Australia Watches, and Speculates, as Chinese Research Vessel Sails Nearby

Vanishing Protectors and Predators of the Saya de Malha

Published Apr 1, 2025 6:59 PM by Ian Urbina

In November 2022, several scientists in scuba gear dove over the side of a 440-foot research ship, which had been sent to the Saya de Mahla Bank, a vast seagrass meadow in the Indian Ocean between Mauritius and Seychelles, more than 200 miles from land. Their goal that day was to film sharks. When they were not diving, the scientists submerged a remote-controlled submarine to search the sea column. Ranked as one of the largest and most advanced research...

NYK Doubles LPG Fleet with Takeover of ENEOS Ocean’s Shipping Business

Published Apr 1, 2025 6:31 PM by The Maritime Executive

Japan’s NYK Group highlights that it has become one of the largest operators of LPG carriers as part of its growth strategy. The company last year agreed to take over the shipping business from ENEOS and reports it completed the acquisition on schedule, today April 1, for an estimated cost of just over $500 million. It was a two-stage transaction that first saw ENEOS, a Japanese petroleum company, transfer its LPG carriers, chemical and product tankers, and cargo ships...

Four US Offshore Wind Projects Seek Regulatory Pauses Due to Uncertainties

Published Apr 1, 2025 4:46 PM by The Maritime Executive

The offshore wind energy industry in the United States continues to face challenges with four project developers each filing in the past few days to pause their state-level regulatory reviews. The developers are reported to be citing “uncertainties” in the U.S. market or seeking to create protections based on potential future actions by the Trump administration. Donald Trump placed the industry under review after returning to the White House. He has repeatedly spoken against the industry citing assertions that...

The carrier Shandong joined in the drill (PLA Navy file image)

China Carries Out Huge Drills Around Taiwan

Published Apr 1, 2025 4:33 PM by The Maritime Executive

On Tuesday, China's navy carried out a massive drill in the Western Pacific as a "stern warning" to the independent government of Taiwan. It was the latest in a series of muscular exercises that many analysts view as a rehearsal for a naval blockade or invasion. The People's Liberation Army used similar language, describing the drill as a preparatory exercise for "seizing comprehensive control, striking maritime and land targets and imposing blockade controls." An estimated 20 Chinese warships and...

Shipping

Norway’s First Bio-Methanol Feeders Enter Service

Norway marked a milestone in its efforts to be a leader in green shipping with the introduction of the first of two vessels that will be powered with bio-methanol. The containerships which are operating in a partnership between North Sea Container Line and MPC Container Ships will expand Norway’s trade with Europe while also lowering emissions. NCL Vestland is the first of the two vessels and today, April 1, they celebrated the naming and entry into service of...

Tugs & Salvage

Progress Toward Refloating Chinese Bulker Grounded in Russia Seven Weeks

After seven weeks of preparation, Russian and Chinese officials are reporting progress toward the refloating of a bulker that has been stranded since early February. The Chinese crew remained aboard the vessel being supplied from shore while the efforts were underway. The vessel named An Yang 2, a Chinese-owned and registered bulker, was built in 2010, The vessel which is 56,700 dwt and 623 feet (190 meters) in length, was inbound to the Russian port of Nevelsk located on...

Government

Compliance Assurance

Compliance is a top priority for shipowners, and that includes the handling of effluent and emissions. Merchant ships have at least five major waste streams – exhaust, bilge water, solid waste, ballast water and sewage – each with stringent limits. Of these, ballast water requires treatment for almost every deepsea shipping application, and treatment failures mean costly delays in cargo operations. Day-in, day-out reliability requires a working ballast water treatment system (BWTS) and long-term support from the OEM. For...

Corporate News

Underwater Stern Tube Seal Repairs in Algeciras and Antwerp

[By: Hydrex] Recently, our diver/technician teams were deployed to ships in Belgium and Spain for stern tube seal replacements. The first operation took place in Algeciras on a 225-meter container ship, while the second was carried out in Antwerp on a 295-meter RoRo vessel. Both ships were experiencing oil leaks, necessitating an immediate on-site repair. Using one of our flexible mobdocks, we successfully completed the operations underwater, eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming drydocking. As a result of recent...

Cruise Ships

StarCruises Relaunches in Asia Three Years After Bankruptcy

Three years after the bankruptcy of Genting Hong Kong which resulted in the collapse of both Star Cruises and Dream Cruises the corporation has relaunched the brands. Earlier this year they announced plans to rebrand away from Resorts World Cruises back to the traditional brand names as part of the future growth strategy for the company. Star Cruises was launched 30 years ago and became known as one of the pioneers of modern cruising in Asia. The brand...

Ports

Nationwide Strike Paralyzes Belgium’s Ports, Airports, and Services

Upset by Belgium’s new collation government’s plans for budget cutting, public and private workers walked on their jobs on Monday, March 31, for a 24-hour strike that stopped many parts of Belgium for the day. Officials for the Port of Antwerp-Bruges said the disruptions began on Sunday evening and were expected to last until Tuesday with it taking days to fully recover. The European Transport Workers’ Federation announced it was standing in solidarity with the Belgium Trade Union Confederation...

Shipping

Norway’s First Bio-Methanol Feeders Enter Service

Tugs & Salvage

Progress Toward Refloating Chinese Bulker Grounded in Russia Seven Weeks

Government

Compliance Assurance

Corporate News

Underwater Stern Tube Seal Repairs in Algeciras and Antwerp

Cruise Ships

StarCruises Relaunches in Asia Three Years After Bankruptcy

Ports

Nationwide Strike Paralyzes Belgium’s Ports, Airports, and Services

Offshore

Four US Offshore Wind Projects Seek Regulatory Pauses Due to Uncertainties

Shipbuilding

Yang Ming Buys Methanol Containerships as First Step in Fleet Optimization

After reporting strong financial results for 2024, Taiwan’s Yang Ming took the first steps in a fleet optimization and expansion program first announced in December 2024. The company reported it is buying three under-construction dual-fuel methanol containerships from Japanese leasing company Shoei Kisen Kaisha. The three vessels are reported to already be on order with Imabari Shipbuilding. They are scheduled for delivery in 2028 and 2029 and each will have a capacity of 8,000 TEU. The report says they...

Environment

Vanishing Protectors and Predators of the Saya de Malha

Business

NYK Doubles LPG Fleet with Takeover of ENEOS Ocean’s Shipping Business

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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Australia Watches, and Speculates, as Chinese Research Vessel Sails Nearby

Vanishing Protectors and Predators of the Saya de Malha

NYK Doubles LPG Fleet with Takeover of ENEOS Ocean’s Shipping Business

Four US Offshore Wind Projects Seek Regulatory Pauses Due to Uncertainties

China Carries Out Huge Drills Around Taiwan

Norway’s First Bio-Methanol Feeders Enter Service

Progress Toward Refloating Chinese Bulker Grounded in Russia Seven Weeks

Compliance Assurance

Underwater Stern Tube Seal Repairs in Algeciras and Antwerp

StarCruises Relaunches in Asia Three Years After Bankruptcy

Nationwide Strike Paralyzes Belgium’s Ports, Airports, and Services

A Radical Solution to the Challenges of Slow Steaming

Custom Cable System Makes For Smooth Sailing for Crowley's eWolf

Colonial Oil Industries Expands Marine Fueling With New Towboat and Barge

Norway’s First Bio-Methanol Feeders Enter Service

Progress Toward Refloating Chinese Bulker Grounded in Russia Seven Weeks

Compliance Assurance

Underwater Stern Tube Seal Repairs in Algeciras and Antwerp

StarCruises Relaunches in Asia Three Years After Bankruptcy

Nationwide Strike Paralyzes Belgium’s Ports, Airports, and Services

Four US Offshore Wind Projects Seek Regulatory Pauses Due to Uncertainties

Yang Ming Buys Methanol Containerships as First Step in Fleet Optimization

Vanishing Protectors and Predators of the Saya de Malha

NYK Doubles LPG Fleet with Takeover of ENEOS Ocean’s Shipping Business

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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Maritime Industry Conferences and Events