Ship Executives Push for Hormuz to Return to Normal
Shipping executives meeting in Athens on Monday said that any peace deal worked out between the United States and Iran would need to offer clear rules allowing vessels to resume normal business via the Strait of Hormuz.Shipowners and maritime industry officials met at a Capital Link conference and other events to begin Posidonia, a week-long biennial shipping exhibition.Below are selected quotes (in alphabetical order):ARSENIO DOMINGUEZ…
New Gulf Coast Shipyard Sports 660-ton Marine Travelift
Taylor Marine Construction, Inc. announced the startup of Taylor Marine Shipyard, a new Gulf Coast commercial vessel repair and haul-out facility positioned on Dickinson Bayou, immediately adjacent to the Houston Ship Channel near Lights 45 and 46. The shipyard is scheduled to place its 660-ton Marine Travelift into full commercial service in August 2026. The Travelift dramatically expands heavy marine…
Freire Shipyard Lays Keel for Aquaculture Harvest Vessel
Freire Shipyard has celebrated the keel laying of the Tauriko, the new harvest vessel being built for the Norwegian group Napier. The vessel will become the largest in the Nordic company's fleet and the world's largest harvest vessel of its kind within the aquaculture sector. Delivery is scheduled for 2027.Designed in collaboration with Salt Ship Design, the Tauriko represents the next generation of Napier vessels for the Norwegian aquaculture industry…
Schottel Opens Indian Subsidiary
Schottel is expanding its international network with the establishment of a new subsidiary in India. With Schottel India Sales and Service Private Limited, the German propulsion company is further strengthening its presence in a rapidly developing maritime market and creating the basis to deepen collaboration with local customers and partners. Based in Pune, the new subsidiary will focus on newbuild and retrofit sales as well as after-sales service…
MARTAC, Mystic Powerboats to Expand ASV Production Capacity
Maritime Tactical Systems, Inc. (MARTAC), a provider of autonomous unmanned surface vehicles (USVs), and Mystic Power boats, a leader in high-performance composite vessel construction, announced a co-production partnership to increase MARTAC’s domestic production capacity to meet growing requirements from U.S. and allied customers.MARTAC’s partnership with Mystic is the first of several pending domestic…
ABS: Rising Complexities Demand New Approach to Tech Adoption
“Access to innovation is no longer enough. Competitive advantage will be defined by how effectively we turn technology into safe, reliable performance at sea," said John McDonald, ABS Chairman and CEO at Capital Link at the start of Posidonia, as he set out the urgent need to close the gap between rapid technological advancement and real-world performance.He highlighted the increasingly complex operating environment facing shipping…
Sullivan Street Partners, Ancora Group Acquire Red7Marine
Sullivan Street Partners, a UK-based private equity firm specializing in mid-market buy-outs, announced that its portfolio company Ancora Group, an integrated group of marine contractors delivering infrastructure and coastal defense solutions across the UK, has completed the acquisition of Red7Marine, a UK marine infrastructure and engineering work specialist.This is Ancora Group’s first acquisition since it was acquired by Sullivan Street in March 2025…
Inchcape Shipping Launches NVOCC Service in the United States
Inchcape Shipping Services announced the launch of its new Non-Vessel Operating Common Carrier (NVOCC) service in the United States. The launch follows the company's receipt of an Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) license from the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), authorizing Inchcape Shipping Services to operate as a licensed NVOCC for cargo moving to and from the US. The new service marks an expansion of Inchcape Shipping Services' capabilities…
Wind-Powered Cargo Ships Pass the 100-Vessel Milestone
The latest installations of wind propulsion technology on large commercial vessels have pushed the global fleet of cargo ships capable of harnessing wind energy beyond the 100-vessel milestone, representing over five million tons of deadweight (DWT) cargo carrying capacity.The passing of this milestone marks a turning point in the uptake of wind propulsion in the commercial fleet. What was once widely…
Sanmar Shipyards Wins Orders for 10-Tugboats
Sanmar Shipyards won new build contracts for up to 10 tugboats, a milestone agreement that coincide with the shipbuilder's 50th anniversary.The contracts include fleet expansions for long-standing partners SAAM Towage and HAISEA Marine, as well as a landmark inaugural agreement with FAIRPLAY TOWAGE GROUP.On Wednesday, May 20, Sanmar formalized a new agreement with long-term partner SAAM Towage for five new vessels: four RAmparts 2400SX-MKIl tugboats and one RAstar 2900SX tugboat.
Methanol-Capable Container Ship Delivered to Mærsk
Tema Mærsk, powered by its X82DF-M/E multi-fuel engine platform with methanol capability and inherent compatibility with ethanol, was delivered to A.P. Moller - Maersk (Maersk). The naming ceremony took place at Yangzijiang Shipbuilding in China, attended by WinGD’s Chief Executive Officer Dominik Schneiter and Vice President Market Development Benny Hilström.The Danish container giant ordered WinGD’s X-DF-M dual fuel engines for a series of six 9,000 TEU container vessels in March 2023.
Seven Firms Advance in US Navy’s Medium USV Program
The U.S. Department of the Navy has selected seven companies to advance to the at-sea testing phase of its Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) marketplace initiative.The companies selected for the MUSV Family of Systems development program are Sea Machines, Leidos, Saronic Technologies, Galliano Marine Services, PacMar Technologies, Birdon, and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII).The Navy said companies…
Berg Propulsion, Stone Marine Formalize UK, Ireland Support Collaboration
Berg Propulsion has signed a formal partnership agreement with Scotland-based Stone Marine Services (SMS) to expand service and support capabilities across the UK and Ireland.The non-exclusive agreement formalizes a long-standing relationship between the two companies and is aimed at strengthening support for Berg's existing customer base while supporting growth in the region.Under the agreement, Stone Marine will provide service and support for Berg’s propulsion systems in the UK and Ireland.
French Navy Boards Suspected Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker in Atlantic
France's navy has intercepted a sanctioned tanker linked to the Russian oil trade in the Atlantic Ocean and ordered the vessel to head for the French mainland, in a move Russia said was illegal and bordered on "international piracy".French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday posted a video on X showing commandos rappelling from helicopters onto the Tagor, during an operation that occurred the previous day in international waters 400 miles (740 km) west of Brittany.The tanker…
Oil Jumps Over 3% After US-Iran Exchange Attacks
Oil prices rose more than 3% on Monday after Iran and the U.S. traded strikes and Israel ordered troops to move further into Lebanon in its battle with Tehran-backed Hezbollah.U.S. crude futures CLc1 rose $2.88 or 3.3% to $90.24 a barrel as of 0701 GMT. Brent LCOc1 futures rose $2.78 or 3.05% to $93.9 a barrel.The fighting, after Washington hosted Israel-Lebanon peace talks on Friday, dimmed hopes that the U.S.
ABF Seizes Cocaine Concealed in RoRo Cargo
The Australian Border Force has seized 34kg cocaine concealed within a luxury bus in Fremantle, Western Australia.ABF officers examined a roll-on/roll-off vessel on May 6, using a combination of targeted intelligence, physical search, detector dogs and advanced technology.During the inspection, officers located approximately 30 packages concealed in the roof cavity of a bus.Presumptive testing returned a positive result for cocaine…
Australian Commissions HMAS Eyre
The Royal Australian Navy commissioned HMAS Eyre into the fleet in a ceremony at HMAS Stirling in Western Australia.HMAS Eyre is the second of six planned Arafura class offshore patrol vessels (OPV) to enter service, following the commissioning of sister ship HMAS Arafura last year.The 80-metre long Arafura class OPVs will help patrol and secure Australia’s maritime border alongside the Evolved Cape class patrol boats.
Seasats Completes First Autonomous Transit of the Taiwan Strait
Seasats today announced that a Lightfish uncrewed surface vessel (USV) has completed the first autonomous transit of the Taiwan Strait, a contested waterway separating Taiwan and mainland China.The vessel was deployed by Seasats from hundreds of miles away, and traversed the full length of the strait over five days while continuously monitoring surface vessel traffic. The Lightfish encountered multiple Chinese warships…
Damen Delivers Landing Utility Vessel to Blueshell Mussels
On April 20, Damen Shipyards Group signed a contract with Blueshell Mussels for the delivery of a Landing Utility Vessel (LUV) 2208. The vessel, named Bountiful, is supporting the company’s mussel harvesting operation in the Shetland Islands off the north coast of Scotland.Blueshell Mussels is a family-owned business located in Brae, on the island of Mainland. The company approached Damen when they…
Saronic’s Marauder Enters On-Water Trials
Saronic has launched its first Marauder Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV), designed to deliver dual-use autonomous capability far from shore across the full range of defense and commercial applications.Marauder is built for the kinds of sustained, long-range missions that place the greatest demands on any maritime vessel and present the greatest risks to any crew. Operating fully autonomously or under remote human supervision…
