Fincantieri Delivers Norwegian Luna Cruise Vessel
Fincantieri delivered the cruise ship Norwegian Luna to Norwegian Cruise Line during a ceremony at the builder’s Marghera shipyard in Italy, marking the second vessel in the expanded Prima Plus class.The 156,000-gt ship follows sister vessel Norwegian Aqua, delivered in 2025, and represents an evolution of the original Prima-class ships Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, which were also built by Fincantieri.
New "all about ports" Conference Highlights Port Infrastructure Development, Growth
Hamburg Messe und Congress is establishing "all about ports" (September 2-3, 2026, Hamburg), an international conference with an accompanying exhibition. The event takes a comprehensive look at modern port infrastructure, technologies and processes. Together with other international industry events, Hamburg will become a meeting point for the port industry, the maritime industry and digital logistics at the beginning of September.
Korean Register Upgrades SeaTrust Software Hub
Korean Register (KR) has launched an upgraded version of its technical software platform, "SeaTrust Software Hub," introducing an AI-integrated system designed to enhance user accessibility and strengthen customer support.SeaTrust Software Hub provides a more intuitive and structured interface for KR’s suite of technical software. It also enables users to manage the entire workflow, from software downloads and technical inquiries to feedback submission and improvement requests…
OceanPact-CBO Merger to Form 73-Vessel Fleet
Brazilian firms OceanPact and CBO have announced plans to combine their businesses, creating what the companies described as the country’s most comprehensive integrated fleet and services platform for the offshore sector.The transaction will be implemented through the incorporation of CBO’s holding company into OceanPact, according to a regulatory filing. Completion of the deal is subject to approval by Brazil’s antitrust regulator CADE and other customary conditions…
Russian Drone Hits Cargo Ship Near Ukraine Black Sea Port
A Russian drone damaged a civilian Panama-flagged vessel that was transporting corn near the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk in the Black Sea Odesa region, the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority said late on Wednesday.The vessel was hit while en route out of the port and some of the crew were injured, the ports authority said on the Telegram messaging app, without specifying the extent of the damage to the ship or how many crew members had been hurt.Ukraine ships about 90% of its exports via the Odesa
Iran Says US Tanker Hit in Gulf, Details Unconfirmed
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Thursday that they had hit a U.S. tanker in the northern part of the Gulf and the vessel was on fire.
Oil Surges 3% on Supply Concerns as Iran Conflict Escalates
Oil prices surged more than 3% on Thursday, extending a rally as the escalating U.S.-Israeli war with Iran raised fears of prolonged disruptions to vital Middle East oil and gas supplies.Brent LCOc1 crude advanced $2.44, or 3%, to $83.84 per barrel by 0722 GMT, a fifth session of gains. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 rose $2.44, or 3.27%, to $77.10.Crude oil markets remained on edge as they face ongoing risks to supply following the attacks in the Middle East…
Pilbara Ports Signs Ammonia Bunkering MoU
Australia’s Pilbara Ports has taken a step further towards development of a low-carbon ammonia bunkering hub in the Pilbara by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Yara Pilbara.The Yara Pilbara plant is one of the largest ammonia production facilities in the world, utilising world-class export infrastructure in the Port of Dampier.The MoU advances the Pilbara Clean Fuel Bunkering Initiative…
EU Launches Industrial Maritime Strategy
The European Commission has adopted a comprehensive Industrial Maritime Strategy to drive competitiveness, innovation and technological leadership in Europe’s maritime manufacturing and shipping industries. The strategy sets out a vision and concrete actions to reinforce Europe’s industrial sovereignty, trade and economic security, while supporting the sectors’ clean and digital transition.EU shipbuilding and shipping are vital to the Union's strategic autonomy…
Insurance Broker Marsh Meets US Officials to Discuss Iran War
Insurance broker Marsh McLennan said on Wednesday it had met with U.S. officials to explore solutions for restoring maritime trade amid escalating fighting in the Middle East, as attacks in the region threaten energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.The waterway, a critical chokepoint between Iran and Oman, carries about a fifth of globally traded crude oil and liquefied natural gas.Shipping through the strait has slowed significantly following Iranian strikes on commercial vessels…
Exxon to Send its First Fuel Shipment from US Gulf Coast to Australia
Exxon Mobil is set to ship around 600,000 barrels of fuel from the U.S. Gulf Coast to cover its own import requirements in Australia, the first such shipments by the oil major, four sources with knowledge of the matter said.The planned shipments, on a route rarely used for refined products flows, show how severely global oil trade has been impacted by the near-complete halt of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz after Iran began striking vessels in the waterway this week in retaliation for U.S.
Oil companies reject Trump Administration's Alaska Offshore Auction
The Trump administration sold more than 400,000 acres (406,876 hectares) of land in Alaska's Cook Inlet on Wednesday, but no oil and gas drillers showed up. They refused to make a bid.The One Big Beautiful Bill Act of U.S. president Donald Trump, which was signed into law in 2017, mandates six Alaska offshore gas and oil auctions through 2032.Trump has sought ways to increase domestic oil and gas production, including in Alaska, where the industry has seen a decline in recent decades.
Port of the Future 2026: A Look Back, a Path Forward
A Quick Q&A with Port of the Future Founder and Event Director Kevin Clement on key differentiators and the value of attending, exhibiting and speaking at Port of the Future 2026:CLICK HERE to discover the conference line-up and to register for Port of the Future 2026 in Houston, March 23-25.Q: What inspired the creation of the Port of the Future Conference?The idea started in 2019 with Dr. Tony Ambler at the University of Houston.
American Pilots’ Association Supports NOAA's Move to Adapt North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Speed Rule
The American Pilots’ Association (APA) applauds the March 4, 2026 announcement by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that, as part of ongoing efforts to evaluate and improve regulations, it is publishing an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) to consider deregulatory action to modify and modernize the North Atlantic Right Whale Vessel Speed Rule (NARW VSR). In August 2022…
Armon Shipyard Delivers MAURIC Fast Ferry Bindy II
Spanish shipyard Armon has delivered the Fast Ferry Bindy II to Morlenn Express (Sogestran Group), a passenger catamaran of under 30 meters with a beam of 10.7 meters, designed by MAURIC. Capable of carrying 400 passengers at 20 knots and fitted with IMO Tier III-compliant engines, the vessel marks a milestone in the fleet renewal program of the Brittany-based operator.Appointed by Morlenn Express in 2023 as part of their fleet renewal strategy…
India's MRPL Declares Force Majeure on Fuel Exports as Iran Conflict Disrupts Crude Supplies
India's Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals has suspended fuel exports due to the Middle East conflict that has disrupted crude oil flows from the Gulf, two sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.The company has declared force majeure on all upcoming gasoline export cargoes for March and April, two separate trade sources said.MRPL had awarded two to three cargoes of gasoline via tenders for early March loading and is in discussions with buyers on settling those supplies…
Shipping Crisis in the Strait of Hormuz Deepens, Tankers Stranded for Fifth Day
The U.S.–Iran war widened on Wednesday after a U.S. strike hit an Iranian warship off Sri Lanka, deepening a crisis that has paralysed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz for a fifth day and choked off vital Middle East oil and gas flows.The U.S. submarine strike on the Iranian vessel came as U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to provide insurance and navy escorts to ships exporting oil and gas from the Middle East in a bid to contain soaring energy prices.At least 200 ships…
Russian LNG Tanker Sinks in Mediterranean
A Russian tanker carrying liquefied natural gas (LNG) sank in the Mediterranean on Wednesday after what Moscow described as an attack by Ukrainian drones launched from Libya.The Arctic Metagaz sank in waters between Libya and Malta after catching fire a day earlier, Libya's maritime rescue agency said in an advisory seen by Reuters."Information indicates that the tanker experienced sudden explosions followed by a massive fire, which ultimately led to its complete sinking," the agency said.Ukrain
Glamox to Light US Navy’s Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ship
Glamox, a leading lighting companies, has secured a contract from Austal USA to supply exterior and interior LED marine lighting for the future USNS James D Fairbanks (T-ATS 13), the latest Navajo-Class (T-ATS) Towing, Salvage, and Rescue ship being constructed for the US Navy (USN). This new contract brings the total to three T-ATS ships that Glamox is lighting for Austal USA. Previously, Glamox was…
Keel of USS Philadelphia Authenticated by HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding
Ingalls Shipbuilding division authenticated the keel for the future USS Philadelphia (LPD 32), a Flight II San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship.The ceremony included ship sponsor Maureen Paparo, a Philadelphia native, who was joined by her spouse, Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. Also, attending the ceremony was Chris Kastner, HII’s president and CEO, Brian Blanchette, Ingalls Shipbuilding president and key U.S.
