ocean and ordered the vessel to head for the French mainland, in a move Russia said was illegal and bordered on "international piracy".French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday posted a video on X showing commandos rappelling from helicopters onto the Tagor, during an operation that occurred the previous day in international waters 400 miles (740 km) west of Brittany.The tanker…
Oil Jumps Over 3% After US-Iran Exchange Attacks
Oil prices rose more than 3% on Monday after Iran and the U.S. traded strikes and Israel ordered troops to move further into Lebanon in its battle with Tehran-backed Hezbollah.U.S. crude futures CLc1 rose $2.88 or 3.3% to $90.24 a barrel as of 0701 GMT. Brent LCOc1 futures rose $2.78 or 3.05% to $93.9 a barrel.The fighting, after Washington hosted Israel-Lebanon peace talks on Friday, dimmed hopes that the U.S.
ABF Seizes Cocaine Concealed in RoRo Cargo
The Australian Border Force has seized 34kg cocaine concealed within a luxury bus in Fremantle, Western Australia.ABF officers examined a roll-on/roll-off vessel on May 6, using a combination of targeted intelligence, physical search, detector dogs and advanced technology.During the inspection, officers located approximately 30 packages concealed in the roof cavity of a bus.Presumptive testing returned a positive result for cocaine…
Australian Commissions HMAS Eyre
The Royal Australian Navy commissioned HMAS Eyre into the fleet in a ceremony at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia.HMAS Eyre is the second of six planned Arafura class offshore patrol vessels (OPV) to enter service, following the commissioning of sister ship HMAS Arafura last year.The 80-metre long Arafura class OPVs will help patrol and secure Australia’s maritime border alongside the Evolved Cape class patrol boats.
Seasats Completes First Autonomous Transit of the Taiwan Strait
Seasats today announced that a Lightfish uncrewed surface vessel (USV) has completed the first autonomous transit of the Taiwan Strait, a contested waterway separating Taiwan and mainland China.The vessel was deployed by Seasats from hundreds of miles away, and traversed the full length of the strait over five days while continuously monitoring surface vessel traffic. The Lightfish encountered multiple Chinese warships…
Damen Delivers Landing Utility Vessel to Blueshell Mussels
On April 20, Damen Shipyards Group signed a contract with Blueshell Mussels for the delivery of a Landing Utility Vessel (LUV) 2208. The vessel, named Bountiful, is supporting the company’s mussel harvesting operation in the Shetland Islands off the north coast of Scotland.Blueshell Mussels is a family-owned business located in Brae, on the island of Mainland. The company approached Damen when they…
Saronic’s Marauder Enters On-Water Trials
Saronic has launched its first Marauder Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV), designed to deliver dual-use autonomous capability far from shore across the full range of defense and commercial applications.Marauder is built for the kinds of sustained, long-range missions that place the greatest demands on any maritime vessel and present the greatest risks to any crew. Operating fully autonomously or under remote human supervision…
AUKUS to Develop UUVs, Delivery Set for 2027
The United States, Britain and Australia are working together to develop unmanned undersea vehicles as part of their trilateral AUKUS defence pact, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told reporters on Saturday.AUKUS said in a joint statement that delivery of the vehicles will start in 2027.The program will improve the three nations' reconnaissance and strike capabilities, "and bolster superiority in anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare…
China Patrols Scarborough Shoal After Philippines Warns of Threat
China's military and coast guard said they carried out patrols near disputed waters in the South China Sea on Sunday, a day after the Philippines said it remained under threat from Beijing despite a recent easing in U.S.-China tensions.Philippine and U.S. forces held a five-day maritime exercise in the same waters last week near the Scarborough Shoal, the third such drill this year, to strengthen interoperability and maritime security…
US Military Says it Fired Missile into Engine Room of Blockade Runner
The U.S. military says it fired a missile into the engine room of a vessel trying to get through the U.S. blockade of Iran on Friday.In a statement on Saturday, U.S. Central Command said it fired a Hellfire missile into the engine room of the Gambia-flagged Lian Star as it was "transiting international waters toward an Iranian port on the Gulf of Oman."Before the attack, U.S. forces issued "more than 20 warnings" informing the vessel it was in violation of the U.S.
Oil Prices Fall on Hopes of a US-Iran Ceasefire
Oil futures fell more than 2% on Friday, closing out their steepest weekly decline since early April as traders awaited word that the U.S., Israel and Iran had reached agreement on a ceasefire.Brent crude futures for July, which expired on Friday, settled at $92.05 a barrel, down $1.66, or 1.8%. WTI U.S. oil futures Reutersfinished at $87.36 a barrel, down $1.54 or 1.7%."Obviously, the market thinks the ceasefire will be all easy-peasy and is done and dusted…
