Pole Star Defense Tapped for Mission-Critical Maritime Intelligence by Multiple U.S. Federal Agencies
Pole Star Defense closed Q4 2025 with two federal wins: a $36 million, three-year renewal with the U.S. Coast Guard and a new five-year contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Together, the awards extend the company’s role as a provider of maritime domain awareness to U.S. government customers. The Coast Guard renewal builds on a partnership first established in 2020 with a $50 million award.
Yanmar Obtains Ship Classification Certification for Hydrogen 4-Stroke High-Speed Engine
Yanmar Power Solutions Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Yanmar Holdings, has become the first engine manufacturer in Japan to obtain both type approval certificate1 and NOx certificate2 from Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK) for its pilot-ignition hydrogen-fueled 4-stroke high-speed engine for power generation for domestic coastal vessels as part of the Nippon Foundation’s Zero Emission Ships Project.In 2025…
Stena RoRo Orders Next-Generation C-Flexer RoRo Vessels
Stena RoRo has ordered a new generation of Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) vessels, placing firm orders for two C-Flexer RoRo ships with options for an additional four, as the company moves to expand its offering of flexible and future-proofed tonnage for the global market.The vessels have been developed by Stena RoRo in cooperation with Italian design firm NAOS Ship and Boat Design and form part of the company’s…
NYK Invests in XFuel to Advance Low-Carbon Marine Fuels
Japanese shipping company NYK has invested in XFuel, a company developing technology to refine waste-derived liquid hydrocarbons into low-carbon fuel for marine applications.The investment is aimed at advancing collaboration with XFuel, including the recycling of fuel sludge generated from NYK’s operating vessels, to support the development of decarbonization technologies that utilize existing fuels.XFuel…
Cadeler Lines Up Offshore Wind Foundation Installation Job
Offshore wind installation contractor Cadeler has signed a preferred supplier agreement with an undisclosed client for the transportation and installation (T&I) of monopiles and transition pieces at a large offshore wind farm in European waters.The foundation installation campaign is expected to begin in the first half of 2028 and would be carried out using two of Cadeler’s wind installation vessels…
MOL, ONGC Sign 15-year Charter Deal for Samsung-Built VLECs
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has signed a long-term charter agreement with India’s state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for two newbuilding very large ethane carriers (VLECs) to be constructed by Samsung Heavy Industries.MOL established two joint ventures with ONGC, with the joint ventures and ONGC signing a 15-year charter contract for the vessels.The two vessels, each with a cargo capacity of 100…
ICS Publishes 2025-2026 Flag State Performance Table
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has released the 2025-2026 Flag State Performance Table, continuing an over 20-year practice of providing an objective, data driven assessment of performance based on criteria such as Port State Control statistics and ratification of IMO and ILO Conventions.Those flag States with no more than one potential negative indicator (out of the 19 criteria used by ICS) include the 10 largest flag States by tonnage: China…
Tankers International Expands to Suezmax Market
Tankers International has extended its coverage beyond the VLCC market to include Suezmax vessels. With the formation of a new pool, International Seaways, who today acquired sole ownership of Tankers International, will add their spot trading Suezmaxes to Tankers International’s long-standing platform.A dedicated Suezmax pool provides greater flexibility to secure cargoes across similar crude movements…
Elomatic and Indigenous Works Partner in Canada
Elomatic, an international consulting and engineering company with expanding operations in Canada, has established a strategic partnership with Indigenous Works (IW), a prominent national Indigenous not-for-profit organization with a mandate to support the employment and inclusion for Indigenous peoples, throughout Canada.Established in 1998, Indigenous Works has significant expertise in developing…
BOEM Seeks Public Input on Potential Alaska Minerals Lease Sale
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has announced it will publish a Request for Information and Interest to evaluate industry interest and gather public input that could inform a potential lease sale for minerals on the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of Alaska.The Request for Information supports the Trump Administration’s focus on strengthening domestic supply chains and advancing American…
Fuel Treatment Study Confirms Efficiency Gains
Independent university testing has proved that marine fuel consumption and associated emissions could be reduced more quickly and cost-effectively than previously assumed, using existing vessels and standard fuels already in circulation.A study conducted by the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) has found that a fuel treatment technology developed by UK-based Fuelre4m delivered measurable…
Captain of Seized Tanker Now Aboard US Vessel
The captain of a Venezuela-linked crude oil tanker seized by the U.S. this month has been taken from British territorial waters and is now aboard a U.S. Coast Guard vessel, a lawyer for the captain's wife said on Tuesday.The U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. military special forces, bearing a judicial seizure warrant, apprehended the Russian-flagged Marinera in the Atlantic near Iceland on January 7 after…
Lantek Partners with Machitech to Deliver Maximum Cutting Power to Sheet Metal Shops
Lantek Sheetmetal Solutions (Mason, Ohio) has partnered with Machitech (St.-Marc-Des-Carrieres, Quebec, Canada), a manufacturer of customized sheet metal laser and plasma cutter systems, to provide Lantek Expert Cut nesting software on all Machitech Fiber PRIME SÔ high-power laser cutting machines and Lantek Flex3D Nesting software for the company’s Fiber TUBE XLÔ tube laser cutting machines. Machitech…
Indian Diesel Exports to West Africa Jump as EU Bans Russian Derived Fuel
India stopped exporting diesel to the European Union this month due to the European Union's ban on fuel derived from Russian crude and instead sent a record amount to West Africa, shipping data from Kpler and Vortexa showed, while Turkey's diesel exports to the EU slowed in recent months.The developments highlight that the EU policy, aimed at punishing Russia over its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine…
Trump Administration Sued Over Two Deaths in Venezuelan Boat Strike
Family members of two men killed in a U.S. missile strike against a suspected drug boat near Venezuela filed a wrongful death lawsuit on Tuesday, alleging the pair were murdered in a "manifestly unlawful" military campaign targeting civilian vessels.Civil rights lawyers filed the lawsuit in Boston's federal court, marking the first court challenge to one of the 36 U.S. missile strikes on vessels in…
Philippines, US Hold Joint Military Drill at South China Sea Shoal
The militaries of the Philippines and the United States sailed together this week at a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, Manila's armed forces said on Tuesday, in joint exercises aimed at easing cooperation between the treaty allies.Military engagements between them have soared under Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who has pivoted closer to Washington in response to China's growing…
EU-Sanctioned Oil Tanker Escorted to Morocco by Spanish Rescue Ship
An oil tanker under EU sanctions for carrying Russian oil is being escorted to Tanger Med in Morocco by a Spanish rescue ship, Spain's Merchant Marine said on Tuesday.The Chariot Tide, which was sailing under a Mozambique flag and until November was known as the Marabella Sun, has been on an EU sanctions list since November 2024 for helping Russia export oil "while practicing irregular and high-risk shipping practices," according to the European Union.
Teledyne Gavia Delivers Four GAVIA AUV Systems to the Swedish Defense Materiel Administration
Teledyne Gavia, a leader in modular autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), announced the successful delivery of the first four GAVIA AUV systems to the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV).The newly delivered GAVIA Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) system forms part of a multi-year framework agreement between Teledyne Marine and FMV, under which GAVIA AUVs will support fleet modernization…
FMC Launches Investigation of Ocean Common Carriers’ Practices on Chassis Usage
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC or Commission) launched an investigation related to possible non-compliance of the Shipping Act by ocean common carriers that may be unjustly and unreasonably restricting motor carriers (truckers) and shippers in their choice of chassis providers.The Commission seeks to determine whether ocean common carriers are using practices that directly or indirectly deprive truckers and shippers from negotiating and dealing with chassis providers.
Chartwell Marine Secures Design Contract for Island Community Ferry
Chartwell Marine, a leader in vessel design, has been appointed to design a new ferry for a rural island community. The vessel is scheduled to enter construction in early 2026 – with the boat yard currently being selected with Chartwell’s support – and enter operation in 2027. Due to the islands’ remote location and unique environment, travel is particularly challenging, requiring versatile vessels capable of navigating choppy waters and operating within limited port infrastructure.
