United States News

The effects of climate change, technological advancements, and economic opportunities have created competition between the United States and its strategic adversaries in the Arctic region. Both Russia and China have developed Arctic strategies with geopolitical goals contrary to U.S. interests, including the control of resources and sea routes. In recent months, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard have encountered Russian and Chinese naval vessels near Alaska.The U.S. Government…

The U.S. military is supporting Philippine operations in the South China Sea via a special task force, a U.S. embassy official said on Thursday, an initiative Manila said involves intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.Task Force-Ayungin, named after the Philippine designation for the contested Second Thomas Shoal, was first mentioned this week by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a visit to the Philippines."Task Force-Ayungin enhances U.S.-Philippine alliance coordination and interoperability by enabling U.S.

Australia will partner with India to boost investment in renewable energy, including solar manufacturing, battery and mineral processing, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a meeting with his Indian counterpart on the G20 sidelines.Australia and India will also look to enhance defense and maritime security cooperation, Albanese said in a meeting with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday.The two countries, along with the United States and Japan, are members of the Quad, which has sought to balance China's rising military and economic clout in the Indo Pacific r

American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) named Peter Coxon as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Coxon brings more than 40 years of maritime industry experience to ACBL as both an operator and customer. Most recently, he served as CEO of Rand Logistics, leading a successful turnaround, driving improved performance and synergies following Rand’s acquisition of American Steamship Company.Coxon joined the ACBL Board of Directors earlier this year, bringing decades of experience leading multiple businesses and corporate functions in marine logistics and vessel construction…

As world-reaction to Donald Trumps presidential win continues to come in, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul said he is "strongly confident" the South Korea-U.S. alliance will continue to thrive under the incoming U.S. administration of President-elect Donald Trump.While there are many tendrils to the economic and defense alliance, in particular in recent years, South Korea's world-class shipbuilders have drawn increasingly close to their U.S. counterparts, as the U.S.

Port of Albany-Rensselaer CEO Richard J. Hendrick was unanimously elected Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) at its Annual Convention in Boston. AAPA is the trade association for 140 seaports in the western hemisphere.“It’s no surprise that Rich’s Port Executive colleagues elevated him to the Vice Chair position on AAPA’s Board” said Cary S. Davis, AAPA President and CEO. “Rich is a skilled leader and a tireless advocate for our nation’s maritime gateways and his home port of Albany.

Port ranks number one for refrigerated exports, supports $8.5 billion in ag exports.The Port of Oakland continues to be one of the most important gateways for U.S. agricultural products. The Port exported 235,899 TEUs (twenty-foot containers) of agricultural commodities as of October 2024, totaling nearly $8.5 billion. Oakland ranks number one by TEU volume in international refrigerated (reefer) export trade among United States ports.“The Port of Oakland is a major international gateway for California’s and the nation’s farmers,” said Port of Oakland Maritime Director Bryan Brandes.

Preliminary fiscal year-end figures show Port Everglades enjoying healthy increases in cruise, cargo and petroleum volumes resulting in record revenues."Port Everglades is one of Broward County's vital economic engines, which supports more than 11,000 local jobs. That is a direct result of the success of the amazing leadership at Port Everglades and diverse array of companies served by our port," said Broward County Mayor Nan Rich.Port Everglades is a self-supporting enterprise fund of Broward County government and does not use local property taxes to operate.

Soaring costs, project delays and limited investment put targets out of reachAfter a year of canceled projects, broken turbines, and abandoned lease sales, the global offshore wind industry no longer has much chance to hit the lofty targets set by governments in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere ... with the exception of China.Reuters spoke to 12 offshore wind companies, industry researchers, trade associations, and government officials in six countries to come up with a global picture of the state of the industry and its outlook…

There’s plenty to go around for everyone, no matter it comes from.I will admit that attending the 2024 Workboat Show in the Big Easy just ten days after settling into the MarineNews Editor’s chair (for this, the second time around) had my full attention. The event typically evokes the specter of drinking from the proverbial fire hose in routine times, but attending and digesting all it has to offer, right out of the gate, makes the task just little bit edgier. Ultimately, last week’s trade show exuded terrific energy, from exhibitors to attendees alike.

Eco Wave Power has received the final Nationwide Permit (NWP) from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for its wave energy project at AltaSea’s premises at the Port of Los Angeles.The milestone marks a significant step forward in the development of Eco Wave Power’s pioneering wave energy project, which is set to become the first onshore wave energy installation in the United States.The permit, authorizes Eco Wave Power to install eight wave energy floaters on the piles of an existing concrete wharf structure.The system will also include an energy conversion unit…

Germany has refused to allow a Russian LNG shipment at the Brunsbuttel terminal in northern Germany in line with Berlin's policy not to import LNG from Russia, industry sources said on Thursday.The Financial Times reported earlier on Thursday that Germany's economy ministry BMWK had instructed the Deutsche Energy Terminal not to accept any deliveries of Russian LNG after the company informed Berlin that its Brunsbuttel import facility was set to receive a Russian cargo on Sunday.It was not clear who ordered the shipment.

American Commercial Barge Line (ACBL) and C&C Marine and Repair have christened the M/V ACBL Mariner, said to be the most powerful and capable towboat ever built for operations on the Mississippi River.The christening ceremony took place in New Orleans in the presence of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry.The ACBL Mariner boasts 11,000 horsepower, and can push up to 64 barges up the river at one time. The vessel is 50 ft wide and 250 ft long, making it the largest inland towboat in the United States.Also…

China is stepping up pressure on the Philippines to concede its sovereign rights in the South China Sea, Manila's Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro said on Tuesday after meeting his Australian counterpart in Canberra.The fifth such meeting since August 2023 reflects growing security ties between the countries, which have both voiced concern about Chinese activity in areas of the busy waterway claimed by the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations."What we see is an increasing demand by Beijing for us to concede our sovereign rights in the area…

Schottel has been selected by Birdon America to supply components to 27 vessels of the U.S. Coast Guard Waterways Commerce Cutter (WCC) program.For this program, U.S. Coast Guard prime contractor Birdon America is designing the cutters and is expected to construct 16 River Buoy Tenders (WLR) and 11 Inland Construction Tenders (WLIC).The cutters will be built at Birdon’s recently acquired Bayou La Batre shipyard in Alabama. Up to four cutters are expected to be delivered annually over the course of the next eight years…

The Panama Canal Authority could double in coming years the number of containers that move through the commercial waterway that links the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans, the canal's chief told a maritime conference.The authority, which has an $8 billion investment plan, is putting in place a water conservation strategy following a severe drought that forced ships between late 2023 and early 2024 to take alternative routes between the United States and Asia.As part of that, it is encouraging shippers to consolidate cargoes so less water is used for vessels to pass…

China summoned the Philippines' ambassador on Friday to express its objection to two new laws in the Southeast Asian nation asserting maritime rights and sovereignty over disputed areas of the South China Sea, its foreign ministry said.China made "solemn representations" to the ambassador shortly after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr signed the Maritime Zones Act and the Archipelagic Sea Lanes Act into law to strengthen his country's maritime claims and bolster its territorial…

In response to recent media reports regarding a Seaman’s Book allegedly found with a Lebanese national naval officer, the Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) has issued a statement clarifying the following:“The individual mentioned holds a Seaman’s Book issued by the Republic of Panama, with an endorsement - meaning official recognition of the title - which was requested at our international offices in 2022. At that time, the individual was not listed by the United Nations as a terrorist…

Bollinger Shipyards announced the delivery of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) John Witherspoon at Coast Guard Sector Key West. This is the 58th Fast Response Cutter (FRC) delivered under the U.S. Coast Guard's current program and the 184th vessel built by Bollinger for the U.S. Coast Guard over a 40-year partnership and will be homeported in Kodiak, Alaska. The John Witherspoon will be homeported in Kodiak, Alaska. This vessel is the fourth FRC to join the fleet in Alaskan waters, reinforcing maritime security and bolstering the U.S.

Federal regulators on Wednesday gave Venture Global LNG permission to introduce natural gas into its Plaquemines export plant in Louisiana, documents show, moving the plant a step closer to producing the superchilled gas.The 20 million metric tons per annum (MTPA) Plaquemines LNG plant will be the second-largest U.S. export facility when fully operational. It and other projects due to start next year will help the United States retain its position as the world's largest exporter of the gas.Its commercial startup will make Venture Global the second-largest U.S.

The U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday extended a license protecting Venezuela-owned Citgo Petroleum from bondholders to March 2025, a key decision amid a seven-year-long legal case in which the refiner's parent might be auctioned to pay creditors.Citgo's parent, PDV Holding, was found liable by the court for Venezuela's debts from asset expropriations and debt defaults. The case has opened a route for creditors to fight for a piece of Venezuela's crown jewel - Citgo's 807,000…

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol spoke with Donald Trump on Thursday and congratulated him on winning the U.S. presidency on the "Make America Great Again" slogan as officials in Seoul worked to prepare for "significant" economic changes.Yoon and Trump held a 12-minute phone call and discussed the close security and economic ties of their two countries across all areas, a senior South Korean official said on Thursday.South Korea's ambassador to the United States also visited Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Florida to meet with members of the president-elect's camp…

Panama's Maritime Authority said on Wednesday it has begun a process to cancel flags on four LNG vessels sanctioned by the United States over their links with Russian gas producer Novatek.The vessels North Air, North Mountain, North Way and North Sky, which have been operating under Panama's flag, had previously been identified as part of Russia's dark tanker fleet, according to media reports quoted by the authority.