Saudi Arabian Company Abandons Crew Across Multiple Vessels
![(Photo: International Transport Workers’ Federation)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-international-transport-workers-federation-148092.png)
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) said it has received many reports about withheld pay from individual seafarers working on eight Bahrain-registered vessels owned by Saudi Arabian company Hadi H Al Hamman Establishment. The company, which lists Saudi Aramco among its customers and was buying brand new ships as recently as 2018, has not paid seafarers for more than five months in some cases, the ITF said.
New Stern Trawler Delivered to DFFU
![(Photo: Vard)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-vard-148091.jpg)
A new stern trawler has been delivered to Deutsche Fischfang-Union GMbB & Co KG (DFFU) from Vard Brattvaag.The vessel, named Berlin, was developed by VARD in close cooperation with DFFU, based on the VARD 8 03 trawler design developed by Vard Design in Ålesund.Baldvin Thorsteinsson and Samuel Rodriguez, Managing Directors at DFFU said, "The delivery of Berlin is pivotal for DFFU, and VARD has done an excellent job.
DHT Orders Four VLCCs
![© Antony / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/antony-adobe-stock-148090.jpeg)
DHT Holdings announced it has entered into agreements to build four very large crude carriers (VLCC) in South Korea for delivery between April and December 2026.Two of the large tankers will be constructed at Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries and the other two at Hanwha Ocean (formerly known as Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering), for an average price of $128.5 million. The contracts include options…
German Warship Shoots Down Two Drones in the Red Sea
![(Photo: Yvonne Albert, courtesy Bundeswehr / Leon Rodewald)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-yvonne-albert-courtesy-bundeswehr-148089.jpg)
A German warship shot down two drones in the Red Sea on Tuesday amid escalating attacks by Yemen's Houthis and efforts by the European Union to protect international shipping, German officials said.Shipping risks have increased due to repeated strikes by the Iran-aligned Houthis in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait since November in what they describe as acts of solidarity with Palestinians against Israel in the Gaza war.U.S.
First of 10 Newbuilds Delivered for FureBear JV
![Fure Vanguard (Photo: Furetank)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/fure-vanguard-photo-furetank-148085.jpg.jfif)
The first vessel in a series of 10 newbuilds has been delivered to FureBear, a 50/50 joint venture between Sweden's Furetank and Canada's Algoma Central Corporation.Fure Vanguard is a dual-fuel ice class 1A 17,999 DWT product tanker built by China Merchants Jinling Shipyard in Yangzhou, China.The FureBear JV was formed in 2022 with an initial order for four ships. Later that year, the partners placed an order for four additional vessels, and in 2023 they ordered two more ships.
Kraken Robotics Delivers Minehunting Systems to Royal Danish Navy
![Kraken KATFISH on MSF drone vessels (Credit: Kraken Robotics)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/kraken-katfish-on-msf-drone-148080.jpg)
Canadian company Kraken Robotics has completed deliveries and sea acceptance tests of all systems for its minehunting sonar equipment under the contract with Royal Danish Navy.The contract was signed in September 2020, following a competitive bidding process. Under the contract with the Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organization (DALO), Kraken has delivered four complete turnkey minehunting systems.Each system consists of a KATFISH towed Synthetic Aperture Sonar…
Shipshave’s ITCH Put to the Test
![Testing of the ITCH has demonstrated it safeguards the integrity of hull coatings. Image: Shipshave](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/testing-of-the-itch-has-148078.jpg)
Independent laboratory testing reportedly confirmed there is no decrease in the thickness of hull coatings from the use of Shipshave’s In-Transit Cleaning of Hulls (ITCH) solution, according to the company.The Endures laboratory in the Netherlands was enlisted by Norwegian technology developer Shipshave to perform tests to investigate the impact on the thickness and roughness of anti-fouling coatings…
NAPA Studio aims to help Blaze Maritime's Digital Path
NAPA introduced NAPA Studios, an initiative designed to foster cross-industry partnerships to deliver new data-driven solutions and insights on some of the most imminent ship design…
ABL on Tow Job for Mero 3 FPSO’s Voyage to Brazil
![(Credit: ABL Group)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/credit-abl-group-148072.jpg)
Energy and marine consultancy ABL Group has secured a contract by POSH Projects to act as tow master to support and supervise the towage of the Mero 3 FPSO from Yantai in China to Brazilian waters.As part of its scope of work, ABL’s operations in Singapore will provide a tow master to act as client representative throughout the 12,108 nautical mile towage.The tow master will supervise and ensure that…
ClassNK Greenlights Multi-Functional Floating Wind Support Vessel Design
![MFSV for floating wind farms (Credit: K Line Wind Service)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/mfsv-for-floating-wind-farms-148071.jpg)
ClassNK has awarded an approval in principle (AiP) for the design of a multi-functional floating offshore wind farm support vessel (MFSV) developed by K Line Wind Service, together with Japan Marine United Corporation, and Nihon Shipyard.The MFSV is designed to perform full moorings work scope for the installation of floating offshore wind turbines, including transportation, deployment and anchor tensioning of the mooring system.According to the companies…
ABB to Deliver Shore Connection Solution for Portsmouth International Port
![Portsmouth International Port (Credit: ABB)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/portsmouth-international-port-credit-abb-148069.jpg)
ABB has secured an order with Portsmouth International Port to supply a shore connection solution for visiting ferries and cruise ships as part of the UK port’s Sea Change project.Shore connection allows visiting ferries and cruise ships to avoid emissions by connecting to the shoreside electrical grid while in port, supporting the Portsmouth’s port aim to be the first in the UK to be zero emissions by 2030.The initiative is part of the port’s Sea Change project to design…
Esvagt Enters South Korea’s Offshore Wind Market
![(Credit: Esvagt)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/credit-esvagt-148068.jpg)
Danish vessel owner Esvagt and South Korea-based shipping company KMC Line have formed strategic partnership to cooperate on offshore wind opportunities in the East Asian country.A new collaboration between Esvagt and KMC Line, formalized through the signing of the letter of intent, is aiming to unlock the considerable potential in South Korean offshore wind industry.Combining the two shipping companies'…
FMC Updates Controlled Carrier List
![Source: Hede (HONGKONG) International Shipping Limited](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/source-hede-hongkong-international-shipping-148063.png)
Hede (HONGKONG) International Shipping Limited has been classified by the US Federal Maritime Commission as a controlled carrier of the Government of the People’s Republic of China and added to the agency’s Controlled Carrier List.The Controlled Carrier List was further revised by removing COSCO Shipping Lines (Europe) GmbH, which has ceased serving the US trades and has cancelled its tariff. Other…
Japan Continues to Lead Shipowner Rankings
![© Carabay / Adobe Stock](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/carabay-adobe-stock-148062.jpeg)
VesselsValue has unveils this year’s top 10 shipowning nations, reviewing the total asset values for vessels by beneficial owner country. From Japan's resolute leadership in the top position with a USD 206.3 billion fleet to the emergence of Hong Kong at USD 44.7 billion, asset values and ownership strategies have changed considerably over the last 12 months, says Rebecca Galanopoulos-Jones, Senior Content Analyst…
Woodside and Kogas Agree LNG Supply Deal
![Source: Kogas](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/source-kogas-148061.jpg)
Woodside has signed a sale and purchase agreement (SPA) with Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) for the long-term supply of LNG to Korea.The SPA provides for the supply of approximately 0.5 million tonnes per annum of LNG for a period of 10.5 years on a delivered basis, commencing in 2026 subject to customary conditions precedent.LNG delivered to KOGAS under the SPA will be sourced from uncommitted volumes across Woodside’s global portfolio, including the Scarborough Energy Project which is targeting
Record Year for Wind Farms Raises Hope for EU Goals
![Source: WindEurope](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/source-windeurope-148060.jpg)
A record year for building new wind farms and a rebound in investments in the sector have raised hopes that the EU may achieve its clean energy targets, industry group WindEurope said on Wednesday.In an annual report, WindEurope described 2023 as a year of "significant improvements" in key areas of Europe's wind energy sector, which struggled in 2022 with soaring inflation, interest rates and volatile…
Centerline Logistics Acquires Tugs and Barges from JMB Shipping
![(File photo: Centerline Logistics)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/file-photo-centerline-logistics-148058.jpg)
Seattle-based maritime transportation provider Centerline Logistics announced it has acquired a fleet of four liquid tank barges and four tugboats from maritime asset holding company JMB Shipping.The deal closed on February 23, and its terms were not disclosed. Prior to the acquisition, JMB Shipping was owned by JMB Capital Partners Lending, an investment firm that bid $115 million in 2021 to purchase…
New Container Shipping Company Launched in Saudi Arabia
![Poul Hestbaek (Photo: Folk Maritime)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/poul-hestbaek-photo-folk-maritime-148057.jpg)
A new container shipping line has been launched in Saudi Arabia.The newly formed company, Folk Maritime, will provide feeder vessel and short-sea shipping services in the Middle East and the surrounding region.The Riyadh-headquartered company is led by CEO Poul Hestbaek, who previously served as CEO of Maersk's Hamburg Sud.Other executives include chief commercial officer Saleem Kadernani, chief financial officer Khalid Fawzi and chief human resources officer Abdulrahman Alshangiti.
Preparing for Change, ABS Enhances the Marine Vessels Rules Book
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As maritime faces transcendent changes in regards to decarbonization, digitalization and automation, innovators from inside and outside of the industry will be challenged to deliver new applications and technologies with increased speed and frequency. Sitting at the center of the innovation storm are classification societies, and earlier this year the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) became the first classification society to incorporate goal-based standards throughout major rule sets…
Houthis Say They Can Reassess Red Sea Attacks if Israeli 'Aggression' Stops
![(Photo: Screenshot from video shared by Yemeni Armed Forces)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w100h1500/photo-screenshot-from-video-shared-148053.jpg.jfif)
Yemen's Houthis said on Tuesday they could only reconsider their missile and drone attacks on international shipping in the Red Seaonce Israel ends its "aggression" in the Gaza Strip.Asked if they would halt the attacks if a ceasefire deal is reached, Houthi spokesman Mohammed Abdulsalam told Reuters the situation would be reassessed if the siege of Gaza ended and humanitarian aid was free to enter."There…