Maritime Industry Top News
KNUD E. HANSEN to Design Compagnie Maritime Nantaise’s RoRo Vessel
KNUD E. HANSEN is continuing its involvement in the development of Compagnie Maritime Nantaise’s new RoRo vessel that is dedicated to space logistics, following Compagnie Maritime Nantaise and Sogestran's of the signing of the shipbuilding contract with Guangzhou Shipyard International.The vessel has been designed to support the transportation of launch vehicles, satellites, and other sensitive cargoes for the European space industry.
New Leadership for SCA's Industry Partners Committee Announced
The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA), the national association representing the U.S. shipbuilding, maintenance and repair industry, announced the incoming chairs of its Industry Partners Committee, which represents SCA’s supplier and manufacturer members across the country.John Rhatigan, Chairman of the Marine Machinery Association, is ascending from Vice Chairman to Chairman of the Industry Partners Committee…
Urals Prices Jump to Above $110/Barrel
Prices for Russia's flagship Urals crude at its western ports jumped above $110 per barrel on Tuesday, the highest level since April 2026, according to Reuters calculations based on data from two traders.Higher oil prices boost Russia's budget revenues, which rely heavily on oil and gas income, although elevated freight rates are limiting gains for sellers.Urals crude loaded at Russia's ports of Primorsk URL…
Spain Foresees Higher Energy Prices Due to Iran War
Higher energy prices resulting from the Iran war could add nearly €7.4 billion ($8.5 billion) to Spanish manufacturers' costs through the end of 2026, an industry lobby group said on Wednesday.Of the extra costs stemming from current prices, gas would account for €4.2 billion and electricity for €3.2 billion, with 70% of the impact expected between September and December, the Alliance for the Competitiveness of Spanish Industry said in a statement.The group, which represents 60% of Spain's gross
Shell, Equinor Warn Energy Market is Struggling to Offset Disruptions
Global energy markets face a lengthening period of tight supply and price volatility as the industry's ability to offset disruptions from the Middle East is dwindling, senior executives from Shell and Equinor said on Wednesday.Attacks on oil tankers in the Middle East helped push crude prices towards $110 a barrel this week for the first time since May.
Sofar Ocean Study Links Marine Forecast Gaps with Vessel Rolling
New analysis from Sofar Ocean finds that widely used marine forecasts can miss wave conditions associated with dangerous vessel rolling and cargo losses.Most forecasts tell ships how high waves will be, but height alone doesn't identify the impact on a ship. Wave period and direction, together with the vessel's heading, speed, and loading, can create dangerous rolling even when waves don't appear extreme.Most marine forecasts have limited direct, in-water observations of the full wave field.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Receives AIP from KR for 50K LPG Carrier
Korean Register (KR) has granted Approval in Principle (AIP) to a newly developed 50,000-cbm LPG carrier, jointly designed with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI). The AIP was presented on September 16 at Gastech 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand.LPG carriers require precise control of cargo temperature and pressure to keep LPG cargo stable throughout storage and transport. Achieving both safety and cargo-loading…
K Shipbuilding, Sejin and ClassNK to Develop Eco LPG Carrier
K Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., Sejin Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. and ClassNK have signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) regarding the joint development of a new generation Eco LPG carrier that complies with the IGC Code amendment. The signing ceremony was held at Gastech 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand.An amendment to the IGC Code, an international code for the construction and equipment of ships carrying liquefied gases in bulk…
Partners to Validate Kongsberg Maritime Continuous Emissions Monitoring System
Lloyd’s Register (LR), Seapeak, Kongsberg Maritime (KM), and Tunable have launched a new joint development project (JDP) to facilitate compliance and independently verify the accuracy of KM’s Continuous Emissions Monitoring System (CEMS), which incorporates Tunable’s gas analysis technology, on board a new LNG carrier.The partners will compare actual CO2 emissions recorded by the vessel’s CEMS against both engine test bed data and default emissions factors…
SGMF Publishes LCA on Methanol as Marine Fuel
SGMF has published its latest Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) on methanol as a marine fuel, highlighting the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction potential of renewable and synthetic methanol production pathways.The study evaluates 15 methanol production pathways and finds that methanol produced using renewable energy sources can deliver substantial emissions reductions.The publication follows SGMF's third edition LNG Life Cycle Assessment…
Lloyd’s Register Backs Fore-Accommodation Wind-Powered LNG Carrier Design
Lloyd's Register has granted Design Appraisal to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries' fore-accommodation LNG carrier design featuring Mitsui O.S.K. Lines' Wind Challenger hard-sail system, advancing the concept towards potential commercial deployment.The appraisal confirms that the design complies with LR's Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems notation requirements and follows Approval in Principle granted at…
PredictWind Offers Orca, Whale Watch Feature During Migration Season
With Pacific gray whales moving south from November to January, and humpbacks heading south from late autumn through December toward Hawaii, Mexico and Central America, it's peak season for whale encounters at sea.Vessel strikes are one of the leading causes of death for large whales worldwide, and sailboats carry a particular risk here, moving quietly under sail means whales often don't hear a boat coming…
Saudi Export Disruptions Push Oil to Four-Month Highs
Oil prices settled $3 higher on Tuesday after shipping industry sources said crude loadings at Saudi Arabia's Red Sea export hub of Yanbu had been suspended and Riyadh had canceled some cargo deliveries to European customers, deepening concerns that disruptions to a critical oil-export route could persist for weeks.Gains in U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures CLc1 outpaced Brent on Tuesday, as fears that Saudi Arabia's supply troubles were widening sent investors rushing into U.S.
Netherlands Coastguard Receives Patrol Vessel
Multraship, on behalf of Rijkswaterstaat, delivered the new patrol vessel ENFORCER to the Netherlands Coastguard, a 53-metre-long modern patrol vessel for surveillance work, providing assistance and contributing to safety in the North Sea. ENFORCER was built by Damen Shipyards in Gorinchem. It is owned by Multraship from Terneuzen, which will therefore also be responsible for the vessel’s crew and maintenance. The Netherlands Coastguard will have operational command.
Strait of Hormuz Traffic Falls to Four Ship Crossings
Vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz remained in the single digits at four on Tuesday, down from seven a day earlier, preliminary shipping data showed on Wednesday, falling well short of the 10-day average of 18.The drop in traffic through the waterway that handled one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supply before the Iran war comes after attacks in the region intensified.Of the total on Tuesday…
Swedish Maritime Administration Selects Steerprop for Icebreaker
Finnish marine propulsion specialist Steerprop has been selected to supply the complete main propulsion package for a new icebreaker being built for the Swedish Maritime Administration (SMA) by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan, South Korea.The contract marks Steerprop’s first project with both the Swedish Maritime Administration and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries. The vessel will be equipped with…
Destination Agent Compliance Under the Shipping Act
Foreign non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOCCs) increasingly rely on U.S.-based logistics companies to serve as destination agents. These arrangements involve a domestic provider handling cargo receipt, warehousing, customs coordination, and last-mile delivery on behalf of an ocean transportation intermediary headquartered abroad. The revenue opportunity is real, but the regulatory, financial…
How Digital Training will Attract ‘Crews of the Future’
As tug operations become more complex, training needs to evolve with them. By combining digital simulation with practical experience and the knowledge of experienced seafarers, tug operators can give the next generation of crews the skills, confidence and judgement they need for the challenges they will face at sea.The very best and most highly skilled seafarers hone their craft through years of intense hands-on training that ensures the most important aspects of their jobs – safety…
Weakley Inducted into 2026 Great Lakes Marine Hall of Fame
The Sault Historic Sites, Captain John P. Wellington Great Lakes Marine Hall of Fame, recognized the significant contributions of James H.I. Weakley, President of the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA) on Friday, September 11th in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan.The award is given every other year alternating between U.S. and Canadian nominees. The complete list of previous awardees can be found here.Jim Weakley…
Jones Act Fleet Financing
As political chatter centers on rebuilding the U.S. maritime industry, Brett Hewitt, Executive Director, Marine Finance, Wells Fargo Equipment Finance, offers a lender’s-eye view of a market where vessels are expensive, assets can remain productive for decades and the quality of the operator can be every bit as important as the collateral.For lenders, one of the Jones Act market’s biggest attractions is remarkably straightforward: boats last a long time.“The collateral has a long useful life…
