Hapag-Lloyd Cites Geopolitical Uncertainty, Lowers 2025 Earnings Forecast
Container shipping company Hapag-Lloyd reported a 3.1% decline in first-half net income on Thursday and lowered the top end of its full-year earnings forecast, largely due to uncertainty over geopolitical issues and U.S. trade policy.The world's fifth-largest shipping firm projected full-year earnings before interest and taxes ranging between 200 million euros and 1.1 billion euros, compared with a previously expected range of breakeven to 1.5 billion euros.Frequent changes in U.S.
Nigeria Increases US Crude Imports
During the first seven months of 2025, Nigeria’s seaborne imports of clean petroleum products (CPP) declined by 39% compared to the same period in 2024, reaching 230 thousand barrels per day (kbpd). The decrease follows a 19% reduction during 2024.The reduction in imports is due to the start of operations at the 650 kbpd capacity Dangote refinery early last year. By June 2025, the refinery’s output had reached 550 kbpd…
Norwegian Divers Sentenced Over Thwarted Cocaine Plot
Two Norwegian nationals have been jailed in Australia for attempting to possess 80kg of cocaine smuggled in as a parasitic attachment on the hull of a bulk carrier.A man, 53, was sentenced by the Newcastle District Court to nine years’ and 11 months’ imprisonment, with a non-parole period of four years and 11 months.His accomplice, 35, was sentenced by the same court to 10 years’ and two months’ imprisonment…
Van Oord Completes First Bio-LNG fuel Bunkering
Van Oord’s trailing suction hopper dredger Vox Ariane has completed its first bunkering of Bio-LNG on the Elbe in Germany.As the first marine contractor to have its climate targets approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), Van Oord is actively investing in decarbonization solutions. Transitioning to alternative fuels such as Bio-LNG is a key part of the strategy.Bio-LNG is produced from sustainable biobased feedstocks, including municipal organic waste and agricultural residues.
26 Die in Migrant Shipwreck Off Italian Island
At least 26 people died in a migrant shipwreck off the southern Italian island of Lampedusa on Wednesday and 60 were brought ashore, the coastguard said, adding that the death toll was still provisional amid ongoing search operations.The disaster, in this case involving people travelling from Libya, is the latest to befall migrants making the perilous Mediterranean crossing from Africa to Europe.An…
TAMSEN MARITIM Fisheries Patrol Boat For Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania Christened
The new fisheries surveillance vessel (FAB) built and delivered by the TAMSEN MARITIM shipyard in Rostock-Gehlsdorf for the State Office for Agriculture, Food Safety and Fisheries of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (LALLF) was christened “Goldbutt” on August 7, 2025, in Sassnitz's city harbor. For TAMSEN MARITIM, this is the first new build commissioned by the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Shadow Tanker Fleet Growth Slows as Sanctions Target Russian Oil
Dozens of tankers have joined the shadow fleet this year compared with hundreds in previous years as the harshest Western sanctions yet target Russia's oil exports and add to the difficulty of finding suitable vessels, shipping sources said.The European Union and Britain last month imposed further sanctions on Russia over its war in Ukraine.Together with U.S. restrictions, they mean more than 440 shadow fleet tankers face sanctions…
Colonna’s Shipyard: Forged in Steel, Anchored in Legacy
Colonna’s Shipyard is a fifth-generation, family-owned medium-sized shipbuilder, led by Randall Crutchfield, Chairman & CEO, today. Founded in 1875 by 26-year-old ship carpenter Charles J. Colonna with a $2,000 loan from his brother, he founded a company that has not only withstood the test of time, but today stands ready as a multi-faceted ‘blue collar industrial complex’ to help in the effort to effectively rebuild the U.S. shipbuilding base, and more specifically to help rebuild the U.S.
Saipem Marks First Steel Cut for Tangguh UCC Project at Karimun Yard
The First Steel Cutting ceremony took place at Saipem’s Karimun fabrication yard, marking the official start of construction activities for the Tangguh UCC project, awarded by bp Indonesia.The event was attended by representatives of the client, local and national government bodies, together with key members of Saipem’s management team gathered to celebrate this significant milestone achievement.The Tangguh UCC project…
Pure Battery Harbor Tug Project Launches in Japan
Tokyo Kisen Co., Ltd. and Marindows Inc. launched Japan’s first pure battery-powered EV harbor tugboat development project.This EV harbor tugboat will be operated in the ports of Yokohama and Kawasaki.In January 2023, Tokyo Kisen put into service “TAIGA” which was the Japan’s first series-hybrid electric-powered tugboat equipped with a large-capacity 2,486 kWh battery. Building on two and a half years of operating experience with electric-powered tugs…
Baltic Index Tumbles as Big Ship Rates Fall
The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which measures rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, edged lower on Tuesday, as rates declined across capesize and panamax vessel segments.* The main index, which tracks rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, fell 21 points, or 1%, to 2,017 points.* The capesize index was down 56 points, or 1.7%, at 3,261.* Average daily earnings for capesize vessels…
China, US Trade Barbs over U.S. Destroyer Passage near Scarborough Shoal
China's military said on Wednesday it monitored and "drove away" a U.S. destroyer that sailed near the disputed Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, while the U.S. Navy said its action was in line with international law.The first known U.S. military operation in at least six years within the shoal's waters came a day after the Philippines accused Chinese vessels of "dangerous manoeuvres and unlawful interference" during a supply mission around the atoll.In a statement…
ASRY Launches Two Bunker Vessels for Bapco Refining
The Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (ASRY) launched a pair of bunker vessels for Bapco Refining, a subsidiary of Bapco Energies, at a ceremony held on Monday, attended by ASRY Chief Executive Officer Dr Ahmed Al Abri, Bapco Refining Deputy Chief Executive Officer Ms. Afaf Zainalabedin, and senior representatives from both companies.The event featured the formal launch, with both vessels lowered into the water for the first time…
Tsuneishi Shipbuilding Welcomes Trainees from Timor-Leste
Tsuneishi Shipbuilding has welcomed 11 technical intern trainees from the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste.This initiative follows the agreement signed in January 2024 at the request of the Government of Timor-Leste, aimed at fostering international cooperation and promoting the global development of the shipbuilding industry.This second group comprises nine welding (semiautomatic welding) trainees…
Report: High-Frequency Data Boosts Maintenance Outcomes
Machinery failure is one of the leading causes of accidents at sea, and a new study shows that smarter, real-time monitoring could significantly reduce the risk. According to From Data to Action, a report on the topic of high-frequency data supported by Danelec and published by Thetius, predictive maintenance enabled by live sensor streams can address the root cause behind 35% of total vessel losses over the past decade.The report notes that since 2014…
Pole Star Global Acquires Clearwater Dynamics
UK maritime intelligence company Pole Star Global has acquired Clearwater Dynamics, a UK-based real-time maritime risk intelligence provider and creator of Coral — a platform for managing marine insurance risk.The acquisition strengthens Pole Star’s position in maritime domain awareness, combining Clearwater’s capabilities in real-time vessel risk monitoring and marine insurance with Pole Star’s expertise in regulatory compliance…
Fairbanks Morse Defense Awarded U.S. Coast Guard Valve Contract
Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD) has secured a contract from Birdon to supply key fluid control components for the U.S. Coast Guard’s Waterways Commerce Cutter (WCC) program. The company will deliver motor-operated valves for the first two vessels.The WCC program is a major modernization effort to replace the Coast Guard’s decades-old fleet of inland buoy and construction tenders. These vessels are responsible for maintaining more than 28…
First Tanker Docks at Venezuela After New U.S. License
A Chevron-chartered tanker docked at Venezuelan state company PDVSA's Jose terminal on Tuesday, positioning it to be the first to export crude to the United States under a new license Chevron received in July, LSEG tracking data showed.The U.S. Treasury Department late last month authorized Chevron to operate in the sanctioned OPEC nation again, export its oil and do swaps with PDVSA through a restricted…
U.S. Threatens IMO Members
The U.S. on Tuesday rejected the "Net-Zero Framework" proposal by the IMO, which is aimed at reducing global greenhouse gas emissions from the international shipping sector, and threatened measures against countries that support it.The announcement, made in a joint statement by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy…
Iraq Frees Oil Tanker After Court Order
A Liberian-flagged oil tanker that had been detained by Iraq's navy has been released and is en route to the United Arab Emirates, two sources familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.The vessel, which had been identified by authorities and shipping sources as the Liliana tanker, was carrying 93,000 metric tons of fuel oil when it was intercepted last week, 26 nautical miles from Iraq's coast near Basra's oil terminal.The ship was released after a court order, according to one of the sources and
