U.S. Biofuels Industry Targets MEPC 84 Negotiations
A joint letter organized by the American Biofuels Maritime Initiative (ABMI) has been sent to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio ahead of this week's negotiations at the IMO MEPC 84 meeting in London. The effort is aimed at ensuring that global maritime decarbonization also translates into durable new demand for American biofuels and additional income streams for U.S. farmers and rural communities.In the ABMI letter…
Dassai Moon Project: Sake Space Shot a Success
DASSAI and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries report a successful completion of the first mission of the "DASSAI MOON Project", an initiative aimed at producing sake on the surface of the Moon.In this mission, specialized brewing equipment jointly developed by DASSAI and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, along with sake raw materials, were launched to the International Space Station (ISS).The experiment took place within JAXA's experimental facilities aboard the Japanese experiment module "Kibo…
Chairman DiBella Joins the U.S. Delegation to the IMO
Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Chairman Laura DiBella joined the U.S. delegation to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) this week for the 84th session…
41m Shallow Draft River Vessel Ordered for Paraguay
Concordia Damen signed a newbuilding contract with an undisclosed Paraguayan client for a 41-meter Shallow Draft River Pusher, type CDS 4115. Delivery of the vessel is scheduled for 2027.The vessel will be deployed on the Paraguay-Paraná River system to support regional logistics operations. It is the second CDS 4115 to be built and delivered by Concordia Damen for a South American customer. The new vessel, which measures measures 41 x 15.5m, will serve along the 2,695-km Paraguay River.
Wittlin Named CEO of GLO Marine
GLO Marine appointed Thomas Wittlin as Chief Executive Officer, effective Q2 2026, signaling the start of a structured growth phase in which the company will evolve from a retrofit-led contractor into a production-enabled marine engineering and integration business.Wittlin brings more than 25 years of experience at the intersection of shipyard operations, commercial leadership, and global maritime business development.
Italy Backs Aircraft Carrier Donation to Indonesia
Italy's parliament on Tuesday backed a government plan to donate an ageing aircraft carrier to Indonesia, a move the administration said would strengthen relations with an ally while avoiding the costly dismantling of an obsolete asset.The 54 million euro ($63 million)-valued Garibaldi entered service in 1985, took part in various operations in the Mediterranean area and off Africa, including missions in Lebanon…
Tanker Carrying Saudi Oil Crosses Strait of Hormuz
Panama-flagged tanker Idemitsu Maru, carrying 2 million barrels of Saudi oil, crossed the Strait of Hormuz, LSEG shipping data showed on Tuesday, becoming the first Japan-linked crude tanker to do so since the Iran war began.Before the U.S.-Iran conflict broke out on February 28 and disrupted Middle East crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, Japan relied on the region for 95% of its oil imports…
UAE Quits OPEC in Heavy Blow to Global Group
The United Arab Emirates said on Tuesday it was quitting OPEC, dealing a heavy blow to the oil producers' group as an unprecedented energy crisis triggered by the Iran war exposes discord among Gulf nations.The loss of the UAE, a longstanding OPEC member, could weaken the group, which has usually sought to show a united front despite internal disagreements over geopolitics and production quotas.UAE…
Russian Superyacht Crosses Strait of Hormuz
A superyacht owned by Russian billionaire Alexey Mordashov was able to transit the blockaded Strait of Hormuz after undergoing maintenance in Dubai because neither Iran nor the United States objected, a source close to Mordashov said on Tuesday.It has been unclear how the multi-deck pleasure vessel, worth over $500 million, gained permission to sail on Saturday through the commercially important waterway at the heart of the U.S.-Iran conflict…
Vessev Launches Hydrofoiling Network for Urban Transit
Vessev, a technology company designing and building electric passenger vessels, announced the launch of a new hydrofoiling network in Hobart, Australia, marking a step in using waterways as an efficient, scalable, zero-emissions layer of urban transport.Fly Derwent, a new clean energy transport venture, will launch the network on the Derwent River, reconnecting Hobart’s waterfront using Vessev's VS–9, with expansion to a fleet of VS–12 vessels.
Meyer Turku to Build New Headquarters, Launching Multi-Year Investment Program
A new headquarters for Meyer Turku will be built in the immediate vicinity of the shipyard, in the Blue Industry Park area. The project, valued at approximately USD$46.8 million (EUR 40 million), forms part of the company’s investment program. Construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2026, with the new premises to be completed in early 2028. The project will be designed and constructed by SRV,…
C&C Marine and Repair's Robotic Blast Facility Completes 700 Barges
C&C Marine and Repair, the full-service shipyard located on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway in Belle Chasse, Louisiana, announced it has surpassed 700 barges blasted at its patented Robotic Blast and Paint Facility.Since opening in November 2018, the 83,350-square-foot, fully enclosed and climate-controlled facility has operated day and night, year-round, processing hopper barges, deck barges, and 10…
Mooreast to Divest Property, Boost Offshore Wind Expansion
Mooring and anchoring specialist Mooreast Holdings has granted an option to sell its leasehold property in Singapore for $23.3 million, aiming to boost offshore wind activities at new location.The company said it expects net proceeds of about $15 million after settling outstanding loans and transaction costs related to the 51 Shipyard Road property, with funds to be redeployed toward its newly acquired…
Petrodec’s OBANA Resumes Decom Work with Perenco in North Sea
Petrodec, a specialist in integrated solutions for decommissioning and part of the Dixstone group, has started its second decommissioning project for Perenco UK with its OBANA jack-up platform, moving to the Pickerill field in the UK Southern North Sea.The platform has mobilized from its yard in Vlissingen-Oost in the Netherlands and is now on location to remove the jackets from Pickerill A and Pickerill B.Following this work…
DNV to Certify UK Northern Endurance CCS Network
DNV has been appointed independent certifier for the Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP) CO2 transport and storage project in the UK.The project underpins the UK’s East Coast Cluster and will transport CO2 from industrial emitters in Teesside for storage beneath the southern North Sea.DNV will verify that construction and operations comply with the CO2 transport and storage license granted by the UK government.The scope of work includes the full transport chain…
ST Engineering Gets RINA’s Approval for Hydrogen Ferry Retrofit Design
RINA has granted an Approval in Principle (AiP) to ST Engineering Marine for a retrofit concept involving a hydrogen-powered fuel cell system on a fast passenger ferry.The approval covers the replacement of one auxiliary diesel generator on the Asean Raider I ferry with a hydrogen fuel cell system supported by lithium-ion batteries.The concept is designed to reduce carbon emissions while maintaining safety…
BlueRights Conference Highlights Need for Strengthened Enforcement of MLC 2006
Following the BlueRights International Conference on the Protection of Health at Sea in March, organiser Prof. Dr Senka Šekularac-Ivošević is calling for holistic solutions to the current gaps in ensuring seafarers’ human rights are met.Frequent cases of crew abandonment, non-payment of wages, poor living conditions, and serious consequences for seafarers’ mental health demonstrate that the gap between regulations and reality remains significant.
Ship Recycling Prices Hold Steady
Ship recycling prices across key recycling destinations have remained broadly stable despite weaker conditions in steel markets, cautious buying and pressure on steel prices, Wirana Shipping’s latest market outlook report has shown.Ship recyclers are largely maintaining their prices even as demand for steel remains uneven and buyers remain selective. Prices offered by ship recyclers in India, Bangladesh and Turkey have continued at current levels…
Human Judgement Critical to Voyage Planning
Not every risk at sea can be measured, but in shipping a route still has to be chosen.Behind every route recommendation is a human judgement call. While weather and performance can be calculated with precision, other risks exist beyond the reach of data, forcing decisions to be made in an unavoidable grey area.In recent weeks, routing decisions in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea have carried a different kind of weight.
Australia Begins First Live S‑100 Bridge Trial
Australia has commenced its first live shipboard trial of S‑100 digital navigation data, with dynamic tidal and current information now being tested on the bridge of operational cruise vessels in Sydney Harbour.S‑100 is the international standard for next‑generation digital marine navigation, developed by the International Hydrographic Organization. It enables multiple interoperable data layers — such as charts…
