Starlink Outage Exposes Pentagon’s Growing Reliance on SpaceX
Last August, U.S. Navy officials carrying out a test of unmanned vessels realized they had hit a single point of failure: Starlink. A global outage across Elon Musk’s satellite network affecting millions of Starlink users had left two dozen unmanned surface vessels bobbing off the California coast, disrupting communications and halting operations for almost an hour.The incident, which involved drones intended to bolster U.S.
Nord Stream Blast: Insurers Seeking to Avoid Payout
The Nord Stream gas pipelines were attacked in 2022 as a direct result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, insurers told a London court on Thursday as they seek to avoid paying out nearly 580 million euros ($684 million) over blasts that hit the pipelines.Nord Stream is suing Lloyd's and Arch Insurance over explosions in September 2022 that ruptured pipelines carrying Russian gas under the Baltic Sea…
Panama Canal Downplays Report of “Line Jumping”
The Panama Canal Authority on Thursday downplayed a report that an LPG vessel paid $4 million to jump the transit queue, saying the result reflected temporary market conditions rather than a fee set by the waterway, as the Iran war drives more traffic to the canal."The recent outcome of an auction awarded to an LPG vessel reflects temporary market shifts and is not the result of a rate set by the Panama Canal…
Wind Power and the Charter Party Challenge
This week, wind-assist company BAR Technologies published an article on LinkedIn titled The Charter Party Challenge, the challenge being how do shipowners reap the benefits of installing wind-assist technology when it is the charterer that usually benefits from lower fuel consumption.Even though there’s around 100 vessels now sailing with wind-assist systems, and that number is expected to double over the next 12 months…
Industry Bodies Call for Harmonized Propulsion Control Changeover Rules
CIMAC, One Sea, the Nautical Institute and INTERCARGO have jointly called on the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) to issue a unified interpretation of class rules governing the changeover of propulsion power control (RPM) between the bridge and the engine control room (ECR).The organizations warn that differing interpretations across classification societies and even between individual projects are leading to inconsistent control hierarchies…
OpenBridge Open-Source Code Library Designed to Boost Shipping Safety
A comprehensive open-source code library has been launched for OpenBridge. This design system is engineered to create safer and more efficient workplaces across the international fleet by standardizing how humans interact with maritime technology.The launch marks the transition of OpenBridge from a design guideline to an open-source ready-to-use code library.OpenBridge is uniquely designed to serve all maritime workplaces.
First Two Arctic Security Cutters to be Homeported in Alaska
The U.S. Coast Guard announced that the first two Arctic Security Cutters will be homeported in the State of Alaska. Anticipating delivery of the first Arctic Security Cutters by the end of 2028, the Coast Guard has begun planning to ensure necessary infrastructure and support are in place to receive two icebreakers. Ensuring these vessels are supported by trained and ready crews, and ready homeport facilities including housing…
American Energy LNG Carrier Marks Anniversary with Ops to Puerto Rico
Crowley marked one year of operations of American Energy, the first U.S.-flagged liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier dedicated to serving Puerto Rico. Since its first delivery in March 2025, American Energy has transported more than 2 million cubic meters (approximately 549 million gallons) of U.S.-sourced LNG to Puerto Rico, providing enough energy to power about 1.2 million homes on the island for a year.
The Ocean Map: Illustrated Book Launches for World Ocean Day
To celebrate World Ocean Day 2026, the National Maritime Museum is publishing a new illustrated book, The Ocean Map, and hosting a free festival inviting families to explore the wonders of the ocean.Written by Aimee Mook, ocean expert and Museum curator, the book will be published on June 4, 2026 and presents the ocean as a single, connected system using the Spilhaus projection. It guides readers through deep ocean trenches…
Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp Oil Product Stocks Drop to 12-Year Low
Total oil product stocks held independently in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp refining and storage hub were down 4% on the week to their lowest since 2014, as the war in the Middle East disrupts imports, data from Dutch consultancy Insights Global showed on Thursday.Total stocks stood at 4.72 million metric tons, dropping on declines in naphtha and middle distillate inventories, the data showed. Jet kerosene stocks were down 7.6%…
US Sets Out to Clear Mines from Strait of Hormuz
As the United States embarks on clearing mines from the Strait of Hormuz, it could draw on an arsenal of drones, explosive‑laden robots and helicopters to reduce risks, though de‑mining crews could still be vulnerable to Iranian attacks.The U.S. is trying to secure the strait from mines as part of efforts to end Iran's disruption of shipping, which has severely curbed global energy supplies since the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran at the end of February.But while the U.S.
Germany Looks to Help Secure Hormuz After Hostilities Subside
Germany is in principle ready to help secure transit routes through the Strait of Hormuz after hostilities end, provided there is a mandate, preferably from the United Nations, and German parliamentary approval, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said."We are still a long way from all of that," Merz told reporters a day before talks in Paris that, he said, would also cover whether U.S. armed forces could participate…
Maritime Recruitment “The Brennan Way”
There is not a corner of the U.S. maritime industry that’s not actively searching for the ‘next generation’, young talent that will effectively power a company’s future. For multi-generational, family owned companies like 4th generation family run business J.F. Brennan Company (Brennan), the importance of effective recruitment and retention cannot be understated. For this edition of Maritime Matters: The MarineLink Podcast…
ABS, UNITED WATERWAYS Collaborate on Coastal, Inland Maritime Training
ABS and UNITED WATERWAYS (UW) have signed a letter of intent to establish a joint venture with River Academy, UW’s training and education subsidiary, to support crew competence and qualification across the European inland barge, river cruise and coastal vessel sectors.The collaboration will enhance workforce readiness as European operators navigate evolving safety and decarbonization requirements in cruise, freight, and ferry shipping.
Hahn Appointed VP, Tech Transfer and Strategy at Cellula Robotics
Cellula Robotics has announced the appointment of Colleen Hahn as Vice President, Technology Transfer and Strategy, strengthening the company's senior leadership team as it continues to expand its presence in the United States and advance its global growth strategy.In her new role, Hahn will focus primarily on the United States market while supporting Cellula's wider global strategy through market intelligence…
Zeabuz Secures $4m Funding Round to Support Rapid Deployment, Scaling
Zeabuz AS has secured a USD$4.27 million (NOK 40 million) funding round, led by Grieg Kapital AS, with participation from Eitzen AS and Barclay Holding AS, alongside existing shareholders.The funding represents the company’s largest capital raise to date and comes as 2026 is already shaping up to be the strongest year in Zeabuz’s history, with multiple new contracts secured across both civilian and defense & security applications.
Cyclus Marine Vessel Lifecycle Specialist Joins Wilhelmsen Ship Management
Cyclus Marine, the newest company under Wilhelmsen Ship Management, brings together specialist technical capabilities across the full lifecycle of oceangoing vessels. The company combines well-known services with an experienced and dedicated staff spanning a global reach. Cyclus Marine supports vessels across all major stages under one brand:NewbuildingDry-dockingRiding crewsRetrofitsConversionsRecyclingCyclus Marine is built on three principles: trust, precision, and specialization.
Wärtsilä Announces Higher Power Rating for Ammonia Engine
Wärtsilä has announced that its 4‑stroke engine solution for ammonia fuel now offers a higher power rating. As part of the company’s ongoing development of ammonia‑fueled engine solutions, the upgrade to the Wärtsilä 25 Ammonia engine raises output to 315 kW per cylinder at 900 rpm and 345 kW per cylinder at 1000 rpm, matching the power level of the LNG‑fueled Wärtsilä 25DF engine. A key benefit of the upgrade is that fewer cylinders are required for a given power demand…
LDA’s Unit Buys DP2 Multi-Purpose Vessel to Expand Subsea Services
LD TravOcean, a subsidiary of Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) Group, has acquired a DP2 multipurpose support vessel as part of efforts to expand its subsea capabilities.The vessel, SIDDIS Mariner, will be renamed TVO Mariner and is scheduled for delivery in summer 2026.The company said the acquisition is aimed at enabling the delivery of integrated subsea solutions combining vessel operations, equipment and expertise.The vessel will support activities including telecom cable work…
NYK, HEPCO Target Maritime Decarbonization with Onboard CCS Study
NYK has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hokkaido Electric Power to conduct a study related to onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS) technologies.Under the agreement, the companies will jointly study a demonstration project in Tomakomai, Japan, focused on decarbonizing maritime transport.The study will run over a three-year period through fiscal year 2028 and will cover the design and operation of demonstration equipment to be installed on the coal carrier Pirika Moshiri Maru…
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