Taiwan Charges Chinese Captain over Cable Damage
Taiwan prosecutors on Friday for the first time charged a Chinese ship captain with intentionally damaging undersea cables off the island in February, after a rise in sea cable malfunctions alarmed Taiwan officials amid tensions with China.Prosecutors say the man was captain of the Chinese-crewed Hong Tai 58, registered in Togo, which Taiwanese authorities detained after suspecting the ship had dropped anchor near an undersea cable off southwestern Taiwan…
MAN Engines Selected for CO2 Carrier
The Royal Niestern Sander shipyard in the Netherlands has ordered 2 × MAN 16V175D MEM engines (2,400 kWm/1,800 rpm) in connection with the building of an MPV (Multi-Purpose Vessel) vessel – ‘Easymax 5’ – for Dutch outfit, Wagenborg Operator.The engines will be employed as gensets for power generation aboard the purpose-built CO2 carrier, which will be employed in the offshore, substrate storage of…
Scaling Up Hydrogen Fuel Cell Demand
This past month Maritime Reporter TV has taken a close look at two hydrogen fuel cell projects: the new research vessel planned for Scripps Institution of Oceanography and e1 Marine’s methanol-to-hydrogen technology which is being adopted by STAX Engineering for its emissions capture barges.The Scripps California Coastal Research Vessel will feature a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system that will…
Venezuela's PDVSA Suspends Oil Loading Authorizations to Chevron
Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA has canceled several authorizations it had granted U.S.-based producer Chevron to load and export Venezuelan crude in April, three sources with knowledge of the decision said on Thursday.The cancellations follow U.S. President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs on Venezuela's oil buyers. The suspensions also comes after Washington canceled key licenses last month to a handful of PDVSA partners and customers…
Two Compact Ship Assist Tugs Delivered to US Owner
Robert Allan Ltd. has announced the delivery of two very compact high bollard pull ship handling tugs, Rascal and Rowdy, to Brusco Tug & Barge in the US.The RAscal 2000-D series tugs were constructed at Diversified Marine Inc. of Portland, Oregon, and at over 40 short tons are the highest bollard pull tugs of this size designed to date by Robert Allan Ltd.These compact tugs are well suited for harbors where smaller though still powerful ship assist tugs are needed…
Battery Electric Tug Designed for Shandong Port
Robert Allan Ltd. has been awarded a contract to design an AmpRA 3600 battery-electric tug for Shandong Port Group – Rizhao Port Towing Company, in China.Two vessels will be constructed at Rizhao Gangda Shipbuilding Heavy Industry and will be the fifth and sixth tugs designed by Robert Allan Ltd. for this owner.Following on the development of the successful battery-electric and hybrid designs operation in Canada…
Six Dead in Hudson River Helicopter Crash
The US Coast Guard is coordinating with local, state and federal agencies in response to the helicopter crash in the Hudson River that occurred Thursday afternoon in New York City near the Holland Tunnel.The tourist helicopter crashed into New York City's Hudson River, killing all six aboard, including three children, Mayor Eric Adams said.The victims were believed to have included a family from Spain and the pilot…
Santos Port Anticipates Trade War Boom
Brazil's Santos Port Authority, which administers the largest port in the Southern Hemisphere, said the draft of the port will be deepened to attract larger vessels in coming years.Speaking at the headquarters of the Santos Trade Association, Beto Mendes, director of port operations, said on Thursday the plan is to deepen the draft to 16 meters and then 17 meters, potentially by 2031.Attracting larger vessels would allow Brazil to strengthen trade ties with commercial partners such as China…
Panama Canal Traffic Dropped in March
The number of vessels that transited the Panama Canal, the world's second-busiest waterway, fell to an average of 33.7 per day in March for a total of 1,045 ships that month, according to a bulletin on Thursday by its administrative authority.In February, an average of 34.8 vessels per day crossed the waterway, an increase from 32.6 per day in January, but still below the maximum number of ships authorized.Transits…
US Targets China Oil Storage Terminal in Iran-Related Sanctions
The Trump administration imposed sanctions on Iranian oil trading networks on Thursday, including on a China-based crude oil storage terminal linked via a pipeline to an independent refinery, just days before direct talks between the U.S. and Iran.The sanctions came after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. will hold direct talks with Iran on Saturday in Oman. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran would be in "great danger" if the talks were unsuccessful.The U.S.
Babcock Awarded CIP Contract by UK MOD for Type 31 Frigates
Babcock International Group has been awarded a USD$84 million (£65 million), five-ship contract to deliver the Capability Insertion Period (CIP) for the UK Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigates being built by the company at its Rosyth facility in Scotland.The CIP adds crucial capabilities that will support the ships throughout their life and includes the insertion, testing and enhancement of a number of upgrades…
ABL Group Co-Founder Phil Lenox Rejoins in Marine Operations Role
ABL Group co-founder and offshore energy and marine professional Phil Lenox joins Longitude as global director of its marine operations engineering business line.Longitude, the design and engineering arm of ABL Group, has been providing marine operations engineering, design, and analysis services since its inception in 2006. Its offering supports offshore oil and gas, maritime, offshore wind, and other marine renewable technologies.
Australia Border Force Intercepts Foreign Fishing Vessels
Australian Border Force (ABF) has apprehended 14 foreign fishers and destroyed two foreign fishing vessels in two recent interceptions, as operations targeting illegal…
Ireland Commits to More Offshore Wind Auctions Amidst Industry Struggles
Ireland will go ahead with at least three more offshore wind auctions by the end of this decade, its marine minister told Reuters on Thursday, adding that it was unlikely the country would meet its target of 80% of electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030.The commitment to offshore wind comes despite a vicious cycle of inflationary pressure, higher interest rates and bottlenecks in the…
Rhine Shipping Costs Rise as River Level Falls Further
Freight shipping costs on the Rhine river in Germany surged this week as water levels fell further, compelling vessels to sail less than half full, commodity traders said on Thursday.Freight deliveries were still taking place, with loads divided among more vessels, which increases costs for cargo owners. But rain is at last forecast for next week, which could raise river levels, they said.Prices for…
Permit-Free Entry to EU for Ukrainian Cargo Extended Until Year-End
A freight liberalisation agreement allowing Ukrainian cargo to enter the EU without a transport permit has been extended until the end of the year, Ukrainian officials said on Thursday.The agreement, signed in 2022, cancels the requirement for Ukrainian carriers to obtain permits for bilateral and transit transport to the EU and avoids exports of Ukrainian products having to stop at road checkpoints.The arrangement is critical in a situation where Ukrainian Black Sea ports…
Ofgem: May Reject Penalty Exemption for National Grid-SP Energy Project
Britain's energy regulator Ofgem does not believe an electricity transmission project developed by National Grid Electricity Transmission and SP Energy Networks qualifies to be exempt from penalties related to delays, it said on Thursday.The joint venture between the units of National Grid NG.L and Spain's Iberdrola IBE.MC had requested a 480-day exemption from penalties related to completion delays…
Sale of AUKUS Nuclear Submarine Scrutinized as US Tariffs Impact Australia
The sale of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia under the AUKUS treaty faces new doubts as U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs take hold, and amid concern in Washington that providing the subs to Canberra may reduce deterrence to China.Whether the United States can boost submarine production to meet U.S. Navy targets is key to whether Australia can buy three Virginia-class submarines starting in 2032, Defence Minister Richard Marles said last month, after talks with his U.S.
Bardex in the Running for 2025 Ventus Award With OmniCrane™
Bardex, a global leader in products and engineering services that tackle marine-based challenges, is honored to be a Ventus Award finalist. The awards, in eleven categories, recognize and celebrate people and products that advance the feasibility and adoption of offshore wind and other ocean renewables. Bardex was selected as one of four finalists in the Health, Safety & Environment category for its proprietary OmniCrane…
R.M. Young: President Transition as Namesake Tom Young Retires
R.M. Young Company, a leader in meteorological instrumentation, announced the retirement of President Tom Young, marking the end of an era for the family-founded and operated company. Tom, who has been an integral part of the company since 1991, officially stepped down as President on April 1, 2025. He is succeeded by Eric Mannix, President and CFO.Tom Young’s career at R.M. Young Company spans over three decades…
