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Saturday, July 4, 2026

Line News

02 Jul 2026

CMA CGM Celebrates Naming NOTRE DAME, the Largest French-Flagged Containership

© CMA CGM

The CMA CGM Group celebrated the naming ceremony of the CMA CGM NOTRE DAME in Le Havre, the newest vessel in its fleet.Measuring nearly 400 meters in length, 61 meters in width and with a capacity of up to 24,000 TEUs, the CMA CGM NOTRE DAME is the largest containership operating under the French flag. It is also the largest LNG-powered containership in the world. Its liquefied natural gas (LNG) propulsion technology significantly reduces emissions of sulphur oxides, fine particulate matter…

01 Jul 2026

Top 10 Tips to Navigate UK ETS - Navtor

Smooth sailing: could UK ETS compliance be an opportunity rather than a challenge?
Image courtesy Navtor

If you’re viewing today’s arrival of UK ETS with mounting unease, fear not! NAVTOR’s Performance Director Jacob Clausen is here to help simplify complexity, turning compliance challenges into commercial gain. How do you feel about adding another layer of complexity on top of your existing regulatory reality? Not too excited, I imagine.The arrival of the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) for parts of the shipping sector (cargo and passenger vessels over 5,000 GT) on 1 July may feel both new and familiar.

29 Jun 2026

JS Alliance Successfully Completes Indian Liquid Cargo Berth

© JSI Alliance

The JSI Alliance has successfully completed a major project in India for client Afcons Infrastructure Limited. Afcons was contracted to construct a new liquid cargo berth for Gujarat Chemical Port Ltd. (GCPL). The JSI Alliance was contracted for the execution of critical heavy lifting operations for the development.The project scope was complex, requiring heavy-lift capabilities for the installation of eight jackets and fifteen berthing dolphins weighing between 500 and 600 t, at an outreach of 10 m. Work also took place in an challenging environment.

29 Jun 2026

Facing China's Coast Guard, one Taiwan Officer Draws Strength from the Gods

Copyright Mariusz/AdobeStock

When Yeh Chih-sheng steps aboard Taiwan Coast Guard vessel CG1005 in the choppy waters of the Taiwan Strait, he brings more than his uniform and orders: he also has temple charms blessed by the gods revered by fishermen for protection at sea.Yeh is first mate of the 2,400-ton ship based in Taiwan's Penghu islands, and part of Taipei's maritime frontline as China asserts its claim of sovereignty over the democratically governed island.Off duty, he is an assistant priest, or "sio-huat" in Taiwanese…

26 Jun 2026

TDI-Brooks Completes Offshore Seismic, Geochemical Surveys

© TDI-Brooks

TDI-Brooks has successfully completed a 2D high-resolution shallow hazard seismic survey offshore Trinidad & Tobago. The acquired and processed lines support de-risking efforts for a planned offshore cluster installation, as well as the subsequent drilling of wells from this structure. Through the acquisition, processing, and interpretation of the 2D high-resolution seismic data, the identified areas of interest have been effectively evaluated and risk-reduced. In total, approximately 80 line-kilometers were completed using TDI-Brooks’ vessel…

26 Jun 2026

Iran Reasserts Right to Control Hormuz Shipping After Vessel Attack

© Adobe Stock/M-Production

Tehran reasserted its right on Friday to control shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and warned Gulf states against siding with the U.S., a day after an attack on a ship near Oman highlighted the fragility of a preliminary deal to end the Iran war.Iran was responding to what it called an "interventionist, irresponsible and provocative" joint statement by the United States and six Gulf states that rejected Iran's insistence that it could charge tolls on vessels transiting the strait."Safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz cannot be guaranteed under ambiguous arrangements…

26 Jun 2026

Hy-line Cruise's CAT Ferry Construction Commences

© INCAT CROWTHER

Construction on a new 48m catamaran passenger ferry designed by Incat Crowther for Hy-Line Cruises is now underwayat Midship Marine in Louisiana. The vessel, when completed, will operate on Hy-Line Cruise’s critical tourism and commercial routes connecting Hyannis, Mass., with the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.Capable of transporting up to 493 passengers across three passenger decks, the vessel is capable of reaching speeds in excess of 30 knots and has been designed…

25 Jun 2026

Organized Lightning: Understanding the Evolution of Marine Electrical Systems

Copyright Amarylle/AdobeStock

How well do we really understand the electrical systems powering today’s vessels? Many of us realize how important electricity is to our modern world but may be a bit shaky on the specifics. The Welsh comedian Tommy Cooper once joked, "Electricity is a wonderful thing. Do you realize that if we didn't have electricity, we'd be watching television by candlelight?"For those who have worked on vessels for many years, the increasing complexity may be a sore point, especially for those who have been hands-on in their careers and been zapped a few times.

25 Jun 2026

Floating Nuclear: A New Offshore Energy Frontier

Copyright phonlamaiphoto/AdobeStock

For decades, floating nuclear power occupied a niche position in the energy debate – technically feasible, strategically intriguing, but commercially marginal. Today, however, combined pressures of decarbonization, energy security, land constraints, rising electricity demand and water scarcity are making floating nuclear power a more serious proposition for policymakers, utilities, and infrastructureFloating Nuclear offers a potential source of reliable, low-carbon electricity and heat (and…

25 Jun 2026

Uni-tankers Delivers Solid Annual Result, Reorganizes Board of Directors

Mads Peter Zacho. © Uni-Tankers

In a year marked by geopolitical uncertainty, shifting trade patterns, and a more volatile market, the Danish tanker shipping company Uni-Tankers delivers a solid result for the financial year 2025/26 while adding new business in several key areas.Despite a challenging year, Uni-Tankers reports a revenue of $427.8 million and a net profit of $23.4 million.Uni-Tankers’ commercial discipline has led to several strategic contracts over the past year. The tanker shipping company has also achieved its highest-ever level of contract coverage…

24 Jun 2026

Germany Scraps Frigate Program, Rheinmetall Shares Plummet

© kristina rütten - stock.adobe.com

Germany scrapped a landmark frigate programme on Wednesday following delays and expected cost overruns, sending shares in the country's top defence firm Rheinmetall — which was tipped to win the contract — sharply lower.Plans to build six F126 frigates had been mired in trouble for a while, with Berlin weighing whether to hand the contract to Rheinmetall's NVL division after initial supplier, Dutch group Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding, failed to meet timelines and budgets.Germany's defence ministry said it would terminate the programme…

24 Jun 2026

Markets: When Will Container Shipping Return to "Normal"

"Even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens, significant uncertainty will remain and continue to shape market outcomes,” says Niels Rasmussen, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.Key uncertainties include whether the US/Iran agreement will hold, when the Strait of Hormuz (SoH) will fully reopen, whether ships can return to normal Suez Canal routings, and how US import tariffs will evolve once the current 10% emergency tariffs expire at the end of July.To reflect this, BIMCO continues to apply two scenarios.

24 Jun 2026

Oman Opens Alternative Hormuz Lanes as Shipping Recovery Continues

© Awais / Adobe Stock

Oman said it would keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping without imposing any tolls and had designated two temporary routes north and south of the existing shipping lane to facilitate the safe passage of vessels departing the region.In coordination with the International Maritime Organization, Oman established temporary maritime corridors to help ships leave the area safely amid heightened security risks.The Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies before the war…

23 Jun 2026

HDI Global Reorganizes US Operations, Welcomes New CEO

Shadi Albert. © HDI Global

As part of its new group strategy Xcelerate29, HDI Global (HDI) announced a new organizational setup and leadership changes in its US business.In line with the Xcelerate29 strategy, HDI Global is pursuing growth in the US market. To meet the requirements of the coming years, HDI is reorganizing its US operations with the clear objective of bringing underwriting, claims, and service teams closer to brokers and clients. Shadi Albert will assume the role of CEO of HDI Global US as of July 13. Jim Clark, CEO of HDI Global US, will step down, effective immediately. Also with immediate effect, Dr.

23 Jun 2026

Anschuetz Adds Generic Overlay for SYNAPSIS ECDIS NX

© Anschuetz

Anschuetz has added the Generic Overlay feature, which extends SYNAPSIS (W)ECDIS NX by enabling the direct display of external, geo-referenced data within the chart. Third-party systems can provide their information as overlay layers, visualized seamlessly alongside standard navigational data in a consistent spatial context.Based on a standardized, generic interface, external applications can be connected to the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) itself without any modification.

23 Jun 2026

Concordia Damen Delivers Century Star Cruise Ship, First for the European Market

© Concordia Damen

Dutch specialized shipbuilder Concordia Damen has delivered the Century Star to Century Cruises. The vessel is the first river cruise ship that the China-based cruise line has had built specifically for the European market and marks the start of a series of three sister ships. The Century Star will sail on the Danube from September 2026, with itineraries on the Rhine to follow at a later date.The vessel was built in collaboration with United Waterways, which assists Century Cruises in adapting to European operational standards, including regulations, safety management, crew and hospitality.

23 Jun 2026

Caterpillar’s C32B: Six Years on the River Proves the Point

Image courtesy Caterpillar

For inland towboat operators, engine selection is rarely about chasing the newest technology. Reliability, uptime, serviceability and lifecycle cost remain the metrics that matter most. Caterpillar Marine's new C32B engine is a 1,000-hp platform designed specifically with the demands of continuous-duty commercial operations in mind.While the C32B’ss origins can be traced to Caterpillar's pursuit of higher power density in the yacht and sportfishing markets, the end result may ultimately deliver its greatest value to towboat operators working the Mississippi River system.

23 Jun 2026

How the U.S. Coast Guard is Shaping the Future of Maritime Nuclear Power

In the novel, Verne, speaking through the Nautilus’ Commanding Officer – Captain Nemo writes, “There’s a powerful, obedient, swift, and effortless force that can be bent to any use and which reigns supreme aboard my vessel. It does everything. It lights me, it warms me, it’s the soul of my mechanical equipment. This force is electricity.”
Copyright Mario Breda/AdobeStock

Looking back at history one could argue that it was French author Jules Verne in his book “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”, published in 1869, who was speculating about a new power source much in the same out of the box thinking that H.G. Wells employed when he wrote about inter-planetary flight in “War of the World’s. Verne was writing about “electricity” from batteries using seawater which he created after studying the model of the newly developed French Navy submarine “Plongeur” at the Exposition of 1867.In the novel…

18 Jun 2026

Germany Deploys Vessels to the Red Sea For Possible Hormuz Mission

© Adobe Stock/Wojciech Wrzesień

Germany is deploying two ships to the Red Sea in preparation for a possible military mission in the Strait of Hormuz, Germany's defence minister, Boris Pistorius, said on Thursday.Hours after U.S.

22 Jun 2026

Qatari LNG Carriers Re-Enter Hormuz as Traffic Through Strait Slumps

© moofushi / Adobe Stock

Four liquefied natural gas tankers controlled by Qatar headed into the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, despite a fall in ship traffic after Iran announced that it had again closed the waterway over the weekend, shipping data showed.The tankers - Wadi Al Sail, Mekaines, Al Sadd and Mesaimeer - entered the strait via the Iranian route for the first time since the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran started, shiptracking data from analytics firm Kpler showed.QatarEnergy, whose LNG exports have been heavily curbed since the war began on February 28…

16 Jun 2026

ABS and Partners to Develop Conditional Unmanned Bridge

(L to R): Patrick Ryan, ABS Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer; HunHee Lee, HD HHI Senior Engineer; DoHoon Kim, Polaris Shipping Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer; and Jaeho Kang, Avikus CEO at Posidonia 2026 (Source: ABS)

ABS, Polaris Shipping, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and autonomous navigation solutions provider AVIKUS have signed a four-party Concept Study Agreement for the implementation of a Conditional Unmanned Bridge.Under the agreement, the parties will jointly develop an autonomous navigation concept enabling unmanned bridge operation during deep-sea voyages, when defined conditions are met, on one of Polaris Shipping's 325K Very Large Ore Carriers (VLOCs).The concept is not a fully unmanned operation across the entire voyage.

17 Jun 2026

Improvised Lifting Operations Led to Serious Injury

Source: TAIC

The New Zealand Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has released its findings into the serious injury that occurred on the bulk carrier, Thor Nitnirund, in the Cook Strait on March 20, 2025.The Commission’s report highlights the need for effective safety management systems, proper planning of lifting operations, and vigilance around high-risk areas during deck work.In March 2025, the bulk carrier was drifting in Cook Strait while waiting for a berth in Wellington. Heavy weather in preceding days had washed two cargo lashing chains over the ship’s side.

22 Jun 2026

American Cruise Lines Christens 2nd Vessel Launched This Year

© American Cruise Lines

American Cruise Lines christened American Maverick in Newport, Rhode Island last week during the ship’s inaugural 9-Day New England Islands cruise, sailing roundtrip from Providence, Rhode Island. The celebration took place on board with guests, crew, community partners, and many employees from the Line’s headquarters in Connecticut. American Maverick is the newest small cruise ship in the country and the latest in the company’s growing fleet of ships exclusively designed for cruising the U.S.A., featuring many amenities surpassing those of the finest riverboats in the world.