Orca AI Defense Opens First US Office at Virginia Beach International Incubator
Virginia Beach Economic Development (VBED) announced that Orca AI Defense, the U.S. subsidiary of global maritime technology company Orca AI, has established its first U.S. office as a new tenant of the Virginia Beach International Incubator.Headquartered in London, Orca AI has developed AI-powered maritime navigation technology that enhances situational awareness, improves vessel navigation, and helps prevent collisions.
PIRIOU Delivers Third Wind-Powered Cargo Ship to NEWTOWT
Earlier this summer, PIRIOU delivered the Atlantis to NEWTOWT, a new French shipping company formed after the takeover of TOWT. As the third sailing cargo vessel in the fleet and the first vessel delivered to the new shipowner, the Atlantis joins the Anémos and Artémis, both of which were delivered by PIRIOU in 2024.After leaving the PIRIOU shipyard in Vietnam in early August, the Atlantis is currently making a stopover at Le Port in Reunion Island to take on supplies at Quay 8…
MacGregor Opens Service Engineer Hub in Trieste, Italy
MacGregor is opening a new service engineer hub in Trieste, Italy on September 1, 2026. The new site enhances MacGregor’s global service network by adding another central location to serve our customers’ fleet while significantly increasing our engineer capacity in the European region.The location of the new hub was selected after a thorough assessment, which proved that in addition to being a central location from the perspective of customer service…
Inmarsat Maritime Launches Maritime Safety Data Hub
Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, has launched a new Maritime Safety Data Hub, providing the maritime industry with unique insights as well as direct access to the comprehensive analysis of risks shaping global shipping.Drawing on a dataset combining three years of Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) data with an industry-first analysis of 106,975 maritime safety broadcasts transmitted in 2025, the new platform offers visibility into the conditions influencing maritime risk.
NYK and Stolt-Nielsen Establish Joint Ownership of Avenir LNG
Following receipt of the relevant regulatory clearances, NYK has completed the acquisition of a 50% stake in Avenir LNG Limited. The stake was acquired from Stolt-Nielsen Gas Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Stolt-Nielsen Limited (SNI), which previously held 100% ownership of Avenir LNG.With the completion of the transaction, NYK and SNI have established a joint ownership and operating structure for Avenir LNG…
Iran Creates Oil Bonanza for the Americas
From Canada to Argentina, oil producers across the Americas have enjoyed a windfall during the Iran war by capturing market share lost by Middle Eastern exporters. The renewed focus on energy security globally could transform this emergency response into a lasting structural change.Oil production in the Americas has become a viable alternative to the Middle East's vast hydrocarbon resources since the outbreak of the Iran war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz six months ago…
Trump's Deal with Venezuela Raises Red Flags for Some
An unprecedented deal for the U.S. to gain access to a fifth of Venezuela's oil reserves - and the central role a Venezuelan businessman will play - is prompting questions and hesitation from some oil companies evaluating potential investments in the country, sources familiar with the situation told Reuters.A White House fact sheet released late on Monday outlined an arrangement under which private…
Tanker Struck by Three Projectiles
A tanker has reported being struck by three projectiles while sailing out of the Strait of Hormuz, 17 nautical miles east of Oman's Khasab, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency (UKMTO) said on Tuesday.No casualties or environmental impact have been reported, UKMTO said.TRANSITSThe number of vessels sailing through the Strait of Hormuz was little changed on Monday compared with the weekend…
Furetank Names New Vessel and Unveils New Investments
Furetank's intermediate tanker Fure Vasa was given her name in Uddevalla, Sweden, on August 28, in front of more than 300 invited guests. Along with news of new investments and a 40th-anniversary celebration, the day brought several encouraging signs for the state of Swedish tanker shipping."Today, transport is not only a matter of competitiveness. It is also increasingly a matter of resilience, security and preparedness, given the political tensions in the world.
Cheniere Exports 5,000th LNG Cargo
Cheniere Energy, Inc. has announced the achievement of two significant milestones: the substantial completion of the Corpus Christi Liquefaction Stage 3 Project (CCL Stage 3) in Texas, and the production and export of its 5,000th cargo of LNG from its U.S. Gulf Coast operations. Cheniere has reached the 5,000th cargo milestone faster than any other LNG producer worldwide.CCL Stage 3 achieved substantial completion on August 28…
New RAmparts 4300 ASD Tug to be Designed for Guangzhou Port
Robert Allan Ltd. has been awarded a contract to design a new RAmparts 4300 ASD tug for Guangzhou Port. The vessel will mark the first Robert Allan Ltd.-designed tug to join Guangzhou Port’s fleet and will be constructed by Lianyungang Hongyun Industrial Co., Ltd. with delivery anticipated in May 2028.Designed to meet the demanding operational requirements of one of China’s busiest ports, the new RAmparts 4300 ASD tug will deliver exceptional performance and versatility, says Robert Allan Ltd.
Tidewater Completes WSUT Acquisition
Tidewater Inc. has announced the completion of its acquisition of Wilson, Sons Ultratug Participações S.A. and its affiliate Atlantic Offshore Services S.A. (collectively: WSUT), effective August 31, 2026.Quintin Kneen, Tidewater’s President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are pleased to announce the closing of the WSUT acquisition, and we are excited to welcome our new employees to Tidewater.
AWO Targets Action on Falls Overboard Prevention
On August 28, the American Waterways Operators (AWO) organized the second annual Falls Overboard Safety Standdown Day. Falls overboard are the leading cause of mariner fatalities in the tugboat, towboat, and barge industry.Participating companies and stakeholders were encouraged to pause briefly on August 28 to review falls overboard prevention procedures with crew; reinforce safe deck behavior, buddy systems…
Trump says Exxon will Re-Enter Venezuela
U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that ExxonMobil, the largest U.S. oil major, was among a group of companies planning to do business in Venezuela.Exxon declined to comment. Any entrance into the South American country would mark a stunning reversal nearly two decades after the company exited following the nationalization of its assets. The oil producer operates the prolific Stabroek Block in next-door Guyana…
ABS: Shipping has Entered a New Phase for Navigating Decarbonization
On the release of a new ABS report “Decision Point: Practical Pathways to 2035” John McDonald, ABS Chairman and CEO, explains: “The industry has entered a new phase. For many years, the discussion centered on identifying a future fuel winner. Today, the challenge is broader. Shipping companies are making investment decisions for assets that will operate into the 2040s, while managing regulatory uncertainty, changing market expectations and evolving technology pathways.
Lucas Cribley Named CEO of C-Innovation
C-Innovation (C-I), a provider of subsea services and an affiliate of Edison Chouest Offshore, announced the promotion of Lucas Cribley to Chief Executive Officer.In his new role, Cribley will lead C-I’s overall strategy and operations as the company expands its capabilities and strengthens its position in the global subsea services market.Cribley brings over 25 years of experience in offshore operations, project execution, and business development.
PPG Launches PPG ONE RANGE Marine Coating Portfolio at SMM
PPG announced the launch of the PPG ONE RANGE portfolio of five one-component marine coatings at the SMM 2026 maritime industry trade fair in Hamburg, Germany. Designed to simplify onboard fleet maintenance, the portfolio helps crews complete maintenance projects more efficiently with ready-to-use, one-component coating solutions.The portfolio's ready-to-use, one-component format supports a broad range of onboard maintenance applications with simplified product preparation…
Sweden Signs Order for Four Frigates
Sweden signed an order for four Naval Group frigates during a ceremony in Stockholm on Monday attended by French President Emmanuel Macron and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.Sweden, NATO's newest member, is racing to build up its military strength after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022 prompted the country to abandon its long-held policy of neutrality.European governments more generally have increased defence spending in response to pressure from U.S.
80 Vessels Queue to Enter the Danube
The queue of vessels waiting to enter the Danube en route to Ukraine's river ports has grown to about 80 over the past five days, although the number of ships being allowed through the route is also gradually increasing, a shipper said on Monday.Russian attacks have effectively blocked Ukraine's main Black Sea ports, which once handled 90% of the country's grain exports, forcing Kyiv to divert cargo…
Marlink Launches Solution for Maritime Operational Technology Security
Marlink, a leader in managed services for business-critical digital solutions, has launched a new OT Security offering for maritime and land-based industries. Combining professional services and OT-native technology solutions, the offering helps organizations protect the safety, continuity and resilience of operational technology. OT controls physical processes across industries including: vessel navigation…
