Maritime Industry Top News
Iran War Reshapes Global LNG Trade
The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran has changed the global market for liquefied natural gas (LNG), providing a boost to producers outside the Middle East that will likely last long after the current conflict ends.One of the major beneficiaries is Australia, which last year slipped to the third-largest exporter of the super-chilled fuel behind the United States and Qatar.But the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has shut off Qatar's LNG exports…
Shale Oil Components Detected in Marine Fuels, says VPS
VPS has seen an increase in the levels of shale oil components in marine fuels bunkered recently in Singapore. Although we have received no reports of problems, from vessels using these fuels, we do recommend caution as detailed below:Over the course of February and March 2026, VPS testing identified 90,000mt of delivered VLSFO bunkers containing compounds consistent with an Estonian Shale Oil derived stream.
ASRY, stc Bahrain Launch Vehicle Fleet Management System
The Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (ASRY) completed the implementation of its vehicle fleet management and tracking system, developed in partnership with stc Bahrain, a digital enabler in the Kingdom.This project, which forms part of a broader series of strategic initiatives between the two parties, aligns with ASRY’s ongoing efforts to enhance operational excellence and drive its digital…
NYK Bulkship Partners Sets Sail
A new integrated structure that combines maritime transport, ship owning, and ship management.With the aim of further strengthening the competitiveness of the NYK Group’s dry bulk business…
AAL Names Latest Heavy Lift Ship
AAL Shipping (AAL) has named its latest Super B-Class heavy lift vessel, AAL Newcastle, at the CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipyard in Guangzhou, China. The ceremony also served as the backdrop for the ordering of two further Super B-Class vessels. AAL Tianjin and AAL Miami, will join the fleet in early 2028, expanding the class to ten ships in total.Purpose built for heavy lift and complex project cargo…
How Many Ships have been Attacked in the Gulf Since Start of Iran War?
The Iran war has threatened Gulf ports and disrupted global trade through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas normally passes.Iran's Revolutionary Guards have warned that ships passing through the narrow Strait will be targeted, after the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on the country on February 28.Below is a list of reported…
Maritime Strategies International Appoints North America Director
Maritime Strategies International (MSI) has appointed John Moulopoulos as Director, North America, with responsibility for business development in the Americas.He joins MSI from Marsoft and in addition to working with North American shipowners and maritime investors he will draw on his heritage and network to support MSI customers in Greece. He will leverage his previous experience in data delivery…
Magnet Defense Begins Production of First M48 Platform
Magnet Defense today announced beginning production of its first deliverable M48 unmanned surface vessel (USV), marking a pivotal milestone as the M48 transitions from an operationally validated prototype program to a production platform.The M48 offers a range of up to 17,000 nautical miles and the ability to self-deploy from San Diego to the Arabian Gulf, unassisted and without refueling. This performance…
IMO Facilitation Committee Approves Digitalization Strategy
The IMO Facilitation Committee (FAL) has approved a global strategy for maritime digitalization as well as cybersecurity measures for maritime single windows.Meeting in London for its 50th session (23 - 27 March), the Committee approved the IMO Strategy on Maritime Digitalization which emphasizes interoperability, system standardization, data-sharing and effective data governance across organizations and jurisdictions.The Strategy establishes maritime digitalization as an overarching IMO policy…
Windward: Strait of Hormuz Throughput is Increasing
Transit through the Strait of Hormuz remains controlled rather than open, but throughput is increasing, according to Windward’s latest intelligence report.On March 30, six AIS-transmitting vessels crossed the corridor, while additional movements likely occurred under partial or fully dark conditions.At the same time, vessel activity at the Iranian city of Bandar Abbas provides visibility into how this system operates in practice.
IACS 2025 Annual Review Highlights Safety Role of Class
The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) has released its 2025 Annual Review which showcases the central role played by IACS and its members in supporting safety standards and driving technical innovation in the maritime industry.The report identifies many areas of progress, including IACS’s ongoing role in supporting decarbonisation objectives. Through its Safe Decarbonisation Panel…
Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust's 3D Model of Edurance to Go on Public Display
The Falklands Maritime Heritage Trust (FMHT) has announced that its 3D printed model of the wreck of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance will go on public display at Discovery Point in Dundee.Arriving on April 30, 2026, the model will be unveiled as part of a special event featuring a talk by FMHT Founding Trustee and Director of Exploration, Mensun Bound. The event will offer visitors a rare, behind…
DFDS Adds Third Vessel to Rosslare–Dunkirk Route
Starting in September, DFDS will offer seven weekly roundtrips on the Rosslare-Dunkirk route by adding a third vessel to the route to provide increased capacity for freight operators and more travel options for passengers during the holiday season.Growing demand for direct transport links between Ireland and continental Europe continues to drive the need for additional capacity. To meet this demand…
Sarens Helps Atlantic Canada Bulk Terminal Undergo Adaptation as Hub for Offshore Wind
Located in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada, the Atlantic Canada Bulk Terminal (ACBT) has undergone a transformation to adapt its facilities to the evolving needs of the offshore wind industry. This evolution is vital for future Canadian Offshore Wind developments, such as Nova Scotia Wind West. Consequently, the terminal has shifted from a facility dedicated exclusively to the steel industry and material storage to become one of the most important strategic hubs in the North Atlantic.Sarens…
Port Authority of Puerto Quetzal to Receive Damen ASD Tug 2312
Damen Shipyards Group client Arrendadora Continental has been awarded a contract by the Port Authority of Puerto Quetzal to operate an additional tug, making a total of six tugs operating in the harbor on Guatemala’s Pacific coast. To fullfil its contractual responsibilities, the company will take delivery of a Damen ASD Tug 2312 later this year. The company is the largest tug operator in Guatemala.
U.S. Court Upholds FMC Rule on Carrier Refusals to Deal
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has upheld a Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) rule defining when ocean carriers unlawfully refuse to negotiate or provide vessel space, rejecting a challenge from the World Shipping Council (WSC).The case stems from the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 (OSRA), which directed the FMC to clarify what constitutes an “unreasonable refusal to deal or negotiate” under the Shipping Act. The rule was introduced in 2024 amid widespread complaints from U.S.
Prysmian Shares North American Leadership Transitions
Prysmian, a leader in energy and data wire and cabling solutions, recently announced changes to its leadership structure in North America to further strengthen the company’s market position in the region. 2025 marked the best year yet for Prysmian, with global revenues reaching USD$23.08 billion (€20 billion). North America’s net profit exceeded $9 billion, accounting for 40% of the company’s total sales.
Navantia UK Welcomes Northern Ireland's Secretary of State to Harland & Wolff Shipyard
Navantia UK welcomed the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP, to the Harland & Wolff shipyard, just over a year since the company’s acquisition and the launch of plans to revitalize the historic site for the future.The visit focused on Belfast’s growing role at the heart of the UK’s shipbuilding capability, with the Secretary of State touring newly extended fabrication facilities…
OPEC Oil Production Drops to Lowest Since COVID-19
OPEC oil output plunged in March to its lowest level since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in June 2020, a Reuters survey found, as the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz and forced export cuts.Crude output by Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries members in March fell by 7.3 million barrels per day month-on-month to 21.57 million bpd, the survey showed…
Russian Oil Tanker Arrives in Cuba's Matanzas Port
A Russia-flagged tanker carrying some 700,000 barrels of crude arrived in Cuba's Matanzas Bay at daybreak on Tuesday, according to a Reuters witness and shipping data, marking the first significant oil delivery since the Trump administration cut off the island's fuel supply.The Anatoly Kolodkin vessel, under U.S. sanctions, entered Cuban territorial waters late on Sunday not far from the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay. The U.S.
