Asia Break Bulk Expands Fleet with Four Heavy-Lift Vessel Newbuilds
Singapore-based Asia Break Bulk (ABB), part of Hamburg-based COLI Group, has signed long-term agreements with Schoeller Holdings for four new multipurpose heavy-lift vessels, with the first scheduled for delivery in October 2028.The four 12,600-DWT Octopus-type vessels, designed by CSSC-SDARI, will each feature two 250-tonne cranes capable of tandem lifts of up to 500 tonnes, expanding ABB's project…
NAVTOR Upgrades NavFleet with Live AIS Vessel Monitoring
Maritime technology company NAVTOR has introduced real-time AIS streaming to its NavFleet platform, allowing fleet managers to monitor vessel positions, movements and surrounding traffic with minimal latency.The new capability, included in NavFleet version 2.7.1, uses NAVTOR's existing digital infrastructure to capture and transmit live vessel AIS data, providing ship operators with more immediate access to information on vessel speed…
Oil Prices Tumble Nearly 4% as US-Iran Peace Hopes Grow
Oil fell nearly 4% on Monday as talks between Iranian and Qatari officials on a deal to end the US-Israeli war on Iran raised hopes that Middle East supply disruptions could ease.Iranian negotiators left Doha talks on Sunday, but not due to difficulties in negotiations, an official briefed on the meeting told Reuters on Monday."The new month brought with it renewed hopes of a breakthrough in the Iranian stalemate…
Iran Reports Four Tankers Exploding in Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said on Friday that four oil tankers had caught fire and exploded in the Strait of Hormuz, while attempting to use what it described as unauthorised routes, Iranian state media reported.In its latest statement, the IRGC Navy said a fourth vessel, a tanker carrying more than 2 million barrels of crude oil, had hit a mine, suffered a powerful explosion and was burning.An IRGC Navy statement had said earlier that one of the tankers…
MARAD Awards $40M in Port Infrastructure Grants to Corn Belt Ports
On October 27, 2026, the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) Awarded $41,414,928 in Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) Grants to Corn Belt Ports. MARAD continues to invest in the four modern, sustainable, rural, regional, multimodal, inland, partnership ports in the Heart of the Corn Belt. Since 2003, a total of $143 million has been invested by MARAD in eleven rural port infrastructure…
Big Oil Pockets Near-Record Profits but Spending Restraint Signals Long-Term Doubts
Big Oil is reaping near record cash windfalls from the eight-month-old Iran war, but Western energy producers’ reluctance to ramp up spending reveals persistent doubts about the industry’s long-term outlook.BP, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Shell and TotalEnergies reported combined net profits of $56 billion in the third quarter, driven by surging oil and gas prices, record-high refining margins and strong trading results.BP posted its highest quarterly profit ever…
Borr Drilling Confirms Fourth Death in Gabon Rig Sinking, One Missing
Borr Drilling has confirmed the recovery of a fourth body following the sinking of its Prospector 5 jack-up rig offshore Gabon, with search operations continuing for one person still missing.The company said on November 2 that the body of a fourth individual had been located during ongoing search and rescue operations, bringing the number of confirmed fatalities to four.All four bodies have been recovered and are being transported to Port Gentil…
Shifting to Neutral: A Different Way to Test a Maritime Case
The maritime industry, like every industry, is litigious. While oftentimes unavoidable, litigation can often be a major drain on company resources, namely time and money. JAMS is one of the premier providers of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services worldwide, and Maritime Matters: The MarineLink Podcast recently visited with Judge Judith Ramseyer, a retired judge who had a long and distinguished career as a litigator and on the bench…
