Ships Begin Sailing Through Hormuz According to UN Evacuation Plan
Ships have begun sailing through the Strait of Hormuz under a new scheme by the U.N.'s shipping agency to evacuate vessels trapped there by the conflict, a spokesperson said on Wednesday.The initiative, which has taken months to conclude, will enable hundreds of ships with some 11,000 seafarers stranded in the Gulf to sail through Hormuz, the International Maritime Organization said on Tuesday."Ships have already begun to pass under the plan…
MSC Cruises, MEYER WERFT Continue Negotiations for Four Cruise Ships
MSC Cruises and MEYER WERFT have issued the following joint statement regarding the current status of negotiations on the major contract for MEYER WERFT to build four next-generation cruise ships, plus two options:“In December 2025, MEYER WERFT and MSC Cruises announced a letter of intent for the construction of four innovative cruise ships, plus two options, at MEYER WERFT. In the meantime, concrete…
Wintermar Takes Full Control of Fast Offshore Supply
Indonesian offshore vessel operator PT Wintermar Offshore Marine (WINS) has acquired the remaining stakes in Singapore-based Fast Offshore Supply (FOS) and its subsidiary PT Fast Offshore Indonesia (FOI), gaining full control of both companies and expanding into the building and operation of aluminium crew transfer vessels (CTVs).WINS acquired the remaining 52.5% shareholding in FOS and the remaining 49% stake in FOI…
ClassNK Receives Authorization to Conduct Surveys on French-Flagged Vessels
ClassNK announced that it has earned authorization from the French Government (Directorate general for Maritime affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture) to carry out surveys for French flagged vessels.With this authorization, ClassNK is now able to perform statutory surveys and issue certificates for French flagged vessels on behalf of the French Government, in accordance with the requirements of international conventions, including SOLAS, MARPOL, and the International Convention on Load Lines.
Singapore Maritime Foundation Launches 2026 MaritimeONE Case Summit Challenges
Now in its 7th edition, the 2026 MaritimeONE Case Summit was launched by the Singapore Maritime Foundation (SMF) in partnership with industry sponsors AET, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Petredec Global and Pacific International Lines (PIL).Through this annual case competition, students from Singapore's universities and polytechnics will apply their knowledge to respond to some of the maritime industry's most pressing challenges…
Wärtsilä Gas Solutions Becomes Nord Gas Solutions
The former Wärtsilä Gas Solutions business has been rebranded as Nord Gas Solutions following its acquisition by Mutares SE & Co.The company said it would continue to provide gas solutions for the marine, biogas and energy sectors while seeking to strengthen its global market presence and further develop its capabilities in innovation and digitalisation under new ownership."With this new identity,…
By the Numbers: Maritime Safety in 2026 — Fewer Losses, Bigger Risks
The maritime industry continues to improve its safety record, but the challenges confronting shipowners, operators, insurers and regulators have never been more complex.According to Allianz Commercial's Safety and Shipping Review 2026, global shipping losses remain near historic lows, yet a new era of geopolitical conflict, cyber-enabled crime, aging fleets, alternative fuels, cargo fires and supply chain disruption is reshaping risk across the maritime sector.
DeepOcean Installs Inter-Array Cables at Germany's Nordseecluster A
Ocean services provider DeepOcean has completed the installation and testing of all inter-array cables at the Nordseecluster A offshore wind farm in Germany.DeepOcean's contract included project management and engineering, the provision of cable protection systems, offshore preparatory works, pre-installation cable route surveys, transport and installation of inter-array cables, cable pull-in and cable burial activities.Cable-laying operations began in January 2026…
MODEC to Supply Mooring System for Coral Norte FLNG off Mozambique
Japanese offshore services company MODEC has secured a contract to supply a SOFEC internal turret mooring system for the Coral Norte floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) project offshore Mozambique, being developed by Eni and its partners.MODEC is collaborating with the Technip Energies-JGC joint venture on the project to support integration and execution of the mooring system.The Coral Norte project is being developed by Eni together with CNPC…
Yinson Production Names FSO for Murphy's Lac Da Vang Project off Vietnam
Yinson Production has held a naming ceremony for the floating storage and offloading (FSO) unit PTSC Lac Da Vang ahead of the vessel's deployment to the Lac Da Vang oil project offshore Vietnam.The FSO vessel has been contracted to Murphy Cuu Long Bac Oil, a wholly owned subsidiary of Murphy Oil Corporation, to provide storage and offloading services for the Lac Da Vang field in Block 15-1/05 offshore…
Samsung Heavy Orders LNG Carrier Tanks from GTT
GTT has secured an order from the shipyard Samsung Heavy Industries for the tank design of three new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, on behalf of an American ship-owner.GTT will design the cryogenic tanks of the vessels, each offering a total capacity of 174,000 m3. The tanks will be fitted with the Mark III Flex membrane containment system, a technology developed by GTT.Delivery of the vessels is scheduled for the first and second quarters of 2029.
Markets: When Will Container Shipping Return to "Normal"
"Even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens, significant uncertainty will remain and continue to shape market outcomes,” says Niels Rasmussen, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.Key uncertainties include whether the US/Iran agreement will hold, when the Strait of Hormuz (SoH) will fully reopen, whether ships can return to normal Suez Canal routings, and how US import tariffs will evolve once the current 10% emergency tariffs expire at the end of July.To reflect this…
Nord Stream 2 Challenges EU's Russian Gas Phase-Out in Court
The owner of the Gazprom-controlled Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is suing the European Union in the bloc's second-highest court, seeking to annul the EU's binding phase-out of gas imports from Russia, a public document showed.The EU approved a law this year to halt all Russian gas imports by late 2027, severing ties with Europe's former top supplier in response to Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.The…
Oman Opens Alternative Hormuz Lanes as Shipping Recovery Continues
Oman said it would keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping without imposing any tolls and had designated two temporary routes north and south of the existing shipping lane to facilitate the safe passage of vessels departing the region.In coordination with the International Maritime Organization, Oman established temporary maritime corridors to help ships leave the area safely amid heightened security risks.The Strait of Hormuz…
Phoenix Successfully Completes Emergency Underwater Hull Repair
Phoenix International Holdings, Inc. announced the successful completion of an emergency underwater repair operation on a foreign-flagged bulk carrier that had run aground in the Gulf of America.In early April, Phoenix mobilized a team of commercial divers to Pascagoula, Mississippi, to assess and repair damage to the vessel's hull. Upon arrival, the team conducted a detailed underwater inspection…
HDI Global Reorganizes US Operations, Welcomes New CEO
As part of its new group strategy Xcelerate29, HDI Global (HDI) announced a new organizational setup and leadership changes in its US business.In line with the Xcelerate29 strategy, HDI Global is pursuing growth in the US market. To meet the requirements of the coming years, HDI is reorganizing its US operations with the clear objective of bringing underwriting, claims, and service teams closer to brokers and clients. Shadi Albert will assume the role of CEO of HDI Global US as of July 13.
BRIX Marine Delivers Custom Offshore Passenger Catamaran for FunToSee Island
BRIX Marine has delivered It's About Time, a custom-built 4818-HTC Offshore passenger catamaran from the company's PaxCat lineup, built for FunToSee Island Ferry of Castries, St. Lucia. This marks the second vessel BRIX Marine has built for FunToSee Island, continuing a growing partnership between the two companies.FunToSee Island operates St. Lucia's premier airport water ferry service, connecting…
Vessel Maintenance Demands Rise, IMCA Urges Focus on Diver Safety
The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has reminded vessel owners and operators of the significant risks associated with underwater ship husbandry (UWSH) operations as activity in the Strait of Hormuz increases.As vessels begin returning to service following extended periods at anchor, demand for hull cleaning, inspection, and maintenance has risen sharply. These activities, commonly grouped under UWSH…
Anschuetz Adds Generic Overlay for SYNAPSIS ECDIS NX
Anschuetz has added the Generic Overlay feature, which extends SYNAPSIS (W)ECDIS NX by enabling the direct display of external, geo-referenced data within the chart. Third-party systems can provide their information as overlay layers, visualized seamlessly alongside standard navigational data in a consistent spatial context.Based on a standardized, generic interface, external applications can be connected…
Chinese Advanced Aircraft Carrier Passes Through Sensitive Taiwan Strait
China's newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, the Taiwanese defence ministry said, the first such mission in the sensitive waterway since April.Taiwan, which Beijing views as its territory, reports almost daily Chinese military activity around the island in what Taipei views as an ongoing pressure campaign against the democratically elected government.In a brief statement…
