Blue Water Surpasses 1000 Hours of Ocean-Based Testing
This week, the Blue Water team reached a milestone in their journey: surpassing 1000 hours of ocean-based testing of their proprietary propulsion system designed for autonomous surface vessels. Achieving this milestone surpasses the Navy’s original 720-hour land-based test requirement while also including the addition of fuel polishing, electric power generation, and a full sensor suite.Meeting the Navy's VisionAs the Navy expands its fleet of uncrewed ships to execute transoceanic missions…
Great Lakes Limestone Trade Down in 2025
Limestone shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 26.6 million tons in 2025, a decrease of 5.9 percent compared to the previous year. 2025’s loadings were below the trade’s 5-year average by 6.7 percent.Shipments from U.S. quarries decreased 5 percent from 2024 to 21.7 million tons. Loadings from U.S. quarries were also 5 percent below their 5-year average.2025 shipments from Canadian quarries totaled 4.9 million tons…
Fluid Marine Appoints Tony Van Meter as Executive Vice President
Fluid Marine, a U.S. builder of mission-ready rigid inflatable boats for law enforcement, search and rescue, and commercial operators, announced today that Tony Van Meter has joined the company as Executive Vice President, effective January 12, 2026.Van Meter brings more than three decades of experience in the maritime industry, with a career that began in operational service with the United States Coast Guard…
PhilaPort Closes 2025 With Record Container Volume, Leading U.S. East Coast Growth
PhilaPort capped off a milestone year in 2025, posting record container throughput and outperforming national and regional trade trends to remain a leader among U.S. East Coast container ports.PhilaPort handled a record 889,268 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2025, representing a 6% year-over-year increase in container volume. This result exceeded overall U.S. trade growth projections of approximately 3%, underscoring Philadelphia’s continued strength in the container market.
Towboat M/V Al Sloss Delivered to Canal Barge
C&C Marine and Repair has delivered the M/V Al Sloss to Canal Barge Company, completing the first vessel in a four-boat newbuild series currently under construction for the New Orleans-based operator.The 2,600-horsepower, 87- x 34-ft. towboat was designed by C&C Marine and Repair’s in-house engineering team and constructed on an accelerated schedule, with delivery completed in approximately six months.Delivery…
British Prosecutors Accuse Solong Captain of Neglect in Stena Immaculate Crash
The captain of a container ship that crashed into a U.S. tanker off Britain's east coast last year did "absolutely nothing" to prevent an avoidable and fatal collision, British prosecutors said on Tuesday as his trial over a crew member's death began.Russian national Vladimir Motin, 59, was captain of the Portuguese-flagged Solong which was heading to Rotterdam in the Netherlands when it hit the Stena Immaculate tanker…
Echandia to Deliver Battery System for India’s First Fully Electric Tugboat
Echandia has been selected to supply the battery system for India’s first fully electric tug, to be deployed at Deendayal Port Authority (Kandla Port) as part of the Government of India’s Green Tug Transition Program. The vessel will be equipped with a 4.4 MWh Echandia battery system, enabling zero-emission operation at one of India’s most important port hubs.The battery system is designed for a 15-year lifetime…
Satcom Global Launches Aura Citadel IT Management Solution
Satcom Global has announced the launch of Aura Citadel, an on-vessel IT management and security solution providing simplicity, protection and control across the maritime IT environment.Vessels with Aura Citadel on board benefit from the combination of a simplified on-vessel business network improving order and resiliency, robust cyber security features and fast comprehensive disaster recovery. The…
OrbitMI Appoints Kazuo Yamashita as Business Development Partner for Japan
OrbitMI, a provider of maritime SaaS and a voyage optimization platform used by shipowners and operators worldwide, announced its expansion in Japan to support its growing customer base and expanding partner ecosystem in the region. To lead its Japan presence, OrbitMI has appointed Kazuo Yamashita as Business Development Partner, Japan. Yamashita-san will oversee business development, partnerships…
Unidentified Drones Strike Three Oil Tankers in Black Sea
Three Greek-managed oil tankers were hit by unidentified drones in the Black Sea on Tuesday as they were on their way to load crude at a terminal on Russia's coast, sources told Reuters.The attacks come as Kazakhstan's oil production, most of which is exported via the terminal, cratered in early January.It was not immediately clear who was behind Tuesday's strikes. Ukraine did not immediately comment.
Wärtsilä to Supply Engine for Hartman Seatrade Heavy Lift Vessel Newbuild
Technology group Wärtsilä will supply the engine and propulsion equipment for a new 3,800-deadweight-tonne heavy lift vessel being built for Netherlands-based operator Hartman Seatrade.The vessel will be powered by a Wärtsilä 31 engine, selected to minimize fuel consumption and exhaust emissions. The engine’s modular design is intended to reduce maintenance requirements and costs, while allowing operational…
HD Hyundai Gets ABS Clearance for Next-Gen Floating Offshore Substation
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has issued approval in principle (AiP) to HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) for its new design of a floating offshore substation to support deepwater wind farms.The substation concept received a SMART (SHM) Tier 3 AiP from ABS. The approval acknowledges the proposed structural health management system’s alignment with the Tier 3 requirements in the ABS Guide for…
MOL PLUS to Invest in Pyxis to Advance Electric Vessel Deployment
MOL PLUS has decided to invest in Pyxis Maritime, a Singapore-based developer of electric vessels and operator of electric boat charging stations, as part of efforts to promote the commercialization of electric vessels and related infrastructure.The investment comes as Singapore advances toward its national net-zero target for 2050. From 2030, all new harbor craft operating in the Port of Singapore will be required to be fully electric…
Supertankers Resume Venezuelan Oil Exports After Standstill
At least two supertankers, not under sanctions, were departing Venezuelan waters on Monday carrying crude, according to monitoring service Tankertrackers.com and shipping records from state-run company PDVSA seen by Reuters.Venezuela's oil exports had remained at an almost complete standstill since mid-December, when U.S. President Donald Trump announced a blockade of all sanctioned vessels going in and out the OPEC country's waters.U.S.
Thailand's Gulf Energy Eyes Long-Term LNG Supply
Thailand's Gulf Energy has issued a tender seeking four to six cargoes a year of liquefied natural gas (LNG) over a 10-year period, said two industry sources on Tuesday.It is seeking the cargoes for delivery from 2028, in a tender that closes on January 19.(Reuters - Reporting by Emily Chow; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
Russia-Linked Ship Held in Cable Sabotage Case Released
Finnish police said on Monday they had lifted the seizure of a ship which had been held on suspicion of sabotaging an undersea telecoms cable running from Helsinki to Estonia across the Gulf of Finland, although the investigation continues.The Baltic Sea region is on high alert after a string of power cable, telecom link and gas pipeline outages since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, and NATO has boosted its military presence with frigates…
Ship Recycling Market Tense
If 2026 continues as it has started, we are more than likely in for another roller-coaster year full of geopolitical risks, tensions, aggravations, and increasingly frequent shocks that could affect the shipping and ship recycling industries in numerous — and as yet untold — ways, says cash buyer GMS.Markets have reacted to recent Trump-related geopolitical news as they always do i.e. with chaos and volatility.
GDIT Awarded Contract to Modernize Navy C5ISR Systems
General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), a business unit of General Dynamics, has been awarded the Ship and Air Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Combat, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Systems Support (SACSS) contract to continue modernizing the U.S. Navy fleet.The $988 million contract, awarded in December, has a one-year base period, four one-year options and a six-month option.Under the contract…
Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Down 2.5 Percent in 2024
Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 4.6 million tons in December, a decrease of 4.5 percent compared to a year ago. Shipments were just slightly above the 5-year average for the month.The year-end total for the iron ore trade stands at 49.8 million tons, a decrease of 2.5 percent compared to 2023.Compared to the trade’s 5-year average, 2024 iron ore loadings were up 3.8 percent.© Lake…
Somalia Ends Port Deals, Security Cooperation with UAE
Somalia's government said on Monday it is annulling all agreements with the United Arab Emirates, including port deals and defence and security cooperation, accusing the UAE of undermining its national sovereignty."This decision is based on credible reports and compelling evidence concerning hostile actions undermining national sovereignty, territorial unity, and the political independence of the country…
