Georgia News

War insurance costs for ships sailing to the Black Sea have spiked again, with insurers reviewing policies daily as the conflict in Ukraine spills into sea lanes, five shipping and insurance sources said on Thursday.The Black Sea is crucial for the shipment of grain, oil and oil products. Its waters are shared by Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania and Turkey, as well as Russia and Ukraine.Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Wednesday that attacks on Russia-linked tankers in…

A Russian-flagged tanker loaded with sunflower oil reported a drone attack off the Turkish coast on Tuesday, but its 13 crew members were unharmed, Turkey's maritime authority and the Tribeca shipping agency said.Ukrainian naval drones last week hit two tankers sanctioned by Kyiv and some of its Western allies in the Black Sea as they headed to a Russian port to load oil destined for foreign markets, as the country attempts to pile pressure on Russia's oil sector.Ukraine's foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said Ukraine was not involved in Tuesday's attack…

Officer Lee Tae Young, a first mate from the Republic of Korea, has been awarded the IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea, in recognition of his heroic actions that saved 12 fellow crew members from the Geum Seong No. 135 when it sunk in November 2024. He was honored during a special ceremony recognizing seafarers held in London on November 24, 2025, in the margins of the IMO Assembly taking place from November 24 to December 3, 2025. IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez applauded Mr.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works mission began in 1824 when our Nation’s fifth President, James Monroe, signed into law a bill to improve navigation on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. While Corps projects have always been large and complex, the Civil Works missions have evolved over time to incorporate new regulations, policies, shifts from political pressures, and unfortunately, cumbersome bureaucracy. Today’s Corps’ Civil Works mission is critical to America’s economy and global competitiveness and provides a true return on investment to move the country forward.

South Korea's HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is in talks with multiple companies about buying a U.S. shipyard, a senior company executive said, seeking to tap into President Donald Trump's push to revive America's ailing shipbuilding industry.The world's largest shipbuilder based on orders is targeting 3 trillion won ($2.2 billion) in annual revenue by 2035 from building warships for the U.S. Navy, said Woo-maan Jeong, head of planning and management for HD Hyundai's 329180.KS naval and special ship unit…

NATO allies Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey should expand a joint task force that clears mines floating in the Black Sea to include patrols to protect energy facilities and trade routes from potential Russian attack, Romania's defence minister said.The Black Sea - especially Ukrainian waters - has been a crucial theatre of war since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and drifting sea mines have posed a threat to shipments of grain and oil, with several commercial ships being hit.Romania…

Turkish shipowner Susesea has streamlined its vessels operation by upgraded the cylinder lubrication strategy across its fleet of six bulk carriers with Chevron’s Taro Ultra Advanced 40 (TUA 40).Working with Chevron Marine Lubricants and its regional distributor, Petrol Ofisi, Susesea has reduced cylinder oil feed rates by approximately 33%, delivering both technical and commercial benefits.The six Japanese- and Chinese-built vessels, each with an average deadweight of 64,000 tons…

In a webinar organized by the Maritime Authority of Jamaica this week, some of the top names in the maritime world came together to endorse the International Maritime Organization’s Day of the Seafarer initiative.This year Day of the Seafarer took the theme of ‘My Harassment-Free Ship,’ stating that bullying and harassment was unacceptable in all its forms, with those on the webinar looking at ways bullying could be stamped out.Hosted by Sean Moloney, the panel comprised of Captain Steven Spence (Head of Safety…

It’s no surprise that waterjets are great for shallow-draft, highly maneuverable craft, but vessel designers are busting out of the old stereotypes.Vessel designer Aircat Vessels has developed a surface effect ship (SES) crew transport catamaran, AIRCAT 35 Crewliner, that can sail at over 50 knots and manage offshore transfers in 2.5-meter seas. The air cushion system from ESNA dynamically adjusts to sea conditions so the vessel can reduce transit times, reduce fuel consumption…

The U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services, through the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025, tasked the U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) with assessing how reduced dredging capacity may have impacted designated strategic seaports. In response, USTRANSCOM submitted a report titled Dredging and the Strategic Seaport Program, which has recently been declassified and made available to the public. The report outlines operational impacts, identifies root causes of dredging challenges…

One of the most powerful heavy-lift vessels ever built is entering a new chapter under U.S. ownership, reconditioned for major offshore work in the Gulf of America. Renamed the TX-10000, this twin-gantry catamaran is at the center of Xenos Marine's mission to expand domestic heavy-lift and decommissioning capabilities, following a major refit at Gulf Copper Ship Repair. The TX-10000, previously known as the VB-10000, has a storied history.Originally commissioned in 2010 by Versabar as a next-generation evolution of the pioneering Bottom Feeder…

The maritime industry is a cornerstone of the global economy, facilitating over 90% of world trade and generating billions in economic activity. In the United States, waterfront employment represents a critical sector, supporting nearly 21.8 million jobs and contributing approximately $2.89 trillion to the national GDP. Despite its enormous impact, the industry faces unprecedented challenges that demand strategic action and innovative solutions to meet the demands of increased global trade in the coming years.It is undeniable that ports…

Researchers from MIT and Georgia Tech have concluded that burning heavy fuel oil with scrubbers in the open ocean can match or surpass using low-sulfur fuels when a wide variety of environmental factors is considered.The scientists combined data on the production and operation of scrubbers and fuels with emissions measurements taken onboard a bulk carrier owned by Oldendorff Carriers. Gaseous and particulate matter (PM) emissions data were collected while the bulk carrier  was burning 3%S HFO…

The members of Waterways Council, Inc., (WCI) the national organization that advocates for a modern, efficient, well-maintained system of ports and inland waterways, recently met in Washington, DC with Members of the 119th Congress to discuss WCI key and related priorities for 2025. An ancillary issue that WCI is looking to address is the removal or modification of an antiquated 1980s Executive Order (EO) 12322 that mandates any federal or federally assisted land or water resources…

South Korea's business leaders are taking action to offset the threat posed by U.S. President Donald Trump's aggressive trade policies, hiring his former aides and lobbying Republican states out of frustration with delays by their own government which is mired in a political crisis.Trump's sweeping and sometimes indiscriminate trade measures have sparked existential debate in many international capitals over how much they can depend on the U.S. from trade to politics.While it…

Port of Savannah received four new electric ship-to-shore cranes on January 25, 2025, bringing Ocean Terminal’s fleet to eight Super Post Panamax cranes, all designed by Finland-based Konecranes.Once all cranes are commissioned and berth construction is completed, the eight ship-to-shore cranes at Ocean Terminal will have the capability to service two vessels simultaneously. "The completion of this project in 2028 will enable Ocean Terminal to accommodate the largest vessels serving the U.S. East Coast," said Ed McCarthy, Chief Operating Officer of Georgia Ports.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen has marked the official opening of its South Atlantic hub - the Brunswick terminal, Equipment Processing Center (EPC) and Vehicle Processing Center (VPC). The grand opening marks another strategic investment for the Wallenius Wilhelmsen group with the signing of a 20-year lease with the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), with options of up to 30 years. With this investment, Wallenius Wilhelmsen has enhanced its position to serve the American market and expanded the scope of our South Atlantic operations.“Brunswick…

Colonial Pipeline's main U.S. gasoline artery is expected to be shut through Friday as the company continues to search for the source of a suspected leak in Paulding County, Georgia, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.Line 1, one of two mainlines on the more than 5,500-mile Colonial system, was shut on Monday night after Colonial received reports of a gasoline release and began investigating. The pipeline moves gasoline from Texas to North Carolina and was earlier expected to resume service on Tuesday night…

Marine Jet Power (MJP), a global provider of waterjet propulsion, and Derecktor Shipyards New York announced the launch and christening of two groundbreaking passenger ferries for Chatham Area Transit (CAT) of Savannah, Georgia.These vessels represent a significant milestone as the first hybrid passenger ferries in the United States powered by waterjet propulsion.The two 65-foot ferries, The Juliette Gordon Low II and The Susie King Taylor II, powered by MJP UltraJet 305 waterjets, incorporate cutting-edge hybrid technology, marking a new era in sustainable maritime transportation.

Crew on board an oil tanker accused of sabotaging undersea power and communications cables in the Baltic Sea were poised to cut other cables and pipelines when Finnish authorities boarded the vessel last month, the head of the Finnish investigation said.Baltic Sea nations are on high alert after a string of power cable, telecom link and gas pipeline outages since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Leaders of the NATO member states around the Baltic Sea are set to meet in Helsinki on Tuesday to discuss the alliance's response to the threat.On Dec.

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has joined 47 governments in a joint submission to the final round of negotiations at the IMO on a GHG emissions pricing mechanism for international shipping.The joint text is supported by major shipping nations such as Greece, Japan, Korea and the United Kingdom, the world’s largest flag States including Bahamas, Liberia, Marshall Islands and Panama, all EU States (and the European Commission), other African countries such as Nigeria and Kenya…

President James Earl "Jimmy" Carter passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100.President Carter graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1946 with distinction, after which he was assigned to USS Wyoming (E-AG 17) as an ensign. After completing two years of surface ship duty, Carter applied for submarine duty. He served as executive officer, engineering officer, and electronics repair officer on the submarine SSK-1. When Admiral Hyman G. Rickover (then a captain) started his program to create nuclear-powered submarines…

AME will its partnership with Fluke Reliability and PRUFTECHNIK Group, enhancing its focus of providing technology solutions for maritime and industrial mechanical applications. As the official sales representative for Florida, Georgia, North, and South Carolina, AME is ready to provide reliable support and expertise to machinery operators at every level.PRUFTECHNIK, a provider of precision alignment and condition monitoring technology, and FLUKE, known for their diagnostic tools, perfectly align with AME’s extensive knowledge and experience in condition-based maintenance and alignment.