Sail Freight: Fair Winds or Grassroot Sustainability?

Climate change advocates and seafarers recently gathered for a small conference at the Hudson Valley Maritime Museum in Kingston, N.Y., to discuss the shipping industry’s struggle to achieve sustainability and environmental compliance.The setting, the hamlet of Rondout, N.Y. (within Kingston), holds significance as it was, ironically, a Hudson River port once considered the largest coal port in the world (yes, the world).
US Kicks Off Unmanned & AI Systems Integration Event in Bahrain

U.S. 5th Fleet began a three-week unmanned and artificial intelligence integration event in Bahrain, Nov. 23, that will involve employing new platforms in the region for the first time.The event, called Digital Horizon, will advance the command’s efforts to integrate new unmanned technologies while establishing the world’s first unmanned surface vessel fleet by end of next summer. U.S. 5th Fleet’s efforts are focused on improving what U.S.
ABS Publishes Detailed Requirements for Composite Repairs
The ABS Requirements for Bonded and Composite Repairs of Steel Structures and Piping is the latest in a portfolio of technical requirements from the classification…
Russia's Tanker Fleet Too Small to Bypass Oil Price Cap

Russia's oil tanker fleet is too small to fully circumvent a plan by the European Union, G7 countries and Australia to enforce a price cap on its maritime crude exports starting on Dec. 5, analysts and market watchers say.The amount Russia would be unable to export is expected to increase when EU sanctions on Russian refined product shipments take effect on Feb. 5.In all the shortfall could mean Russia halts exports of around 1 million barrels per day (bpd)…
Cobham Satcom Unveils Ku-Ka Dual Band VSAT Antenna

Cobham Satcom, a provider of radio and satellite communications solutions to the maritime and land mobile sectors, has unveiled Sea Tel 1500, a 1.5-meter dual-band, multi-orbit VSAT antenna solution.Available in single Ku- or Ka-band, or as a ‘two antennas in one’ dual Ku-Ka-band configuration, the Sea Tel 1500 enables vessels to seamlessly switch from Ku- to Ka-band in a simple click. In a world of communication technology transition marked by the emergence of new satellite constellations…
Baltic Dry Index Snaps Nine-day Losing Streak

The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index rose on Wednesday for the first time in ten sessions, helped by an uptick in capesize rates.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels carrying dry bulk commodities, added 35 points, or about 3%, to 1,184.The capesize index added 127 points, or 11.6%, to hit its highest in a week at 1,219.Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 150,000-tonne cargoes of coal and steel-making
Debris Analysis Shows Iran-made Drone Attacked Tanker, US Navy Says

The U.S. military on Tuesday said debris analysis has concluded that the same type of Iranian drone that Tehran has supplied to Russia for its invasion of Ukraine was used to attack a commercial tanker off the coast of Oman a week ago.The U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet published photos and details of its investigation into the attack on the Liberian-flagged Pacific Zircon tanker, including debris from the Shahed-136 drone itself.In a statement…
Xeneta Sees Storm Clouds Gathering for 2023

After over two years of rising rates and overstretched capacity, the rapidly cooling ocean freight market looks set for an “extremely challenging” 2023, according to Oslo-based Xeneta. An in-depth analysis of the latest real-time ocean and air freight rates, combined with expert trend forecasts, suggests that ocean cargo volumes could fall by up to 2.5%, rates will drop “significantly” and weak demand will force increased idling of vessels.
Höegh Autoliners Excercises Option to Buy Höegh Trapper

Höegh Autoliners said it has exercised its option to purchase the 2016-buil car carrier Höegh Trapper for a price of $53. million.The purchase price is considered a bargain as the average market value of the vessel estimated by three different brokers was $96 million by the end of Q3.“Höegh Trapper is the fourth bareboat chartered vessel where we declare a purchase option in 2022. By taking direct ownership of the vessel…
Techcross’ BWMS Get LR Cyber Security Certificate

Techcross’ ballast water management systems have received Lloyd's Register's Cyber Security Capability certification.The company said that the two models that received the certificate are ECS, direct electrolysis and HYCHLOR, indirect electrolysis.According to, LR Classification that Techcross is the first company to receive the Cyber Security Capability certification in the BWMS industry and Asia.