Wilson Sons Launches Third High-Powered Tugboat
Wilson Sons, a port and shipping logistics operator with over 188 years of experience, launched WS Ariel on August 20 at Pier Mauá (Rio de Janeiro). WS Ariel is the third high-powered tugboat in the company's new shipbuilding series.Like WS Halcyon and WS Capella, launched in January and May this year, respectively, WS Ariel was built at Wilson Sonsā shipyard in Guarujá (São Paulo). Belonging to the same ASD 2312 class (23 meters longā¦
Houston Ship Channel Trade Tonnage Climbs 16%
Trade activity across the Houston Ship Channel region remained strong, while Port Houston gained momentum with increases in imports, empties and a modest decline in exports.āOur region remains resilient through evolving global trade conditions. Vessel activity in the nationās busiest waterway is up, and we continue to see steady cargo movement that helps power industries like energy, manufacturing and retailā¦
Taiwan Plans Record High Defense Spending
Taiwan's government on Thursday proposed an 18% rise in defense spending for next year, including for drones and missiles, taking it above T$1 trillion ($31.41 billion) for the first time as Taipei bolsters its military to ward off China.The budget details come as Beijing, which views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has ramped up military and political pressure over the past few years to assert its claimsā¦
Panama Canal to Cap Daily Transits
The Panama Canal Authority will cap daily transits as of early September as it gears up for a longer-than-usual El Niño season expected to reduce water levels, it said on Thursday, walking back a previous pledge to not limit vessel passage.Under the new measures, the canal will limit daily transits as of September 4 to 34 vessels, and reduce the number to 32 as of September 15.The canal had registered an average of 35 daily transits through June 2026ā¦
ESAB Launches New Products at FABTECH 2026
From total workflow solutions targeted to industry segments to launching more than a dozen new products for fab shops, individual contractors, welding engineers, students and educators, ESAB will deliver a complete welding and cutting experience at FABTECH 2026, which runs from October 21-23 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. ESAB will exhibit in Booth #S29025 on Level 2 in the South Hall, lead nineā¦
World Maritime Forum 2027 to Address Shippingās Investment Choices in Copenhagen
The two-day maritime conference will take place at Copenhagenās AC Bella Sky Convention Center on 23-24 February 2027.World Maritime Forum 2027 will bring the international maritime community back to Copenhagen for a two-day event at the AC Bella Sky Convention Center. Organised by IGGS Group, the forum is intended for shipowners, ship managers, shipbuilders, ports, authorities, maritime suppliers and service providers.
M/V Ann Nash Added to Maritime Partners Fleet
Maritime Partners has added the M/V Ann Nash to its growing fleet. Built by FMT Shipyard & Repair in Harvey, Louisiana, the vessel continues the successful working relationship between Maritime Partners, FMT Shipyard & Repair, and Laborde Products in delivering towboats for inland marine service.The MN Ann Nash measures 52.5 feet in length overall with a 19.6-foot beam and a 3.3-foot draft. The vessel is configured with a twin-screw propulsion system powered by two Mitsubishi S62 Tier 3 enginesā¦
Norway Expands Arctic Military Brigade
Norway expanded on Thursday a recently created military brigade headquartered in the Arctic, the latest move by a NATO nation to boost its defence footprint in the wake of the Ukraine war.The NATO member established the Finnmark Brigade last year, forming the country's second brigade and the first one set up since the end of the Cold War. Both brigades have their headquarters in the Arctic.Norway, like the other Nordic countriesā¦
Romanian Fighter Jets Destroy Marine Drone Near Neptun Deep Project
Romania scrambled F-16 fighter jets to destroy a marine drone spotted a few hundred metres from the Black Sea gas project Neptun Deep, Defence Minister Radu Miruta said on Thursday.The incident underscores the growing threat to critical energy infrastructure in the Black Sea from drones and mines linked to Russia's war in Ukraine, with Neptun Deep expected to make Romania the European Union's largestā¦
Viking Orders Two Cruise Vessels for 2032 Delivery
Fincantieri and Viking have signed contracts for two new cruise ships, extending a long-running shipbuilding relationship that now encompasses 28 vessels.The ships result from Viking exercising options announced in April 2025 and will be constructed at Fincantieriās Ancona shipyard in Italy, with both vessels scheduled for delivery in 2032. Fincantieri classified the value of the agreement, which remains subject to financing and other conditionsā¦
Conoship Adds 40-MWh Battery-Electric Option to CIP3800 Coaster
Conoship International has expanded its CIP-Series with a fully electric version of its CIP3800 general cargo vessel, pairing the established 3,800-dwt coaster platform with a 40-MWh battery energy storage system.Designed for short-sea routes, green shipping corridors and emission-restricted coastal operations, the CIP3800 Fully Electric measures 89.43 meters LOA with a 13.2-meter molded breadth and 5.2-meter draft.Rather than developing a new hull specifically for battery propulsionā¦
New Product: Anschütz's New Gyrocompass
Vibrating gyro technology derived from proven HRG systems, maintenance-free, easy to integrate and designed for commercial fleetsAnschütz will present a new-generation gyrocompass at SMM, introducing the Standard 100 MF to the market. The new system applies proven vibrating gyro principles derived from established gyrocompass systems based on the Hemispherical Resonator Gyroscope (HRG), such as theā¦
MoU Signed to Verify Emissions Reduction Through AI-Based Voyage Optimization
ClassNK has joined a joint project to objectively verify reductions in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions achieved in actual vessel operations through the use of an AI-based autonomous navigation system.In the maritime industry, various technologies aimed at reducing fuel consumption and GHG emissions are being developed and introduced. Voyage optimization technologies utilizing autonomousā¦
Dr Claus Reimers Appointed to Chief Product & Technology Officer at OneOcean
OneOcean, Lloyd's Register's maritime digital solutions business, has appointed Dr. Claus Reimers as Chief Product & Technology Officer (CPTO) to lead its product and technology strategy and accelerate the development of digital, data and AI-enabled solutions for the maritime industry.Reimers joins OneOcean from Akselos, a technology company specializing in physics-based AI for critical infrastructure, where he served as Chief Product & Technology Officer.
LR: Subsea Pipeline Design Choices Determine Integrity
Early design decisions and robust qualification of subsea connectors can materially shape the long-term integrity of subsea pipelines warns Lloydās Register (LR), as part of a new study delivered for the Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority (Havtil).The report, commissioned by Havtil, provides an updated industry experience base for assessing the performance of welded and mechanical connectors used inā¦
Olam Agri, Vitol Bunkers Complete Co-processed VLSFO Bio-Bunkering
Olam Agri and Vitol Bunkers have successfully completed Singaporeās first bio-bunkering operation using Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) co-processed with Cashew Nutshell Liquid (CNSL), showcasing a waste-to-energy approach. The operation marks a step forward in the search for practical, scalable alternatives to conventional marine fuels, and demonstrates that meaningful greenhouse gas (GHG) reductionsā¦
VIDEO: Saildrone USV Fires JAGM Missiles
[video courtesy Saildrone]Saildrone and Lockheed Martin demonstrated a new armed autonomous naval capability during RIMPAC 2026, successfully launching two Joint Air-to-Ground Missiles (JAGM) from a Saildrone Surveyor unmanned surface vessel (USV) off Hawaii.The live-fire exercise marked the first missile launch from a Saildrone platform, moving the commercially derived USV beyond its established intelligenceā¦
Tug Grounding Highlights Importance of Planning
Insufficient planning and preparation and inadequate risk controls contributed to the grounding of a tug in Port Adelaide, an ATSB investigation has identified.On June 10, 2025, the tug Sea Pelican was in combination with the barge Rocksea, to maneuver out of the North Arm waterway and into the Port Adelaide River, in South Australia.During the turn, the tug was maneuvered wide and contacted a sandbar.The tugās shell plating was holed, and water began to enter the engine room.
Global Grain Shipments Fall as Black Sea Attacks Escalate
Over the last five weeks (week 29-33) global grain shipments have fallen 8% y/y, fuelled by a 26% y/y drop in grain exports from the Black Sea as Russian and Ukrainian attacks on ships and port infrastructure have intensified.āA recent proposal by Ukraine to halt attacks on shipping in the Black Sea has been rejected by Russia, reducing hopes for a near-term recovery in exports. In addition, weaker maize shipments from Brazil due to delayed harvest have weighed on global grain volumesā¦
Somali Piracy Activity Hits 10-Year High
The number of piracy-related incidents off Somalia is at its highest level in 10 years. The trend points to renewed activity in the area after several years with relatively few incidents.Danish Shipping has just published an analysis based on figures from the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB), showing a significant increase in the number of attacks carried out by Somali pirates.The IMB recorded eight incidents off Somalia in 2024 and five incidents in 2025.
