LR Certifies R/V Prince Madog Hydrogen Fuel Cell Retrofit
The UK-flagged research vessel Prince Madog has received certification for a hydrogen fuel cell retrofit, following approval by Lloyd’s Register (LR) under its ShipRight Risk Based Certification (RBC) framework. The certification was presented at Seaworks 2026 in Southampton.The project, delivered by vessel owner O.S. Energy’s Naval Architecture and R&D office in collaboration with hydrogen and clean energy systems specialist Ecomar Propulsion…
Damen to Deliver Multi Cat 2309 to Carmet Tug Company
On June 9, at the Seawork exhibition in Southampton, Damen Shipyards Group signed a contract with Carmet Tug Company for a Multi Cat (MuÇ) 2309. Merseyside UK-based towage and workboat company Carmet Tug Company operates a number of second-hand Damen vessels in its fleet, including a Shoalbuster (SBu) and Stan Tug (STu). In mid-May, Carmet's representatives visited Damen Shipyards Hardinxeld in the Netherlands to inspect and sail aboard the vessel.
HD KSOE, HD HHI, ABS Advance Battery Integration for Ultra-Large Container Ship
The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) have completed a joint development project for a high-efficiency 16,000-TEU ultra-large container ship equipped with a battery hybrid system.ABS awarded approval in principle (AiP) to HD KSOE and HD HHI for the vessel's electrical analysis and electrical design following…
Exmar Takes Delivery of 'World's First' Oceangoing Ammonia Dual-Fuel Vessel
Exmar has taken delivery of MGC ANTWERPEN, deemed by the Belgian shipping company as the world's first oceangoing vessel powered by a dual-fuel ammonia engine.The newbuild mid-size gas carrier is capable of carrying up to 46,000 cubic meters of ammonia or liquefied petroleum gas and can operate with close to zero emissions when fueled by low-carbon ammonia.Exmar said the vessel was developed in collaboration with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries…
REGENT’s Seaglider Set for Japan Take Off with New Certification Process
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Japan Airlines (JAL) have entered into an agreement with Lloyd's Register and U.S.-based REGENT Craft to jointly develop certification and operational approval processes for REGENT's fully electric Seaglider vessel, as the companies work toward commercial deployment in Japan.The initiative marks the first collaboration in Japan involving a classification society aimed…
Samsung Heavy Enlists GTT for LNG Carrier Pair Tank Designs
GTT has secured an order from Samsung Heavy Industries shipyard for the tank design of two new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers, on behalf of a Greek ship-owner.GTT will design the cryogenic tanks of the vessels, each offering a total capacity of 174,000 m3.The tanks will be fitted with the Mark III Flex membrane containment system, a technology developed by GTT.Delivery of the vessels is scheduled between the first and second quarters of 2029.
China Oil Imports Collapse; Down 29%
China's trade in major commodities in May underscored that price moves are the primary driver of changes in flows in the world's biggest buyer of natural resources.The headline-grabbing number from customs data was the collapse in crude oil imports to an eight-year low of just 7.79 million barrels per day (bpd). The fallout from the war in Iran was blamed for the 29% slump in crude imports. In the months prior to the start of the conflict on February 28…
COSCO Installs 2GW Converter Platform for China’s Offshore Wind Farm
COSCO Shipping Specialized Carriers has completed the transport and float-over installation of an offshore converter platform for the Qingzhou V & VII offshore wind project, a key milestone in what the company described as the world's first 2 GW offshore high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system.The converter platform, weighing about 25,000 tonnes, is among the largest offshore structures…
Two Crew Missing After Tanker Engine Room Fire off Oman
The U.S. military carried out a "precision" strike on a vessel in the Gulf of Oman that failed to follow its instructions and was carrying oil from Iran, it said, while India said three Indian seafarers were missing after the attack on the tanker.The U.S. began a blockade of Iran-related shipping on April 13 after Iran severely curtailed shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a major global oil and gas route.The U.S. military's Central Command (Centcom) said a U.S.
Western Africa Import of Clean Petroleum Crashes 44% YOY
"During April to May, Western Africa’s clean petroleum product (CPP) imports fell 44% year on year, from 1,144 thousand barrels per day (kbpd) to 642 kbpd,” says Niels Rasmussen, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.The drop in import volumes cut tonne miles by 47% year on year, lowering the region’s share of global CPP tonne miles from 5.3% to 3.6%. LR1 and LR2 product tankers recorded the largest declines…
Oil Holds Steady as Markets Assess Renewed US-Iran Hostilities
Oil prices were steady on Wednesday, as renewed U.S.-Iran hostilities muddied direction, though a forecast U.S. stock draw offered support.Brent futures LCOc1 were up 25 cents, or 0.27%, to $91.70 a barrel at 0736 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude CLc1 was up 23 cents, or 0.26%, to $88.43 a barrel.Prices traded higher earlier on renewed strikes between the U.S. and Iran, before retreating towards the previous session's close.Global stock draws are underpinning prices…
Dominguez Warns: No Safe Hormuz Passage
Secretary-General of the IMO, Arsenio Dominguez, has issued a warning to the shipping industry:"I am increasingly concerned by reports that vessels continue to attempt to transit the Strait of Hormuz without any credible security guarantees, despite well‑established risks and the fact that seafarers have already been killed, injured and others detained in recent incidents.“My primary concern is for the safety and lives of the seafarers being placed in these situations.
Oil Cargo to Philippines Identified as Iranian Came from Russia
An oil cargo delivered to the Philippines that Kpler had said last month originated from Iran was actually from Russia, the shiptracking firm said this week.Kpler data that had showed the Suezmax tanker Ocean Start delivered Iranian oil crude to Petron's Bataan refinery on May 17 was revised to show the tanker delivered Urals crude from Russia, Kpler told Reuters on Monday.The revision was due to a review of further information on the voyage…
CMA CGM Chief: “Unwise” to Assume Hormuz Will Return to Pre-War Situation
It would be "unwise" to assume that the situation in the Strait of Hormuz will return to how it was before the Iran war, the head of French shipping group CMA CGM said on Tuesday.CMA CGM, the world's third-largest container line, is among firms with vessels stranded inside the Gulf since the start of the conflict that has virtually closed the waterway, which carries a fifth of global oil and LNG supply."Even if a solution for peace is implemented in the coming weeks…
Russia Conducts Baltic Sea Drills During NATO Exercises in the Region
Russia's navy has conducted military drills in the Baltic Sea, practising unguided missile launches, bombing runs and missile strikes, it said, as major U.S.-NATO exercises also took place in the region, the Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday.The NATO BALTOPS naval exercise, which began on June 4 and runs until June 20, are the biggest war games in the Baltic Sea this year, bringing together some 20 vessels from 15 nations with around 6…
India's Ship Certifier Cancels Certification for More Than 200 Vessels Amidst Sanctions
India's ship safety certifier is taking a tougher stance on vessels involved in evading international trade sanctions, by cancelling the certification of more than 200 tankers and other ships since 2023, the head of the agency told Reuters.The Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass) is among the world's leading ship certifiers and removal from its list is likely to complicate a vessel's ability to secure insurance and potentially access ports.Since 2023…
The Heavy Lift Group: Navigating a New Reality in Project Cargo Logistics
Escalating geopolitical tensions and regional conflicts are having a profound impact on international trade, subjecting supply chains to intense operational volatility, rigid compliance demands, and significant financial pressures. Out of necessity, logistics providers are taking a more selective, risk-averse approach when preparing and executing their business plans.For The Heavy Lift Group (THLG)…
US Energy Chief: Oil Exports, Ship Traffic Through Hormuz Will Continue to Rise
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said on Tuesday that ship traffic in the Gulf and oil exports through the Strait of Hormuz are rising even as Washington and Tehran struggle to reach a deal on ending their more than three-month-old war."I would say rising very meaningfully," Wright said when asked how ship traffic is flowing through the strait compared to a week or two ago. He said oil exports through…
Norwegian Parliament Votes to Review Floating Wind Subsidies
Norway's parliament on Tuesday ordered the government to review its planned subsidy for the country's first commercial floating offshore wind farm, raising concerns of a full development stop and a wider impact on energy transition projects.A proposal by the opposition Conservative Party seeking financial scrutiny of a 35 billion Norwegian crowns ($3.70 billion) subsidy for floating wind was supported by the Progress Party, the Christian People's Party, and the far-left Red Party.The minority go
US Navy Drone Rescues Apache Helicopter Crew
In a first, a Navy surface drone found and rescued two crew members from an Army Apache attack helicopter that went down in waters near Oman's coast, the U.S. military told Reuters, and President Donald Trump said the pilots were "fine."The U.S. military's Central Command said the AH-64 Apache went down at around 3 a.m. local time on Tuesday (2300 GMT on Monday) near the coast of Oman while patrolling regional waters.It gave no reason for the crash. The U.S.
