Maritime Industry Top News
Two Dead in Bulk Carrier Fire
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has reported notice of a fire in the engine room onboard the Singapore-registered bulk carrier Mandy off the coast of China. The incident occurred on February 17.The fire has been extinguished by the crew, but two of the 25 Myanmar crew members are reported dead. Another has been evacuated for medical treatment.There is no report of pollution, and the vessel is being towed to Yantai Port, China.MPA will investigate the incident.
In-Mar Commits to Expanding Product Lines to Support U.S. Navy
In-Mar Systems and In-Mar Solutions, Louisiana-based designers and suppliers of critical marine equipment, have announced a commitment to expand their product lines to support the evolving needs of the U.S. Navy and the broader U.S. maritime industrial base.Core offerings include marine off-board fire fighting by Fire Fighting Systems (FFS), and heavy-duty window wiper and wash systems by Wynn Marine and B. Hepworth.
Fuel Removed from Barge Grounded off San Juan Harbor
Salvors have removed the fuel from the barge grounded on the rocks off the San Felipe del Morro Castle shoreline in Puerto Rico. Approximately, 1,000 gallons of residual fuel and oily water have been removed from the Defiant barge which grounded at approximately noon, Feb. 9, just off the Port of San Juan harbor entrance.Salvage crews also brought in additional equipment to assess the extent of the barge damage and to test all tanks and voids for pressurization.
Samskip to Sell UK and Ireland Freight Business
Samskip has announced an agreement with short sea shipping and multimodal operator CLdN to sell its UK and Ireland (UKI-trade) door-to-door and quay-to-quay cargo business.The transaction will enable Samskip to focus even more on the company’s long-distance multimodal network that connects destinations covering mainland Europe, the Nordics, Baltics and North Africa. With sustainability as a central part of Samskip’s strategy…
NOAA Installs Navigation System in Boston Harbor
NOAA has installed a Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (PORTS®) in Boston Harbor. The system includes observational equipment at MassPort’s Conley Terminal and on the Tobin Memorial Bridge.The Boston Harbor PORTS, established in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, is the 41st installation in a broad, public-private partnership program, providing commercial…
Exports to China Fall to Lowest Output in Three Years
Exports from the Port of Los Angeles, the busiest U.S. gateway for ocean trade, fell 8% in January to the lowest monthly output in nearly three years, Executive Director Gene Seroka said on Tuesday."Exports to China look dismal," Seroka said after the Port of Los Angeles handled 104,297 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of loaded export containers in January.President Trump's aggressive use of tariffs has upended global trade and retaliatory trade duties from China and other nations have hit U.S.
MARAD Seeks Centers of Training Excellence
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) has opened applications for its Centers of Excellence (CoE) program for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education.The Center network spans 32 institutions across 44 cities in 17 states. These programs are focused on training the next generation of mariners for vital careers at sea and on shore, ensuring the U.S. maritime industry remains skilled and strong.
Iran Shut Hormuz Strait for a Few Hours on Tuesday
Iran shut down the Strait of Hormuz for a few hours on Tuesday, Iranian state media reported, without making clear whether the waterway, one of the world's most vital oil export routes, had fully reopened.Earlier, Iranian state media had reported that the Strait of Hormuz would be partially shut for a few hours on Tuesday due to "security precautions" for shipping safety while Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards conducted military drills there.(Reuters - Reporting by Menna Alaa El-Din; Editing by
Turkey, Ethiopia to Cooperate on Energy Projects
Turkey and Ethiopia signed a memorandum of understanding on energy cooperation during a visit by President Tayyip Erdogan to Addis Ababa on Tuesday, the Turkish Energy Ministry said, adding the accord would lead to joint production and projects.Erdogan held a one-day visit to Addis Ababa on Tuesday upon Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's invitation, his first to Ethiopia in 11 years.The accord was signed at a ceremony after talks between the two leaders.
Czechia Offers Limited Oil to Slovakia After Ukraine Pipeline Attack
The Czech Republic is offering small volumes of oil to Slovakia through an eastward flow of the Druzhba pipeline after westward flows from Ukraine were stopped after an attack on the pipeline last month, Czech Economy Minister Karel Havlicek said on Tuesday.The Czechs stopped using Russian supplies via Druzhba last year after expanding an alternative route, and have mentioned reversing the flow of the Czech section of the pipeline to Slovakia as a theoretical possibility.Havlicek told Reuters a
Boksa Marine Design Announces Leadership Transition, Florida Expansion
Boksa Marine Design (BMD), a full-service naval architecture and marine engineering firm based in Tampa, announced a strategic leadership transition and the opening of a new Fort Lauderdale, FL, office.After more than 20 years as Founder and President, Nick Boksa will transition into the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Senior Engineer. In this capacity, Boksa will focus on technical leadership…
Janus, Raven Defense Build High-Tech "Wall of Steel"
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.
EU: Hungary, Slovakia to See No Short-Term Oil Supply Risk
The European Commission sees no short-term risk to the security of oil supplies in Hungary or Slovakia following the disruption of Russian oil flows via Ukraine because both EU countries have ample emergency stocks, a Commission spokesperson said on Tuesday.Slovakia's government also said its domestic fuel supply was not under threat, alleviating fears of an immediate fuel crunch after Kyiv's foreign…
UK Maritime Agency Report Warning Shots Fired at Yemen Port
A UK maritime agency said that an incident involving a vessel and small boats around 70 nautical miles southwest of Yemen's port of Aden on Tuesday had been downgraded to "suspicious activity" as only warning shots were fired.The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations had earlier said it received a report of an exchange of small-arms fire after a vessel was approached and hailed by a white skiff with five people on board.In an update…
Op/Ed: Arctic Ice is a U.S Shipbuilding Thermostat – Let’s Turn Up the Heat
In December of 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard announced the award of two contracts to build up to six Arctic Security Cutter (ASC) icebreakers. The announcement declaring the vessels would be built between the United States and Finland in a major step forward for America’s national security in the Arctic region. The decision process encompassed more than the security of the Arctic passage. It announces a major shift in the U.S. Shipbuilding process.
Performance Shipping Inc. Announces Sale of M/t P. Sophia for $35.65m
Performance Shipping Inc., a global shipping company specializing in the ownership of tanker vessels, announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has signed a Memorandum of Agreement to sell its oldest vessel, the 2009-built, 105,071 dwt Aframax tanker vessel, M/T P. Sophia, to an unaffiliated third party for a gross sale price of $35.65 million. The vessel is expected to be delivered to her new owners in mid-2026, subject to customary closing conditions.The M/T P.
Teledyne Valeport Sponsors UK River Conservation Charity
Teledyne Valeport has announced a year-long sponsorship of UK-registered charity Westcountry Rivers Trust (WRT), which protects, conserves, and restores rivers across the South West.The funding, from the manufacturer of oceanographic and hydrographic instruments, will be used to deliver educational workshops, field-based conservation sessions, and career-focused engagement opportunities in the environmental sector.Building on more than five decades in environmental measurement…
MacGregor to Supply Cargo Access, Deck Machinery for BC Ferries’ Newbuilds
MacGregor has been selected to supply cargo access solutions and deck machinery for four new major vessels under BC Ferries’ fleet renewal program.The next-generation vessels, to be built at China Merchants Industry (CMI) Weihai Shipyard, are designed as diesel-battery hybrid, all-electric ready ships intended for BC Ferries’ busiest routes between Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland in Canada.MacGregor…
Arctic Shipping Increased to Record High in 2025
The number of ships operating in the Arctic reached a record high in 2025, according to new data from the Arctic Council Working Group on the Protection of the Arctic Marine Environment (PAME). The Working Group has been tracking Arctic shipping traffic trends since 2013 utilizing its Arctic Ship Traffic Data (ASTD) System.In 2025, 1812 unique ships entered the Arctic Polar Code area. This is a 40% increase from 2013 when data collection began.
Yanmar Prepares for Hydrogen Engine Production
Yanmar Power Solutions has acquired a site in Amagasaki City, Japan, to conduct test runs of marine hydrogen engines.The company says it will develop and build powertrains that can be used with next-generation fuels such as hydrogen, methanol, and ammonia, at the new facility.The complex will enable the company to reorganize its production system, including existing factories, and strengthen its capabilities. It is scheduled to begin operations around March 2029.
