The Expanding Shadow Fleet Poses a Growing Threat to Maritime Safety
The shipping industry has always been good at navigating uncertainty; however the rapid expansion of the shadow fleet represents a different kind of risk. It’s not just regulatory or geopolitical; it’s informational. Each vessel that goes dark removes a small piece of the world’s safety awareness, and that loss is beginning to matter, writes Yarden Gross, CEO and Co-founder of Orca AI. A parallel system moving out of sightConcern over the shadow fleet’s growth is now being voiced at senior industry level.
Looking Beyond Maritime’s “Moment”
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…
Maritime Voices: Clint Winegar, Presiding Officer, Houston Pilots
The Houston Ship Channel is one of the nation’s busiest and most vibrant shipping lanes, a key corridor for energy and chemicals. Keeping operations running smoothly involves the Houston Pilots, facilitating more than 20,000 vessel assists each year. Clint Winegar, Presiding Officer, Houston Pilots, discusses the organization in the round, explaining how the Houston operation remains one of three in the country that still utilizes station boat. With Maritime Reporter TV he breaks down the idiosyncrasies of the operations…
Russian Oil takes the Northern Sea Route to Brunei
Russia will deliver oil to Brunei via the Northern Sea Route for the first time this September, expanding its export reach through the strategic Arctic passage, two sources familiar with the shipping data told Reuters.Until now, NSR shipments have been limited to China due to its proximity to Russia’s Far East. Moscow has been actively promoting the route, which is shorter and less costly than moving crude through the Suez Canal, to other partners including India and the U.S.The…
U.S. House Approves Coast Guard Authorization Act
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved bipartisan legislation to strengthen, support and authorize funding through 2029 for the United States Coast Guard.The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025 authorizes appropriations for the Service through fiscal year 2029. These authorizations will support Coast Guard operations and the continued recapitalization of its historically underfunded cutter fleet, aviation assets, shoreside facilities and IT capabilities. The bill modernizes the Coast Guard’s acquisition process…
Geopolitical Conflicts Highlight a Ship's Need for "Digital Eyes"
Yarden Gross, CEO and Co-founder of maritime technology company Orca AI, reflects on the recent tanker collision in the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that as GPS interference becomes more common, ships urgently need AI-based situational awareness to support crews and maintain safe navigation when traditional tools are compromised.The recent collision between the tankers Front Eagle and the Adalynn in the Strait of Hormuz is more than a tragic incident – it’s a stark warning to the maritime industry.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Readies for Mid-Atlantic Civil Works
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, has received more than $218 million in funding for numerous infrastructure improvement, dredging and environmental projects benefiting Maryland, Pennsylvania, southern New York, and the District of Columbia.The financing includes $62 million towards Baltimore Harbor operations and maintenance and $71.9 million for the Mid-Chesapeake Bay Island project.This funding is through the fiscal year 2025 Work Plan for the Army Civil Works Program, which is Congressionally authorized funding specifically for USACE.
SSI inks Five-Year Deal With Maine State Ferry Service Operations
Seaward Services, Inc. (SSI), a subsidiary of Hornblower Group, announced its selection by the Maine State Ferry Service (MSFS) and the Maine State Department of Transportation for a new 5-year contract to provide supplementary marine crew services to the MSFS fleet of vessels.MSFS provides essential, year-round mainland transportation services to the island communities of Maine. Through this partnership, Seaward will support and supplement the existing MSFS crew across six different ferry routes that connect Maine’s island communities.
ClassNK Releases Ship Management Guidelines That Draw on Successful Case Studies
ClassNK has released "Prime Shipmanagement Guidelines," which aim to achieve sustainable ship management with safety as the highest priority. With an evolving environment surrounding ship management, including fuel transition, stricter regulations, and crew shortage, ClassNK aims to enable flexible responses to unexpected situations by drawing on lessons learned from successful case studies that had not received much attention before.At sea, where unpredictable conditions are common, case-by-case judgment is essential to ensure safe navigation.
US to Evaluate Russian Demands for Black Sea Ceasefire
The United States will evaluate demands made by Russia after Moscow had agreed "in principle" to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Ukraine in the Black Sea to allow safe navigation, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday.The U.S. announced separate Black Sea agreements with Ukraine and Russia on Tuesday - following talks in Saudi Arabia - to ensure safe navigation, stop attacks, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes.Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. U.S.
One Year Ago Today: U.S. Maritime Industry Delivers in Wake of FSK Bridge Collapse
We are at the one-year since the Francis Scott Key (FSK) Bridge collapsed over the Patapsco River’s Fort McHenry Channel in Baltimore, Maryland. Nearly 100 percent of the wreckage and debris removal was conducted by the Jones Act private sector U.S. maritime industry. The FSK collapsed at about 1:28 a.m. local time on March 26, 2025 after the container ship MV DALI lost power and collided with one of bridge’s support piers. Six construction workers died in the collapse, while two other workers survived the fall into the freezing water.
UN Agencies Call for Protection of Satellite Navigation
Increasing incidents of interference with aviation, maritime and other satellite telecommunications services mean States need to urgently enhance their protection of a critical radio-frequency band, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and IMO said in a joint statement.These cases of harmful interference are in the form of jamming and spoofing that disrupt Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) operating in the frequency bands allocated to the Radio Navigation Satellite Service (RNSS).
Captain McCue Takes the Helm of Four Seasons Yachts Inaugural Vessel
Four Seasons Yachts reports the appointment of Kate McCue as the inaugural Captain of Four Seasons l, the first ultra-luxury yacht in the highly anticipated fleet. A graduate of the California Maritime Academy, Captain Kate brings nearly three decades of maritime expertise, combining technical precision with a passion for hospitality to create a truly transformative yachting experience. A pioneer in the industry, she made history in 2015 as the first American female captain of…
Denmark Releases Maritime Security Strategy
The Danish government today presented its Global Strategy for Maritime Security supported by the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice.The strategy focuses on international challenges to maritime security and outlines three overarching principles for Denmark's work to secure the right to freedom of navigation in 2025-2028.• Protect Danish maritime interests and assist companies in navigating…
Maritime Insurers to Keep Facilitating Free Trade as Trump's Tariffs Loom
The International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) has restated their intention to facilitate free maritime trade, as the protectionist measures were not in the interests of the marine insurance community. In an interconnected global economy, protectionism in the form of trade tariffs was said to run counter to IUMI’s values of securing free trade and maintaining and growing the global economy, the organization said at an executive meeting held earlier in February.Tension and conflict continue to impact free trade in the Black, Red, and Baltic areas.
IHO Nautical Information Provision Work Group endorses Guide for Nautical Data 2.1
During a meeting on 4 December 2024, the International Hydrographic Organization Nautical Information Provision Work Group (IHO NIPWG) held a vote on the new Guide for Nautical Data 2.1. The guide was unanimously endorsed.The guide has been written, with contributory input from International Harbour Masters Association (IHMA) members around the world, to support hydrographic offices and port authorities in the discharge of their collective responsibilities as per the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Chapter V…
Sulmara Assists Fuel Recovery Op from Typhoon-Struck Cargo Ship
Scottish subsea specialist Sulmara has supported a major fuel recovery operation from typhoon-struck cargo ship in shallow waters off Taiwan.At the request of the Taiwanese government, Sulmara mobilized a WAM-V 16 uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) and a team of survey specialists to assist in the emergency fuel recovery operation for the heavy transport vessel, Yu Zhou Qi Hang.The operation was launched to help salvage cargo from the heavy transport vessel which ran aground with almost 300 t of fuel oil on board during one of the worst typhoons to hit Taiwan in decades.The 143-meter-long vessel…
Fincantieri Marinette Marine wins Harbor Assistance Grant
Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) will receive $3 million from the State of Wisconsin to improve marine infrastructure along the Menominee River where the company builds surface combatant ships for the U.S. Navy.Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced today that five in-state projects will receive more than $10 million in Harbor Assistance Program grants. These grants are intended to strengthen supply chain reliability, support waterborne freight and assist with economic development of Wisconsin’s coastal communities.
The Bridge and Beyond: AI, AR Revolutionize Maritime Decision Making
It’s already possible to have smart decision support on the bridge: With Furuno’s technology, live video imagery of the front view from the vessel has navigation information superimposed on it including heading, AIS data, radar target tracking, object identification, route waypoint and chart information.SEA.AI’s bridge support system can identify larger vessels not fitted with AIS up to a range of 7.5 kilometers (nearly five miles), smaller vessels up to 3 kilometers (nearly 2…
How Digital Tech Aims to Make Commercial Vessels Safer, Cleaner, More Efficient
The maritime industry is witnessing a technological revolution that is fundamentally changing how ships operate, improving safe and efficient performance and reducing emissions, all to meet increasingly restrictive environmental standards. Adopting cutting-edge digital technologies enables ship owners and operators to optimize fleets, boost safe and efficient performance and reduce emissions while satisfying ever-developing environmentally beneficial requirements. Digitalization lies here and on the horizon of commercial vessel operations…
Motus Technology to Deliver Cranes for NOAA’s Research Vessels
Norwegian crane specialist Motus Technology has secured a contract to provide its cranes and handling equipment for National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)’s Class B research vessels.Working in collaboration with Kongsberg Maritime, Motus’ new contract follows the equipment supply deal for NOAA’s Class A vessels in 2021.Motus will provide its CTD (Telescopic Deploy and Retrieval Arm), along with the MMC10 and MMC240 cranes.These systems are designed to operate effectively in tough marine environments…
Port Houston Volumes Dip in October
Port Houston handled 3,430,212 TEUs through October of this year - 7% more than the same period last year. Container volumes in October specifically fell 15% compared to last October, reaching 309,623 TEUs.Despite this slight dip, volumes are expected to be solid through the end of this year. According to early market reports, activity is expected to surge in November and into the new year as users push volumes ahead of January’s labor contract expiration and the early Chinese New Year and factory closures in Asia.In October, loaded imports decreased by 13% and loaded exports dropped 21% compared to last year. Yet, total loaded container volumes remain up 6% year-to-date…
IMPA to Test Remote Pilotage Solutions
The international study on remote pilotage launched by the International Maritime Pilots’ Association (IMPA) and its partners in the summer 2024 is now reaching out to manufacturers and system integrators to solicit their participation in the trials phases of the study.IMPA’s partners include the Canadian National Centre of Expertise on Maritime Pilotage (NCEMP) and the Canadian Coast Guard. Together, they are exploring remote pilotage to evaluate its feasibility, readiness and impacts on safe navigation practices and systems.It is designed to deliver unbiased…
