Trump Unveils Plan to Revitalize U.S. Shipbuilding, Curb China’s Maritime Dominance
In his address to Congress on March 4, 2025, President Donald Trump unveiled a comprehensive strategy aimed at revitalizing the U.S. shipbuilding industry and strengthening the maritime sector. This initiative seeks to counter China's dominance in global shipbuilding and bolster national security by enhancing domestic maritime capabilities.Central to the President's plan is an executive order comprising 18 measures designed to rejuvenate U.S. shipbuilding.
3D Printed Valve Manifold Assembly Installed on US Aircraft Carrier
HII has announced that shipbuilders at its Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division have successfully installed the first valve manifold assembly created by 3D Printing (additive manufacturing) on a new construction aircraft carrier.The valve manifold assembly, a specialized assembly that allows distribution of a single source of fluid to multiple points on the ship, is installed in a pump room on Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier Enterprise (CVN 80).
Degraded Dock Collapse Wasn’t Caused by Barge Contact
About 150 feet of a degraded dock in Chalmette, Louisiana, collapsed into the water in 2023 after a barge contact, but it was unlikely to have sustained the force of a typical docking anyway, a National Transportation Safety Board investigation has concluded.The towing vessel Ovide J was maneuvering two loaded crude oil barges to the Chalmette Refinery crude oil dock on April 25, 2023, when the starboard…
China Targets US Soybeans, Lumber After Trump Tariffs
China suspended on Tuesday the soybean import licenses of three U.S. firms and halted imports of U.S. logs, stepping up its retaliation for additional U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods.Earlier in the day, China also imposed import levies covering $21 billion worth of U.S. agricultural and food products including soybeans, wheat, meat and cotton.The three U.S companies affected by the license suspensions are farmer-owned cooperative CHS Inc…
China Maintains Steady Defense Spending Increase Despite Geopolitical Tensions
China will boost its defense spending by 7.2% this year, maintaining a steady growth rate as Beijing faces headwinds from three years of sluggish economic expansion amid mounting geopolitical challenges from Taiwan to Ukraine.The increase, announced on Wednesday in a government report due to be released in parliament, matches last year's figure.It remains well above China's economic growth target for this year of roughly 5% - which analysts say was expected and reflected Beijing's ambitions for
Resolve Marine, Construction Solutions Merge
Resolve Marine said it will merge operations, equipment and personnel with the marine division of Construction Solutions International, expanding Resolve Marine Service Centers in the U.S. Gulf region. Construction Solutions International is a regional provider of industrial marine and commercial diving services and supports industries across the Theodore Industrial Canal and West Mobile, Alabama. Founded in 1984 by Jerry W.
WASHINGTON WATCH: A Maritime Reflection on the First 30 Days
The first thirty days of the new Trump Administration have brought sweeping changes throughout the federal government. We take a pause to assess where things stand for maritime stakeholders and what may be coming next in Washington, DC, for our industry.A Maritime DirectiveFor those that work in the U.S maritime space, it is axiomatic to state that all aspects of the maritime industry are critical to our national security. U.S. flag vessels and merchant mariners not only support U.S.
US Aircraft Carrier South Korea Stop Irks North Korea
The U.S. aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson arrived at the southern port city of Busan in South Korea on Sunday as a show of force against North Korea, South Korea's navy said.It is the first U.S. aircraft carrier to dock at a South Korean port since U.S. President Donald Trump's second term in office began in January.The visit was part of the "ironclad" commitment of the United States to extended deterrence…
Migrants Plucked from Energy Platform Off Tunisia
A charity vessel has rescued more than 30 migrants including two children who had been stranded for four days on a gas platform in the Mediterranean off the coast of Tunisia, the Sea-Watch organization said on Tuesday."This morning, Sea-Watch's fast ship Aurora left (the Italian island of) Lampedusa to rescue them.
GTT Wins Order for LNG Carrier Tank Design
GTT received an order from an Asian shipyard for the tank design of two new Liquefied Natural Gas Carriers (LNGCs) on behalf of an Asian ship-owner. GTT will design the tanks of these two vessels, which will each offer a total capacity of 174,000 cu. m. and will be fitted with a membrane containment system from the NO96 series developed by GTT. Deliveries of the vessels are scheduled for the second and third quarters of 2027.
ProZero Tapped to Distribute Swamp Shark Drives
ProZero International, a workboat supplier in the Danish Tuco Marine Group, has been appointed as the exclusive distributor of the innovative American “Swamp Shark Drives propulsion systems” across Europe, West Africa, Kenya, and additional regions. This partnership brings a revolutionary solution to the maritime industry, particularly for operators in challenging environments such as mangrove areas…
De Bruijn Tapped to take the Helm at IADC
The International Association of Dredging Companies (IADC) announced that Arnold de Bruijn (1980) will join the association in April as the eventual successor to Secretary-General, René Kolman, who has represented the international dredging sector since 2008. Kolman will retire on November 1, 2025 and, following that transition period, De Bruijn will formally take over the role of Secretary-General.de Bruijn has valuable background in the dredging industry.
PODCAST: The Adriatic Affair - Finding the 1856 Le Lyonnais Wreck
The Fascinated by Shipwrecks Podcast, hosted by Kathy A. Smith, is dedicated to the People & the Science of Maritime Archaeology.The Adriatic Affair: Finding the 1856 Le Lyonnais Wreck“Of the people on the ship, 114 died and only 18 survived. Those that did lived through extraordinary conditions in the North Atlantic. Storms. Dehydration. Starvation. Bitter, freezing temperatures until they were eventually rescued by a passing ship.” - Jennifer SellittiOn November 2…
Rocket Lab to Convert Barge for Rocket Landings at Sea
Rocket Lab, a company specializing in launch services and space systems, has acquired a barge which will be modified to specialized ocean landing platform for rockets returning to Earth.Rocket Lab acquired the Oceanus barge from New Orleans-based, private marine transportation company Canal Barge.The barge, renamed Return on Investment, will be customized to serve as an at-sea landing platform with…
Saltchuk Announces Two Educational Partnerships
In a significant investment in Puerto Rico's education and workforce development, Saltchuk has partnered with both the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM) and the Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico (PUPR) to establish two programs focused on transportation and logistics. These strategic initiatives seek to develop skilled professionals, enhance industry research, and support long-term economic…
McNally takes the Helm at Manson Construction
Manson Construction Co. (Manson) announced that James (Jim) McNally, previously Manson’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), has assumed the role of President and CEO as of March 3, 2025.“The Board of Directors unanimously approves of Mr. McNally taking the reins of Manson due to his excellent performance as COO and his long-time industry experience,” announces Frederick Paup, Manson Chairman of the Board.
Lloyd's Register Grants Type Approval for Corvus’ Marine Battery System
Corvus Energy has secured Type Approval from Lloyd’s Register (LR) for its Dolphin NxtGen marine battery system. The LR Type Approval confirms that the energy storage system (ESS) complies with the most stringent rules, regulations, and safety requirements in the industry, as defined by one of the leading maritime class societies. The Corvus Dolphin NxtGen Energy design features draw on the Corvus Orca ESS…
Proposed USTR Fees on Chinese Shipping: What you Need to Know Now
On February 21, 2025, the Office of the US Trade Representative (UST) released a notice of a proposal to impose wide-ranging fees on shipping companies and vessels with a Chinese nexus. The USTR has yet to release regulatory or administrative language that implements the proposals, and there is no guarantee this will actually happen. Interested parties should consider submitting comments as well as…
ABS Greenlights Kongsberg’s Digital Application for DP Systems
American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has issued an approval in principle (AiP) for Kongsberg Maritime’s Dynamic Positioning Digital Survey (DPDS) application.The DPDS application from Kongsberg continuously gathers data from a vessel’s dynamic positioning (DP) system, allowing annual DP surveys to move from in-person assessments on the vessel in a fixed timeframe to remote analysis onshore across a wider…
Akastor Sells Skandi Peregrino AHTS Vessel for $25M
Akastor, through its fully-owned subsidiary DDW Offshore, has entered into a binding agreement to sell Skandi Peregrino anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel.Skandi Peregrino AHTS has been sold for the purchase price of $25 million to an unnamed buyer.The agreement is entered into on Saleform 2012 terms, suitably amended, and completion is conditional on charterer's consent.The agreement is expected…
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