Iran, Oman Working on Strait of Hormuz Agreement
Iran and Oman are still working on the details of an agreement on the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Iranian source said on Wednesday, after Iran's Revolutionary Guards said the two countries had agreed how to share the waterway and its revenues.The elite force's spokesperson, echoing Tehran's official stance, also said the strait would not open unless the U.S. met Tehran's conditions under an interim ceasefire agreement that was struck in June before unravelling.
Seventy Vessels Wait to Load Grain Near Sulina Canal
Up to 70 vessels are waiting near the Danube's Sulina Canal for access to Ukrainian ports to load grain for export, traders and analysts said on Wednesday, with a shortage of pilots and priority given to other cargoes creating long delays.After Russian attacks effectively blocked Ukraine's Black Sea ports, which had handled 90% of the country's grain exports, some shipments were rerouted through Danube river portsâŠ
TDI-Brooks Completes Subsea Cable Survey Project Offshore Alaska
TDI-Brooks recently completed a third-party geotechnical project offshore Alaska, supporting a short cable route survey for Woolpert utilizing their Gravity CPT Stinger (gCPT) system. The project consisted of a geophysical and geotechnical survey for a marine cable route in the Valdez Arm.Designed for rapid deployment in remote and challenging environments, the gCPT tool enables efficient in-situ soil characterization without the need for conventional drilling.
Saltchuk Tanker Companies Ordered by NLRB to Bargain With Licensed Deck Officers
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has ordered both Alaska Tanker Company (ATC) and Overseas Shipholding Group (OSG), Saltchuk Resources subsidiaries, to immediately recognize the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots (MM&P) and bargain in good faith with more than 125 Licensed Deck Officers.The officers voted decisively for MM&P representation in separate NLRB-certified elections in 2024, winning 70% at OSG and 80% at ATC.
Installation of 35-Ton Propeller Sets the Stage for SMM 2026
The giant ship propeller supplied by Mecklenburger Metallguss (MMG) will once again take its place in front of the Hamburg exhibition halls. On Thursday, August 27, the maritime heavyweight will return to the exhibition grounds, providing a visible signal that SMM 2026 is about to begin. Just a few days later, from September 1-4, the international maritime industry will gather in Hamburg.The propeller weights around 35.5 tons, measuring 7.8 meters in diameter and with five blades.
Cadmatic Expands US Presence With Local Specialists
Marine design software company Cadmatic is expanding its US presence by hiring more local specialists to serve its rapidly growing customer base in the key US shipbuilding market. With demand driven by fleet renewal, naval procurement programs, and capacity investment, American shipyards are looking for tools that reduce manual workload, improve production planning accuracy, and keep complex projects on schedule. Cadmatic's portfolio addresses each of these directly.
Kongsberg Maritime Expands Tunnel Thruster Range with Larger Models
Kongsberg Maritime has expanded its Rim-Drive Tunnel Thruster range with two larger models designed for vessels requiring higher thrust and enhanced dynamic positioning (DP) capability.The new RD-TT 2300 and RD-TT 2600 models have propeller diameters of 2,300 mm and 2,600 mm and are rated at 2,100 kW and 2,700 kW, respectively.The models extend the upper end of Kongsberg Maritime's existing Rim-Drive range and are aimed at applications including offshore constructionâŠ
Lloydâs Register Joins Austalâs $715M Australian Army Landing Craft Program
Lloydâs Register has secured a $7.8 million (A$11 million) contract from Austal Defence Australia to provide naval classification services for the Australian Armyâs Landing Craft Medium program.The contract covers classification services throughout the construction of 18 landing craft, supporting quality, compliance and assurance from construction through to delivery.Austal Defence Australia is deliveringâŠ
Astro Offshore, Oceaneering Team Up on Integrated Subsea Solutions
Dubai-based offshore vessel operator Astro Offshore has signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with Oceaneering International to jointly pursue and deliver offshore and subsea projects.The agreement combines Astro Offshore's offshore vessel capabilities with Oceaneering's remotely operated vehicle (ROV), survey and integrated project delivery expertise.Astro Offshore said the partnership willâŠ
Solstadâs Normand Valiant CSV Hooks $62M Contract with Petrobras
Petrobras has signed a two-year contract for the Normand Valiant construction support vessel (CSV), owned by Solstad Maritime (SOMA).The contract is expected to start in fourth quarter 2026 in direct continuation of the current agreement and subsequent class renewal.The vessel will provide accommodation services to support production activities on the Brazilian continental shelf.The Normand ValiantâŠ
Oil Companies to Steer Clear of Iran Blacklisted Ships
At least three Indian oil refiners and a global energy major plan to stop using vessels on Iran's new blacklist, including for ship-to-ship transfers, due to security concerns, four sources with direct knowledge of the matter said this week.Tehran announced on Sunday a blacklist of 45 ships it said had broken its rules for crossing the Strait of Hormuz, and would take action against any vessels transferring loads with themâŠ
Iran-Oman Talks on Hormuz Reopening Drive Down Oil Prices
Oil prices fell more than $2 a barrel on Wednesday as talks between Iran and Oman revived hopes that the Strait of Hormuz could reopen and remove shipping constraints affecting supply in the key Middle East region.Brent crude futures LCOc1 fell $2.30, or 2.6%, to $86.28 a barrel by 0447 GMT, earlier dropping to their lowest since August 13. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures CLc1 were down $2.08âŠ
Kongsberg Maritime to Provide Technology Suite for Solstad, SBM Offshore Vessel
Kongsberg Maritime has secured a contract to deliver a fully integrated suite of technology and equipment for a new multi-purpose deepwater installation and construction vessel that will be owned and operated by Solstad Offshore and SBM Offshore.The vessel, which will be built in China, represents a new generation of offshore construction assets designed to perform complex installation, subsea construction and heavy-duty offshore operations.
ClassNK Launches Survey Compass AI Assistant for Ship Management
ClassNK has launched âSurvey Compass,â an AI assistant that supports shipowners and ship management companies in their survey-related operations.Survey Compass is an AI assistant that responds in natural language to questions on classification survey matters faced by shipowners and ship management companies. Users can confirm the information they need together with its supporting sources, thereby improving the efficiency of survey preparation and response work and reducing their workload.
McDonough Marine Service Adds MARMAC 3080 Deck Barge to Fleet
McDonough Marine Service announced the addition of the MARMAC 3080, a 300' x 80' x 16' ABS Load Line deck barge, to its growing fleet of marine equipment available for charter. The MARMAC 3080 will call Amelia, Louisiana and will be ready to service the industry from this location going forward.As a barge rental company, McDonough Marine Service offers one of the largest fleets of deck barges available for charterâŠ
Russia Strikes Five Vessels in Ports Along Ukrainian Black Sea
The Russian Defence Ministry said on Tuesday that its forces had struck three cargo vessels carrying supplies for the Ukrainian military and a tanker at the Black Sea port of Pivdennyi.The ministry also said it had hit another cargo vessel in the nearby port of Odesa, as well as port infrastructure in Pivdennyi and Odesa and fuel storage facilities at the port of Chornomorsk.Reuters could not independently verify the ministry's claims.(Reporting by Reuters)
Oil Prices Drop 4% as Traders Dismiss US Sanctions
Oil prices fell about 4% to a one-week low on Tuesday as traders shrugged off the latest U.S. sanctions campaign against Iran, viewing economic pressure as posing less risk to oil supplies than a military escalation.Brent crude futures were down $3.83, or 4.2%, to $88.34 a barrel by 11:44 a.m. EDT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures fell $3.34, or 3.9%, to $81.67.Both benchmarks hit theirâŠ
Russian Oil Freight Rates Spike On Security Risks, Vessel Availability
Freight rates for tanker shipments of Russia's flagship Urals crude from western ports to India, the grade's main market, have surged in August as strong demand for vessels and mounting security risks linked to carrying Russian oil drove up costs, three trade sources said.The rise in shipping costs is squeezing revenues of Russian oil exporters already grappling with Western sanctions and a difficultâŠ
USS Abraham Lincoln Plans to Dock in Thailand Next Week
The U.S. aircraft carrier the USS Abraham Lincoln will dock in Thailand next week, a Thai official said on Tuesday, following a prolonged deployment in the Middle East and reports of mental health concerns and deteriorating conditions aboard.The Lincoln, which left the Middle East on Saturday, has not made a port call in more â than 200 days, setting a modern-day record for consecutive days at sea, according to Democratic lawmakers.Typically naval deployments are for between six and nine monthsâŠ
Trump: Strait of Hormuz Mines Removed, Threatens Iran If More Are Placed
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that all mines had been detonated or removed from international waters of the Strait of Hormuz and that Iran has been told that any ship or boat placing new mines will be destroyed.In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the United States, through its Space Force, was watching "every square inch" of the Strait, a key waterway in the global energy supply chain."There is a Zero Tolerance policy on mine placement in full force and effectâŠ
