Local News

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10) began icebreaking operations in the Southern Ocean in support of Operation Deep Freeze 2026 and marked its 50th year of commissioned service Saturday by freeing and escorting a cruise ship trapped in pack ice.The Australian-owned cruise ship Scenic Eclipse II contacted Polar Star at approximately 11 p.m., local time Friday after becoming beset in pack ice roughly eight nautical miles from McMurdo Sound. Polar Star’s crew conducted two close passes to break the vessel free…

European governments including Germany, Britain and Denmark will reinforce their plans to massively expand wind power projects on Monday, despite U.S. President Donald Trump stepping up criticism of their green energy agenda, a draft declaration due to be signed by government leaders showed.Trump has been openly critical of European countries' efforts to shift to low-carbon energy.

The MV Isle of Islay began her maiden voyage from Cemre shipyard in Turkey back to Scotland last night.Following her official handover to owners Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd. (CMAL) last week, a crew from CalMac is now onboard and will sail her back to Scotland. The repositioning voyage is expected to take around two weeks, depending on weather conditions.During the journey home, MV Isle of Islay will call at two to three European ports for refueling, depending on need and fuel testing results.

U.K. defense contractor Babcock has secured its first agreement under the $5.3 billion (£4 billion) Maritime Partnership Program (MPP) with Indonesia, covering the sale of two Arrowhead 140 frigate licenses to be delivered over the coming months.The agreement includes a Letter of Intent outlining Indonesia’s procurement ambitions under the MPP, alongside the initial license deal. It builds on Babcock’s original export of two Arrowhead 140 licenses to Indonesia in 2021 and follows…

The Executive Management Team at UTC Overseas has announced the opening of its new office in Singapore, advancing the company’s global growth strategy and establishing its presence in the thriving Asia Pacific (APAC) market. The Singapore office will function both as the regional head office for UTC’s APAC expansion and as the local operational branch serving Singapore.UTC Singapore and the APAC Region will be under the leadership of Sven Hergemoeller, Executive Managing Director, Asia Pacific.

Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA), a top-ranked public university with undergraduate degree programs focusing on science, engineering, technology, math, and business that blend academics and experiential learning, announced the reappointment of Elizabeth B. Simmons, vice president of external affairs, to the reconstituted Seaport Economic Council.Named to the Council by Governor Maura Healey, Simmons serves on the newly reconstituted 15-member body, which is updating its mission and membership to better advance economic growth…

Two of San Diego Bay’s most cherished working vessels have earned national recognition. The Silvergate (built in 1940) and the Cabrillo have been officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Both vessels are owned and operated by Flagship Cruises & Events, San Diego’s oldest family-owned maritime fleet.This designation acknowledges the cultural, architectural, and maritime significance of the vessels, which are among San Diego’s last remaining historic ferries still operating on the water.

The Baltic Exchange Dry Index halted a nine-session slide to mark a 2.3% U-turn, climbing to 1,567 points, reports cash buyer GMS. This was driven by gains across segments: Capes (up 2.3%), Panamax (up 4.3%), and the smaller segments adding four points by week’s end.“Notably, the overall benchmark index still finished the week down 7.2%. Oil too continued to trip on itself and stayed below the coveted USD 60/barrel mark despite a 0.4% increase, closing the week out at USD 59.44/barrel.“The U.S.

Brazilian beef exports will remain stable in 2026 compared with last year, beef lobby ABIEC said on Monday, projecting shipments between 3.3 million and 3.5 million metric tons this year.That compares with 3.5 million tons of beef exported in 2025, including fresh and processed products, when Brazil's beef shipments had their best year on record both in volumes and revenue, according to trade data. Roberto Perosa, ABIEC president, said exports would remain broadly unchanged after top importer China imposed safeguards to protect its industry…

Eni and its partners have launched the hull of the Coral North floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) vessel, marking a key milestone in the development of Mozambique’s offshore gas resources.Coral North will be the second floating LNG facility deployed in the Rovuma Basin offshore Cabo Delgado in northern Mozambique and will produce gas from the northern part of the Coral reservoir.The project builds on experience gained from Coral South, which began production in 2022.Eni Greenlights Mozambique’s Coral North FLNG ProjectDesigned to improve efficiency and optimize performance…

Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) has taken ownership of MV Isle of Islay following a handover ceremony at Cemre Marin Endustri in Yalova, Turkey, where the vessel was built.MV Isle of Islay, the first of four ferries being constructed at the yard, will serve Islay and Jura when she enters service, and will be joined by her sister vessel MV Loch Indaal later this year. The vessel has received  Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) approval and passenger certification, and will now be prepared for the repositioning voyage from the Sea of Marmara back to Scotland.

Together with its sister company Hanwha Ocean, Q ENERGY France, a Hanwha company, has announced its participation in the pre-qualification process to participate in a call for bids for seabed licenses to develop offshore wind projects in Nova Scotia, Canada.The move underscores the company’s ambition to contribute to Canada’s clean energy transition through large-scale, sustainable offshore wind developments.As part of the Hanwha Group, one of South Korea’s leading global business groups…

Dozens of commercial ships have dropped anchor at a distance outside Iran's port limits in recent days, according to data and shipping sources, as tensions with the United States grow.Such movements were precautionary given the tensions amid ongoing protests in Iran, the shipping sources said. Port limits are significant because they run a higher risk of collateral damage in the event of air strikes on nearby infrastructure.The U.S. is withdrawing some personnel from bases in the Middle East, a U.S.

If 2026 continues as it has started, we are more than likely in for another roller-coaster year full of geopolitical risks, tensions, aggravations, and increasingly frequent shocks that could affect the shipping and ship recycling industries in numerous — and as yet untold — ways, says cash buyer GMS.Markets have reacted to recent Trump-related geopolitical news as they always do i.e. with chaos and volatility. “The Baltic Exchange reported another bleak week of declines for the fifth straight Friday…

In a strategic step to consolidate the country's industrial and export capacity, the ASENAV shipyard and multinational towage services company SAAM signed their first shipbuilding contract.The agreement outlines the manufacturing of a tugboat in Valdivia, designed under the strictest international standards. Construction is expected to take approximately 15 months, with the vessel scheduled to join SAAM's fleet in Canada during the first half of 2027.The vessel, a RAstar 3200W model designed by Robert Allan, will be 32 meters long and have over 80 tons of bollard pull.

PaxOcean Group and ABB have announced that Singapore’s first fully electric tug completed commissioning, marking a major milestone in the city-state’s harbor craft electrification program.The 50-tonne bollard pull tug, PXO-ACE-1, is expected to be deployed in April 2026 and is the first fully electric tug to be built and operated in Singapore. The vessel was built by PaxOcean Group, a subsidiary of Kuok Maritime Group, and is powered by an integrated electric propulsion system…

Damen Naval has expanded Colombian involvement by contracting Georg Fischer for the PES project in LATAM. Under this project, a Damen SIGMA frigate will be built by COTECMAR, at their shipyard in Cartagena. Georg Fischer in LATAM has been contracted for the delivery of all plastic piping for the PES project.Besides the supply of plastic piping, Damen Naval’s procurement contract also includes Georg Fischer in LATAM to provide training sessions for COTECMAR staff at their yard in Colombia. This enlarges exchange of technology and knowledge under the PES project.

The Pasha Group, a leader in integrated global logistics and maritime services, announced that Cary Davis has joined the company as Vice President of Government Affairs to lead advocacy and corporate communications. In this role, Davis will oversee federal, state, and local government relations; industry and stakeholder engagement; media relations; and strategic communications in support of Pasha’s long-term growth and service to customers and communities.A business leader and trade attorney, Davis brings deep experience in maritime policy, infrastructure finance, and public affairs.

Francbord, a new Breton industrial group resulting from the evolution of the Ecomer group, announced its merger with the SME Enag, strengthening the group's position as a supplier of technological solutions dedicated to the maritime sector and industry.This operation was made possible thanks to a new fundraising initiative by the maritime sector decarbonization fund managed by Bpifrance, Unexo, a subsidiary of Crédit Agricole, Go Capital, and the Mer Invest fund, a subsidiary…

French offshore marine services company Bourbon has completed a financial and capital restructuring, with Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP and Fortress Investment Group becoming its majority shareholders.The restructuring marks the start of a new strategic phase aimed at improving profitability, enhancing organizational efficiency, and expanding market presence. Approved in July 2025 by the Marseille Economic Affairs Court, the transaction follows a broader transformation plan launched in 2024.Bourbon has adopted a new unified structure…

Global economies delivered mixed signals as U.S. stocks maintained a steady decline over the tail-end of December, reports cash buyer GMS. China’s industrial growth slowed, and EU stocks reportedly surged.“The U.S. Dollar started the year off-balance against ship recycling currencies, shipowners started to rejoice as the Baltic Exchange Dry Index showed signs of a resurgence, oil continued to slip on its way to USD 60/barrel even though it climbed to USD 57.17/barrel this week…

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, support compliance with the EU’s FuelEU Maritime Regulation, and improve air quality in Europe’s busiest port.The project…

The FPSO P-78 can produce up to 180,000 barrels per day and will increase the gas supply.Petrobras began oil production from the P-78 floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel in the Búzios field, in the pre-salt layer of the Santos Basin, this Wednesday, December 31, 2025. Búzios 6 (P-78) has the capacity to produce 180,000 barrels of oil and 7.2 million m³ of gas per day. The FPSO will increase the field's installed production capacity to approximately 1.15 million barrels of oil per day.