MSC's Mariner Math: Rebuilding the Workforce Behind the Fleet
The U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command is a critical part of the United States’ national security equation, as any navy only goes as far as its supply chain allows. RADM Benjamin Nicholson, Commander, U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command, visited with Maritime Matters: The MarineLink Podcast, for a deep discussion on MSC, including changes in mariner pay and benefits that will enable it to attract…
Bollinger Shipyards Remains on Track for US Arctic Security Cutter Program
Bollinger Shipyards this week welcomed Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Russ Vought, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard Adm. Kevin Lunday, and senior Coast Guard and Administration officials to its Houma and LaShip facilities for a firsthand look at progress on the Arctic Security Cutter (ASC) program.During the visit, Bollinger leadership provided updates on construction readiness…
Gecko Robotics, Anduril to Accelerate American Shipbuilding with Robotics, AI
Gecko Robotics announced a partnership with Anduril Industries to help accelerate American shipbuilding using advanced robotics, AI-powered software, and automated quality assurance. The partnership will support Anduril's Arsenal-2, a new software-defined shipyard in Baltimore County, Maryland, announced as part of the company's $3.7 billion investment to expand production for the Virginia-class submarine program.
Asian Countries Rush to Stockpile Oil, Accelerate Renewables Amidst Iran War
Asian countries are racing to raise their oil stockpiling capacity, complete a regional power grid and speed up renewables in response to supply risks laid bare by the Iran war.Southeast Asia has been worst hit by the energy impact as 80% of the oil transported through the Strait of Hormuz from the Gulf flowed to the region before the Iran war began."The most advanced efforts are support for the development…
Turkish Foreign Minister: Russia, Ukraine Are Increasing Black Sea Attacks
Intensifying attacks by Russia and Ukraine ahead of the winter are further endangering navigational safety in the Black Sea, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Thursday, adding that world powers must not allow the region to be turned into a new front in the war.NATO member Turkey, which has maintained good ties with both Moscow and Kyiv since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022…
US Natural Gas Prices Steady as Storage Build Offsets Hurricane Isaias
US natural gas futures held near a two-week high on Thursday as a bigger-than-expected storage build last week offset the drop in output in recent days as energy firms reduced flows on offshore Gulf of Mexico pipelines ahead of Hurricane Isaias.Front-month gas futures for November delivery <NGc1> on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell 1.1 cents, or 0.3%, to $3.192 per million British thermal units (mmBtu).
Iran to Close Hormuz Routes, Risk of Tanker Attack Rises
Tankers are facing a higher risk of attacks and intimidation as they try to get critical shipments through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran issued new warnings it would block routes that it has not authorized, sources said.Last week already saw the biggest number of attacks on tankers in the key waterway since the Iran war began - cutting the number of vessels trying to get through to the lowest in…
Syria Calls on IMO, Bulgaria for Probe into Sinking Ship
Syria called on the International Maritime Organization and Bulgarian authorities on Thursday to conduct an independent investigation into the sinking of a cargo ship in the Black Sea, whose 10 crew members including 9 Syrians were missing.The investigation should look into why search and rescue operations stopped before the fate of the missing crew was determined, said Mazen Aloush, director for international…
BIMCO Adopts Energy Saving Device Retrofit Addendum
The shipping industry is working to improve fuel efficiency and ship performance to address decarbonization requirements, new regulations and rising operational costs. To support these developments, BIMCO has adopted the Energy Saving Device Retrofit Addendum 2026.The new contractual framework is designed to facilitate the installation of energy-saving devices during the period of a time charter. It provides owners and charterers with a flexible mechanism for agreeing how the costs…
DFDS Adds Freight, Passenger Ferry to Strait of Gibraltar Route
DFDS is strengthening its presence in the Strait of Gibraltar by adding a combined freight and passenger ferry on the Algeciras-Tanger Med route, increasing capacity and flexibility for customers traveling and transporting goods between Europe and North Africa.Following regulatory approval by the Spanish and Moroccan competition authorities, DFDS has finalized an agreement with Naviera Armas to acquire the combined freight and passenger ferry, Volcán de Tamasite.
Veson Nautical, Marcura to Streamline Demurrage Management
Veson Nautical and Marcura announced an expanded partnership that connects Marcura Claims, Marcura’s platform for laytime and demurrage management, with IMOS, Veson’s flagship solution for commercial freight contract management and voyage execution, giving joint clients more options for managing demurrage claims.Organizations in today’s markets operate a variety of unique workflows, especially when it comes to demurrage management.
Windward Intelligence Report: October 8
Windward publishes quarterly intelligence reports tracking developments across global shipping.From the Q3 report:Four navies struck merchant ships, including Iran, Russia, Ukraine, and the United States.Iranian attacks in the Middle East Gulf doubled to 45. Black Sea attacks quadrupled to about 86.The Houthis declared a blockade on Saudi-linked shipping, and Bab el-Mandeb traffic fell by a quarter.The…
HiFleet Schedule Watch Shanghai Call Reinstatements Outpace Omissions, Delta Rotations Revised Again
Key findingsComparing schedule versions received from 18 September to 8 October 2026, HiFleet found that Shanghai calls remain a key focus of service revisions by several liner operators, and that reinstatements continue to outnumber omissions. The sample contains 39 confirmed Shanghai call cancellations - 21 direct omissions and 9 replacements - against 49 confirmed additions or reinstatements. Of the 21 omissions…
SoundWaters, Derecktor Shipyards Share Inside Look into R/V Brewer
Derecktor Shipyards and SoundWaters welcomed state and local officials to Derecktor’s Mamaroneck shipyard yesterday for an inside look at the R/V Brewer, a new educational research vessel under construction for SoundWaters. Representatives from both organizations provided information about the vessel’s construction, why Derecktor was a good fit for the project and how this new vessel will play a key…
Thordon Bearings Opens New Manufacturing Facility
Thordon Bearings has opened a new manufacturing facility as part of its strategic response to robust growth across all business segments and rising demand for its sustainable bearings and seals.The third plant provides ample additional space for Thordon to manufacture complementary non-bearing equipment, boost production output, minimize lead times and develop future products.Located at 3180 Mainway…
By the Numbers: LR2 Demand Grows
"During the first nine months of 2026, clean product volumes loaded on LR2 tankers fell 28% year-on-year following disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. Despite the lower volumes, tonne-mile demand increased 2% year-on-year,” says Niels Rasmussen, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.LR2 product tankers loaded on average 2.1 million barrels per day (mbpd) of clean products during the first three quarters of 2026, 0.8 mbpd less than in the same period of 2025.
Lamprell Picks IMI for Offshore Platforms and Jackets Fabrication
Lamprell has signed an agreement with International Maritime Industries (IMI) to fabricate several offshore structures, including a production platform and jackets, at IMI's Ras Al-Khair facility in Saudi Arabia.The fabrication work forms part of an offshore engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) project being delivered by Lamprell.The agreement marks the first offshore production platform and jacket fabrication scope undertaken at IMI's Ras Al-Khair yard…
Seatrium Signs FSRU Conversion Deal with Excelerate Energy
Seatrium has secured an engineering, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning (EPCIC) contract from Excelerate Energy to convert an LNG carrier into a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), with an option for a second conversion.The project marks Seatrium's first EPCIC FSRU conversion contract for Excelerate Energy, with engineering work expected to begin in the fourth quarter…
Oil Stabilizes as IEA Moves to Speed Up Emergency Stock Releases
Oil prices settled lower on Wednesday following a choppy session after the International Energy Agency agreed to speed up a release of oil stocks and prioritize diesel in a bid to curb record-high fuel prices as the Iran war squeezes global supplies.Brent crude futures LCOc1 settled down 38 cents, or 0.38%, at $100.20 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures CLc1 settled down $1.16…
