Marine Transportation News

Today’s headlines bring constant news of international shipping hubs across the global supply chain experiencing major volatility and disruption – from Iran sending shockwaves through global energy markets by forcefully obstructing vessel traffic in the Strait of Hormuz; to the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen signaling intent to restart attacks on shipping  in the Red Sea; to China detaining Panama-flagged vessels in an escalation of ongoing disputes over the Panama Canal; and beyond.By contrast, the American tugboat, towboat and barge industry continues to move our nation’s cargo on U.S.

Vane Brothers has announced the retirement of Captain Rick Iuliucci, Vice President of Operations, effective July 1.An official Change of Command takes place on June 1. At that time, Brendan MacGillivray assumes the role of Vane Brothers’ Chief Operating Officer at the head of a team that includes Captain Brian Rau in the new position of Vice President, Operations–East, and John Shkor as Vice President, Regulatory Compliance and Health, Safety, Security, and the Environment (HSSE).Together…

The Coast Guard is standing up the Special Missions Command to oversee its deployable specialized forces. The command will enhance the operational effectiveness of the Coast Guard in responding to a wide range of national emergencies and events as the demand for deployable specialized forces capabilities increase. The Coast Guard selected the existing Coast Guard C5I Service Center facility in Kearneysville, West Virginia, as the future site of the Coast Guard’s Special Missions Command (SMC).

Introduction. 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…

Cal Poly Maritime Academy (formerly the CSU Maritime Academy) will award 150 bachelor’s degrees and 20 master’s degrees at its commencement ceremony Saturday, May 2, at Bodnar Field.The university will also award an Honorary Doctor of Science degree to Capt. Kate McCue, who graduated in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and is the inaugural captain of Four Seasons. McCue is an internationally recognized maritime leader whose career spans nearly three decades at sea.

Over 95% of large ocean-going vessels moving in U.S. waterways are under the direction and control of a pilot that is a member of the American Pilots’ Association  (APA). The enormous increase in vessel sizes – as much as five times bigger than just twenty years ago – without corresponding expansions of waterways has made the already difficult work of these pilots even more challenging.APA-member pilots are generally the only U.S. citizen aboard foreign ships moving in the fragile bays, ports, rivers, and lakes that are the lifeline of this country.

Chiyoda Corporation, NYK Line and Knutsen NYK Carbon Carriers (KNCC) have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects globally.Under the agreement, the companies will work together to expand CCS business opportunities in Japan and overseas, including optimizing transportation methods for liquefied carbon dioxide.The collaboration will cover multiple stages of project development, including concept studies, feasibility studies…

Crosby Enterprises, LLC (the “Company”) announced that the Company filed chapter 11 cases for several of its subsidiary/affiliate units, Crosby Tugs, L.L.C., Crosby Dredging, L.L.C. and Crosby Marine Transportation, L.L.C., in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on March 23, 2026. The focus of the filings is to restructure the Company’s secured debt to improve the Company’s financial position, all while maintaining the Company’s position as a regional…

The U.S. Coast Guard authenticated the keels for future Coast Guard cutters Allen Thiele, Fred Permenter and Samuel Wilson on Friday in Bayou La Batre, Alabama.The cutters are the first three of 30 future Waterways Commerce Cutters (WCCs) that will replace the Coast Guard’s legacy inland tender fleet. The WCC fleet will play a critical role in controlling, securing, and defending America’s ports and waterways and maintaining the United States’ 12,000-mile marine transportation system.

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) and the American Waterways Operators (AWO) announced the renewal of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that reaffirms a shared commitment between the chemical industry and the U.S. tugboat, towboat, and barge industry to enhance safety, environmental protection, and security through Responsible Care and AWO’s Responsible Carrier Program (RCP).The agreement renews a streamlined approach that enables Responsible Care Partner companies in the marine…

Kongsberg Maritime has unveiled a consolidated Digital Solutions portfolio and introduced KM Performance, a new solution aimed at improving operational efficiency, reducing emissions and supporting regulatory compliance in marine transportation.The Norwegian marine technology group presented the harmonized portfolio at a digital launch event in Oslo, outlining a unified approach to maritime digitalization. The move brings together legacy systems including K-IMS, Vessel Insight…

Tim Mooney is the third-generation family member at the helm of the iconic Fire Island Ferries. While the company’s primary focus has been moving people to and fro, from the Long Island, NY mainland to the Fire Island barrier communities and beaches, the business has evolved and grown since its start in 1948 via acquisition and organic growth. Mooney discuss the assets, the people and the priorities to safely, efficiently keep his cumulative operation of moving about one million people annually in good order.There are ferry operators…

The newest addition to the Manson Construction Co. (Manson) fleet—the hopper dredge Frederick Paup—departed the Seatrium AmFELS shipyard in Brownsville, TX, on Tuesday afternoon, setting sail for Mobile, AL.Representing Manson’s single biggest investment since its founding in 1905, the Frederick Paup—designed in collaboration with Hockema Whalen Myers Associates, Inc. of Seattle, WA and built by Seatrium AmFELS in Brownsville, TX—is the largest self-propelled hopper dredge in the United States.The 15…

CALL FOR STUDENT RESEARCH POSTERS!The 16th Annual Maritime Risk Symposium invites undergraduate and graduate students from colleges and universities worldwide to participate in the 2026 Maritime Risk Symposium Student Research Poster Contest. The poster competition, sponsored by the CCICADA Center based at Rutgers University, will be held online with winners invited to present their posters at the Maritime Risk Symposium on June 2-3, 2026 in Houston, Texas, USA.The Maritime Risk Symposium…

There hasn’t been an invasives species introduced to the Great Lakes from ballast water since 2006. So, what’s the problem now?As far as Transport Canada is concerned: “Scientific sampling to date consistently shows that ballast water management systems (BWMS) used in the Great Lakes reduce organism densities in ballast water discharges by over 99%, consistent with global evidence. As crews gain experience in operating these systems, performance continues to improve, contributing to the ongoing protection of Canada’s waters from invasive species.”  However…

Japanese power generator JERA has signed separate heads of agreements with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and NYK Group for the charter of ammonia carriers, as it moves toward establishing Japan’s first large-scale low-carbon ammonia transport chain.Under the agreements, MOL and NYK affiliates will charter vessels designed to transport low-carbon ammonia produced at JERA’s Blue Point Complex in Louisiana to JERA’s Hekinan Thermal Power Station in central Japan. The arrangements are…

Seventeen students from seven U.S. and El Salvador maritime academies and universities have been selected as the 2025 recipients of the Thomas B. Crowley Sr. Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and dedication to their studies related to the maritime industry. The scholarship honors the legacy of Thomas B. Crowley Sr. by acknowledging excellence and investing in the next generation of maritime leaders.The Thomas B. Crowley Sr.

The US Coast Guard is moving forward with the acquisition of the new Waterways Commerce Cutter (WCC) class, designed to replace the legacy fleet of inland tenders and facilitate commerce vital to the nation’s economic security and strategic mobility.The service has ordered production of the first river buoy tender (WLR) and long lead time material (LLTM) for the second inland construction tender (WLIC), with construction to take place at Birdon America, Inc.’s shipyard in Bayou La Batre…

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Industries (MPII) reaffirmed that the Palau Open Ship Registry continues to operate normally under the authority of the Government of the Republic of Palau, with all registry services being delivered without interruption through the Bureau of Marine Transportation.Since December 15, 2025, the Bureau of Marine Transportation has ensured the uninterrupted provision of vessel registration, statutory certification, regulatory oversight, and flag-state administration services.

It’s been said that American maritime is “having a moment” in Washington, DC.From President Trump’s Executive Order on Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance, to introduction of the bipartisan, bicameral SHIPS for America Act in Congress, the U.S. maritime industry has been a subject of focused attention at the highest levels of government, and rightfully so. At their core, these initiatives are driven by recognition that a strong maritime industry is not only vital to the American economy…

US Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee Chairman Mike Ezell (R-MS) chaired a hearing, entitled “Changes in Maritime Technology: Can the Coast Guard Keep Up?” on Tuesday.The maritime industry is undergoing a rapid period of transformation, including the adoption of autonomous technology and robotics that could transform the sector, as well as threats from drones and cyber-attacks that require increased vigilance.Ezell introduced the hearing saying: “Last February…

Westar Marine Services, a cornerstone of the Bay Area maritime community since 1976, has officially entered a new chapter of leadership. After more than four decades at the helm, co-owners Mary McMillan and Wendy Morrow—pioneering women in the maritime industry—are setting sail into a well-earned retirement.McMillan and Morrow built Westar into a trusted name in marine transportation and support services, serving the San Francisco Bay and beyond with an unwavering commitment to safety, professionalism, and community.

CALL FOR STUDENT  RESEARCH POSTERS!The 16th Annual Maritime Risk Symposium invites undergraduate and graduate students from colleges and  universities worldwide to participate in the 2026 Maritime Risk Symposium Student Research Poster  Contest. The poster competition, sponsored by the CCICADA Center based at Rutgers University, will be  held online with winners invited to present their posters at the Maritime Risk Symposium on June 2-3, 2026  in Houston, Texas, USA. The Maritime Risk Symposium…