South America News

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday ordered a 20% reduction in the number of four-star officers, deepening cuts at the Pentagon that have shaken the Department of Defense at the start of President Donald Trump's second term in office.Hegseth has long been vocal about how he views the senior-most ranks of the military as too big.The former Fox News host has moved with stunning speed to reshape the department, firing top generals and admirals as he seeks to implement Trump's national security agenda and root out diversity initiatives he calls discriminatory.In a memo…

South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean aims to boost its revenue from overseas military vessels to around 4 trillion won ($2.91 billion) by 2030 and hopes to pick up more repair orders from the U.S. Navy, a senior executive told Reuters.The Asian country is a major global shipbuilder and trade talks with the U.S. on tariffs brought up possible cooperation in the sector after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to restore U.S. shipbuilding.Hanwha Ocean, formerly Daewoo Shipbuilding…

Fast-growing energy demand is driving the need for technical support and guidance in new locations, writes Terrance Roberts, Manager, Global Business Development, ABS.Surging appetite for natural gas is accelerating the development of global and regional supply chains, with established producers seeking new markets and emerging suppliers looking to meet demand from local consumers.Long-tabled export projects are being fast-tracked for approval in North America while new facilities are under development in Canada and South America.

Noble Corporation’s recent decision to sell the Pacific Meltem and Pacific Scirocco for non-drilling purposes highlights a key issue in the drillship market: What happens to cold-stacked rigs that are unlikely to return to work? With the floater market showing signs of weakness and contract opportunities becoming scarcer, reactivating these units is proving even more challenging.Esgian Rig Values has adjusted its valuations since early 2025 to reflect these conditions, reducing 6th generation drillship values by approximately 12%…

Thordon Bearings has seen its RiverTough tailshaft bearing solution surpass 500 installations in the workboat sector.Primarily a retrofit solution but also increasingly specified for newbuilds, RiverTough is designed for coastal and inland waterways, where conditions are typically muddy and abrasive. The solution, applied in combination with hard-coated nickel-chrome-boron (NiCrB) Thordon shaft sleeves, has been verified as outlasting rubber bearings by a factor of two or more in the harshest operating environments.

China's Guangzhou Port, the largest shipping hub in the country's south, opened a direct route to Chancay port in Peru on Tuesday, state broadcaster CCTV reported, a move it said would reduce logistics costs and bolster trade with Latin America.Located north of Lima, Chancay recently began operations with non-stop voyages to and from Asia, accommodating the largest vessels on South America's Pacific coast.The announcement comes as Beijing aims to further strengthen its relationship with resource rich Latin America amid trade tensions with the United States.On Tuesday, the 300 metre vessel COSC

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has achieved another step towards establishing a legally binding framework to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships globally, aiming for net-zero emissions by or around, i.e close to 2050. The IMO Net-zero Framework is the first in the world to combine mandatory emissions limits and GHG pricing across an entire industry sector. Approved by the Marine Environment Protection Committee during its 83rd session (MEPC 83) from April 7-11, 2025, the measures include a new fuel standard for ships and a global pricing mechanism for emissions.

The United States will "take back" the Panama Canal from Chinese influence, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday during a visit to the Central American nation.After talks with Panama's government, Hegseth vowed to deepen security cooperation with Panamanian security forces and said China would not be allowed to "weaponize" the canal by using Chinese firms' commercial relationships for espionage."Together, we will take back the Panama Canal from China's influence," Hegseth said, speaking at a pier renovated with U.S. assistance in Panama City."China did not build this canal.

Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV) has appointed Stefano Colonna as the new Head of Passenger Ships and Yachts for the North American region.With more than 30 years of leadership experience in the passenger ships and yachting industries, Colonna has held prominent roles, including Vice President of Service for North and South America at NAVIM Group, overseeing Quality Assurance and Certifications, Director of Marine Safety Operations at Carnival Cruise Line and Director of Technical Safety Operations at The Walt Disney Company.Specializing in new builds…

VARD has signed an MoU with Brazilian state-owned company EMGEPRON that aims to foster future cooperation on national defense programs and promote the exchange of knowledge in emerging technologies.Emgepron is linked to the Ministry of Defence of Brazil through the Command of the Navy. In addition to project management, the company commercializes Brazilian naval defense products and services.Located in Pernambuco, Vard Promar is one of the most modern shipbuilding facilities in South America, with the infrastructure and technical capacity to support both defense and commercial projects.

Average container freight rates for Chinese exports have dropped 28% since the start of the year, according to BIMCO. This posts the worst first quarter development in twenty years. Based on input from twenty-three liner operators, the China Containerized Freight Index (CCFI) reflects the general export freight rate level from ten major ports.The 28% fall reduced the CCFI from 1,548 at the beginning of the year to 1,112 at the end of the first quarter, not least due to a record high fall in spot freight rates.

The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) will meet for its 83rd session from April 7 to 11 April, and efforts to reduce GHG emissions from ships will be top on the agenda.Tackling climate change - Reduction of GHG emissions from shipsThe 2023 IMO GHG Strategy outlines a set of “mid-term measures” aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping. These measures should consist of:• a technical element: a goal-based marine fuel standard designed to gradually lower the GHG intensity of marine fuels…

The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) will offload approximately 37,256 pounds of cocaine, valued at over $275 million, at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday at the 10th Avenue Marine Terminal in San Diego.The seized contraband is the result of 11 separate interdictions of suspected drug smuggling vessels off the coasts of Mexico, Central America, and South America between December and February. These operations were conducted as part of the Coast Guard’s ongoing efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking and enhance maritime security.Senior officials attending the event include:Vice Adm. Andrew J. Tiongson, Commander, Coast Guard Pacific AreaRear Adm. Joseph R. Buzzella, Commander, Coast Guard District 11Rear Adm. Jo-Ann Burdian, Joint Interagency Task Force South, U.S.

Since entering service in 2015, the all-electric ferry MF Ampere has sailed the equivalent of 17 times around the equator on batteries alone.Despite a chorus of critics and skeptics in during the project, a decade later, Ampere continues to showcase the potential of electric technology, tech that has been emulated in ferries globally.It all started with the Ampere and the Norwegian Public Road Administration's decision to require sustainable technology onboard the newbuild destined to transport passengers and vehicles across the Sognefjord on Norway's west coast.

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.

DP World’s ports and terminals handled a record 88.3 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2024, up 8.3% year-on-year, despite macroeconomic headwinds and concerns over the outlook for global trade.The global logistics business, which now can handle over 100 million TEU across operations in 78 countries, benefitted from long-term infrastructure investment, contributing to strong growth and new services calling at its terminals.While the Red Sea crisis posed a significant challenge to global shipping in 2024…

Technology group Wärtsilä has been selected to supply replacement engines for two inland waterway tug pusher vessels operating in Paraguayan rivers.The vessels are owned by ADM Naviera Chaco (ADM). The vessel modifications and new engine installations will be carried out in Asuncion-Paraguay.The new engines will enable a reduction of the environmental impact and increase the efficiency of the tug pushers.ADM’s stated target is to reduce emissions by 25% by 2035, and the advanced…

“Three years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the volume of dry bulk shipments from the two countries combined is 6% below pre-war levels. However, the past 12 months have seen the countries’ dry bulk shipments develop in complete opposite directions. While Ukraine has seen an 87% y/y jump in shipments, Russia’s have taken a 6% y/y fall. Overall, their combined volume has increased 3% y/y over the last 12 months,” says Filipe Gouveia, Shipping Analysis Manager at BIMCO.The primary reason for Ukraine’s spike in shipments lie in the success of its coastal corridor.

Maritime and offshore energy leaders from Brazil, Argentina, Chile and throughout South America came together for the first meeting of the ABS South America Regional Committee.“ABS has a long, proud history of many decades serving clients in South America, and we are excited to bring together a committee of esteemed colleagues to exchange ideas and engage in constructive discussions to support innovative solutions and forward progress in the maritime and offshore industries,” said Vassilios Kroustallis…

The Argentine government has authorized the export of live cattle for slaughter, reversing a prohibition that had been in place for over five decades, after the country's beef exports last year reached their highest level in a century.Argentina, famed for its beef cuts and traditional asado barbecue, is a ranching and farming powerhouse and a major exporter of processed soybeans, corn and wheat.Sales from the country's agricultural sector to foreign markets provide the largest source of hard currency for central bank coffers…

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has conducted a table-top exercise with Indonesia and Malaysia to enhance regional coordination and strengthen response capabilities for oil spills. The exercise brought together over 20 representatives from MPA, Indonesia’s Directorate General of Sea Transportation, Malaysia’s Environment Department, and oil spill response experts from ITOPF.As part of Singapore’s chairmanship of the Revolving Fund Committee (RFC) from April 2022 until March 2027, MPA led the exercise to foster collaboration.

Saildrone is scaling up its fleet in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific to stem the flow of illegal drugs into the United States in response to the US-declared state of emergency at its southern border.On the water, the US Navy and Coast Guard have moved fleets of ships into place. These agencies are responsible for securing thousands of miles of coastline and open ocean, but assets are extremely limited, and there is too much water to cover.Now, Saildrone is doubling its fleet…

The Baltic Exchange has launched a new series of chemical and agricultural oil assessments.The Baltic Chemical and Agricultural Oil Assessments (BCAA) will be produced on a weekly basis as of February 2025. The assessments are designed to serve a segment of the freight market – across owners, charterers, brokers and trading companies.The BCAA will offer insights into a series of trade routes covering “easy-chemicals” like benzene, biofuels and caustic soda, as well as vegetable oils.