Leonhardt & Blumberg Installs Econowind VentoFoils on Cargo Newbuild
German shipowner Leonhardt & Blumberg has equipped HANSA DREJOE with Econowind VentoFoils. The vessel is the first of four general cargo newbuilds to receive wind propulsion technology. The first installation was completed on HANSA DREJOE at Royal Niestera Sander Shipyard in early August, with HANSA CHRISTIANSOE currently at the yard. Econowind calculated that the VentoFoils will deliver around 10 percent additional thrust, reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions accordingly.
MSC, Jotun Sign Hull Cleaning Agreement
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Jotun have entered into an agreement for the installation and operation of Jotun's Hull Skating Solutions (HSS) onboard MSC Daniela.The agreement includes the full HSS package, combining Jotun's SeaQuantum Skate coating with robotic hull inspection and cleaning technology designed to maintain an always clean hull throughout vessel operations.The installation was completed during the vessel's drydocking in China in June 2026.
81m Acres Opened in Gulf of America Lease Sale
The Trump administration will offer more than 81 million acres (32.8 million hectares) in the Gulf of America to oil and gas drillers as part of an effort to boost domestic energy production with regular offshore lease sales.The sale is the second since the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran disrupted global crude flows and sent oil prices to four-year highs. It is the third of 30 mandated by U.S. President Donald Trump's tax cut and spending law passed in 2025.The Interior Department will offer 15…
Vietnam Mulls Second LNG Term Contract After Deal with Shell
State-controlled Petrovietnam Gas is sounding out suppliers for a possible tender to procure liquefied natural gas under a five-year contract, according to a document reviewed by Reuters.If agreed, it would be Vietnam's second term contract after a deal with Shell earlier this year, as the Southeast Asian manufacturing hub builds an LNG industry from scratch to help meet growing energy demand.The request…
He Dreiht Offshore Wind Farm: Final Turbine Installed
Cadeler completed the final turbine installation at the 960 MW He Dreiht Offshore Wind Farm in the German North Sea. The final turbines were installed by Wind Keeper, under its long-term contract with Vestas.Cadeler’s scope of the installation campaign was executed using two of Cadeler's offshore wind installation vessels. Wind Orca commenced the project in April 2025 before Wind Keeper took over the…
China Insights: Iron Ore Mining Cools, Steel Making Softens
"In the first half of 2026, Chinese iron ore mining fell by 7% y/y due to a 6% y/y increase in iron ore net imports and weaker steel production. The country is increasingly sourcing its iron ore from abroad because it is often of higher grade and competitively priced. Iron ore net imports now account for 57% of China’s iron ore supply compared to 50% in the first half of 2022,” says Filipe Gouveia…
This is the Last Article on the Jones Act you Ever Need to Read (Really)
I first heard about the Jones Act from my father in 1976. He had just become part of the US maritime community and one day came home and started to tell me about the differences between the US maritime community and the Dutch maritime community. Two things stood out; the heavy US union influence and the Jones Act. My father despised unions, as a lifelong non unionized shipping company employee (but a very benevolent one…
Shuttle Tankers: A Distinct Vessel Breed, a Niche Market
A wave of new investment in dedicated shuttle tankers has been spurred by the age profile of the existing fleet coupled with surging developments in the Brazilian offshore market.Constituting a specialized asset class, dynamic positioning (DP) shuttle tankers are a flexible and cost effective way of lifting and transporting oil from offshore fields, where subsea pipelines are not a practical or economically…
German Warship Builder TKMS Raises 2026 Outlook
Warship manufacturer TKMS on Wednesday raised its outlook for the second time in six months, expecting higher demand for surface vessels such as frigates as well as for its sensors and mine-sweeping technology.TKMS has been one of the main beneficiaries of Europe's push to build up its defenses in light of dwindling U.S. support, scoring several landmark deals in recent months, including one for Germany's…
Karoon Energy Approves U.S. Who Dat East Development
The Who Dat East Joint Venture, operated by LLOG, has sanctioned the development of the Who Dat East field. The field, located in lease MC 509-1, is in a water depth of approximately 1,300 metres.The Who Dat East project is a one-well development comprising the completion of the 2024 Who Dat East discovery well, the construction of a 29-kilometer pipeline to the Who Dat Floating Production System (FPS)…
Taiwan Condemns Planned Chinese Navy Drill with Indonesia
Taiwan's government has condemned "dangerous" planned Chinese navy drills with an Indonesian warship off the island's east coast, saying Beijing was trying to create a false impression to the international community that it controls those waters.China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, and in June began coast guard patrols off the island's east coast, causing anger in Taipei…
Cadeler Acquires Offshore Wind Foundation Specialist
Offshore wind installation contractor and operator Cadeler has acquired Menck, a global provider of specialist equipment and technology solutions for offshore foundation installation based in Germany.The acquisition strengthens Cadeler’s offshore wind installation capabilities. Cadeler intends to continue operating Menck as a standalone business, preserving its independent market position while strengthening…
Call for Shore Power in Greenland
Air quality screenings recorded at the port of Ilulissat in Greenland show high air pollution levels with an average around 60-70 times higher than safe low particle levels recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) of 1,000 particles/cm3.The measurements, taken by Dr Kåre Press-Kristensen, senior advisor on air quality and climate at Green Global Future, found average concentrations in Ilulissat port between 60…
Grimaldi Takes Delivery of First New-Series PCTC
The Grimaldi Group has taken delivery of Grande Pacifico, the 13th ammonia ready car carrier in the Grimaldi Group fleet and the first of five sister PCTCs vessels ordered from China Merchants Heavy Industries Jiangsu and classed by RINA.An evolution of the design that gave rise to the first five 9,000 CEU vessels already delivered by the same shipyard, the new units offer even greater cargo capacity while maintaining high energy efficiency…
Romulus USV Passes Critical Military Test
HII has announced that the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) has officially recognized the successful completion of the company’s production-ready, inexpensive, maritime expeditionary (PRIME) prototype project.The prototype features the Watcher small unmanned surface vessel (sUSV), which is based on HII’s Romulus-25 USV and powered by HII’s Odyssey autonomous control system.The DIU recognition follows…
US Fuel Exports to Cuba Spur Chaotic Black Market
Gasoline at $38 a gallon sold from cramped apartments. Diesel hawked on Instagram by a celebrity model to a reggaeton soundtrack. Six decades after Fidel Castro’s revolution, all of a sudden, capitalist cracks are appearing in Cuba’s communist energy sector.Under Washington’s crippling oil embargo against Cuba, an exception that allows U.S. firms to export fuel to private Cuban businesses has kickstarted…
Russia Ramps Up Oil Exports Via Arctic Route
Russia has begun shipping crude oil via its Arctic sea route this year at a faster pace than a year ago, with seven cargoes carrying some 6 million barrels of crude already heading to Asia, according to three trade sources and LSEG shipping data.The Northern Sea Route, which links Russia's western ports with Asian markets through Arctic waters, is typically open from July 1 until October 1 each year.Russia…
China Missile Test Deepens Pacific Divide Over Growing Militarization
China's test of a nuclear-capable missile last month has exposed the limits of Pacific leaders' ambition to make the region an "Ocean of Peace", free from the crossfire of major-power rivalry.The July launch, China's first known ballistic-missile test into the Pacific since September 2024, was fired into the Pacific just hours after Fiji and Australia signed a major defense treaty, marking Fiji's first ever alliance.More than a month after the test…
Romania Destroys Drones Drifting Near Offshore Gas Project
Romanian army divers destroyed two Gerbera-type drones drifting in the country's Black Sea exclusive economic zone near the offshore gas project Neptun Deep, Defence Minister Radu Miruta said on Tuesday.The NATO state shares a 614-km (382-mile) land border with Ukraine and has seen Russian drones repeatedly breach its airspace over the last four years, as well as mines floating in the Black Sea across key trade and energy routes.In July…
U.S. Fires to Disable Panama-Flag Ship Accused of Violating Iran Blockade
The U.S. military fired missiles to disable a Panama-flagged cargo ship Tuesday after the vessel allegedly ignored repeated warnings to stop while attempting to violate the U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports.U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said a U.S. Navy MH-60 helicopter fired two Hellfire missiles at the engine room of Vela Nova, disabling the vessel’s steering capability.“As of Aug. 11, CENTCOM has redirected 55 commercial vessels attempting to run the blockade…
