Oil Tankers Continue to Change Course After Houthi Threats
Four tankers changed course in the Red Sea on Wednesday, with two signalling the Suez Canal as their new destination after Yemen's Houthi militia warned ships to avoid sailing to Saudi Arabian ports, ship-tracking data showed.The Iran-aligned Houthis on Monday declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, opening a potential new front against the United States in its war with Iran and raising the…
Philippines, China Butt Heads Over Encounter in the South China Sea
The foreign ministers of the Philippines and China met in Manila on Wednesday and both made "strong" protests over an encounter between the two countries' vessels this week in contested South China Sea waters.The Philippine foreign affairs secretary, Maria Theresa Lazaro, said in an X post that she reiterated the protest over what she called "unacceptable actions against Filipino personnel", while…
Fairfield Maritime Japan, Neste Sign Charter Contract for Two Ice Class Tankers
Fairfield Maritime Japan Ltd. (FMJ) signed a long-term charter contract with Neste enabling FMJ to fund and manage the construction of two Ice Class 1A medium range (MR) oil and chemical tankers for Neste's transports to and from its refinery in Porvoo, Finland. The two new ships will each have the capacity to ship 50,000 deadweight tons (DWT) and will be built by HD Hyundai Co., Ltd. of South Korea and delivered in the first and second quarters of 2029.As Ice Class 1A certified ships…
Offshore Safety: Improving Injury Rates May Be Masking Continued Fatalities
Improving injury rates are masking the continued threat of fatal accidents across the offshore marine contracting industry, according to the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) after its latest Annual Safety Statistics Report revealed fatalities more than doubled despite overall safety performance improving.The report covers more than 1.02 billion working hours submitted by 167 contractor members.
Curtin University Students Explore Marine Science Careers at Sea
Marine Science students from Curtin University recently partook in a sea voyage from Perth to Hobart, a trip that helped some determine their career paths. Twenty university students were selected from across Australia for CAPSTAN, a national sea-training program run by CSIRO, the University of Tasmania’s Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, and the Australian and New Zealand International Scientific…
President Trump to Iran: Target a Ship, Lose a Bridge or Power Plant
Oil prices rose to their highest in almost six weeks on Wednesday, with Brent crude surpassing $95 a barrel, on mounting concerns about disruptions to Middle Eastern supply routes because of escalating hostilities between the U.S. and Iran and threats to shipping by the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen.Brent crude futures were up $2.23, or 2.45%, at $93.24 a barrel by 1323 GMT, after hitting a session high of $95.47. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 climbed $2.18, or 2.18%, to $86.18.
VARD Banks €220M Vessel Construction Contract
VARD, the Norwegian shipbuilding subsidiary of Italy's Fincantieri Group, won a contract valued at more than €220 million to design and build two next-generation buoy and lighthouse maintenance vessels for Trinity House, the General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales, the Channel Islands and Gibraltar.The award, made through a competitive public tender, is part of Trinity House's fleet renewal program and will replace the THV Patricia and THV Galatea…
Inland Tank-Barge Safety Guide Updated
OCIMF and the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR) published the second edition, updated July 2026, of the International Safety Guide for Inland Navigation Tank-barges and Terminals (ISGINTT), making the industry reference guide available simultaneously in English, French, German, Dutch and Portuguese.ISGINTT provides recommendations for the safe handling and transport of crude oils…
BY THE NUMBERS: Copper is Cargo Theft King
For decades, cargo criminals followed a familiar playbook: steal consumer electronics, cigarettes, pharmaceuticals or luxury goods. These products were easy to fence and commanded healthy profits. But according to the latest BSI Consulting and TT Club 2025 Cargo Theft Report, the economics of cargo theft are changing rapidly—and nowhere is that more evident than copper. The report reads less like a crime summary and more like a lesson in commodity markets.
ABL Gets Papua New Guinea FSO Job
ABL has been awarded a contract by Oil Search (PNG), a subsidiary of Santos, to provide marine warranty survey (MWS) services for Papua New Guinea's first offshore floating storage and offloading (FSO) facility.The work will support the supply, transportation, installation, pre-commissioning and commissioning of the FSO, which will be deployed at the Kumul Marine Terminal as part of the Kutubu Pipeline…
For the U.S. Navy, Biggest isn’t always Best
If the Navy can’t successfully introduce smaller ship classes of ships, why does it think it can succeed with the largest surface combatants since World War II?The Navy has announced a new class of guided missile battleships, the USS Defiant [BBG(X)] or the Trump-class, as the centerpiece of a new “Golden Fleet.” BBG(X)s would be 840 to 880 feet long and have a full load displacement of more than 35,000 tons.
Sea1 Offshore’s First Offshore Energy Support Vessel Hits Water in China
Sea1 Offshore has launched the Sea1 Diamond, the first vessel in a series of four offshore energy support vessels under construction at COSCO Shipping.The float-out marks a key milestone in Sea1 Offshore's newbuild program, with the company describing the vessel as the start of a new chapter for its fleet.Sea1 Diamond is the first of four offshore energy support vessels ordered from the Chinese shipyard.
Batteries at Sea: Not All-Electric, Not Everywhere but Increasingly Essential
For much of the maritime industry, the energy transition has been discussed in terms of alternative fuels – primarily LNG, methanol, ammonia, or hydrogen. Batteries have often been treated as a narrow tool for limited-purpose vessels, such as water taxis and harbor craft. That view is becoming too constrained.The importance of batteries comes not from technology enthusiasm alone. Global shipping accounts for roughly 3% of planet-warming emissions.
Oil Rises on Dual Shipping Threat in Hormuz and Red Sea
Oil prices rose to near six-week highs on Wednesday on mounting concerns about disruptions to key Middle Eastern supply routes because of escalating hostilities between the U.S. and Iran and threats to shipping by the Iran-backed Houthi militia in Yemen.Brent crude futures LCOc1 rose $2.84, or 3.12%, to $93.85 a barrel at 0833 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 climbed $2.93, or 3.47%, to $87.27. Both benchmarks touched their highest levels since June 11.The U.S.
SeaTac Marine Leverage MARAD Grant for New Equipment
SeaTac Marine Services, a small business marine transportation company in Seattle, WA, took delivery of a Taylor 700XL Forklift in May 2025. With help from the US Maritime Administration’s Marine Highway Grant program, SeaTac Marine Services was able to purchase this American-made machine, built by Taylor Forklifts in Louisville, Mississippi, it is fully "Build America, Buy America Act" compliant.
Arc Joins the Maritime Battery Forum to Expand Electric Propulsion Solutions to Commercial Vessels
The Maritime Battery Forum (MBF) has welcomed Arc, a U.S.-based marine technology company developing integrated electric and hybrid-electric propulsion systems, as the newest member of its global community of maritime battery enablers. Arc designs its battery systems, powertrain, thermal management systems, and software in-house, creating a fully integrated electric propulsion platform. Their vertically integrated approach allows the company to optimize every aspect of vessel performance…
First Green Methanol Bunkering of New Car Carrier Successfully Completed
EUKOR Car Carriers, SIPG Energy, and World Fuel have successfully completed the first green methanol bunkering of M/V Arctic Tern, the first vessel in the new Shaper Class series of car carriers, at the Port of Shanghai.The operation involved the delivery of 2,800 MT of green methanol to Arctic Tern via a ship-to-ship transfer using SIPG Energy's methanol bunkering vessel M/V Hai Gang Zhi Yuan, the largest vessel of its kind in operation.
Refiners Sign Direct Contracts with PDVSA for Venezuelan Oil
Refiners and oil-producing firms in the U.S. and elsewhere are gaining market share in Venezuela's crude as they sign direct contracts with state-run PDVSA, challenging the global traders that inked earlier deals with the government of interim President Delcy Rodriguez.Trading houses Vitol and Trafigura currently control the lion's share of Venezuela's oil exports through agreements signed in January with Caracas that are overseen by Washington…
TKMS Drops Out of Race to Acquire GNYK
German warship builder TKMS said on Tuesday it is no longer interested in acquiring smaller shipyard German Naval Yards, also known as GNYK.That would make German defence group Rheinmetall the only bidder currently in the running to purchase the ship maker, which has about 350 staff.Handelsblatt first reported on TKMS dropping out of the bidding earlier on Tuesday.Europe's naval firms are exploring tie-ups and partnerships amid accelerating consolidation in the booming defence sector, with Rhein
Houthis Threaten Targeted Attacks on Shipping Companies Visiting Saudi Ports
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militia told shipping companies not to load or discharge cargo at Saudi Arabian ports or they may be targeted, according to an email the group sent to companies.The Houthis on Monday declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia, opening a potential new front against the United States in its war with Iran and raising the threat to global energy supplies and trade beyond the Gulf."Vessels are banned from loading or discharging cargo at or from any Saudi ports…
