Maritime Industry Top News
IMO Launches Gender Handbook on Women in Maritime Day
This year’s IMO International Day for Women in Maritime (May 18) focuses on embedding gender equality at every level of the maritime industry, both on shore and at sea.Under the theme “From Policy to Practice: Advancing Gender Equality for Maritime Excellence”, the day highlights actions to translate international ambitions and commitments into tangible actions that will make a difference in the lives of women in the sector…
Hantavirus-Hit Cruise Ship Headed for Rotterdam
The hantavirus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius was due to dock in Rotterdam on Monday morning for disinfection, with Dutch authorities preparing quarantine arrangements for the 25 crew members and two medical staff remaining on board.Local authorities said quarantine facilities had been set up for some of the non-Dutch crew, though it was not clear yet if they would stay there for the full recommended 42…
VLCC Heads for Vietnam After Hold-Up in US Blockade
Supertanker Agios Fanourios I is heading for Vietnam to discharge its Iraqi crude oil cargo after it was held by the U.S. Navy for five days in the Gulf of Oman, shipping data on LSEG showed.The Maltese-flagged very large crude carrier (VLCC) sailed out of the Strait of Hormuz on May 10 and was sailing in the Gulf of Oman before making a U-turn on May 11. It resumed its journey toward Vietnam on May 16 and is expected to arrive at the Nghi Son refinery on May 30, LSEG data showed.The U.S.
Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM Suspend Cuba Bookings After US Executive Order
Shipping giants CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd said on Sunday they had suspended all bookings to and from Cuba until further notice, with both citing a U.S. executive order issued on May 1, in the latest blow to the crisis-wracked island's economy.The temporary suspension of new orders by two of the world’s largest shipping companies could jeopardize as much as 60% of Cuba's shipping traffic by volume, two…
ESAB Awards $5,000 Welding Grant to Two Texas High Schools
As part of celebrating National Welding Month in April, ESAB awarded $5,000 to support the welding programs at Princeton High School and Lovelady High School, part of the Princeton Independent School District, through its ESAB Future Fabricators Charlie Monschke Welding Education Grant. ESAB, a world leader in fabrication technology, also surprised the school with an equipment donation of a combined retail value exceeding $6,000.
Oil Prices Rise More Than 3% As US-Iran Talks Dent Hopes of Peace
Oil prices gained more than 3% on Friday, climbing more than $3 a barrel, after comments by U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran's foreign minister further dented hopes of a deal to end ship attacks and seizures around the Strait of Hormuz.Brent crude futures gained $3.35, or 3.17%, to $109.07 a barrel by 12:34 p.m. CDT (1734 GMT). U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures were up $3.85, or 3.81%, at $105.02.Over the week…
Greek-Operated Tanker Crosses Strait of Hormuz
A Greek-operated tanker sailed from the Gulf to India on Friday after crossing the Strait of Hormuz in one of the few crude sailings through the waterway this week, ship tracking data showed on Friday.The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has led to the effective closure of the strait, stranding hundreds of ships and leading to unprecedented disruption of energy supplies.The Liberia-flagged suezmax tanker Karolos…
ScioSense Launches UFC23 Ultrasonic Flow Converter for High-Precision, Ultra-Low-Power Smart Metering
The new UFC23 sensor combines improved resolution and offset stability with ultra-low standby current, enabling high-end battery-powered water, heat, gas and leak detection meter designs across a wide range of smart metering applications.ScioSense, a leading developer and manufacturer of semiconductor-based environmental and flow sensors, today launched the UFC23 – the 4th generation ultrasonic flow converter for measurement in water…
Coast Guard Seizes Sailing Vessel During Offshore Interdiction Operation
Special agents with the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), supported by multiple Coast Guard surface and aviation assets, seized the sailing vessel Soulmate approximately 40 nautical miles off the coast of Melbourne, Florida, as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into the disappearance of Lynette Hooker.The seizure was conducted during a complex surveillance and interdiction operation…
Samsung Heavy Industries Receives AIP Certificate for Floating Data Center from ABS
ABS issued approval in principle (AIP) to Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) for its design of a 50-megawatt floating data center.SHI’s design utilizes a standardized shipbuilding process, integrating design, manufacturing, and equipment installation concurrently to optimize efficiency. SHI states that this approach enables shorter lead times and incorporates a proprietary power generation system, thereby minimizing reliance on onshore electricity.
Solstad’s Arbitration Win Unlocks $14.5M Payment for its Largest Vessel
Solstad Offshore has informed the arbitration proceedings related to disputed 2024 charter hire for Normand Maximus construction support vessel (CSV) had concluded in favor of the company.The company said it would receive approximately $13 million in charter hire, in addition to around $1.5 million in interest compensation, following the ruling.Solstad said the decision would have a positive liquidity…
Caturus Takes FID on Commonwealth LNG Project in Louisiana
Caturus has taken a final investment decision on its Commonwealth LNG export project in Louisiana after securing $9.75 billion in project financing for the 9.5 million tonnes per annum facility, with partners Mubadala Energy, Kimmeridge and CPP Investments.The companies said the financing supports construction of the LNG export terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, with total commitments for the project…
Oil Prices Rise Amid Fears of Ship Attacks and Seizures
Oil prices rose Friday as market concerns persisted over ship attacks and seizures despite Iran saying about 30 vessels had passed through the Strait of Hormuz, while the U.S. and Chinese presidents were set for a second day of talks in Beijing.Brent crude oil futures LCOc1 rose 60 cents, or 0.57%, to $106.32 a barrel by 0100 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures CLc1 were up 54 cents, or 0.53%…
Somali Piracy on the Rise
Palaemon Maritime’s maritime security report this week points to some of the clearest indicators yet that piracy activity off Somalia is escalating again.“Taken alone, these incidents might appear isolated. Taken together, they point to something more important: the conditions that enable piracy are building again in the Western Indian Ocean.”Most recently, Palaemon cites a possible hijacking of a dhow off the southern Somali coast…
AI Technology Boosts FarSounder Navigation Capabilities
FarSounder has expanded the capabilities of its Argos Forward Looking Navigation Sonar (FLS) with an integration with Tocaro Blue’s ProteusCore™ software.This new integration brings AI-powered radar perception to FarSounder’s SonaSoft™ LT navigation software, delivering greater situational awareness for users navigating challenging marine environments.ProteusCore transforms marine radar into an intelligent perception sensor capable of detecting…
Wide Barge Could Reduce Crane Needs for Turbine Foundation Installation
The substructures for fixed offshore wind turbines weigh thousands of tonnes. Only about five vessels in the world can lift that much weight. So now researchers are testing an alternative: an unusually wide barge.Using experience gained from the oil and gas industry, Aker Solutions, the Belgian contractor Sarens, and the maritime group BOA recently spent time at SINTEF’s Ocean Basin in Trondheim. There…
Australia Shortlists Renewable Hydrogen Projects for Funding Support
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced the shortlisted projects for Round 2 of the Hydrogen Headstart Program, marking a major step forward in scaling Australia’s renewable hydrogen industry. The projects selected to progress to the next stage in the application process are some of the most advanced large-scale renewable hydrogen proposals in the country, spanning multiple states and a range of end uses…
Ship Seized by Iran Off UAE, Trump Discusses Hormuz Shipping Lanes with Xi
A ship was reported seized by Iranian personnel off the United Arab Emirates and headed for Iranian waters on Thursday while the White House said U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping had agreed on the need to keep the nearby Strait of Hormuz shipping lane open.China is close to Iran and is the main buyer of its oil. Iran has largely shut the strait to ships apart from its own since the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran began on February 28…
India-Flagged Cargo Vessel Sinks Off Coast of Oman After Suspected Attack
India said on Thursday that an Indian-flagged wooden cargo vessel had sunk while sailing through Omani waters following a fire from a suspected drone or missile strike.The vessel is the second to have been sunk in the region since the Iran conflict began on February 28. The war has left hundreds of ships stranded and 20,000 seafarers unable to leave the Strait of Hormuz waterway that leads out into…
US Import Costs Rise in April, Fuel Sees Biggest Gain in Four Years
U.S. import prices surged in April, with the cost of fuels posting the largest increase in four years, another indication that the U.S.-backed war with Iran was boosting inflation.Import prices increased 1.9% last month after an upwardly revised 0.9% rise in March, the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics said on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast import prices, which exclude tariffs…
