Asia-Pacific Leaders Call for Shared Trade Benefits
Facing deepening fractures in the global trade order, Asia-Pacific leaders adopted a joint declaration that emphasized the need for resilience and shared benefits in trade at the end of the annual APEC summit on Saturday.The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting, hosted by South Korea this year, unfolded under the shadow of rising geopolitical tensions and aggressive economic strategies - ranging from U.S.
The Narrow Waterway at the Heart of U.S. Plans to Choke China’s Navy
Marilyn Hubalde still remembers the first time she heard the thunderous chop of military helicopters swooping over this northernmost outpost of the Philippines, less than 90 miles from Taiwan. It was April 2023, when Filipino and American troops descended on the cluster of 10 emerald green islands of Batanes province for amphibious warfare drills.“We were terrified,” the 65-year-old Hubalde recalled.
South Korea, Singapore sign MoU on Green Shipping
South Korea and Singapore signed memorandums of understanding (MoU) on artificial intelligence and green shipping, South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung said at a joint press conference with Singapore's Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Sunday after having a bilateral summit in Seoul.The two countries also agreed to cooperate on defense technology, Lee added.(Reuters - Reporting by Heejin Kim; Editing by Jamie Freed)
Philippines, Canada Deepen Defense Ties
The Philippines and Canada signed a pact on Sunday for their armed forces to train on each other's soil, boosting defense cooperation to tackle common security concerns in the Indo-Pacific region.Canada's first such deal in the region, the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOVFA) takes to five the number of accords on troops Manila has concluded with allies, in the face of China's increasingly assertive…
Ukraine Drone Strike Hits Russian Oil Terminal
A Ukrainian drone attack struck one of Russia's main Black Sea oil ports on Sunday, causing a fire and damaging at least one ship, as Kyiv tries to undermine Russia's war effort by targeting its energy infrastructure.Ukraine has for several months been striking Russian oil refineries, depots and pipelines in a bid to undermine the Russian economy.Footage on Russian and Ukrainian Telegram news channels appeared to show a terminal and one tanker ablaze at night.
Russia Denounces “Excessive” Force by US in Caribbean
Russia's foreign ministry denounced on Saturday "excessive military force" by the United States in the Caribbean Sea deployed as part of a drive against drug trafficking and reaffirmed its support for Venezuela's leaders."We firmly denounce the use of excessive military force in carrying out actions in anti-drugs operations," foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in a commentary on her ministry's website."Such actions are in violation of both U.S. domestic legislation ...
UK Border Force Staff Plan Wage Strike
A union representing British Border Force workers said on Friday that more than 120 staff who patrol Britain's waters, in "sometimes harrowing roles", plan to strike on November 14 to protest over pay and working conditions.The majority of the UK's around 10,000 Border Force staff work in airports and ports across the country and overseas.
Bulgaria Temporarily Bans Fuel Exports to EU Following Lukoil Sanctions
Bulgaria's parliament temporarily banned on Friday exports of some fuels, mainly diesel and aviation fuel, to EU member states to ensure the stability of the local market following U.S. sanctions on Russia's Lukoil, which runs the country's biggest oil refinery.Last week, Bulgaria announced it would take measures to secure uninterrupted supplies of oil and oil derivatives after the U.S.
US Will Not Send Officials to COP30
The U.S. will not send any high-level officials to the upcoming COP30 climate summit in Brazil, a White House official told Reuters, alleviating some concern among world leaders that Washington would send a team to scupper the talks.Brazil will host a high-level leaders' summit next week before the two-week UN climate negotiations begin in the Amazonian city of Belem.Earlier this month, the U.S. threatened…
I-SEAMORE Project Concludes with a Tested Maritime Surveillance Platform
The I-SEAMORE project, co-funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under the Grant Agreement 101073911, officially concluded, having successfully delivered an integrated platform for maritime surveillance. Developed over two and a half years, the platform leverages AI, Big Data fusion, and multi-asset orchestration (UxVs) to provide European Maritime Authorities…
ABS Chairman and CEO Shares Decisive Leadership as Key to Success in a Maritime 5.0 World
Shipping has entered a Maritime 5.0 world defined by rapid change, artificial intelligence, advanced fuels, and digital ecosystems, where decisive leadership is critical for success.That was the message to the industry from ABS Chairman and Chief Executive Christopher J. Wiernicki in a keynote address at the North American Marine Environment Protection (NAMEPA) Awards at SUNY Maritime College.“In this new era…
Inhaca Sub Launches AI-Driven Underwater Hull Inspection System
Inhaca Sub Diving Services – Mozambique has announced the launch of Smart Hull Sight (SHS), a new AI-powered platform that digitalizes underwater hull inspections through 3D photogrammetry, corrosion detection, and CII performance analytics.Developed by Inhaca Sub’s diving and ROV specialists, SHS enables shipowners, class societies, and port operators to assess hull condition with unprecedented precision.The system automatically detects corrosion…
Emerson Launches WirelessHART Non-Contacting Radar Level Transmitter
Emerson, an industrial technology leader delivering automation solutions, has launched the world’s first native WirelessHART non-contacting radar level transmitter. The Rosemount 3408 Wireless Level Transmitter – Non-Contacting Radar reduces the complexity, time and costs associated with installing cabling in automated measurement points. By eliminating measurement blind spots and the need for manual readings…
Vessels Face FuelEU Maritime, EU ETS Challenge Despite Delay of the IMO Net Zero Framework
The decision made during the MEPC meeting in October 2025 to delay the IMO’s Net Zero Framework, by one year, has caused waves across the shipping industry, generating opinions and comments from many industry stakeholders. As a consequence of this decision, it is ever more likely that it will give rise to more regional legislation and Emission Trading Schemes, which may come to the fore as a substitute for the delayed global IMO Net Zero Framework.With this in mind…
Svitzer Inks Deal with Cochin Shipyard to Build TRAnsverse Tugs in India
Svitzer has signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) with Cochin Shipyard to construct a new generation of electric TRAnsverse tugs in India.The agreement marks a clear step forward in Svitzer’s electrification roadmap and in strengthening India’s role as a global maritime manufacturing hub.Under the LoI, Svitzer and Cochin Shipyard will collaborate on plans to build electrical TRAnsverse tugboats at Cochin…
Company Consolidation Forms NYK Bulkship Partners
Three shipping and ship-management companies within the NYK Group - Asahi Shipping Co, Hachiuma Steamship, and Mitsubishi Ore Transport Co - entered into a merger agreement on to integrate their business operations.The companies entered into a merger agreement on October 28, 2025, and will integrate their operations under the new company NYK Bulkship Partners.As of September 30, 2025, number of owned vessels by the new company and its subsidiaries is 21…
Vard Electro Gets Onboard PSV-to-Research Vessel Conversion Project
Vard Electro, a subsidiary of the Fincantieri-owned Vard Group, has signed an agreement with the German shipyard Lloyd Werft for the delivery of complete automation and power management systems to a Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) currently being converted into a research vessel.The scope of supply covers the removal of the vessel’s existing automation systems, replacing it with Vard Electro’s advanced SeaQ Integrated Automation System (IAS) and SeaQ Power Management System (PMS)…
Powering On with Methanol, or Not
This week, Rolls-Royce announced that it has successfully tested the world’s first high-speed marine engine powered exclusively by methanol on its test bench in Friedrichshafen.Together with its partners in the meOHmare research project, Rolls-Royce says its engineers have therefore reached an important milestone on the road to climate-neutral and environmentally friendly propulsion solutions for shipping.Also this week…
Dean Kamen Shares Insights at Panama Canal Lecture
Renowned inventor and engineer Dean Kamen, creator of the Segway, the iBOT wheelchair, and founder of the organization FIRST Global, delivered a keynote lecture on October 28 at the Ascanio Arosemena Training Center of the Panama Canal. During his presentation, he shared his vision of innovation as a tool to transform societies.Kamen emphasized the importance of inspiring new generations to engage with science and technology.
Port Houston Surpasses Three Million TEUs
Port Houston crossed the three million TEU mark in September, reaching 3,270,595 TEUs year-to-date, the fastest pace in Port Houston’s history. Total container volumes are up 5% year-to-date compared to last year.“Three million TEUs and counting; this is the earliest we’ve ever reached that mark,” said Charlie Jenkins, CEO of Port Houston.For the month of September, Port Houston handled 337,659 TEUs, a 2% increase from the same month in 2024.
