Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Christens Car Ferry HAMANASU
Second of Two Large Car Ferries Ordered by Shinnihonkai Ferry and Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency Second ferries in Japan to use a buttock-flow stern hull and ducktail design, providing energy savings of 5% Delivery scheduled for June 2026, planned to go into service between Otaru and MaizuruMitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group…
Nineteen Illegal Fishers Plead Guilty in Australia
Nineteen Indonesian nationals pleaded guilty to illegally fishing in Australian waters in five separate cases at Darwin Local Court on September 30.The first four matters arose from incidents where Australian authorities identified, intercepted, and apprehended Indonesian vessels fishing illegally in Northern Territory between September 7 and 11, 2025.ABF seized 1,200 kg of sea cucumbers, more than 2,000 kg of salt used to process and preserve catch and a large quantity of fishing equipment.
Report Highlights Family Grief After Gulf Livestock 1 Capsize
A comprehensive independent investigation by Bloomberg into the 2020 sinking of the Gulf Livestock 1 has just been aired.For the families of the seafarers lost, it's been an ongoing saga of hope and sadness as some mounted their own search and rescue efforts and fought for more information on what went wrong. The livestock carrier was sailing from New Zealand to China with 43 crew and approximately 6…
Seven Shipping Associations Call for IMO Adoption of NZF
Heads of seven shipping associations have called for the IMO to adopt its Net-Zero Framework (NZF) at the crucial vote in October. Anything else would be a major setback for the green transition and risk leaving the industry with a complicated patchwork of regional climate regulations.Next week the 176 members of the IMO will convene in London to formally adopt the historic agreement on binding climate…
GCMD and IAPH Forge Decarbonization Coalition Across Global Ports
The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) and the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) have signed a two-year partnership agreement aimed at accelerating the decarbonization of the maritime sector.IAPH has a global port network comprising more than 200 port authorities and operators in over 85 countries. Together, GCMD and IAPH aim to strengthen the industry’s readiness…
What do Russia–China Dynamics Mean for the Icebreakers Market
The Arctic is no longer a remote expanse beyond the edges of global commerce — it is now a contested arena where strategic competition, energy development, and maritime innovation converge. As climate change accelerates sea ice retreat, previously impassable waters are opening to navigation for longer periods each year. This change unlocks shorter trade routes, exposes massive untapped hydrocarbon and minerals reserves…
Sustainable Fuel Chicken and Egg Redux. Maybe Some Ports Can Fix It.
In a recent sustainable fuel panel discussion, I once again found my self sucked into the sustainable fuel chicken and egg conundrum.I have discussed it before; shipowners will not buy ships that use a fuel for which no viable supply chain exists and fuel suppliers will not develop supply chains for which no buyers exist.In general, it is very difficult to break a chicken and egg conundrum, except through a direct directive or through…
UK's First Electric Sightseeing Vessel, Powered by VULKAN UK, Takes to the Thames
VULKAN UK has provided the electrical design expertise and power profiles that enables the Silver Raven, the UK’s first fully electric sightseeing vessel, to begin operation in autumn 2025.Commissioned by Woods Tours, designed by One2Three Naval Architects, and built at Pendennis Shipyard in Cornwall, the 39-meter Silver Raven will carry up to 250 passengers per voyage. The vessel will navigate London’s central waterways…
ABB to Supply Automation and Electrification Technology for Floating Green Ammonia Production Vessel
ABB has signed a term sheet agreement with SwitcH2 to engineer and supply automation and electrification solutions for SwitcH2’s floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) unit dedicated to producing green ammonia from green hydrogen, to support future demand for low-carbon marine fuels.The FPSO facility will be stationed off the coast of Portugal and powered by certified renewable electricity from the national grid under a Power Purchase Agreements.
Lagersmit, Subsea Global Solutions Strengthen Partnership in Southeast Asia
Lagersmit, a provider of advanced sealing solutions and a member of The Timken Company, and Subsea Global Solutions, a leader in underwater ship repair and marine services, announced the renewal and expansion of their long-term partnership.The collaboration strengthens both companies’ presence in Singapore and the wider Southeast Asian maritime market, ensuring shipowners, operators, and OEMs in the…
USTR Fees Could Hit 35% of key sectors' ships
When fees from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) targeting Chinese dominance of the maritime sector come into effect October 14, 2025, 35% of ships in the combined bulk, crude tanker, product tanker and container fleet could be subject to additional fees when calling a US port. Even though these ships provide 44% of the combined fleet’s capacity, US importers and exporters should not expect increasing freight rates…
Molgas Brings Dutch LNG Bunker Supplier Titan Clean Fuels Into Its Fold
Spanish-based Molgas Energy Group, backed by infrastructure investor InfraVia, has finalized the full acquisition of Titan Energy Holding, parent company of Dutch liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunker supplier Titan Clean Fuels.The transaction, which follows Molgas’ initial 45% minority stake, marks a major step forward in the group’s strategic growth in the clean marine fuels sector.Titan is an independent supplier of liquefied biomethane (LBM/bio-LNG) and LNG…
Uncertainty Mounts as U.S. Port Fees on Chinese-Built Ships Near Deadline
The U.S. is one week away from imposing port fees on certain vessels with links to China, a move expected to cost the top 10 carriers $3.2 billion next year as President Donald Trump seeks to address China's growing dominance on the high seas."While some observers believe the October 14 deadline may be extended - or even scrapped - as part of broader negotiations, the uncertainty has already unsettled carriers…
Helsing to Acquire Australian AUV Specialist Blue Ocean
German defense technology company Helsing has started a process of acquiring Blue Ocean, an Australian-based ocean technology company that designs, develops, and operates autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs).The acquisition will integrate Blue Ocean’s hardware and manufacturing capabilities with Helsing’s Artificial Intelligence (AI), integrating Blue Ocean’s team and operations into Helsing, with operations continuing in the UK and Australia.Together…
AI Goods and Frontloading Lift World Trade in 2025
In the October update of "Global Trade Outlook and Statistics", WTO economists provide new analysis on the build-up in inventories in 2025 and the robust trade in artificial intelligence-related goods such as semiconductors, servers, and telecommunications equipment.They note however that trade growth will likely slow in 2026 as the impact of the cooling global economy and new tariffs set in.Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said: "Countries' measured response to tariff changes in general…
Minervagracht Crew Member Dies
A crew member of the Dutch cargo ship that was attacked by Houthis in the Gulf of Aden last week has died of his injuries, the vessel's Amsterdam-based operator Spliethoff said in a statement Monday evening.The company did not release further details about the deceased crew member, but a spokesperson told a Dutch broadcaster they were Filipino.The vessel, Minervagracht, was in international waters…
Tanker Freight Rates for Russian Crude to India Climb
Tanker freight rates for shipping Urals crude from Russia’s western ports to India rose further in late September and early October, tracking a sharp increase in loadings last month, industry sources said.Indian refiners continue to buy Russian oil despite punitive U.S. tariffs on goods imported from India after it defied a demand for it to stop the Russian imports.Crude exports from Russia’s western ports of Primorsk…
Determining Trump's China-Linked Port Fees is Shipowners’ Responsibility
The U.S. is one week away from imposing port fees on certain vessels with links to China, a move expected to cost the top 10 carriers $3.2 billion next year as President Donald Trump seeks to address China's growing dominance on the high seas."While some observers believe the October 14 deadline may be extended — or even scrapped — as part of broader negotiations, the uncertainty has already unsettled carriers…
Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Down in September
Shipments of iron ore from U.S. ports on the Great Lakes decreased 14.2 percent from 2024 to 4.7 million tons in September. Shipments were below the month’s 5-year average by 7.4 percent.Year-to-date, the iron ore trade stands at 31.4 million tons, a 14 percent decrease compared to last year. Through September, iron ore loadings are 6.6 percent below their 5-year average for the first three quarters of the year.Since 1880…
Crew Connectivity Evolves from Luxury to Lifeline
The maritime industry has long wrestled with the challenge of attracting and retaining skilled seafarers. But according to Eric Griffin, VP of Offshore Energy & Fishing, Maritime, at Inmarsat, one factor now sits firmly at the center of the conversation: seamless connectivity.On October 22, Maritime Reporter & Engineering News will host a webinar entilted Crewed Up or Crew Cut? Rethinking retention and recruitment at sea.
