Destination Agent Compliance Under the Shipping Act
Foreign non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOCCs) increasingly rely on U.S.-based logistics companies to serve as destination agents. These arrangements involve a domestic provider handling cargo receipt, warehousing, customs coordination, and last-mile delivery on behalf of an ocean transportation intermediary headquartered abroad. The revenue opportunity is real, but the regulatory, financial…
How Digital Training will Attract ‘Crews of the Future’
As tug operations become more complex, training needs to evolve with them. By combining digital simulation with practical experience and the knowledge of experienced seafarers, tug operators can give the next generation of crews the skills, confidence and judgement they need for the challenges they will face at sea.The very best and most highly skilled seafarers hone their craft through years of intense hands-on training that ensures the most important aspects of their jobs – safety…
Weakley Inducted into 2026 Great Lakes Marine Hall of Fame
The Sault Historic Sites, Captain John P. Wellington Great Lakes Marine Hall of Fame, recognized the significant contributions of James H.I. Weakley, President of the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA) on Friday, September 11th in Sault Ste Marie, Michigan.The award is given every other year alternating between U.S. and Canadian nominees. The complete list of previous awardees can be found here.Jim Weakley…
Jones Act Fleet Financing
As political chatter centers on rebuilding the U.S. maritime industry, Brett Hewitt, Executive Director, Marine Finance, Wells Fargo Equipment Finance, offers a lender’s-eye view of a market where vessels are expensive, assets can remain productive for decades and the quality of the operator can be every bit as important as the collateral.For lenders, one of the Jones Act market’s biggest attractions is remarkably straightforward: boats last a long time.“The collateral has a long useful life…
China Taps Crude Inventories ... Again
China dipped into its massive crude oil stockpile in August for the third month in the past four as increased refinery processing exceeded a modest increase in oil imports.Refineries processed about 640,000 barrels per day (bpd) more than what was available to them from imports and domestic oil production, according to calculations based on official data.China, the world's biggest crude importer, slashed…
Saudi Export Halt Contributes to $3 Oil Jump
Oil prices rose nearly $3 on Tuesday after a report said oil loadings at Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port of Yanbu have been suspended, and Libya halted operations at three oil fields, heightening concerns that disruptions to key oil supply routes could persist for weeks.Brent crude futures were up $2.81, or 2.66%, at $108.49 a barrel at 1106 a.m. ET, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate CLc1 futures were up $3.29 at $104.68 a barrel.
As USCG Cyber Rules Loom, Assessing Security Risks of Crew Connectivity
BroCoTec, a Houston-based maritime cyber security specialist, is urging US vessel operators to act now on new Coast Guard cybersecurity regulations, warning they are a 'banana skin' for unprepared companies.The regulations establish cybersecurity requirements for covered U.S.-flagged vessels, facilities and Outer Continental Shelf facilities. The rule became effective July 16, 2025, with phased compliance requirements.BroCoTec warned major milestones…
How Physical AI Will Rebuild America's Maritime Industrial Base
The first thing that stands out when you walk through a modern shipyard isn't the technology – it's the sheer scale of the work and the size of the parts going into these massive ships the size of city blocks. I recently visited a Korean shipyard watching teams of workers join two 50-foot-tall, 100,000-pound hull sections into place. This particular shipyard does this every day, building up to 40 ships a year.Seeing that kind of scale firsthand puts into perspective just how much coordination…
MARTAC, SŌLACE Boats Partner to Scale USV Production
Maritime Tactical Systems, Inc. (MARTAC) announced a manufacturing partnership with fellow Florida-based boatbuilder SŌLACE Boats, a partnership designed to enable MARTAC to scale production of its Devil Ray USV platforms by 100 vessels per year, meeting increasing demand signals from U.S. and allied-nation governments as well as supporting national security operations. SŌLACE Boats has an established reputation for designing and building high-performance and high-strength boats.
Wulff Takes the Helm at KOHO
Following its acquisition of compressor manufacturer Köhler & Hörter (KOHO) last year, the marine pump and gauging system specialist Svanehoj appointed long-time Neuman & Esser executive Jens Wulff as Managing Director of KOHO and Head of Compressors at Svanehoj.Wulff brings more than 14 years of experience from global compressor manufacturer Neuman & Esser, where he held senior positions across sales…
Oman Rescues 23 from Attacked Oil Tanker, Two Missing
Oman's Maritime Security Centre said on Tuesday that the Panama-flagged oil tanker 'EL GAIA' was being towed to an Omani port after a fire broke out in its engine room following an attack.The tanker was about 103 nautical miles northeast of Musandam when it was attacked, the centre said. An Omani naval vessel evacuated 23 crew members, while two remain missing.(Reuters - Reporting by Jana Choukeir and Tala Ramadan; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Markets: Ascendant China Boosts Vehicle Carrier Trades
An unprecedented level of investment in multi-deck vehicle carriers is being driven by tonnage replacement and scale economy strategies, but emphatically also by explosive growth in China’s automotive exports.Global deep-sea automotive shipments, excluding the Russian trade, were estimated at some 15.6 million units in 2025, up 5 percent on 2024, maintaining recent years’ trajectory. China’s inexorable…
Russian Frigate Fires Flares at Danish Military Helicopter
A Russian frigate fired two flares towards a Danish military helicopter in international waters off Denmark on Monday, narrowly missing the aircraft, the Nordic NATO member's military said.The Baltic Sea region is on high alert after incidents involving gas pipeline outages, airspace violations and drone sightings since Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, all of which have increased tensions…
Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd Set for Return to Suez Canal Shipping
Shipping group Maersk said on Monday that four more of its joint container services with Germany's Hapag-Lloyd will resume sailings through the Suez Canal, as they gradually return to using the shortcut between Asia and Europe.The Asia-Europe trade corridor through the Suez Canal was abandoned by most shippers earlier this decade after attacks in the Red Sea by Yemen's Houthis, forcing ships to take the much longer trip around Africa."The Suez Canal is a vital maritime corridor between East and
Houthis Launch New Attack Against Saudi Arabia
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis launched a new attack on Saudi Arabia on Monday and Gulf Arab states postponed planned talks with Iran, underscoring fears that the Middle East conflict could spread further and threaten global oil supplies.U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran wanted to reach a deal with Washington, signalling a possible diplomatic opening despite the widening regional tensions."The failing Nation of Iran wants to make a deal, quickly and badly.
Accurate Industrial Controls to Convert Six USVs into Navy Patrol Boats
Indian marine automation provider Accurate Industrial Controls is set to begin converting three patrol boats to Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) as part of a six-vessel deal with the Indian Navy.The company has already undertaken a feasibility assessment of the first three vessels ahead of converting them to fully autonomous boats at Mumbai’s Naval Dockyard.Dharmesh Popatlal Gala, Accurate’s director of AI & Robotics…
Coast Guard Launches Navita Merchant Mariner Credentialing System
The United States Coast Guard announced the initial release of Navita, a new digital platform designed to streamline the application and issuance of merchant mariner credentials.The Latin word for “sailor,” Navita (pronounced “Nā·vï·ta”) will reduce paper-based applications and manual processing by providing a simplified electronic application. The new process will reduce common errors and improve…
Robosys VOYAGER AI Integrated into FarSounder Forward Looking Sonar
Robosys Automation, a provider of autonomous navigation and vessel control systems, announced the integration of its VOYAGER AI Autonomous Navigation System (ANS) software with FarSounder’s Forward Looking Sonar (FLS) technology, delivering real-time situational awareness, obstacle detection, and navigation decision support for both luxury superyachts and Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs).The integration combines VOYAGER AI's navigation…
FIFI4MARINE Battery Fire-Suppression System Earns RINA Type Approval
FIFI4MARINE has become the first battery fire-suppression system to receive RINA Type Approval, marking a milestone for fire protection as lithium-ion battery installations rapidly expand across the maritime industry.The RINA Type Approval certificate was formally presented to founder Cor Meedendorp and team at SMM Hamburg 2026.Type Approval evaluates the approved product design itself for repeat application…
Oil Prices Jump to 16-Week High After Saudi Energy Attacks
Oil prices jumped over 4% to a 16-week high on Monday after new strikes on Saudi Arabian energy infrastructure and attacks on ships in the Middle East compounded energy supply concerns.Brent futures rose $4.68, or 4.5%, to $109.29 per barrel at 10:15 a.m. EDT (1415 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $4.21, or 4.2%, to $104.26.That kept both benchmarks in technically overbought…
