USDA Projects Record Corn Harvest
U.S. corn futures plunged to contract lows on Tuesday after the Department of Agriculture projected a record-shattering corn harvest this year as farmers planted more acres than expected and the crop faced few weather challenges this summer.Soybeans reversed earlier losses after the USDA, in a monthly crop supply and demand report, forecast a smaller-than-expected U.S. harvest and tighter supplies…
U.S. Shipbuilding Realities and the SL7EXPO
Once again U.S. shipbuilding, or rather the lack thereof, has raised its head. There are those who say that U.S. shipbuilding is a train that has left the station (yes, a purposefully odd but correct metaphor), while others are hoping for a new dawn of U.S. shipbuilding dominance.I know it can be done, but only if there is steel-eyed realism and an iron will to do it.I also know that magazine editors hate lists…
TikTok Attention Spans, Lifelong Lessons: Training in the Age of Distraction
The modern mariner has changed. Today’s crew members may be just as fluent in maritime procedures as they are in memes, video shorts, and social media scrolling. And while that brings tech-savviness and adaptability, it also introduces a very real challenge: shrinking attention spans. In a world of endless distractions and bite-sized content, how do you deliver training that actually sticks?The answer isn’t to fight it, but to embrace it.
The Trust for Governors Island Unveils Hybrid-Electric Ferry
The Trust for Governors Island unveiled its new hybrid-electric ferry, the Harbor Charger, the first of its kind in New York State and aa addition to the Trust’s existing ferry fleet. The arrival of the new boat coincides with the 20-year anniversary of Governors Island opening to the public, as well as major recent progress in its development as a leading destination for climate research and education—marking a significant milestone in its transformation.
Barrere, Hanley, Marino to Receive AOTOS Awards
The United Seamen’s Service (USS) announced that the 56th annual Admiral of the Ocean Sea (AOTOS) Awards will honor three champions of American maritime: Captain Willie Barrere, National President of American Maritime Officers; Edward F. Hanley, Chief Operating Officer of Maersk Line, Limited and Vincent J. Marino, Chief Executive Officer of CMC-ITI-CCS.A Special Recognition plaque will be presented to Edward R. Morgan in honor of his extraordinary leadership as President of USS.
IMO Sec-Gen Dominguez: Maritime Security is a Shared Responsibility
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has called for vigilance and deeper cooperation among Member States and international partners to address growing threats to global maritime security. Speaking at the United Nations Security Council high-level open debate on August 11, chaired by the President of the Republic of Panama H.E. José Raúl Mulino, Mr. Dominguez outlined the risks facing ships and seafarers as they transport billions of tonnes of goods worldwide.
Crowley Vessel Torogoz Makes Maiden Commercial Voyage
Crowley’s latest Avance Class ship, Torogoz, began its inaugural commercial service on Tuesday, departing from Port Everglades, Florida, to serve Central America. The vessel’s commencement is a capstone on the company’s initiation of the four-vessel, Avance Class containership fleet.With a capacity of 1,400 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units), including 300 refrigerated containers, the ship is specifically designed and equipped to quickly and frequently deliver cargo…
South Korea, USA to Hold Summit on Security Alliance and Economy
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump will hold their first summit meeting on August 25 in Washington to discuss strengthening the countries' alliance and economic security partnership, Lee's office said on Tuesday.Lee, who was elected president in a snap election in June, has made it a top priority to help his export-dependent country navigate the dramatic changes in…
Ardmore Snags $350m Revolving Credit Facility
Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) advised a consortium of lenders comprising Nordea Bank Abp, filial i Norge (“Nordea”), acting as facility and security agent, Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken AB, ABN AMRO Bank N.V. and Danske Bank A/S on a US$350m revolving credit facility provided to Ardmore Shipping Corporation (“Ardmore”) to refinance Ardmore’s existing revolving credit facilities and for general corporate purposes.
UK Receives First ROUV Certification; PIONEER Becomes First Vessel to Achieve Compliance
Lloyd’s Register (LR) has issued the UK’s first certification for a remotely operated and unmanned vessel (ROUV) under the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) Workboat Code Edition 3 (WBC3) Annex 2, with hydrogen-powered PIONEER from ACUA Ocean becoming the first vessel to achieve compliance.Introduced by the MCA in December 2023, the WBC3 requirements set out safety and operational standards for ROUVs operating in UK waters.
Chartwell Marine, Pacific Radiance Announce Delivery of CTV for Offshore Wind Industry
Chartwell Marine, a pioneer of next-generation vessel design, announced the delivery of Prosperous 6, a new high-performance crew transfer vessel, as part of a strategic partnership with Pacific Radiance, a leading owner and operator of offshore vessels in APAC.The vessel has already successfully completed sea trials, achieving over 25 knots at 85% engine load, which demonstrates that it is highly fuel-efficient.
Blue Water Announces New CEO
Thomas Bek, who has been with Blue Water for 29 years, is taking over as CEO from Søren Nørgaard Thomsen, who is leaving the transport and logistics group after seven years.There has been significant development at the Danish transport and logistics group since 2018, when Søren Nørgaard Thomsen took over as CEO. Turnover has nearly doubled, earnings have increased, and the number of employees and offices has increased to 2,700 and nearly 80, respectively.
ABB Integrates 3.2MW Fuel Cell on Superyacht
ABB has integrated a 3.2MW fuel cell system onboard Feadship Breakthrough.The vessel was constructed by Dutch high-end yacht builder Feadship. Launched in May 2025, the privately-owned 118.8-meter yacht is among the first vessels in the world to feature multi-megawatt fuel cell technology.ABB’s scope of supply comprised the Onboard DC Grid™ power system platform and two 3.2MW Azipod® electric propulsion units, which minimize noise and vibrations on board.
NYK Designs Reusable Rocket Recovery System
NYK has obtained Approval in Principle (AiP) from ClassNK for the conceptual design of an offshore recovery system for reusable rockets it developed in partnership with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.Rockets are launched by generating thrust through the combustion of fuel and oxidizer. Following launch, the lower stage (first stage) of the rocket separates from the upper stage and falls back to Earth.
Wasaline Hits Carbon Neutrality Mark
Wasaline says it has become the first carbon-neutral shipping company in the Baltic Sea, reaching its original 2030 climate target six years ahead of schedule. The milestone comes as the Finnish-Swedish operator signed a biogas supply contract with Gasum and entered a FuelEU Maritime pooling agreement with Stena Line, enabling its Vaasa–Umeå service to run entirely on biofuels.The agreement makes the route the first international green shipping corridor in operation…
Chinese Vessels Collide During Scarborough Shoal Interference
The Philippines expressed serious concern on Tuesday over what it described as "dangerous manoeuvres and unlawful interference" by Chinese vessels during a coast guard supply mission for Filipino fishermen in the Scarborough Shoal on Monday."Their actions not only posed a grave danger to Philippine personnel and vessels, but also resulted in the unfortunate collision between the two Chinese vessels…
Coast Guard Cutter Earl Cunningham Commissioned
The U.S. Coast Guard commissioned its newest cutter, Coast Guard Cutter Earl Cunningham (WPC 1159), for official entry into its service fleet during a ceremony held in Kodiak, Monday.The Earl Cunningham is the 59th Fast Response Cutter (FRC) in the service and the second of three FRCs scheduled to be homeported at Coast Guard Base Kodiak.The crew of the Cunningham primarily serves in and around the Aleutian Islands, Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska, and North Pacific Ocean.
German CCS Bill Positive News for Norway
The German government has adopted a new bill amending its Carbon Dioxide Storage Act to lay the legal groundwork for the use of carbon capture and storage (CCS), carbon capture and utilization (CCU) and cross-border transport of CO2.The draft law enables the transport, storage and use of CO2. It enables the construction of CO2 storage facilities for commercial use on an industrial scale within the continental shelf and the exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Robert Allan to Design All Electric Tug for Tianjin Port
Robert Allan Ltd. has been awarded a contract to design an AmpRA 3600 tug for Tianjin Port in Northern China.The AmpRA 3600 series tug will be constructed at Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard (Group) Co. Ltd.The order builds on a successful conventional propulsion design for the same owner and shipyard, with two vessels of similar hull form in service.The AmpRA 3600 will have all powering from batteries, with no generator sets onboard…
Robert Allan 2025 Scholarships Awarded
The Trustees of the Robert Allan Memorial Scholarship Trust and Robert Allan Ltd. have awarded five scholarships for the 2025/2026 academic year chosen from a highly competitive pool of well-qualified candidates:Alex Badzio-GeorgeCurrently in his third year studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Victoria.Jade CooperIn her final year of the Ocean and Naval Architectural Engineering Program…
