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Saturday, October 31, 2026

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30 Oct 2026

Oil Leak Stopped From Tanker Offshore UAE, Clean Up Efforts Continue

Illustration © Yellow Boat / Adobe Stock

The United Arab Emirates said on Friday that an oil leak from the Gem No. 2 tanker had been stopped, with no new leakage detected, as cleanup operations continued along coastlines affected by the spill.The oil slick is concentrated off the northern emirate of Umm Al Quwain and extends partly towards coastal areas in the neighbouring northern emirates of Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman and Sharjah, state news agency WAM reported, citing the environment ministry.

30 Oct 2026

TOTE Services Selects Hanwha Defense USA for Medium Landing Ship Program

© TOTE Services

TOTE Services, LLC, a U.S. maritime services company specializing in vessel construction management and ship management, announced its first shipyard selection, Hanwha Defense USA (HDUS), for the Medium Landing Ship (LSM) program under TOTE Services’ Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) contract for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.As VCM for the LSM program, TOTE Services issued a request for proposals (RFP) to qualified U.S. shipyards in July 2026. The award covers construction of one LSM, valued at $269 million, at Hanwha Philly Shipyard (HPSI), with options for three additional vessels.

30 Oct 2026

Corn Belt Ports See Notable Freight Tonnage Growth in 2026

© Corn Belt Ports

In the most recent annual report released by the U.S. Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center, two Corn Belt Ports regions took top honors for showing some of the highest growth rates in the inland waterway port system. The Mid-America Port Commission (IL, MO, IA), established in 1999, was ranked as the 40th largest port in the U.S., and saw a 15.2% growth in freight tonnage during the 2024 reporting year (published 2026). This is the highest growth rate for any large (Top 50) U.S.

30 Oct 2026

French Navy Orders 16 Heavy-Duty Tugboats from Piriou

Rendering RP30NG © PIRIOU

French shipbuilder Piriou has secured a contract from France's Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) for 16 new-generation RP30NG tugboats designed to support French Navy port operations, including maneuvers involving nuclear submarines and major surface combatants.The vessels, derived from Piriou's civilian tugboat range and adapted for military requirements, will also undertake firefighting, pollution response, maritime surveillance, fisheries inspection and assistance missions.Designed to operate up to 200 nautical miles offshore for several days…

29 Oct 2026

Gulf Oil Producers Build Tanker Fleet as Security Risks Mount Around Hormuz

Three tankers carrying russian diesel to the U.S. © Windward

Gulf oil producers are assembling a fleet of nearly 230 tankers to maintain crude exports through the Strait of Hormuz despite heightened security risks and reluctance among independent shipowners to operate in the region, according to a weekly intelligence report from Windward Maritime dated October 29.The report identifies five maritime developments, including changes to Gulf oil transportation, an oil spill threatening infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates, suspicious movements near subsea communications cables…

29 Oct 2026

FMD: Solving the Navy’s Tough Problems

The quest to rebuild the U.S maritime manufacturing infrastructure and the U.S. Navy in tandem is not for the faint of heart, as the process will be neither short nor cheap. But stepping up for the challenge are companies like Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD), and company under the guidance of CEO George Whittier has evolved to become a multi-faceted supplier and partner to the U.S. Navy and navies around the world, building an empire of capability in new equipment supply, but equally important on wholistic repair and maintenance.

29 Oct 2026

QatarEnergy Purchases Long-Term LNG Supplies In Case of Future Hormuz Disruptions

© MSM - stock.adobe.com

QatarEnergy is buying long-term supplies of liquefied natural gas from the US and other producers as part of a trading strategy designed to generate revenue if exports through the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted in the future, CEO Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi told Reuters on Thursday."In a scenario where you have a closure of the strait, which is the true contingency that we're looking to have, you'd immediately see a spike in gas price and you'll be able to generate revenue for QatarEnergy that otherwise wouldn't be generated…

29 Oct 2026

Dockworkers Strike Against Arms Shipments at More Than 100 Ports Globally

© Adobe Stock/mangpink_s

Dockworkers in 22 countries will strike on Friday, protesting against war and the use of ports for arms exports in action organisers say could disrupt over 40% of Mediterranean cargo and snarl over $2 billion worth of freight.The strike, originally called by dockworkers' unions in Italy, France, Greece, Spain's Basque Country, Turkey and Morocco, is now backed by more than 25 unions in 113 ports.The protest is expected to target major shipping hubs across Europe and beyond, including Hamburg…

29 Oct 2026

Subsea Vessel Market: Shifting Dynamics + Fleet Expansion

© NickEyes

We are entering in interesting period in the subsea vessel market, as contract backlog among the EPCs continue to rise to new all-time highs, existing long-term contracts are coming up for renewals, and a wave of newbuilds are closing in on delivery. On the top end, the market dynamics are changing as the Tier 1 EPC landscape is consolidating, while the fleet is expected to see a net growth of more than 20% in the coming two years.The still pending merger between Saipem and Subsea 7 is getting closer, with now only the European Commission’s Phase II review outstanding at the time of writing.

28 Oct 2026

MARAD Approves Deepwater Port License for $8.2b LNG Project

© Adobe Stock/16th

The Maritime Administration has approved a deepwater port license application for the $8.2 billion ST LNG project, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Wednesday.The project could further expand US liquefied natural gas export capacity. President Donald Trump's administration has promised to ease permitting in a bid to speed up energy infrastructure development.The ST LNG deepwater port, set to be built about 10.4 miles (16.7 km) offshore Matagorda, Texas, will include four 2.1 million tonnes per annum liquefaction plants for a combined production capacity of 8.4 mtpa…

28 Oct 2026

European Natural Gas Reaches €100 For First Time Since 2022

© Adobe Stock/Paweł Michałowski

Europe's benchmark natural gas contract briefly touched €100 per megawatt hour (MWh) on Wednesday as disruptions to Middle East shipping of liquefied natural gas keep supply tight ahead of winter and consumers and industry feel the pinch from high energy prices.Prices have been rising to 2022 highs as the conflict in the Middle East has escalated, and are now trading at around triple pre-Iran war levels.The US-led war on Iran has raised costs for oil, transport fuels, gas, electricity and food.

28 Oct 2026

Russia Issues First Grain Export Permits From Sea of Azov Since July

© Adobe Stock/valdisskudre

Russian authorities have issued permits for vessels carrying grain for export to leave the Sea of Azov for the first time since July 10, when they closed maritime traffic in the area due to Ukrainian drone attacks, seven industry sources told Reuters.The sources said permits to pass through the Kerch Strait, which links the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, would be issued for a period through November 15. Two of the sources said the vessels would be accompanied through the Black…

28 Oct 2026

AAPA Congratulates Recipients of $498m MARAD Port Development Grants

© Adobe Stock/Sergey Novikov

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) congratulates the 35 award recipients of the Maritime Administration's (MARAD) Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grants from the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) application cycle.This year, the mainstay port industry grant program, administered by MARAD under the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), will invest $498 million to upgrade America’s ports in 19 states. A few project examples funded by this round of awards include:Relocation…

28 Oct 2026

Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbos Receives $11.2m to Modernize Cargo Handling

© Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor

Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor has been awarded $11.2 million through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD) Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) to modernize its cargo handling, including the specialized equipment needed to support future international container service. The grant is part of a $498 million investment to modernize 35 port projects across 19 states and strengthen America’s supply chains.The Burns Harbor Container Handling Modernization Project will fund a mobile harbor crane…

28 Oct 2026

Shipsonic Appoints Anne Marie van Swinderen as New CEO

© Shipsonic

Shipsonic, a producer of ultrasonic antifouling systems operating from the Province of Zeeland, has appointed Anne Marie van Swinderen as its new CEO. The appointment, effective October 2026, comes at a time when interest in ultrasonic antifouling technology from the maritime sector is growing. Van Swinderen has previously founded five companies, three of which were transferred through a management buy-out, and she still owns one of these companies. Moreover, she has been involved…

28 Oct 2026

Damaged Tanker Leaks Oil Across UAE Waters as Spill Widens

Illustration © Yellow Boat / Adobe Stock

An oil spill from a damaged tanker off the coast of the United Arab Emirates has widened, satellite images showed, triggering more beach closures and raising environmental concerns.Images from the European Union's Copernicus satellite observation network dated October 24 show the oil spill has widened over the last few days and is reaching close to the shores of the northern Umm Al Quwain emirate, with dark layers of oil spreading at sea and along its coastline.Since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran…

28 Oct 2026

CACI Hooks $145M US Navy Deal for Advanced Maritime Systems


© Grispb / Adobe Stock

National security technology company CACI International has secured a four-year task order worth up to $145 million to develop and integrate advanced maritime technologies for the U.S. Navy, including autonomous systems, maritime sensors and next-generation naval platforms.The contract, awarded to support the Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division (NSWCCD), will focus on developing technologies aimed at improving fleet readiness and operational flexibility.Under the agreement…

28 Oct 2026

Fairbanks Morse Defense Wins $100m Contract to Ensure Attack, Missile Submarine Availability

© FMD

Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD), a portfolio company of Arcline Investment Management, was awarded a $99.09 million contract to ensure the availability of U.S. attack submarines (SSNs) and ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) into the 2030s by enacting critical life extension services. Under a Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) contract, FMD will provide repair, parts and labor through 2030 for Emergency Diesel Generator (EDG) overhauls on six nuclear submarines. This follow-on, sole-source award comes as the U.S.

27 Oct 2026

Oil Prices Fall Amidst Middle East Peace Talks

© Adobe Stock/vadish

Oil futures fell on Tuesday as attention turned to Middle East peace talks, though prices remain near multi-month highs as the Houthi-Saudi Arabia conflict rages and the potential for fresh US-Israeli attacks hangs over the market.Brent crude futures were down $1.00, or 0.86%, at $114.81 a barrel by 1311 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude was down 78 cents, or 0.77%, at $100.98.Iranian Security Council chief Mohsen Rezaei on Tuesday met Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei a day after holding talks with representatives of Saudi Arabia…

27 Oct 2026

Gulf Markets Rise in Wake of Saudi Defense Pact

© Adobe Stock/namning

Most Gulf bourses ended higher on Tuesday as diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the Middle East conflict gathered pace, a day after Saudi, Turkish and Pakistani officials held talks in Tehran. It was the first high-level contact between Iran and the three allies, who signed a mutual defence pact in August, since the US-Israeli strikes on Iran triggered a war that spread to Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Saudi Arabia's benchmark index advanced 2.3%, led by a 2.8% jump in Al Rajhi Bank, while First Milling Company soared 9.9% after the flour miller reported a steep rise in quarterly profit.

26 Oct 2026

Middle East Officials Meet Discuss Deescalation Amidst Continued Houthi Attacks

© mykhailo - stock.adobe.com

Top officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan met Iranian officials in Tehran on Monday in a bid to de-escalate the Middle East conflict, as Yemen's Houthis launched new attacks on Saudi Arabia and Egypt approved defence support for the Gulf kingdom.The talks were the first high-level contact between Iran and the three nations — which signed the Mecca mutual defence pact in August — since a war that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran also spread to Saudi Arabia and…

26 Oct 2026

Oil Prices Fall Amidst Hopes of Easing US-Iran Hostilities

© Adobe Stock/chakisatelier

Oil prices fell $2 a barrel on Monday amid hopes of easing hostilities between the United States and Iran, but persistent attacks on key producer Saudi Arabia kept investors wary and prices near six-month highs.Brent crude futures were down $2.03, or 1.7%, at $114.70 at 10:37 a.m. ET (1437 GMT), while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down $2.60, or 2.5%, at $100.71 per barrel.On Friday, prices settled more than $3 higher, with Brent finishing the week up 6% and WTI ending the week 2.3% higher."With the jeopardy doubled by Houthi attacks into Saudi…

23 Oct 2026

Brent Crude Prices Reach Five-Month High Amidst Continued Houthi Attacks, UAE Oil Spill

© Adobe Stock/Аня Крамарова

Oil prices rose on Friday, with Brent crude touching its highest since early May, after Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia stoked concern over further disruption to energy supplies from the Middle East where UAE authorities also reported an oil spill.Brent crude futures gained $1.71, or 1.5%, to $114.99 a barrel by 1300 GMT, having earlier reached $115.16, the highest level since May 4. US West Texas Intermediate crude gained $1.80, or 1.8%, to $101.27.The Brent benchmark is on track for a 4.4% weekly rise…