Estonian Navy Detains Russia-Bound Oil Tanker
The Estonian navy detained and boarded a Russia-bound oil tanker on an EU sanctions list on Friday, accusing it of sailing illegally without a valid country flag.The vessel, the Kiwala, has been under EU sanctions since February as part of Russia's so-called "shadow fleet", a term Western countries use for ships they say Moscow deploys to circumvent international sanctions. The ships are typically…
UN Shipping Agency Strikes Deal on Fuel Emissions
Countries at the U.N. shipping agency struck a deal on Friday on a global fuel emissions standard for the maritime sector, which will impose an emissions fee on ships that breach it and reward vessels burning cleaner fuels.The U.S. pulled out of the climate talks at the International Maritime Organization in London this week, urging other countries to do the same and threatening to impose "reciprocal measures" against any fees charged to U.S.
Lloyd's Register Launches Cruise Centre of Expertise
Lloyd's Register launched its Cruise Ship Centre of Expertise (CCoE) at Seatrade Cruise Global (April 7-10) in Miami, USA.Operating globally, the CCoE integrates LR's classification, advisory and digital services to ensure cruise operators benefit from enhanced safety, operational efficiency, and sustainability guidance.The Centre brings together operational specialists, in-service and newbuilding SMEs…
Lloyd’s Register, Royal Caribbean Group to Advance Maritime Safety and Efficiency
Lloyd’s Register (LR) and vacation company Royal Caribbean Group announced today at Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami, a partnership aimed at driving safety, innovation, and sustainability across the cruise industry. Under this partnership, LR will provide expert classification, risk management, and technical consultancy services to ensure Royal Caribbean Group’s fleet remains at the forefront of maritime safety and efficiency.
China Hikes Tariffs for US Imports in Response to Trump’s Actions
Beijing increased its tariffs on U.S. imports to 125% on Friday, hitting back against U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to hike duties on Chinese goods and raising the stakes in a trade war that threatens to up-end global supply chains.China's retaliation intensified the economic turmoil unleashed by Trump's tariffs, with markets tumbling further and foreign leaders puzzling how to respond to the biggest disruption to the world trade order in decades."Recession risk is much…
Havila Acquires Polarsyssel Offshore Supply Ship
Havila Holding, through its subsidiary Havila Skipsinvest, has acquired the Polarsyssel offshore supply ship from Fafnir Norway.Polarsyssel serves as the Governor of Svalbard’s service vessel and plays a key role in safety and emergency preparedness in the region.The ship patrols the waters around Svalbard and carries out inspection and enforcement tasks, search and rescue missions, environmental monitoring…
Finnish Port Set for Offshore Wind Overhaul
Euroports Group and Noatun project companies, jointly held by OX2 and Ålandsbanken Offshore Wind I, have signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) to establish Koverhar Harbour in Hanko as a key logistics hub for the construction of the offshore wind farm project Noatun North, including an option for Noatun South.The collaboration marks a significant step in strengthening Finland’s offshore wind infrastructure…
Siemens Executive, Family Die in New York Helicopter Crash
Germany's Siemens said on Friday that Agustin Escobar, the company's global CEO for its Rail Infrastructure division, was killed with his family in a New York helicopter crash on Thursday."We are deeply saddened by the tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Agustin Escobar and his family. Our deepest condolences go out to all of his relatives," Siemens said.(Reuters - Reporting by Dave Graham, editing by Thomas Seythal)
Delfin Secures Key Permits for First Offshore LNG Export project in US
U.S.-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) export infrastructure development company Delfin Midstream has secured key permits and approvals for the construction of LNG projects, under development in Louisiana and offshore in the Gulf of America.On March 21, 2025, Delfin LNG, a subsidiary of Delfin, received a license from the Maritime Administration (MARAD) authorizing Delfin LNG to own, construct, operate…
RWE Drops Bubble Curtain to Silence Construction Noise at Sofia Offshore Wind Farm
RWE has deployed a bubble curtain technology in the U.K. for the first time to protect marine life from the construction noise at its Sofia offshore wind farm.RWE has been working with Hydrotechnik Offshore to introduce an innovative underwater noise-abatement technology, known as a bubble curtain, for offshore wind farm construction in the U.K.The deployment at the Sofia offshore wind farm, located 195km off the coast of England…
Taiwan Charges Chinese Captain over Cable Damage
Taiwan prosecutors on Friday for the first time charged a Chinese ship captain with intentionally damaging undersea cables off the island in February, after a rise in sea cable malfunctions alarmed Taiwan officials amid tensions with China.Prosecutors say the man was captain of the Chinese-crewed Hong Tai 58, registered in Togo, which Taiwanese authorities detained after suspecting the ship had dropped anchor near an undersea cable off southwestern Taiwan…
MAN Engines Selected for CO2 Carrier
The Royal Niestern Sander shipyard in the Netherlands has ordered 2 × MAN 16V175D MEM engines (2,400 kWm/1,800 rpm) in connection with the building of an MPV (Multi-Purpose Vessel) vessel – ‘Easymax 5’ – for Dutch outfit, Wagenborg Operator.The engines will be employed as gensets for power generation aboard the purpose-built CO2 carrier, which will be employed in the offshore, substrate storage of…
Scaling Up Hydrogen Fuel Cell Demand
This past month Maritime Reporter TV has taken a close look at two hydrogen fuel cell projects: the new research vessel planned for Scripps Institution of Oceanography and e1 Marine’s methanol-to-hydrogen technology which is being adopted by STAX Engineering for its emissions capture barges.The Scripps California Coastal Research Vessel will feature a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system that will…
Venezuela's PDVSA Suspends Oil Loading Authorizations to Chevron
Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA has canceled several authorizations it had granted U.S.-based producer Chevron to load and export Venezuelan crude in April, three sources with knowledge of the decision said on Thursday.The cancellations follow U.S. President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs on Venezuela's oil buyers. The suspensions also comes after Washington canceled key licenses last month to a handful of PDVSA partners and customers…
Six Dead in Hudson River Helicopter Crash
The US Coast Guard is coordinating with local, state and federal agencies in response to the helicopter crash in the Hudson River that occurred Thursday afternoon in New York City near the Holland Tunnel.The tourist helicopter crashed into New York City's Hudson River, killing all six aboard, including three children, Mayor Eric Adams said.The victims were believed to have included a family from Spain and the pilot…
Battery Electric Tug Designed for Shandong Port
Robert Allan Ltd. has been awarded a contract to design an AmpRA 3600 battery-electric tug for Shandong Port Group – Rizhao Port Towing Company, in China.Two vessels will be constructed at Rizhao Gangda Shipbuilding Heavy Industry and will be the fifth and sixth tugs designed by Robert Allan Ltd. for this owner.Following on the development of the successful battery-electric and hybrid designs operation in Canada…
Two Compact Ship Assist Tugs Delivered to US Owner
Robert Allan Ltd. has announced the delivery of two very compact high bollard pull ship handling tugs, Rascal and Rowdy, to Brusco Tug & Barge in the US.The RAscal 2000-D series tugs were constructed at Diversified Marine Inc. of Portland, Oregon, and at over 40 short tons are the highest bollard pull tugs of this size designed to date by Robert Allan Ltd.These compact tugs are well suited for harbors where smaller though still powerful ship assist tugs are needed…
US Targets China Oil Storage Terminal in Iran-Related Sanctions
The Trump administration imposed sanctions on Iranian oil trading networks on Thursday, including on a China-based crude oil storage terminal linked via a pipeline to an independent refinery, just days before direct talks between the U.S. and Iran.The sanctions came after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. will hold direct talks with Iran on Saturday in Oman. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran would be in "great danger" if the talks were unsuccessful.The U.S.
Panama Canal Traffic Dropped in March
The number of vessels that transited the Panama Canal, the world's second-busiest waterway, fell to an average of 33.7 per day in March for a total of 1,045 ships that month, according to a bulletin on Thursday by its administrative authority.In February, an average of 34.8 vessels per day crossed the waterway, an increase from 32.6 per day in January, but still below the maximum number of ships authorized.Transits…
Santos Port Anticipates Trade War Boom
Brazil's Santos Port Authority, which administers the largest port in the Southern Hemisphere, said the draft of the port will be deepened to attract larger vessels in coming years.Speaking at the headquarters of the Santos Trade Association, Beto Mendes, director of port operations, said on Thursday the plan is to deepen the draft to 16 meters and then 17 meters, potentially by 2031.Attracting larger vessels would allow Brazil to strengthen trade ties with commercial partners such as China…
