Marine Link
Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Ship News

24 Jun 2026

Samsung Heavy Orders LNG Carrier Tanks from GTT

(Credit: GTT)

GTT has secured an order from the shipyard Samsung Heavy Industries for the tank design of three new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, on behalf of an American ship-owner.GTT will design the cryogenic tanks of the vessels, each offering a total capacity of 174,000 m3. The tanks will be fitted with the Mark III Flex membrane containment system, a technology developed by GTT.Delivery of the vessels is scheduled for the first and second quarters of 2029.

24 Jun 2026

Markets: When Will Container Shipping Return to "Normal"

"Even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens, significant uncertainty will remain and continue to shape market outcomes,” says Niels Rasmussen, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.Key uncertainties include whether the US/Iran agreement will hold, when the Strait of Hormuz (SoH) will fully reopen, whether ships can return to normal Suez Canal routings, and how US import tariffs will evolve once the current 10% emergency tariffs expire at the end of July.To reflect this, BIMCO continues to apply two scenarios.

23 Jun 2026

Vessel Maintenance Demands Rise, IMCA Urges Focus on Diver Safety

Bill Chilton, Diving Manager at IMCA. © IMCA

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) has reminded vessel owners and operators of the significant risks associated with underwater ship husbandry (UWSH) operations as activity in the Strait of Hormuz increases.As vessels begin returning to service following extended periods at anchor, demand for hull cleaning, inspection, and maintenance has risen sharply. These activities, commonly grouped under UWSH, play a critical role in restoring vessel efficiency by removing marine growth and biofouling.Bloomberg has reported that orders for crews to clean ship hulls fouled by algae…

23 Jun 2026

Chinese Advanced Aircraft Carrier Passes Through Sensitive Taiwan Strait

© atdr - stock.adobe.com

China's newest and most advanced aircraft carrier, the Fujian, sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, the Taiwanese defence ministry said, the first such mission in the sensitive waterway since April.Taiwan, which Beijing views as its territory, reports almost daily Chinese military activity around the island in what Taipei views as an ongoing pressure campaign against the democratically elected government.In a brief statement, the ministry said the Fujian had passed through the strait.The military used "joint intelligence…

23 Jun 2026

Gulf Tanker Rates Nearly Double as Middle East Exports Ramp Up

© Adobe Stock/Aleksej

Oil tanker operators are reaping record profits after nearly doubling the hire cost of vessels going through the Strait of Hormuz and wider Gulf region this week on rising demand as traffic through the waterway slowly picks up, according to shipping data and sources.Traffic through the vital strait has been modest since Iran lifted its effective blockade last week after agreeing to a 60-day ceasefire with the U.S., as talks on a permanent deal to end their war continue.The number of ships going through Hormuz is a fraction of the daily average of 125 before the conflict began on February 28.

23 Jun 2026

More Vessels Pass Through Hormuz, Empty LNG Tankers Return

© Adobe Stock/MdMimYouled

Three stranded supertankers passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, while seven empty Qatar-linked liquefied natural gas tankers have entered in recent weeks in an early sign Gulf gas shipping may be resuming, ship-tracking data showed.Iranian-linked tankers also continued to transit the vital waterway, according to the data, with traffic picking up on Monday as U.S.-Iran talks progressed.The first round of talks, which began on Sunday, concluded a day later with both sides agreeing on a roadmap toward a permanent deal within 60 days. The U.S.

23 Jun 2026

Concordia Damen Delivers Century Star Cruise Ship, First for the European Market

© Concordia Damen

Dutch specialized shipbuilder Concordia Damen has delivered the Century Star to Century Cruises. The vessel is the first river cruise ship that the China-based cruise line has had built specifically for the European market and marks the start of a series of three sister ships. The Century Star will sail on the Danube from September 2026, with itineraries on the Rhine to follow at a later date.The vessel was built in collaboration with United Waterways, which assists Century Cruises in adapting to European operational standards, including regulations, safety management, crew and hospitality.

23 Jun 2026

Marlink Expands Partnership with Oldendorff through Starlink Deployment

(Credit: Oldendorff Carriers)

Maritime connectivity provider Marlink has expanded its long-standing partnership with dry bulk shipping company Oldendorff Carriers by integrating Starlink low Earth orbit (LEO) connectivity across the company's owned vessels.The agreement extends Marlink's connectivity services across more than 80 Oldendorff-owned ships, integrating Starlink LEO services with existing geostationary (GEO) VSAT and mobile satellite services (MSS) backup systems.Under the expanded arrangement, Marlink will provide a shared pool of monthly data capacity delivered over the Starlink network…

23 Jun 2026

How the U.S. Coast Guard is Shaping the Future of Maritime Nuclear Power

In the novel, Verne, speaking through the Nautilus’ Commanding Officer – Captain Nemo writes, “There’s a powerful, obedient, swift, and effortless force that can be bent to any use and which reigns supreme aboard my vessel. It does everything. It lights me, it warms me, it’s the soul of my mechanical equipment. This force is electricity.”
Copyright Mario Breda/AdobeStock

Looking back at history one could argue that it was French author Jules Verne in his book “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”, published in 1869, who was speculating about a new power source much in the same out of the box thinking that H.G. Wells employed when he wrote about inter-planetary flight in “War of the World’s. Verne was writing about “electricity” from batteries using seawater which he created after studying the model of the newly developed French Navy submarine “Plongeur” at the Exposition of 1867.In the novel…

23 Jun 2026

Washington State Ferries Builds a Hybrid Electric Future

Jumbo Mark II class ferry M/V Wenatchee, WSDOT photo by Jim Culp.
Image courtesy WSDOT

At the head of the U.S.’ largest ferry system is Steve Nevey, Deputy Secretary, Washington State Ferry (WSF), which is engaged in a historic modernization to a hybrid-electric fleet. Nevey gives a candid look inside problems during the Wenatchee conversion, with insights on the hybrid electric direction and pace for newbuilds at Eastern Shipbuilding.Steve Nevey did not stumble into maritime. He was raised in it, shaped by it, and by most accounts destined for it. Born in the UK, Nevey grew up in a naval household.

23 Jun 2026

US Supplies Autonomous Drones to Boost Philippine Maritime Surveillance

One of four Ocean Aero Triton autonomous underwater and surface vehicles displayed at the Philippine Navy’s Naval Operating Base Subic (Credit: U.S. Embassy in the Philippines)

The United States has transferred four Ocean Aero Triton autonomous underwater and surface vehicles (AUSVs) to the Armed Forces of the Philippines to strengthen the country's maritime domain awareness and its ability to monitor and respond to maritime challenges.The delivery, valued at approximately $13 million, was completed on June 22 during a turnover ceremony at the Philippine Navy's Naval Operating Base Subic, attended by U.S. and Philippine military officials.The Triton…

23 Jun 2026

Oil Falls as Signs of Hormuz Recovery Weigh on Market

© Adisorn / Adobe Stock

Oil prices fell more than 1% on Tuesday, extending losses from the previous session, on signs of some progress in restoring crude flows through the Strait of Hormuz following U.S.-Iran peace talks.Brent crude futures LCOc1 fell $1.09, or 1.4%, to $76.81 a barrel and U.S. West Texas Intermediate CLc1 declined to $72.99 a barrel, down 87 cents, or 1.2%, as of 0607 GMT.Prices fell more than 3% on Monday after the United States granted Iran a 60-day sanctions waiver following initial peace talks…

22 Jun 2026

Autonomous Vehicles Solve (and Create) Problems for Ports

Corsair, Saronic's 24-foot ASV, supports a wide range of applications including maritime domain awareness, port, harbor, and offshore facility security monitoring, logistics shuttle operations and environmental monitoring.
Image courtesy Saronic

Autonomous vehicles are increasingly sophisticated defensive tools for ports wanting to protect against maritime threats - including attacks from other autonomous vehicles.In December 15 last year, the Security Service of Ukraine reported that its underwater drone had struck a Russian submarine in Novorossiysk. The incident highlighted just how sophisticated potential threats have become. Harbor cameras were likely hacked, providing real-time visual evidence of the attack, with…

23 Jun 2026

Congressman Suozzi Delivers Keynote at Webb Graduation

© Webb Institute

Webb Institute celebrated the Commencement of its newest class of naval architects and marine engineers, sending another group of exceptional graduates into the maritime and defense industries that depend on them. U.S. Representative Thomas Suozzi (D-NY) delivered the keynote address on the terrace behind Stevenson Taylor Hall and received an Honorary Doctorate from the college.Born and raised in Glen Cove, Rep. Suozzi has deep roots in the community Webb has called home for decades.

22 Jun 2026

American Cruise Lines Christens 2nd Vessel Launched This Year

© American Cruise Lines

American Cruise Lines christened American Maverick in Newport, Rhode Island last week during the ship’s inaugural 9-Day New England Islands cruise, sailing roundtrip from Providence, Rhode Island. The celebration took place on board with guests, crew, community partners, and many employees from the Line’s headquarters in Connecticut. American Maverick is the newest small cruise ship in the country and the latest in the company’s growing fleet of ships exclusively designed for cruising the U.S.A., featuring many amenities surpassing those of the finest riverboats in the world.

22 Jun 2026

Oil Prices Fall 4% as US-Iran Talks Ease Supply Risks

© Adobe Stock/AKACHA

Oil prices fell 4% on Monday after U.S. Vice President JD Vance said progress has been made in talks with Iran and that the Strait of Hormuz was open, easing supply concerns.Brent crude was down $3.18 or 3.95%, at $77.39 a barrel by 11:44 a.m. ET (1544 GMT) Prices had climbed to $82.30 at the start of trading because of threats from U.S. President Donald Trump to restart the war on Iran, as well as an announcement from Tehran that it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz.U.S.

22 Jun 2026

Misaligned Charter Terms Amounts to $110,000 Shipbroker Settlement

Mark Brattman, Claims Director at ITIC. © ITIC

A mismatch in contract terms has led to a $110,000 settlement against a shipbroker, highlighting the risks brokers face when fixtures are not clearly aligned on a back-to-back basis when fixing charter parties.According to International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC), a shipbroker was instructed by their principal to source a ship under a Contract of Affreightment (COA). Following a nomination by the trader, the broker identified a suitable ship, introduced the principal to the owner…

22 Jun 2026

Qatari LNG Carriers Re-Enter Hormuz as Traffic Through Strait Slumps

© moofushi / Adobe Stock

Four liquefied natural gas tankers controlled by Qatar headed into the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, despite a fall in ship traffic after Iran announced that it had again closed the waterway over the weekend, shipping data showed.The tankers - Wadi Al Sail, Mekaines, Al Sadd and Mesaimeer - entered the strait via the Iranian route for the first time since the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran started, shiptracking data from analytics firm Kpler showed.QatarEnergy, whose LNG exports have been heavily curbed since the war began on February 28…

19 Jun 2026

Oil Shipments Through Hormuz Pick Up on Back End of Ceasefire

© Adobe Stock/Rayhan

Oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz picked up on Friday after the United States and Iran signed a ceasefire deal, with Gulf producers preparing to raise exports despite concerns over conditions set by Tehran for using the vital waterway.Washington and Tehran released the text of an interim agreement signed on Wednesday to end the conflict, although U.S. President Donald Trump warned he could resume attacks and target Iranian officials if commitments are not honoured.At least four tankers carrying crude…

19 Jun 2026

BMT, Austal Sign Engineering Alliance to Support Shipbuilding Projects

(Credit: BMT)

Maritime engineering consultancy BMT and Australian shipbuilder Austal have signed a strategic agreement aimed at expanding ship design and engineering capacity while supporting the delivery of commercial and defense shipbuilding programs.The agreement establishes a framework that allows Austal to access specialist naval architecture and engineering resources as project requirements fluctuate, helping the company manage peak workloads and reduce schedule risks.Under the arrangement…

18 Jun 2026

OPEC Maintains Robust Oil Growth Forecast Over Next Four Years

© CURIOS - stock.adobe.com

OPEC maintained its forecast for robust global oil demand growth in the next four years on Thursday and nudged up its longer-term view, citing a worldwide shift towards more supportive policies for oil use and saying there was no sign demand would peak.The 11-member Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries depends on oil for a large part of government income, and its views on demand are higher than those of others in the industry, such as the International Energy Agency.World demand will rise to 113.3 million bpd in 2030 from 105.1 million barrels per day in 2025…

18 Jun 2026

Germany Deploys Vessels to the Red Sea For Possible Hormuz Mission

© Adobe Stock/Wojciech Wrzesień

Germany is deploying two ships to the Red Sea in preparation for a possible military mission in the Strait of Hormuz, Germany's defence minister, Boris Pistorius, said on Thursday.Hours after U.S.

18 Jun 2026

CORE POWER to Assess Reactor Tech for Floating Nuclear Power Plants

(Credit: CORE POWER)

CORE POWER has launched a feasibility study to evaluate the use of BWX Technologies' mPower small modular reactor (SMR) technology in floating nuclear power plants designed to be built in shipyards and deployed near energy demand centers.The study will assess technical, regulatory and commercial pathways for integrating BWXT's mPower reactor design into floating nuclear facilities, the company said on Tuesday.The mPower reactor was originally developed as a Generation III+ integral…