Arc Joins the Maritime Battery Forum to Expand Electric Propulsion Solutions to Commercial Vessels
The Maritime Battery Forum (MBF) has welcomed Arc, a U.S.-based marine technology company developing integrated electric and hybrid-electric propulsion systems, as the newest member of its global community of maritime battery enablers. Arc designs its battery systems, powertrain, thermal management systems, and software in-house, creating a fully integrated electric propulsion platform. Their vertically integrated approach allows the company to optimize every aspect of vessel performance…
First Green Methanol Bunkering of New Car Carrier Successfully Completed
EUKOR Car Carriers, SIPG Energy, and World Fuel have successfully completed the first green methanol bunkering of M/V Arctic Tern, the first vessel in the new Shaper Class series of car carriers, at the Port of Shanghai.The operation involved the delivery of 2,800 MT of green methanol to Arctic Tern via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy's methanol bunkering vessel M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan, the largest vessel of its kind in operation.
Refiners Sign Direct Contracts with PDVSA for Venezuelan Oil
Refiners and oil-producing firms in the U.S. and elsewhere are gaining market share in Venezuela's crude as they sign direct contracts with state-run PDVSA, challenging the global traders that inked earlier deals with the government of interim President Delcy Rodriguez.Trading houses Vitol and Trafigura currently control the lion's share of Venezuela's oil exports through agreements signed in January with Caracas that are overseen by Washington…
TKMS Drops Out of Race to Acquire GNYK
German warship builder TKMS said on Tuesday it is no longer interested in acquiring smaller shipyard German Naval Yards, also known as GNYK.That would make German defence group Rheinmetall the only bidder currently in the running to purchase the ship maker, which has about 350 staff.Handelsblatt first reported on TKMS dropping out of the bidding earlier on Tuesday.Europe's naval firms are exploring tie-ups and partnerships amid accelerating consolidation in the booming defence sector, with Rhein
Houthis Threaten Targeted Attacks on Shipping Companies Visiting Saudi Ports
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militia told shipping companies not to load or discharge cargo at Saudi Arabian ports or they may be targeted, according to an email the group sent to companies.The Houthis on Monday declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, opening a potential new front against the United States in its war with Iran and raising the threat to global energy supplies and trade beyond the Gulf."Vessels are banned from loading or discharging cargo at or from any Saudi ports…
Two Saudi Crude Tankers Turn Around After Houthi Threats
Two oil tankers carrying Saudi crude to Asia reversed course in the Red Sea on Tuesday after threats from Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis, as a widening Middle East conflict disrupted shipping through two of the world's most critical energy chokepoints.The diversions came as U.S. forces bombed targets in the south and west of Iran overnight, Tehran targeted U.S. sites in Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan and…
Wing Group CEO Andrew Branagh Joins U.S. Department of Commerce Trade Advisory Committee
The Wing Group announced that President and CEO Andrew Branagh has been appointed to serve on the U.S. Department of Commerce's Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Small Business (ITAC 9). His four-year term became effective on July 16, 2026.As a member of ITAC 9, Branagh will represent the perspectives of the U.S. small business community. The committee provides industry insights and advice to the U.S.
Hepburn and Sons Invest $18m into Corporate Headquarters in Innovation Park, VA
Hepburn and Sons LLC’s plans to invest $18 million in constructing a three-story, approximately 27,000 square foot corporate headquarters adjacent to NOVA LIVE in Innovation Park, which will support 80 new high-quality jobs. The BOCS approved the land sale of the 1.25 acres of county-owned land along Discovery Boulevard next to NOVA LIVE in June 2026.Hepburn and Sons provides solutions in the realms of naval power systems…
Nakilat Profits Dinged by Region's War
Qatar Gas Transport Company Q.P.S.C. (Nakilat) announced its consolidated financial results for the first half of the year ended 30 June 2026, with a net profit of QAR 857 million compared to QAR 860 million for the corresponding period in 2025.Eng. Abdullah Al-Sulaiti, Nakilat’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “In light of the current situation in the region and its impact on business performance…
Unmanned Vessels Proliferate in today's "Hybrid Navy Extravaganza"
Technology companies and shipyards are vying for attention as the US unmanned navy grows in size and sophistication.No too long ago, US Navy Secretary John Phelan said: “If the last few years of conflict have taught us anything, it is that we will not win the wars of the future with the platforms of the past.” The nation’s ability to deter future conflict or to prevail, if necessary, will benefit from high quantities of low-cost air, surface and subsea unmanned systems.
India Summons Russian Diplomat After Four Indian Seafarers Perish
India said it had summoned a senior Russian diplomat on Tuesday and expressed "grave concerns" after a missile strike killed four Indians on a Black Sea cargo ship that was leaving a Ukrainian port.Ukraine said Russia hit the Golden Leo – a Guinea-Bissau-flagged ship manned by a crew from India and Syria – with three cruise missiles on Sunday, killing 10 people, including four Indians.Vladimir Ladanov…
Philippines, China Scrum (again) in the South China Sea
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will summon China's ambassador in Manila, his office said on Tuesday, hours after Manila's envoy in Beijing was similarly summoned following accusations by both sides of provoking tensions in the contested South China Sea.Presidential Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro confirmed to reporters Marcos had summoned Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan at 5 p.m. (0900 GMT) on Tuesday.
Freedom of Ship Navigation takes Center Stage in International Affairs
The Middle East crisis cast a shadow over a diplomatic gathering in Southeast Asia on Tuesday, where foreign ministers voiced serious concern over renewed hostilities that add to uncertainty in a region grappling to manage tensions and conflicts of its own.Foreign ministers from the 11-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations and major partners have meetings in Manila this week against a backdrop of instability since the U.S.
Anemoi Gets Wind in its Sails with Latest Bureau Veritas Certification
Anemoi Marine Technologies has secured design assessment certificates from Bureau Veritas covering several versions of its Rotor Sail wind-assisted propulsion technology, expanding third-party certification of its product range.The approvals cover the company's fixed and rail-deployed 3.5-metre by 24.5-metre Rotor Sails, including explosion-rated (EX-rated) versions and shorter variants designed for vessels operating under air draft restrictions.
Fincantieri Set to Operate Qatari Naval Training Centre
Fincantieri has secured a three-year contract from the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces to operate the navy's Training and Simulation Centre, extending its support role following the delivery of seven naval vessels and associated capabilities.The Training and Simulation Centre, delivered by Fincantieri in 2021, supports the training of Qatari naval personnel through advanced simulation systems that allow officers…
Tanker Crew Abandons Ship After Reported Strike in Hormuz
A tanker in the Strait of Hormuz reported being struck by an unknown projectile, forcing its crew to abandon the vessel and board a lifeboat, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) said on Tuesday.UKMTO said it had received multiple reports on Tuesday that a tanker had broadcast over VHF Channel 16 that it had been hit by an unknown projectile. The incident was reported eight nautical…
The End of Predictable Shipping: Supporting Seafarers in an Ocean of Geopolitical Tensions
The US domestic and global maritime industry in 2026 stands at a critical crossroads, caught between structural labor deficits and an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape. Shipping has undergone a transition since Covid-19, moving away from decades of relative stability with defined trade flows toward operating conditions that grow more complex and volatile by the year. Historic energy routes have shifted…
Chick Sexing, Wire Rope and AI
Chick sexing is a core concept for an experienced engineer. Fortunately, maritime engineers do not have to perform chick sexing, but the concept is extremely important and ties into engineering intuition and experience.We all know engineers and mechanics who have an amazing ability to diagnose certain problems that completely elude solution by the rest of the community.It is often called intuition…
