Satellite News

Malaysia-based offshore support vessel (OSV) builder Nam Cheong has secured shipbuilding contracts worth $64.5 million from a UAE-based global energy maritime logistics company for the construction of four offshore support vessels, marking its first newbuild contract win in over a decade.The order comprises two dive support vessels (DSVs) and two 60-meter remote operated landing crafts (ROLC), with deliveries scheduled between the second half of 2027 and early 2028. All four vessels will be constructed at Nam Cheong’s Miri Yard in Sarawak…

Marlink, a leader in managed services for business-critical digital solutions will deliver faster, more secure global access to cloud services under the Microsoft ExpressRoute program.The integration enables customers to access Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365 through dedicated, secure connectivity delivered as a fully managed service integrated with Marlink’s multi-orbit satellite networks.

Two American defense firms are striking a strategic agreement to build a high-tech "wall of steel" to support the US Navy, commercial shipping and offshore operations in the Caribbean and Gulf of America.The partnership sees South Carolina-headquartered marine autonomy specialist Janus Marine & Defense join forces with New Mexico-based US Department of War RF Systems contractor Raven Defense Corporation. The "wall of steel" will protect offshore energy infrastructure, ports, and critical maritime corridors, reducing reliance on, and risk to, manned vessels.

The Trump administration is promoting artificial intelligence exports and maritime surveillance technology at Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in southern China this week, as Washington seeks to counter Beijing’s technological and maritime influence.Casey Mace, the U.S. senior official to APEC, said the Trump administration had launched a $20 million fund to support adoption of American AI technologies by partner economies in the region, part of a broader effort to strengthen U.S.

Furuno is expanding its line with the introduction of the TZMAP9 and TZMAP13, two new stand-alone multi-function displays with built-in TruEcho CHIRP™ fish finders.The new models bring the power of Furuno’s TZ MAPS cartography to smaller vessels desiring to operate from a single display. Designed for boaters who want simplified, reliable navigation without network complexity, these models deliver powerful features through a user-friendly multi touch interface for a variety of boat types and sizes.The 9” TZMAP9 and 13” TZMAP13 feature responsive…

MTN, a network operator and pioneer in low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology adoption, has finalized an agreement to offer Amazon Leo, Amazon’s satellite internet, as an authorized reseller for maritime deployment. MTN will initially provide this service across key maritime industries, including commercial shipping, yachting, offshore, and cruise & ferry, among others.Powered by a constellation of thousands of satellites in low Earth orbit, the system will provide lower latency and higher transmission capacity than traditional geostationary satellite solutions…

The U.S. Coast Guard coordinated the rescue of 27 mariners on Saturday after their Venezuelan-flagged fishing vessel caught fire approximately 500 miles north-northwest of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.At 3:51 p.m. PST, Saturday, Rescue Coordination Center Alameda received a notification from the Garmin Search and Rescue Command Center of an SOS distress alert from the 240-foot fishing vessel La Pena.Using a crewmember’s satellite messaging device, Coast Guard watchstanders established communications with the crew and confirmed the vessel had caught fire and sank.

A comprehensive suite of Furuno navigation and communication systems have been installed aboard Federal Hill, a new Baltimore Class high-speed pilot boat recently delivered to the Association of Maryland Pilots by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding.Designed for demanding harbor pilotage in all seasons, Federal Hill relies on Furuno’s NavNet TZtouchXL Multi Function Displays (MFDs) to support safe, efficient operations in congested waterways and challenging conditions. The wheelhouse features dual 16" TZT16X MFDs with a networked DRS6ANXT Solid-State Doppler Radar…

Clarus Networks has been awarded a 12-month contract to provide satellite connectivity, technical support, and centralized fleet network management for CalMac Ferries, the UK’s largest ferry operator.The contract, awarded via Public Contracts Scotland, will see Clarus deliver a pooled Starlink data service across CalMac’s operational fleet, offering high-speed, low-latency connectivity designed to enhance operational performance, crew welfare, and passenger experience on board.Operating 29 routes to more than 50 destinations across 200 miles of Scotland’s west coast…

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Transportation and Construction Engineering, Ltd. (MHI-TC), a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has built and completed delivery to Yokohama City of the Mitsubishi Marine Bridge (MMB), a self-propelled mobile seaport passenger boarding bridge (SPBB). Manufactured at MHI's Mihara Machinery Works in Hiroshima Prefecture, the MMB was put into service at Osanbashi Yokohama International Passenger Terminal on January 13. Capable of connecting to the large cruise ships that dock at Osanbashi…

C&C Marine and Repair has delivered the M/V Al Sloss to Canal Barge Company, completing the first vessel in a four-boat newbuild series currently under construction for the New Orleans-based operator.The 2,600-horsepower, 87- x 34-ft. towboat was designed by C&C Marine and Repair’s in-house engineering team and constructed on an accelerated schedule, with delivery completed in approximately six months.Delivery of the remaining three vessels in the series is scheduled to follow at two- to three-month intervals.The M/V Al Sloss is powered by two Mitsubishi S12-R main engines…

Satcom Global has announced the launch of Aura Citadel, an on-vessel IT management and security solution providing simplicity, protection and control across the maritime IT environment.Vessels with Aura Citadel on board benefit from the combination of a simplified on-vessel business network improving order and resiliency, robust cyber security features and fast comprehensive disaster recovery. The new IT solution from Satcom Global empowers IT administrators to control the on…

About a dozen tankers loaded with Venezuelan crude oil and fuel have left the country's waters in dark mode since the start of the year, according to documents seen by Reuters and industry sources including monitoring service TankerTrackers.com.The movements suggest a potential breaking of a strict blockade imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump before the dramatic capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by U.S. troops in the early hours of Saturday morning. Trump said…

As offshore wind rises to meet ambitious climate goals, balancing the need for infrastructure with maintaining biodiversity has become a pressing challenge. One innovative, recent example is the installation of the UK’s first nearshore artificial nesting structures, designed to safeguard seabirds while enabling the development of the world’s single largest offshore wind farm.Hornsea 3, developed by Ørsted, plays a critical role in the UK’s clean energy transition. Yet the project faced a significant environmental challenge by needing to protect the black-legged kittiwake…

Nearly 12 years after Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 vanished with 239 people on board, the mystery remains unresolved. Later this month, a new seabed search is scheduled to begin in the southern Indian Ocean, renewing hopes that long-awaited answers may finally emerge.The Boeing 777 disappeared on March 8, 2014, while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. The passengers included more than 150 Chinese nationals, around 50 Malaysians, and citizens from several other countries, including France, Australia, the United States, India, Canada and Ukraine.

Tanker loading in Venezuela dwindled on Monday, with most ships moving oil cargoes only between domestic ports following U.S. action against two more ships and as state-run energy company PDVSA struggles to recover from a cyberattack, according to tracking data and sources.The U.S. Coast Guard this month seized a supertanker under sanctions carrying Venezuelan oil and tried to intercept two more Venezuela-related ships over the weekend, U.S. authorities said. One of them is an empty ship under U.S.

Venezuela on Thursday authorized two very large crude carriers (VLCC) to set sail for China, according to two sources familiar with Venezuela's oil export operations, which would be only the second and third supertankers to depart the country since the U.S. seized a ship carrying Venezuelan oil last week.The U.S. has said it would not allow vessels under sanction to leave Venezuelan waters. The departing tankers, each carrying around 1.9 million barrels of Venezuelan Merey heavy crude according to internal documents from state company PDVSA, are not on the U.S.

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…

BlueNose, a London-based maritime innovation startup, has been awarded $460,000 through the U.K. Government’s Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC6) to advance aerodynamic efficiency concepts for commercial shipping.The seven-month feasibility study, funded under the Department for Transport’s UK SHORE program and delivered by Innovate UK, will support Project WAVE and run until March 2026. BlueNose, working with lomarlabs, will develop inflatable and foldable wind-deflector…

The U.S. has seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, a move that sent oil prices higher and sharply escalated tensions between Washington and Caracas"We've just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, large tanker, very large, largest one ever, actually, and other things are happening," said Trump, who has been pressuring Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to step down.Asked what would happen with the oil, Trump said: "We keep it, I guess."Trump has repeatedly raised the possibility of U.S. military intervention in Venezuela.

The livestock carrier Spiridon II has unloaded cattle in the Libyan city of Benghazi after being stranded off the Turkish coast for more than a month after a month-long voyage from Uruguay with nearly 3,000 cattle on board.The Spiridon II is now back at sea.It is unclear what happened to the dead animals and sewage onboard. Dozens of animals had already died, and many calves had been born, lost, or perished. The dead animals and excrement cannot legally be disposed of in the Mediterranean Sea due to MARPOL regulations.

The William E. Moran has entered service in New York, bringing enhanced capability and performance to Moran’s evolving fleet. As the first vessel in the company’s next-generation class, it is purpose-built to meet the demands of modern port operations, support evolving customer needs, and advance Moran’s goals for safety, efficiency, and environmental responsibility. These next-generation tugs will be among the largest in the fleet, underscoring Moran’s continued focus on delivering safe…

ADNOC Logistics & Services has unveiled the UAE’s first remotely operated offshore landing craft vessel, a 60-metre unmanned platform designed to improve safety, efficiency and emissions performance across offshore operations.Developed with SeaOwl and launched during Abu Dhabi Autonomous Week 2025, the vessel uses AI-enabled systems, satellite-linked controls and remote operation from ADNOC L&S’s center in Mussafah. The design eliminates onboard crew accommodation, reducing weight…