Maritime Industry Top News
US Judge Overturns Trump’s Freeze on Wind Energy Permits
A federal judge on Monday struck down an order by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to halt all federal approvals for new wind energy projects, saying that agencies' efforts to implement his directive were unlawful and arbitrary.Agencies including the U.S. Departments of the Interior and Commerce and the Environmental Protection Agency have been implementing a directive to halt all new approvals…
Dong Fang Offshore Picks Westcon for New CLV Delivery
Dong Fang Offshore (DFO), one of Asia’s largest offshore wind service providers, has signed a major shipbuilding contract with Norwegian yard Westcon for a new subsea and cable lay vessel (CLV), set for delivery in 2027.Westcon will take over and complete construction of a large cable lay vessel already under build.DFO said the order supports its recent growth and replaces installation capacity lost…
Washington State Ferries Advances Ferry Order Contracts
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson selected the $714.5 million bid from Florida-based Eastern Shipbuilding Group to build three new Washington State Ferries (WSF) vessels earlier this year, and the project is advancing with new contract awards.The hybrid/electric vessels have a length overall of 409’-6” with an 83’-2” beam and a hull depth of 24’-6”. They will be certified to transport 160 standard-sized passenger vehicles and 1500 passengers.
Washington State Ferry Suffers Engine Damage
Washington State Ferries (WSF) reports that an initial inspection after the 58-year-old Kaleetan was removed from service on Friday has confirmed significant engine damage to one of the engine cylinders.The vessel will remain unavailable for service during this week and possibly the following two. The damage occurred when one of the cylinder's four valves failed during operation.Operations, Planning…
Brazil Court Recommends Auction of Santos Terminal
Brazil's Federal Audit Court (TCU) on Monday voted six to three to recommend that operators of existing container terminals at the Santos port be barred from participating in the first phase of bidding for a planned mega terminal, citing concerns over market concentration.The decision deals a blow to companies such as Danish shipping group Maersk, MSC and others already operating container terminals in Latin America's largest port, as these companies will only be able to enter a second phase of
HD Hyundai Signs MoU for Indian Shipyard
HD Hyundai has signed a strategic partnership with the Tamil Nadu state government regarding the establishment of a new shipyard in India.The Indian government is strategically pursuing the "Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047" to become one of the world's top five shipbuilding and shipping nations. To achieve this goal, the government is actively reviewing the expansion of existing shipyards and the establishment…
Havila to Appeal Oslo Court Decision
Havila Shipping has not had its case upheld in Oslo District Court and will appeal the judgment.In January and March, the company filed a lawsuit against DnB Bank ASA, Danske Bank AS NUF, and Swedbank AB (publ).The banks have maintained that Havila Shipping breached refinancing terms by converting of debt to equity and conducting a bond issue.In a statement, Havila said: “Havila Shipping does not agree with the judgment, and the district court's ruling is not a final decision in the matter.
Yara Confirms US Ammonia Strategy
Yara and Air Products have advanced negotiations to partner on low-emission ammonia projects.Yara has matured a project portfolio for potential investment in cost competitive US ammonia to diversify its energy position and increase competitiveness of its European nitrate production.Air Products is developing the world’s largest low-carbon energy complex in the state of Louisiana. The complex is designed to produce >750 million standard cubic feet per day of low-carbon hydrogen…
China Trade Surplus Tops $1 Trillion on Non-US Growth
China's trade surplus topped $1 trillion for the first time as manufacturers seeking to avoid President Donald Trump's tariffs shipped more to non-U.S. markets in November, with exports to Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia surging.Shipments to the United States dropped by close to one-third from the same month a year before."The tariff cuts agreed under the U.S.-China trade truce didn't help to lift shipments to the U.S.
Morocco to Open Two Deepwater Ports in 2026, 2028
Morocco will open a new deepwater Mediterranean port next year and another on the Atlantic in 2028, Equipment and Water minister Nizar Baraka said, as the North African country aims to replicate the success of Africa's largest port, Tanger Med.Nador West Med, under construction on the Mediterranean, is scheduled to be operational in the second half of 2026, Baraka told Reuters in an interview.It will offer 800 hectares for industrial activity…
TKMS to Decide on German Naval Yards Kiel Purchase
German warship builder TKMS expects to decide in the next few weeks on whether to buy neighbouring shipyard German Naval Yards Kiel (GNYK), its CEO Oliver Burkhard said on Monday, as the group considers expansion to meet rising demand.TKMS, which was spun off from parent Thyssenkrupp in October, already bought insolvent shipbuilder MV Werften in 2022, and a purchase of GNYK would further increase its capacity at a time when governments boost defence spending.Talks with GNYK…
Oil Prices Fall as Iraqi Production is Restored, Ukraine Talks Continue
Oil prices slipped more than $1 on Monday after Iraq restored production at one of its oilfields which accounts for 0.5% of world oil supply, while investors weighed ongoing talks to end the war in Ukraine.Brent crude futures were down $1.07, or 1.68%, at $62.68 a barrel by 11:05 p.m. EDT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $59.07, down $1.01, or 1.68%.Iraq restored production at Lukoil's West Qurna 2 oilfield…
Equinor’s First Hybrid Power Complex Starts Operations
Equinor and its Brazilian subsidiary Rio Energy have started commercial power production at the Serra da Babilônia Solar facility in Brazil. Strategically co-located with the existing Serra da Babilônia Wind, this represents the first hybrid asset in Equinor’s power portfolio, comprising 140 MW of solar and 223 MW of wind capacity.Hybrid projects take advantage of the complementary nature of solar and wind resources…
Marine Surveyors Hit With $70,000 After Subcontractor Errors
A single technical error by an uninsured subcontractor has resulted in a $70,000 settlement and prompted International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC) to warn ship surveyors of the financial exposure they face when relying on third-party data without contractual protection.The dispute arose after a marine surveyor was appointed by a prospective buyer to confirm that a commercial fishing vessel met the requirements of the relevant maritime safety authority.
Anglo-Eastern, Orca AI Partner to Bring AI-Assisted Navigation to 750 Vessels
Anglo-Eastern Ship Management and Orca AI have entered into a strategic partnership that will see Anglo-Eastern support the installation of Orca AI’s pioneering maritime operations platform across its managed fleet. The collaboration marks the first time a major ship management company has formally committed to support the adoption of AI-driven situational awareness capabilities, highlighting growing demand for related technologies in the maritime industry.
KNUD E. HANSEN Supports RoPAX Ferries for Cook Strait
KNUD E. HANSEN, a naval architecture and marine engineering consultancy, has announced a milestone in its ongoing collaboration with Ferry Holdings Limited. Following the successful signing of the shipbuilding contract with Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI), two new RoPAX vessels will be built.These vessels are destined for service linking the North and South islands across New Zealand’s challenging…
Fuel Assessment Update of the Mediterranean Emission Control Area
By the end of October 2025, six months had passed since the implementation of the Mediterranean Emission Control Area (ECA). This article will set out to review what’s changed in terms of the fuel mix and fuel quality, across the region between November 1, 2024 - October 31, 2025.The six months leading up to the implementation of the Mediterranean ECA (1st November to30th April 2025), VPS tested marine fuels representing 1,610,852 mt, bunkered in the Top 10Mediterranean ports.
Ocean Winds Hires Seaway7 for Offshore Wind Job in Poland
Seaway7, part of Subsea7, has secured a sizeable contract by Ocean Winds for the work on the BC-Wind offshore wind project in Poland.Seaway7’s scope of work includes the transport and installation of 26 transition pieces and an offshore substation with offshore activity expected to commence in 2027.The BC-Wind offshore site is located in the Baltic Sea, approximately 23 kilometers off the Polish coast…
Wallenius Wilhelmsen Bags $500M for Shipping Services Extensions
Wallenius Wilhelmsen has extended two key strategic contracts for shipping services with an estimated additional value of close to $500 million.The first contract is with a premium European auto manufacturer and is extended by three additional years, with the new contract now ending in 2030.The contract is estimated to have a total value of $580 million, with the extension value being $384 million based on expected volumes. The contract extension includes additional volumes and trade lanes.
Vissim to Provide Vessel Collision Avoidance System for Qatari Offshore Field
Norwegian technology company Vissim has secured a contract with a Qatar-based oil and gas operator to deliver a vessel collision avoidance system at an undisclosed oil field offshore Qatar.As part of a three-year agreement, Vissim will provide specialized software that enables a fully digitized and user-friendly overview of vessel traffic at the offshore field.The core of Vissim’s technology is a specially designed software platform which…