Us News
Nordic Takes Deliver of MacGregor’s New Electric Heavy Lift Crane

MacGregor has delivered its new type of SWL 250t electric heavy lift cranes to Nordic from Huanghai Shipbuilding.The next-generation heavy lift crane combines MacGregor and NMF’s experience in the heavy lift industry.The crane is designed to enhance operational efficiency while significantly reducing emissions, energy consumption, and maintenance costs.It will be installed on the vessel Amy, set to play a key role in a project cargo market.By leveraging MacGregor’s advanced electric drive technology…
Manawanui Grounding Attributed to Series of Human Errors

Royal New Zealand Navy ship HMNZS Manawanui ran aground with 75 people on board in Samoa whilst conducting a hydrographic survey of a reef on October 5, 2024, and the final Court of Inquiry report has now been released.An interim Court of Inquiry, released less than two months following the incident, found the direct causes and some contributing factors of the grounding and sinking related to a series of human errors.In the final Court of Inquiry report, the Court found 12 factors that contributed to the grounding and sinking…
Pictures: The Moment Solong Hit Stena Immaculate

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has published a time line of the collision between the Portugal registered container ship Solong and the US registered oil/chemical tanker Stena Immaculate.The collision resulted in one fatality, 14 nautical miles north-east of Spurn Head at the entrance to the Humber Estuary, England, on March 10, 2025.On 27 February 2025, the Stena Immaculate departed Agioi Theodoroi, Greece, with a cargo of aviation fuel. The tanker was bound for Killingholme…
US, Chinese Military Officials Discuss Safety

U.S. and Chinese military officials met in Shanghai for a series of meetings which the U.S. military said on Thursday were focused on reducing unsafe actions by Chinese military ships and planes."Military officials from the U.S. traveled to Shanghai, China to meet for working-level talks focused on decreasing the incidences of unsafe and unprofessional PLA Navy and PLA Airforce actions," the U.S.
Danish PM Advocates for US partnership in Arctic Defense, Rejects Greenland Annexation

Denmark's Prime Minister on Thursday (April 3) advocated for enhanced Arctic defence collaboration with the United States during a visit to Nuuk, but firmly dismissed what she described as attempts by the U.S. to annex the semi-autonomous Danish territory.Frederiksen was speaking at a press conference with outgoing Greenlandic Prime Minister Mute Egede and incoming Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen onboard the Danish ocean patrol vessel “Vaedderen” moored in Nuuk harbour.“You cannot annex another country…
US Coast Guard Icebreaker Returns Home After Operation Deep Freeze Deployment

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star (WAGB 10) and crew returned to the United States, arriving in San Francisco Sunday, following a 128-day deployment to Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze (ODF) 2025.Polar Star completed its 28th voyage to Antarctica in support of the joint military service mission to resupply and maintain the United States Antarctic Stations. Every year, a joint total force team works together to complete a successful Operation Deep Freeze in support of the U.S.
Venture Global's Calcasieu Pass LNG Terminal Receives FERC Approval

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has granted approval to U.S. LNG developer Venture Global Inc to commence service on the remainder of the facilities at the Calcasieu Pass LNG Terminal in Louisiana, according to a filing on Thursday.Last week, U.S. LNG developer Venture Global had asked federal regulators for permission to begin operations at its entire Calcasieu Pass LNG export facility and TransCameron pipeline project, the final step before moving to commercial operations."Venture…
Mitsubishi May Consider Investing in Alaskan LNG, says CEO

Japanese trading house Mitsubishi Corp may consider investing in an LNG project in Alaska, though any decision will require careful review, Chief Executive Katsuya Nakanishi said on Thursday.An Alaskan delegation visited Japan last week to brief policymakers and meet possible backers of the $44 billion natural gas project in the U.S. state, which is part of President Donald Trump's push to boost U.S. gas exports."We have been approached and are considering it," Nakanishi told reporters when asked about possible participation in the Alaska LNG project."However…
Eureka Naval Craft, Greenroom Robotics Unveil Design for Autonomous Attack Vessel
US defense company Eureka Naval Craft and Australian marine autonomy specialist Greenroom Robotics are set to unveil what they describe as "the most advanced autonomous naval attack vessel ever designed" at the forthcoming Sea Air and Space Exhibition in Maryland, USA, April 6-9, 2025.The AIRCAT Bengal MC (“Module Carrier”) is a 36m multi-mission Surface Effect Ship (SES) and is being developed by Eureka and ESNA Naval Architects with autonomy and AI software supplied by Greenroom.Eureka Naval Craft CEO…
Global Trade War Worries Grow as Trump Unveils Sweeping Tariffs
The global economy is bracing for renewed turbulence following U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement on Wednesday of sweeping new tariffs, triggering fears of a global trade war and sparking immediate market and political reactions.According to the White House, the new measures include a 10% minimum tariff on most imported goods, with certain products - particularly those from major U.S. trade partners like China, South Korea, Japan, and the European Union - facing duties as high as 25%.
South Korea Makes Massive Drug Haul
South Korean authorities found about two tonnes of suspected cocaine on Wednesday on a ship docked at a port, the customs service said, in what appears to be the largest haul of smuggled drugs in the country's history.Korea Customs Service and Coast Guard found 57 boxes of the suspected drug on a bulk ship docked at Gangneung city port on the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, the customs service said in a statement.They searched the ship after receiving information from the U.S.
Metal Shark to Debut High-Speed USV at Sea-Air-Space 2025
Louisiana-based boat builder Metal Shark is set to debut its latest unmanned surface vessel at the upcoming Sea-Air-Space military symposium in National Harbor, Maryland, with three days of on-water demonstrations.Metal Shark’s new high speed maneuverable unmanned surface vessel (HSMUSV) is a 21-foot military craft specifically configured for unmanned, human-in-the-loop operation. It has been designed to offer the US Armed Forces and allies a low-cost multi-payload USV solution…
Panama Establishes Zero-Tolerance Policy for Misuse of its Flag
The Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) is implementing necessary measures to refine its merchant fleet to safeguard its reputation.Under Executive Decree No. 512, if the Directorate General of the Merchant Marine (DGGM) becomes aware that a vessel within Panama’s merchant fleet, or its owner, appears on one of the international sanctions’ lists referenced in this legal framework, a deregistration process is immediately initiated.Since its enactment, the decree has been applied to 125 vessels…
Trump's Tariffs Risk of Shipping Chaos
U.S. President Donald Trump's new tariff plan has the ocean shipping industry on edge as he stokes a trade war destined to stanch transport demand and send companies scrambling to manage the fallout.The Trump administration on Wednesday is set to announce "reciprocal tariffs" targeting nations that have duties on U.S. goods. That move would come after it slapped new import levies on products from Mexico, China and Canada - the top U.S. trading partners - as well as on goods including steel and autos.Major global container shipping firms like MSC…
Trump Announces at Least 10% Tariff on All Imports
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he would impose a 10% baseline tariff on all imports to the U.S. and higher duties on dozens of other countries, including some of the United States' biggest trading partners, deepening a trade war that he kicked off on his return to the White House.The sweeping duties would erect new barriers around the world's largest consumer economy, reversing decades of trade liberalization that have shaped the global order. Trading partners are…
Maersk Buys Panama Canal Railway Company
Canadian Pacific Kansas City said on Wednesday it and U.S.-based Lanco Group have sold the Panama Canal Railway Company to a unit of Denmark's Maersk, one of the world's largest container shipping groups.The Canadian railway company did not disclose terms of the deal, but added the deal would help it focus on its core assets in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.The acquisition "represents an attractive infrastructure investment in the region aligned to our core services of intermodal container movement…
South Korea Discovers Suspected Cocaine On Docked Ship
South Korean authorities found about one tonne of suspected cocaine on Wednesday on board a ship docked at a port, a customs service spokesperson said, in what appears to be the largest haul of smuggled drugs in the country's history.Korea Customs Service and Coast Guard found more than 50 boxes of suspected cocaine, each weighing roughly 20 kg, on a bulk ship docked at a port in Gangneung city on the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, the spokesperson said.They searched the ship after receiving information from the U.S.
Norwegian Authorities: Firm Issued Fake Insurance for Russian Oil Tankers
The insurance issued to dozens of ageing oil tankers used by Russia to skirt international sanctions was bogus, according to Norwegian authorities now investigating the small firm behind the forged documents.Norway-registered Romarine AS purported to be an insurance provider with a website listing dozens of tankers believed to be part of Russia's shadow fleet, including vessels under Western sanctions.However, the company was not registered as an insurance provider by Norway's Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA), the FSA said.Western nations have imposed sanctions on hundreds of ships they suspect Russia is using to avoid price cap restrictions on exports of crude oil and other cargoes.Such vessels are not regulated or covered by conventional Western insurers…
Maersk Expects Continued US growth, but Warns of Uncertainty
Danish shipping company Maersk has benefited from robust U.S. demand so far this year and expects that to continue, though the outlook could be clouded by U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff plans, it said on Wednesday.Maersk's regular global market outlook was published before Trump is expected to announce fresh tariffs later on Wednesday against nations that have duties on U.S. goods."U.S. growth is (the) main scenario, but volatile geopolitics cloud economic visibility," the…
BIMCO: Freight Container Rates Drop 28%, Worst First Quarter in Twenty Years
Average container freight rates for Chinese exports have dropped 28% since the start of the year, according to BIMCO. This posts the worst first quarter development in twenty years. Based on input from twenty-three liner operators, the China Containerized Freight Index (CCFI) reflects the general export freight rate level from ten major ports.The 28% fall reduced the CCFI from 1,548 at the beginning of the year to 1,112 at the end of the first quarter, not least due to a record high fall in spot freight rates.
Crowley to Install LNG-Fueled Microgrid at Puerto Rico Terminal
Crowley, the longest-serving U.S. logistics provider in Puerto Rico, is enhancing the resiliency of its Isla Grande logistics terminal in San Juan with the installation of a microgrid fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG).The innovative energy system will provide a reliable power supply tailored to support the terminal’s daily operations, such as powering its terminal equipment, refrigerated containers, and administrative and maintenance facilities.The microgrid will produce power that is more reliable…
MPCC, NCL, Elkem Christen Dual-Fuel Methanol Container Ship
MPC Container Ships (MPCC), in partnership with North Sea Container Line (NCL) and Elkem, have christened the NCL VESTLAND, the first of two dual-fuel 1,300 TEU newbuildings to be delivered in 2025The ceremony marks the start of the vessel’s service between Western, Central and Northern Norway and Rotterdam.The container feeder vessel is the first of two MPCC dual-fuel 1,300 TEU newbuildings to be delivered in 2025, and is also the first dual-fuel vessel in the MPCC fleet which enables operation on methanol.The vessels come with 15-year time charters to NCL…
China Carries Out Live Fire Drills Near Taiwan
China's military held long-range live-fire drills in the East China Sea on Wednesday in an escalation of ongoing drills around Taiwan, saying it was practicing precision strikes on port and energy facilities but with no details on the exact location.The exercises follow a rise in Chinese rhetoric against Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, who China called a "parasite" on Tuesday, and come on the heels of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's Asia visit, during which he repeatedly criticised Beijing.China…