Oil Tankers Continue Red Sea Movements Despite Houthi Attacks
Oil and fuel tanker traffic in the Red Sea was stable in December, even though many container ships have rerouted due to attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi militants, a Reuters analysis of vessel tracking data showed.The attacks have driven up shipping costs sharply along with insurance premiums, but have had less impact than feared on oil flows, with shippers continuing to use the key East-West passage.
Campbell Towboat Repowered With Mitsubishi Engines
Campbell Transportation Company has repowered one of its towboats, the M/V Louise S, as part of an ongoing effort to modernize its fleet and enhance operational efficiency.The vessel, a 150-foot-long triple screw towboat built in 1968, was previously powered by three EMD 12-645 propulsion engines. Its new Tier 3 Mitsubishi S16R-Y3 engines, provided by Laborde Products and each outputting 1,675 horsepower…
Israel Working to Clarify COSCO's Position on Shipping to Israel
Israel's Transport Ministry on Tuesday said it was seeking to clarify Chinese shipper COSCO's reported decision to halt shipping to Israel.Israeli media this week reported that COSCO had suspended shipping to Israel.
US Trade Deficit Shrinks on Falling Imports
The U.S. trade deficit unexpectedly narrowed in November as imports of consumer goods fell to a one-year low amid slowing domestic demand, a trend that, if it persists in December, could result in trade having no impact on economic growth in the fourth quarter.The report from the Commerce Department on Tuesday also showed exports declined in November amid cooling demand overseas. Demand is slowing…
Stena RoRo Orders RoPax from China's CMI Jinling
Stena RoRo has placed an order for another RoPax-class E-Flexer vessel from the Chinese shipyard CMI Jinling (Weihai). The vessel will be delivered in the first quarter of 2026 to Corsica Linea and will operate between Marseille and Corsica. This is Stena RoRo’s 13th vessel in the E-Flexer series and the first to be delivered to the Mediterranean region.“The arrival of this new LNG vessel in the fleet…
Thordon Taps Bruntons as UK & Ireland Distributor
Canada-headquartered water-lubricated and grease-free seals and bearings company Thordon Bearings has appointed propeller manufacturer Bruntons Propellers as its new distributor for the U.K. and Ireland region.The propeller manufacturer will market, supply and service Thordon’s entire marine portfolio of propeller shaft bearings and seals. There is also provision for Bruntons to promote and service Thordon’s products in other market segments.Neil McDonald…
Containership Fire Kills Two in Port Houston
Two crewmembers were killed and another badly injured after a fire broke out on a containership in Port Houston.Port Houston Fire Department responded during the early morning hours on Monday to a report of a fire onboard the Panamanian-registered containership Stride docked at the Barbours Cut Container Terminal, the port said in a statement.Two ship crew members lost their lives, and another was injured and transported to a hospital via a medical transport helicopter, the port said.
Chevron Names Yavuz GM for its Global Marine Lubricants
Chevron announced it has appointed Ayten Yavuz as the new General Manager, Global Marine Lubricants.Yavuz joined Chevron in 1991 and has held notable positions over three decades at the company. Most recently, Yavuz was the Regional Manager of Chevron Marine Products for North West Europe and the Americas.In her new role, Yavuz will be responsible for charting the course toward profitable growth, innovation and development within the marine business sector, Chevron said.
Baltic Dry Index Logs Biggest Fall in a Month
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index fell on Tuesday to a nearly seven-week low in its worst showing in more than a month, as rates across vessel segments hit multi-week lows.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, lost 147 points, or 7.3%, to 1,875, hitting a fresh low since Nov. 23.The capesize index dropped by 350 points, or 9.7%, to 3,249, also logging its biggest daily fall since Dec.
Norway Parliament Votes in favor of Seabed Mining
Norway's parliament on Tuesday voted in favor of allowing Arctic seabed mineral exploration, in line with a deal reached between the government and key opposition parties last month, overcoming objections from environmental campaigners.The decision comes as Norway hopes to become the first country to make deep-sea mining happen on a commercial scale and secure critical minerals and jobs despite concerns over the environmental impact and international calls for a moratorium.There is yet no set ti
Yanmar Developing Hydrogen-fueled Four-stroke Engine
Yanmar Power Technology Co., Ltd. (YPT), a subsidiary of Yanmar Holdings Co., Ltd., has embarked on the development of a hydrogen-fueled four-stroke high-speed engine for power generation for coastal vessels in Japan as part of the Nippon Foundation’s zero emission ship demonstration experiment. The engine utilizes hydrogen as a fuel, emitting no CO2 during combustion.In parallel with the hydrogen engine development…
Viking Strengthens Marine Evacuation Portfolio with Undertun Acquisition
Danish maritime safety solutions company Viking Life-Saving Equipment has acquired rights to manufacture and supply Undertun marine evacuation systems (MES).The Viking acquisition has been agreed with Sverre Undertun, whose Norway-based company offers solutions which include its well-known Undertun ship gangways.The solution is suitable for the small ferry market due to its easy installation and use.Catering for up to 150 persons…
Nakilat Grows Fleet with Six New LNG and LPG Carriers
Qatar-based energy shipping company Nakilat has placed orders to with Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HSHI) of South Korea for the construction of six new LNG and LPG carriers.The order includes two LNG carriers with a cargo capacity of 174,000 cubic meters each and four very large LPG/ammonia gas carriers, with a substantial cargo capacity of 88,000 cubic meters.The vessels are set to be delivered between 2026 and 2027…
NYK Orders Man Energy Engines for Four LNG Carriers
Japanese shipping giant NYK has ordered eight ME-GA engines from Man Energy Solutions for four liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.The order is for eight 5G70ME-GA Mk. 10.5 engines related to the construction of four 174,000 cbm. LNG carriers by NYK.All eight engines will feature MAN Energy Solutions’ proprietary EGRBP (Exhaust Gas Recirculation ByPass) emissions-reduction technology.“We developed this engine for easy application to most contemporary LNG carrier designs and…
Hydrogen-Powered Offshore Wind CTV Starts Sailing in Germany
FRS Windcat Offshore Logistics has announced the deployment of the hydrogen-powered dual fuel crew transfer vessel (CTV) in Germany for 50Hertz transmission system operator, marking the beginning of a joint operation in various wind farms in the German Baltic Sea.The CTV, named Hydrocat 55, is equipped with the dual fuel hydrogen technology of CMB.TECH, one of the FRS Windcat Offshore Logistics (FWOL)…
DeepOcean Adds Converted Offshore Support Vessel to Its Fleet
Ocean services provider DeepOcean has agreed to charter a converted, battery-powered vessel to further enhance its subsea offering to the offshore renewables and oil and gas industries.DeepOcean has entered into a long-time charter agreement for the Island Condor – to be renamed Island Ocean multi-purpose support vessel (MPSV) – following conversion and upgrade.The vessel has been chartered from Norwegian shipowner Island Offshore., with the contract starting in the third quarter of 2024.
Energos Acquires Two FSRUs from Dynagas
Offshore LNG infrastructure company Energos Infrastructure has completed the acquisition of two floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs) from the affiliates of Greek Dynagas.The two 174,000 m3 closed-loop FSRUs, built in 2021, will be renamed Energos Force and Energos Power, said Energos Infrastructure, a joint venture majority-controlled by Apollo and minority shareholder New Fortress Energy.Earlier in 2023…
Methanol-Fueled Ultramax Bulk Carrier Receives ABS AiP
Lemissoler Navigation and Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research Institute (SDARI) have received ABS approval in principle (AiP) for the design of a 65,000dwt methanol-fueled ultramax bulk carrier, the first such methanol vessel for China’s shipbuilding industry.The vessel has been thoroughly optimized and its preliminary Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) was reviewed and indicated that the vessel exceeds EEDI Phase 3 standards.
IMO Secretary-General Appoints New Senior Team
Arsenio Dominguez, who took up office as the 10th elected Secretary-General of the IMO on January 1, has named his Senior Management Committee members: Director of Administrative Division: Azara PrempehDirector of Maritime Safety Division: Hiroyuki YamadaDirector of Legal Affairs and External Relations Division: Dorota Lost-SieminskaDirector of Marine Environment Division: Heike DeggimDirector of…
IACS Launches New Piping Recommendation
The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) has launched a new recommendation, 177, to enhance the quality of machinery piping systems in shipbuilding.Piping systems convey different fluids at various temperatures and pressures to all parts of the ship, including to nearly every enclosed space on a vessel. As such, and because these systems are a means through which many of a ship’s control systems operate…
