Maritime Industry Top News
IMO Sets 2025 World Maritime Day Theme
![Source: IMO](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/source-imo-151604.jpg)
“Our Ocean - Our Obligation - Our Opportunity” has been selected as the IMO's World Maritime Day theme for 2025, which will culminate in the celebration of World Maritime Day on September 25, 2025.The IMO Council, meeting for its 132nd session, endorsed the theme following a proposal by IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez.The theme reflects the ocean’s vital role in the world economy, with more than 80% of global trade transported by sea.
Oil Tanker Seized by Iran Moving to International Waters
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A Chevron-chartered oil tanker that was seized by Iran more than a year ago was heading for international waters on Thursday, LSEG ship tracking data showed.The Marshall Islands-flagged Advantage Sweet was boarded by Iran's military in the Gulf of Oman in April 2023 after an alleged collision with an Iranian boat.There was no immediate comment from Chevron or Iranian officials on Thursday on whether…
US, Canada, Finland Launch Effort to Build Icebreaking Ships
![The United States' sole heavy icebreaker USCGC Polar Star was built in the 1970s. (Photo: Jeremy Burgess / U.S. Coast Guard)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/the-united-states-sole-heavy-151600.jpg)
The U.S., Canada and Finland will form a consortium to build icebreaker ships, a senior U.S. administration official said, a move intended to bolster the allies' shipbuilding and counter Russia and China in increasingly strategic polar regions.The initiative, called the Icebreaker Collaboration Effort or ICE pact, is being unveiled on Thursday on the sidelines of a three-day NATO summit in Washington…
Rush to Prevent Oil Spill from Grounded Ship off South African Coast
![(Photo: South African Maritime Safety Authority)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/photo-south-african-maritime-safety-151599.jpg)
Salvage operations were in high-gear on Thursday to prevent a potential oil spill and pollution along South Africa's west coast from a grounded general cargo vessel, authorities said.The Panama-flagged "Ultra Galaxy" ran aground close to Doring Bay, some 300 km north of Cape Town, late on Tuesday after it started listing badly.
Yanmar and Amogy Partner on Ammonia-to-hydrogen Power
![(Image: Yanmar)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/image-yanmar-151598.jpg)
Power solutions companies Yanmar and Amogy are teaming up to explore ammonia-to-hydrogen integration for decarbonized power generation aboard marine vessels.The companies on Thursday announced they have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to integrate Amogy’s advanced ammonia-cracking technology into Yanmar’s hydrogen internal combustion engine (H2ICE). The partners have been exploring…
Ukraine Seizes Cargo Ship, Detains Captain for Exporting 'Looted' Grain
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Ukraine seized a foreign cargo ship in the Black Sea off its Odesa region and detained the captain on suspicion of helping Moscow export Ukrainian grain from Russian-occupied Crimea, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said on Thursday.The vessel, which it did not identify, was travelling under the flag of a central African country and repeatedly docked at the Crimean sea port of Sevastopol to pick up "looted" agricultural products in 2023-24…
CMA CGM Vessel Drops 44 Containers in Heavy Seas
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French shipping and logistics company CMA CGM said on Thursday that its ship "Benjamin Franklin" had lost 44 containers in difficult weather conditions off the coast of South Africa on Tuesday."No injury to the crew has been reported, no pollution, no strong damage to the vessel which remains fully seaworthy," the company said, adding that 33 additional containers had been damaged.The ship was traveling…
Damen Delivers Newbuild Ferry to South Korean Operator
![(Credit: Damen)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/credit-damen-151593.jpg)
South Korea’s KT Marine has welcomed its new vessel, a Fast Ferry 4212 named Hamel, delivered by Dutch shipbuilder Damen.KT Marine placed its order for the vessel earlier this year. Hamel will transport up to 423 passengers at speeds of up to 40 knots.The vessel will operate a route between Yeosu Harbour and Geomundo Island. Hamel is the seventh Damen Fast Ferry, and the fifth Fast Ferry 4212, to be delivered to South Korea in recent years.The Fast Ferry 4212 features catamaran design…
Steerprop Tapped to Propel Cable Layer
![Image courtesy Steerprop/CMHI](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/image-courtesy-steerpropcmhi-151591.jpg)
Being built by China Merchants Heavy Industry Haimen (CMHI) for Jan De Nul Group and scheduled for delivery in 2026, the Fleeming Jenkin is touted to become the world's largest Cable-Laying Vessel (CLV). Main propulsion for the Fleeming Jenkin will come from four Steerprop azimuth thrusters, enhanced by three tunnel thrusters and two retractable. An additional full main thruster and extensive spares package will also be supplied as part of the contract with Steerprop.
Eni Hires ABL for Congo Floating LNG Transportation and Installation Verification
![(Credit: Eni)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/credit-eni-151585.jpg)
Energy and marine consultancy ABL has been appointed by Eni to provide marine warranty survey services (MWS) for the offshore transportation and installation (T&I) campaign for Phase 2 of the Marine XII Congo LNG development project.Phase 2 of the project envisages the fabrication, transportation and installation of a new floating LNG vessel (FLNG), a converted floating separation, storage and booster unit (FSU)…
Wärtsilä Simulators to Support Singapore's Wavelink Maritime Institute
![Wärtsilä has supplied its new dual-fuel engine simulator technology for WMI, which was recently inaugurated by H.E. Ms. Grace FU Hai Yien, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations of the Republic of Singapore. © Wavelink Maritime Institute](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/wrtsil-has-supplied-its-new-151582.jpg)
Wärtsilä has supplied its new dual-fuel engine simulator technology for Wavelink Maritime Institute (WMI), the maritime training arm of the Singapore Maritime Officer’s Union (SMOU).The navigational and technological simulators are a central feature of the recently-inaugurated simulation suite at WMI, and the technology is specifically designed to train seafarers in the latest efficiency concepts and…
Seatrium Secures Repair Contract Teekay Shipping
![From left to right: Yam Keng Hong, AVP (Estimating), Alvin Gan, Executive Vice President, Seatrium Repairs and Upgrades, Peter Iuliano, Head of Operations of Teekay Shipping Australia, Iain Hempstead, Australia representative, and Joe Wong, Senior Commercial Manager (Sales) - Image courtesy of Seatrium](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/from-left-to-right-yam-151581.png)
Seatrium has secured a contract from Teekay Shipping (Australia) for the repairs and upgrades of a fleet of vessels under its Australia Defence Maritime Support Services Program (DMSSP).The contract, Seatrium’s first long-term strategic partnership agreement with a leading ship management company, includes the refit of a series of vessels over the next two years.The strategic partnership agreement was signed by Tony Armstrong…
Captain Ian Finley to Receive IMO International Maritime Prize
![Captain Ian Finley courtesy of IMO](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/captain-ian-finley-courtesy-of-151579.jpg)
Captain Ian Finley, Permanent Representative of the Cook Islands to IMO, has been selected as the recipient of the prestigious International Maritime Prize for 2023. The decision was made by the IMO Council at its 132nd session (July 8 to 12, 2024).Captain Finley was nominated for the award by the Government of the Cook Islands. As a delegate to IMO, representing Panama and latterly the Cook Islands…
European Shipowners and Maritime Union Launch Digital Initiative
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The European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) and the European Transport Workers Federation (ETF) have launched the ‘Seafarers Go Digital’ initiative.‘Seafarers Go Digital’ is a mutual commitment of ECSA and ETF seeking to identify and address the challenges of digitalization for shipping and seafarers.The initiative recognizes the need to adapt international regulations, training programs…
Tanker and Tugboat Crews to Receive IMO Bravery Awards
![Source: IMO](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/source-imo-151577.jpg)
The 2024 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea is to go to two sets of nominees: the captain and crew of the oil tanker Marlin Luanda for containing a fire after the ship was struck by an anti-ship missile; and the captain and crew of the tugboat Pemex Maya for their rescue of six shipwrecked people from four different vessels during a hurricane.Nominations were initially reviewed by an Assessment Panel and their recommendations were considered by a Panel of Judges…
Xeneta: Perfect Storm for Container Shipping
![Source: Xeneta](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/source-xeneta-151576.jpg)
Global demand for ocean freight container shipping hit an all-time record in May amid soaring spot rates and severe port congestion.The 15.94m TEU transported by ocean in May beats the previous record of 15.72m TEU set in May 2021, according to data released by Xeneta and Container Trades Statistics.The record levels of demand in May brings year-to-date volumes to just under 74m TEU, which is an increase of 7.5% compared to the first five months of 2023.Emily Stausbøll…
Russian Oil Freight Rates Fall to Lowest Since 2022
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Freight rates to ship Russian oil have fallen this month towards parity with those for other global exporters for the first time since 2022 as more tankers were available despite Western sanctions and exports fell, three sources said on Wednesday.Freight rates to ship Russian oil soared to more than $20 million per voyage in 2022 after the West imposed sanctions and a $60 dollar price cap to try to…
Ineffective Bridge Resource Management Contributed to Grounding
![Source: ATSB](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/source-atsb-151574.png)
Ineffective bridge resource management contributed to the grounding of a bulk carrier in the Port of Bunbury, Western Australia, an ATSB investigation has found.The grounding occurred on April 22, 2023, as the 229-meter long, Isle of Man-registered bulk carrier World Diana was departing Bunbury under the conduct of a harbour pilot, with two tugs assisting.After being moved off its berth, the ship had…
Power Outages Hinder Hurricane Beryl Recovery, Delay Port Restarts
![(Photo: Jessica Fontenette / U.S. Coast Guard)](https://images.marinelink.com/images/maritime/w200h200c/photo-jessica-fontenette-us-coast-151573.jpg)
About 1.7 million customers remained without power in Texas on Wednesday morning, two days after Hurricane Beryl made landfall, as progress was slow during the night, hampering efforts to restore critical oil infrastructure.The storm made landfall as a Category 1 hurricane on Monday near the coastal town of Matagorda, about 100 miles (160 km) from Houston, lashing Texas with heavy winds that knocked…
Russian Attack Damages Ukrainian Port
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Russia launched 20 drones and five missiles at Ukraine on Wednesday, killing two people in the Black Sea region of Odesa, damaging port infrastructure and hitting an energy facility in the northwest, officials said.A truck driver and security guard were killed in the southern Odesa region during the missile attack, which damaged port warehouses, trucks and a civilian ship, regional governor Oleh Kiper said.