Maritime News
Rio Tinto Floats Glencore Merger
The Rio Tinto marine team ia a leading charterer, chartering and operating a fleet of more than 230 ships to transport over 300 million tonnes of product every year. Glencore shares rose by 10% on Friday following news it is in talks with Rio Tinto about a takeover that would create the world's largest mining group, valued at almost $207 billion.While Glencore gained, Rio Tinto shares fell by as much as 3%…
Union Maritime Takes Delivery of LNG and Wind-Powered LR2 Tanker
Union Maritime has taken delivery of what it said is the world’s first long-range 2 (LR2) tanker powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and wind-assisted propulsion.The vessel, MT SPA, was delivered on January 6 in Jingjiang, China, and was built by Yangzijiang Shipbuilding. It is a high-specification LNG dual-fuel LR2 tanker fitted with WindWings technology, combining alternative fuel capability with…
Babcock, Frankenburg Partner on Counter‑Drone Maritime Defense System
Babcock and Frankenburg Technologies have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore development of a new maritime counter‑drone air defense system in response to the rise of one‑way attack drones.Under the agreement, the partners will work on a cost‑effective, containerized platform for launching Frankenburg’s new low‑cost missiles, designed specifically to defend against one‑way attack drones.
Dutra Group Reshuffles Top Management
The Dutra Group, a California-based heavy civil marine contractor, has made a series of senior executive promotions across its core operations and newly acquired subsidiary, as it strengthens management capacity to support long-term growth.Bryan O’Sullivan has been appointed chief operating officer of the Dutra Group. An 18-year company veteran, O’Sullivan previously served as vice president of marine construction and will now oversee multiple divisions including dredging…
Kawasaki Heavy Industries to Build World's Largest Liquefied Hydrogen Carrier
Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Japan Suiso Energy have signed a contract to build the world’s largest liquefied hydrogen carrier, marking a step toward the commercialization of an international hydrogen supply chain.The vessel will have a cargo capacity of about 40,000 cubic meters and will be built at Kawasaki Heavy Industries’ Sakaide Works in Kagawa Prefecture. Japan Suiso Energy is the project operator…
ABB to Build World’s Largest Shore Power System at Port of Rotterdam
ABB has signed contracts with Rotterdam Shore Power (RSP) to engineer and construct what is expected to be the world’s largest shore power system by capacity at the Port of Rotterdam.The system will provide over 100 megavolt-amperes (MVA) of shore power capacity and is set to begin operations in the second half of 2028, serving three deep-sea container terminals.The installations aim to reduce emissions…
Svitzer Reshuffles Leadership in Americas and Europe
Towage services provider Svitzer has announced leadership changes across its Americas and European operations, starting from 2026, as part of a planned management transition.Arjen Van Dijk, who has served as managing director of Svitzer’s Americas business for the past six years, will move to lead the company’s European operations. During his tenure in the Americas, Svitzer expanded its footprint across…
CMA CGM, DHL Step Up Ocean Freight Decarbonization with Biofuel Deal
DHL Global Forwarding and shipping group CMA CGM have agreed to jointly use 8,990 metric tons of second-generation biofuel to reduce emissions from ocean freight.The initiative is expected to cut around 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions on a well-to-wake basis for container shipments moved under DHL’s GoGreen Plus service, marking a further step in efforts to decarbonize maritime transport.Under the agreement…
MOL, NYK Agree Ammonia Carrier Charters with JERA
Japanese power generator JERA has signed separate heads of agreements with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and NYK Group for the charter of ammonia carriers, as it moves toward establishing Japan’s first large-scale low-carbon ammonia transport chain.Under the agreements, MOL and NYK affiliates will charter vessels designed to transport low-carbon ammonia produced at JERA’s Blue Point Complex in Louisiana to JERA’s Hekinan Thermal Power Station in central Japan.
Wärtsilä to Sell Gas Solutions Business to Germany’s Mutares
Finnish engineering group Wärtsilä has agreed to divest its Gas Solutions business to German private equity investor Mutares SE & Co. KGaA, continuing its efforts to streamline operations and unlock value from its portfolio.Gas Solutions, which operates globally across the gas value chain, provides systems and lifecycle services for maritime gas handling, inert gas systems, gas-to-power solutions, liquefaction and biogas applications.
MOG, HHI Ink MoU to Build Submarines
Maritime Operations Group (MOG) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) signed a memorandum of understanding MoU aimed at accelerating the development, construction and delivery of modern diesel-electric submarines and undersea technologies for U.S. government and allied missions.Under the agreement, the two companies will explore collaboration on the design and construction of diesel-electric submarines optimized for U.S.
Oshima Bulk Carrier Design Earns ClassNK Approval for Alternative Fuels
Japan’s ClassNK has issued an approval in principle (AiP) for a bulk carrier concept developed by Oshima Shipbuilding that is designed to be ready for multiple alternative fuels, including ammonia, methanol and liquefied natural gas (LNG), as well as onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS).The approval confirms the technical feasibility of the vessel from a regulatory and safety perspective and reflects…
VARD Forms Research and Innovation Partnership with NORCE
VARD has recently signed an agreement (MoU) with the major Norwegian research institute NORCE, establishing a strategic partnership to cooperate on research and innovation.The agreement encompasses topics such as design, construction, on board and underwater maintenance and drone technology for ships and subsea technology, with particular focus on the planned standardized vessels of the Norwegian Navy.
The Top 8: What Shipowners Should Watch in 2026
According to Veson Nautical’s 2025 End-of-Year Market Report, a report which breaks down prevailing trends in all major oceangoing shipping sectors globally, these are the prevailing trends shipowners should watch in 2026.1. Routing Normalization vs. Geopolitical RealityMuch of 2025’s earnings strength—especially in containers, crude tankers and dry bulk—was driven by longer voyages around the Cape of Good Hope.
AYK Energy Signs Second Chemical Tanker Battery Deal with Spain’s Mureloil
Marine battery manufacturer AYK Energy has signed a second contract with Spanish ship owner Mureloil, extending the use of battery-supported diesel-electric propulsion into the chemical tanker segment.The agreement follows the installation of a battery system on Mureloil’s 8,000-deadweight-tonne tanker Bahía Candela and will see AYK supply an identical 4.2 MWh Aries+ battery system for its sister vessel Bahía Beatriz…
Western Bulk Buys Into Bulker Ownership Alongside Nordic Partners
Oslo-based dry bulk operator Western Bulk has re-entered ship ownership after acquiring a minority stake in a Kamsarmax vessel alongside a group of Norwegian partners, the company said on Tuesday.Western Bulk, together with A/S J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi, NRP Asset Management-managed Premium Maritime Fund 2024, and Pactum, has acquired the dry bulk carrier CSSC Shi Jia Zhuang, which will be renamed Western Egda.The 2020-built…
Union Maritime’s Chemical Tanker Newbuilds to Sport Anemoi’s Rotor Sails
Anemoi Marine Technologies, the U.K.-based designer of Rotor Sails for wind-assisted ship propulsion, has signed a deal to install its Rotor Sails on two newbuild chemical tankers under construction for Union Maritime.The 18,500 DWT vessels, to be built by Wuhu Shipyard Co in China, will feature a combination of technologies and retrofit readiness to safeguard cost-effective decarbonization across…
MPCC Places Order for Six New Container Ships to Chinese Shipyard
MPC Container Ships (MPCC) has entered into contracts with Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering in China for the construction of six 3,700 TEU container vessels scheduled for first delivery in second half of 2028.Each vessel will operate under a 10-year time charter, with extension options, to a top five liner company.The vessels are based on the newest design, which optimizes speed and fuel consumption for regional and feeder trades…
ABB, HDF Energy Target Maritime Decarbonization with Fuel Cells
ABB and HDF Energy have signed a joint-development agreement (JDA) to develop a high-power fuel cell unit for marine applications.The agreement builds on an earlier Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between ABB and HDF Energy in 2020, envisaging the collaboration.Foreseeing pilot installations in 2028 - 2029 and serial production from 2030, the agreement initiates a significant step forward…
Shipping Majors to Study Methanol Fuel Supply Chain on US Gulf Coast
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Japan’s ENEOS, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) and SEACOR Holdings have launched a joint study to develop a commercial methanol marine fuel supply network along the U.S. Gulf Coast.The study aims to establish the first large-scale ship-to-ship methanol bunkering operations in the United States, as the global shipping industry looks for practical pathways…
