US Explores Plan to Swap Venezuelan Oil for Crude to Fill Emergency Reserve
The U.S. Department of Energy is exploring a plan to exchange heavy Venezuelan oil for U.S. medium, sour crude to fill up the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, two sources said on Friday.The Trump administration is looking to move the Venezuelan crude into storage tanks at the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port from where the crude can be shipped to refineries. In exchange for the Venezuelan crude, companies will provide U.S.
Italy Urges NATO to Step In as Greenland Tensions Escalate
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urged NATO on Friday to develop "a coordinated presence" in the Arctic region to prevent tensions and respond to "interference by other actors", amid escalating tensions among Western allies over Greenland.In a letter read during the presentation of an Italian government paper on the Arctic, Meloni said the region was becoming increasingly important due to the…
Greece Plans Extension of Territorial Waters Despite Warning from Turkiye
Greece plans to extend its territorial waters further, including potentially in the Aegean Sea, Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said on Friday, despite Turkey's long-standing threat of war should Athens take such a step.The NATO allies, but historic rivals, have eased tensions in recent years but remain at odds over where their continental shelves begin and end in the Aegean - an area believed…
IMO Welcomes First Global Marine Biology Treaty in International Waters
The world’s first global treaty to protect ocean life in international waters enters into force on January 17, 2026, bringing into effect legally-binding rules for the sustainable use and management of marine resources in the high seas. Formally known as the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement)…
Diana Shipping Plans Proxy Fight at Genco
Global shipping company Diana Shipping plans to launch a proxy fight to replace rival Genco Shipping & Trading's six current directors, making its decision just days after the board rejected Diana's takeover offer, two people familiar with the matter said.Diana Shipping, which owns nearly 15% of Genco and proposed buying all outstanding shares for $20.60 per share in cash, will nominate executives who have shipping and maritime industry experience in the coming days…
Ellerman City Liners Introduces New Baltic Express Service
Ellerman City Liners has launched a new short-sea shipping service connecting the Baltics with the UK and the Benelux region, establishing a new route for the company in the region.The BALTEX service will operate on a fixed weekly rotation, calling at Riga, Latvia; Gdynia, Poland; Teesport and Tilbury in the UK; Rotterdam, the Netherlands; and Oslo, Norway. The weekly service offers a capacity of 1…
16th Annual Maritime Risk Symposium-Student Research Poster Contest
CALL FOR STUDENT RESEARCH POSTERS!The 16th Annual Maritime Risk Symposium invites undergraduate and graduate students from colleges and universities worldwide to participate in the 2026 Maritime Risk Symposium Student Research Poster Contest. The poster competition, sponsored by the CCICADA Center based at Rutgers University, will be held online with winners invited to present their posters at the Maritime Risk Symposium on June 2-3…
US Coast Guard: Immersion Suit Maintenance and Inspections
U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) inspectors frequently find immersion suit defects caused by adhesivef ailures between the main zipper and the suit body. These failures, illustrated in the images, compromise watertight integrity and pose serious survival risks from water ingress. Contributing factors to the defects include improper maintenance (e.g., the use of non-approved petroleum based lubricants or scented powders), improper storage, and neglecting to conduct periodic pressure testing.
The Bookshelf: Shipbuilding History, Italian Style
Now available is “History of Italian Shipbuilding in the Contemporary Era. From Unification to the Giolittian Age (1861–1913),” the first title in the editorial project promoted by the Fincantieri Foundation and dedicated to preserving and promoting the historical and industrial heritage of the sector.Preserving and enhancing the history of Italian naval engineering as a cultural, industrial, and social…
DEME Takes Delivery of Norse Energi Wind Turbine Installation Vessel
Belgium-based offshore installation services company DEME has taken delivery of its second new wind turbine installation vessel, Norse Energi, at the CIMC Raffles Shipyard.As the sister vessel of the recently delivered Norse Wind, Norse Energi is purpose‑built to install the next generation of large-scale offshore wind turbines.Featuring advanced technology, exceptional lifting and loading capabilities…
Eni Launches Hull for Coral North FLNG Offshore Mozambique
Eni and its partners have launched the hull of the Coral North floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) vessel, marking a key milestone in the development of Mozambique’s offshore gas resources.Coral North will be the second floating LNG facility deployed in the Rovuma Basin offshore Cabo Delgado in northern Mozambique and will produce gas from the northern part of the Coral reservoir.The project builds on experience gained from Coral South…
Subsea Cable Risk a Mix of Bathymetry and Geopolitics
A new study undertaken by a group of researchers from the UAE, Canada, Japan, and Taiwan collates a range of statistics and expert opinion to address an urgent puzzle: Where and under what conditions do states prioritize cable security?The researchers focused on three contrasting cable systems: Unity/EAC Pacific (Japan–U.S.), Asia-America Gateway (Guam–Hawaii), and Tata TGNTata Indicom (India–Singapore).The risk to such cables varies predictably with geopolitical tension…
Clean Energy Start and Restart
This week, a US federal judge cleared Danish offshore wind developer Orsted to resume work on its nearly finished Revolution Wind project, which US President Donald Trump's administration halted along with four other projects last month.The halt was costing Orsted $1.5 million a day, noted the judge.The project is now expected to begin generating power later this year.Also this week, Ireland-based clean energy company ETFuels joined the SASHA Coalition…
Kevin E. Lunday Sworn in as Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard held a formal swearing-in and assumption of command ceremony on Thursday for Adm. Kevin Lunday as the 28th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.Secretary Kristi Noem joined senior Coast Guard leadership, members of the Joint Force and distinguished guests in recognizing the transition of command and Adm. Lunday’s commitment to leading the Service.“President Trump’s plan was simple when he became President of the United States.
Study: Biodiesel Significantly Reduces Black Carbon Emissions
Experts from the EU CLEANSHIP project have documented that the use of biodiesel of the type B100 FAME in real sailing can reduce black carbon emissions by up to 81 percent at low engine load and up to 61 percent at high engine load compared to traditional marine gas oil, MGO.The measurements with 100 percent biofuel were made during a three-day voyage on the vessel Falstria Swan from Uni-Tankers. The…
Maersk Ramps up Suez Canal Return
Maersk said on Thursday that one of its services will resume using the Red Sea and Suez Canal this month, marking a key step towards ending two years of global trade disruption due to attacks on ships by Yemeni Houthi rebels.The Danish shipping group's share price fell more than 5% on the news, reflecting the likelihood of lower freight rates as vessels gradually return to the shorter Suez route.Shipping…
Bahri, Hadeed to Explore Collaborative Maritime Transport Solutions
The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) and the Saudi Iron & Steel Company (Hadeed) have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to explore potential cooperation in maritime transport to meet Hadeed’s Iron Ore shipping needs.The LOI, signed in Riyadh, states that both parties intend to discuss mechanisms for utilizing Bahri capabilities to meet Hadeed’s maritime transport requirements. This collaboration aims to explore potential joint opportunities between Bahri and Hadeed…
Shipbuilders Council of America Announces New Board of Directors Leadership
The Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA), the national association representing the U.S. shipbuilding, maintenance and repair industry, announced its new Board of Directors leadership David Carver, President of General Dynamics NASSCO, is ascending from his position as Vice Chairman to Chairman of the Board, assuming the role from Brad Moyer, Vice President of Business Development and Strategic Planning at BAE Systems.Mr.
Empire Wind Granted Preliminary Injunction, Construction to Resume
The underlying lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of the Interior’s December 22, 2025 suspension order will continue to proceed.Empire Wind will now focus on safely restarting construction activities that were halted during the suspension period. In addition, the project will continue to engage with the U.S. government to ensure the safe, secure and responsible execution of its operations.Empire…
First of Four Ferries Delivered to CMAL
Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL) has taken ownership of MV Isle of Islay following a handover ceremony at Cemre Marin Endustri in Yalova, Turkey, where the vessel was built.MV Isle of Islay, the first of four ferries being constructed at the yard, will serve Islay and Jura when she enters service, and will be joined by her sister vessel MV Loch Indaal later this year. The vessel has received Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) approval and passenger certification…