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Tuesday, October 27, 2026

Ports News

27 Oct 2026

Japanese Giants Join Forces on Four Ammonia-Fueled Car Carriers

Image courtesy NYK

Seven Japanese companies have agreed to develop an integrated ammonia fuel supply chain and build four ammonia-fueled car carriers, establishing a commercial bunkering operation in Japan's Chubu region to support the vessels when they enter service in 2030.The agreement brings together shipowners NYK Line and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (ā€œKā€ LINE), shipbuilders Imabari Shipbuilding, Shin Kurushima Dockyard, Nihon Shipyard and Kyokuyo Shipyard, as well as energy company JERA.The project encompasses green ammonia procurement…

26 Oct 2026

Black Sea Shipping Faces Insurance Squeeze as Constanta Port Stays Resilient

Ā© hecke71 / Adobe Stock

Shipping through Romania's Black Sea port of Constanta was stable and grain exports had increased by end-September, the port authority said, despite a spike in marine insurance premiums driven by increased attacks on cargo vessels.In September, London's marine insurance market widened the area in the Black Sea it lists as high risk, as Russia's war in Ukraine escalated, with only the territorial waters of Georgia, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey exempted.The Black Sea is a vital route for grain…

23 Oct 2026

Mammoet, Port of Argentia Plan Floating Dry Dock, Marine Repair Facility

Image courtesy Mammoet

Mammoet Canada Eastern Ltd., Port of Argentia Inc. and Argentia Capital Inc. (ACI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance plans for a floating dry dock and marine repair facility at the Port of Argentia in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.The proposed development would combine Mammoet's heavy lifting, transport and marine engineering capabilities with the port's existing infrastructure, creating additional capacity for vessel maintenance, repair and industrial services.Central to the project is the Tugdock Submersible Platform (TSP)…

23 Oct 2026

Port Innovation Congress Draws Record Attendees to Valencia

1.	Representatives of Fundación Valenciaport and the Port Authority of Valencia arriving at Valencia Digital Summit. Image courtesy Valenciaport

The fourth edition of the Port Entrepreneurship International Congress (PEIC) concluded in Valencia, Spain, attracting more than 650 participants from the international maritime, port and logistics sectors, marking record attendance for the event.Organized by Opentop, Valenciaport's open innovation hub, the October 20–21 congress brought together startups, technology developers, port authorities, logistics companies and investors to explore emerging technologies and opportunities for collaboration.International participation accounted for 45% of attendees…

22 Oct 2026

Port of Los Angeles Reports Record Low Emissions

Image courtesy Port of Los Angeles

The Port of Los Angeles recorded its lowest emissions per container on record in 2025, continuing a two-decade decline in air pollution even as container throughput remained near historic highs.According to the port's newly released Inventory of Air Emissions, diesel particulate matter (DPM) emissions declined 2% in 2025 compared with 2024, while nitrogen oxides (NOx) fell 4%, sulfur oxides (SOx) decreased 5% and greenhouse gas emissions dropped 3%. The NOx reduction brought annual…

22 Oct 2026

LR, BPA Urge Ports to Prep for Maritime Nuclear Tech

Richard Ballantyne, Chief Executive at BPA. Image courtesy BPA

Ports should begin preparing for advanced nuclear technologies, including nuclear-powered ships, floating power plants and small modular reactors (SMRs), according to a joint report from Lloyd's Register (LR) and the British Ports Association (BPA).The report, Advanced Nuclear Technology Use Within Port Environments, examines how nuclear technology could support growing port energy requirements while creating opportunities in shipbuilding, vessel maintenance, industrial power…

22 Oct 2026

IFM Investors Fund to Acquire Majority Stake in Associated British Ports

(Credit:  Associated British Ports - ABP)

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) and OMERS have agreed to sell their combined 63.9% stake in Associated British Ports (ABP) to a fund managed by IFM Investors, in a deal expected to close in the first half of 2027.Under the agreement announced on October 21, CPP Investments will sell its entire 33.9% holding, while OMERS will dispose of its 30% stake in the UK ports operator.IFM Investors is a global asset manager, founded and owned by Australian pension funds and the UK pension fund…

21 Oct 2026

Houston Ship Channel Cargo Volumes Rise as Exports, Steel Imports Surge

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Trade activity across the Houston Ship Channel region continued to expand in August and September 2026, with strong growth in foreign cargo exports, vessel traffic, container throughput and steel imports, according to Port Houston's latest Monthly Trade & Market Report.The Houston Ship Channel region handled 22.3 million short tons of foreign cargo in August, an 18% increase from 18.9 million tons in August 2025. Exports drove the growth, rising 24% to 17.8 million tons, while imports remained essentially unchanged at 4.55 million tons.Through the first eight months of 2026…

19 Oct 2026

From Ports to Power Plants: Decision Intel Transforms Critical Infrastructure

Ā© enanuchit/AdobeStock

Critical infrastructure has never been more connected. Across ports, energy networks and industrial facilities, operators have access to unprecedented volumes of operational data generated by sensors, surveillance systems, satellite imagery, connected equipment and digital monitoring platforms. Every day, these technologies provide valuable insights into the performance, condition and security of critical assets. Yet despite this growing visibility, one challenge continues to persist.The problem is no longer collecting operational data.

19 Oct 2026

Rheinmetall, MSC Take Over Romania’s Mangalia Shipyard in $155M Deal

Ā© ferkelraggae / Adobe Stock

German defense contractor Rheinmetall and Swiss shipping company MSC have won an auction to acquire Romania's Mangalia shipyard for approximately $155 million (€138 million), with plans to develop the facility for both commercial and military shipbuilding.The acquisition, expected to be completed within a few weeks, will be jointly funded by the two companies, Rheinmetall said.The shipyard, located south of Constanța, will be developed into a dual-use facility serving domestic and international markets…

15 Oct 2026

Inside Iran's Precision Strikes on Port, Energy Infrastructure

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Iran and its proxies have carried out dozens of pinpoint strikes on infrastructure in the Gulf since the start of the war, systematically disabling critical equipment and causing cascading failures and economic damage region-wide in a deft campaign that helps explain how the Islamic Republic has held its own against the more powerful US military.Iran and the allies it arms went after vital oil-routing systems at Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, the main port outside the Strait of Hormuz, disabling operations for weeks.

14 Oct 2026

Most Efficient Inland Port System Named

Image courtesy St. Louis Regional Freightway

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 the efficiency of each of the three higher-volume inland port districts.ā€œMaintaining…

14 Oct 2026

Partnership Aims to Advance Bio-LNG as Marine Fuel

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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…

14 Oct 2026

NYK-Led Consortium Develops Floating Data Center Concept for Ports

Image courtesy NYK

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, envisions floating data centers moored alongside existing port quays, leveraging…

08 Oct 2026

By the Numbers: LR2 Demand Grows

Image courtesy BIMCO

"During the first nine months of 2026, clean product volumes loaded on LR2 tankers fell 28% year-on-year following disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the lower volumes, tonne-mile demand increased 2% year-on-year,ā€ says Niels Rasmussen, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.LR2 product tankers loaded on average 2.1 million barrels per day (mbpd) of clean products during the first three quarters of 2026, 0.8 mbpd less than in the same period of 2025. In 2025, more than 40% of clean product volumes carried by LR2s were loaded in the Persian Gulf, equivalent to 1.2 mbpd.

30 Sep 2026

Casablanca Port Gets Africa’s First Liebherr LPS Crane

(Credit: Liebherr)

Marsa Maroc has selected a Liebherr LPS 550 portal slewing crane for bulk cargo operations at the Port of Casablanca, marking the first deployment of Liebherr's LPS crane series in Africa.The rail-mounted crane, which is set to enter service at the Moroccan port, features an electric drive and a 48-metre boom. Its portal design allows cargo operations while preserving space along the quay.The order expands Marsa Maroc's fleet of Liebherr equipment following the delivery of three…

05 Oct 2026

Liberty Global Logistics, Hyundai Glovis Study Nuclear-Powered PCTCs

Kim Tae-Woo, Hyundai Glovis Co., Ltd, David Minetti, Liberty Global Logistics LLC. Photo courtesy LGL

Liberty Global Logistics (LGL) and Hyundai Glovis signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to evaluate the feasibility of developing and operating a small modular reactor (SMR)-powered Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC), initially targeting service between the United States and South Korea.The MoU moves the nuclear-powered ship project beyond conceptual design toward examining the regulatory, infrastructure, technical and commercial hurdles required for actual operation. LGL will evaluate the U.S.

01 Oct 2026

Höegh Evi, PETROS to Develop Kuching LNG Terminal in Malaysia

(Credit: Hƶegh Evi)

Höegh Evi and Petroleum Sarawak (PETROS) have agreed to jointly develop, own and operate a proposed LNG import terminal in Kuching, Malaysia, targeting first gas by the end of 2029.The Kuching LNG Terminal will comprise a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), mooring infrastructure, subsea and onshore pipelines and onshore receiving facilities.The project will form part of the Kuching Low-Carbon development in Sarawak and supply natural gas for power generation in Kuching.

12 Oct 2026

Port of Gothenburg Quay Reinforcement Completed Successfully

The container terminal at the Port of Gothenburg. Photo: Port of Gothenburg.

Following more than two years of extensive work, the reinforcement of the south quay at the container terminal at the Port of Gothenburg has been completed on schedule and within budget. The Skandia Gateway project will now enter its next major phase, with blasting and dredging works closest to the quay commencing on October 13.Since spring 2024, NCC has carried out reinforcement works along the westernmost 700 meters of the container terminal’s south quay. The quay reinforcement is a central part of Skandia Gateway and is essential to deepening the area closest to the quay…

13 Oct 2026

Russia says it Hit Vessels Delivering Military Cargo to Ukraine

Ā© Adobe Stock/АлексанГр Мокшин

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, according to Russian defence ministry:In Kyiv and Kyiv region:A workshop at the Pulp Mill Print facility…

30 Sep 2026

Richard Hendrick Elected as American Association of Port Authorities Chairman

Ā© American Association of Port Authorities

Port of Albany-Rensselaer, NY CEO Richard J. Hendrick was unanimously elected Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) at its Annual Convention in New Orleans. AAPA represents more than 130 public port authorities in the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean and Latin America.This is the first time in more than 40 years that the AAPA Chairman has been elected from the North Atlantic Region. Hendrick will serve a two-year term in this role. Previously, he served the AAPA Board as Vice Chairman and as the representative of the North Atlantic Region.

02 Oct 2026

Singapore Ship Registry Marks 60 Years, Plans Digital Upgrade

The Singapore Registry of Ships (SRS) is marking its 60th anniversary with plans to modernize ship registration and accommodate a fleet increasingly adopting alternative fuels.Established in 1966, SRS has grown to more than 4,400 vessels. At the end of 2025, the registry reached a record 137 million gross tonnage (GT), up 27% year-on-year, making Singapore the world’s fourth-largest ship registry.The fleet averages approximately 11 years in age, making it the youngest among the world’s 10 largest registries…

05 Oct 2026

Reefer Ships: Resilient Link in the Cold Chain

Snow Flower, first of seven reeferships booked by Japanese interests from Kitanihon Shipbuilding for deployment by Cool Carriers. Image credit: Kitanihon Shipbuilding

Ongoing fleet renewal by niche player Cool Carriers indicates continuing competitiveness at scale of the specialized, pallet-optimized reefership.Not so long ago, it seemed that the unrelenting march of containerization and ever-widening influence of the powerful ocean container line entities would finally usurp the conventional, breakbulk refrigerated cargo vessel. However, Limassol, Cyprus-headquartered Cool Carriers, the largest operator in the sector, displays remarkable resilience…