EU Puts Countermeasures on Hold Following Trump's Tariffs Frieze
The European Union will pause its first countermeasures against U.S. tariffs after President Donald Trump temporarily lowered the hefty duties he had just imposed on dozens of countries, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Thursday.The bloc was due to launch counter-tariffs on about 21 billion euros ($23.25 billion) of U.S. imports from next Tuesday in response to Trump's 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium. It is still assessing how to respond to U.S.
Trump Signs Executive Order to Revitalize US Maritime Industry
U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at ‘restoring American maritime dominance’ through the revival of domestic shipbuilding industry and weakening China’s grasp on the global shipping market.The Order directs the creation of a Maritime Action Plan (MAP) to revitalize U.S. maritime industries, which will provide a strategy with specific actions to restore and create sustained resiliency for the American maritime industry.Up until now…
Master of Grounded Passenger Vessel was Asleep at Helm
New Zealand’s Transport Accident Investigation Commission has released its report into the grounding of the passenger vessel Fiordland Navigator – attributing the accident to the fatigued master who fell asleep at the helm.The accident occurred on January 24, 2024. The Fiordland Navigator ran aground while making a turn in Doubtful Sound. There were nine crew and 57 passengers on board, and several people received minor injuries.
BIMCO Approves Revisions to War Risk Clauses
The Documentary Committee of BIMCO has approved revisions to its War Risk Clauses to reflect changes in the geopolitical challenges facing the shipping industry.The Documentary Committee reviewed the existing BIMCO War Risk Clauses and agreed on the updated versions, BIMCO War Risk Clause for Voyage Charter Parties 2025 (VOYWAR 2025) and the BIMCO War Risk Clause for Time Charter Parties 2025 (CONWARTIME…
“Bank Effect” Caused Tanker to Strike Pier
A tank vessel struck a pier at Joint Base Charleston’s Naval Weapons Station in South Carolina after a pilot allowed the vessel to get too close to a riverbank, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said Wednesday.The 604-foot-long tanker Hafnia Amessi struck Naval Weapons Station Pier B while transiting the Cooper River on January 14, 2024. A Charleston Branch Pilots Association pilot was navigating the vessel, which sustained damage to its side hull plating.
Spark Gas Conversion Reduces Methane Slip on LNG Carriers
Wärtsilä has introduced a new methane slip reduction solution for its Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engine. The new technology, which converts Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel (DF) engines to spark gas operation, enables a more optimized combustion process, thereby improving efficiency and lowering methane emissions.Whilst operating on LNG, the conversion is designed to reduce methane emissions up to 75% more than…
Drones to Supply Royal Navy Carrier Strike Group
For the first time a fleet of drones will fly crucial supplies between ships of the UK Carrier Strike Group when it deploys to the Indo-Pacific later this month.Alongside its F35B stealth jets and naval helicopters, flagship HMS Prince of Wales’ air group will also consist of nine powerful octo-copters for remotely moving items – food, packages from home and engineering parts – around the task group.The…
Windward Tracks Change to GPS Jamming Hotspots
Winward’s latest report, focused on Q1 2025, indicates a major change in how vessels experiencing GPS jamming are appearing on tracking maps.The average distance vessels “jump” to when their AIS is jammed grew from 600km in Q4 2024 to 6,300km in Q1 2025. “This distance completely disrupts trade and safety measures at sea, making it nearly impossible to track vessels within any realistic or relevant geographical vicinity…
Nigerian Company Orders VLGC
Temile Development Company has signed a contract with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for the construction of one firm plus one optional 88,000 cubic meter very large gas carrier (VLGC).The from HHI is the largest panamax-beam VLGC in the world and will be fitted with an LPG dual fuel main engine and a shaft generator. It features two deck tanks of 900 cbm total capacity, allowing seamless grade…
FMD and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries to Collaborate on Naval Projects
Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore opportunities for collaboration on future international Navy initiatives.FMD has served the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and Military Sealift Command for nearly a century, providing a comprehensive portfolio of OEM parts, turnkey services and advanced marine technologies.“The U.S.
Russian Seaborne Oil Exports Remain Largely Unaffected by New Sanctions
During the first quarter of 2025, Russian oil exports have fallen 6% year-on-year. Clean tanker exports were down 13% while dirty tanker exports fell 4%. “Despite the fall, it appears that exports have mostly been unaffected by the recent sanctions,” says Niels Rasmussen, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.In early January, the Biden Administration ramped up the pressure on Russian oil exports by sanctioning…
Trump to Push Allies to Conform to Chinese Vessel Fee Plans
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday aimed at reviving U.S. shipbuilding and reducing China's grip on the global shipping industry.Republican and Democratic U.S. lawmakers for years have warned about China's growing dominance on the seas and diminishing U.S. naval readiness.The order directs the U.S. Trade Representative to move ahead with a plan that includes levying U.S.
NOC Launches Innovation Hub to Power Ocean Tech and Blue Economy
The UK’s National Oceanography Centre (NOC) has unveiled a new Innovation Hub in Southampton, designed to accelerate advances in ocean technology and support sustainable growth across the blue economy. Backed by a £200,000 investment, the facility will serve as a catalyst for innovation in marine autonomous systems (MAS), the blue economy and beyond—bringing together researchers, businesses and entrepreneurs…
Wasaline: Strong First Quarter
Wasaline reports a strong first quarter for 2025. Revenue increased by 7.5%, setting a new record for the first quarter of the year. Both passenger traffic for cars and buses reached record levels.
Strike Halts Grain Ship Traffic at Argentina's Rosario Port
Grain and agro-industrial products ships will be unable to dock or leave Argentina's Rosario agro-port hub on Thursday because of a CGT union strike against government policies, the head of the private port chamber CAPyM said.The CGT's action, which brings together numerous unions in the country, will start at midnight on Thursday (0300 GMT), and last 24 hours."We will not be able to dock and moor the ships," Guillermo Wade, manager of the Chamber of Port and Maritime Activities, told Reuters, c
China: Philippines Sent Supplies to Warship at Disputed Atoll
China's coast guard said on Thursday it had allowed a Philippine civilian vessel to deliver provisions to a warship "illegally grounded" at the Second Thomas Shoal, a disputed atoll in the South China Sea.The coast guard questioned and monitored the Philippine vessel throughout its supply mission, it said in a statement, urging the Philippines to work with China to manage the maritime situation.The Philippine embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.China and the P
South Korea Holds "Shipbuilding Card' in US Tariff Negotiations, Says Minister
South Korea's trade and industry minister Ahn Duk-geun said on Wednesday that potential cooperation with Washington in the shipbuilding sector is a "very important card" in negotiating with the U.S. over its tariffs.U.S. President Donald Trump spoke to South Korean interim leader Han Duck-soo late on Tuesday to discuss shipbuilding and potential energy deals in what Trump labelled a "great call", a…
US Withdraws From Carbon Talks on Shipping, Urges Others to Follow
The United States has withdrawn from talks in London looking at advancing decarbonisation in the shipping sector and Washington will consider "reciprocal measures" to offset any fees charged to U.S.
US Considers Adjusting Port Fees for Chinese Vessels After Pushback
President Donald Trump's administration is considering softening its proposed fee on China-linked ships visiting U.S. ports after a flood of negative feedback from industries that said the idea could be economically devastating, according to six sources.Among the changes under consideration are delayed implementation and new fee structures designed to reduce the overall cost to visiting Chinese vessels…
Strikes in Athens Over Wages Halts Ships, Planes and Trains
Thousands of Greeks gathered in Athens on Wednesday to demand higher wages to cope with rising living costs and a one-day strike left ferries docked at ports, flights grounded and trains at a standstill.Along with air traffic controllers, seafarers and train workers, municipal workers and bus and metro workers in the capital also walked out.Greece has emerged from a 2009-2018 debt crisis which led to rolling cuts in wages and pensions in turn for bailouts worth some 290 billion euros.