CMB.TECH, MOL Sign Agreement for Nine Ammonia-Powered Ships
Belgian oil tanker group CMB.TECH has signed an agreement with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and MOL Chemical Tankers (MOLCT) for nine ammonia-powered vessels.The vessels will be among the world's first ammonia-powered Newcastlemax bulk carriers and chemical tankers. The delivery of these ships is expected between 2026 and 2029.The landmark agreement between MOL/MOLCT, and CMB.TECH involves nine ammonia-powered ships.Three ammonia-fitted 210.000 dwt Newcastlemax bulk carriersā¦
U.S. Wants Black Sea Ceasefire
A U.S. delegation will seek progress toward a Black Sea ceasefire and a broader cessation of violence in the war in Ukraine when it meets for talks with Russian officials on Monday, after discussions with diplomats from Ukraine on Sunday.The so-called technical talks come as U.S. President Donald Trump intensifies his drive for a halt to Russia's three-year-old assault against Ukraine. Last week, heā¦
Recycling Market Abuzz Over Sanctioned VLCCs
This weekās news was abuzz surrounding the two OFAC sanctioned VLCCs that recently arrived OPL Chattogram and are now stuck after undoubtedly risky transactions that have resulted in several failed onward resales, reports cash buyer GMS.Both vessels have yet to receive their respective No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to permit their entry into port limits for recycling. As the Artemis III and Itagua remain strandedā¦
Celebrities Condemn Brittany Ferriesā Live Export Decision
Actors Dame Joanna Lumley and Pauline McLynn have joined forces with over 110 other high-profile individuals, experts and animal welfare NGOs to condemn a decision by Brittany Ferries to resume transporting livestock from Ireland to France, including unweaned calves.Lumley and others including Chis Packham, Neil Hannon and Cathy Davey have added their names to a letter urging Brittany Ferries to reconsider.
Tidewater Orders Four Inland Barges
Tidewater Transportation and Terminals has finalized a contract with Gunderson Marine and Iron, a Portland, Oregon-based shipyard, for the construction of four new liquid refined product barges.The barges will measure 272 feet long, 42 feet wide, and 18 feet 6 inches deep, with a capacity of 20,000 barrels.Designed and constructed for service on the Columbia Snake River System, these inland liquidā¦
Survey Vessel Runs Aground off Italy
The geophysical survey vessel Fugro Mercator ran aground off the north coast of Elba, Italy, on March 22.The Italian coastguard arrived on site swiftly to provide support and monitor the situation. All crew, 11 people in total, were evacuated and taken ashore safely. A salvage operation is being prepared together with international experts and local officials.It is not yet clear what led to the Fugro Mercator running aground.
CGC Naushon Decommissioned
The U.S. Coast Guard decommissioned Coast Guard Cutter Naushon (WPB 1311) during a ceremony in Homer on March 21.Rear Adm. Megan Dean, the commander of Coast Guard District 17, presided over the ceremony honoring the nearly 40 years of service Naushon and its crews provided to the nation.Commissioned on October 3, 1986, Naushon was the 11th Island-Class cutter to join the fleet.Naushon has been stationedā¦
Lack of Oversight Impacts U.S. Fishing Industry
U.S. President Donald Trumpās regulatory freeze has injected chaos and uncertainty into a number of lucrative American fisheries, raising the risk of a delayed start to the fishing season for some East Coast cod and haddock fleets and leading to overfishing of Atlantic bluefin tuna, according to Reuters interviews with industry groups and federal government employees.Americaās $320 billion fishing industry relies on a branch of the federal governmentā¦
Sanctioned Russian Tankers Will Offload Oil in Syria
Two tankers hit by U.S. sanctions are due to offload Russian Arctic Oil in Syria for the first time, days after Moscow made its first known delivery of diesel there in more than a decade, according to LSEG data, a government source and local TV.One of the tankers, Aquatica, with some 100,000 tons of Russian oil onboard, is set to offload in Baniyas port soon, according to a government source and pro-government Syria TV.The vessel arrived on Thursdayā¦
Baltic Exchange Index Snaps Four-Day Losing Streak
The Baltic Exchange's dry bulk sea freight index, which monitors rates for vessels moving dry bulk commodities, snapped a four-session losing streak on Friday, buoyed by an uptick in rates across all vessel segments.* The main index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, added 8 points to 1,643 points. However, the index fell 2% for the week.* The capesize index gained 6 points to 2ā¦
U.S. Shipbuilding to Reduce Foreign Dependence Receives Bipartisan Support
U.S. President Donald Trump's push to rebuild U.S. shipbuilding is finding rare bipartisan support from Americans, with 72% saying the U.S. cannot remain dependent on China and other foreign producers to build ships, a poll released Friday showed.The survey of 2,204 adults, conducted by Morning Consult for the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) on March 10-12, showed strong concern about China's grip on the $150 billion global ocean shipping industryā¦
China's Iranian Oil Imports Will Slow Under US Sanctions
Iranian oil shipments into China are set to fall in the near-term after new U.S. sanctions on a refiner and tankers, driving up shipping costs, but traders said they expect buyers to find workarounds to keep at least some volumes flowing.Washington on Thursday imposed new sanctions on entities including Shouguang Luqing Petrochemical, a "teapot," or independent refinery in east China's Shandong provinceā¦
Germany Seizes Russian āShadow Fleetā Oil Tanker
Germany seized a decrepit tanker found adrift off its northern coast in January that is believed to be part of a shadow fleet used by Russia to circumvent oil sanctions, Spiegel news magazine reported on Friday, citing security sources.The Panama-flagged ship, called Eventin, was secured by German maritime authorities after being found off the Baltic Sea island of Ruegen, prompting Berlin to sharply rebuke Moscow.
Dutra Group Orders New Hopper Dredge from Eastern Shipbuilding Group
The Dutra Group, a California-based heavy civil marine contractor, has issued a notice to proceed to Eastern Shipbuilding Group (ESG) for the construction of a 10,464 cubic yard trailing suction hopper dredge, named Adele.The ship will be constructed at ESG's Allanton and Port St. Joe facilities. Delivery is scheduled for late 2028.The Adele will join The Dutra Groupās 9,870 cubic yard trailing suctionā¦
GTTās Ascenz Marorka Adds Americas to Fleet Performance Monitoring Tool
Ascenz Marorka, GTTās smart shipping arm, has expanded its real-time fleet performance monitoring service to cover the Americas.Following deployments in France and Singapore, the extension to Vancouver strengthens Ascenz Marorkaās global reach.With operations now spanning three key locations, Ascenz Marorka ensures round-the-clock support, helping ship-owners, charterers, and ship managers maintainā¦
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Books Order for Three Methanol-Fueled RoRos
Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has received additional orders for three methanol-fueled roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) cargo ships from Toyofuji Shipping, Miyazaki Sangyo Kaiun, and Nichitoku Kisen.The three ships will be built at the Enoura Plant of MHI's Shimonoseki Shipyard & Machinery Works in Yamaguchi Prefecture, with scheduled completion and delivery inā¦
Sixty-Eight U.S. Bridges At Risk from Vessel Strike
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has recommended that 30 owners of 68 bridges across 19 states conduct a vulnerability assessment to determine the risk of bridge collapse from a vessel collision.The recommendation comes as part of the ongoing investigation into the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore.The NTSB found that the Key Bridge, which collapsed after being struck by the containership Dali on March 26ā¦
Acting on Instinct
This week, the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) issued its report on the deaths of three stevedores in a cargo hold access space on board a bulk carrier.Berge Mawson was in Indonesia, loading coal from barges using a floating crane. During a pause in loading due to heavy rain, all hatches were closed. After the rain stopped, a stevedore mistakenly entered the access space of a cargo hold and was overcome.
Lack of Training Implicated in Enclosed Space Deaths
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has issued its report on the deaths of three stevedores in a cargo hold access space on board the bulk carrier Berge Mawson.On the morning of 27 June 2022, three unconscious stevedores were found in a cargo hold access space on the Isle of Man registered bulk carrier Berge Mawson at Bunyu Island Anchorage, Indonesia. Despite prompt medical attention all three men died.Berge Mawson was loading coal from barges using a floating crane.
BERG Propulsion Offers GreenForge Propeller Shafts
BERG Propulsion is offering the shipping industry its first opportunity to select propeller shafts made using the climate neutral GreenForgeĀ® production process.Three Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) ro-ro vessels due in service from 2026 to carry aircraft parts across the Atlantic are already set to take advantage of sustainable wind power, courtesy of their rotor sails, while their hybrid propulsionā¦
