Shipbuilding RFP Issued to Build Hydrogen-Hybrid Research Vessel

UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography issued a request for proposals (RFP) to select a shipyard for the final design and construction of its new 163-ft. Coastal Class Research Vessel (CCRV), reportedly the first oceanographic research ship to primarily operate on renewable fuels.The vessel will feature a dual-powered hydrogen fuel cell and diesel-electric propulsion system, capable of conducting 75% of its missions using only liquid hydrogen.
U.S. Shipping Invests $150 Million in Great Lakes Region

With winter in full swing, the U.S.-flagged fleet of Lakers have tied up in ports across the Great Lakes region to perform critical maintenance before the navigational locks in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan reopen on March 25th.Hundreds of skilled shipyard workers will flock to the area to support the nearly $150 million maintenance investment being made on these massive ships. The state receiving the largest amount of work is Ohio with $51.5 million…
US: China's Panama Canal presence "a security concern"

China's presence around the Panama Canal is a national security concern that Panama's government has to deal with, Mauricio Claver-Carone, the U.S. special envoy for Latin America, said on Friday, ahead of U.S. top diplomat Marco Rubio's visit to the country.Rubio will depart on Saturday on his first foreign trip, with a scheduled visit to the canal and a meeting with Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino…
Maersk to launch its new ocean network

On February 1, Maersk A/S (Maersk), an entity under A.P. Moller - Maersk, and Hapag-Lloyd AG (Hapag-Lloyd) launch their operational collaboration Gemini Cooperation. The ambition is to deliver a flexible and interconnected ocean network with industry-leading schedule reliability above 90 percent once fully phased in.Around 340 vessels will be phased in and be a part of Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd’s shared ocean network with the first sailings taking place on February 1…
InterManager Elects von Hardenberg As President

InterManager, the international association for the ship management sector, has elected Sebastian von Hardenberg as President.Sebastian is CEO of Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) and was elected by members of InterManager’s Executive Committee during the association’s Annual General Meeting in London this week.An experienced negotiator, he has lobbied on behalf of InterManager members and the…
Lake Victoria's First Ro/Ro Vessel Sets Sail

East Africa Marine Transport has taken a significant step towards creating a more sustainable and efficient logistics solution for Lake Victoria with the commissioning of M.V. MPUNGU, the lake’s first scheduled roll-on / roll-off freight vessel.Offering faster and safer crossings and reduced carbon emissions, the fuel-efficient vessel is set to transform regional trade by cutting journey times from…
McQuilling Weighs in on 2025-2029 Tanker Outlook

McQuilling Services announced the release of its 28th anniversary edition, 2025-2029 Tanker Market Outlook.This 183-page report provides a detailed analysis of oil fundamentals, global economic and geopolitical context in addition to tanker demand and supply projections across eight vessel classes. The interaction of tanker demand and vessel supply variables is processed using advanced quantitative…
Baltic Index snaps 13-day losing streak

The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, snapped a thirteen-day losing streak on Friday, supported by strong rates across the capesize and panamax vessel segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, gained 20 points to 735 points, recording gains for the first time since Jan. 13. The contract was down 8.1% this week.The capesize index gained 33 points to 874 points.
Xeneta: Ocean Box Rates to Fall Again in February

Middle East ceasefire and Lunar New Year will see ocean container freight rates fall further in February - with carriers now taking action to slow the market decline.Latest data from Xeneta – an ocean and air freight intelligence platform – shows average spot rates from the Far East stand at USD 3 795 per FEU (40ft container) into North Europe and USD 5 085 per FEU into the Mediterranean – down 22%…
Port of Oakland records 2.26 million TEUs in 2024

The Port of Oakland experienced a solid 2024, processing 2.26 million TEUs (twenty-foot containers), representing a 9.5% increase over 2023.The 2024 cargo data reflects a long-term growth trend in consumer spending in the San Francisco Bay Area and in the rest of the country.“Consumer demand has remained resilient, driving higher import volumes through the Port,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director Bryan Brandes.
Norwegian Police Boards Second Ship in Baltic Sea Cable Damage Probe

Norwegian police said on Friday they had seized and boarded a Norwegian ship with an all-Russian crew on suspicion of involvement in causing damage to a telecoms cable in the Baltic Sea, the second vessel to be named by investigators in the case.The Silver Dania cargo ship was seized at the request of Latvian authorities, and with the help of Norway's coast guard, police in the northern Norwegian city…
Germany: Heinrich Rönner and Lürssen Place Their Bids for FSG and Nobiskrug Shipyards

The future of the two insolvent German shipyards, Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft (FSG) and Nobiskrug, looks brighter as Lürssen Group moves to place a formal bid to take over the facilities of the Nobiskrug shipyard, while Heinrich Rönner Group agrees to buy the FSG.The insolvency administrators, Christoph Morgen of Brinkmann & Partner and Hendrik Gittermann of REIMER, said they would accept the offers in the week following the official opening of insolvency proceedings.Lürssen…
Cadeler Takes Delivery of Its Sixth Wind Turbine Installation Vessel

Danish offshore wind installation firm Cadeler has taken delivery its new wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV) Wind Maker, the first of the two planned M-class vessels to join its growing fleet.Wind Maker was officially named at a naming ceremony at the Hanwha Ocean Shipyard in Korea, where the vessel was built.The ceremony, attended by Cadeler executives and key stakeholders, honored the collaborative efforts behind the making of the great vessel.
DEME Finds Work at Nordlicht Offshore Wind Cluster in Germany

DEME has secured two contracts, valued at over $300 million, for the transport and installation of 112 foundations at the Nordlicht 1 and 2 offshore wind farms in Germany, as well as providing scour protection for the projects.DEME will install 68 foundations and scour protection at Nordlicht 1 in 2026, followed by 44 foundations and scour protection at Nordlicht 2 in the following year.Several vessels will be deployed including DEME’s offshore installation vessel Orion…
MAN’s Full-Scale Ammonia Engine Runs at 100% Load

MAN Energy Solutions has reported that its ME-LGIA (Liquid Gas Injection Ammonia) engine, currently undergoing testing at its Research Centre Copenhagen facility, has run at 100% engine load for the first time.Ole Pyndt Hansen, Head of Two-Stroke Research & Development, MAN Energy Solutions, said: “We began full-scale testing in November 2024 and have since proceeded in a cautious and safety-first way.
Wind Propulsion Could Avert Premature Scrapping Crisis

A new report from the UCL Energy Institute has highlighted the looming risk of maritime asset stranding, stating that a rapid energy transition could “lead to ‘premature scrapping’ of over a third of the fleet, valued at over $400 billion, unless they undergo costly retrofits to remain competitive in the wake of new GHG policies and wider energy transition.”The report reveals that existing vessels…
Fifty Countries to Participate in Pakistan’s 2025 Naval Exercise and Dialogue

Pakistan is conducting its ninth AMAN naval exercise and dialogue from February 7-11, 2025, with participants from 50 countries. The aim of AMAN is to promote regional cooperation and stability, greater interoperability and to display a united resolve against terrorism and crimes in the maritime domain, including piracy.The AMAN exercise highlights Pakistan’s naval diplomacy efforts by bringing together naval forces from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)…
The Technology Pathways that Lead to Fuel Cells

In an article by Rhonda Moniz published this week on MarineLink, Siemens sales executive Ed Schwarz noted the flexibility provided by an electric distribution “backbone” that enables ferry operators to add more batteries, switch to new fuels or become 100% emission free with fuel cells.A string of deliveries reported this week demonstrate that steps are being taken along this pathway for a range of…
Germany's Mosel River set to reopen after lock repairs

The Mosel river in western Germany could reopen to cargo shipping later this week as repairs to a damaged lock are making fast progress, navigation authorities said on Monday.The river, an important transit route for grains and rapeseed between Germany and France, was closed to inland waterways shipping in December after an accident which damaged a lock at Mueden south of Koblenz.New lock gates have…
HII Names Murphy as VP at Newport News Shipbuilding

HII announced today that Derek Murphy has been promoted to vice president of new construction aircraft carriers at its Newport News Shipbuilding division.In his new role, Murphy will have responsibility for all new construction aircraft carriers in production at the shipyard, including John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), Enterprise (CVN 80) and Doris Miller (CVN 81).“Derek brings extensive experience from his time in the Navy and both HII shipyards to his new role,” NNS President Kari Wilkinson said.