Mitigation News

Located in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, the Atlantic Canada Bulk Terminal (ACBT) has undergone a transformation to adapt its facilities to the evolving needs of the offshore wind industry. This evolution is vital for future Canadian Offshore Wind developments, such as Nova Scotia Wind West. Consequently, the terminal has shifted from a facility dedicated exclusively to the steel industry and material storage to become one of the most important strategic hubs in the North Atlantic.Sarens…

Owning and operating a quiet boat offers many benefits, from crew comfort and retention to efficient, safe operations. While the benefits are clear, it’s generally not the first line of design and concern for most vessel owners.Noise is a funny thing in the marine world: it’s invisible, it sneaks up on you, and it’s usually not the headline item on a newbuild spec sheet, until you’re standing in the pilothouse, trying to talk over the machinery, thinking, “oh my gosh, I can’t stand this thing.”That’s the moment Jesse Spence…

Oil prices rose 3% on Wednesday as the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran disrupted Middle East supplies, but the pace of gains slowed from past sessions after President Donald Trump suggested the U.S. Navy could escort vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.Brent LCOc1 rose $2.67, or 3.3%, to $84.07 a barrel by 0659 GMT, after closing on Tuesday at its highest since January 2025.U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 rose $2.24, or 3%, to $76.8, after settling at its highest since June.

The diplomatic route in Iran is now exhausted, as last night the United States and Israel attacked Iran, sharply escalating security risks for commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf and adjacent waters, prompting immediate operational and insurance repercussions across the global maritime sector.According to Jakob Larsen, Chief Safety & Security Officer at BIMCO, the attacks “dramatically increase the security risk to ships operating in the Persian Gulf and adjacent waters,” particularly for vessels with business ties to U.S.

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has announced its intent to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement for proposed oil and gas lease sales in the Northern, Central and Southern California Planning Areas of the Outer Continental Shelf.This marks the initial step under the National Environmental Policy Act which initiates the process to analyze a representative California lease sale and inform decisions under the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and…

Technology group Wärtsilä will supply its Wärtsilä 25 ammonia solution to power a new cargo vessel for Norway-based Skarv Shipping Solutions, marking the first newbuild to use the company’s four-stroke ammonia engine technology.The vessel will be constructed at Huanghai shipyard in China and is intended to support Skarv Shipping Solutions’ strategy to deliver sustainable short-sea shipping services in Northern Europe.Wärtsilä will provide the Wärtsilä 25 Ammonia engine together with the complete fuel gas supply system and exhaust after-treatment…

R.M. Young Company and Western Weather Group will host a joint educational webinar titled "Powering Safer Grids with Wildfire Forecast Intelligence + Rugged Weather Hardware" on February 10, 2026, at 2:00 PM Eastern. The live webinar is free to attend with advance registration.As wildfire risk continues to grow across utility service territories, accurate forecasting and dependable environmental data have become critical to grid safety, operational planning, and Public Safety…

The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) has announced a landmark revision to its Unified Requirement UR M78, introducing comprehensive safety requirements for marine engines fueled by ammonia. This update marks a pivotal step toward achieving the maritime industry’s decarbonization goals and supporting the transition to zero-carbon fuels.The newly published Rev.4 of UR M78 expands its scope to include ammonia as an approved fuel for reciprocating internal combustion engines.

ABS and Siemens Energy have signed a joint development project (JDP) to advance the understanding of thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries through modeling and simulation, supporting safer and more reliable energy storage systems for the marine and offshore industries.The JDP brings together ABS’s technical expertise in classification, verification, and standards development with leadership from Siemens Energy in digital simulation and industrial technology innovation. The collaboration aims to create new insights into how lithium-ion battery systems behave under extreme conditions…

Equinor said it is complying with a stop-work order issued by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), which ordered the suspension of offshore construction activities on the Empire Wind project citing national security concerns.Empire Offshore Wind LLC, the project company, received the notice on December 22 and has begun safely suspending all ongoing work on the U.S. outer continental shelf, while retaining the ability to carry out emergency actions and measures necessary to protect health…

Japan’s NYK has ordered a next-generation car carrier equipped with advanced marine digital-transformation (DX) systems aimed at improving navigational safety, reducing crew workload and enhancing operational efficiency.The vessel, which will measure 199.95 meters in length with a beam of 38 meters, is scheduled for delivery on March 31, 2026, from Shinkai Toyohashi Shipbuilding.NYK said the newbuild will feature an autonomous navigation system, a large-motion mitigation system designed to limit rolling that could shift vehicle cargo…

Wärtsilä has identified four key trends it expects to shape the global shipping industry in 2026, citing accelerating digitalization, rising decarbonization pressures and growing uncertainty over regulatory trajectories.The company highlighted lifecycle optimization as a major theme, with vessel owners increasingly moving from short-term fixes to long-term strategies that account for environmental impact, operational efficiency and economic performance from vessel design to end-of-life.

DNV has awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) to the joint consortium of MSC, Zhoushan Changhong International, and CIMC ORIC for a new 21,700 TEU ammonia-dual fueled ultra-large container ship design.The AiP is another milestone in the development of next-generation, zero-carbon mainline container shipping.The proposed 21,700 TEU container ship integrates the latest-generation of ammonia dual-fuel main engines alongside oversized C-type ammonia tanks.The hull design, with a new vertical bow…

Alfa Laval Korea Ltd. has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hanwha Ocean Ecotech, marking a step toward strengthening cooperation in developing safe and reliable ammonia fuel system solutions for dual-fuel vessels.The MOU will leverage Alfa Laval’s technical expertise in ammonia fuel systems with Hanwha Ocean Ecotech’s capabilities in marine technology. The joint approach aims to secure early market opportunities and build competitive advantage in the rapidly-growing…

No civilian maritime nuclear facilities have been commissioned in over four decades, but there’s been three major reports released this month on their future potential.DNV’s latest report, Maritime nuclear propulsion: Technologies, commercial viability, and regulatory challenges for nuclear-powered vessels, provides a regulatory perspective on security, one of the key challenges for future adoption. As it says: Safety, security and non-proliferation remain paramount. Future installations must be designed to withstand collisions, groundings, and external threats such as sabotage or piracy.

Lloyd’s Register (LR) has published a new guidance document, providing the first roadmap for the safe and responsible use of nuclear technology in commercial shipping and offshore industries.As the maritime sector accelerates its transition towards sustainable energy solutions, nuclear power has re-emerged as a viable solution to achieve net-zero ambitions. The guidance, Navigating Nuclear Energy in Maritime, was developed in partnership with Global Nuclear Security Partners (GNSP) and marine insurer NorthStandard.It sets out the practical steps project teams must take…

The 4th generation family run business J.F. Brennan Company (Brennan) is a waterborne marine construction powerhouse, born more than 100 years ago in the Upper Midwest, and evolving into a multi-dimensional, national marine infrastructure leader. Matt Binsfeld, President and CEO of Brennan, and his three brothers operate the business today. Binsfeld recently sat down with Maritime Matters: The MarineLink Podcast to take a deep dive into the company, it’s rich history which was started in 1919 pouring concrete floors for local barns…

The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) and the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) have signed a two-year partnership agreement aimed at accelerating the decarbonization of the maritime sector.IAPH has a global port network comprising more than 200 port authorities and operators in over 85 countries. Together, GCMD and IAPH aim to strengthen the industry’s readiness for shipping’s fuel transition by tackling challenges and seizing opportunities in advancing alternative fuels bunkering…

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) has announced an academic minor in Emergency Management and Crisis Leadership (EMCL).The minor provides cadets with an opportunity to supplement their primary course of study with academic courses focused on concepts and applications relevant to emergency management. The minor provides interagency literacy and crisis leadership fundamentals which strengthens the preparedness of U.S. Coast Guard officers and improves their ability to respond…

In 2023, the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) published a set of best practice and recommendations for the safe carriage of electric vehicles, and it has now published an updated version titled “Risk mitigation for the safe ocean and short-sea carriage of electric vehicles”.IUMI Secretary General, Lars Lange, explains: “The volume of cars being shipped by maritime transport globally is around 20 million units per annum. EVs have been transported in ever larger numbers since 2017.

Since coming into force, the IMO Polar Code has had a positive effect on maritime operations in polar waters, write Dan Oldford and Ed Moakler, ABS HETC, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.What is the Polar Code, When and Why did it come into force?Polar regions have many unique hazards compared to warmer waters around the world. Since the earliest explorers sought to explore the Arctic and Antarctic by ship, many vessels have been lost due to sea ice, cold air temperatures and ice accretion.Prior to the Polar Code coming into force there were no international regulations…

Silver Ships recently delivered an Explorer 32 Fire Boat variant to the Fort Walton Beach Fire Department in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.The Fort Walton Beach Fire Department provides fire protection, emergency medical advanced life support, hazardous materials mitigation and technical rescue to residents and visitors of the busy coastal city.The Silver Ships vessel is equipped to handle all fire protection and medical support needs on the water. The Explorer 32 is outfitted with twin 300 HP Suzuki outboards with an engine protection and crash guard.

The S-100 framework is a new global standard created by the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO), in collaboration with other hydrographic offices around the world, that enables the integration of diverse datasets within a single Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS).Mariners will be able to combine various data layers with Electronic Navigational Charts including detailed depth information and dynamic information on tides and currents.S-100 builds on the digital foundation of S-57, the standard for electronic navigational charts since 1992.