Maritime Industry Top News
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…
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 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…
Union Maritime Launches Wind-Assisted Ship With Norsepower Rotor Sails™

Union Maritime, a UK shipowner, has launched its first wind-assisted vessel, Buran, fitted with Norsepower Rotor Sails™ designed to harness wind energy and enhance fuel efficiency.Its launch marks a major milestone as the company seeks to expand its fleet with 34 wind-assisted ships, including six chemical tankers equipped with Norsepower Rotor Sails™. Once complete, Union Maritime will operate the largest fleet using this technology globally…
MOL Looks to Seize Opportunities as Trade Routes Shift Due to Tariffs

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), Japan's second-largest shipping company, aims to capitalize on opportunities that emerge from a shift in trade routes driven by new U.S. tariffs, CEO Takeshi Hashimoto said.The highest U.S. tariffs in more than a hundred years came into force on Wednesday, roiling global markets."Trade routes will inevitably be reshuffled," Hashimoto told Reuters in an interview on Tuesday."We'll likely see increased trade from low-tariff countries and declines from high-tariff ones…
OEG Unveils Geometry Assurance Software for Ships and Subsea Vessels

OEG Energy Group (OEG) has officially unveiled GEOBASE, an offshore industry’s first dedicated vessel dimensional control assurance solution for survey and positioning systems onboard ships and subsea vehicles to feature calibration software.It has been developed as a database to help document survey vessel geometry and standardize the measurement of vessel dimensions, sensor placements, and reference points.Alongside this…
DOF Gets Subsea Mooring Installation Job in Asia Pacific

Norwegian offshore supply vessel operator DOF Group has secured a contract for subsea mooring installation services in Western Australia.Under the contract, DOF will use Skandi Hercules construction support vessel (CSV) with for moorings and installation subsea services.The scope of work includes DOF’s in-house project management and engineering, procurement and logistics support services.Skandi Hercules…
DEME to Buy Havfram in $985M Deal

Belgium-based offshore installation services company DEME has signed an agreement to acquire Havfram, an offshore wind installation contract based in Norway, in a deal worth $985.5 million.The strategic acquisition aligns with DEME's ambition to expand its footprint in the offshore wind energy market and enhances its competitive positioning in turbine and foundation installations.Havfram is a Norwegian…
US Threatens IMO with Tariffs

The Trump administration has pulled out of the decarbonization negotiations taking place at the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) 83rd session this week.The US government is threatening reciprocal measures if any fees are imposed on US vessels based on GHG emissions or fuel choices.The 2023 IMO GHG Strategy outlines a set of “mid-term measures” aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping.
Hegseth Fine-Tunes Trump’s Panama Canal Rhetoric

The United States will "take back" the Panama Canal from Chinese influence, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday during a visit to the Central American nation.After talks with Panama's government, Hegseth vowed to deepen security cooperation with Panamanian security forces and said China would not be allowed to "weaponize" the canal by using Chinese firms' commercial relationships for espionage."Together…
HEMEXPO Joins Decarbonization Project

The marine equipment manufacturers and exporters association for the international shipping industry, HEXEMPO, has joined the EU Horizon Innovation Action project entitled “Sustainable Emission Abatement Strategies & Technologies for Advanced Revolution Ships” (SEASTARS).The initiative aims to achieve a minimum 30% reduction in well-to-wake greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 (compared to 2008 levels)…
New Partnership to Develop Advanced Autonomous Naval Craft

US based defense company Eureka Naval Craft has signed a partnership agreement with Australian marine tech company Greenroom Robotics.Eureka Naval Craft CEO Bo Jardine said the partnership with Greenroom will drive the most advanced autonomous systems ever developed for naval vessels and will also be spun into the workboat commercial marine market. The signing comes after the parties earlier this month unveiled designs for the first fully autonomous naval attack craft the AIRCAT Bengal…
Van Ameyde Marine UK Appoints New MD

Global marine surveying and consultancy firm Van Ameyde Marine has appointed Chris Boyd as the new Managing Director of Van Ameyde Marine, UK.Boyd has over 30 years’ experience in the maritime industry. He started his career in the Royal Navy, specializing in hydrographic surveying, before becoming a naval architect and systems integrator. His focus was on marine cargo, heavy lift operations and the…
Moose Boats Delivers Harbor Patrol Catamaran

Moose Boats, a boat designer and manufacturer in the San Francisco Bay Area, has delivered an M2-36 catamaran to the Santa Barbara Harbor Patrol.The M2 will serve as both a law enforcement and fireboat responding throughout the Santa Barbara harbor and coastal region.The build features twin 300 HP Suzuki outboards with contra-rotating dual stainless-steel propellers.A dedicated Volvo Penta diesel engine that powers its firefighting capabilities with up to 1…
Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Drop Below Five-Year Average in March

Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes were below one million tons in March, a decrease of 39.1% compared to 2024, reports the Lake Carriers’ Association. Loadings were also below the month’s five-year average by 19.4%.Year-to-date, the iron ore trade stands at nearly three million tons, a decrease of 31.9% compared to a year ago. Iron ore shipments are 15.2% below their five-year average for the first three months of the year.Since 1880…
World’s First Hydrogen-Powered Cruise Ship to Debut 2026

Viking and Fincantieri have announced that the Viking Libra, the world’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship, capable of operating with zero emissions is scheduled for delivery in 2026.The vessel is already under construction at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard, and Viking’s subsequent ocean ship, the Viking Astrea, is also currently under construction and scheduled for delivery in 2027.Both vessels will…