US to Deploy Aircraft Carrier Amidst Tensions with Venezuela
President Donald Trump dramatically escalated a U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean on Friday by deploying the Gerald Ford aircraft carrier group to Latin America, a show of force that far exceeds any past counter-narcotics need and represents Washington’s most muscular move yet in the region.The deployment is part of Trump's military buildup in the Caribbean, which includes eight additional warships, a nuclear submarine and F-35 aircraft. It is likely to raise concern in the…
Saronic, NVIDIA Form Collaboration to Advance American Maritime Innovation
Saronic Technologies and NVIDIA have formed a strategic collaboration to accelerate advancements in maritime autonomy and robotics and chart a bold course for the future of maritime mobility and global prosperity. By combining Saronic’s expertise in autonomous maritime systems, AI, and shipbuilding with NVIDIA’s accelerated compute, software libraries, and Physical AI-focused innovation, the companies aim to advance the frontier of intelligent, resilient decision-making at sea.Saronic harnesses NVIDIA’s accelerated compute capabilities…
Coast Guard Launches Operation River Wall Along the Rio Grande
The Coast Guard announced the deployment of additional forces to the Rio Grande River in eastern Texas, starting on October 9, 2025, to ensure operational control of the border where the President has declared a national emergency. This surge operation – known as Operation River Wall – will bolster ongoing Coast Guard efforts to control, secure and defend approximately 260 miles of the Rio Grande River that makes up the U.S. border there. As part of this mobilization, the Coast Guard is deploying additional response boats…
North American LNG Exporters Look to Double Capacity by 2029
Liquefied natural gas exporters in the U.S. have announced plans to more than double U.S. liquefaction capacity, adding an estimated 13.9 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) by 2029, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said on Thursday.The EIA cited its Liquefaction Capacity File and trade press reports for the forecast, and added that the U.S.
US, UK Ramp Up Pressure on India to Stop Russian Oil Imports
Western powers have ramped up pressure on Russia's oil sales amid its war with Ukraine as U.S. President Donald Trump said India would stop buying and Britain imposed sanctions on top Russian oil firms.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is schedule to meet Trump in Washington on Friday to push for military and energy support at a time when Kyiv and Moscow are escalating the war with attacks on energy infrastructure.Indian officials are also in Washington for trade talks, with the U.S.
US Sanctions on Iranian Oil Target Sinopec
The latest U.S. sanctions on Iranian petroleum exports deal a blow to Chinese refining giant Sinopec by targeting a terminal through which the state major handles one-fifth of its crude oil imports, industry executives and analysts said.The sanctions announced on Thursday further complicate U.S.-China relations, coming ahead of planned talks between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping later this month.The move follows China's decision to tighten controls on rare earth exports…
China Counters With Additional Port Fees for US Ships
Vessels owned or operated by U.S. firms and individuals, or those built in the United States or that fly the U.S. flag, will be charged additional port fees per voyage starting on Tuesday, China's transport ministry said.The fees are a countermeasure against upcoming U.S. port fees on Chinese ships, the ministry said on Friday.Also starting on October 14, ships built in China - or operated or owned by Chinese entities - will need to pay a fee at their first port of call in the United States.
USA, Finland to Reach Icebreaker Deal
U.S. President Donald Trump and Finnish counterpart Alexander Stubb will meet on Thursday at the White House tosign a pact for the U.S. Coast Guard to buy up to four icebreaker ships from Finnish shipyards, the White House and Stubb said.Trump and Stubb have established friendly ties since Trump regained power in January, and the two met in March at the president's Mar-a-Lago club in Florida and played a round of golf."I will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on icebreaker cooperation together with (U.S.
US Unions Urge Lawmakers to Pass SHIPS Act to Secure Domestic Shipbuilding Funding
Five U.S. unions are calling on lawmakers to pass legislation that would help secure long-term funding to revive domestic shipbuilding, an effort championed by President Donald Trump and boosted by new port fees on Chinese ships.The United States on October 14 is slated to begin collecting fees on China-linked vessels that visit the nation's seaports. While final rules from the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) are pending, HSBC analysts recently said China's COSCO Shipping is…
US Federal Judge Grants Go Ahead for Orsted Offshore Wind Project
Danish offshore wind developer Orsted can restart work on the nearly finished Revolution Wind project off the coast of Rhode Island, a federal judge ruled on Monday, after President Donald Trump's administration halted the project last month.The ruling is a legal setback for Trump, who has sought to block expansion of offshore wind in U.S. waters. It is a palpable victory for Orsted, which has been losing $2 million a day since the project was halted on August 22.Revolution Wind is located 15 miles off the coast.
US to Deepen Military Cooperation with Finland, Despite Scaling Back Elsewhere
The United States is committed to deepening military cooperation with Finland, Finnish Defence Minister Antti Hakkanen said on Thursday, despite U.S. plans to scale back its operations elsewhere on NATO's eastern flank in Europe.Finland, which joined NATO in 2023 in response to Russia's 2022 invasion of its other neighbour Ukraine, has a bilateral Defence Cooperation Agreement with the U.S., granting the U.S. military unimpeded access to 15 facilities and areas in Finland."We are very pleased that the U.S. is prepared to deepen their cooperation with us," Hakkanen told Reuters onboard the U.S.
Oil Prices Ease Lower As Investors Await Federal Reserve Decision on Interest Rates
Oil prices eased on Wednesday after data showing an increase in U.S. diesel stockpiles stoked worries about demand, while investors awaited the U.S. Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates.Brent crude futures lost 25 cents, or 0.37%, to $68.22 a barrel by 1:20 p.m. EDT (1720 GMT) while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down 21 cents, or 0.33%, at $64.31.U.S. crude inventories fell sharply last week with a jump in exports and a sharp decline in imports, the Energy Information Administration said on Wednesday.
Trump Administration Asks Federal Court to Cancel Offshore Wind Permit
The Trump administration has asked a federal judge to withdraw the Interior Department's 2024 approval of a wind farm off the coast of Maryland, according to court documents filed on Friday.The action is the latest in a series of moves the administration has made to stymie development of offshore wind and other clean energy facilities.Attorneys for the Interior Department filed the motion in U.S. District Court in Maryland in a lawsuit brought by the mayor and city council of Ocean City, Maryland, in October that challenged the agency's approval of the US Wind project.(Reuters)
US Sides with Philippines Against South China Sea Nature Preserve
Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday said the U.S.
US Looks to Expand Energy Ties with Greece
The United States wants to expand its energy ties with Greece, U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said during a visit to Athens on Thursday, as the Trump administration works to further reduce Russia's oil and gas supplies to Europe.Burgum has been in Europe this week aiming to seal energy supply deals, which the U.S. hopes will strengthen its influence in the region while weakening Russia's.On Wednesday, Greece announced that a consortium including oil major Chevron had bid…
US State Department Expresses Concern Over Ban of Israeli Shipments in Spanish Ports, Airspace
A U.S. State Department spokesperson expressed concern on Wednesday over Spain's measures limiting access to Spanish ports and airspace to ships and planes carrying weapons for Israel."It is deeply concerning that Spain, a NATO member, has chosen to potentially limit U.S. operations and to turn its back on Israel on the same day six individuals were killed in Jerusalem. These measures embolden terrorists," the spokesperson said in an email sent to Reuters on Wednesday.The U.S.
Italy, US to Boost LNG Ties, Infrastructure
Italy and the United States on Monday vowed to deepen energy ties including through increased exports to Italy of liquefied natural gas (LNG), as Europe continues to seek alternatives to Russian energy supplies following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.Italian Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin and U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, after talks in Rome, pledged to foster a "steady and secure" flow of American LNG to Europe, without committing to exact figures or timeframes.They said they would aim to "encourage investments in LNG import and regasification infrastructure in Italy…
Orsted Wind Venture Sues Trump Administration Over Rhode Island Project Halt
Danish wind farm developer Orsted's Revolution Wind joint venture has filed a lawsuit against the administration of President Donald Trump over the U.S. government's decision to block construction of the project off Rhode Island, a court filing showed on Thursday.The U.S.
Soya IT Marine Solutions Achieves NIS2 and NIST Compliance
Soya IT Marine Solutions is now compliant with both NIS2 and NIST—the EU and US frameworks for cybersecurity, respectively. Achieving compliance with two of the world's strictest regulations means that Soya IT Marine Solutions delivers top-class cyber security. For customers, this means extra protection against cyber attacks, intrusions and operational disruptions—both on board individual ships and in shipping companies' land-based organizations.The compliance work includes technical protective measures, risk management, supplier security and incident reporting processes.
Joint Military Exercise Will See US Typhon Missile System to Deployed to Japan
A joint U.S. and Japanese military exercise will see the temporary deployment of the "Typhon" intermediate-range missile in Japan, Japanese and U.S. officials said on Thursday, a move likely to anger China.The Typhon system is part of a drive by Washington to amass a variety of anti-ship weapons in Asia. The weapon drew sharp criticism from China when first deployed in the Philippines in 2024, also during a training exercise.A spokesperson for Japan's Ground Self Defense Force said the Typhon would be deployed to the U.S.
Trump Administration Cancels $679m of Funding for Offshore Wind
The Trump administration said on Friday it was cancelling $679 million in federal funding for 12 offshore wind projects, including $427 million for a California project.The move is the latest in a full-throated effort by the administration to undermine an industry that was central to former President Joe Biden's climate and energy agendas.U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that the department was cancelling or terminating awards made under the Biden administration.Last year…
US Sanctions Shipping Network for Transporting Disguised Iranian oil
The U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday sanctioned a network of shipping companies and vessels led by an Iraqi-Kittitian businessman for smuggling Iranian oil disguised as Iraqi oil.The administration of President Donald Trump is keeping pressure on Iran while nuclear talks have stalled. A sixth round of negotiations was suspended after the start of a 12-day war in June.A senior Iranian official said on Tuesday that the path to nuclear negotiations is not closed but U.S. demands for curbs on Iranian missiles are obstructing prospects for talks.The Treasury said the network…
Opinion: A Smarter Path to Maritime Strength
Empowering Small and Medium Shipyards Through Strategic ReformAs the United States faces mounting global maritime challenges, from contested sea lanes to aging fleets, the need to expand and modernize our shipbuilding industrial base has never been more urgent. Yet the path forward must be more than a call for capacity. It must be a call for smarter capacity. That means a more distributed, resilient, and inclusive strategy; one that fully leverages the capabilities of small and medium-sized shipyards across the country.These yards are not fringe players.