July Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Increases Slightly
Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 5.1 million tons in July, an increase of less than one percent compared to 2025. Shipments were below the month’s 5-year average by 7.2 percent. Year-to-date, the iron ore trade stands at 22.5 million tons, an increase of 3.3 percent compared to a year ago. Iron ore shipments were 5.2 percent below their 5-year average for the first seven months of the year.
July 2026 Trade of U.S. Great Lakes Limestone Increases
U.S. shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes increased to 3.1 million tons in July, an 8.7 percent increase compared to last year. The trade was also above the month’s 5-year average by 3.2 percent.Year-to-date, the Lakes limestone trade stands at 10.1 million tons, a decrease of 3 percent compared to 2025 and 4.2 percent below the month’s 5-year average. GREAT LAKES LIMESTONE TRADE: JULY 2021-2026 AND LONG-TERM AVERAGE (NET TONS) 202120222023202420252026Average2021-2025U.S.
Grit City Workboats: Animated Series Aims to Attract Maritime's 'Next Generation'
The children’s series introduces young audiences to real workboats, maritime careers, environmental stewardship and life on the working waterfront.Silverback Marine launched Grit City Workboats, an animated entertainment brand that aims to bring the world of working boats and maritime adventure to children and families. Inspired by the real vessels, people and experiences found throughout the maritime industry…
Dirty Tanker Vessel Loadings Drop 62%
"During the last two weeks of July, dirty tanker loadings from Russian Black Sea and Sea of Azov ports fell 62% compared to the previous four weeks’ average. Exports averaged 0.98 million barrels per day (mbpd) compared to 2.59 mbpd in the previous four weeks,” says Niels Rasmussen, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.On July 6, 2026, Ukraine launched Operation MoLoChKa, a large-scale maritime drone campaign initially focused on Russia-linked shipping in the Sea of Azov.
Dajin Heavy Delivers Second KING-Class Offshore Wind Logistics Vessel
China-based offshore wind foundations manufacturer Dajin Heavy Industry has delivered KING TWO, the second 40,000 DWT heavy deck carrier in its self-developed and self-built KING series.The delivery represents a step in expanding the company's offshore vessel-building capabilities, marking the transition of the vessel class into standardized batch construction following the commercial deployment of KING ONE.KING TWO has an overall length of 239.8 meters…
Houthis Claim Missile Attack on Saudi Oil Tanker in Red Sea
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said on Wednesday they had launched a missile attack on a Saudi oil tanker off the coast of the kingdom's Red Sea port city of Yanbu.Saudi officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The Houthis' military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, did not say when the attack took place.(Reuters - Reporting by Nayera Abdallah and Tala Ramadan; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Blue Water Autonomy Selected for Naval Autonomous Survey Work
Blue Water Autonomy, a Boston-based technology and shipbuilding company, has been selected for a multiple-award contract with the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) to provide high-resolution ocean floor mapping using long-endurance uncrewed surface vessels.Deep open-ocean survey is among the most demanding work at sea, and its value reaches well beyond a map of the seafloor. Surveys like these characterize the operating environment itself such as the terrain…
OpenTug BargeOS Platform Enterprised by LeBeouf Bros. Towing
OpenTug, the AI-native platform purpose-built for inland and coastal barge logistics, announced the successful enterprise deployment of its BargeOS platform at LeBeouf Bros. Towing (LBT), marking a milestone in the companies' partnership and the continued digital transformation of inland marine operations.Following a phased implementation, LeBeouf Bros. Towing has completed deployment of BargeOS across its commercial voyage and dispatch operations…
MARTAC Delivers Strongest H1 Results in Company History
Maritime Tactical Systems, Inc. (MARTAC), a U.S.-based, leading provider of fully autonomous unmanned surface vessels (USVs), announced the strongest first-half results in the company’s 15-year history.MARTAC concluded record results for the six months ending June 30, 2026 across orders, funded backlog, revenue, profitability and cash flow. The company also made several notable investments to scale its operational footprint, resulting in a 25-fold increase in production capacity.
Cimolai Technology Unmoors 800-Ton Goliath Crane, Destined For Fincantieri Monfalcone
Cimolai Technology announced the successful completion of the unmooring and departure from the Port of Chioggia of the first of two 800-ton Goliath cranes, destined for the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone.The initial phases of the transfer involved handling and loading operations of the crane, following a scheduled sequence: the temporary opening of the customs gates, the controlled transit of the SPMT convoy through the customs perimeter…
ADNOC, SLB Deploy AI Platform to Manage Drilling Operations
ADNOC, in collaboration with SLB, has deployed its AI-enabled Real-Time Operations Center (RTOC) platform across its fleet of over 120 rigs, providing teams with a faster and more connected way to monitor, analyze and manage drilling operations across its onshore and offshore assets. The RTOC replaces multiple tools and reduces engineering effort by 30-40%, enabling engineers to support two to three times more rigs while maintaining effective oversight.
Start-ups@SMM Bring Fresh Ideas to SMM 2026
SMM is launching Start-ups@SMM, an opportunity for young companies and their developments to take the stage. From September 1-4, international founders will demonstrate…
Accurate Industrial Controls Workboat Receives IRS Certification
India is taking a step into the global marine autonomy market after the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) certified Accurate Industrial Control’s newly built patrol boat featuring collision avoidance software. The IRS has awarded the certification to Accurate Industrial Controls for its ‘Intelligent Situational Awareness and Collision Avoidance’ (ISACA) tech stack following sea trials on board a new 13m workboat, built for Accurate at SHM Shipyard Limited in Mumbai.
Ukraine Explores Alternative Grain Routes
Alternative grain export routes from Ukraine will reach required capacity at the end of August at the earliest, its agriculture minister said, warning they would cover only half of volumes handled by Black Sea ports disrupted by Russian attacks.Russia has intensified missile and drone attacks on foreign-flagged civilian vessels in the southern Odesa port hub, which handles most of Ukraine's grain shipments.The…
FESCO Pauses Black Sea Orders After Drone Attacks
Last week's Ukrainian drone attack on one of its vessels has forced Russian logistics and shipping group FESCO to suspend accepting new shipment orders via the Black Sea, the company said on Tuesday.The announcement highlights the growing disruption to shipping from a sharp escalation of attacks on each other's vessels by both Russia and Ukraine, which has pushed wheat prices higher on global markets.Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom, which owns 92.5% of FESCO, said earlier that the ves
Carnival Cruise Line Implement Jotun Hull Cleaning Solution
Carnival Cruise Line (CCL) has signed an agreement with Jotun to implement Hull Skating Solution (HSS), becoming the first cruise operator to use this robotic proactive hull cleaning technology. With this commitment, Carnival continues to utilise innovation and technology to reduce emissions and protect biodiversity.As one of the world’s largest and most influential cruise brands, Carnival’s adoption of HSS to its vessel Carnival Pride marks an important shift for the wider industry.
Alfortish Joins McDonough Marine as Director of Maintenance
McDonough Marine said that Michael Alfortish has joined the company as its Director of Maintenance. Alfortish brings more than 14 years of experience in the marine industry, holding key leadership roles in both shipyard and marine transportation operations. His experience includes overseeing vessel and barge repairs, supporting new construction projects, managing environmental compliance programs, and leading fleet operations for a large marine transportation company.
ZeroNorth Launches Agentic AI Solution for Maritime Operations
ZeroNorth introduced Propel by ZeroNorth, a new agentic AI partner for maritime operations. Propel uses AI agents to take action on repetitive manual tasks in operations, freeing operators to focus on decisions that require their judgement.The launch comes as shipping faces growing operational complexity from geopolitical disruption, regulatory change and volatile fuel prices. Operators coordinate decisions across multiple vessels and disconnected systems…
ASENAV to Build Hybrid Research Vessel for UC San Diego
Chile will export its first floating laboratory to the United States after ASENAV signed a contract to build a hybrid vessel dedicated to ocean research for the University California of San Diego.From its home port in San Diego, California, the 38-meter vessel will serve hundreds of scientists and students each year along the Eastern Pacific coast as part of the U.S. Academic Research Fleet. The NB 201 project…
bound4blue Installs eSAILs on South Pacific Multipurpose Vessel
bound4blue has completed the installation of a 22-metre-high eSAIL onboard the newbuild multipurpose vessel Na Hiro E Pae, marking a milestone for both the vessel owner, Société de Navigation des Australes SNA Tuha'a Pae Shipping Company, and the wider adoption of wind propulsion technology.Multipurpose cargo vessels in French Polynesia are commonly known as “goelettes,” a reference to the schooners that historically supplied remote islands under sail.
