Davie Defense Expands in U.S. Market with Acquisition of Gulf Copper

China’s Container Trade Surges as Two Ports Set New Record Totaling 90M TEU

Published Dec 3, 2025 6:18 PM by The Maritime Executive

Despite a year of turbulent trade policies and interruptions, China’s container volumes are continuing to surge. Two of the country’s largest port complexes have set new records after just 11 months, combined handling over 90 million TEU so far in 2025. The Port of Shanghai, which highlights that it has maintained the top global ranking for 16 years, has once again surpassed the 50 million TEU threshold. It is the second consecutive year the port complex reached these...

Dublin Port Plans Large Fee Increases to Fund Infrastructure Upgrades

Published Dec 3, 2025 6:15 PM by The Maritime Executive

  To fund expansion and infrastructure upgrades, Ireland’s Dublin port has proposed a massive hike in its port fees starting next year. The fees would increase an over 40 percent for container charges, a move that shippers have criticized as an added tax on businesses in Ireland. The port’s owner, Dublin Port Company, defends the increase, arguing that the seaport is running close to capacity and must make critical investments. “As a self-financing entity, it is required to raise charges...

Design for Large Ammonia-Powered Containership Achieves Key Milestone

Published Dec 3, 2025 3:44 PM by The Maritime Executive

  Classification society DNV reports that it has awarded an Approval in Principle (AiP) to an emerging design for a 21,700 TEU ammonia-powered mega-boxship. This key step, which confirms the feasibility of the design and ensures no major technical hurdles to meeting class, comes as the shipping industry continues to flirt with ammonia as an emerging alternative power source.  The design for the vessel was developed by a joint consortium of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, shipbuilder Zhoushan Changhong International, and...

container with hidden cocaine and tracking devices

Australians Find Cocaine with Tracking Devices Hidden in Arriving Container

Published Dec 3, 2025 2:33 PM by The Maritime Executive

  Australian authorities are reporting another major drug seizure from an inbound shipping container, but this time with tracking devices. It is part of a surge of cocaine smuggling reported by the Australian Federal Police. Australian Border Force (ABF) officers identified the consignment on December 2, as it was inbound at Port Botany in New South Wales. The container was tagged for inspection, and they conducted an X-ray examination. The scan identified anomalies in the rear of the container. Pictures...

Shipping

Norsepower Extends Wind Rotor Installations to Japanese Newbuild VLCCs

  Wind-assisted propulsion continues to make advancements into more segments of the shipping industry, with Norsepower reporting it has signed its first contract for newbuild VLCCs and its first newbuilds in Japan. The company offers a modernized, data-driven evolution of the century-old Fletter rotor, a spinning cylinder that uses the Magnus Effect to create a propulsive force that lowers engine power and fuel consumption. Idemitsu Tanker Co., Ltd., the shipping arm of Idemitsu Kosan, which reports it has one of...

Tugs & Salvage

Cargo Ship Engine Room Fire Hospitalizes Three Crew in Manila

  [Brief]  A smoky engine room fire aboard a small cargo ship docked in Manila injured three crewmembers. After a large response from the local fire departments, the blaze was quickly controlled. The Philippine Ports Authority and the local fire departments reported the fire began around 1850 local time, with the first alarm shortly after 1900, and a second alarm sounded around 20 minutes later. Smoke was billowing from the general cargo ship Meridian Dos (4,222 dwt). The ship, which...

Government

Romania Destroys Sea Baby Drone Spotted in the Black Sea

The Romanian Navy released a video showing the destruction of a maritime drone that it identified as a “Sea Baby” found in the Black Sea. The official statement said it was part of the ongoing efforts to monitor the Black Sea and ensure safe transit for commercial ships. The Coast Guard spotted a drifting object, which was approximately 36 nautical miles east of Constanta, Romania. The Navy’s EOD military divers, specialized in the fight against explosive devices, were...

Corporate News

35/44DF CD GenSet Off to Strong Start

[By: Everllence] Everllence has announced that its new 35/44DF CD GenSet has landed 138 orders since successfully passing its Type Approval Test (TAT) in April 2025 at STX headquarters in Changwon. The many interested parties to place orders to date include a number of shipping majors. Everllence reports that the first 35/44DF is set for delivery in May 2026. Sephardim Koblenz – Vice President and Head of Licensing, Four-Stroke Marine & License –  Everllence, said: “These 138 orders have...

Cruise Ships

New Cruise Company Signs with China Merchant for Eight B-to-B Ships

  Ship manager United Waterways announced its plans to expand its unique B-to-B approach into ocean cruising, focusing on the popular expedition and coastal cruising segments. The company, which has been a provider of ship management services, announced earlier this year plans to expand into the ownership of river cruise ships and now says it has booked construction slots with China Merchant for the expedition and coastal ships. The B-to-B concept calls for the company to build the vessels, but...

Ports

China’s Container Trade Surges as Two Ports Set New Record Totaling 90M TEU

Shipping

Norsepower Extends Wind Rotor Installations to Japanese Newbuild VLCCs

Tugs & Salvage

Cargo Ship Engine Room Fire Hospitalizes Three Crew in Manila

Government

Romania Destroys Sea Baby Drone Spotted in the Black Sea

Corporate News

35/44DF CD GenSet Off to Strong Start

Cruise Ships

New Cruise Company Signs with China Merchant for Eight B-to-B Ships

Ports

China’s Container Trade Surges as Two Ports Set New Record Totaling 90M TEU

Offshore

Trump Administration Targets Another Offshore Wind Farm Project

Using a now familiar technique, the U.S. Department of Justice on Tuesday, December 2, made a filing in U.S. District Court targeting yet another offshore wind farm project. Speaking on behalf of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the Department of Justice confirmed that the Bureau is reviewing the approval for the New England Wind project, which is to be developed by Iberdrola’s subsidiary Avangrid. The filing asks the court for a voluntary remand of a case filed...

Shipbuilding

Davie Defense Expands in U.S. Market with Acquisition of Gulf Copper

  The newly minted Davie Defense, a division of Inocea Group and aligned with Canadian shipbuilder Davie, completed its acquisition of Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corporation's shipbuilding assets in Galveston and Port Arthur, Texas. The deal was first announced in June, with the launch of Davie Defense announced in September, as the group looks to leverage its expertise to gain a foothold in U.S. defense shipbuilding and specifically the Polar Icebreaker programs. Gulf Cooper has been operating for...

Environment

Study Finds Major Drop in Ship Sulfur Emissions Following IMO Regulations

  An academic team led by researchers at the UK’s National Centre for Atmospheric Science completed a first in-depth study looking at sulfur emissions at sea and found “fairly good compliance” with the IMO regulations introduced in 2020. The group looked at compliance both in the European Sulfur Emission Control Areas (SECAs) and ships in the open ocean. The team found that the average sulfur content in ship fuel dropped nearly tenfold in open ocean areas following the International Maritime...

Business

In the Know Podcast 75: Matthias Schulze, VP Marine, Siemens Energy

In this episode of The Maritime Executive's podcast series, editor-in-chief Tony Munoz spoke with Matthias Schulze, VP of Marine at Siemens Energy. Schulze is a former German Navy officer and has worked for Siemens Energy's marine business for 25 years. Over the course of his career, the firm has helped propel the expansion of battery-electric propulsion systems from a niche option to an increasingly commonplace solution for ferries, harbor tugs and other vessel classes requiring an environmentally-sensitive operating profile. In addition...

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Davie Defense Expands in U.S. Market with Acquisition of Gulf Copper

China’s Container Trade Surges as Two Ports Set New Record Totaling 90M TEU

Dublin Port Plans Large Fee Increases to Fund Infrastructure Upgrades

Design for Large Ammonia-Powered Containership Achieves Key Milestone

Australians Find Cocaine with Tracking Devices Hidden in Arriving Container

Norsepower Extends Wind Rotor Installations to Japanese Newbuild VLCCs

Cargo Ship Engine Room Fire Hospitalizes Three Crew in Manila

Romania Destroys Sea Baby Drone Spotted in the Black Sea

35/44DF CD GenSet Off to Strong Start

New Cruise Company Signs with China Merchant for Eight B-to-B Ships

China’s Container Trade Surges as Two Ports Set New Record Totaling 90M TEU

Understanding Hazardous Area Classification on Ships and Offshore

Why Financial Wellbeing Is Central to Seafarer Welfare

Estonia's Digital-First Ship Registry: A Modern Maritime Flag

Norsepower Extends Wind Rotor Installations to Japanese Newbuild VLCCs

Cargo Ship Engine Room Fire Hospitalizes Three Crew in Manila

Romania Destroys Sea Baby Drone Spotted in the Black Sea

35/44DF CD GenSet Off to Strong Start

New Cruise Company Signs with China Merchant for Eight B-to-B Ships

China’s Container Trade Surges as Two Ports Set New Record Totaling 90M TEU

Trump Administration Targets Another Offshore Wind Farm Project

Davie Defense Expands in U.S. Market with Acquisition of Gulf Copper

Study Finds Major Drop in Ship Sulfur Emissions Following IMO Regulations

In the Know Podcast 75: Matthias Schulze, VP Marine, Siemens Energy

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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