COSCO Shipping Responds to Sanctions Listing
The U.S. Department of Defense released on the Federal Register on January 7, 2025 a "Notice of Chinese military companies operating in the United States." A trio of prominent maritime companies Cosco Shipping Holdings Co.; China State Shipbuilding Corp. and China Shipbuilding Trading Co. made the list, as "the Deputy Secretary of Defense has determined that the entities listed ... qualify as “Chinese military companies” in accordance with the William M.
Information Sharing Platform Helps EU Tackle Smuggling
EU-funded researchers have been working to optimize a common platform that makes sharing information among different maritime authorities much easier.On 1 July 2024, the EU’s Common Information Sharing Environment (CISE) became operational in a project coordinated by Isto Matilla, an expert in maritime security and information sharing at Laurea University of Applied Sciences in Finland.A hypothetical scenario: A container ship sailing at night through the Baltic Sea…
Japanese Leaders Reflect on “The Year of the Snake”
In his New Year’s greetings, NYK President Takaya Soga reflected on the disasters of 2024 and looked forward to change in 2025.“This year is the Year of the Snake, and when combining the 12 zodiac signs with the 10 heavenly stems, it is referred to as ‘Kinotomi.’ The Year of the Snake symbolizes regeneration and change, inspired by the image of the snake shedding its skin,” said Soga. “The stem “Ki” also represents flexible growth despite challenges.
Trump Says He Will Revoke Offshore Drilling Ban Immediately
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said on Tuesday he will move quickly to revoke an offshore oil and gas drilling ban announced by outgoing Democratic President Joe Biden."Banning offshore drilling will not stand. I will reverse it immediately," Trump said at a news conference. He added: "I will revoke the offshore oil, gas drilling ban in vast areas on day one."Republican Trump takes office on Jan.
ACL Doubles 2025 Capacity in Alaska
American Cruise Lines is pleased to announce their biggest Alaska cruise season ever. The company will have 2 small ships in Alaska and 5 extraordinary itineraries, delivering once-in-a-lifetime experiences aboard sailings operating this May through September.For 2025, American has repositioned small ship, American Constitution, to the West Coast for summer Alaska cruises and spring and fall Puget Sound cruises.
Achilles acquires GRMS assets, Strengthens North American presence
Achilles Information Ltd (“Achilles”) announced that it has acquired the assets of Global Risk Management Solutions (GRMS), a provider of supplier risk management programs based in Irvine, California. This latest transaction builds on the success of Achilles’ recent acquisition of Iberian supply chain risk company, GoSupply, and marks another step in Achilles' ongoing strategy to expand its global…
Noble Gas wins DNV AiP for Hydrogen Storage Vessel
Noble Gas Systems (Noble Gas) received an Approval in Principle (AiP) certificate for its conformable hydrogen storage vessel from DNV, a globally recognized company that provides independent assurance, certification, risk management and advisory services.“This is a significant milestone for us as we further validate the viability and safety of our storage system across multiple uses and industries,” said Chris Kondogiani, CEO of Noble Gas.
Trump on Panama, Greenland: All Options on Table
President-elect Donald Trump declined on Monday to rule out military or economic action as part of his avowed desire to have the U.S. take back control of the Panama Canal and acquire Danish-controlled Greenland.Asked at a press conference whether he would avoid using military or economic coercion in Panama and Greenland, Trump said, "No, I can't assure you on either of those two. But I can say this…
Baltic Index Falls Again as Capesize, Supramax Disappoint
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, extended declines on Tuesday, hurt by falling rates across the capesize and supramax segments.The index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, lost 28 points to 1,015 points. The capesize index was down 72 points to 1,218 points.Average daily earnings for capesize vessels…
Finland Recovers Anchor in Baltic Sea Cable Investigation
Finnish police said on Tuesday they had recovered a lost anchor from the seabed as part of an investigation of suspected sabotage against power and internet cables in the Baltic Sea.Finland last month seized the Eagle S tanker carrying Russian oil on suspicion the vessel had damaged the Finnish-Estonian Estlink 2 power line and four telecom cables by dragging its anchor across the seabed."The location where the anchor was found is along the route of the Eagle S ...
Shandong Port Group Bans 'US-designated' Vessels
Shandong Port Group has banned U.S.-sanctioned tankers from calling into its ports in the eastern Chinese province, home to many independent refiners that are the biggest importers of oil from countries under U.S. embargo, three traders said.The province imported about 1.74 million barrels per day (bpd) of oil from Iran, Russia and Venezuela last year, accounting for about 17% of China's imports, ship tracking data from Kpler showed.If enforced…
Damen Delivers Patrol Vessel for Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Sector
Damen Shipyards Cape Town has delivered an FCS 3307 patrol vessel to Homeland Integrated Offshore Service (Homeland IOSL) in Nigeria.This vessel, on charter with an international energy company, will perform offshore patrol duties to enhance the security of personnel, assets, and the environment in Nigerian maritime territories.This delivery marks the tenth Damen vessel to join the Homeland fleet,…
RAK Ports Become First PSMC-Certified in UAE
RAK Ports, a group of five ports located in the United Arab Emirates, has become the first in the region to achieve compliance with the Port Marine Safety Code (PMSC), the UK standard for port marine safety.Although RAK Ports operates outside of the UK, the principles of the PMSC draw on internationally recognized legislation and best practice for port marine safety management.The port operations undertaken variously across the group of five ports are extensive…
Keel Laid for Selar’s Wind and Sun-Powered Cruise Vessel
Marine and energy services firm Goltens has hosted a keel-laying ceremony on for the innovative Polar expedition vessel Captain Arctic, which has been purpose-designed for sustainable maritime travel.The ceremony, held in November, welcomed CEO Sophie Galvagnon and Technical Director Pierrick Delaunay of the ship's French owner, Selar, while Goltens' shipbuilder client, Chantier Naval de l'Ocean Indien (CNOI)…
Thordon Bearings Expands Baltic Presence
Thordon Bearings has appointed Axioma servisas as its sales, service and distribution lead for Lithuania as part of its strategy to penetrate new and emergent markets.Vilnius-headquartered Axioma servisas, which has been servicing, maintaining, installing and commissioning technology solutions for companies across the Baltic’s industrial sectors for more than two decades, has been tasked with expanding…
Advisers try to Pump Brakes on Trump LNG Export Pledge
Advisers to U.S.President-elect Donald Trump are urging him to take a patient approach to restarting approvals for liquefied natural gas export licenses, fearing rapid approvals will only get overturned in court, according to two sources familiar with the discussions.The recommendations offer a preview of the challenges Trump will face as his bold campaign promises to slash regulation and unfetter industry crash into the reality of governing an unwieldy bureaucracy.In an election-year move…
Chinese Shipping Company, Shipbuilders Designated "Military Companies" by U.S.
As geopolitical tensions rise globally, and President Trump prepares to reenter the White House later this month, focus turns to the maritime sector and China's growing dominance. So when the U.S. Department of Defense released on the Federal Register on January 7, 2025 a "Notice of Chinese military companies operating in the United States," a trio of prominent maritime companies Cosco Shipping Holdings Co.; China State Shipbuilding Corp. and China Shipbuilding Trading Co.
