U.S. Court of Appeals Issues Decision in Case on Demurrage, Detention Billing Practices
On February 23, 2024, the FMC issued its Final Rule on Detention and Demurrage Billing Practices, as required by Congress under the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022. The rule went into effect on May 28, 2024. After the Final Rule was issued, the World Shipping Council, a trade association for vessel-operating common carriers organized under an FMC-filed agreement, appealed the Rule to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C.
Crowley Mariners Honored for Heroism, Safety Efforts at the 2025 Admiral of the Ocean Sea Awards
The United Seamen’s Service recognized Crowley mariners with honors at the 2025 Admiral of the Ocean Sea (AOTOS) Awards. As one of the most prestigious ceremonies in the industry, the AOTOS awards spotlight outstanding maritime achievement and pay tribute to American seafarers whose courageous actions and commitment to safety have made a profound impact on the industry and the welfare of those at sea.The…
World’s First Retrofit Fund Established
The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD), AIM Horizon Investments, and their partners have announced the successful closing of the Fund for Energy Efficiency Technologies (FEET), securing total commitments of up to $35 million, exceeding its initial target.As the world’s first fund for vessel retrofits leveraging a pay-as-you-save repayment mechanism, FEET directly addresses the long-standing…
NOAA to Hold Keel-Laying Ceremony for New Charting, Mapping Vessel
NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations will celebrate the keel-laying for Navigator, the second of two new charting and mapping vessels being constructed for NOAA. The vessel is being built by Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors, LLC., in Houma, Louisiana.The keel-laying is a centuries-old maritime tradition that formally recognizes the start of a ship's construction. During the ceremony, the initials of the…
SCHOTTEL to Equip CMAL Electric Ferries
SCHOTTEL will supply rudder propellers for a new series of seven electric double-ended ferries by Scotland’s state-owned Caledonian Maritime Assets Limited (CMAL). The vessels will be constructed by the Polish shipyard Remontowa Shipbuilding S.A, with the first delivery scheduled for 2027. Designed to operate across nine routes on Scotland’s West Coast, the ferries will contribute to more sustainable…
Makai Ocean Engineering Launches New Training Simulator for Submarine Cable Installations
Makai Ocean Engineering has released the Makai Simulator, a training tool that enables submarine cable installers to prepare MakaiLay operators in a safe, realistic, and cost-effective way, entirely from shore. Developed by Makai with contribution from Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN), the Simulator gives teams the ability to build hands-on experience with offshore cable installation workflows in a controlled…
Freire Shipyard Celebrates Keel-Laying of Dana V Research Vessel
Freire Shipyard has celebrated the keel laying of the new flagship research vessel for the Danmarks Tekniske Universitet (DTU -Technical University of Denmark). Measuring 70 meters length and 16 meters beam, with accommodation for 38 people, the Dana V is set to become a world-class platform for research and education.Successor to the Dana IV, the Dana V was designed by the Knud E. Hansen A/Sconsortium…
Ivory Coast Cocoa Harvest Declines Sharply for Third Consecutive Year
Ivory Coast, the world's biggest cocoa producer, has sold 1.3 million tons of cocoa contracts for the 2025/26 October to March main crop, down from 1.4 million tons last year, amid concerns over declining harvests and production, two Coffee and Cocoa Council (CCC) sources told Reuters on Thursday.Despite what they said would be an expected 30% year-on-year drop in cocoa bean arrivals at the country's two main ports between January and March 2026…
US Natural Gas Futures Ease 1% on Ample Gas in Storage
U.S. natural gas futures eased about 1% on Thursday on near-record output and ample amounts of gas in storage despite near-historic flows to liquefied natural gas (LNG) export plants and forecasts for colder weather and higher demand over the next two weeks than previously expected.The price decline also came despite a federal storage report that showed energy firms pulled gas out of storage for the…
Afghanistan Urges India to Scale Trade in Its Territory
Afghanistan's Taliban government urged India on Thursday to scale up trade and open cargo hubs in its territory, as it strengthens ties with New Delhi and seeks alternatives to Pakistan after repeated border clashes and closures.During talks, Al-Haj Nooruddin Azizi, the Taliban's commerce minister, also asked India to help set up scheduled shipping services to move Afghan goods through the Indian-operated Chabahar Port in Iran, his ministry said.Landlocked Afghanistan has redirected more goods t
Port Esbjerg Strengthens its Port Control with EU Support
With support from the Interreg North Sea Program, an EU-funded cooperation aimed at driving ideas and solutions across the North Sea, Port Esbjerg has strengthened and modernized its Port Control. Featuring a new control room, integrated IT systems, and consolidated professional competencies, Port Control can now more efficiently monitor, manage, and plan the port’s daily operations.Port Esbjerg is known for its high level of activity: cargo arrives…
Rondal’s Aero Wing Sail Receives Lloyd’s Register AiP
Lloyd's Register (LR) has granted Approval in Principle (AiP) to Rondal for its Aero Wing Sail, following completion of concept-level assessment activities in line with LR’s Guidance Notes on Wind Assisted Propulsion Systems (2025). The AiP was awarded in a ceremony at Metstrade 2025 in Amsterdam. The Aero Wing Sail is a rigid wing-sail concept designed for application on large yachts and multihull…
Chemical Vessel Ops target of Odfjell, Nissen Kaiun JV
Odfjell SE and Japan’s Nissen Kaiun Co., Ltd. have formed a new Bergen-based joint venture, Odfjell Hakata Maritime AS, marking a significant expansion of their long-standing partnership and adding substantial capacity to the global chemical tanker market.The JV will launch with a fleet of 10 stainless-steel chemical tankers, equally contributed by the two companies. Nine of the vessels are already operating under Odfjell Tankers via existing charter agreements…
ZIM Delivers Solid Q3, Leans on Modern Fleet for Future Growth
ZIM Integrated Shipping Services reported third-quarter 2025 earnings that, while sharply lower year-on-year, demonstrate the carrier’s ability to generate meaningful profit and cash flow in an increasingly volatile global container market. Revenues fell 36% to $1.78 billion as freight rates continued to normalize from 2024 highs, and net income dropped to $123 million, compared with $1.13 billion a year ago.
Maersk Chooses Charlotte for its North American Headquarters
A.P. Moller-Maersk (Maersk) has selected Charlotte for its official North America headquarters, committing to add more than 500 jobs to its current Charlotte-based workforce over the next several years, ultimately bringing its Charlotte workforce to more than 1,300.Maersk has had a corporate presence in Charlotte for more than two decades, and the company purchased its current space in South Charlotte…
Steerprop to Deliver its Largest Ducted Propulsion Units
Finnish propulsion specialist Steerprop has been selected to supply a complete propulsion package—including the largest ducted propulsors ever produced by the company—for a new rock installation vessel ordered by Jan De Nul.The heavy-duty vessel, the third of its kind in Jan De Nul’s fleet, is designed primarily to work in the offshore energy sector, installing rock to protect cables on the seabed.
New Electrical Strategy Prevents Blackouts
Timo Alho's doctoral dissertation at the University of Vaasa, Finland, introduces a pioneering power management strategy that prevents ship blackouts.In Alho's management principle, the vessel's electrical equipment is capable of independently supporting the ship's grid without centralized commands. This makes the vessel's power systems significantly more fault-tolerant than before.The maritime industry's green transition is driving vessels towards modern direct current (DC) networks…
Ruling Allows South African Welfare Group to Inspect Vessels
South Africa’s National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) has welcomed a judgment delivered by the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court in Makhanda which strengthens its authority to prevent cruelty to animals during the export of live animals by sea.The ruling overturns severe restrictions previously imposed by the East London Magistrates’ Court during the planned loading of more than 53,000 animals onto the live export vessel Al Messilah in July 2023.The Magistrate had…
MMA Ranks #1 in State Graduate Earnings Report
Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MMA), a public university with undergraduate degree programs focusing on science, engineering, technology, math, and business has been recognized as the top public higher education institution in the state for graduate earnings, according to the latest report from the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education.The Academy’s #1 ranking confirms that its graduates achieve the highest salaries among peers statewide…
Genco to Acquire Two High-Specification Vessels
Genco Shipping & Trading, the largest U.S. headquartered dry bulk shipowner focused on the global transportation of commodities, has agreed to acquire two 2020-built 208,000 dwt scrubber fitted Newcastlemax vessels for a total purchase price of $145.5 million.Genco expects to take delivery of the vessels during the first quarter of 2026 and intends to fund the acquisition with cash on hand and a drawdown from its revolving credit facility.John C.
