Dual-Fuel LNG Tractor Tug Delivered to Turkish Owner

The 39-metre tug Silivri has been delivered to The BOTAS Petroleum Pipeline Corporation in Turkey.The TRAktor V3900-DF series tug was recently completed at Uzmar Shipyard to a design by Robert Allan Ltd.Silivri is only the second vessel in the world to combine Voith Schneider propulsion with dual-fuel LNG/diesel engines. This unique arrangement has only been combined once before, on her sistership Sultanhani, delivered earlier in the year to the same owner.Equipped with Wärtsilä 6L34DF engines and 32X6 Voith Schneider propellers…
Greece to Buy Four New Submarines

Greece will spend more than 25 billion euros in arms procurements by 2036, including new submarines, drones, satellites and fighter jets, under a 12-year plan to be submitted to parliament in the coming weeks, three officials with knowledge of the plan told Reuters.The move is part of Greece's bid to modernise its armed forces as it emerges from the 2009-18 debt crisis that led to years of austerity, and as it tries to keep pace with its historic rival Turkey.The two countries are at odds over sea boundaries…
Ship Recyclers Short on Tonnage

Charter rates continue to climb as dry bulk carriers, Capes and even Panamax sectors reported rising rates this week, reports cash buyer GMS.
Svitzer Steadily Builds a Maritime Behemoth

Operating one of the world’s largest marine fleets of any kind, it is Svitzer’s local footprint that speaks volumes for its diverse and far-flung workforce and assets. Strengthened by a multi-national team, providing value in more than three dozen countries, Svitzer stands out every day. On 30 April 2024, Svitzer was listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen (SVITZR) as a result of the previously announced separation from its former parent company, A.P. Møller - Mærsk A/S. Danish national Kasper Karlsen has been Global Chief Operating Officer of the Svitzer Group since December 2022.
Tanker Vessel Blasts Likely from Limpet Mines
Mines attached to the hulls of ships and set off with timers likely caused blasts that have damaged two crude oil tankers in the Mediterranean Sea since January, three sources close to the investigation said on Monday.At least five vessels have been damaged, including explosionson the Greek-managed tankers Seacharm and Seajewel which Reuters reported last week. The incidents have raised concerns of a new security threat in the typically safe waters of the Mediterranean, just as the shipping industry is dealing with attacks in the busy Red Sea route.It is not clear who is responsible for the alleged attacks. The vessels had recently called at Russian ports, according to ship tracking data and sources.
Ukraine’s Dry Bulk Shipments Up 87% Three Years After Russian Invasion

“Three years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the volume of dry bulk shipments from the two countries combined is 6% below pre-war levels. However, the past 12 months have seen the countries’ dry bulk shipments develop in complete opposite directions. While Ukraine has seen an 87% y/y jump in shipments, Russia’s have taken a 6% y/y fall. Overall, their combined volume has increased 3% y/y over the last 12 months,” says Filipe Gouveia, Shipping Analysis Manager at BIMCO.The primary reason for Ukraine’s spike in shipments lie in the success of its coastal corridor.
Bulk Carrier Sustains Damage to Ballast Tank

A Liberia-flagged cargo ship carrying corn from a Russian port to Turkey is trying to stop water leaking in after sustaining a crack in the Sea of Azov earlier this week, Russia's port agency said.The vessel, Pavel Grabovskiy, was loaded with 2,939 tons of corn.
Eidesvik, Agalas and Reach Subsea Order New Dual-Fuel Hybrid CSV

Eidesvik Offshore, Agalas, and Reach Subsea have partnered up to build a new construction support vessel (CSV) for subsea and offshore renewables operations.The new CSV will have similar specifications as the vessel Eidesvik currently has under construction together with Agalas at the Sefine Shipyard in Turkey.The vessel will also be built at the Sefine Shipyard, with delivery scheduled for spring 2027.It will be specifically equipped to perform inspection, maintenance, and repair (IMR) work.Upon delivery…
Video Exposes Animal Welfare Transgressions in EU Trade

A new film produced by a group of NGOs entitled Live Exports: Beyond Borders, Beyond Imagination has been shown in the EU Parliament.During slaughter in the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, the film indicates that even minimum welfare standards are ignored. Cattle are roughly beaten with sticks – including on the head and face – to force them to the ground. In Egypt, slaughtermen often sever cattle’s leg tendons with a knife to control the animals. They even jab their knife into the head and eyes of the cattle. Often a chain is tied round one of a bovine’s rear legs.
Greek Shipyards Revitalized

The rhythmic clang of hammers and the bright flashes of welding torches filled the air at Skaramangas Shipyard near Athens last month, as workers busily repaired the bow of a large tanker. Nearby, other vessels awaited their turn in the dry dock—an unmistakable sign of renewed activity at the once-idle shipyard.Just a year ago, Skaramangas stood empty, a stark reminder of Greece’s prolonged debt crisis from 2009 to 2018. Following decades of inconsistent government ownership and uncertainty, the shipyard had languished.
Gasum Charters New LNG Bunker Vessel

Finland’s Gasum has chartered a new bunker vessel that will be delivered in 2027.The new vessel, to be named Celsius, will enable Gasum to fulfil its strategic ambition to increase LNG and bio-LNG availability in the Northwestern European maritime market.The vessel will be owned by a Joint Venture between Gasum and Swedish shipping company Sirius Shipping. The vessel will be built by RMK Marine yard in Istanbul Turkey.Sirius Shipping and Gasum have a long history together, as…
Tariffs Destabilizing Ship Recycling Market

The effects of the US 25% tariffs announced on Chinese steel and aluminum products is already seeing destabilizing effects on ship recycling markets, says cash buyer GMS.“It remains unsure as to where much of this surplus / excess and resultingly cheaper steel will end up, devastating ship recycling prices.”Compounding market uncertainties have taken center stage, says GMS, with President Trump’s “uncalculated tariff wars sending economies rocking this week, unintentionally targeting the U.S.
DNV Releases Guidance for Ship Recycling

With the Hong Kong Convention (HKC) set to take effect on June 26, 2025, shipowners must comply with new regulations on safe and environmentally responsible ship recycling. DNV’s latest guidance, “Safe and Green Recycling for Shipowners,” outlines compliance with both the HKC and EU Ship Recycling Regulations (EU SRR).As thousands of ships approach end-of-life, the IMO’s HKC aims to ensure safer and more sustainable recycling, protecting workers and the environment from hazardous materials.
DP World Marks Record 8.3% Growth in Container Handling for 2024

DP World’s ports and terminals handled a record 88.3 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2024, up 8.3% year-on-year, despite macroeconomic headwinds and concerns over the outlook for global trade.The global logistics business, which now can handle over 100 million TEU across operations in 78 countries, benefitted from long-term infrastructure investment, contributing to strong growth and new services calling at its terminals.While the Red Sea crisis posed a significant challenge to global shipping in 2024…
Russia Seaborne Diesel Exports Rise

Russia's seaborne diesel and gasoil exports rose almost by a quarter in January from December as traders sought to increase supplies before new U.S. sanctions come into effect and amid seasonal low domestic demand, LSEG and market sources data show.The U.S. Treasury announced sweeping new sanctions against the Russian energy sector on Jan. 10, targeting two major oil companies, dozens of traders and some 180 vessels.A transition period allows cargoes to be discharged from sanctioned tankers until Feb.
NOAA Guides Easier Hudson River Navigation

Real-time data on coastal conditions will support improved maritime navigation in New York.Navigating New York waterways just got a bit easier. NOAA and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced the establishment of the Hudson River Estuary Physical Oceanographic Real-time System (PORTS). The system delivers real-time oceanographic and meteorological observations that can improve maritime safety and inform coastal resource management in the region.
Ranking & Reporting the World's Top 10 Vessel Owning Nations

In the ever-evolving world of maritime trade, ship ownership is a key indicator of economic influence and global commerce. As we enter 2025, Veson Nautical offers its Top 10 Ship Owning Nations, offering a detailed analysis of fleet values and industry shifts. This year, China has surged to the top, overtaking Japan in total fleet value, while geopolitical events and shifting market dynamics continue to shape the rankings.Let’s take a closer look at the global giants of ship ownership and the forces driving their dominance.1.
Six US LNG Cargoes Diverted from Asia to Europe

Traders diverted at least six cargoes of liquefied natural gas that were on course for Asia to Europe earlier this month, drawn by higher European prices and amid weak Asian demand, according to analysts and shipping data.The diverted cargoes could help meet additional European demand as countries seek to replace piped Russian gas after the Ukraine transit deal expired on Jan. 1, while weather forecasts point to lower temperatures in northwest Europe.The vessels had loaded in the U.S.
Recyclers See Jump in Aging Bulkers

Nearly all recycling nation currencies reported dips this week, reports cash buyer GMS, with the Bangladeshi Taka taking the largest slice of the week’s depreciation pie.Even the Baltic Shipping Index has been reporting an overall downward trend in nearly all sectors, which has caused dry bulk markets to close another week with a near 6% decline.“As forecasted in weeks prior and based on the trajectory of charter rates through the tail end of 2024 and even thus far in 2025, ship recycling markets should continue to enjoy a healthier Q1 of vessel introductions…
Glamox to Illuminate Fjord1’s Autonomous Ferries

Lighting solutions specialist Glamox has booked a contract to light four Fjord1’s autonomous-ready ferries, expected to be the first in the world to operate independently of human intervention.Glamox was awarded the lighting contract from Tersan Shipyard in Turkey where the vessels are being built for the Norwegian operator Fjord1.The company will provide a total of approximately 2,160 marine-certified lights to light the interior and exterior of the four vessels.For each ferry…
Russia Accuses Ukraine for Attempted Attack on TurkStream Gas Pipeline

Russia said on Monday it had downed nine Ukrainian drones that tried to attack part of the infrastructure of the TurkStream gas pipeline, through which Russian gas flows to Turkey and Europe.The Russian defence ministry said the attack was aimed against a compressor station in the Krasnodar region of southern Russia, but the facility was working normally and there were no casualties.Reuters could not independently confirm the incident, and there was no immediate comment from Ukraine.TurkStream and Blue Stream…
Bright Outlook for Ship Recycling

2025 seems to have started on an optimistic note in the ship recycling markets, with a noticeable willingness to buy from various buyers across the Indian sub-continent, reports cash buyer GMS.However, although the turn of the year seems to be bringing in a sprinkle of optimism, there remains little to be cheery about as key economic factors affecting the various ship recycling locations continue to wobble as a result of geopolitical turmoil and China’s economic fragility.“News…
Oil Rises on China Stimulus Hopes, US Inventory Drop
Oil rose almost 1% on Thursday in thin holiday trade driven by hopes for additional fiscal stimulus in China, the world's biggest oil importer, and supported by an industry report showing a decline in U.S. crude inventories.Chinese authorities have agreed to issue 3 trillion yuan ($411 billion) worth of special treasury bonds next year, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing two sources, as Beijing ramps up fiscal stimulus to revive a faltering economy.Brent crude futures rose 48 cents, or 0.7%, to $74.06 a barrel by 1445 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $70.72, up 0.9%, or 62 cents, from Tuesday's pre-Christmas settlement."I see two factors supporting oil prices.