Owner Operators News

NorthStandard has published a new white paper focusing on the accelerating adoption of biofuels in commercial shipping. ‘Biofuels – Driving the green transition’ brings together insights from NorthStandard, supplier World Fuel and leading testing agency Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS), in a unique discussion document outlining biofuel uptake, potential issues and loss prevention measures. Many owner-operators who seek a drop-in solution to drive maritime decarbonization choose biofuel blends.

Captain Steve Jones is President of the Passenger Vessel Association for 2025. As his term comes to a close in February at the PVA Annual Convention at MariTrends 2026 in Covington, KY, Captain Jones has achieved several long-sought-after successes during his term and set in motion other important association undertakings intended to deliver noteworthy benefits to PVA members in the coming year and beyond. Captain Jones has been with the Gateway Clipper Fleet since 1987. The Gateway Clipper Fleet…

With everything going on around the maritime industry these days — from a Presidential Executive Order to Make U.S. Maritime Great Again, to bipartisan legislation in Congress to boost our shipyards and merchant marine, to the import tariff rollercoaster ride we’re all on — it’s easy to forget some other important U.S. maritime policy initiatives whose benefits are just over the horizon. One such initiative we mustn’t lose sight of is the effort by the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S.

Tech leaders across maritime have the unenviable task of plotting for, at best, a fuzzy future. Make no mistake, the mission is clear: emission reduction leading to decarbonization. But the means to that end – and the realistic timeframe to get there – is less than clear. Sit with Sameer Kalra, President, Marine, Alfa Laval for awhile and it becomes abundantly clear he has a firm handle on the means to make money for Alfa Laval today while funding the technologies that will power the company’s future.Sameer Kalra…

A new report published by DNV has revealed that the majority (61%) of maritime professionals believe the industry should accept increased cyber risk from digitalization if it enables innovation and new technologies.The sector’s appetite to take on emerging risks arising from digital transformation is notably higher than other critical infrastructure industries including energy, manufacturing and healthcare, according to DNV.The industry’s increasing appetite for cyber risk comes at a time when it must manage a growing volume of vulnerabilities.Namely…

Malicious cyber activity in the first six months in the maritime sector increased significantly compared to the previous year, highlighting the importance of introducing proactive security measures to stay ahead of ever evolving tactics of cyber criminals.Marlink recently released the latest global maritime cyber threat report produced by its Security Operations Center (SOC), which registered 23,400 malware detections and 178 ransomware detections in the first half of 2024.Firewall events…

During the first half of the year, the threat landscape in the maritime environment has continued to evolve and surprise, compared to what was recorded in 2023.Marlink’s Security Operations Center (SOC) has reported that monitoring up to 1,800 vessels, adding visibility into events from endpoint protection solutions (EDR), firewalls, and e-mail security, along with the context provided by intelligence capabilities, has allowed it to gain deeper insight into what actions to take…

Infostealers, a type of malware designed to steal sensitive information from an infected system, has marked significant rise in the first half of 2024 in the maritime domain, Marlink’s Security Operations Center (SOC) has reported.The whole process involves six steps – starting from initial infection to the exploitation of acquired data, which can have serious consequences for the maritime industry, which relies heavily on interconnected systems and digital platforms.The initial…

Some of the key strategies to strengthen maritime cyber security include vigilance and proactive measures, timely incident reporting, and continuous improvement of security defenses, according to Marlink’s Security Operations Center (SOC) cyber security threats report.Vigilance and proactive measures are essential. Regular training, strong e-mail security, and advanced detection systems play a vital role in reducing the risk of phishing, spam, and other malicious activitiesAnother crucial aspect of improving cyber security is timely incident response.

In the first half of 2024, the Threat Intelligence team within Marlink’s Security Operations Centre has observed several activities carried out by malicious actors targeting the maritime industry.These activities include phishing, where malicious actors sending fraudulent e-mails or messages try to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information like passwords or financial details.Phishing attack trends include HTM/HTML documents with embedded links and QR codes to credential harvesting login landing pages hosted on difficult-to-block infrastructure…

During the first half of this year, the number of cyber security high alerts remained stable compared to those handled in 2023, according to Marlink’s Security Operations Center (SOC) cyber security threats report.However, medium and low alerts saw a significant rise, increasing from 100,000 in January to 270,000 in April, compared to an average of 75,000 in 2023.This surge was mitigated in May and June thanks to optimization efforts in detection and enrichment processes.If you are in New Orleans on November 13…

In the first six months, Initial Access tactics were the most prevalent cyber security threat in maritime domain, accounting for 48% of the 204,763 incidents, primarily involving phishing fraud and spam abusive content.According to Marlink’s Security Operations Center (SOC) on cyber security threats report, the Command & Control (C2) followed closely at 36%, driven largely by the execution of malicious files and links.Execution and Defence Evasion tactics, often seen through intrusion attempts…

Ransomware remained one of the primary threats to maritime targets in the first half of 2024, as it significantly disrupts operations and causes considerable economic damage, according to the to the report from Marlink’s Security Operations Center (SOC) on cyber security threats.Attacks have paralyzed critical systems, delayed shipments, and compromised logistics, resulting in operational downtime and costly ransom demands. This combination of operational impact and financial…

Reverse proxy phishing, a more sophisticated version of classic phishing cyberattack, could significantly impact maritime sectors operations, from the disruption of shipping logistics to the manipulation of sensitive communication systems, resulting in delays, loss of reputation, and costly recoveries.According to the report from Marlink’s Security Operations Center (SOC) on cyber security threats, a significant portion of the threats neutralized by the SOC have continued to follow the most common attack vector seen since 2022: phishing.However…

In the first half of 2024, the volume of cybersecurity incidents involving infostealers has increased significantly, and maritime victims have been no exception.Infostealers are a type of malware designed to steal sensitive information from an infected system, such as login credentials, financial data, browser history, and other personal or corporate information.The maritime industry relies heavily on interconnected systems and digital platforms to manage logistics, shipping routes, and vessel operations.

What drives cyber attackers and what are their main motives for malicious online activities? Who are the most prominent attackers in the maritime industry and how do they do it?According to the report from Marlink’s Security Operations Center on cyber security threats, cyber attackers targeting the maritime industry had a few main motives.Two of the main are operational disruption and financial fraud, where the attackers aim to disrupt or damage critical systems, causing significant interruptions to business operations…

Cyber Security in the maritime and offshore energy space has come front and center, with new Cyber Security rules expected soon from the U.S. Coast Guard.How will these new rules impact your bottom line? If you are in New Orleans on November 13, 2024, sign up now for a free lunch and moderated conference discussion on new United States Coast Guard (USCG) cyber security rules and their impact on the vessel owner/operators, OEMs and shipyards. Featured speakers include:Rear Admiral Wayne R. Arguin Jr., Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy (CG-5P), U.S.

During the first half of the year, Marlink’s Security Operations Center actively monitored more than 1800 vessels across the maritime industry, including cargo ships, cruise liners, research vessels, superyachts, tankers, and offshore support vessels.The monitoring process involved continuous surveillance and analysis of various cyber activities across these assets to ensure the security and integrity of critical maritime operations.In its latest "SOC Report", Marlink reports that e-mail remains a primary vector for cyber attacks, particularly through phishing and malware distribution.

Marlink acquired 100% of Port-IT, a leader in cyber security solutions tailored for the maritime industry.Port-IT brings the combination of a state-of-the-art cyber security solutions portfolio together with a long-standing experience in the maritime industry. The acquisition follows and complements the cyber security professional and managed services capabilities of Diverto, which also recently joined the Marlink Group.Rhoon, the Netherlands-based Port-IT enjoys easy access to the major ports of Amsterdam…

With new rules on Cyber Security coming down from the U.S. Coast Guard, Angeliki Zisimatou, Director Cybersecurity, ABS, is uniquely positioned to discuss maritime cyber security in the round, with insights on what she’s seen and heard from the draft rules, with advise on what it could mean for vessel owners.Cyber security and all that it entails is quickly climbing the priority ladder in maritime, as increasing dependance on connectivity is a double edge sword of promise and peril.While the level of cyber security preparedness varies widely across all industries…

Cyber threats to maritime are increasing rapidly, and later this year Marlink will unveil a report which classifies the growing problem. From common phishing schemes to targeted attacks on command and control systems, Cedric Warde, Vice President, Global Sales – Digital, Marlink discusses the threats and the means to help avoid them.REGISTER NOW for a free to attend micro conference on new and emerging USCG Cyber Security Rules - November 13, 2024 in New Orleans - with insights on their impact to vessel owner/operators:Cyber risks continue to expand across industries…

Wärtsilä Gas Solutions, part of technology group Wärtsilä, will deliver the fuel supply system for Exmar’s two new medium size gas carriers that will operate with ammonia fuel.The ships are being built at the Hyundai Mipo Dockyards (HMD) in Korea for ship owner Danish shipowner Exmar LPG, a joint venture between Exmar, a multi-disciplinary maritime and offshore solutions provider, and Seapeak, one of the largest independent owner-operators of liquefied natural gas vessels.These…

As geopolitical upheaval continues, Peter Sand, Chief Analyst, Xeneta, explores how global trade patterns have (and will) evolve.Geopolitical unrest could have dramatic and long-term impacts on global trade patterns for all goods and commodities, as political alliances are essentially being ripped up and rewritten. Spurred by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, changing trade patterns are emerging in the container shipping sector, said Xeneta’s Peter Sand, as the term of the day is “friendshoring”…