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Tuesday, December 30, 2025

The Times News

29 Dec 2025

Renewable Propane Delivers Clean Energy Without the Wait

Image courtesy PERC

With lower emissions and proven reliability, it’s the ready-now solution for cleaner port operations.As demand for cleaner energy grows, port authorities and terminal operators face the challenge of finding environmentally friendly options without increasing budgets or sacrificing productivity. Propane has met these performance criteria at ports for decades, powering everything from terminal tractors and forklifts to shore power and generators. It reduces emissions while ensuring critical operational uptime…

24 Dec 2025

MOL Gets ClassNK Approval for Jointing and Burial Vessels Design

CG rendering of a cable burial vessel (Credit: MOL)

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) has secured an approval in principle (AiP) from ClassNK for the basic design of specialized vessels to joint and bury subsea power cables.MOL is working with Sumitomo Electric Industries, Furukawa Electric and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line) to develop fundamental technologies-including a new type of cable-laying vessel-as part of a project subsidized by the Japanese government's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).One of MOL's roles in this project is to develop technologies for cable jointing and burial vessels…

24 Dec 2025

BP Sells Majority Stake in Castrol to Stonepeak for $6B

Ā© Виталий Дова - stock.adobe.com / Adobe Stock

BP has agreed to sell a 65% stake in its Castrol lubricants business to infrastructure investor Stonepeak at an enterprise value of about $10 billion, as the energy major presses ahead with its divestment program and balance sheet repair.The transaction is expected to generate net proceeds of around $6 billion for BP, including accelerated dividend payments, with all proceeds earmarked for reducing net debt.Under the deal, BP will retain a 35% stake in Castrol through a newly incorporated joint venture alongside Stonepeak.

24 Dec 2025

North Sea Boulevard Reopens After TenneT Offshore Wind Cable Installation

© TenneT

The North Sea Boulevard and Maasvlakte Boulevard are reopened to traffic as TenneT's cables for connecting two offshore wind farms are now buried in the seabed along the road. The high-voltage cables for the future IJmuiden Ver Beta and IJmuiden Ver Gamma offshore wind farms have been installed by contractor NRG.In a few years, the green energy from the offshore wind farms will arrive onshore via cables buried in the seabed near Maasvlakte and will then be distributed to industry…

23 Dec 2025

Trump-Class Battleship Unveiled, Defense Contractors Put on Notice

President Donald J. Trump and U.S. Military Academy at West Point Superintendent Lt. Gen. Steve Gilland attend the 126th Army-Navy football game at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Md., Dec. 13, 2025. (DoW photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Eric Brann)

U.S. President Trump on Monday announced plans for a new "Trump class" of battleships, marking the start of an expanded naval buildup and signaling increased scrutiny of defense contractors over production delays and cost overruns.Trump said the new battleships would be larger, faster and "100 times more powerful" than any previously built, forming the centerpiece of what he called an expanded "Golden Fleet" aimed at cementing U.S. naval dominance.The program will begin with two vessels and is expected to grow to between 20 and 25 ships, Trump said.

19 Dec 2025

Maersk Tests Red Sea Route as Gaza Ceasefire Offers Hope

Ā© dbvirago - stock.adobe.com

Danish shipping company Maersk said on Friday that one of its vessels had successfully navigated the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait for the first time in nearly two years, as shipping companies weigh returning to the critical Asia-Europe trade corridor.The company stated that while it had no firm plans to fully reopen the route, it would take a "stepwise approach towards gradually resuming navigation" via the Suez Canal and the Red Sea. Maersk declined to further elaborate on its plans.Maersk and rivals…

19 Dec 2025

MSC: How the World’s Largest Boxship Fleet Squeezes More Miles from Every Molecule

Copyright John_Doo78/AdobeStock

It’s trite (but true) to say that in the maritime industry’s quest to cut emissions, there is no ā€˜silver bullet’ solution, rather a series of small step changes that cumulatively add up over time. Maritime Matters: The Marinelink Podcast, recently hosted Giuseppe Gargiulo, Head of Newbuildings, MSC and Daniel Bischofberger, CEO, Accelleron, to specifically discuss the development and delivery of Accelleron’s FITS2 technology, and automation technology built with MSC and premised on Accelleron’s cumulative 100+ years of turbocharger experience.

17 Dec 2025

bound4blue eSAILs Installed on Amasus Cargo Vessel

22-meter eSAIL installed on Fluvius Tavy (Source: bound4blue)

bound4blue and Amasus Shipping have completed the installation of a 22-meter eSAIL on the general cargo vessel Fluvius Tavy at Astander Shipyard in Santander, Spain. The project marks the companies’ second installation, reinforcing both the scalability of suction sail technology and the growing confidence of shipowners in wind propulsion as a mainstream decarbonization solution.The latest adoption of bound4blue’s autonomous suction sails follows a previous installation on board Amasus’ Eems Traveller…

16 Dec 2025

Fincantieri Targets 40% Revenue Growth by 2030 with Five-Year Plan

Ā© Oleksandr - stock.adobe.com

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri on Tuesday set a goal of a 40% rise in revenues and a near doubling of core profits in its new five-year plan, expanding to the defence and underwater businesses while keeping its leadership on cruise ships.The 2026-2030 strategy, dubbed "F4 Fast Forward Further Future" and expected to be detailed in the first months of next year, forecasts more than 50 billion euros ($58.79 billion) of new orders, particularly in the defence sector."With this plan…

15 Dec 2025

Renewable Propane Delivers Clean Energy Without the Wait

Image courtesy PERC

With lower emissions and proven reliability, it’s the ready-now solution for cleaner port operationsAs demand for cleaner energy grows, port authorities and terminal operators face the challenge of finding environmentally friendly options without increasing budgets or sacrificing productivity. Propane has met these performance criteria at ports for decades, powering everything from terminal tractors and forklifts to shore power and generators. It reduces emissions while ensuring critical operational uptime…

15 Dec 2025

Great Ships of 2025: R/V David Packard

R/V David Packard.
Credit: Freire Shipyard

In 2010, the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) began the process of replacing its research vessel, R/V Western Flyer. With Glosten at their side as vessel designer, MBARI considered three types of ships for their new project. The Western Flyer was a small waterplane area twin hull (SWATH), but the parties agreed on a monohull design for the new vessel. In 2021, Freire Shipyard won the bid to build the vessel, and R/V David Packard came to life.There is no ā€œIā€ in TeamWill Moon…

15 Dec 2025

Crewed Up, Not Crew Cut: How ARC Is Rethinking Retention at Sea

ARC @ a recent SUNY Maritime Career Fair.
Image courtesy ARC

For the last few decades, the U.S. maritime industry has faced a slow-burning situation: few ships, an aging mariner workforce and too little visibility into what it takes to sustain both. In the aftermath of COVID-19, that challenge grew more urgent. Globally, ships that once had their pick of licensed officers suddenly found themselves short-crewed and companies like American Roll-On Roll-Off Carrier (ARC) had to rethink what retention and recruitment meant in practice as a matter of national capability.ARC operates the largest U.S.-flag roll-on/roll-off fleet in international trade…

15 Dec 2025

New on the Bookshelf: Famous Irish Mariners

Image courtesy The O’Brien Press

Title: Famous Irish MarinersAuthor: Emma ByrnePublication date: September 22, 2025ISBN 9781788494922 PRICE €17.99/£15.99 HBFORMAT 196x129 mm EXTENT 176ppAlso available as an eBook.Ireland has a rich history of famous – and infamous – mariners: from our earliest navigators, who may have reached North America – by currach – a thousand years before Columbus, to daring polar explorers Ernest Shackleton and Tom Crean.Read the stirring adventures of Ireland’s seafaring women, from Granuaile to Kate Tyrrell…

15 Dec 2025

Kongsberg Maritime Grows UUC PM Azimuth Thruster Range

(Credit: Kongsberg Maritime)

Kongsberg Maritime has announced the introduction of two new sizes to its Underwater Mountable, Permanent Magnet (UUC PM) azimuth thruster range, expanding its offering for propulsion solutions for demanding offshore and marine operations.The new additions to the UUC PM 405 model include units with 3.8 m and 4.1 m propeller diameters, delivering 86 and 91 metric tons of thrust respectively.Kongsberg Maritime is also preparing to extend the UUC PM range further, with future models offering up to 5.5m diameter and power ratings of 6000 kW.

14 Dec 2025

Thailand Considers Blocking Fuel Exports to Cambodia

Ā© PX Media / Adobe Stock

Thailand's military said it was considering blocking fuel exports to Cambodia, as fighting between the two countries spread to coastal areas of a disputed border region two days after U.S. President Donald Trump said the sides had agreed to a new ceasefire.The Southeast Asian neighbours have resorted to arms several times this year since a Cambodian soldier was killed in a May skirmish, reigniting a conflict that has displaced hundreds of thousands of people on both sides of the border.Thai military commanders have been discussing blocking fuel exports to Cambodia…

08 Dec 2025

Equinor’s First Hybrid Power Complex Starts Operations

Ā© Equinor

Equinor and its Brazilian subsidiary Rio Energy have started commercial power production at the Serra da Babilônia Solar facility in Brazil. Strategically co-located with the existing Serra da Babilônia Wind, this represents the first hybrid asset in Equinor’s power portfolio, comprising 140 MW of solar and 223 MW of wind capacity.Hybrid projects take advantage of the complementary nature of solar and wind resources, which generate power at different times of the day and throughout different seasons.

04 Dec 2025

Bulker Newbuilding Contracting Drops to Five-Year Low

Source: BIMCO

Between January and November 2025, the capacity of bulker newbuilding contracting has fallen 54% y/y to 25m DWT, reaching its lowest level since 2020. Consequently, the dry bulk orderbook is now 4% smaller than a year ago, accounting for 11% of the dry bulk fleet.ā€œContracting has likely eased due to a cloudy market outlook,ā€ says Filipe Gouveia, Shipping Analysis Manager at BIMCO.The number of ships contracted has seen an even steeper decline, down 61% y/y so far in 2025. Only 281 ships have been ordered, the lowest number since 2016.

03 Dec 2025

Liebherr to Supply STS Cranes to Port Tampa Bay

Source: Liebherr Container Cranes

Liebherr Container Cranes has signed a contract to deliver two ship-to-shore (STS) cranes to Port Tampa Bay, marking Liebherr’s first STS installation on Florida’s Gulf Coast.The cranes will play a central role in the port’s Vision 2030 expansion and will deliver significant gains in berth productivity, vessel turnaround efficiency, and long-term operational reliability.The new cranes, manufactured at Liebherr’s facility in Killarney, Ireland, feature a 60-metre (197FT) outreach…

02 Dec 2025

C&C Marine and Repair Promotes Nick Bergeron

Source: C&C Marine and Repair

C&C Marine and Repair has promoted Nick Bergeron to General Manager.Bergeron brings more than 30 years of marine industry experience to his expanded role. Prior to joining C&C Marine, he spent 25 years with Zito Companies in a variety of leadership and operations positions.ā€œNick has been a tremendous addition to the C&C family,ā€ said Tony Cibilich, Owner of C&C Marine and Repair. ā€œHe has an exceptional understanding of the business, and he works well with everyone. His leadership…

02 Dec 2025

DNV: Methanol Emerging as Scalable Marine Fuel but Economics Still Limit Uptake

Ā© Mariusz / Adobe Stock

Methanol is emerging as a practical alternative fuel for deep-sea shipping as engines and technical systems reach high readiness levels, but high costs and limited supply continue to constrain wider adoption, classification society DNV said in a new report.As the industry explores multiple decarbonization pathways, methanol is gaining attention as a practical and scalable alternative fuel for deep-sea shipping, supported by over 450 methanol-capable vessels in operation and on order and technical solutions now available for all major ship types.DNV’s latest white paper…

01 Dec 2025

Crew Injured After Procedures Not Followed

Source: ATSB

Safety management system procedures were not effectively implemented when the Spirit of Tasmania I’s second engineer was seriously injured in a fall during engine maintenance earlier this year, the final report from an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation confirmed.The accident occurred during a routine oil change on one of the ship’s main engine turbochargers, while it was berthed in Geelong, Victoria, on March 6.Problems encountered during the work led to the decision to replace the turbocharger’s bearing housing cover plate.

27 Nov 2025

Stena Line and ABP Start Work on Immingham Terminal

Source: Stena Line

Stena Line, and the UK’s largest port operator, Associated British Ports (ABP), are to commence work on a new freight ferry terminal at the Port of Immingham. The new terminal represents a joint investment of more than £200 million ($265 million) in the port and a boost to the Humber region of England where the unaccompanied freight market has been steadily growing.Located in Lincolnshire, Immingham is becoming a strategic hub for Stena Line, which currently runs two daily services from the Humber region to The Netherlands.

27 Nov 2025

bound4blue Targets Asian Growth

Source: bound4blue

Wind propulsion company bound4blue has expanded its industrial footprint in Asia with the establishment of new production capabilities in China, alongside the signing of strategic regional partnerships to accelerate adoption of its proven eSAIL® suction sail technology.This allows bound4blue to manufacture near the yards where their systems will be integrated, both for newbuildings and for vessels calling in Asia for retrofit.Production in China will be handled through a network of outsourced industrial partners with strong naval and offshore manufacturing capabilities.

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