Fincantieri Gets Order Valued at Over $2.3B for Three Princess Cruise Ships
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and Carnival’s Princess Cruises have sealed a contract worth over $2.3 billion (≈€2 billion) for three new cruise ships, the largest and most advanced in the Princess fleet. Each vessel will weigh about 183,000 gross tons, accommodate 4,700 lower‑berth passengers and be roughly three percent larger than the current Sun and Star Princess ships. The LNG‑powered ships are slated for delivery in late 2035, 2038 and 2039, extending the industry’s orderbook well beyond 2039. The deal secures a robust workload for Fincantieri through the end of the decade.
U.S. Treasury Takes Aim at Iran's Shamkhani Shipping Network
The U.S. Treasury announced a new round of sanctions targeting Iran’s Shamkhani shadow‑fleet network, blacklisting nine vessels and more than a dozen companies and individuals linked to the family’s shipping empire. The measures focus on UAE‑based front firms such as...
Russian Strike Hits Foreign-Flagged Bulker Off Coast of Odesa
Russian forces struck the Liberian‑flagged bulk carrier *Lady Maris* in the Odesa sea corridor, igniting a fire that the crew quickly extinguished without injuries. The vessel continued to the port, while a separate strike damaged a Panama‑flagged ship and hit...
Consilium Safety Group Reinforces Industry Leadership Through Acquisition
Consilium Safety Group has acquired all assets and intellectual property of Insplorion AB’s hydrogen sensor technology business, including the NPS‑P2 detector. The acquisition, approved at Insplorion’s AGM on April 13, adds a proven hydrogen detection portfolio and an ongoing certification process...
ABS Publishes Leading Whitepaper on Human Readiness Levels for the Industry
ABS released a whitepaper titled "Beyond Technology Readiness: Applying Human Readiness Levels in Maritime Systems," outlining Human Readiness Levels (HRLs) as a complement to traditional Technology Readiness Levels. The paper details how HRLs evaluate operator roles, cognitive workload, interface usability,...
Bolidt on Deck at Scale as New Cruise Season Approaches
Bolidt is scaling its decking contracts as the cruise season ramps up, securing refit work for MSC Cruises, AIDA Cruises and Royal Caribbean. Recent projects include MSC Magnifica and MSC Poesia upgrades with Bolideck® Future Teak, and a Boardwalk renovation on Harmony...
Court Approves Sweden's Icebreaker Contract Award to Korean Yard
Sweden’s Court of Appeal upheld the Swedish Maritime Administration’s decision to award South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries a $350 million contract to build a new state‑owned icebreaker. Helsinki Shipyard’s legal challenge, based on alleged irregularities in HHI’s reference vessels, was dismissed....
Global Seaborne Crude Oil Shipments Down 16% Since Start Of The Iran War
Since the Iran war began, global seaborne crude oil shipments have dropped 16% to 38.4 mbpd, a loss of 7.6 mbpd versus the first nine weeks of 2026. The decline reflects a 9.5% shortfall of the U.S. EIA’s projected 2026 production reaching...
Event Drives Collaboration As Prince Rupert Cruise Port Prepares for Season
The Prince Rupert Cruise Port hosted the Cruise Connect event as cruise arrivals are set to more than double, rising from roughly 65,000 guests in 2025 to an estimated 145,000 in 2026. The port is projected to capture nearly 10%...
All at Sea: The Gulf in China's Foreign Policy Position
China’s long‑standing Gulf strategy of neutral, trade‑driven engagement is under pressure as the Israel‑Hamas war escalates. Beijing continues to import up to 90% of Iran’s oil and supplies missile components, while its diplomatic condemnation of civilian attacks remains limited. Recent...
Op-Ed: Mideast Conflict Provides a Test of Economic Resilience
The escalation of the Middle‑East conflict has sharply disrupted oil and LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz, pushing Brent crude above $100 a barrel and threatening to reach $200 if hostilities persist. The OECD still projects 2026 global growth...
AD Ports Sees New Opportunities in Black Sea Market
AD Ports has signed a partnership with Romania’s National Company Maritime Ports Administration to develop the Port of Constanta, the Black Sea’s largest gateway. The move follows DP World’s recent exit from Ukraine’s Pivdennyi terminal and positions AD Ports to...
Report: Saudi Arabia Pushes U.S. to Lift Blockade on Iranian Traffic
Saudi officials are urging the White House to lift its newly imposed blockade on Iranian shipping, warning that the restriction could spark a fresh escalation and further curtail oil exports from the Arabian Gulf. Iran’s recent missile and drone strikes...
Laborde Products Powers Newbuild M/V Larry Gravely by Diversified Marine
Laborde Products supplied the new inland towboat M/V Larry Gravely with a pair of Mitsubishi Tier 3 S6R2 main engines, each delivering 803 horsepower. Built by Diversified Marine in Houma, Louisiana, the vessel emphasizes durability, operating speed, and long‑term serviceability for aggregate transport on...
U.S. Southern Command Conducts Two More Lethal Strikes on Drug Boats
U.S. Southern Command resumed lethal strikes on drug‑smuggling vessels in the Eastern Pacific, conducting two attacks on Saturday that killed five suspects and left one survivor. Since September, the campaign has totaled at least 48 airstrikes, resulting in 168 alleged...
