Strong Demand in India Flips Russian Urals to Premium
Russian Urals crude delivered to India has flipped to a premium against the dated Brent benchmark for the first time since May as stronger Asian demand coincides with tighter export availability, three trading sources said.Cargoes of Urals crude for October delivery were offered this week at premiums up to $1 a barrel to dated Brent, compared with discounts of $1 to $2 a barrel for September-arrival cargoesā¦
Oil Prices Set for Second Weekly Gain as US Threatens Iranian Sanctions
Oil prices were steady on Friday and were on track for a second straight weekly gain after the United States threatened to impose the toughest sanctions in history with no end in sight for disruptions to Middle East oil flows.Brent crude futures rose 20 cents, or 0.21%, to $93.98 a barrel by 1307 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 7 cents, or 0.08%, at $86.90.The Brent benchmark has gained more than 6.1% while WTI has risen 5.3% this weekā¦
Iran-Linked Oil Tanker Attacked by Somalian Pirates
An oil tanker under U.S. sanctions for allegedly transporting Iranian petroleum products has become the latest victim of resurgent Somali piracy when it was boarded off the coast of Yemen and diverted toward Somalia.The Eritrea-flagged Sibu 1 was seized on Thursday by six armed individuals, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The tanker was sanctioned last December by the U.S.
MacGregor to Supply Crane for Ulstein SX121 Vessel Order
MacGregor has secured a contract to supply a 165-ton active heave compensated (AHC) crane for a newbuild Ulstein SX121 vessel ordered by Jan De Nul and under construction at China Merchants Heavy Industry (CMHI) shipyard. The order is part of a 1+1 vessel program, with delivery scheduled for February 2028.The order is booked into MacGregorās second quarter 2026 order intake.MacGregorās local presence and production capabilities in China provide CMHI with direct access to designā¦
Decrepit Port Infrastructure has Vessels Stacked Off Venezuela
Venezuela's dilapidated oil port terminals are imposing a de facto export cap on the country's resurgent crude production, with tankers having to wait up to 30 days to load because of ageing infrastructure, power outages and quality issues, according to shipping data, sources and documents.The delays are putting roadblocks on a U.S. plan to quickly boost Venezuela's oil exports following a flagship pact with global trading houses.
Ships Trickle Through Strait of Hormuz
Seven commodity ships sailed along the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, just half the previous day's tally, showed data from shiptracker Kpler, amid concern over risk to Middle East shipping as U.S.-Iran peace talks remain in limbo.Of the total, four ships entered and three exited the waterway, which was used by nearly a fifth of global shipments of crude oil and liquefied natural gas before war began in February.The seven did not include any very large crude carriers or liquefied natural gas tanke
Everllenceās 175D Engines to Power Four Offshore Tugs Destined for Guyana
Everllence has signed a contract with a Turkish shipyard within the high-speed segment. The contract comprises 16 × 175D gensets bound for 4 × Rampage 6000āDE offshore terminal tugs designed by Robert Allen.These will be operated by Smit Lamnalco, a Boskalis company, in Guyana, South America to support an FPSO fleet in the Stabroek Block.The newbuildsā roles will combine towing, safety, logistics, dynamic positioning and maintenance functions, supporting largeāscale deepwater oil production.
Lehmann Marine Secures first AQUBE Order
Lehmann Marine has secured the debut commercial order for its newly developed AQUBE liquid-cooled battery system.The high-power energy storage platform AQUBE has been selected by shipbuilder Lloyd Werft in Bremerhaven to power a research vessel built for the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Germanyās national research center for aeronautics, space, energy, and transport.Set for delivery in 2027, a new 48-meter-longā¦
MITSUI E&S Commercializes Ammonia Dual Fuel Engines
MITSUI E&S has completed the commercialization of large ammonia-fueled marine engines and ammonia fuel supply systems, the only Japanese manufacturer to do so.In February 2026, MITSUI E&S conducted land-based tests involving the integrated operation of the ammonia dual fuel engine MITSUI-Everllence B&W 7S60ME-C10.5-LGIA-HPSCR which was witnessed by ClassNK. This verification confirmed the engine compliedā¦
Wilson Sons Launches Third High-Powered Tugboat
Wilson Sons, a port and shipping logistics operator with over 188 years of experience, launched WS Ariel on August 20 at Pier Mauá (Rio de Janeiro). WS Ariel is the third high-powered tugboat in the company's new shipbuilding series.Like WS Halcyon and WS Capella, launched in January and May this year, respectively, WS Ariel was built at Wilson Sonsā shipyard in Guarujá (São Paulo). Belonging to the same ASD 2312 class (23 meters longā¦
Houston Ship Channel Trade Tonnage Climbs 16%
Trade activity across the Houston Ship Channel region remained strong, while Port Houston gained momentum with increases in imports, empties and a modest decline in exports.āOur region remains resilient through evolving global trade conditions. Vessel activity in the nationās busiest waterway is up, and we continue to see steady cargo movement that helps power industries like energy, manufacturing and retailā¦
Taiwan Plans Record High Defense Spending
Taiwan's government on Thursday proposed an 18% rise in defense spending for next year, including for drones and missiles, taking it above T$1 trillion ($31.41 billion) for the first time as Taipei bolsters its military to ward off China.The budget details come as Beijing, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has ramped up military and political pressure over the past few years to assert its claimsā¦
Panama Canal to Cap Daily Transits
The Panama Canal Authority will cap daily transits as of early September as it gears up for a longer-than-usual El Niño season expected to reduce water levels, it said on Thursday, walking back a previous pledge to not limit vessel passage.Under the new measures, the canal will limit daily transits as of September 4 to 34 vessels, and reduce the number to 32 as of September 15.The canal had registered an average of 35 daily transits through June 2026ā¦
ESAB Launches New Products at FABTECH 2026
From total workflow solutions targeted to industry segments to launching more than a dozen new products for fab shops, individual contractors, welding engineers, students and educators, ESAB will deliver a complete welding and cutting experience at FABTECH 2026, which runs from October 21-23 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. ESAB will exhibit in Booth #S29025 on Level 2 in the South Hall, lead nineā¦
World Maritime Forum 2027 to Address Shippingās Investment Choices in Copenhagen
The two-day maritime conference will take place at Copenhagenās AC Bella Sky Convention Center on 23-24 February 2027.World Maritime Forum 2027 will bring the international maritime community back to Copenhagen for a two-day event at the AC Bella Sky Convention Center. Organised by IGGS Group, the forum is intended for shipowners, ship managers, shipbuilders, ports, authorities, maritime suppliers and service providers.
M/V Ann Nash Added to Maritime Partners Fleet
Maritime Partners has added the M/V Ann Nash to its growing fleet. Built by FMT Shipyard & Repair in Harvey, Louisiana, the vessel continues the successful working relationship between Maritime Partners, FMT Shipyard & Repair, and Laborde Products in delivering towboats for inland marine service.The MN Ann Nash measures 52.5 feet in length overall with a 19.6-foot beam and a 3.3-foot draft. The vessel is configured with a twin-screw propulsion system powered by two Mitsubishi S62 Tier 3 enginesā¦
Norway Expands Arctic Military Brigade
Norway expanded on Thursday a recently created military brigade headquartered in the Arctic, the latest move by a NATO nation to boost its defence footprint in the wake of the Ukraine war.The NATO member established the Finnmark Brigade last year, forming the country's second brigade and the first one set up since the end of the Cold War. Both brigades have their headquarters in the Arctic.Norway, like the other Nordic countriesā¦
Romanian Fighter Jets Destroy Marine Drone Near Neptun Deep Project
Romania scrambled F-16 fighter jets to destroy a marine drone spotted a few hundred metres from the Black Sea gas project Neptun Deep, Defence Minister Radu Miruta said on Thursday.The incident underscores the growing threat to critical energy infrastructure in the Black Sea from drones and mines linked to Russia's war in Ukraine, with Neptun Deep expected to make Romania the European Union's largestā¦
Viking Orders Two Cruise Vessels for 2032 Delivery
Fincantieri and Viking have signed contracts for two new cruise ships, extending a long-running shipbuilding relationship that now encompasses 28 vessels.The ships result from Viking exercising options announced in April 2025 and will be constructed at Fincantieriās Ancona shipyard in Italy, with both vessels scheduled for delivery in 2032. Fincantieri classified the value of the agreement, which remains subject to financing and other conditionsā¦
Conoship Adds 40-MWh Battery-Electric Option to CIP3800 Coaster
Conoship International has expanded its CIP-Series with a fully electric version of its CIP3800 general cargo vessel, pairing the established 3,800-dwt coaster platform with a 40-MWh battery energy storage system.Designed for short-sea routes, green shipping corridors and emission-restricted coastal operations, the CIP3800 Fully Electric measures 89.43 meters LOA with a 13.2-meter molded breadth and 5.2-meter draft.Rather than developing a new hull specifically for battery propulsionā¦
