Coast Guard: Report of Investigation on 2023 GRANDE COSTA D’AVORIO Vessel Fire
The Coast Guard’s Office of Investigations and Casualty Analysis recently released a Report of Investigation (ROI) regarding the fire on the Italian flagged cargo vessel GRANDE COSTA D’AVORIO and subsequent fatalities of two Newark Fire Department firefighters. The vessel was conducting cargo operations at Berth 18, Port Newark, New Jersey on July 5, 2023, at the time of the event. The ROI can be found…
Russian Drone Hits Two Foreign-Flagged Vessels Near Odesa
Russia has attacked two foreign-flagged civilian vessels with drones in the southern Odesa region, killing a Syrian national and injuring another, Ukrainian officials said on Friday.Moscow has stepped up attacks on Ukraine's maritime export arteries over the last two months as retaliation for attacks on "shadow fleet" tankers heading to Russia to export its oil.Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said in a statement that one ship had been sailing along Ukraine's maritime export corridor to pick
US Seizes Fifth Tanker in Venezuela Blockade
The U.S. has seized the Olina tanker in the Caribbean, the fifth vessel targeted in recent weeks as Washington steps up efforts to curb Venezuelan oil exports, U.S. officials said on Friday.The Olina, which according to public shipping database Equasis was falsely flying the flag of Timor Leste, previously sailed from Venezuela and had returned to the region, said an industry source with direct knowledge of the matter.In a pre-dawn move…
OPEC Oil Output Falls in December After Low Supply From Iran, Venezuela
OPEC's oil output fell in December due to lower supply from Iran and Venezuela, which offset an OPEC+ agreement to raise production for the month, a Reuters survey found on Friday.The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries pumped 28.40 million barrels per day last month, down 100,000 bpd from November's revised total, the survey showed, with Iran posting the largest decline.OPEC+, comprising OPEC and allies including Russia…
IMO: Raft of Shipping Rules in Place January 1, 2026
A set of amendments to key IMO treaties and Codes have entered into force on January 1, 2026. They include the following: Preventing and responding to bullying, harassment and sexual assaultAmendments to the Seafarers' Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Code (STCW Code) aim to prevent and respond to violence and harassment in the maritime sector, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual…
Rio Tinto Floats Glencore Merger
The Rio Tinto marine team ia a leading charterer, chartering and operating a fleet of more than 230 ships to transport over 300 million tonnes of product every year. Glencore shares rose by 10% on Friday following news it is in talks with Rio Tinto about a takeover that would create the world's largest mining group, valued at almost $207 billion.While Glencore gained, Rio Tinto shares fell by as much as 3%…
Port Authority of NSW Assists Fire Response after Vessels Burn and Sink at Marina
The Port Authority of New South Wales (NSW) has assisted Fire and Rescue NSW in containing and extinguishing a fire that destroyed and sank three vessels and caused significant damage to a fourth at Spit Bridge Marina in Mosman, Australia.The authority deployed four vessels to the site, including its dedicated firefighting vessel Girawaa, which was used to pump up to 16,000 litres of seawater per minute…
Ulstein Verft Launches First of Two JP Morgan’s CSOV Newbuilds
Norwegian shipbuilder Ulstein Verft has launched first of the two offshore wind commissioning service operation vessels (CSOVs) under construction at its yard for J.P. Morgan.On January 2, Ulstein Verft towed the CSOV yard number 322 from the dock hall to the outer dock, where the yard’s heavy-lift department installed the vessel’s tower using a crawler crane with a lifting capacity of up to 600 tonnes.Late in the month…
Drydocks World to Convert LNG Carrier into FSU for Gabon Project
Drydocks World, a unit of Dubai-owned ports and logistics group DP World, has signed a contract with Dixstone Lower Gulf FZCO to convert an LNG carrier into a floating storage unit (FSU) for use in Gabon’s offshore gas development.The engineering, procurement and construction project will see the LNG carrier transformed into the FSU Cap Lopez, supporting Gabon’s floating LNG development by enabling offshore gas liquefaction…
Panama Canceled Flag of US-Seized Tanker a Year Ago
Panama's maritime authority on Thursday said it had canceled in January of last year the flag of the M Sophia, a Venezuela-linked oil tanker seized by the U.S. military this week.The U.S. military's Southern Command on Wednesday said it had intercepted the M Sophia before dawn, and described it as a "stateless, sanctioned dark fleet motor tanker." Panamanian authorities canceled the supertanker's flag on January 23…
The Challenges and Rewards of Pushing Ahead with Autonomous Ships
In his 2026 goal setting message, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez noted that all eyes will be on the finalization of the autonomous ships code.The MASS Code is a framework for the safe, secure, and environmentally friendly operation of remotely operated and autonomous ships.Maj. Joseph DeFlorio, U.S. Army 8th Theater Sustainment Command, National Security Law Team, highlighted in a December…
Bhagwan Marine Christens Stern Landing Vessel
Australia- based Bhagwan Marine has christened the Bhagwan Micah, a 38m state-of-the-art Stern Landing Vessel (SLV) designed from the ground up for the exacting requirements of modern offshore energy and subsea operations – particularly oil & gas decommissioning with the ability to work in shallow water environments, subsea IMR, and defense logistics projects.Unlike a traditional landing craft that loads and discharges over a forward ramp, a SLV operates from the stern.
Hanwha and HavocAI Partner on USV Development
Hanwha Defense USA (HDUSA), Hanwha Systems Co (HSC), and U.S.-based collaborative autonomy company HavocAI announced they will jointly develop 200-foot autonomous surface vessels (ASV).Hanwha is currently the only shipbuilder with an operational shipyard in the United States to enter into a joint agreement with an autonomous vessels company. Hanwha Philly Shipyard is under consideration to produce the 200-foot autonomous ASV.HavocAI recently closed a $85m funding round…
Frontline Begins Fleet Renewal Program
Frontline plc has announced a strategic fleet renewal initiative, involving both the acquisition of new vessels and the sale of older vessels.The company has entered into an agreement to sell eight of its oldest first-generation ECO very large crude carriers (VLCCs), built between 2015 and 2016. These vessels are being sold for a total sales price of $831.5 million, with delivery to the new owner scheduled during the first quarter of 2026.After repayment of existing debt on the vessels…
GTT Receives Tank Design Order for Samsung Heavy Industries LNG Carriers
GTT announced that it has received, in the fourth quarter of 2025, an order from the shipyard Samsung Heavy Industries for the tank design of two new Liquefied Natural Gas Carriers (LNGCs) on behalf of the ship-owner Purus. GTT will be responsible for the design of the cryogenic tanks for the two vessels, each offering a total capacity of 174,000 m³. The tanks will be fitted with GTT’s Mark III Flex membrane containment system.Delivery of the vessels is expected between 2028 and 2029.
HOS, Saronic Link Up to Trial Autonomous Vessels Offshore
When we interviewed Saronic Co-Founder and CEO Dino Mavrookas late last year, he insisted that Saronic's mission was to deliver commercially viable autonomous vessels first, and in turn parlay that into a ready package for defense. That vision comes to fruition as Saronic announced a partnership with Hornbeck Offshore Services, Inc. (HOS), to accelerate innovation and deployment of autonomous platforms, advanced software, and maritime solutions to the markets HOS serves.
TKMS Submits Non-Binding Bid to Buy German Naval Yards
German warship maker TKMS has submitted a non-binding bid for smaller peer German Naval Yards (GNYK), the company told Reuters on Thursday."Discussions between our two companies will continue with an open outcome," TKMS said in an emailed statement, without disclosing any details around the offer.TKMS, which was spun off from parent Thyssenkrupp in October, last month said it expected to decide soon on whether to buy GNYK, reflecting its ambition to expand in light of growing demand for defence
Oil Prices Rise 2% Amidst Venezuela Conflict, Supply Concerns
Oil prices rose about 2% on Thursday after two days of declines as investors assessed developments in Venezuela and on worries about supplies from Russia, Iraq and Iran.Brent futures rose $1.21, or 2%, to $61.17 per barrel at 11:17 a.m. EST (1617 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude gained $1.02, or 1.8%, to $57.01.The U.S. seized two Venezuela-linked oil tankers in the Atlantic Ocean on Wednesday, one sailing under Russia's flag, as part of U.S.
Russian-Bound Tanker Struck in Black Sea Drone Attack
A Russia-bound oil tanker suffered a drone attack in the Black Sea that prompted it to request Turkish coastguard assistance and divert from its course, according to a notice by Lloyd's List Intelligence and a separate maritime security source on Thursday.Maritime data specialist Lloyd's List Intelligence said the Palau-flagged Elbus vessel "experienced an unmanned marine-vehicle and drone attack" on Wednesday targeting its engine room…
US Department of Labor Awards $13.8m to Train American Shipbuilders
The U.S. Department of Labor announced the award of nearly $14 million in funding to support the development of programs aimed at reinvigorating and rebuilding the U.S. maritime industry and workforce.Administered by the department’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs, the department awarded $8 million to Delaware County Community College and $5.8 million to the Massachusetts Maritime Academy to…
