UK Government to Boost Seafarers’ Rights
The UK government has extended its efforts to cement stronger rights and protections in law for seafarers.Following the introduction of the national minimum wage equivalent for seafarers in domestic waters, the new laws being developed would guarantee minimum rest periods and fair pay for every seafarer working on frequent crossings between the UK and France and the Channel Islands, extending protections beyond UK territorial waters for the first time. Measures being consulted…
MARTAC Expands Across Western USA With Opening of San Diego Innovation Center
Maritime Tactical Systems, Inc. (MARTAC), a provider of fully autonomous unmanned surface vessels (USVs), announced the opening of the MARTAC Innovation Center West in San Diego, California. The new facility marks a milestone in the company’s expansion, strengthening its ability to serve defense, security and commercial customers across the West Coast and Pacific regions.The MARTAC Innovation Center West will serve as a hub for research, development, testing and customer engagement, complementing MARTAC’s headquarters in Melbourne, Florida. San Diego’s deep ties to the U.S.
Port Tampa Bay Completes Terminal Expansion
Cemex US and Port Tampa Bay, joined by Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, have celebrated the opening of the newly expanded Cemex Aggregate Terminal at Port Tampa Bay.The expansion, supported by a $29 million Cemex investment and a $7 million Florida Department of Transportation grant, significantly increases the terminal's capacity to receive, store and distribute the aggregates used in concrete, asphalt and construction projects across the region.The expanded terminal moves aggregates from Newfoundland…
France Drafts UN Security Council Resolution on Restoring Hormuz Movement
France has drafted a U.N. Security Council resolution on setting up an international mission to restore movement in the Strait of Hormuz and could submit it if conditions are right, the foreign ministry said on Friday, as Washington struggles to bring to a vote a text Russia and China may say is biased against Tehran.Control of the narrow waterway, a vital artery for global energy trade whose virtual closure has led to spiralling oil prices, is a major obstacle in talks to end…
Wärtsilä, Erik Thun Agree Overhaul Partnership for Fleet Support
Wärtsilä has signed a long-term overhaul agreement with Sweden’s Erik Thun Group, covering maintenance and technical support across its fleet.The agreement, developed with fleet management partner MF Shipping Group, includes overhaul services, field and technical services, workshop support and spare parts supply.The work is aimed at supporting the performance and lifespan of engines, propulsion systems and shaft line equipment across the fleet.Wärtsilä will provide maintenance and field services to reduce downtime…
EU Emissions Trading System Sustains Downward Trend in Emissions
The European Commission has published the verified EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) emissions data for 2025 showing a -1.3% reduction in ETS emissions, compared to 2024 levels.This reduction continues the steady downward trend of emissions. Since the ETS was launched in 2005, the system has halved emissions in the sectors it covers. It remains on track to achieve the 2030 target of a 62% reduction.For maritime, the reported data so far shows that emissions from the sector fell by around 3%.Emissions from power generation through combustion of fossil fuels continued their downward trend…
Iron Ore Trade on the Great Lakes Down in March 2026
Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes in March 2026 decreased 23.5 percent from a year ago. Loadings were also below the month’s 5-year average by 35.1 percent. The iron ore trade stands at 2.7 million tons, a decrease of 7.7 percent compared to 2025. For the first three months of the year, iron ore shipments are 21.2 percent below their 5-year average.Since 1880, Lake Carriers’ has represented the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, which today can move more than 90 million tons of cargos annually that are the foundation of American industry…
Cyprus Officially Recommends ICS International Medical Guide for Seafarers and Fishers
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) announced that Cyprus officially recommended the ICS International Medical Guide for Seafarers and Fishers for use on board vessels under its flag.The Republic of Cyprus Deputy Shipping Ministry has issued a circular to its fleet recommending the comprehensive medical guide, joining an expanding list of leading flag states that recognize the guide's value in protecting seafarer and fisher health and safety. In addition to recommending inclusion of the guide in the list of publications to be on board Cyprus flagged ships…
Strait of Hormuz Disruptions Impact Bulk Carriers
"The attacks on Iran by the US and Israel have caused disruptions for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Although this passage is less critical for the dry bulk sector than for the tanker market, the disruptions still impact around 4% of dry bulk cargo volumes and tonne mile demand,” says Filipe Gouveia, Shipping Analysis Manager at BIMCO.Disruptions in the region have already led to a decline in traffic, and at least five ships have been attacked. The number of bulk carrier…
Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade a Near Match to January 2025
Iron ore shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 2 million tons in January, a near match to 2025. Loadings were below the month’s 5-year average by 14.5 percent.Since 1880, Lake Carriers’ has represented the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, which today can move more than 90 million tons of cargos annually that are the foundation of American industry, infrastructure, and power: iron ore, stone, coal, cement, and other dry bulk materials such as grain, salt, and sand.
Activity Increases in Ship Recycling Yards
The weekly roller coaster that has become the global marketplace went through its regular gravitational drop this week, with the U.S. dollar taking the “cement-footed diving approach” in all ship-recycling destinations… except Turkey, reports cash buyer GMS.The Baltic Exchange Dry Bulk Index fell 0.7% down to a two-week low, dragged by the Capesize index, which fell 1.1% over the week. The Panamax index slipped 0.4%, while the Supramax index rose 0.2%. Meanwhile, easing tensions between the U.S.
U.S.-Flag Shipping on the Great Lakes Down in 2025
U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters (lakers) carried 71.3 million tons of cargo in 2025, an 8.9 percent decrease from a year ago. 2025 cargo movement on the Great Lakes was 8.1 percent below the fleet’s 5-year average.Except for salt shipments, which increased by 4.1 percent, all commodity shipments decreased in 2025. Iron ore shipments were down 10.8 percent from 2024 to 39.1 million tons. Coal cargos declined to 6.5 million tons, a decrease of 12 percent. Limestone shipments of 20.1 million tons were below last year’s shipments by 4.7 percent.
Low-Emission Cement Carrying Vessel to be Dual-Fuel Methanol
Heidelberg Materials Northern Europe has taken a decisive step toward low-emission coastal logistics with the development of a next-generation methanol-powered cement carrier, an 80% emissions-cutting vessel that could redefine short-sea bulk operations in Scandinavia. Planned to enter service in early 2028, the newbuild is the product of a multi-stakeholder public-private partnership involving the Hartmann Group, the Green Shipping Programme (GSP) and the Norwegian NOx Fund,…
Cement Carrying Vessel Flourish Going into Africa
“Between January and November 2025, cement shipments, including clinker, have jumped 13% y/y, driven by a 39% y/y increase in shipments to Africa’s Atlantic coast. The region is experiencing high economic growth, fast urbanisation and rapid development in infrastructure, supporting construction activity and boosting the demand for cement,” says Filipe Gouveia, Shipping Analysis Manager at BIMCO.Cement and clinker import dependency is high across most countries in the region as most countries have insufficient domestic production capacity.
Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Down in November
Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes decreased 19.1 percent from 2024 to 3.4 million tons in November. Shipments were below the month’s 5-year average by 20.3 percent.Year-to-date, the iron ore trade stands at 39.2 million tons, a decrease of 13.2 percent compared to the same point in 2024.Through November, iron ore loadings are 8.1 percent below their 5-year average.Since 1880, Lake Carriers’ has represented the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet, which today can move more than 90 million tons of cargos annually that are the foundation of American industry…
In the Search for Ship Energy Efficiency, Don't Forget Waste Heat
Fuel-agnostic and suitable for newbuilds and retrofit, Organic Rankine Cycle waste heat recovery systems are making headway as an energy-efficiency measure.Market prospects are looking so good for waste heat recovery systems that Orcan Energy recently expanded its industry relationships by partnering with Goltens on installations.Andreas Sichert, CEO of Orcan Energy, said: “Waste heat recovery is one of the most powerful and underutilized tools for improving energy efficiency.
Algoma Central Fleet Hits the 100-Vessel Mark, Records Strong Q3
St. Catharines, Ontario–based Algoma Central Corporation (TSX: ALC) reported a solid third quarter for 2025, marked by fleet milestones, steady revenue growth across segments, and ongoing investment in next-generation vessels.For the quarter ended September 30, Algoma posted revenue of C$228 million, up from C$205 million a year earlier, and EBITDA of C$89.7 million, a 19% increase year-over-year. Net earnings came in at C$39.4 million or C$0.97 per share, essentially flat compared to Q3 2024.“This quarter marked a milestone for Algoma with the delivery of the Algoma Legacy…
Mermaid Subsea Wraps Up North Sea Subsea Recovery Project
Mermaid Subsea Services (UK) has completed a fast-track subsea recovery campaign in the North Sea for a major operator.The operation involved the internal and external severance of casing, conductor, guide pipe and cement lines, as well as local seabed excavation and recovery of the CAN-Basic structure.Mermaid also handled waste management of recovered items and backfill operations to prepare for an over-trawl survey. “This was a time-critical project, and our team responded with professionalism and agility to ensure safe and efficient delivery.
Germany Launches €6b Industrial Decarbonization Program
German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche on Monday unveiled a 6 billion euro ($7 billion) funding initiative aimed at industrial decarbonisation, incorporating carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology into the country's climate protection contracts for the first time.The program targets energy-intensive sectors such as chemicals, steel, cement and glass, as Germany navigates stringent climate targets amid concerns over industrial competitiveness. Companies have until December 1 to register projects for next year's bidding process.Bidding is set to launch mid-2026…
Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Down in September
Shipments of iron ore from U.S. ports on the Great Lakes decreased 14.2 percent from 2024 to 4.7 million tons in September. Shipments were below the month’s 5-year average by 7.4 percent.Year-to-date, the iron ore trade stands at 31.4 million tons, a 14 percent decrease compared to last year. Through September, iron ore loadings are 6.6 percent below their 5-year average for the first three quarters of the year.Since 1880, Lake Carriers’ has represented the U.S.-flag Great Lakes fleet…
Accelleron: Shipping Must Pool Carbon-Neutral Fuel Demand with Other Industries
In its first report on maritime decarbonization, Accelleron's Deadlock: What's Stopping Shipping's Carbon-Neutral Fuel Transition? argues that "viral" efficiency measures such as vessel retrofits and digital solutions across the largest ships in the global fleet should be enough to reach the IMO's carbon reduction targets for 2030.But for deeper decarbonization leading to net zero, shipping will need to switch to green hydrogen-based fuels, which today are scarce and prohibitively expensive.
Amrize Launches Cement Carrier in Toronto
Amrize has launched the MV Tamarack, a 12,500dwt carrier with a capacity of over 10,000 cubic meters of cement.The vessel was delivered by Holland Shipyard in The Netherlands and is managed by CSL’s Canadian division, Canada Steamship Lines.The MV Tamarack replaces two older ships with a single, streamlined, high-performance vessel. Equipped with diesel-electric propulsion, advanced manuvrability systems, shore-power compatibility, noise insulation and energy-saving cargo handling…
Tanzania-Flagged Vessel in Semi-Sunken State Off Coast of Kish Island
A Tanzania-flagged vessel is partially submerged south of Iran's Kish Island, Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Wednesday, adding that the cause of the incident was under investigation.The agency cited an Iranian official as saying the nine crew members were rescued from the vessel, which was carrying 2,500 tons of white cement.The incident occurred around 13:30 local time.