Hydrogen Engine Partnership Begins Between Belgium and Japan
In a landmark agreement to decarbonize shipping, JPNH₂YDRO, BeHydro, DAIHATSU INFINEARTH and Mizuno Marine entered into a strategic partnership for the introduction of BEH2YDRO INFINEARTH hydrogen engines in Japan, in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium.Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium, His Royal Highness Prince Lorenz, His Excellency Antoine Evrard, Ambassador of Belgium in Tokyo…
Next Geosolutions, Green Yard Kleven Convert Vessel for Subsea Surveys
Next Geosolutions Europe S.p.A., a marine geosciences and offshore construction support services company, and the Norwegian shipyard Green Yard Kleven announced a collaboration agreement for the conversion of the vessel named NG EXPLORER. The vessel will be converted to perform high-spec seabed surveys worldwide.The NG EXPLORER is 58 meters long and 14 metres wide, and has got a draft of 4.5 meters…
Hearing Highlights on Critical Coast Guard Investments and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Members of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, at a hearing today with President Trump’s nominee for Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, highlighted the importance of the historic $21.2 billion investment in the Coast Guard included in the House-passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1).These investments will support the Coast Guard’s missions…
bound4blue Secures DNV Validation for Wind Propulsion Performance Methodology
bound4blue has taken a step forward in simplifying the adoption of wind power worldwide, with DNV validation of its "wind propulsion system force matrix" calculation method. This validation provides shipowners, designers, and yards with a trusted, regulation-ready tool to evaluate the performance of bound4blue’s eSAIL.The validation gives the industry a reliable tool to easily calculate the benefits of bound4blue’s eSAIL suction sail technology, without the need for full-scale testing.
Survitec’s Business Unit Bags $260M Equipment Supply Deal for LNG Vessels
Inert gas specialists Maritime Protection, a brand of global survival technology solutions provider Survitec, has been secured a contract valued o supply dry inert gas systems for 24 LNG carriers being constructed at a major shipyard in China as part of Qatar’s second LNG fleet expansion program.The contract, valued $26 million (€22.7 million), represents the most significant single order in Maritime Protection’s history and includes the delivery of high-capacity dry inert gas generators…
Mother Ship with USV Flotilla Could Boost Coast Guard Capabilities
Researchers from Dalhousie University and the US Naval Postgraduate School presented a concept for an affordable mother ship with a flotilla of uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) capable of providing coast guard services at the ISCRAM2025 Conference (Information Systems for Crisis Response and Management) in Halifax, Canada, last month.The concept could provide a persistent, on-water presence which could assist with search and rescue response…
Ammonia Gets Popularity Boost
Before MEPC83, Höegh Autoliners CEO Andreas Enge had decided to commit to ammonia as the company’s new fuel of choice. Speaking to reporter Charlie Bartlett in the Maritime Reporter Norway Supplement, he said: “Ammonia is more scalable and will be cheaper than methanol, full stop.”He’s not alone in thinking that. A Global Maritime Forum study released this past week indicates that under the parameters principally agreed within the IMO Net Zero Framework at MEPC83…
BIMCO to Develop Clause Addressing US-China Uncertainties
BIMCO has initiated the development of a standard industry clause with the aim to address contractual uncertainties arising from the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) Notice of Actions to impose fees on Chinese-related ships calling US ports.The USTR has announced actions to impose fees on ships calling at US ports which are Chinese-built or have Chinese owners or operators. The actions are part of the USTR’s “Section 301 Investigation of China’s Targeting of the Maritime…
Babcock Secures Contract to Support Nuclear Submarine Defueling
Babcock International Group has been awarded a three-year contract to prepare for the first nuclear defueling of a decommissioned Trafalgar Class submarine in over 20 years. The operations will take place at Babcock’s Devonport facility in Plymouth, marking a significant milestone in the UK’s Submarine Dismantling Project.The £114 million ($155 million) contract from the Ministry of Defence will see…
MPA and NYK Collaborate on Autonomous Ship Technology
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), NYK and MTI Co., have conducted a joint workshop on port-to-port maritime autonomous surface ship (MASS) trials.The MASS trials are testing the interoperability of autonomous vessels with port-based systems, including MPA’s Vessel Traffic Information System, and enable the development of best practices and standards for navigation safety, route planning…
MV Isle of Islay Completes First Sea Trials
The first sea trials for ferry MV Isle of Islay have been carried out successfully by Cemre Marin Endustri in Yalova, Turkey.The trials took place from Thursday 22nd May to Friday 30th May, in the Sea of Marmara, with staff from the Scottish government owned Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) in attendance.The first part of the sea trials saw the set-up of the propulsion systems, generators, thrusters, stabilizers and associated electrical systems.
India Plans to Build Polar Research Vessel
Kongsberg Maritime signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India’s Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) during Nor-Shipping 2025 initiating a collaborative effort to explore the design of India’s first indigenous polar research vessel.The proposed vessel is to support a wide range of scientific missions, including climate research, oceanography and polar logistics. It will incorporate Kongsberg Maritime’s integrated technologies to ensure safe…
GTT and HD HHI to Optimize Membrane Tank Integration
GTT announces the signing of two Joint Development Projects (JDPs) with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), aimed at optimizing membrane-tank integration in LNG carriers to enhance onboard ergonomics and vessels’ operational performance.The two JDPs will focus on the following areas:• Convergent trapezoidal cargo tank No. 11: A forward tank concept of convergent trapezoidal form for LNG carriers, fitted with GTT’s Mark III membrane system.
CEO Seeking to Build Philadelphia LNG Terminal Meets with White House
The CEO of a company seeking to build a liquefied natural gas terminal near Philadelphia told Reuters on Wednesday he met officials at the White House this week to "provide intelligence" about the project in the works for years despite local opposition.Penn America Energy Holdings wants to export 7.2 million tons a year of LNG from a site near Philadelphia to markets in Europe and Asia. Franc James…
Australia Offers Alternative Critical Minerals Supply to China
Australia offers a secure alternative supply for critical minerals vital to industry, its trade minister Don Farrell said on Thursday, in the face of rising concerns about Beijing's dominance of the sector.China's decision in April to suspend exports of a wide range of rare earths and related magnets crucial to sectors ranging from automakers to aerospace and defence was widely seen as Beijing using…
Red Sea Marine Traffic Increases 60% Since August 2024
Red Sea marine traffic has increased by 60% to 36-37 ships a day since August 2024, but is still short of volumes seen before Yemen's Houthis began attacking ships in the region, according to the commander of the EU's Aspides naval mission.The number of merchant ships using the narrow Bab al-Mandab strait increased after missile and drone attacks by the Houthis slowed and the U.S. and the rebel group signed a ceasefire deal…
Vermilion Energy Sells US Assets for $87mil
Vermilion Energy will sell its United States assets for C$120 million ($87.88 million), the Canadian gas producer said on Thursday, using the proceeds to repay debt and completing its exit from the U.S. market.The transaction, expected to close in the third quarter, will allow Vermilion Energy to focus on core gas-weighted assets in Canada and Europe.
Petronas to Cut 10% of Workforce, Denies Exiting Canada
Malaysian state energy firm Petroliam Nasional, or Petronas, will retrench about 10% of its workforce in a restructuring exercise, its chief executive said on Thursday.Tengku Muhammad Taufik also denied at a media briefing that the state firm was exiting its business in Canada.Local media has previously reported Petronas as saying it needed to "rightsize" its workforce to ensure the company's survival in the coming decades.Petronas has nearly 50,000 employees, according to its website.Bloomberg
Obituary: A Personal Reflection on “Shipping Legend” Jim Lawrence
“Shipping is a people business”, so the saying goes. Jim Lawrence, who passed away at the beginning of June, truly embodied that. Certainly, he was a great participant at maritime events. When not up on the podium serving as the moderator, he would be walking around, shaking hands, talking about a particular transaction or development (and, sometimes, the intrigue behind it), along with everything that goes along with networking.
Procurement Launched for Northern Isles Freight Vessels
Procurement is underway for two new freight flex vessels to serve the Aberdeen to Kirkwall/Lerwick Route.The new vessels will replace the Hellier and Hildasay, on the service operated by Serco NorthLink Ferries.The freight flex ferries will provide extra freight capacity and capability for quicker crossings on the routes. They will also have the flexibility to allow space for up to 200 passengers to…
