Guinea Bauxite Sockpile Nears 2 Million Tons as Export Suspension Continues
Emirates Global Aluminium's (EGA) subsidiary in Guinea has accumulated a stockpile of nearly two million metric tonnes of bauxite since the suspension of its operations last year, three sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.EGA, equally owned by Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala, and Dubai sovereign wealth fund the Investment Corporation of Dubai, operates one of the largest bauxite mines in Guinea through its Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC) subsidiary.The standoff wit
Tallink Charters Cruise Ship to Algeria
AS Tallink Grupp has signed a charter agreement with Algeria’s state-owned company Madar Maritime Company for the cruise ship Romantika.Romantika will be chartered along with its technical crew for nine months starting Saturday, May 31. The agreement includes an option to extend the charter for two additional periods of six months each.Romantika has previously operated in the Baltic Sea on routes to Helsinki, Stockholm, and Riga.
Jacobs Chooses Fugro to Conduct Investigation for New US Infrastructure on Wake Island
Fugro has been chosen by Jacobs to conduct a nearshore site investigation on Wake Island, a remote US territory located in the central Pacific between Hawaii and Guam. The isolated coral atoll serves as a key logistical and transport hub for the US Navy’s activities in the Indo-Pacific. Fugro’s efforts will equip Jacobs with the essential ground engineering data needed to plan and design a new mooring system on the island…
Kongsberg Maritime Launches the TTH Tunnel Thruster Series
Kongsberg Maritime announced the launch of its new Tunnel Thruster type TTH, the Harmonised series, setting new standards in performance and reliability with a compact, modular design that allows for flexible installation and optimal integration into a wide range of vessel types.Key innovations include:Compact thruster design for easier hull integration and reduced installation footprintModular design…
Shipyard Officials Detained after North Korean Vessel Launch Fiasco
North Korea has detained shipyard officials responsible for a recent major accident during the launch of a new warship, state media said over the weekend.The failed launch that crippled the 5,000-tonne warship was witnessed by leader Kim Jong Un who said the accident damaged the country's dignity and vowed to punish those found responsible.The mishap likely occurred in front of a large crowd at the northeastern port of Chongjin…
Orders For US-Manufactured Goods Drop In Light of Tariff Uncertainty
New orders for key U.S.-manufactured capital goods plunged by the most in six months in April amid mounting uncertainty over the economy because of tariffs, suggesting business spending on equipment weakened at the start of the second quarter.The report from the Commerce Department on Tuesday also showed shipments of these goods falling last month. Economists said President Donald Trump's flip-flopping on import duties was making it difficult for businesses to plan ahead.
River Cruise Vessel delivered to Swiss shipping company Twerenbold Reisen
A CDS River Cruise 135 type cruise vessel, the Excellence Crown, to Swiss shipping company Twerenbold Reisen Group, which christened the vessel in May 2025 in Basel. The 135-m ship features hybrid propulsion and was designed and built by the Concordia Damen shipyard in Werkendam, the Netherlands. It is the tenth ship in the fleet of Swiss Excellence River Cruise, part of Twerenbold, and the first to…
Conrad Industries Receives SCA’s Excellence in Safety Award
The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA), the national association representing the U.S. shipbuilding, maintenance, and repair industry, announced that Conrad Industries, Inc., parent company of Conrad Shipyard, received SCA’s annual “Excellence in Safety” Award, which is given for performance for the 2024 calendar year, honoring the shipyard for its enhancement of operations and promotion of safety and accident prevention.Recognized for its ongoing efforts to enhance workplace safety…
Finnish Ferry Refit with ABB Propulsion Drive
The passenger ferry M/S Suomenlinna II has become the first ship to be retrofitted with ABB’s new-generation ACS880LC drive. The drive technology will enhance vessel efficiency and help to secure smooth and reliable operations for many years to come.As one of three ferries operated by Helsinki City Transport subsidiary Suomenlinnan Liikenne Oy, the 33.8-meter-long Suomenlinna II serves the Market Square–Suomenlinna route year-round.
Wärtsilä's 4-Stroke Ammonia Engine Put to the Test
Wärtsilä’s 4-stroke engine-based solution for ammonia fuel now delivers higher than ever levels of efficiency and performance.Following its introduction to the commercial marine sector in November 2023, the ammonia solution has undergone extensive testing to optimize its performance parameters. The latest results, assessed against the FuelEU Maritime reference and measured on both a Well-to-Wake and Tank-to-Wake basis…
ASEAN Unveils Plan to Integrate Its Economies
The Southeast Asian bloc ASEAN on Tuesday announced an ambitious strategic plan that includes harmonising trade standards and greater financial integration in an effort to collectively become the world's fourth-largest economy.The five-year, 41-page plan for the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, released during a leaders' summit in Malaysia, calls for increased regional trade, freer movement of businesses and people…
Seaspan Opens New Operations Center at Vancouver Drydock
Earlier this week, the team at Seaspan’s Vancouver Drydock (Seaspan) celebrated the grand opening of its new 21,000 square foot Operations Center—a two-story facility that will support the increased capabilities at Vancouver Drydock and the the marine industry on the West Coast.The new Operations Center will serve as a hub for Vancouver Drydock employees, increasing efficiency by creating a centralized location for administration, safety and operations personnel.
As Vessel Sinks Off India, Race is on to Contain Oil Spill
Authorities in the southern Indian state of Kerala are racing to contain an oil spill in the Arabian Sea after the Liberia-flagged container vessel MSC ELSA3 sank over the weekend, releasing fuel and more than 100 cargo containers into the water.The vessel was en route from Vizhinjam to Kochi when it capsized approximately 38 nautical miles off the Kerala coast on Saturday. All 24 crew members were safely rescued, according to local officials.
Container Ship That Crashed Into Norweigan Garden Is Refloated
A large container ship that crashed into a garden in Norway last week, narrowly missing a house, was refloated again on Tuesday (May 27).The 135m (443ft) Cypriot-flagged ship, the NCL Salten, crashed into the front garden of Johan Helberg last Thursday (May 22) morning, narrowly missing the house by mere metres.The salvage operation succeeded on the first attempt.
World Energy: Tariffs Reshape the Future
A new report from Wood Mackenzie, "Trading cases: Tariff scenarios for taxing times", presents three futures for the global energy landscape, highlighting the far-reaching implications of ongoing trade tensions for the energy and natural resources sectors.The report presents three possible outlooks for the global energy and natural resources industries - Trade Truce (the most optimistic), Trade Tensions…
Steerprop Appoints Holmlund-Sund Director of Marketing & Comms
Finnish propulsion specialist Steerprop has appointed Marit Holmlund-Sund as its new Director of Brand, Marketing & Communications. Holmlund-Sund, who joined Steerprop in March, will be responsible for growing awareness of the company’s high-quality propulsion systems throughout the maritime industry. Holmlund-Sund will be part of the management team of Steerprop. Holmlund-Sund has an extensive background in maritime marketing…
Sanmar Launches Tug for Greek Owner
SANMAR launched a compact tug for new customer NEMECA – the first tugboat it has built for Greece.The Bigaçay range ASD tug is based on the exclusive-to-SANMAR RAstar 2900SX design from Canadian naval architects Robert Allan Ltd, and can achieve a bollard pull of more than 80 tons.NEMECA owns and operates a fleet of tugboats in Piraeus, Thessaloniki and Kavala providing harbour towage, open sea towage and salvage services.
Cerberus eyes Darwin Port
U.S. private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management has expressed interest in acquiring the lease to Australia’s strategically vital Darwin Port, according to a senior executive at Landbridge, the Chinese company currently operating the port.Terry O’Connor, non-executive director for Landbridge in Australia, confirmed that a Cerberus executive recently met with Darwin Port CEO Peter Dummett to discuss a possible acquisition.
Simon Møkster Shipping Pools Starlink bandwidth from Marlink
Marlink is supporting Simon Møkster Shipping with flexible allocation of Starlink LEO bandwidth across its fleet, enabling the ship owner to deploy LEO internet bandwidth where it is most needed, supporting simplified connectivity for business applications and crew welfare services.Simon Møkster Shipping completed a fleet-wide upgrade of its hybrid network solution to Sealink NextGen in May 2024, accelerating the company’s digitalization program.Simon Møkster Shipping operates 15 vessels.
Global Tensions Ratchet Up Shipping Sector Risk
The global maritime sector is entering an era of heightened geopolitical and regulatory uncertainty that threatens to offset long-term safety gains, according to Allianz Commercial’s 2025 Safety and Shipping Review. While vessel losses have reached a record low, the industry faces a volatile landscape shaped by trade conflict, increased sanctions, shadow fleets, and ongoing security threats in key…