Maritime Industry Top News
Research Vessels: A Conversation with Bruce Applegate of UNOLS
The U.S. oceanographic research community depends on a complex network of ships and institutions for scientific discovery at sea. The University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) is the central organization that provides scientists with access to advanced research ships and technology to explore the world's oceans. We recently spoke with Bruce Applegate, Chair of the UNOLS Council and Associate Director at Scripps Institution of Oceanography…
Uncrewed Maritime Vessels Must Leverage AI
In September 2024, the 33rd Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Lisa Franchetti, issued her Chief of Naval Operations Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy. This Navigation Plan embodies “Project 33” in recognition of the fact that Admiral Franchetti is the 33rd Chief of Naval Operations. Project 33 sets targets for enabling the U.S. Navy to make strategically meaningful gains in the fastest possible time.
Norwegian Firm Aces Davit Tryouts on US Navy Fleet Refueling Vessels
Norwegian supplier of boat-handling systems Vestdavit has demonstrated the operational efficiency of its davits during sea trials of the equipment on U.S. Navy fleet refueling vessels being built by General Dynamics NASSCO.The pair of high-specification PLRH-5000 rescue boat davits were subject to rigorous operational testing in the recent trials performed with USNS Robert F. Kennedy, or T-AO 208,…
Crowley’s American Energy LNG Carrier Enters Domestic Service
Crowley has raised the U.S. flag on American Energy, marking the start of operations of the first domestic liquified natural gas (LNG) carrier to transport U.S.-sourced natural gas to Puerto Rico.Crowley and Naturgy have entered into a multi-year agreement that provides for the regular delivery of the U.S. mainland-sourced LNG to Naturgy’s operating facility in Penuelas, Puerto Rico. This will provide Puerto Rico with increased access to the reliable supply of U.S.-produced LNG…
GNV Trials RINA’s Voyage Optimization Tool Onboard GNV Polaris Vessel
Italian shipping company GNV (Grandi Navi Veloci) has selected RINA’s SERTICA Performance for the latest addition to its fleet, the GNV Polaris, starting right away by testing the ship during its inaugural voyage from China to Italy.The tool for monitoring operational data on ships allows efficient energy consumption management and the optimization of performance.Thanks to the system, GNV has identified two optimal operating scenarios allowing for the lowest Specific Fuel Consumption…
HarborLab Launches AI-Powered Disbursement Tool for Port Operators
HarborLab, the Athens-based maritime technology company, launched a new AI-powered feature designed to optimize Disbursement Account (DA) analysis and streamline port expense management.This latest innovation, known as HL AI, is part of the company’s drive to fully integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its entire platform ecosystem helping shipowners and operators unlock efficiency and major…
Yemen's Houthis to Continue Attacks on Isreal-Linked Shipping in Red Sea
Yemen's Houthis will not "dial down" their action against Israeli shipping in the Red Sea in response to U.S. military pressure or appeals from the group's allies such as Iran, the Yemeni militant group's foreign minister said.Jamal Amer spoke to Reuters late on Monday after the U.S. launched a wave of strikes in areas of Yemen controlled by the Iran-aligned Houthis, who said last week they were resuming…
Chris-Marine Debuts New Fuel Injector Test Unit for 4-Stroke Engines
Chris-Marine launhced its latest innovation, the VPU 1600, a fuel injector test unit for 4-stroke engines, manufactured at its facility in Brøndby, Denmark.The test unit is designed to efficiently assess the leakage, opening pressure, and spray pattern of fuel injectors, ensuring optimal engine performance. VPU 1600 is designed to deliver a reliable, intuitive solution for verifying injector performance…
MOL Charters Two More VLEC Newbuilds to SCG Chemicals
MOL Energia, a subsidiary of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), has signed long-term charter contracts with SCG Chemicals, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Siam Cement Group (SCG), for two very large ethane carriers (VLECs), to be built in South Korea.The charter for two more VLECs comes in addition to three vessels already contracted by SCG Chemicals in January 2025.Of the approximately 90 dedicated liquefied ethane carriers currently in service or on order worldwide…
AMSA Fines Uncooperative Owner
In Australia, Gladstone Magistrates Court has fined Universal Shipping Alliance Ltd, owner of the bulk carrier KMAX Leader, A$63,000 ($40,000) for failing to comply with an Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) written direction and ordered them to pay court costs.KMAX Leader, a Liberia-flagged bulk carrier, entered the Port of Gladstone in October 2023 due to propulsion issues. The vessel undertook…
ICS and CMI Renew Call for Treaty Ratification
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the Comité Maritime International (CMI) have launched an updated campaign for promoting maritime treaty ratification as there is a long-standing concern that many governments are not ratifying important international conventions despite their adoption at IMO and other regulatory fora.The campaign highlights the international maritime Conventions which ICS and CMI believe are significantly important for governments to ratify as a matter of urgency.
Ship Recycling Markets Calm After Hectic Start of Year
After what has certainly been a hectic January of negotiations and a late February / early March of unending deliveries with nearly 200K of LDT delivered in recent weeks, a period of calm reflection descended across Indian sub-continent ship recycling markets, reports cash buyer GMS, with an alarmingly minimal number of deals being fixed over recent weeks including this one.“And ever since prices have…
Emergency Escape Trunks Scrutinized by Port State Control
DNV has encountered instances where ships have been detained during Port State Control (PSC) inspections due to the arrangement of emergency escape trunks from machinery spaces even though the arrangements were approved by the flag state or their Recognized Organization.As a result, DNV has issued guidance explaining that on many ships, the protected emergency escape trunk does not, for various reasons…
Fujairah: Bunker Fuel Sales Drop to their Lowest Since '21
Marine fuel sales in the United Arab Emirates' Fujairah, the world's third-largest bunkering hub, fell in February to their lowest since data started being published in 2021. Volumes, excluding lubricants, totalled 554,117 cubic metres (about 549,000 metric tons) for February, showed latest Fujairah Oil Industry Zone (FOIZ) data published by S&P Global Commodity Insights.The decline reflects slower refuelling demand at key bunker ports in the year so far…
Hanwha Aims to Buy a Piece of Austal
Korea's Hanwha aims to buy up to 9.9% of Australian shipbuilder Austal in an after-market offer following its failed A$1.02 billion ($646.17 million) takeover bid last year, a term sheet showed on Monday.Hanwha has offered A$4.45 each for 41.2 million Austal shares, showed the term sheet reviewed by Reuters.The deal's bookrunners, in a message seen by Reuters, told investors the books had been covered for the transaction.The Korean company does not intend to make a takeover bid for Austal "at th
Alaskan LNG Looks for Support From Japan
Alaskan state representatives will visit Japan this month to court investors for a natural gas project President Donald Trump says could pump trillions of dollars into the United States, but Japanese energy firms remain wary of its viability.Officials from the state-run Alaska Gasline Development Corporation (AGDC) and development partner Glenfarne Group will visit "allied Asian nations in late March to update industry leaders on Alaska LNG's economic and strategic competitive advantages…
Alewijnse, TU Delft Collaborate on Energy Solutions
Electrical systems integrator Alewijnse and the Technical University (TU) Delft joined forces to focus on developing energy conversion solutions that contribute to the green energy transition. Leveraging its expertise in electrification and automation, Alewijnse provides a platform for young professionals from TU Delft to innovate together, addressing the needs of companies in the maritime and industrial sectors.By integrating science…
Titan and MOL Complete LNG and bio-LNG Bunkering Op in Belgium
Titan Clean Fuels and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) have completed the first LNG and liquefied biomethane (bio-LNG) bunkering operation in Belgium, as part of a new multi-delivery contract for MOL’s vehicle carrier fleet.On March 16, 2025, Titan’s Alice Cosulich LNG bunkering vessel delivered 500 tons of bio-LNG and 400 tons of conventional LNG to the Celeste Ace vehicle carrier. The simultaneous operation…
Merger: Hendrik Veder Group (HVG) and Dutch Steel Fabricators (DSF)
After several years of collaboration, Hendrik Veder Group (HVG) and Dutch Steel Fabricators (DSF) are consolidating, creating a “one-stop-shop” for lifting and rigging solutions. Two companies within the DSF Group—Gouda Constructie and Breda Constructie—will collaborate with HVG to offer an expanded range of lifting and rigging solutions to clients in the Offshore and Maritime industries. Customers will benefit from a fully integrated package of solutions…
Statu Shipping Deploys OrbitMI's Compliance Solutions Fleetwide
OrbitMI said that Istanbul-based Statu Shipping has deployed its compliance solutions across its fleet of 20 bulk carriers. Rather than handling compliance as a passive…
