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.
Oil Rises as Uncertainty Clouds US-Iran Peace Talks
Oil prices rose on Tuesday as a diplomatic resolution to the U.S.-Iran conflict remained uncertain, while disruptions to oil flows through key shipping routes persisted.Front-month Brent futures LCOc1 rose $1.04, or 1.24%, to $84.81 a barrel by 0800 GMT after dropping 7% in the previous session to a three-week low.U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 was up 30 cents, or 0.37%, at $80.64 a…
Trump Presses ExxonMobil, Chevron to Lower Fuel Prices After Record Profits
U.S. President Donald Trump accused ExxonMobil and Chevron on Monday of making "too much money" off higher fuel prices and said the oil giants should "give some of that back to the public," a notable break from his usual alliance with the industry."I don't like it," Trump told reporters on Monday, three days after the companies reported blowout second-quarter earnings as the ongoing war in Iran keeps oil prices high. “Chevron, too much money. ExxonMobil, too much.
Strong Cargo Demand Offsets Rising Costs for ONE
Ocean Network Express (ONE) reported a profitable first quarter for fiscal 2026, overcoming higher fuel costs and geopolitical disruptions through strong cargo demand, disciplined capacity management and rising freight rates, while continuing to invest in fleet modernization under its long-term ONE2030 strategy.For the quarter ended June 30, 2026, the Singapore-based container carrier generated revenue of $4.54 billion…
CBOT Wheat Prices Rise As Russia, Ukraine Conflict Threatens Exports
Chicago Board of Trade wheat futures rose on Monday, reversing earlier weakness on fears that intensified fighting between Russia and Ukraine would further disrupt Black Sea exports.Corn and soybean futures turned higher, though prices remained under pressure as crude oil tumbled on prospects for a deal between the U.S. and Iran, along with a spate of recent rainfall across parts of the U.S. Midwest.Corn futures ticked higher on support from the wheat market…
August Freight Rates for Russian Urals Rise Alongside Security Risks
Freight rates for Russia's flagship Urals crude shipments from western ports to India have jumped by about 50% since mid-July as rising global shipping costs and security risks in the Black Sea deter shipowners from calling at Russian ports, traders said.Russia is set to increase oil exports from its western ports in August amid firm demand in Asia, but a shortage of tonnage may put a cap on its plans, they added.Ukraine stepped up attacks on tankers in the Black Sea in July, damaging several ve
Six Saudi-Flagged Tankers Change Course in Gulf of Aden
Six Saudi-flagged supertankers have changed course in the Gulf of Aden in recent days and are heading to southern Africa following threats by Yemen’s Houthi movement to target Saudi shipping, tracking data showed on Monday.The tankers, which were empty of cargo after returning from destinations in Asia, were sailing in formation towards southern Africa, rather than opting to transit the southern Red Sea via the Bab el-Mandeb chokepoint…
USACE, Port Freeport Cut Ribbon After Channel Improvement Project
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District and Port Freeport recognized a milestone in the Freeport Harbor Channel Improvement Project during a ribbon-cutting ceremony July 28, 2026.The federal navigation project deepens and partially widens the harbor channel, enhances the upper turning basin and eases the lower channel bend. The improvements provide greater vessel access, operating flexibility and navigation capability at one of Texas’ leading commercial ports.The deeper…
Sedgwick Awarded Lloyd's Surveyor Agency Appointments for Houston, New Orleans Ports
Sedgwick, a risk and claims administration partner, has secured Lloyd's Surveyor Agency appointments for Houston and New Orleans, further strengthening the company's ability to support marine clients across two of the most significant United States ports.A Lloyd's Surveyor Agency appointment is a designation awarded to marine surveyors and claims adjusters within the Lloyd's market. Appointed agencies serve as trusted local resources…
Lemissoler Navigation Names Bulk Vessel Pair
Lemissoler Navigation has celebrated the naming of MV Lem Azalea and MV Lem Plumeria, the first two vessels in its four-vessel dual-fuel methanol newbuilding program.The naming ceremony took place on July 27, 2026. The two 65,000-dwt dry bulk carriers were built by CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding in cooperation with China Shipbuilding Trading Co. (CSTC). Shanghai Merchant Ship Design and Research…
AM Solutions Receives KR Certification for 3D Printing Technology
Korean Register (KR) has awarded a manufacturing process certificate to AM Solutions, a South Korean 3D printing solutions company, for its laser wire directed energy deposition (LW-DED)-based additive manufacturing repair technology. It marks the first time in Korea that KR has verified the safety and reliability of a process that uses additive manufacturing, commonly known as 3D printing, to repair damaged sections of metal structures.
Saipem, Subsea7 Clear Key US Regulatory Merger Hurdle
Saipem and Subsea7 have cleared a key U.S. regulatory hurdle for their planned merger after the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 expired, allowing the transaction to close in the United States once all remaining conditions are met.The companies said all applicable waiting periods under the U.S. antitrust law have expired, while noting that the proposed…
Huisman to Deliver Equipment for Solstad-SBM Offshore Installation Vessel
Dutch lifting equipment specialist Huisman has secured a contract from CIMC Raffles Offshore to supply lifting and handling systems for a next-generation deepwater offshore installation vessel being built for a joint venture between Solstad Offshore and SBM Offshore.The contract covers an integrated equipment package comprising a 350-tonne A-frame, a 500-tonne knuckle boom crane, a 20-tonne auxiliary crane…
Managing Risks in Battery-Related Marine Fires: A Practical Perspective on Investigation, Subrogation
As lithium-ion batteries continue to make their way into the marine space whether through vessel systems, transported electric vehicles, or everyday devices onboard we are starting to see a different type of fire loss than most of us have traditionally dealt with.These events are not necessarily more frequent, but when they occur, they tend to be severe. In many cases, they result in prolonged fires or even total loss of a vessel or cargo.
