News

China’s massive new aircraft carrier named Fujian set sail this morning, May 1, on its first sea trials after more than six years of construction. China’s PLA Navy issued a brief statement confirming that the vessel departed shortly after 8:00 local time from Shanghai but did not provide details on the plans for the trials.

Security services in the Red Sea are reporting another attack on a merchant ship in a matter of days by the Houthi. It comes as a newly arrived Italian frigate took down a drone while it was performing escort duty and the U.S. Central Command reported renewed downing of launches from the Houthi.

Qatar Energy and China State Shipbuilding Corporation are heralding an order for 18 of the world’s largest LNG carriers as the next phase in their relationship and support of the expansion of Qatar’s LNG operations.

French sail shipping company TOWT (TransOceanic Wind Transport) announced ambitious growth plans for its vision of carbon-free cargo shipping. Even before the company launches its first two dedicated vessels in the coming months, they report strong demand and supported by leading investors ordered six additional vessels.

With Nigeria considered Africa’s largest economy, it goes without saying that its maritime sector has to play a substantial role in facilitating the country’s trade. Unfortunately, Nigeria’s maritime sector - especially the public-owned port system - continues to reel under decades of neglect and under-investment.

The U.S. began in late 2023 increasing the sanctions against tankers and ultimately directly listed Russian tanker owner Sovcomflot in February 2024 as part of the efforts to enforce the oil price cap imposed by the G7 nations.

The maritime security effort to protect against piracy along the Horn of Africa issued an update warning calling for ships to maintain a heightened state of vigilance in light of the recent escalation in piracy threats.

his week, the gas pipeline connecting Finland and Estonia reopened successfully, just seven months after it was severed by "mechanical impact or mechanical destruction." A consortium of subsea construction companies pulled together to bring the repairs to completion, and first gas flowed through the line again on Monday. 

Ukraine continues to highlight steps for the restoration of shipping operations with reports that the first dedicated containership arrived in the Black Sea after an absence since the invasion in February 2022.  Earlier in April, the first container service was restored using a feeder vessel in the Black Sea.

Japan’s IHI Power Systems Company, a leading manufacturer of engines used in marine and land applications including trains, issued an apology and official “Notice of Misconduct” after a whistleblower revealed the company has been altering fuel consumption data for decades.

Last week, Chile completed the first round of sea trials for its new polar icebreaker, Almirante Viel. The Chilean government of  President Gabriel Boric lauded the milestone, especially the fact that the icebreaker was built entirely in the country.

An unknown share of a shipload of New Zealand kiwifruit will have to be destroyed because of a mice invasion in the holds of a reefer vessel, according to the cargo owner, Zespri International. Zespri said that its first shipment of the 2024 season to Europe has been set back by the discovery of mice.

Canada’s Federal Minister of Labour, Seamus O’Regan Jr., announced the appointment of an Industrial Inquiry Commission to study the devastating labor strike that paralyzed West Coast ports for nearly two weeks and had ramifications across Canada for weeks.

Shipbreaking remains dirty and dangerous work, particularly in South Asia, the NGO Shipbreaking Platform reminded the industry in its latest update. While South Asian beaching yards pay far more per tonne for end-of-life tonnage, they have a certain ESH reputation from years of fatalities and injuries, which continued in recent months. 

Chinese officials report a massive search is underway for four missing crewmembers after a vessel hit a bridge crossing the Xijian river and sunk. Seven of the 11 crew aboard the vessel were rescued overnight in a situation that was very similar to another accident on the river in 2007 that killed at least nine people.

The car carrier market is currently thriving and demand for new tonnage is at an all-time high. Most of these newbuildings are with dual-fuel engines – on account of new emission regulations – with LNG leading the way as most popular alternative fuel.

Singapore took top ranking in three categories - attractiveness, ports and shipping centers - and scored in the top five for technology and finance. In measures of "green" technology, it also ranked first. Taken together, these factors were enough to put it over the top for pole position.

After a year of preparation, Denmark today officially opened its largest ever offshore wind tender which when completed would ensure Denmark achieves its green goals and sets up the country to become an exporter of green power.

Badhoevedorp, 22 april 2024 – EST-Floattech is proud to announce that KOTUG International B.V. (“KOTUG”)

Recovery efforts in Baltimore continue to make good progress Maryland Governor Wes Moore highlighted in a briefing on Friday afternoon, April 19, reporting that more than 1,300 tons of steel have now been removed from the waterway.