Livestock Carrier Towed to Safety after Engine Failure
The 116-meter livestock carrier Blue Ocean A was towed to safety after suffering engine failure in adverse conditions on January 28.The Saint Kitts and Nevis-flagged vessel was sailing off the island of Saint Peter, Italy, on its way to Spain with 33 crew on board when a request for help was sent. Winds of over 50 knots and waves as high as five meters pushed the ship towards shore making operations particularly complex…
Teamwork Required to Thwart Illegal Wildlife Trade
Last week, Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California had disrupted several major wildlife trafficking operations, including seizing hundreds of illegal products made from ivory, rhino horn, walrus tusks, suspected bear gall bladders, saiga antelope, and turtle shells.“The international illegal market for these products encourages poaching and threatens global biodiversity — California wants no part of it.
Cause of Trawler Flooding Uncertain
The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has released its report into the flooding and foundering of the stern trawler Opportune off Scotland, with uncertainty remaining about the cause.On 24 March 2024, the 23.95m UK registered Opportune foundered 36 miles east of Lerwick, Scotland. Opportune’s eight crew were later rescued uninjured from the vessel’s liferafts by coastguard helicopters. The vessel was not recovered.
Longer Sailing Distances Boost Bulker Demand
BIMCO estimates that the dry bulk supply/demand balance will remain stable in 2026 and weaken in 2027.“An improvement in the economic and demand outlook has led us to revise our demand forecast for 2026 up by 0.5 percentage points,” says Filipe Gouveia, Shipping Analysis Manager at BIMCO.The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised global economic growth projections for 2026 up 0.2 percentage points amid stimulus policies and strong investment in technology and AI.
CMA CGM Reacts to Harsh Atlantic Weather
French shipping and transport company CMA CGM said on Thursday it was taking measures to put some of its vessels in areas of safety due to harsh weather in parts of the Atlantic."Severe weather conditions are currently impacting the navigation conditions in the Atlantic, along the French, Spanish and Moroccan coastlines, with an event of exceptional intensity and duration, particularly in the Bay of Biscay…
Laura DiBella Designated as Chairman of FMC
On January 28, 2026, President Donald J. Trump designated Laura DiBella to serve as Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission.Chairman DiBella was sworn in as a Commissioner on January 6, 2026. She was nominated by President Trump on September 3, 2025 and confirmed by the United States Senate on December 18, 2025, to serve a term that expires on June 30, 2028.“It was a true honor to simply be nominated as a Commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission…
Coast Guard Conducts Icebreaking in New York Harbor and Hudson River
The U.S. Coast Guard is actively conducting icebreaking operations in New York Harbor and the Hudson River in response to worsening ice conditions caused by prolonged extreme cold and Winter Storm Fern. Ice conditions have developed and expanded quickly across New York Harbor and the Hudson River, with significant ice formation now affecting the waterway from New York Harbor north through the Hudson Valley.
TKMS, Seaspan Shipyards to Support Sovereign Sustainment for Canadian Patrol Submarine Project
TKMS and Seaspan, Canada’s largest shipbuilding, design and repair company, have signed a Teaming Agreement to collaborate in support of the Government of Canada’s objective to achieve a sovereign capability for the sustainment and through-life support of naval ships. The collaboration focuses on the Canadian Patrol Submarine Project (CPSP) with potential further opportunities arising from TKMS’s international customers and programs.
Furuno Introduces FELCOM20 for GMDSS Safety, Global Communications
Furuno has introduced the FELCOM20, an Inmarsat-C Ship Earth Station engineered to meet the requirements of GMDSS, LRIT, and SSAS applications. Built to deliver ship-to-shore communication in even the harshest maritime environments, the FELCOM20 provides mariners with the confidence and capability they need to operate safely anywhere in the world.Designed for operational versatility, the FELCOM20 supports a range of essential communication services…
Two Wallenius Vessels Achieve Top Rating for Energy Efficiency
The first two vessels in the Sleipner concept – Way Forward and Future Way – have, after just over a year in operation, demonstrated high performance, low fuel consumption and CII values far below current requirement levels. This means they emit less CO2 per transported unit than the average for comparable vessels, placing them in the highest energy efficiency class (A) according to the IMO’s international classification.
Oil Prices Surge 3% on Worries of US Action Against Iran
Oil prices climbed about 3% to a five-month high on Thursday on rising concerns that global supplies could be disrupted if the U.S. decides to attack Iran, one of the biggest crude producers in OPEC.Brent futures rose $2.10, or 3.1%, to $70.50 a barrel by 11:07 a.m. EST (1607 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) gained $2.09, or 3.3%, to $65.30.That pushed both crude benchmarks into technically…
Royal Caribbean Raises Annual Profit Forecast on Strong Demand
Royal Caribbean forecast annual profit above Wall Street estimates on Thursday, supported by strong demand from affluent travelers and a solid start to a key booking season.Shares of Royal Caribbean jumped about 16% in early trading, as the cruise operator also forecast double-digit revenue growth in 2026.Royal Caribbean said the first weeks of Wave, the key January‑to‑March booking period when cruise operators roll out exclusive deals…
U.S. Sends Additional Warship to Middle East Amidst Iran Tensions
The U.S. Navy has sent an additional warship to the Middle East, a U.S. official told Reuters on Thursday, amid a large military buildup in the region and soaring tensions.The official, who was speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the USS Delbert D. Black had entered the region in the past 48 hours. This brings the number of destroyers in the Middle East to six, along with an aircraft carrier and three other littoral combat ships.
France Calls Draft Law on Oil Exploration in Overseas Territories
French Finance Minister Roland Lescure called a draft law proposing to allow offshore oil and gas exploration in its overseas territories "anachronistic" during a debate in the country's Senate on Thursday.In a world first, France banned new oil and gas exploration and production licenses in 2017, hoping other nations would follow suit. But energy security fears following the loss of Russian gas, along with worries over increased reliance on U.S.
Clarus Networks to Deliver Maritime Connectivity for CalMac Ferries
Clarus Networks has been awarded a 12-month contract to provide satellite connectivity, technical support, and centralized fleet network management for CalMac Ferries, the UK’s largest ferry operator.The contract, awarded via Public Contracts Scotland, will see Clarus deliver a pooled Starlink data service across CalMac’s operational fleet, offering high-speed, low-latency connectivity designed to enhance operational performance…
Wärtsilä to Provide Electric Propulsion Solution for Third Molslinjen Ferry
Wärtsilä will supply a fully integrated electric propulsion system with waterjets for a new high-speed catamaran ferry being built for Danish ferry operator Molslinjen. This is the third in a series of battery-electric vessels being built at the Incat shipyard in Tasmania. Wärtsilä solutions will drive all three ships.Wärtsilä’s scope of supply includes the integrated electric propulsion system, the DC power conversion system…
Lloyd’s Register to Take Over OCX Consortium Leadership
Lloyd’s Register (LR) will assume the Chair of The Open Class 3D Exchange (OCX) Consortium this month (January 2026).LR’s Nathan Lindop will take over as both Chair and Coordinator of the Consortium, succeeding DNV’s Ole Christian Astrup, who has held the position since the group’s formation in 2019.The planned rotation comes as the initiative moves from its early development phase into broader industry adoption…
Ocean Endeavour on Charter to Danish Defence
SunStone Maritime Group has chartered its expedition vessel, the Ocean Endeavour, to the Danish Defence.
WMU Report Highlights Growing Strain on Seafarers' Work, Health and Retention
The World Maritime University (WMU) has published a new report, In Search of a Sea-Life Balance in an Adverse Environment, shedding light on the realities of seafarers’ work, health and career intentions in today’s shipping industry. Commissioned by the Officers’ Union of International Seamen (OUIS), the study draws on responses from 4,372 seafarers representing 99 nationalities, making it one of the…
US Hoists Names Michael Cetta as Chief Operating Officer
US Hoists Corp has announced the appointment of Michael Cetta as Chief Operating Officer.A Center Moriches native, Cetta earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Farmingdale State College and brings an educational foundation and a proven record of leadership to his new role.With experience spanning business ownership, sales leadership, and project management, Cetta has demonstrated versatility across both small and large organizations.
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