FMC Proposes Remedies to Counteract Unfavorable Spanish Shipping Conditions
After investigating reports of restrictive port practices by the Government of Spain, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has determined that Spain has created unfavorable shipping conditions against U.S.-flagged vessels. As a result, the FMC is proposing remedies to counteract those unfavorable conditions, including charging fees for all Spanish-flagged vessels and restricting the import of certain…
NASA Engineer Corey Harris Joins BroCoTec to Strengthen Marine IT Operations
Houston-based maritime IT network specialist BroCoTec is bringing space age tech expertise to its expanding team with the appointment of NASA engineer Corey Harris. Harris, who has spent several years upgrading networks on board the International Space Station and mission control center, Houston, is transferring his knowledge and expertise of networks and cybersecurity to the maritime industry.Harris…
Most Efficient Inland Port System Named
The St. Louis Metro Port system remains the nation’s most efficient inland port system, according to the latest U.S. Army Corps of Engineers data, ranking first in cargo tonnage per river mile and fourth in total tonnage among seven major inland port districts.In 2024, the 70-mile port system handled 24.8 million tons of cargo, averaging 354,286 tons per river mile. That figure was more than double…
Voyant Demonstrates Navigation Software for UK MOD
Voyant has successfully demonstrated its navigation software to the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), marking an important step in the development of resilient Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) capabilities for autonomous maritime systems operating in contested environments. In a real-life scenario, this capability would enable autonomous systems to continue navigating when satellite navigation has been lost or deliberately denied…
USCG Issues Warning Following Incident
The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) recently investigated a marine casualty involving a recreational vessel that was swamped and capsized by the wake of a commercial towing vessel. The investigation found that both the credentialed Master of the towing vessel and the towing vessel’s operating company believed that USCG-inspected vessels were governed solely by federal Inland Navigation Rules, and that these rules automatically preempted state and local navigation safety laws…
Shipyard of the Future will be Built on Robotics, AI
Fincantieri is accelerating the integration of robotics, artificial intelligence (AI) and automation across its global shipyard network, moving from technology experimentation toward industrial-scale deployment under its BOOST² – The Shipyard of the Future initiative.Launched three years ago, BOOST² has engaged more than 450 employees across 13 Fincantieri shipyards, including facilities in Italy, Romania and the United States.
Partnership Aims to Advance Bio-LNG as Marine Fuel
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), CMA CGM Group and Singapore LNG Corporation (SLNG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore the supply and use of liquefied bio-methane, or bio-LNG, as a marine fuel, leveraging Singapore’s existing LNG infrastructure to support shipping decarbonization.The agreement brings together MPA’s regulatory expertise, CMA CGM’s shipping operations and SLNG’s LNG infrastructure capabilities to develop practical pathways for supplying…
DOF Inks Extension Deal for Skandi Nomad Subsea Vessel
Norwegian offshore vessel owner DOF Group has secured a contract extension for its construction support vessel (CSV) Skandi Nomad.The 12-month extension will keep the vessel on firm contract until November 2027.The extension follows the exercise of an existing contract option, DOF said.The company classified the value of the option period as limited, representing a contract worth less than $15 million under its contract value reporting system.Skandi Nomad…
Voyant Demos GPS-Denied Navigation on Autonomous Vessel for UK MOD
UK defense technology company Voyant successfully demonstrated its satellite-independent navigation software aboard an autonomous surface vessel (ASV) for the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), advancing efforts to ensure uncrewed maritime systems can operate in environments where GPS signals are disrupted or denied.The demonstration took place aboard a Kraken K3 Scout autonomous surface vessel operating in the Solent…
NYK-Led Consortium Develops Floating Data Center Concept for Ports
A Japanese consortium led by shipping giant NYK Line has developed a new port-based floating data center concept designed to accelerate the commercialization of offshore data centers while addressing growing constraints on land availability, electrical power and construction timelines.The consortium, comprising Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), NTT FACILITIES, Eurus Energy Holdings and MUFG Bank…
Suez Canal Container Ship Transits Rebound
"During the first two weeks of October, weekly container ship capacity transiting the Suez Canal averaged 753k TEU, according to Clarksons Research, compared with 1,457k TEU during the same period in 2023. Since the Houthi attacks began in the Red Sea, this is the first time that transits have exceeded 50% of pre-disruption levels,” says Niels Rasmussen, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.In November 2023…
Iran Steps Up Gulf Shipping Strikes to Keep Oil Prices High Before US Vote
Iran is deploying new tactics to target ships sailing through the Strait of Hormuz as it seeks to keep oil prices high and influence the US midterm elections, two senior Iranian officials told Reuters.Tehran has tried to exert control over the Strait of Hormuz since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28. It has restricted passage through the waterway, which carried about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade before the war…
Germany Puts Ukrainian Ex-Officer on Trial Over Nord Stream Attack
A Ukrainian ex-military officer goes on trial in Germany on Wednesday, accused of organising the secret operation that blew up the Nord Stream gas pipelines in September 2022, severing western Europe from the biggest source of Russian natural gas.The suspect, identified under German privacy rules only as Serhii K., is accused of leading a group of Ukrainian agents including divers and an explosives…
Ben Rogers Moves into Expanded Role at Brenock Technology
Brenock Technology, LLC, a provider of software applications and consulting services for the cruise and marine sectors, announced that Ben Rogers, senior vice president of technology, engineering and product development, will lead its day-to-day operations in an expanded role.Since joining Brenock in 2009, Rogers has been central to the company’s technology development and evolution. He has guided the strategic direction and operational execution of its SaaS platforms…
Taiwan Coast Guard Administration Acquires MARTAC Devil Ray T24 USVs
Maritime Tactical Systems, Inc. (MARTAC), a U.S. provider of fully autonomous unmanned surface vessels (USVs), announced that the Taiwan Coast Guard Administration (CGA) is acquiring an undisclosed number of Devil Ray T24 autonomous surface vessels. The sale represents one of the most significant international purchases of U.S.-manufactured USVs to date.The opportunity was made possible through the tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by MARTAC…
Op-Ed: The Scripps Award Sets a Precedent Small U.S. Shipyards Cannot Survive
Scripps Institution of Oceanography is building its next coastal research vessel in Chile. If that award stands as the model for how publicly funded institutions replace their fleets, the small American shipyards that build this country’s research vessels lose a market they cannot survive without.MarineLink.com reported the award in August: a 124-foot vessel for Scripps, part of the University of California San Diego, going to ASENAV in Valdivia, Chile. Qualified U.S.
EU Wheat Prices Rise After Another Black Sea Attack, Algerian tender
Euronext wheat prices rose on Tuesday, tracking a rebound in Chicago futures as another attack on ships in the Black Sea kept attention on disruption to export trade.An international tender being held by Algeria also underpinned the market, with expectations that the major importer could book a significant volume.Benchmark December milling wheat on the Paris-based Euronext exchange was up 1.4% at €246.75…
Russia says it Hit Vessels Delivering Military Cargo to Ukraine
Russian forces hit two ships delivering military and dual-use cargo to Ukraine's port city of Mykolaiv, the Russian defence ministry said on Tuesday, without mentioning any energy facilities following US President Donald Trump's announcement on Sunday of an energy ceasefire.Reuters could not independently verify the report.Following are the targets in Ukraine which Russia struck overnight and during the day on Tuesday…
US Natural Gad Futures Remain Steady Ahead of Mild Weather
US natural gas futures held steady on Tuesday as bearish forecasts for milder weather and less demand over the next two weeks than previously expected offset a bullish drop in daily output to an eight-month low.Front-month gas futures for November delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) rose 0.2 cent, or 0.1%, to $3.169 per million British thermal units.Financial firm LSEG said average…
Argentina Seeks to Halt UK Hydrocarbon Activity Near Falklands
Argentina's government said on Tuesday it had filed a request for provisional measures with the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea seeking to halt British-authorized hydrocarbon activity near the Falkland Islands.The request aims to prevent the United Kingdom from exploiting hydrocarbon resources on the continental shelf of the Northern Falklands Basin, the government added in a statement.The…
