Red Sea Return Imminent for Container Shipping
Major carrier CMA CGM has announced its INDAMEX service will transit Suez Canal on fronthaul and backhaul voyages between India/Pakistan and US East Coast in a notable step towards a largescale return of container ships to the Red Sea region.The first vessel to complete a full service loop via Suez Canal will be CMA CGM Verdi, sailing from Karachi to New York on 15 January. eeSea by Xeneta data shows voyages via Suez Canal rather than Cape of Good Hope reduces full loop transit time on this service by two weeks…
New Zealand's Offshore Patrol Vessel Otago to Resume Operations in 2026
The New Zealand Navy will return to service in the third quarter of 2026 one of two offshore patrol vessels idle since 2021, the chief of the defence force said on Tuesday, at a cost running into millions of dollars.Tony Davies told a select committee of parliament the decision to bring HMNZS Otago out of care and custody arrangements followed the sinking of a specialist dive and hydrographic vessel, the Manawanui."Before you put it back to sea, it has to have quite a bit of work and money spent on it," Davies added.
Liebherr BOS Cranes Celebrates 50 Years
Liebherr marks half a century of BOS crane excellence. Since 1975, BOS cranes have been trusted by operators worldwide, known for their robust design and marine adaptability. The latest generation continues this legacy, now featuring an electric variant to meet evolving offshore demands.In 1975, Liebherr delivered its first BOS crane, the B10 / 17 EX, for installation on the Floating Production, Storage and Offloading Unit Princess Aweni. Since then, the BOS series has undergone continuous development…
Panama Canal Bets on LPG Transits
The Panama Canal expects an increase in transits of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vessels and carriers of some agricultural commodities to help it compensate for a reduction in world trade next year, the waterway's chief told Reuters on Monday.The world's second-busiest interoceanic waterway registered a 14% revenue increase to $5.7 billion in the fiscal year ended in September and saw 19% more transits, with LPG vessels and container ships moving more cargoes through the canal that connects the Pacific and Atlantic oceans."LPG is a product that will be even more valuable in the next 20…
Panama Canal Begins Industry Engagement for the Development of Port Terminals
The Panama Canal launched a consultation process with representatives of the maritime industry to identify potential partners interested in developing port terminals on both the Atlantic and Pacific sides of the waterway.Following a process similar to that followed for the introduction of the gas pipeline project, the Panama Canal convened a group of representatives from companies with proven experience in container port operations and container shipping lines.According to institutional rules and regulations…
Sofar Ocean Launches Wayfinder Voyage Simulator for Fleet Planning
Sofar Ocean has launched Wayfinder Voyage Simulator, a voyage planning tool that lets operators, commercial teams and chartering desks generate and compare unlimited voyage scenarios in seconds, aiming to improve fleet efficiency and profitability.Part of Sofar’s Wayfinder platform, the simulator incorporates the company’s marine weather forecasts, informed by what Sofar says is the largest private real-time ocean sensor network and ‘outperform traditional models by up to 50%’…
HII Establishes Partnerships to Expand Throughput, Industrial Base
HII is partnering with shipyards and fabricators in multiple states to grow its throughput and meet the increased demand for ships by the U.S. Navy. With its customer’s support, HII is bringing the work to more companies and more jobs in more states, expanding capacity of the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base and improving schedule adherence for all ships built by HII.HII’s structural assembly network, consisting of companies that contribute to outsourced modular assembly of ships…
Recyclers Wary Despite Recent Influx of Tonnage
Losses in various individual sectors along the entire dry bulk range across the recent past saw the overall benchmark index lose about 5% of its overall value, which would explain the recent (and ongoing) influx of tonnage into the West Coast Indian and even Pakistani waterfronts spanning several weeks now, reports cash buyer GMS.“And despite recent deliveries of a wide collection of sizes and types of vessels (especially in Alang), the overall sentiment in the Indian sub-continent remains on watchful footing while trying to surf the wakes of Trump’s ongoing tariff conundrums…
Colonna’s Shipyard: Forged in Steel, Anchored in Legacy
Colonna’s Shipyard is a fifth-generation, family-owned medium-sized shipbuilder, led by Randall Crutchfield, Chairman & CEO, today. Founded in 1875 by 26-year-old ship carpenter Charles J. Colonna with a $2,000 loan from his brother, he founded a company that has not only withstood the test of time, but today stands ready as a multi-faceted ‘blue collar industrial complex’ to help in the effort to effectively rebuild the U.S. shipbuilding base, and more specifically to help rebuild the U.S. Navy and U.S. government-owned fleet of ships.
U.S. Shipbuilding Realities and the SL7EXPO
Once again U.S. shipbuilding, or rather the lack thereof, has raised its head. There are those who say that U.S. shipbuilding is a train that has left the station (yes, a purposefully odd but correct metaphor), while others are hoping for a new dawn of U.S. shipbuilding dominance.I know it can be done, but only if there is steel-eyed realism and an iron will to do it.I also know that magazine editors hate lists, but I am going to irritate Greg by doing just that: creating a list of realities surrounding the proposed resurgence of U.S.
India Oil Corp Buys US and Middle Eastern Crude As Trump Criticizes Russian Purchases
Indian Oil Corp has bought 7 million barrels of crude from the United States, Canada and the Middle East, four trade sources said on Monday, as U.S. President Donald Trump ramped up his criticism of the country over its purchases of Russian oil.India is the biggest buyer of seaborne crude from Russia, which is under Western-led sanctions over its war in Ukraine.Its main refiners paused buying Russian oil last week as discounts to other suppliers narrowed after Trump threatened hefty tariffs on imports from countries that make any such purchases, Reuters reported last week.
ABS Expands Network of Learning Hubs With Hellenic Ship Safety Center
ABS opened the doors on its latest training center, the Hellenic Ship Safety Center in Athens, harnessing the power of new immersive training techniques, game-based learning and virtual reality environments for the Greek shipping community.Greek shipping leaders joined ABS executives at the opening celebration for the new facility that features computer simulation stations, collaboration areas and a training room for virtual reality and game-based scenarios and interaction.The Athens location is the latest in a family of dedicated centers from ABS…
Sallaum Lines Picks Inmarsat’s NexusWave Connectivity Solution
Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, has signed an agreement with Sallaum Lines, a Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) cargo shipping company, to upgrade to Inmarsat Maritime’s NexusWave fully managed bonded connectivity service.As Sallaum Lines expands its global presence, NexusWave will provide secure, ultra-fast connectivity with unlimited data, complemented by Inmarsat’s Care Premium program for 24/7 support and maintenance.Reflecting a proactive digitalization strategy, Sallaum Lines…
Sanctioned VLCCs Remain Stranded Off Bangladesh
Two OFAC-sanctioned VLCCs remain stranded outside Bangladeshi waters with no prospects of a final resting place, reports cash buyer GMS, and this is now seeing cash buyers and ship recyclers being vigilant in their due diligence prior to negotiating on units.There are reportedly still a few more units in cash buyer hands that are waiting to be introduced for a recycling resale. However, given the fate that the behemoth duo has run into outside Bangladesh, it remains to be seen how these pending and even future dealings with candidates from sanctioned source(s) will eventually transpire…
New Product: Dinnteco Lightning Protection
Dinnteco America, aleader in lightning protection technology, announced today its latest solution for the marine, military, energy and transportation industries – the Electromagnetic Charge Compensation Device (DDCE).The DDCE is designed to prevent direct lightning strikes by gathering positive charges from its immediate environment, while also gathering negative charges from the clouds and air. The combined charges are then neutralized within the DDCE. By continuously repeating…
Seaspan Corporation Integrates Orca AI's SeaPod Across Fleet
Orca AI celebrated a milestone as Seaspan Corporation, a global containership powerhouse, integrates its SeaPod digital watchkeeper across its entire fleet to support safety improvements and operational cost savings.As part of its digitalization strategy, Seaspan began using Orca AI's SeaPod digital watchkeeper on select vessels to enhance situational awareness for navigation. An analysis of Seaspan’s fleet performance from 2023−2024 revealed positive results: a 35% increase in the minimum average distance between vessels in open waters and a 37% decrease in close encounters.By using Orca AI…
Contract Signed to Build 130m ‘Hydrogen-Ready’ High-Speed Ferry
Austal Limited said that Austal Australasia has been awarded a contract valued between A$265 and A$275 million by Gotlandsbolaget of Sweden for the design and construction of a 130-m combined cycle, ‘hydrogen-ready’ vehicle passenger ferry. Part of Gotlandsbolaget’s ‘Horizon X’ program, the high-speed ROPAX catamaran will be the largest vessel ever constructed by Austal, and feature a unique, highly efficient combined cycle propulsion system that includes both gas and steam turbines – reportedly a first for high-speed craft.
Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Americas
February, Brighton - Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Americas (CSI Americas) sets the stage for a transformative year for the cruise ship interiors industry. Registration is now open for the upcoming edition of CSI Americas, which will take place at the Miami Beach Convention Center, 3 - 4 June. With the newbuild horizon now stretching the order book to 2036, the entire cruise ship interiors supply chain is activated and ready to create the ships of tomorrow.The cruise industry order books are now bulging at the seams, having added an impressive 35 new ship orders by the close of 2024.
Talking Marine Vessel Coatings with Christer Øpstad, Jotun
Sourcing and maintaining marine coatings systems are arguably a shipowner’s most critical means to ensure a long and productive lifecycle for ships, boats and offshore rigs. At the same time, coatings have become a central part of the ship efficiency, decarbonization discussion. Christer Øpstad, Global R&D Director Fouling Protection, Jotun, discusses how these macro trends are driving R&D within his laboratories today.To start us off, can you provide a ‘by the numbers’ look at Jotun today?Jotun is headquartered in Sandefjord, Norway, still a family-owned company founded almost 100 years ago.
Shipbuilding RFP Issued to Build Hydrogen-Hybrid Research Vessel
UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography issued a request for proposals (RFP) to select a shipyard for the final design and construction of its new 163-ft. Coastal Class Research Vessel (CCRV), reportedly the first oceanographic research ship to primarily operate on renewable fuels.The vessel will feature a dual-powered hydrogen fuel cell and diesel-electric propulsion system, capable of conducting 75% of its missions using only liquid hydrogen. When running on hydrogen…
Port & Terminal Technology USA Set for Miami
Port & Terminal Technology USA has established itself as a must-attend key industry event. Its huge success over the last thirteen years is attributed to overwhelming positive feedback from attendees and the event’s growing list of returning exhibitors. As such, MCI Media Limited is delighted to announce that the 14th Conference & Exhibition will take place in Miami, Florida and is officially supported by PortMiami. An informative technical programme delivered by numerous industry experts will cover the very latest developments…
An (Electric) Jolt for the Passenger Vessel Industry
The domestic passenger vessel answers the call for cleaner and more efficient platforms. It is truly an electric time to be a part of this niche industry.In the shadow of a rapidly changing political landscape, the domestic passenger ferry sector is nevertheless seeing an increasing number of newbuild vessel orders. Older fleet vessels, some approaching financial and operational obsolescence – also environmentally undesirable on a waterfront that more than ever demands cleaner carbon signatures – are going the way of the dinosaur.
BERG Propulsion Offers GreenForge Propeller Shafts
BERG Propulsion is offering the shipping industry its first opportunity to select propeller shafts made using the climate neutral GreenForge® production process.Three Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) ro-ro vessels due in service from 2026 to carry aircraft parts across the Atlantic are already set to take advantage of sustainable wind power, courtesy of their rotor sails, while their hybrid propulsion, power management and control technology is coming from BERG.In addition, BERG will supply propeller shafts made from recycled scrap steel…