U.S. Coast Guard Receives Historic Investment
The U.S. Coast Guard welcomed the nearly $25 billion investment included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Friday — marking the largest single commitment of funding in service history. The investment strengthens every facet of Coast Guard operations and supports the Service's role as the Nation’s leading drug interdiction and maritime border security force. It will allow the Coast Guard to procure an estimated 17 new icebreakers…
Rebuilt Stena Foreteller Ready for Service
In the end of July, RoRo Stena Foreteller will return to service on the Europoort/Rotterdam – Immingham route following a major rebuild and renovation.The vessel has been fitted with a fourth vehicle deck on top of the existing three, increasing the number of lane meters from 3,000 to 4,000.With a new additional cargo deck and a 30% increase in capacity, the vessel becomes more efficient and further…
Hanwha Ocean Selected as Preferred Bidder for Icebreaking Research Vessel
Hanwha Ocean has been selected as the preferred bidder for an icebreaking research vessel project, led by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and intended for polar research at the Polar Research Institute, an affiliate of the Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology.The contract is expected to be signed this month, with the vessel completed by December 2029.The 16,560 gross ton vessel will…
Study: Ships Trigger Ocean Methane Emissions
Ship traffic in shallow areas, such as ports, can trigger large methane emissions by just moving through the water. The researchers in a study, led by Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, observed 20 times higher methane emissions in the shipping lane compared to nearby undisturbed areas."Our measurements show that ship passages trigger clear pulses of high methane fluxes from the water to the atmosphere. This is caused by pressure changes and mixing of the water mass.
Tallink’s Passenger Numbers on the Rise
Tallink Grupp transported 1,488,128 passengers with its vessels in the second quarter of 2025, marking a 2.5% increase compared to the same period last year.In June alone, passenger numbers rose by 4.9%, reaching 598,977.Growth in passenger numbers was led particularly by the Estonia–Finland route, which saw a 4.9% increase over the quarter and a notable 14.8% surge in June. The Finland–Sweden route experienced steady growth of 2.8% in Q2.
Japan to Begin Test Mining Rare-Earth Mud in Early 2026
Japan will begin test mining for rare-earth-rich mud from the deep seabed off Minamitori Island, some 1,900 kilometres (1,180 miles) southeast of Tokyo, in January next year, the head of the government-backed project said on Friday.Tokyo is seeking to secure stable supplies of critical minerals amid tightening export controls by China, the dominant supplier of rare earths.
Chinese Captain in Baltic Sea Cable Damage Case Appears in Court
The captain of a Hong Kong-registered ship alleged to have damaged undersea cables in the Baltic Sea was assigned a lawyer in a Hong Kong court on Friday, with the case adjourned until September to allow the prosecution to gather more evidence.Wan Wenguo, the captain of the container ship NewNew Polar Bear, appeared in Hong Kong's Eastern magistrates' court without legal representation so was assigned…
Greek Police Arrest Cocaine Gang
Greek police have dismantled a gang that had been hiding cocaine in sheets of leather that were smuggled from Bolivia to Greece on container ships, police officials said on Friday.They said the method used by the gang signalled a shift in methods for smuggling the drug from South America to Europe.Eleven people have been arrested so far, including nationals form Bolivia and Spain, after police monitored the suspects for months following a tip-off by the U.S.
Low Water Levels on Danube Disrupt Shipping
Unusually low water levels on the Danube River in Hungary are affecting shipping, agriculture, and local ecosystems along Europe's second-longest river, which is a major transport route across the continent.Temperatures peaked at 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) in Budapest this week as much of Europe baked in an early summer heatwave linked to the death of at least eight people.As a result of the low water levels, cargo ships must leave behind more than half of their cargo and can onl
Japan to Export Used Destroyers to Philippines
Japan will export used navy destroyers to the Philippines to strengthen its deterrence against China's maritime expansion, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Sunday, as the two U.S. allies increase cooperation to counter Beijing.The export plan involves six Abukuma-class destroyer escorts in service with the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force for more than three decades, the Japanese daily said, citing…
Crew Rescued After Attack Near Yemen
The crew of a ship set on fire in an attack in the Red Sea on Sunday abandoned the vessel and were rescued as it took on water, a British maritime agency said, in an assault that private security firm Ambrey said resembles that of the Houthi militant group.The attack, off the southwest coast of Yemen, was the first such incident reported in the vital shipping corridor since mid-April.Maritime security sources said the vessel…
