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Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Ports News

19 May 2026

Aqua superPower, Tidal Transit Partner on Electric CTVs

(Credit: Aqua superPower)

Aqua superPower and Tidal Transit have formed a strategic partnership to support the deployment of electric crew transfer vessels (E-CTVs) for ports and harbors serving offshore infrastructure, including offshore wind projects.Under the agreement, Tidal Transit will build and operate E-CTV vessels and manage offshore charging infrastructure installation, while Aqua superPower will design, build, operate and maintain shore-side charging systems at vessel origin ports.The collaboration aims to simplify deployment of electric vessel operations by combining vessel capability


18 May 2026

Port of Corpus Christi: Deep Water and Big Energy

Image Courtesy Port of Corpus Christi

Drive into Corpus Christi and you can feel the paradox that defines many port cities: the waterfront is everywhere, yet the maritime business that powers the place is easy to miss — until you look past the horizon of tanks, docks, and ship traffic and realize you’re staring at one of the world’s most consequential energy gateways.By volume, the Port of Corpus Christi has become a central export valve for U.S. crude oil and a fast-rising platform for LNG — an industrial ecosystem that has grown at a pace few ports can match.

18 May 2026

Wilson Sons Looks Forward to Rio Grande Container Terminal Expansion

Rio Grande Container Terminal: construction project to expand operations berth and purchase new equipment. © Wilson Sons

Wilson Sons, a port and shipping logistics operator with over 188 years of experience, plans to expand the Rio Grande Container Terminal (located in Rio Grande do Sul) by making investments exceeding USD$218 million (R$1.1 billion) in port infrastructure by 2030. The initiative aims to expand the terminal's operational capacity and meet the growing logistics demands of Rio Grande do Sul and the Southern Cone. This will strengthen regional competitiveness and the infrastructure


18 May 2026

Cavotec Introduces Crane Operation Energy System

© Cavotec

Cavotec has launched PowerAccESS, a modular and mobile battery Energy Storage System (ESS) designed to support the electrification of port crane operations.Developed for demanding and evolving port environments, PowerAccESS provides zero-emission power for RTG cranes during block changes as a one-to-one replacement for diesel generators.

13 May 2026

EnergyPathways, ABP Partner on Energy Storage Project at Port of Barrow

(Credit: EnergyPathways)

EnergyPathways has signed a collaboration agreement with Associated British Ports (ABP) to evaluate the Port of Barrow in northwest England as a location for onshore facilities linked to its Marram Energy Storage Hub (MESH) project.The AIM-listed company said the MESH project, located in the Irish Sea, is expected to combine compressed air energy storage with natural gas and hydrogen storage using subsea salt caverns.According to EnergyPathways, the project has the potential to support up to 60 subsurface salt caverns and is targeted to begin operations in 2031


12 May 2026

PD Ports Expands Operations with Third Electric Liebherr LPS 550

© Liebherr

An LPS 550 fitted with an electric drive from Liebherr’s Baltic-side production facility has been delivered to Middlesbrough to increase PD Ports’ productivity. The new machine will focus on bulk work at Teesport, complementing two sister cranes commissioned in 2023, strengthening hatch coverage and maintaining consistent cycle times.Day-to-day, the Port supports a complex gateway that handles tens of millions of tonnes of cargo each year, with over USD$1.9 billion (£1.4 billion) contributed to the regional economy.

11 May 2026

CMA CGM Expands Support for Kenyan Logistics

Source: CMA CGM

The CMA CGM Group has signed a high-level framework agreement for joint cooperation with Keynan institutional authorities to develop Kenya’s logistics and port capacity.The objective is to accelerate solutions that support the growth of supply chain flows in and out of east and Central Africa including maritime demand, inland logistics and freight management.It has been signed as part of the Africa Forward Summit, and in the presence of the Presidents of the French and Kenyan Republics, M.

06 May 2026

UAE Ports Become Country's Lifeline as Gulf Trade Remains Fragile

© Adobe Stock/Cleop6atra

At the UAE port of Fujairah, conveyor belts offloaded grain from bulk carriers on Wednesday, while crude oil flowed through pipes and onto tankers berthed along its quay.Dozens of loaded trucks lined up near the port and others parked outside waiting their turn, while offshore, vessels labelled Cosco, Gardenia and other shipping lines lay at anchor, service boats weaving between them.Fujairah and Khor Fakkan, another eastern port with open access to the Indian Ocean, have become


04 May 2026

USACE Introduces System for Assessing Pre-Construction Notifications

© yaniv / Adobe Stock

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has launched a new module on its Regulatory Request System (RRS) that will allow users to self-verify that a pre-construction notification is not required for a proposed activity covered under a nationwide permit.Certain activities are authorized by nationwide permits if the project proponent’s proposed activities comply with all the terms and conditions of those nationwide permits and the activity can commence without notification to USACE district offices.

04 May 2026

Former MARAD Deputy Administrator Sang Yi Appointed AAPA President, CEO

© AAPA

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) Board of Directors announced the appointment of Sang Yi as President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective May 4.Most recently, Yi served as Deputy Administrator of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD), where he oversaw key programs supporting the nation’s commercial and strategic maritime infrastructure. Before his appointment to MARAD, Yi served in the U.S. House of Representatives for almost a decade and a half. Prior to his congressional career, he served in the Intelligence Community.

03 May 2026

Australian Seafarer Welfare Centers Hampered by Chronic Under-Funding

Source: HRAS

A private survey of leading stakeholders conducted by Human Rights at Sea demonstrates a nationwide pattern of chronic under-funding in the provision of seafarer support services in Australia.Human Rights at Sea conducted the online survey to identify what port welfare resources are already in place and any gaps that need to be addressed.Over 500,000 seafarers visit Australian ports each year, and the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC, 2006) calls for the establishment of port welfare committees to coordinate welfare provision at a local level.Survey responses were obtained from 14 locations.

01 May 2026

Ukrainian Drones Hit Tuapse Port Again, Environmental Crisis Deepens

Source: social media

Ukrainian drones struck Russia's Black Sea port of Tuapse on Friday for the fourth time in 16 days as authorities struggled to cope with a mounting environmental disaster from toxic black smoke clouds and oil leaking into the sea.Ukraine's SBU security service said drones had again struck the sea port and refinerythat make Tuapse an important hub for Russian oil exports.Reuters could not confirm the latest strike on the refinery, which has been hit and set ablaze at least twice


01 May 2026

Port Snared in US-China Dispute, says Panama President

The Panama Canal handles 5% of global maritime trade, Copyright Stuart Chang/AdobeStock

Panama President Jose Raul Mulino said his country maintains a positive relationship with China despite being caught up in a dispute between the Asian superpower and the U.S., and defended Panama's takeover of port contracts held by Hong Kong's CK Hutchison.He spoke at a regular press conference after receiving what he called a "high-level" message from China's government acknowledging that a dispute over the port contracts will be heard by international arbitration courts, and did not constitute an issue between the Panamanian and Chinese governments.The message


29 Apr 2026

Strait of Hormuz Closure Curbs Dry Bulk Demand

"The Iran war and the resulting disruptions to ship transits through the Strait of Hormuz have increased uncertainty for both the global economy and the dry bulk market. Around 4% of dry bulk cargoes and tonne mile demand typically sail through the strait and at present, and around 210 ships, equivalent to roughly 1% of the dry bulk fleet, are currently trapped in the Persian Gulf,” says Filipe Gouveia, Shipping Analysis Manager at BIMCO.Given the high uncertainty over when transits may resume, we present two forecast scenarios.

28 Apr 2026

Ukraine Strikes Russia's Tuapse Refinery

Source: social media

A Ukrainian drone attack caused a major fire at a Russian oil refinery in the city of Tuapse on Tuesday, officials said, in what President Vladimir Putin described as evidence of increased Ukrainian attacks on civilian targets.It was the third attack on the Black Sea port in less than two weeks.Ukraine's military confirmed it had carried out the strike, the latest in a series designed to disrupt Russia's oil industry and slash revenue that helps Moscow fund the war in Ukraine.Putin


27 Apr 2026

Ukraine Threatens Pushback if Israel Allows Grain Vessel to Dock

© Adobe Stock/STOCKSTUDIO

Israel risks a diplomatic and legal response from Kyiv if it allows a vessel carrying grain from Russian-occupied Ukraine to dock at the port of Haifa, a Ukrainian diplomatic source told Reuters on Monday.Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported earlier that the vessel Panormitis, which it said was carrying grain from occupied Ukrainian territory that Kyiv regards as stolen, was waiting for permission to berth in Haifa."If this ship and its cargo isn't rejected, we reserve the right to deploy a full suite of diplomatic and international legal responses," the Ukrainian source said on condition of an

27 Apr 2026

World’s First Ammonia Port-to-Ship Bunkering for Commercial Vessels Completed at Ulsan Port

© Ulsan Port Authority

The Ulsan Port Authority (UPA) announced the successful completion of the world’s first ammonia bunkering operation for an ammonia dual-fuel gas carrier at Ulsan Port on April 23, 2026.This milestone builds on Ulsan Port’s earlier achievements, including the world’s first methanol bunkering demonstration (2023–2026) and simultaneous LNG bunkering operations for car carriers. With this latest development, Ulsan Port has, for the first time in the world, demonstrated ammonia bunkering for a commercial vessel via Port-to-Ship (PTS) operations


23 Apr 2026

Port of Antwerp-Bruges Reports Weak Start to the Year

Source: Port of Antwerp-Bruges

In the first quarter of 2026, Port of Antwerp‑Bruges handled 65.5 million tons of maritime cargo, a decrease of 3.2% compared to the same period last year.After a weak start in January and February, throughput recovered in March. General cargo (-4.4%) – in particular containers and conventional general cargo – was under pressure, while bulk cargo remained stable (-0.6%) and RoRo traffic increased.The port says the results reflect a complex combination of factors, including adverse weather conditions


23 Apr 2026

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Harbor Craft Pilot Study Launched in Singapore

Source: ABS

ABS, Marinteknik Shipbuilders (S), SeaTech Solutions International (S), and VINSSEN have signed a research collaboration agreement to advance the development of a hydrogen fuel cell-powered harbor craft in Singapore.The consortium will conduct desktop studies covering the feasibility of implementing hydrogen-powered harbor craft in Singapore, including vessel concept design, design evaluation and optimization, techno-economic analysis, risk assessment and mitigation and commercial viability for broader adoption.

23 Apr 2026

Golden Pass LNG Ships First Export Cargo from Texas Terminal

(Credit: Golden Pass LNG)

Golden Pass LNG, a joint venture between QatarEnergy and ExxonMobil, has loaded and shipped its first liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo from its export terminal in Sabine Pass in Texas, marking a step toward full commercial operations.Golden Pass LNG expects to export about 18 million tonnes of LNG per year once the terminal is fully operational.Construction and commissioning of additional liquefaction trains are ongoing, with Trains 2 and 3 expected to come online following stable operation of Train 1.“Today’s first LNG export cargo is a defining moment for Golden Pass


22 Apr 2026

Six Partners Selected by MPA for In-Water Hull Inspection, Cleaning Trials in the Port of Singapore

© Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has selected six partners under its Call for Proposals (CFP) to advance and scale up in-water hull inspection and cleaning solutions in the Port of Singapore, in support of more efficient and lower-emission shipping.The CFP received 19 proposals from 36 companies across nine countries.The six selected partners – Alicia Bots, C-Leanship, Neptune Robotics, Oceanis Robotics, RINA and SEAHI Robotics – will receive close to USD$2.91


21 Apr 2026

Singapore Launches OCEANS-X to Advance Maritime Digital Connectivity

© Travel man / Adobe Stock

Singapore has launched OCEANS-X, a new data and application programming interface (API) eXchange platform developed by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).It enables secure system-to-system connectivity across the maritime ecosystem, allowing maritime companies and government agencies to exchange trusted data directly. This in turn enables integrated digital services for better service delivery, more efficient port operations, smoother trade flows, and stronger


21 Apr 2026

USACE Releases Final FY2026 Great Lakes Maintenance Program

© Douglas / Adobe Stock

In early April, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) released its navigation work plan for FY2026. The overall plan outlines resources that will be used for dredging, structure maintenance, and other priorities at every port in the United States.The USACE Detroit District staff have since compiled a summary/funding analysis of Great Lakes provisions indicating that the Great Lakes region will receive $516.47 million in navigation maintenance funding in FY2026 — an increase