Maritime Industry Top News
France Calls Draft Law on Oil Exploration in Overseas Territories
French Finance Minister Roland Lescure called a draft law proposing to allow offshore oil and gas exploration in its overseas territories "anachronistic" during a debate in the country's Senate on Thursday.In a world first, France banned new oil and gas exploration and production licenses in 2017, hoping other nations would follow suit. But energy security fears following the loss of Russian gas, along with worries over increased reliance on U.S.
Clarus Networks to Deliver Maritime Connectivity for CalMac Ferries
Clarus Networks has been awarded a 12-month contract to provide satellite connectivity, technical support, and centralized fleet network management for CalMac Ferries, the UK’s largest ferry operator.The contract, awarded via Public Contracts Scotland, will see Clarus deliver a pooled Starlink data service across CalMac’s operational fleet, offering high-speed, low-latency connectivity designed to enhance operational performance…
Wärtsilä to Provide Electric Propulsion Solution for Third Molslinjen Ferry
Wärtsilä will supply a fully integrated electric propulsion system with waterjets for a new high-speed catamaran ferry being built for Danish ferry operator Molslinjen. This is the third in a series of battery-electric vessels being built at the Incat shipyard in Tasmania. Wärtsilä solutions will drive all three ships.Wärtsilä’s scope of supply includes the integrated electric propulsion system, the DC power conversion system…
Lloyd’s Register to Take Over OCX Consortium Leadership
Lloyd’s Register (LR) will assume the Chair of The Open Class 3D Exchange (OCX) Consortium this month (January 2026).LR’s Nathan Lindop will take over as both Chair and Coordinator of the Consortium, succeeding DNV’s Ole Christian Astrup, who has held the position since the group’s formation in 2019.The planned rotation comes as the initiative moves from its early development phase into broader industry adoption…
Ocean Endeavour on Charter to Danish Defence
SunStone Maritime Group has chartered its expedition vessel, the Ocean Endeavour, to the Danish Defence.
WMU Report Highlights Growing Strain on Seafarers' Work, Health and Retention
The World Maritime University (WMU) has published a new report, In Search of a Sea-Life Balance in an Adverse Environment, shedding light on the realities of seafarers’ work, health and career intentions in today’s shipping industry. Commissioned by the Officers’ Union of International Seamen (OUIS), the study draws on responses from 4,372 seafarers representing 99 nationalities, making it one of the…
US Hoists Names Michael Cetta as Chief Operating Officer
US Hoists Corp has announced the appointment of Michael Cetta as Chief Operating Officer.A Center Moriches native, Cetta earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Farmingdale State College and brings an educational foundation and a proven record of leadership to his new role.With experience spanning business ownership, sales leadership, and project management, Cetta has demonstrated versatility across both small and large organizations.
Luxury Catamaran Allows Kauai Sea Tours to Expand Services in Hawai'i
Lady Kailani, a new 20-meter (65 foot) luxury catamaran designed by Incat Crowther for Kauai Sea Tours in Hawai'i, is now in service offering tours along Kauai’s Nā Pali Coast.The successful delivery of Lady Kailani by south Louisiana shipyard Breaux Brothers Enterprises has allowed the tourism operator to expand to year-round tourism experiences in Kauai, Hawai'i.The multifunctional vessel has been designed to provide a luxurious and immersive tourism experience.
Hafnia, Socatra Take Delivery of Fourth Methanol Dual-Fuel Tanker
Hafnia has taken delivery of the ECOMAR GIRONDE, the final vessel in its four-ship ECOMAR dual-fuel methanol newbuilding program developed in joint venture with France’s Socatra, completing the newbuilding series.Built at Guangzhou Shipyard International in China, ECOMAR GIRONDE is a 49,800-deadweight dual-fuel, methanol-capable Chemical IMO II medium-range tanker. With its delivery, the ECOMAR quartet - ECOMAR GASCOGNE…
GTT Secures Hanwha Ocean’s LNG Carrier Tank Design Orders
French engineering specialist GTT has received an order from the shipyard Hanwha Ocean for the tank design of two new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.As part of this order, GTT will design the cryogenic tanks of the two LNGCs, each offering a capacity of 174,000 m3.The tanks will be fitted with the NO96 Super+ membrane containment system developed by GTT.Delivery of the vessels is scheduled between the first and second quarters of 2029.
Manson Construction Takes Delivery of New Hopper Dredge
The newest addition to the Manson Construction Co. (Manson) fleet—the hopper dredge Frederick Paup—departed the Seatrium AmFELS shipyard in Brownsville, TX, on Tuesday afternoon, setting sail for Mobile, AL.Representing Manson’s single biggest investment since its founding in 1905, the Frederick Paup—designed in collaboration with Hockema Whalen Myers Associates, Inc. of Seattle, WA and built by Seatrium AmFELS in Brownsville…
Coast Guard Honors Fallen Crew Members of Cutter Blackthorn
Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg crew members held a memorial service honoring the fallen crew members from Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn, Wednesday, at the Blackthorn Memorial in St. Petersburg.The memorial ceremony marked the 46th anniversary of the 23 lives lost during the collision between Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn and the motor vessel Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Jan. 28, 1980.
Pilot Vessel Grounding Linked to Ineffective Use of Electronics
New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) has released a report into the grounding of the pilot vessel Takitimu II at Striling Point, Bluff, New Zealand, on December 26, 2024.The South Port’s pilot boat set out from Bluff to transfer a pilot to an incoming ship. After passing Stirling Point the master made an excessive course alteration and at about 18–20 kt the vessel ran aground on rocks and sustained moderate damage to its hull and underwater fixtures.
Palau Ship Registry Relaunched
The Government of the Republic of Palau has contracted Palau Ship Registry to operate the nation’s official shipping registry under a new governance framework.The appointment follows a period during which the Government considered how the registry should operate going forward, with a focus on accountability, transparency, and alignment with international maritime standards.In December, the Ministry…
New Coast Guard Portal for Mariner Credentialing
The U.S. Coast Guard has launched a new, easier-to-use online system that allows mariners to submit and track credential applications faster and more securely. The Application Submission and Additional Information Portal, known as ASAP, lets mariners apply for Merchant Mariner Credentials and Medical Certificates, upload documents and monitor application status in one place. The system is now the primary way to submit applications to the Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center.
Japan Early Adopter of Advanced RoRo Fire Detection
Japan is emerging as an early adopter of advanced fire detection systems on RoRo vessels, according to inspection data from Idwal, a global vessel condition specialist.While fire safety on RoRo vessels has come under increasing scrutiny, particularly as electric vehicles enter the cargo mix in greater numbers, Idwal’s inspections show that adoption of advanced fire detection technology across the global fleet remains uneven.
CMA CGM to Form Port JV with Stonepeak
French shipping group CMA CGM and U.S. investment firm Stonepeak have agreed to create a joint venture valued at nearly $10 billion to operate and invest in port terminals, including in the United States, the companies said on Wednesday.CMA CGM, the world's third-largest container shipping group, last year announced plans to invest $20 billion in the United States, winning plaudits from President Donald Trump who has made reviving the U.S.
Egypt Seeks Release of Four Citizens on Tanker Seized by Iran
Egypt said on Wednesday that it is working on securing the release of four citizens who were detained by Iran last month after Tehran seized a foreign tanker on charges of carrying "smuggled fuel" in the Gulf.In a statement, the Egyptian foreign ministry said four Egyptian crew members were currently on board the Reem alKhaleej vessel at Iran's Bandar Abbas port.Iran said last month that it had seized…
Chevron to Boost Exports of Venezuelan Oil to US in March
Oil producer Chevron is set to boost exports of Venezuelan crude to the U.S. to some 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) in March, from 100,000 bpd in December and some 230,000 bpd so far this month, two sources with knowledge of the plans said on Wednesday.The U.S. company, which is the main partner of Venezuela's state-run energy firm PDVSA, has chartered about a dozen tankers to increase shipments and drain inventories accumulated at its projects since December, when a U.S.
German to Purchase TKMS Frigates Under $59m Contract
Germany's budget committee approved a preliminary contract to purchase MEKO A-200 class frigates from warship builder TKMS on Wednesday and will release 50 million euros ($59.70 million) for them, according to two committee members.After a years-long delay in the purchase of the originally planned F-126 frigates, the budget committee last year approved 7.8 billion euros for an alternative procurement strategy.The funds released on Wednesday will be used to finance so-called delivery hedging inst
