Chinese Stealth Drone Successfully Takes Off, Lands on Amphibious Assault Ship
China's first carrier-based stealth reconnaissance and strike drone, the GJ-21, recently completed its first takeoff and landing on the Sichuan, the country's first Type 076 amphibious assault ship, state news agency Xinhua reported on Friday.The trial underscores Beijing's push to integrate drone technology into its military modernisation drive, a decades-long effort in which China has developed advanced warships…
Dockworkers Strike Continues Friday Against Arms Shipments
Dockworkers went on strike across Europe and beyond on Friday, disrupting shipping and ferries as they protested against the use of their ports for arms shipments and the number of seafarers killed in wars from the Gulf to the Black Sea.Strikers across 113 ports in 22 countries also called for pay rises, better working conditions and the right to have doctors on board vessels crossing war zones."We will not work for their wars, and we will not become food for their cannons," Apostolos Kypraios,
Oil Leak Stopped From Tanker Offshore UAE, Clean Up Efforts Continue
The United Arab Emirates said on Friday that an oil leak from the Gem No. 2 tanker had been stopped, with no new leakage detected, as cleanup operations continued along coastlines affected by the spill.The oil slick is concentrated off the northern emirate of Umm Al Quwain and extends partly towards coastal areas in the neighbouring northern emirates of Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman and Sharjah, state news agency WAM reported, citing the environment ministry.
TOTE Services Selects Hanwha Defense USA for Medium Landing Ship Program
TOTE Services, LLC, a U.S. maritime services company specializing in vessel construction management and ship management, announced its first shipyard selection, Hanwha Defense USA (HDUS), for the Medium Landing Ship (LSM) program under TOTE Services’ Vessel Construction Manager (VCM) contract for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.As VCM for the LSM program, TOTE Services issued a request for proposals (RFP) to qualified U.S. shipyards in July 2026.
Bureau Veritas Opens Cruise Excellence Center in Miami
Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV) has announced the launch of a new Cruise Center of Excellence in Miami, to connect customers in local proximity to a global network of BV experts dedicated to supporting operators as they navigate increasingly complex market environments.The cruise hub joins BV’s global network of Centers of Excellence across sectors including Gas (Doha) and Offshore (Singapore, Shanghai, and Kuala Lumpur).
Portchain Acquired by StormGeo, Advancing Just-in-Time Voyage Optimization
StormGeo, part of Alfa Laval, has acquired Portchain, a provider of berth alignment software connecting terminals and carriers through shared, real-time port call data. The acquisition adds port call coordination to StormGeo’s Voyage Intelligence, creating the foundation for a new approach to Just-in-Time voyage optimization at scale. The goal is to connect decisions about route and speed with the latest information on berth availability and terminal plans…
ClassNK Releases Second Edition of Cyber Security Management Guidelines
ClassNK has released the second edition of its "Guidelines for Cyber Security Management System for Ships." Intended for shipowners and ship management companies, the guidelines set out the requirements for a Cyber Security Management System (CSMS), through which a Company addresses the cyber risks associated with ship operations as part of its day-to-day work, from governance and responsibilities ashore and onboard to the technical controls applied to shipboard systems.
Corn Belt Ports See Notable Freight Tonnage Growth in 2026
In the most recent annual report released by the U.S. Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center, two Corn Belt Ports regions took top honors for showing some of the highest growth rates in the inland waterway port system. The Mid-America Port Commission (IL, MO, IA), established in 1999, was ranked as the 40th largest port in the U.S., and saw a 15.2% growth in freight tonnage during the 2024 reporting year (published 2026). This is the highest growth rate for any large (Top 50) U.S.
Sanmar Hands Over New Harbour Tug for Bulgaria's Black Sea Port
Turkish shipbuilder Sanmar Shipyards has delivered a new harbour tugboat to Bulgarian operator VTC S.A., marking the fifth vessel supplied to the company since their partnership began in 2003.The tug, renamed KASTRITSI by its new owner, will join VTC's fleet at the Black Sea port of Varna, supporting harbour towage and marine operations.Based on the RApport 2500 design by Robert Allan, KASTRITSI is…
General Dynamics' Backlog Surges to $220B on Major Defense Orders
General Dynamics reported $98.8 billion in new orders in the third quarter of 2026, driven by major submarine contracts, while revenue rose 12.9% year-on-year to $14.6 billion, the company announced on October 30.The aerospace and defense company's total backlog reached $220.3 billion at the end of the quarter, with an additional $50.4 billion in estimated potential contract value, bringing its total…
MacGregor to Retrofit PLCs on 35 Wallenius Wilhelmsen Car, Truck Carriers
MacGregor has received an order of PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) retrofit projects for 35 Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) vessels for Wallenius Wilhelmsen. The order was booked into MacGregor’s third quarter 2026 order intake, and the upgrades will take place based on the vessels’ sailing schedule and availability. The scope of supply for the 35 vessels includes PLC upgrade of the ships' quarter ramps.
Natalia Margioli Named President at the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers
The Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS), the professional body for the commercial shipping industry worldwide, has officially welcomed its new senior officers at this year’s Controlling Council meeting held in Cape Town, South Africa.Outgoing President Punit Oza FICS handed over the reins to Natalia Margioli FICS, the first woman and the first Greek member to take on the role of President of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers.Before assuming the position of President…
French Navy Orders 16 Heavy-Duty Tugboats from Piriou
French shipbuilder Piriou has secured a contract from France's Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) for 16 new-generation RP30NG tugboats designed to support French Navy port operations, including maneuvers involving nuclear submarines and major surface combatants.The vessels, derived from Piriou's civilian tugboat range and adapted for military requirements, will also undertake firefighting, pollution response…
Huisman Gets Crane Supply Order for Siem's Subsea Newbuilds
Huisman has secured a contract from Siem Industries to supply four knuckle boom cranes for two offshore subsea construction vessels under construction at Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding in China, with deliveries of the vessels scheduled for 2029 and 2030.The contract covers two 400-tonne knuckle boom cranes with below-deck winches and two 50-tonne auxiliary cranes with deepwater capabilities, Huisman announced on October 29.The cranes will be manufactured at Huisman's production facility in Zhangzhou,
Solstad's Normand Australis Wins 250-Day Subsea Campaign
Solstad Maritime has secured two contracts for its Normand Australis construction support vessel (CSV) in the Asia Pacific region, with a combined firm duration of 250 days.The contracts will be executed consecutively, with operations expected to begin in December 2026, Solstad Maritime announced on October 30.The agreements also include options for a combined 75 additional days beyond the firm contract periods.The estimated value of the contracts is at the lower end of the $10 million to $30 mi
Fugro Arms Survey Fleet Against GPS Jamming After $28M Earnings Hit
Dutch geological data specialist Fugro said on Friday that Iran war-linked disruptions had dented its earnings by €25 million ($28 million) this year, including €10 million in the third quarter alone, while GPS jamming and restrictions on vessel movements continued to hamper Gulf offshore operations.Some clients in the region have altered project plans and, in some cases, used their own vessels for work that would otherwise have been contracted to Fugro…
