News

With the number of ships using LNG continuing to grow and spurring demand, two U.S.-based companies partnered to launch a new small-scale LNG terminal in Salina Cruz, Mexico. According to the partners, GFI LNG and Pilot LNG, the project is designed with a focus on speed to market and will be strategically located to serve a key shipping market.

German propulsion company Schottel has completed a research project for Transport Canada and BC Ferries to investigate solutions for underwater noise. Ship noise is a major issue in the Salish Sea because of its effects on the region's endangered orca population.

With grain shipments continuing to grow and a shortage of storage space after the Russian attacks on port facilities, the Ukrainian Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA) plans to turn the tables on Russia.

A long-term supplier to the offshore energy sector, Samsung Heavy Industries looks to leverage its expertise to expand into offshore wind farms. Through a series of agreements with Norway’s Equinor, the companies plan to work together if Equinor is successful in its bid to build a large floating offshore wind farm near Ulsan, South Korea.

The results of the first multi-state offshore wind solicitation were scheduled to be released today, August 7, but the states involved in the coordinated effort have deferred the announcement. The three-way effort seeks to coordinate proposals for Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

Hoegh Autolines celebrated the naming of the largest car carrier which it is also hails as the most environmentally friendly PCTC ever built. The company has a dozen of the Aurora Class multi-fuel vessels on order from China as part of its drive toward decarbonization.

The Canadian Coast Guard has named two of its Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ships (AOPS) after two Arctic glaciers. The naming ceremony was part of the official keel laying for the AOPS 7 and start of construction for the AOPS 8 at Irving Shipbuilding, Halifax Shipyard.

Filipino officials confirmed on Saturday, August 3, that all the Filipino crewmembers who were working aboard the MSC Aries when the vessel was seized have now been released. Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Cacdac told reporters they had kept the details quiet until the seafarers returned to the Philippines while thanking the ship’s owner and the Government of Iran for their cooperation in the repatriation.

It has happened again, or maybe officials have just become very sensitive to all reports of a vessel reporting momentary problems. Thursday midday Maryland officials according to a report in the Baltimore Sun suspended all vehicle traffic on the busy Chesapeake Bay Bridge, a six-mile-long roadway span crossing the Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis, Maryland.

Hamburg is moving forward broadening the installation of shore power capabilities across the port. Earlier this year it claimed the title of the first European port to provide shore power to containerships expanding on its installed capability for cruise ships.

Nearly two weeks after arriving in Bremerhaven, Germany, an American-flagged Ro/Ro used to transport supplies for the U.S. government remains under quarantine after an unwelcome stowaway was found aboard.

After starting 2024 on a cautionary note, A.P. Moller – Maersk raised its 2024 forecast for the third time this year citing the positive effect on freight rates from the disruptions in the Red Sea and elsewhere.

Approximately 10 months after announcing plans to combine their tanker operations into a new Jones Act company, Crowley and SEACOR reported today the deal has been completed. Known as Fairwater Holdings, the new independent company integrates Crowley and SEACOR’s petroleum and chemical transportation vessels and capabilities.

The Transport Safety Board of Canada, the independent agency that looks to improve safety, issued its report on the 2021 container loss and fire on the Zim Kingston raising concerns about the country’s ability to respond to maritime emergencies.

After experiencing one of the worst droughts in its history, Panama highlights it is continuing to move in the right direction restoring capacity at the Panama Canal. The Panama Canal Authority reports it will add back further slots for daily transits in the coming weeks bringing it close to previous levels and a nearly full operating depth.

Officials in the Philippines are dealing with a mystery as a decrepit old cargo ship was found aground on the shores of Bataan, west of the entrance to Manila Bay. While there is some concern about an oil leak from the grounded ship, the Philippine Coast Guard emphasized its focus remains on the primary causalities, the sunken tanker Terranova and the second tanker Jason Bradley which grounded.

A political firestorm is brewing in Gibraltar and neighboring Spain as a US-flagged tanker, Overseas Santorini, reportedly carrying military fuel for Israel, was seeking a port for bunkering. The Overseas Shipping Group (OSG) tanker arrived off Gibraltar Tuesday night despite the ongoing protests but it is unclear if it will be permitted to bunker.

Labor disputes impacting both the operations of Canada’s West Coast ports and the two leading railroads are due to come to a head in August. Experts warn of the potential of more disruptions as Canada is already dealing with the impact of wildfires near the main rail line in Jasper in western Alberta province which is already causing problems and expectations of port and vessel delays.

Malaysia officials provided the first details on the July 19 incident in which the Hafnia Nile and a Chinese VLCC impacted revising their earlier statements that the Chinese vessel had attempted to flee after the fire.

China Cosco, the world's largest shipowner, has agreed to work with Australian mining conglomerate Fortescue to build a new series of bulkers powered by green ammonia. The ships would be used to transport Fortescue's iron ore to China, without onboard emissions.