News

The ranks of container shipping companies employing methanol-fueled vessels continue to grow with HMM becoming the latest among the early adopters of the fuel. DNV calculates there are just 26 methanol-fueled containerships in service currently with orders for 200 more vessels having been placed. By comparison, there are 166 containerships fueled by LNG currently in service.

Residents in the area around Pattaya City, Thailand panicked when they saw a gas tanker stranded on the shoreline at daybreak. There were rumors that the vessel was releasing gas, but it was quickly stopped by the authorities which announced the vessel’s tanks were empty and there was no immediate danger.

Swedish offshore wind developer Vattenfall announced that it has taken the final investment decision to proceed with the construction of Germany’s largest offshore wind farm. The announcement was seen as a vote of confidence for the sector and comes as Germany is embroiled in a political debate about its offshore wind policy.

Authorities in the Port of Vigo, Spain reported they moved quickly to reduce the navigation hazard and direct the MSC Houston V (58,300 dwt) containership into port after it reported a stack collapse.

Days after the National Transportation Safety Board took state highway agencies to task for unassessed bridge strike risks, a team at Johns Hopkins University has published a comprehensive list of the bridge spans that are most exposed to the hazard.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and Maersk’s APM Terminals have agreed to a 33-year lease extension for the port’s second-largest container terminal. The company plans to make significant investments in the terminal located in Elizabeth, New Jersey in support of the port’s long-term growth plan.

A handful of advanced nations have the capability to cut subsea cables in ultradeep water, but the technology is usually a closely-held state secret. In a research paper published late last month, a Chinese scientist detailed a unique submersible diamond saw that can be used for "marine resource development" purposes at extreme depth and pressure.

The Syrian government's news outlets are hailing the arrival of the first crude oil tanker into the country since the fall of the regime of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. It comes mounting evidence points to Russia building a supply chain to alleviate Syria’s ongoing energy crisis.

A shadowy group of cyber hackers is claiming that it launched a massive attack and has successfully disabled communications for much of Iran’s merchant fleet. While the report cannot be independently verified, the group which calls itself Lab Dookhtegan is known and according to experts is credible in its attacks.

Hapag-Lloyd reporting what it called “solid results” for 2024, outlined what it sees as another challenging year ahead. It became the latest of the major carriers to highlight the uncertainties and predict that the industry would continue to experience declines in profitability in the year ahead.

When talks on the possibility of a ceasefire in Ukraine resume on Monday, the safety of Black Sea navigation will be on the agenda, according to both Ukraine and Russia. 

Nearly three years after an enclosed space incident that claimed the lives of three stevedores, the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch issued a detailed report while calling for enhanced training and safety rules incorporating shoreside personnel into the efforts for enclosed space management.

The U.S. Military Sealift Command has marked a key milestone nearly a decade after it started the program to introduce a new class of fleet replenishment oilers, now known as the John Lewis class.

A bitumen tanker was briefly commandeered by pirates overnight with reports of shots fired. The indication is that the crew was uninjured and that the vessel is back underway after the boarders left the vessel.

A court in Australia sided with its maritime authorities and ordered the owners of a bulker to pay a fine as well as court costs for failing to follow safety directions. The fine comes after the Australian Maritime Authority (AMSA) last year banned the vessel from sailing to Australia also related to safety issues in 2023.

The Obel-P® VPU 1600 will replace the following test units: VPU 900-3, VPU 1500-2, VPU 1500-2CAT and VPU 900 CAT

The unions representing French dockworkers at the major industrial ports said in an effort to ease tensions with the government it would suspend its plans for a “dead port” strike planned for March 18.

After two weeks and a lightering effort salvage crews were finally able to free a stranded Dutch short-sea cargo ship that was aground in the UK’s Humber Estuary. Officials had feared the vessel might be stuck till an April high tide.

Federal officials were successful in withdrawing for what is believed to be the first time an environmental permit granted by the Biden administration for an offshore wind farm. New Jersey’s proposed Atlantic Shores offshore wind farm project had been singled out by Donald Trump in his opposition to the industry and this latest development adds another hurdle to an already troubled project and potentially the industry.

Hanwha Ocean completed an extensive overhaul and repair project on the USNS Wally Schirra marking the first time a South Korean shipyard has undertaken a major refit of a U.S. government vessel.