Marine Link
Monday, December 8, 2025

East Coast News

07 Dec 2025

Red Sea Return Imminent for Container Shipping

Source: Xeneta

Major carrier CMA CGM has announced its INDAMEX service will transit Suez Canal on fronthaul and backhaul voyages between India/Pakistan and US East Coast in a notable step towards a largescale return of container ships to the Red Sea region.The first vessel to complete a full service loop via Suez Canal will be CMA CGM Verdi, sailing from Karachi to New York on 15 January. eeSea by Xeneta data shows voyages via Suez Canal rather than Cape of Good Hope reduces full loop transit time on this service by two weeks…

02 Dec 2025

Hull Cleaning Robotics: Army Beats Navy – the Hegseth Way!

Image courtesy Colonel Rachael Hoagland

Sticking to legacy tactics won't beat China — adopt Secretary Hegseth's and the Army initiatives or surrender the edge.In a recent address, Admiral Christopher Grady, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, underscored the urgent need for a robotic hull-cleaning system to enable anytime maintenance, reduce drag, boost speed, and minimize fuel consumption for naval vessels. Hearing this, I immediately recognized an opportunity for the U.S. Army to step up and drive maritime innovation forward—at wartime speed.

30 Nov 2025

Protesters Disrupt Coal Shipment in Australia

Rising Tide / Lee Illfield

One of Australia's biggest coal export ports will resume operations on Monday, the port operator said, after climate-change protesters disrupted shipping at the Port of Newcastle for a second day on Sunday.Climate activist group Rising Tide, which claimed responsibility for the latest protest, said hundreds of activists paddled kayaks into the shipping lane of Newcastle Harbour on Sunday morning, violating an exclusion zone.The port, 170 km (110 miles) north of New South Wales state capital Sydney…

25 Nov 2025

Fugro Wraps Up Survey at Dogger Bank South Offshore Wind Farm

(Credit: RWE)

Fugro has completed the geotechnical site investigations at the eastern array of Dogger Bank South Wind Farm, off UK.Fugro’s five-vessel campaign gathered core samples and cone penetration tests (CPT) data up to 50 meters below the seabed.According to RWE, which is developing the project together with partner Masdar, the results of the campaign will provide vital insights for designing turbine and platform foundations.Dogger Bank South (DBS) consists of two offshore wind farms - DBS East and DBS West - with an estimated combined capacity of 3 GW.RWE leads both DBS projects…

17 Nov 2025

Tug Returns to Service Following Fire Damage

The Mitsubishi S12R-Y3MPTAW-3 Tier 3 engines rated at 1260HP @1600RPM. Image courtesy Laborde Products

After sustaining extensive damage in a December 2024 fire, the tug Lucinda Smith has returned to the water with a fresh start powered by Mitsubishi S12R-Y3MPTAW-3 Tier 3 engines rated at 1260HP @1600RPM each. The repower was completed by Windward Power with support from Laborde Products, giving the rebuilt vessel renewed strength and reliability for her work on the East Coast.Built in 1975 for the U.S. Navy as YTB-140, Lucinda Smith has sailed under multiple owners and through several repowers across the country.

12 Nov 2025

New McAllister Tractor Tug Arrives in New York

Source: McAllister Towing

McAllister Towing’s newest tractor tug, the Gerard McAllister, has arrived in the Port of New York.American made at Washburn & Doughty, the tug is the fifth in a series of six 84-metric-ton bollard pull, low-emission tractor tugs. She is McAllister’s 42nd tractor tug and the 13th with over 80 metric tons of bollard pull.Driven by 6,770 horsepower in her CAT engines, the Gerard McAllister is built to handle the largest ships arriving on the U.S. East Coast. She joins her sister vessel…

12 Nov 2025

Washburn & Doughty-Built Gerard McAllister Delivered

The Gerard McAllister, a newly built 6,770 hp tractor tug, sailing from Maine on her way to the McAllister’s flagship operations in the Port of New York.
Image courtesy McAllister Towing

McAllister Towing’s newest tractor tug, the Gerard McAllister, was delivered from Washburn & Doughty, the fifth in a series of six 84-metric-ton bollard pull, low-emission tractor tugs. She is McAllister’s 42nd tractor tug and the 13th with over 80 metric tons of bollard pull, underscoring the company’s continuation toward a more powerful, hi-tech, and sustainable fleet.Driven by 6,770 horsepower in her CAT engines, the Gerard McAllister is built to handle the largest ships arriving on the U.S. East Coast.

11 Nov 2025

Container Freight Rates Could Plunge with End of Houthi Attacks

© Maritime Art Blog / Adobe Stock

Houthi militia have reportedly ceased attacks on Israel and shipping in the Red Sea, and the impact could be seismic for global ocean container shipping, warns Chief Analyst Peter Sand at Xeneta. However, an immediate largescale return to the region will require a series of further assurances.“Details are sketchy, and you cannot base the safety of crews, ships and cargo on the word of Houthi militia. Carriers need far more assurance than that and, perhaps more importantly, so do insurance companies…

07 Nov 2025

Keel Laid for Canada’s Final Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship

Source: Irving Shipbuilding

At a ceremony at Halifax Shipyard, the Canadian Coast Guard and Irving Shipbuilding have marked the official keel laying of the eighth and final Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS) – the future CCGS Sermilik.Today’s ceremony included the tradition of welding a coin to the hull of the ship to bring luck to the captain and crew during the life of the ship.The future CCGS Sermilik is named after the Sermilik Glacier, located in Sirmilik National Park in Nunavut.Under the National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS)…

30 Oct 2025

Sanctioned Russian LNG Tanker Makes STS Transfer Off Malaysia

© dechevm / Adobe Stock

A sanctioned liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker made a ship-to-ship (STS) transfer off the coast of Malaysia after picking up a cargo from a Russian export terminal also under Western restrictions, according to two analytics firms.The operation appears to be the first known STS transfer of sanctioned Russian LNG, despite Western efforts to curb Moscow's energy revenues over its war in Ukraine.The LNG tanker Perle, which was sanctioned by the United States in January, had been…

27 Oct 2025

American Cruise Lines Announces New U.S.-Built Vessels Through 2028

© American Cruise Lines

American Cruise Lines has announced 10 new ships for the U.S. market beginning with American Pioneer debuting in Florida on October 31st. American Pioneer is the 2nd new Patriot Class ship the company has launched this year. All American’s new boats will continue to sail domestically, operating itineraries across the Line’s growing portfolio, including the Mississippi River, Alaska, and the East Coast. The new ships will also accelerate American’s expansion into new niche markets such as the Great Lakes, the Arkansas River, and National Parks cruises.

24 Oct 2025

First Export Cable Laid at Scotland’s 1.1GW Offshore Wind Farm

First export cable pull-in - Enshore Subsea’s CMOS Installer at Inch Cape’s offshore substation platform (Credit: Inch Cape Offshore)

Enshore Subsea has installed the first of two offshore export cables at Inch Cape offshore wind farm, using the CMOS Installer cable laying vessel.Operating from the Port of Blyth, the vessel installed the first of two 85-kilometre export cables for the 1.1 GW offshore wind farm, being built off the east coast of Scotland.The 220 kV, three-phase export cable was installed in three 28-kilometre sections.Once operational, the cable will transmit power from the offshore wind farm to the project’s new onshore substation under construction at Cockenzie…

03 Oct 2025

DOF Bags $60m in Project Awards in North America

Skandi Skansen vessel (Credit: DOF Group)

DOF announce several project awards in the North America region, using vessels already in the region, securing more than 300 days of firm vessel utilization for a combined contract value of more than $60m, with options available.Skandi Skansen will be used for a mooring project in Guyana with expected commencement in October 2025 and an expected duration of approximately six weeks with further options.Skandi Implementer has secured two jobs in Mexico with international oil companies…

20 Aug 2025

M/V Seaward Endeavor Offers Increased International Charter Capabilities

© Seaward Services, Inc.

Seaward Services, Inc., a provider of maritime solutions and part of the global Hornblower Group, announced that its vessel the M/V Seaward Endeavor is available for extended international operations following its approval by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for expanded authority to operate in international waters. The Seaward Endeavor is an integral component of Seaward’s growing fleet of Multi-Purpose Offshore Supply Vessels. Currently stationed on the US East Coast, the Seaward Endeavor is now positioned to support operations beyond domestic waters…

12 Aug 2025

Barrere, Hanley, Marino to Receive AOTOS Awards

© Captain Willie Barrere

The United Seamen’s Service (USS) announced that the 56th annual Admiral of the Ocean Sea (AOTOS) Awards will honor three champions of American maritime: Captain Willie Barrere, National President of American Maritime Officers; Edward F. Hanley, Chief Operating Officer of Maersk Line, Limited and Vincent J. Marino, Chief Executive Officer of CMC-ITI-CCS.A Special Recognition plaque will be presented to Edward R. Morgan in honor of his extraordinary leadership as President of USS. Serving in this role for more than 20 years, Mr.

11 Aug 2025

Orsted Shares Plunge as it Seeks $9.4B to U.S. Wind Power Project

"Orsted and our industry are in an extraordinary situation with the adverse market development in the U.S. on top of the past years’ macroeconomic and supply chain challenges," said CEO Rasmus Errboe. Image courtesy Orsted

Shares in Orsted  plunged to a record low on Monday as the wind farm developer asked shareholders for $9.4 billion to help fund a U.S. project, after potential partners were put off by U.S. President Donald Trump's hostility to wind power.The 60 billion crowns ($9.4 billion) rights issue is worth around half of the Danish company's market value as of Friday's close.Struggling in recent years with soaring inflation and logistical problems that sent costs soaring, the offshore wind…

29 Jul 2025

Xeneta Warns Freight Rates May Continue to Plummet Despite New Trade Deals

© Adobe Stock/APchanel

Latest data from Xeneta, an ocean and air freight intelligence platform, shows average spot rates from China to the US West Coast are down 59% since June 1, 2025, at USD 2 268 per FEU (40ft container). Rates have also plummeted into the US East Coast, down 43% to USD 3 796 per FEU in the same period.Average spot rates from North Europe to US East Coast are USD 2 000 per FEU, down a gentler 5% since June 1, 2025, but a more considerable 25% compared to January 1 of this year.“US…

24 Jul 2025

Great Lakes Launches First US Subsea Rock Installation Vessel

Acadia subsea rock installation vessel (Credit: Great Lakes & Dock Corporation)

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Corporation, the largest provider of dredging services in the United States, has launched the first U.S. flagged, Jones Act-compliant subsea rock installation (SRI) vessel, named Acadia, at Hanwha Philly Shipyard.The Acadia vessel is engineered to transport and precisely install up to 20,000 metric tons of rock on the seabed.The rock provides critical scour protection for subsea infrastructure including subsea cables for power transmission, telecommunications cables…

14 Jul 2025

Bollinger Tapped to Modify Rocket Lab's Neutron Landing Platform

Image courtesy Rocket Lab Corporation

Rocket Lab Corporation awarded a contract to Bollinger Shipyards to support the build out of Rocket Lab’s ocean landing platform for its Neutron reusable rocket.Modification and fit-out of Rocket Lab technology to its 400-ft-long landing platform named ‘Return On Investment’ has begun and is taking place at Bollinger Shipyards, primarily at its shipyard in Amelia, Louisiana, with delivery of the vessel to Rocket Lab expected in early 2026.Bollinger Shipyards will leverage its…

13 Jul 2025

Australia Won’t Commit Troops in Advance to Any Conflict

Senior government and military officials from 19 participating nations stand together as part of the Exercise Talisman Sabre 25 Opening Ceremony event onboard HMAS Adelaide, Sydney, New South Wales.

Australia will not commit troops in advance to any conflict, Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said on Sunday, responding to a report that the Pentagon has pressed its ally to clarify what role it would play if the U.S. and China went to war over Taiwan.Australia prioritises its sovereignty and "we don't discuss hypotheticals", Conroy said in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation."The decision to commit Australian troops to a conflict will be made by the government of the day…

09 Jul 2025

Xeneta Ocean Container Shipping Market Update

© Xeneta

Market average spot rates – July 8, 2025:Far East to US West Coast: USD 2673 per FEU (40ft container)Far East to US East Coast: USD 5151 per FEUFar East to North Europe: USD 3393 per FEUFar East to Mediterranean: USD 4197 per FEUNorth Europe to US East Coast: USD 1992 per FEUMarket average on the Transpacific trade from Far East to US West Coast accelerated its decline in the early days of July, down 18% from end-June and falling below the level seen in second half of May. With carriers now deploying more capacity above the level required to meet shippers’ demand…

03 Jul 2025

US Navy: Big or Small, Boats are Indispensable to the USN

Naval Special Warfare Combatant Craft Assault boats approach the well deck of the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25).
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Evan Diaz

For the U.S. Navy, boats perform missions from mundane maintenance chores such as hull scraping and cleaning overboard discharges to clandestine special forces insertion and extraction. Some boats are about as basic as you can imagine, and some are equipped with sophisticated combat systems and weapons. Big or small, they all perform indispensable tasks for the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.Boats that are carried on and launched from ships are referred to as “shipboard boats,” to distinguish them from boats based at installations ashore.

16 Jun 2025

US Warships Arrive in Australia, Prep for War Games, Summit

Two F-35B Lightning II fighter aircraft from Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 242, prepare to land on the flight deck of the forward-deployed amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) while conducting flight operations in the Philippine Sea, June 1. America, lead ship of the America Amphibious Ready Group, is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and pa

A key U.S. warship arrived in Australia on Saturday ahead of joint war games and the first summit between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and President Donald Trump, which is expected to be dominated by military issues.The America, the U.S. Navy's lead amphibious assault ship in the Indo-Pacific, entered Sydney Harbour as the first of three ships in a strike group carrying 2,500 sailors and marines, submarine-hunting helicopters and F-35B fighter jets.More than 30,000 personnel from 19 militaries have begun to arrive in Australia for Talisman Sabre, the largest Australian-U.S.