NOVACAVI Launches Tow Cable Identification Solution
NOVAVACI, an Italian underwater‑cable specialist, introduced a fast, reliable identification system for steel‑wire armored cables used on research and defense vessels. The solution, displayed at stand D80 during UDT 2026 in London, lets operators instantly distinguish active cables when multiple systems run simultaneously. Its high‑visibility tags are engineered to survive salt‑water, UV radiation, and extreme temperatures. By reducing cable entanglement, the system boosts onboard efficiency and safety.
Kongsberg Maritime Selected to Provide Equipment Package for Luxury Polar Expedition Vessel
Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract with MKM Yachts to outfit the Scenic Ikon, a 203‑meter luxury polar expedition vessel for Scenic Cruise, with a comprehensive equipment package. The ship will feature Kongsberg’s hybrid electric propulsion system, including two Elegance 1230...
The Switch Launches PMM850M Permanent Magnet Machine
The Switch has introduced the PMM850M, a permanent‑magnet machine aimed at marine shaft‑generator and propulsion applications in the 500 kW to 1.5 MW range. The compact design features brushless operation, water‑jacket cooling and a modular architecture, promising higher electrical efficiency and lower...
Despite Low Demand, China Drives 5% Increase in Iron Ore Shipments
Global iron ore shipments rose 5% year‑over‑year in the first 12 weeks of 2026, driven by stronger Chinese import demand. Yet Chinese steel production slipped 4% in the same period, pushing inventories to a record 179.5 million tonnes by March 12....
Dixstone Receives Third Offshore Support Vessel From Holland Shipyards Group
Holland Shipyards Group has delivered Men Skey, the third and final offshore support vessel for Dixstone, completing a three‑ship program that began earlier in 2025. The 52‑metre, shallow‑draft OSV features a 73‑ton bollard pull, hybrid propulsion and DP0 station‑keeping, tailored for...
By the Numbers: FY2025 Dredging Stats Released
The Dredging Contractors of America reported $1.8 billion in FY2025 federal dredging awards, all performed by U.S.-owned, U.S.-crewed Jones Act vessels. While large channel expansions tapered, core maintenance dredging stayed steady, and 74% of projects incorporated beneficial use of material for...
Ship Recycling Pauses for Eid
Eid al‑Fitr has temporarily halted ship‑breaking activity across major yards in Bangladesh, Pakistan and India. The pause comes as the Middle‑East conflict pushes Brent crude above $100 per barrel, boosting freight earnings and discouraging owners from scrapping vessels. Simultaneously, regional...
Port of Oakland: Exports Continue to Outperform Imports
The Port of Oakland handled 163,254 TEUs in February 2026, a 14.5% year‑over‑year decline and 16.7% drop from January as vessel activity slowed for Lunar New Year. Vessel calls fell to 72, reflecting planned blank sailings, yet export volumes remained...
Damaged Russian Tanker Drifts Towards Libyan Shores, Only Days Away
The Russian LNG tanker Arctic Metagaz, damaged by a Ukrainian naval drone in early March, has been drifting unmanned in the Mediterranean for over two weeks. It is now about 53 nautical miles north of Tripoli and, based on current winds...
Tanker Bound for Cuba with Fuel Cargo Diverts to Trinidad
The Hong Kong‑flagged tanker Sea Horse, loaded with Russian diesel originally bound for Cuba, has diverted to Trinidad and is expected to arrive on Monday. The change follows a U.S. Treasury decision to tighten a waiver, now excluding sales to...
Dorian LPG Takes Delivery of Dual-Fuel 93,000cbm Areion
Dorian LPG has taken delivery of the 93,000 cbm dual‑fuel VLGC/AC Areion from Hanwha Ocean Heavy Industries in South Korea. The vessel will be chartered under the Helios LPG Pool, a joint venture between Dorian LPG Ltd and MOL Energia. Areion...
US Crude Being Shipped to Asia Via Panama Canal
Asian refiners are increasingly routing U.S. Gulf Coast crude through the Panama Canal as the U.S.–Israeli war with Iran disrupts Middle‑East supplies. Medium‑sized Aframax and partially‑loaded Suezmax vessels have been booked for shipments to South Korea and Japan, the first...
IKM Gruppen Acquires Hendrik Veder Group
Norway’s IKM Gruppen has acquired the Dutch‑based Hendrik Veder Group, creating the new entity IKM Hendrik Veder. The deal adds Hendrik Veder’s 225‑year maritime rope heritage and 79 employees to IKM’s roughly 4,000‑strong, 15‑country operation. The combined company will broaden...
HarborLab, Danaos Collaborate on Fully Integrated Port Cost Management Solution
HarborLab has partnered with Danaos Management Consultants to launch the first fully automated port cost management solution, linking HarborLab’s platform directly with Danaos’ Port Expenses, Voyage Estimation and Protocol modules. The integration replaces manual XML file exchanges with real‑time bi‑directional...
Verlume Evolves Leadership to Support Next Phase of Growth
Verlume announced a leadership overhaul to fuel its next phase of global expansion. Founder‑CTO Richard Knox will shift from CEO to focus on technology strategy, while industry veteran David Clark assumes the CEO role. The changes also elevate Robert Heron...
IMO Secretary-General Urges De-Escalation, Seafarer Protection
IMO Secretary‑General Arsenio Domínguez condemned recent attacks on merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, which have killed at least seven seafarers and injured many more. He warned that roughly 20,000 crew members remain stranded in the Persian Gulf, facing...
Lloyd's Register, OneOcean Report Warns Shipping Must Master Data to Remain Competitive
Lloyd’s Register and OneOcean released a report warning that the maritime sector’s surge in operational data is hampered by fragmentation and low standardisation, jeopardising compliance and commercial advantage. Their Digital Maturity Index shows data standardisation at 2.45 / 4 while overall digital...
Chicago Propeller Club to Host Author John U. Bacon for Edmund Fitzgerald Event
The Chicago Propeller Club announced its first 2026 event, featuring author John U. Bacon discussing his definitive book *The Gales of November* about the SS Edmund Fitzgerald tragedy. The gathering will take place on April 14 from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm at the Guinness...
From the Lakes, on the Lakes & for the Lakes: Captain Paul C. LaMarre III
Captain Paul C. LaMarre III, a third‑generation Great Lakes mariner, has turned the dormant Port of Monroe into a regional economic engine, now delivering roughly $85 million in impact and 520 direct jobs. He leads the American Great Lakes Ports Association...
Singapore Bunker Sales Eased in February
Marine fuel sales at Singapore, the world’s largest bunkering hub, slipped 10.6% month‑on‑month in February to 4.67 million tonnes, though they were 12.8% higher than a year earlier. Low‑sulphur VLSFO volumes fell 9.8% and high‑sulphur fuel oil dropped 15.2%, while alternative...
Additional LNG Exports From Plaquemines LNG Approved
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright approved a 13% increase in exports from Venture Global’s Plaquemines LNG terminal, adding up to 0.45 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) for non‑FTA destinations. The move raises the facility’s authorized capacity to 3.85 Bcf/d, combining both...
EU to Discuss Bolstering Middle East Naval Mission
European Union foreign ministers will discuss strengthening the Aspides naval mission, which currently patrols the Red Sea to protect merchant vessels from Houthi attacks. The mission operates two ships directly, with additional support from French and Italian vessels, and officials...
EU Doesn’t See Risks to Oil and Gas Supply Yet
In ad‑hoc meetings on March 12, the EU’s Gas and Oil Coordination Groups reported no immediate security‑of‑supply risks despite ongoing Middle East tensions. Oil inventories across member states remain at elevated levels, while gas storage fill rates are stable and not...
The Impact of U.S.-Venezuela Relations on Ocean Shipping
U.S. sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector are intensifying, combining aggressive enforcement such as tanker seizures with narrowly‑tailored licenses for limited oil and diluent exports. The heightened scrutiny is affecting ocean transportation, with regulators, insurers, and lenders examining vessel movements, charter...
Built on the Rivers: Aimee Andres and the Expanding Role of America’s Inland Ports
Aimee Andres, executive director of Inland Rivers, Ports & Terminals (IRPT), has transformed the association from a modest inland‑focused group into a national advocate for freight mobility, securing dedicated federal funding for small ports. IRPT now represents roughly 500 members...
Louis Dreyfus Company Appoints Landerretche CFO
Louis Dreyfus Company (LDC) appointed Sébastien Landerretche as its new chief financial officer, effective March 18, based in Switzerland. Landerretche has been with LDC since 2004, leading ocean‑freight research in China, heading oilseeds and freight in Singapore, and serving as global...
Hydrogen Ship Fuel Requires Design-Based Safety Measures, DNV Study Finds
DNV’s multi‑year study commissioned by EMSA finds hydrogen‑fuelled ships require a design‑based safety framework, emphasizing secondary enclosures for every hydrogen‑carrying component, even those on open decks. The report highlights that tiny leaks can quickly form ignitable clouds, and hydrogen’s low...
EXMAR Deploys Inmarsat's NexusWave Connectivity Service Across Fleet
Inmarsat Maritime, a Viasat company, is deploying its NexusWave connectivity service across EXMAR’s global gas carrier fleet. The managed solution bonds GX Ka‑band, LEO, LTE and L‑band underlays to ensure uninterrupted ship‑to‑shore communications and crew internet. EXMAR reports faster collaboration,...
Oil Prices Go Up 6% as Hormuz Shipping Crisis Deepens
Oil prices surged on Thursday as Iran intensified attacks on oil and transport infrastructure, reigniting fears of prolonged disruption through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent futures jumped 6.47% to $97.93 a barrel, briefly touching $100, while U.S. WTI rose 6%...
AMSA Detains Bulk Carrier Due to Unpaid Wages
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) detained the Liberian‑flagged bulk carrier Ocean Bright and imposed a six‑month ban from Australian ports after discovering that eight crew members had not been paid for two months, totaling US$46,334. The detention followed a...
Container Ship Order Book Hits New Record High
The global container‑ship order book has reached a record 1,350 vessels, totaling 11.8 million TEU, despite a 13 % drop in average freight rates and rising trade protectionism. In 2025, container volumes grew 4.7 % year‑on‑year, prompting owners to order a historic 4.8 million...
Drone Strike Sparks Fire at ADNOC’s Ruwais Industrial Complex
Abu Dhabi’s state oil company ADNOC shut its Ruwais refinery after a fire broke out following a drone strike on the complex. The facility, which can process up to 922,000 barrels of oil per day and hosts major chemical, fertilizer...
'Quality' Coal Rallies as LNG Spikes
LNG spot prices in Asia surged to a two‑year high of $22.50 per mmBtu after strikes closed the Strait of Hormuz, cutting Qatar’s supply. The spike lifted high‑quality 6,000 kcal/kg thermal coal to $129.62 a ton, a 14‑month peak, while European...
ABB Inks Deal for Orange Marine Cable Repair Newbuilds
ABB has secured a contract to provide a fully integrated electrical power, propulsion and automation system for two hybrid‑electric cable‑repair vessels being built for Orange Marine at Sri Lanka’s Colombo Dockyard. The ships, equipped with ABB’s Azipod® DO propulsion, Compact...
SYNAPSIS Integrates AEGIS Combat System
Anschütz has added a dedicated software module that links its SYNAPSIS integrated navigation platform to the Gigabit Ethernet Data Multiplex System (GEDMS) used on AEGIS‑equipped vessels. Developed under the Australian Navy’s WINBS programme for Hunter‑class frigates, the interface enables bidirectional...
Nuclear Power for Commercial Vessels Central to ABS, HD Hyundai JDP
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has partnered with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering and HD Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries to launch a joint development project for a nuclear‑powered electric propulsion system. The collaboration will produce a conceptual design, electrical...
Towage Giant Delivers Record Results, Eyes Global Expansion
SAAM reported record 2025 results, posting $80.4 million net income and a 15% EBITDA rise to $216.9 million, driven by robust towage operations. Revenue grew 9% to over $526 million in the towage segment, delivering a 35.6% margin, while its Aerosan logistics unit...
ZIM Navigates Cooling Container Markets, Hapag-Lloyd Deal Looms
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services posted 2025 revenue of $6.9 billion, an 18% decline from 2024, while net income fell to $481 million, down 78%. TEU volumes slipped only marginally to 3.66 million, but average freight rates dropped to $1,551 per TEU. The carrier...
Shipowners to Lead Maritime Transformation Talks at APM 2026
The Asia Pacific Maritime (APM) 2026 conference in Singapore placed shipowners at the forefront of the industry’s digital and decarbonisation push. Senior executives debated how to balance immediate cost pressures with long‑term zero‑emission targets, evaluating LNG’s role and emerging AI‑driven autonomy....
Fairplay Towage Joins Tug Network Team as Alliance Expands Into Europe
Tug Network Team (TNT), an alliance of independent towage operators launched in the Americas, has expanded into Europe by adding Hamburg‑based Fairplay Towage. The partnership brings the alliance’s footprint to 113 ports across 13 countries and a combined fleet of...
MOL Enters European Offshore Wind CSOV Market
Japanese shipping giant Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has signed a joint‑ownership agreement with Cyprus‑based Schoeller Holdings to acquire two commissioning service operation vessels (CSOVs) for the European offshore wind market. The 96‑meter vessels, each capable of carrying 120 technicians, will...
Sanmar Delivers Four Electric Tugs to BOTAŞ
Sanmar has delivered four fully electric ElectRA 2500SX tugboats to Turkey’s state‑owned energy company BOTAŞ. The tugs, named BOTAŞ HİLAL, BOTAŞ BAYRAK, BOTAŞ AY and BOTAŞ YILDIZ, will serve the Marmara Ereğlisi LNG Terminal and the Saros FSRU Terminal, providing 70 tons of bollard pull...
Cobots Take on Grueling Work
Fairbanks Morse Defense is using collaborative robots, or cobots, to weld aging diesel engines in U.S. nuclear‑navy shipyards, shrinking repair cycles from three weeks to one. Australian OEM Orbimax highlights cobots' lower speed and built‑in safety, allowing workers to operate...
GTT Receives Samsung Heavy Industries Order for LNG Carrier Tank Design
GTT announced that Samsung Heavy Industries has placed an order for the design of a new LNG carrier’s cryogenic tanks in Q1 2026. The vessel will carry 180,000 m³ of LNG and will use GTT’s Mark III Flex membrane containment system. Delivery of the...
Windward Daily Brief March 5: Conflict Reaches Indian Ocean as Hormuz Remains Shut
The Strait of Hormuz remained effectively shut on March 4, with only five vessels recorded, while traffic through Bab el‑Mandeb surged to 23 crossings, outpacing recent averages. Suez Canal activity fell to 23 transits, below trend levels, and diversions around the...
Seafarers Maintain the Right to Refuse to Sail Through Mideast Gulf Region
Seafarers can now refuse to sail through the Middle East Gulf after the threat level was raised to its highest, according to the International Transport Workers’ Federation and the International Bargaining Forum. The agreement allows crew to decline voyages in...
Port of the Future 2026: A Look Back, a Path Forward
The Port of the Future Conference, launched in 2019 by Dr. Tony Ambler and now directed by Kevin Clement, brings together maritime operators, academia, and policymakers to explore next‑generation port technologies. Its agenda spotlights AI, automation, digitalization, and decarbonization, offering...
Armon Shipyard Delivers MAURIC Fast Ferry Bindy II
Spanish shipyard Armon has delivered the MAURIC‑designed Fast Ferry Bindy II to Morlenn Express, a 29‑meter catamaran capable of carrying 400 passengers at 20 knots. The vessel features an all‑aluminum wave‑piercer hull and IMO Tier III‑compliant engines, meeting the latest European passenger‑vessel directives....
Glamox to Light US Navy’s Towing, Salvage, and Rescue Ship
Glamox has won a contract from Austal USA to supply exterior and interior LED marine lighting for the upcoming USNS James D. Fairbanks (T‑ATS‑13), the latest Navajo‑Class towing, salvage and rescue ship for the U.S. Navy. The deal adds a...
Rising Sanctions, Compliance Complexity Increase Global Shipping Risks
Maritime firms are confronting a surge in sanctions and compliance complexity as regulators demand pre‑emptive risk detection, according to Marcura’s new report. Divergent US, EU and other sanctions regimes, expanding secondary sanctions, and an opaque shadow fleet are amplifying exposure...
