Seaspan Boosts Investment in Automated Welding Technology

Seaspan Shipyards has announced a $5 million investment in Novarc Technologies Inc., a North Vancouver-based full-stack AI robotics company specializing in the design and manufacturing of automated welding solutions.The funding will fuel product development and commercialization of AI-driven solutions which promise to increase industrial productivity.Seaspan has been a strategic partner and early adopter of Novarc’s welding automation technology since 2017…
U.S. Navy Needs to Rethink Private Sector Industrial Base Investments

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has published a report indicating that the Navy needs a new approach to its reliance on the private sector.The Navy relies on contracts with private companies—the "industrial base"—to build and, in many cases, repair ships. These companies are critical to the Navy's plans to increase its fleet size and improve the fleet's readiness for missions. But ships…
Proposed Port Fees Could Choke U.S. Coal, Ag Exports

President Donald Trump's plan to revive U.S. shipbuilding using massive fees on China-linked ship visits to American ports is causing U.S. coal inventories to swell and stoking uncertainty in the embattled agriculture market, as exporters struggle to find ships to send goods abroad.Trump is drafting an executive order that would rely on funding from a U.S. Trade Representative proposal to levy fines…
Dearth of Finance Kills Shipyard Sale

Russia's second-largest lender VTB's deal to acquire the Zvezda shipbuilding yard from oil company Rosneft is now dead because the VTB-owned United Shipbuilding Corporation (USC) cannot finance the acquisition, VTB CEO Andrei Kostin said on Tuesday.VTB is currently running USC, Russia's largest shipbuilder, which operates about 40 shipyards, design offices and repair yards across Russia, employing 95…
Xenos Marine Acquires Heavy Lift Vessel

Xenos Marine recently acquired the VB-10,000 Heavy Lift Vessel which is currently in dry dock in Galveston, Texas. The asset will be renamed TX-10,000 at a christening ceremony in Galveston on March 23, 2025. TX-10,000 is the largest US Flagged and Jones Act compliant Heavy Lift Vessel; a twin-gantry catamaran heavy lift vessel with a 7,500-tonlifting capacity. It is currently undergoing maintenance at the Gulf Copper Shipyard in Galveston…
As Hostilities Resume, Red Sea Insurance Rates Hold FIrm

The cost of shipping goods through the Red Sea is expected to remain firm after the United States carried out further airstrikes on Yemen on Monday, adding to fears of new attacks on ships by the Iran-aligned Houthis targeted by Washington, industry sources said.Responding to the Houthi movement's threats to international shipping, the U.S. launched airstrikes on Saturday. On Monday, the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah and Al Jawf governorate north of the capital Sanaa were targeted…
Alfa Laval Inks Deal for Ammonia Fuel Supply System

Alfa Laval has signed its first contract for the ammonia fuel supply system, FCM Ammonia.The FCM Ammonia will be installed on a CSSC Huangpu Wenchong shipyard in China for ship owner Tianjin Southwest Maritime (TSM). The installation will commence with three 25,000-cu. m. vessels, followed by four 41,000 cu. m. vessels.The FCM Ammonia contract follows testing and development conducted in close collaboration with WinGD.
UAE Shipbuilding Joint Venture Announced

EDGE, a global technology and defense group, and CMN NAVAL, a naval shipbuilding group specializing in the design, engineering, and construction of naval and commercial vessels and mega yachts, agreed to create a new Abu Dhabi-based shipbuilding joint venture (JV) named AD NAVAL (ADN). Leveraging an existing order pipeline worth approximately EUR 7 billion, the JV will bring together both companies…
U.S. Coast Guard Interdicts 80,000 Pounds of Illicit Drugs

The Trump Administration's emphasis on border security is starting to pay dividents, as the U.S. Coast Guard reports that since January 21, 2025, it has interdicted more than 80,000 pounds of illicit drugs.The Coast Guard’s achievement comes as U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) deployed two U.S. Navy warships to the southern border to support Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Coast Guard operations.These U.S.
Steelpaint Warns Against Carbon Emissions of Steel Corrosion

Germany-based corrosion specialist Steelpaint is calling for urgent action to address the significant environmental impact of steel corrosion, warning that inadequate corrosion protection is contributing more to global CO2 emissions than the entire aviation industry. With the maritime industries consuming an estimated 100 million tonnes of steel annually, premature corrosion and subsequent steel renewal work is increasing carbon emissions dramatically…
DOE Approves LNG Export Authorization

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright approved a liquefied natural gas (LNG) export authorization to the Venture Global CP2 LNG export project proposed for Cameron Parish, Louisiana.The issuance to CP2 marks the fifth LNG-related approval from DOE since President Trump took office, following an export approval to Commonwealth LNG on February 14, an order on rehearing removing barriers for the use of LNG as bunkering fuel announced on February 28…
Iraq Seizes Suspected Fuel Smuggling Ship

Iraqi naval forces have seized an unidentified ship in Iraqi territorial waters in the Gulf suspected of smuggling fuel, the naval forces said in a statement.Fuel smuggling is common in Gulf waters, where heavily subsidised fuel from some countries is sold on the black market to buyers across the region, though it is relatively rare for Iraqi authorities to seize ships.A naval patrol boat intercepted the ship on Tuesday after receiving intelligence about suspected illegal activity…
Philippines Look to Include India, South Korea in Squad Group

The Philippines and its allies are trying to expand the Squad grouping of nations to include India and South Korea to counter China in the Indo-Pacific region, the Philippines' Armed Forces chief General Romeo S. Brawner said on Wednesday.The Squad is an informal multilateral grouping made up of Australia, Japan, the Philippines and the United States, whose defence forces have conducted joint maritime…
Bosphorus Strait Traffic Suspended After Engine Failure

Traffic was suspended in Turkey's Bosphorus strait on Wednesday after a general cargo ship had an engine failure during northbound transit through the strait that runs through Istanbul, shipping agent Tribeca said.Tribeca said that the Vanatu-flagged ship Bers suffered an engine failure around Kuzguncuk area and that an assistance vessel was sent to the scene.(Reuters)
Danelec Launches Emissions Compliance Module

Danelec launched an new vessel Emissions Compliance Module, offering shipowners and operators a way to meet stringent environmental regulations while reducing administrative burdens and improving fleet performance.Danelec’s Emissions Compliance Module allows shipowners and operators to transfer emissions data to class societies and third-party verifiers, simplifying compliance with regulations including EU Monitoring…
Subsea7 to Keep Solstad’s Normand Subsea Vessel Busy for Years

Norwegian offshore vessel owner Solstad Offshore has secured a contact with Subsea7 for its subsea construction support vessel (CSV) Normand Subsea.The duration of the contract is two-year firm and three yearly options, with the start on January 1, 2026.On contract with Sbusea7 since 2009, Normand Subsea is a 113-meter-long vessel, built in 2009, featuring VS 471 design.The versatile Inspection, Maintenance and Repair (IMR) vessel is capable of accommodation 90 people.In mid-2024…
DP World and Maersk Agree to Expand Maritime Services in Brazil

Dubai-based ports and logistics firm DP World and shipping giant Maersk have signed a long-term agreement to boost container-handling capacity and increase weekly vessel calls to support Brazil’s growing trade demands.DP World operates one of the country’s largest private terminals at the Port of Santos. Under the terms of the eight-year agreement, Maersk will introduce additional long-term services and maintain a minimum service level at the port.In the first year…
Russian Oil Discharged in China

A ship carrying Russian crude transferred from three smaller tankers that are under U.S. sanctions unloaded last week at a Chinese port, shiptracking data shows, ending an unusual month-long voyage highlighting the efforts of producers and traders to keep Moscow's oil flowing despite tightened curbs.The Panama-flagged Daban, one of dozens of non-sanctioned vessels drawn to the Russian oil trade by fat margins following the January 10 U.S.
European Shipowners Represent 35% of Global Fleet

The European Shipowners organization has released a Deloitte study on EU Shipping Competitiveness and a CE Delft study on the economic value of European shipping, both highlighting the importance of the sector.European shipping represents a geopolitical asset for Europe facilitating the export and import of goods, food and energy, a Deloitte study finds.Whilst the EU represents around 15% of the global GDP…
MPA and CMA CGM Sign New Fuels MoU

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and the CMA CGM Group have renewed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance sustainable shipping and innovation.The MoU was signed by Teo Eng Dih, Chief Executive of MPA, and Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the CMA CGM Group. It renews an earlier MoU signed in 2022.Under the MoU, CMA CGM plans to expand its fleet and vessel tonnage…