BOEM Initiates Process for Potential Mineral Lease Sale Offshore Virginia
To advance President Trump’s national strategy for securing America’s critical mineral supply, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has initiated the process for a potential mineral lease sale in federal waters off the coast of Virginia. This action—only the third of its kind in over three decades—marks a step toward unlocking the vast mineral potential of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf and reinforcing…
Boston's Cathleen Stone Island Ferry Undergoes Refit
Boston Harbor's MV Outward Bound has returned to Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation for a mid-life refit. Redelivery is planned for spring 2026. Purpose-designed by JW Gilbert Associates and built by the Somerset, Mass., shipyard in 1995, the 64-foot, 140-passenger steel vessel carries visitors and supplies seasonally to Cathleen Stone Island Outward Bound, which offers experiential outdoor…
Oil Tankers Delayed up to 12 Days in Turkish Straits
Delays for oil tankers passing through the Turkish Straits have climbed to about 12 days for a round trip to the Black Sea, up from about seven days last week, as winter storms, heightened security risks and shorter daylight hours snarl traffic, traders said and Riverlake data in LSEG showed.The congestion, which last exceeded 12 days in February, is being compounded by intensified security checks…
Bulk Carrier on Fire After Russian Attack
A bulk carrier in Ukraine's Odesa region suffered damage and was on fire after a Russian attack on Friday, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.One of the sources said the vessel was in the port of Chornomorsk, one of Odesa region's three big Black Sea ports.Russia last week threatened to "cut Ukraine off from the sea" as retaliation for Kyiv's attacks with sea drones on unlicensed tankers heading to Russia to export its oil.It was not immediately clear whether the attack deliberate
China Expels Philippine Aircraft, Vessels in South China Sea
China said on Friday it had driven away a Philippine aircraft and multiple vessels near disputed atolls in South China Sea, in the latest in a series of confrontations in the strategic waterway in recent years.The Chinese military said it issued strong warnings and "expelled" a Philippine aircraft that "invaded" airspace above the Scarborough Shoal, without giving a date for the incident.China claims almost the entire South China Sea…
ABS Consulting Paper Supports USGC Maritime Cyber Compliance
ABSG Consulting Inc. (ABS Consulting), a leader in safety, risk and asset integrity management, has released a paper to support vessel and facility owners and operators in meeting compliance with the U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) Maritime Cyber Rule. This paper outlines practical steps to meet the first cybersecurity training deadline of January 12, 2026.Titled From Final Rule to Fully Trained: Practical Direction for Meeting the U.S.
Techcross Receives Cyber Security Type Approvals from Five Classification Societies
On December 8, Techcross received cyber security type approval from ABS and NK, becoming the first company in the industry to obtain cyber security type approvals from five major global classification societies.Both of Techcross's Ballast Water Management Systems (BWMS), ECS and HYCHLOR, meet the international cyber security standard IACS UR E27. Based on this compliance, the systems had previously secured cyber security type approvals from KR (Korea)…
Stena Surprise Tanker Reflagged In Sweden
Leading tanker shipping company Stena Bulk has announced that it has officially reflagged its Suezmax tanker Stena Surprise under the Swedish flag, marking a milestone for Swedish shipping. A ceremony was held on board the vessel in Nynäshamn, Sweden. Andreas Carlson, Minister for Infrastructure and Housing, attended to witness the hoisting of the Swedish flag.Built in 2012, Stena Surprise is the latest Suezmax tanker to join the Swedish Shipping Register…
ZINUS AS, SEAM AS to Deliver Cable Management System (CMS) to OMYA Hustadmarmor
ZINUS AS, has signed a new contract with the Norwegian system integrator, SEAM AS, for the delivery of a complete Cable Management System (CMS) to the OMYA Hustadmarmor project.The project represents a milestone for both ZINUS and SEAM, as the ZINUS charging towers, combined with the e-SEAMatic BLUE hybrid solution and 23.5 MW battery system from SEAM, will serve the world’s first fully electric bulk carrier.
Jumbo Scoops Two Offshore Wind Contracts
Jumbo Offshore has signed two contracts for the Transport and Installation (T&I) of Transition Pieces (TPs) for an upcoming offshore wind farm development.Jumbo Offshore will install the TPs using one of its two DP2 heavy-lift vessels during the project campaigns.In addition to T&I, the awarded scope includes full management and operation of the marshalling yard.This includes responsibility for receiving the TPs from the transport vessel at the quayside…
Wood Nets Long-Term Maintenance Contract for Rio Grande LNG Facility
Scottish engineering and consultancy firm Wood has secured a ten-year contract with NextDecade to deliver maintenance solutions at Rio Grande LNG, a major natural gas liquefaction and export facility under development near Brownsville in Texas.Wood will provide comprehensive maintenance services to support operations at the approximately 1,000-acre site.NextDecade expects the liquefaction and export…
Shipping Majors to Study Methanol Fuel Supply Chain on US Gulf Coast
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Japan’s ENEOS, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) and SEACOR Holdings have launched a joint study to develop a commercial methanol marine fuel supply network along the U.S. Gulf Coast.The study aims to establish the first large-scale ship-to-ship methanol bunkering operations in the United States, as the global shipping industry looks for practical pathways…
Solstad Sells Normand Clipper CSV to Global Maritime Group
Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Maritime has sold its Normand Clipper construction support vessel (CSV) to Global Maritime Group.Global Maritime Group, the current charterer of the vessel, declared the purchase option for the Normand Clipper, with the deliver of set to take lace at the end of the firm contract period on June 1, 2026.The vessel has supported Global Marine Group’s worldwide cable…
IMO Challenged Over Livestock Carrier Regulations
A global network of 36 animal welfare and protection organizations around the world has issued an urgent call to the IMO to introduce binding international regulations for livestock carriers, warning that the ageing fleet poses serious and escalating risks to human life, animal welfare, public health, and the marine environment.In an open letter sent to the IMO Secretary-General, the organizations outlined systemic safety failures across the global live export shipping fleet…
BIMCO Adopts FuelEU Maritime and ETS Clauses for S&P
The Documentary Committee of BIMCO has adopted a FuelEU Maritime Clause and an ETS Clause for incorporation into Memoranda of Agreements (MoAs) for the sale and purchase of ships.The FuelEU Maritime Regulation and the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) impact the sale and purchase of ships, and the clauses have been developed to help provide certainty for both parties during the process.“Regulations such as the FuelEU Maritime and EU ETS are complex and reshape our industry.
Real Zero, Not Just for Australia
The December issue of Maritime Reporter magazine includes a feature story on Australian mining company Fortescue’s pioneering ammonia fuel trial on the platform supply vessel Green Pioneer.The Green Pioneer was named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025.The conversion journey of its diesel-electric power system to dual-fuel ammonia started in 2022, on land, when Fortescue converted a four-stroke Cummins…
US Administration Targets President Maduro's Family with New Sanctions
The United States on Thursday issued new sanctions targeting Venezuela, imposing curbs on three nephews of President Nicolas Maduro's wife, as well as six crude oil tankers and shipping companies linked to them, as Washington ramps up pressure on Caracas.The action came as the U.S. executes a large-scale military buildup in the southern Caribbean and as U.S. President Donald Trump campaigns for Maduro's ouster. On Wednesday, Trump said the U.S.
US Prepares to Seize Additional Tankers Off Venezuela's Coast
The U.S. is preparing to intercept more ships transporting Venezuelan oil following the seizure of a tanker this week, as it increases pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, six sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday.The seizure was the first interdiction of an oil cargo or tanker from Venezuela, which has been under U.S. sanctions since 2019. It came as the U.S. executes a large-scale military buildup in the southern Caribbean and as U.S.
HII USV Reaches 30% Completion, On Track for 2026 Sea Trials
HII executives toured Breaux Brothers Enterprises in Loreauville, Louisiana, and announced that construction of a prototype of ROMULUS, the company’s new unmanned surface vessel (USV) family, has reached 30% completion. The vessel remains on schedule for sea trials in the fourth quarter of 2026.During the visit, HII leaders toured the shipyard with build partners Breaux Brothers and Incat Crowther…
Oil Prices Fall as Focus Shifts to Ukraine Peace Talks
Oil prices fell more than $1 on Thursday as investors shifted focus back to Russia-Ukraine peace talks and monitored potential fallout from a U.S. seizure of a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela.Brent crude futures were down $1.1, or 1.8%, at $61.11 a barrel at 1408 GMT, hovering near the lowest since Oct. 21.U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude fell $1.07, also around 1.8%, to $57.39 a barrel…
