BMT partners with BAE Systems on Anzac Class frigate contract BMT reports that it will be cooperating with BAE Systems Australia, the prime contractor for the design support contract (DSC) supporting the Royal Australian Navy's Anzac class frigates. BMT says that "the
Corps FY26 Work Plan allocates $42M for Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway projects The Trump Administration on April 7 released the fiscal year 2026 work plan for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, outlining final funding allocations for projects across the country. The Work Plan
Global shipbuilding order book hits a 17-year high "By the end of the first quarter of 2026, the global shipbuilding order book hit a 17-year high, reaching 191 million compensated gross tonnes (CGT). This is equivalent to 17% of the
HD Hyundai Heavy and EXMAR name world's first two ammonia-fueled gas tankers EXMAR has marked a landmark milestone with the namings of the world's first ocean-going ammonia dual fuel mid-size gas carriers (MGC), the culmination of ajoint development program initiated more than three-and-a-half years
George Whittier back as CEO at Fairbanks Morse Defense Beloit, Wis.-based Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD) reports that George Whittier is returning to lead the company as its chief executive officer. "Fairbanks Morse has been integral to America's industrial and defense strength
Norway's Boreal AS orders 20 Candela electric foiling ferries In what is the world's largest order of its kind to date, Norwegian public transport operator Boreal AS-a leader in sustainable ferry and bus operations-has ordered 20 Candela P-12 electric hydrofoiling ferries.
Sea-Intelligence: Carrier Profitability drops sharply in 2025-Q4 In issue 759 of the Sunday Spotlight, Sea-Intelligence analysed the 2025-Q4 financial and operational performance of the major global container shipping lines. The reporting shipping lines recorded a combined EBIT of USD 392M in 2025-Q4, representing a staggering collapse from the USD 7.60bn combined operating profit recorded in 2024-Q4. This signalled not only a return to severe pre-pandemic mar
Bunker market reverses as ceasefire triggers price correction The upward trajectory of bunker prices, driven by escalating tensions in the Middle East, reversed sharply on April 8 following reports of a two-week ceasefire. "The market has entered a corrective phase after a prolonged rally," said Sergey Ivanov, Director, MABUX. After an extended period of gains, global bunker indices entered a corrective phase, reflecting a shift in market sentiment. The 380
Blue Water Shipping expands in Chile Blue Water Shipping has announced the establishment of a dedicated reefer department in Chile, marking a strategic expansion aimed at strengthening support for temperature-controlled and dry cargo operations in a key regional market. The new setup enhances the company's capabilities in handling both perishable and general cargo, while reinforcing its commitment to delivering integrated logistics
ITE Investment takes over tank container specialist CS Leasing A US transport-focused investment fund, ITE Investment, has acquired a tank container lessor, CS Leasing, betting on rising demand to move liquids in tank containers. The San Francisco-based CS Leasing specialises in tank containers and dry freight special containers, which are used to hold irregular-shaped cargoes. The company has approximately 55,000 units deployed across four continents. The t
The chokepoints are shifting and Hormuz is the last line The architecture of global maritime trade has undergone a structural reset and the Strait of Hormuz, long taken as a given, is now the most consequential and most fragile corridor on the planet.
CK Hutchison to seek arbitration over Maersk CK Hutchison's Panama-based subsidiary, Panama Ports Company (PPC), is preparing to initiate arbitration proceedings against Maersk over the takeover of two strategic ports near the Panama Canal , according to a report by Reuters . The dispute centers on the Balboa and Cristobal terminals, located on the Pacific and Atlantic sides of the canal, respectively. PPC alleges that Maersk breached a lon
COSCO receives new 80,000 DWT multi-purpose grain carrier The 80,000 dwt multi-purpose grain carrier "Guo Yun Hai" has been delivered. China Classification Society (CCS) surveyed the vessel. Dalian COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry built the ship for COSCO Shipping Development . It is the first vessel of its type developed in China for large-scale grain transport. Advanced multi-purpose design The vessel is nearly 230 meters long. It carries grain and other
US container imports climb 12.4% in March Descartes Systems Group reported that U.S. container imports rose 12.4% month-on-month in March 2026, reaching 2.35 million TEUs . The increase marks a seasonal rebound from February levels. Volumes remained near historic highs, although they were slightly down compared to March 2025. China volumes decline as sourcing shifts Imports from China fell 2.3% month-on-month and 6.7% year-on-year . At t
Suez Canal Authority suspends 15%discount for large containerships The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has suspended the 15% discount on transit fees previously granted to large containerships. The suspension took effect on Tuesday, according to a circular published on the SCA website on April 2, 2026. The rebate, first announced in May 2025, was introduced to encourage containerships that had been rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope to return to the Suez Canal. It
Balboa Corp launches Panama's first stablecoin for global trade payments BALBOA CORP has officially launched from stealth, introducing Panama's first locally issued stablecoin aimed at improving payment efficiency in global trade, shipping, and trade finance. The company's infrastructure focuses on reducing delays and friction in cross-border transactions, particularly in maritime trade corridors linked to Panama Canal , one of the world's most critical shipping route
Ocean Alliance launches CBX service linking Asia to Jacksonville The Ocean Alliance has introduced a new direct container service connecting Asia with Jacksonville Port Authority . The weekly Chesapeake Bay Express (CBX) service is operated by CMA CGM, COSCO Shipping, Evergreen Marine, and OOCL. The first call in Jacksonville is scheduled for May 2026. Expanded Asia-US connectivity The CBX rotation includes ports in Vietnam, China, South Korea, and Japan b
Hanseatic Global Terminals takes full ownership of Florida International Terminal Hanseatic Global Terminals has acquired full ownership of Florida International Terminal, LLC (FIT), following a capital structure adjustment with Agunsa USA, an affiliate of Grupo Empresas Navieras. The transaction makes Hanseatic the sole owner of FIT, while AGUNSA exits its minority stake as part of its portfolio streamlining strategy. Strategic location and connectivity The terminal operate
Explainer: Smart ports and geopolitical implications Smart port technology is reshaping global trade and handing new weapons to the states competing to control it.
Global orderbook hits 17-year high By the end of the first quarter of 2026, the global shipping orderbook hit a 17-year high, reaching 191m compensated gross tonnes (CGT) - equivalent to 17% of the global fleet, the highest ratio since 2011, according to data from BIMCO. The orderbook has been boosted by higher newbuilding contracting throughout the 2020s and most ...
DeepOcean brings in Boskalis CSV DeepOcean has lined up additional subsea vessel capacity after agreeing a charter with Boskalis for the construction support vessel Boka Spearfish. The 2014-built ship will join the Norwegian contractor's fleet for the remainder of 2026, with options to extend. Following a short mobilisation, the vessel will be fitted with two work-class remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) ...
Sonangol doubles down on LNG with fresh HD Hyundai order Sonangol is stepping up its move into LNG shipping, placing an order for two more carriers at HD Hyundai Samho. Parent group HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) said the contract covers two 174,000-cbm LNG vessels, worth KRW770.2bn ($511m). Delivery is set by the end of September 2029. The latest deal follows an earlier ...
France sharpens penalties in fresh push against shadow fleet France is moving to tighten its grip on illicit tanker activity with plans to double penalties for vessels operating without proper flags or refusing to comply with authorities, in a clear escalation of efforts to curb Russia-linked shadow fleet operations. Under a draft update to the country's military planning law, shipowners, operators and other responsible ...
North Star fixes PSV to EnQuest UK offshore vessel owner North Star has fixed one of its platform supply vessels to EnQuest on a new North Sea contract, according to market sources. Offshore brokers say the 2013-built Grampian Sovereign has been chartered by the UK-based oil and gas operator for a firm period of at least one year, with options in ...
HD Hyundai pioneers 'half-ship' construction to tackle record orderbook South Korea's largest shipbuilder has moved well beyond traditional block outsourcing, splitting entire vessels between two yards in a first for the country's shipbuilding industry HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has unveiled a radical new approach to managing its swollen orderbook, constructing ships in two separate halves across different shipyards before joining them together - a ...
Titan bags twin China offshore wind contracts Titan Wind Energy has secured new offshore wind work in China, with subsidiaries winning contracts tied to a 600MW project off Hainan and a separate development in Guangdong. In a Shenzhen stock exchange filing, the company said units have been awarded engineering work worth around CNY280m ($41m) for Site II of the Datang Hainan Danzhou ...
Hong Glory Bulk sets course for Atlantic growth with Athens office opening Hong Glory Bulk, owned by Singapore-headquartered Rongtua Shipping Group, has opened a new office in Athens, marking a strategic move to strengthen the group's commercial presence across the Atlantic basin. The opening reception at the office in Marousi was attended by approximately 35 guests, including shipowners, charterers, key brokers, and group leadership from headquarters. In ...
Exmar names world's first ammonia-powered gas carriers Exmar is set to take delivery of the world's first ammonia-powered gas carriers, marking a milestone in the shift towards alternative marine fuels. The two 46,000 cu m mid-size vessels, named Antwerpen and Arlon, were built by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and formally named at the yard in Ulsan today. They are the first of ...
How to secure the Arctic frontier Simon Flack, head of business development, Earth observation and innovation at Space Norway, discusses the growing number of dark ships in the North Atlantic, America's Greenland threats, and why Europe must harness synthetic aperture radar to keep track of these growing concerns. In early 2026, a rust-streaked Russian-flagged tanker, part of Moscow's dark fleet, was ...
Rig-sharing plan lined up for offshore Timor-Leste wells Sunda Energy has moved to firm up its drilling plans offshore Timor-Leste, signing a letter of intent with Finder to work together on securing a rig for upcoming campaigns. The London-listed company, through its unit SundaGas Banda, is looking to align its Chuditch-2 appraisal well with Finder's planned drilling at the Kuda Tasi and Jahal ...
Near-standstill at Hormuz with ceasefire failing to unlock Gulf shipping The tentative ceasefire between the United States and Iran has so far failed to translate into anything resembling a resumption of normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with vessel movements remaining at a near-complete standstill in the 24 hours since the agreement was announced and the strategic waterway still firmly under Iranian military control. ...
Historic product tanker rally in Atlantic is still in full swing More product tankers are being fixed on long-haul, cross-basin voyages, helping to keep Atlantic spot rates at or near record...
Sanctions stopping Iran paying into oil spill fund Iran has asked the IMO's Legal Committee for leniency from the IOPC Funds for not paying its contributions because of...
More than 600 vessels still stuck in Middle East Gulf Even if traffic returned to pre-conflict levels tomorrow, it would still take more than 10 days to move all vessels...
Hormuz uncertainty reigns as tolls, transit schemes and security remain in flux Shipping flows through the Strait of Hormuz have fallen even further despite a ceasefire, as Iran asserts control with new...
Zhonggu's fleet expansion accelerates with feeder order at Wuhan yard Expansion comes as the Chinese carrier moves beyond domestic services to Belt-and-Road routes amid shifting global supply chains
Marine insurers reprice Gulf war risk cover after ceasefire No consensus over new going hull rate but trend clearly down
Chinese state VLCCs inch towards Hormuz transit as Beijing pulls diplomatic strings Beijing's diplomatic push appears to be bearing fruit as stranded Chinese tankers make their first move towards Hormuz since the...
Middle East port update: Thursday, April 9 FOTT's Berth 6 is offline and under maintenance. Berths 4 and 5 are reserved for bulk carriers
Russia hits Ukrainian port of Izmail No casualties were reported by Ukrainian authorities, but infrastructure at the port was hit in the drone attack
Iran unveils its own Hormuz traffic separation scheme The IRGC Navy has suggested the scheme is a way of avoiding potential sea mines, but analysts have questioned how...
The Daily View: No straight answers to the Strait question
Daily Briefing Shipping seeks clarity over Tehran toll booth requirements for Hormuz safe passage | Hormuz ceasefire spurs cautious optimism but no...
US imports of consumer electronics face threats to growth plans Rising fuel prices and memory costs may force buyers to re-think, or at least delay, purchases of pricey electronics this year.
MPV, deck carrier operators eye cargo demand surge from Iran war reconstruction The repair and rebuilding of oil, gas and petrochemical facilities in the Middle East will provide project cargoes for the specialist fleet at least through the end of the decade, observers say.
US-Iran ceasefire unlikely to spur air freight return to Middle East: analysts While the ceasefire marks the first diplomatic shift in the 40-day conflict, it is being regarded by transport operators as more of a controlled easing rather than an operational reset.
project44 acquires agent developer to expand AI use cases The deal, financial details of which were not disclosed, could possibly be the first M&A domino to fall among a growing number of agent vendors catering to the logistics industry.
World's largest newbuilding project on track despite Middle East war, say shipyards Shipbuilders and charterers signal demand resilience despite Middle East disruption
Vale inks pioneering deal for ethanol-fuelled bulker giants Mining major signs charter deal with Shandong Shipping for two very large ore carriers and options for more
Another day, another record for Breakwave tanker ETF as year-to-date surge surpasses 684% ETF allows nearly pure investment in Middle East-to-Asia VLCC futures
Tough year for stocks? Not for shipping, as equities soar 30% 'A lot more eyes on the sector' led to strength before and after outbreak of Iran war
Ceasefire to put a ceiling on secondhand tanker price rises, analyst says Eva Tzima believes investors will not risk buying at today's elevated levels
France to double penalties for shadow tanker offences Crackdown on ships that fail to fly a valid flag or refuse to comply with orders
Greek shipowner Harry Vafias breaks back into VLCC space after two decades away Order in South Korea takes the owner's newbuilding catalogue to $1.3bn, sources say
Exmar ships that can slash emissions by 95% debut into changed world order CEO Carl-Antoine Saverys calls the newbuildings' ability to burn ammonia a game-changer for the industry
Middle East VLCC rates ride ceasefire wave with $100,000 per day jump Owners and operators will have to navigate fees, insurance and Iranian tolls, Clarksons says
How quickly could all of the ships trapped in the Gulf exit the Strait of Hormuz? Oil Brokerage says all vessels could depart in a little over a week if restrictions were removed
Great Eastern offloads tankers after adding modern vessels Indian owner says it has agreed to sell two MRs built in 2003 and 2007
VLCC deal at big rate collapses in the Gulf as charterers scramble for prompt loadings Iranian U-turn on tanker exits places new deals in doubt
Tankers flip from clean to dirty trades in record numbers as aframax rates soar More and more LR2s migrating due to lack of refined cargoes
Shell and MOL link up to promote clean fuel use System backed by independent on-profit Smart Freight Centre
Aponte targets suezmax tanker order after booking $1bn VLCC batch Shipowner Gianluigi Aponte mulls order for suezmax tankers
Record tanker spree pushes newbuilding orderbook to 15-year high Industry group Bimco says orderbook stands at 191m compensated gross tonnes
First VLCCs fixed in the Gulf for big rates as charterers scramble for prompt loadings Iranian U-turn on tanker exits places new deals in doubt
Chinese VLCCs pull out of Strait of Hormuz crossing Tracking data had shown tankers ballasting towards the exit earlier on Thursday
Tanker turned back as Iran maps new lanes around Hormuz mines Ports and maritime authority says transits must be carried out in coordination with navy
Russian drones hit ships at a Ukrainian port Izmail attack highlights spillover risks to shipping from Ukraine conflict
Stolt-Nielsen withdraws profit guidance due to global uncertainty Shares fall in Oslo after 'soft' quarterly earnings report
Exmar names world's first ammonia dual-fuel gas carriers Chief executive Carl-Antoine Saverys says company is carrying its pioneering tradition forward
Tanker turned back as Iran reveals new safe shipping lanes to avoid Hormuz mines Ports and maritime authority says transits must be carried out in coordination with navy
Tufton Assets wins big pay rise for tankers chartered to Trafigura UK fund says two MRs secure 47% more for a seventh year
Red Sea crisis leaves China Merchants Port overseas assets intact Port operator flags tariff growth and liner competition pressures
MPC Capital profits rise as assets under management top $6.3bn German investor says it has newbuild projects at an advanced stage of negotiations
Ambitious shipowners urged not to neglect crew in fleet-building race Skuld CEO Stale Hansen says investors recognise that seafarers are crucial to protecting valuable assets
Sonangol adds two LNG carriers to its HD Hyundai newbuilding tally State oil company now has three 174,000-cbm LNG ships on order at the South Korean yard
Red Sea crisis has not hit overseas assets: China Merchants Port Port operator flags tariff growth and liner competition pressures
AET breaks five-year VLCC order drought with Hengli deal The Malaysian tanker company is said to have ordered at least four LNG capable newbuildings
Troubled Postal Service moves to raise stamp prices, conserve cash The U.S. Postal Service plans to raise the price of mail and package services by 4.8% this summer, with a First-Class Forever stamp rising from 78 cents to 82 cents, as part of a broad effort to stem billions of dollars in annual losses. The national post on Thursday also announced its intent to temporarily suspend employer retirement contributions to the Federal Employees Retirement System to co
Three Strategies for Closing Fleet Risk Blind Spots Fleet operators tend to think of risk in terms of isolated events, such as a crash, a failed inspection, or a compliance lapse. But according to Bob O'Connell, Account Executive of Strategic Accounts at J.J. Keller & Associates, that way of thinking is itself the biggest blind spot in the industry. "A lot of carriers, big and small, believe that their risk is based on isolated incidents," O'Conn
Project44 unveils fleet of AI agents at customer event Decision44 On April 9, 2026, Project44 CEO Jett McCandless stood before customers at the company's Decision44 event and delivered a sweeping history lesson that doubled as a mission statement. From the agricultural surplus of 10,000 BC that enabled civilization, to Rome's maritime empire, the Silk Road's intermediaries, the compass that unlocked ocean navigation, the 13th-century bill of lading, the printin
Biggest US port getting a big check for fix-ups The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has allocated approximately $70 million to the Port of Los Angeles for harbor maintenance, seismic resiliency and navigational safety improvements. The funds, from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF), totaled a record $131.8 million for the San Pedro Bay complex, the busiest container gateway that includes the Port of Long Beach. While Los Angeles and other
New business: South Carolina rail route will see first trains since 2012 Palmetto Railways is reactivating operations on its 40-mile Salkehatchie Subdivision, a former short line through Hampton and Colleton counties in southwestern South Carolina that last served customers in 2012. With two new customers building facilities along the line, the state-owned railway has invested more than $3 million in route rehabilitation including bridge improvements, tie replacement,
FedEx, pilots agree on tentative contract after 5 years of talks Unionized pilots at FedEx Corp. are on the brink of a new labor contract after five years of acrimonious bargaining. The Air Line Pilots Association late Wednesday announced that negotiators for the pilots and the company had reached a tentative agreement on a five-year contract with the help of the federal government's National Mediation Board. Pilots will receive a 40% increase in their hourly
Prologis expands global footprint with European joint venture Logistics real estate giant Prologis is expanding its global footprint, striking a new pan-European joint venture with global investment group La Caisse. The partnership underscores a growing appetite among institutional investors for logistics warehouses amid shifting global supply chains. The new platform, dubbed Prologis Logistics Investment Venture Europe (PLIVE), will initially include 1 bil
DSV exits Dallas-area contract, 391 jobs cut at Wilmer DC DSV Contract Logistics is ceasing operations at a major distribution facility south of Dallas, cutting 391 jobs after losing a customer contract tied to a large consumer goods supply chain network. The Denmark-based logistics provider said in a WARN notice filed Thursday that it will terminate all operations at a third-party logistics facility located at 101 Mars Road in Wilmer, Texas, with layof
Stolen freight recovered: $1m Lego heist stopped in tracks Credit goes to the deputies at the Kern County Sheriff's Office Mojave Substation for acting quickly and stopping what could have turned into a much larger loss. Their response made the difference and kept this from moving further. On April 8, 2026, deputies responded to a call about suspicious vehicles near the 400 block of Silver Queen Road. When they arrived, two box trucks were seen leaving t
Commentary: project44 acquires LunaPath.ai: a key step toward an AI-native supply chain Jett McCandless is building an AI-native supply chain, both organically and through acquisition. The vision is clear: artificial intelligence that does not just analyze data or send alerts, but manages exceptions, optimizes routing, handles negotiations, and resolves problems without waiting for a human to step in. The acquisition of LunaPath.ai, announced April 9th, 2026, is a concrete move in t
Ocean rates rise as Hormuz makes fuel top concern Ocean shipping operations remain stable across the global market, with rising fuel costs and availability the main factors impacting other lanes, an analyst says. "We are approaching six weeks since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, and only a few vessels per day are being allowed through," said Freightos analyst Judah Levine, in a weekly note to clients. "Ships that are transiting are doing so v
How the worst of trucking failed Athena Strand Athena Presley Monroe Strand was born May 23, 2015, in Duncan, Oklahoma. She was seven years old when she was killed. She was a first-grader at Paradise Elementary School who made friends, her family said, as easily as a butterfly flaps its wings. She loved horseback riding. She loved doing makeup. She loved being a princess. She had an ever-present smile that people who knew her said lit up ever
The load was booked right. It still went wrong Cargo theft does not always start with an obvious red flag. In many cases, it starts with a carrier that looks legitimate, passes every check, and has no history of issues. That is what makes these situations hard to catch early and even harder to stop once they begin moving. In this week's episode of the Fraud Watch podcast , I sat down with Christopher Griffin , Director of Safety at Direct Tra
Diesel is $5.62 a gallon. Hire the right Driver The war with Iran changed your fuel budget overnight. On Feb. 28, when the first strikes began, diesel was running around $3.75 a gallon nationwide. By late March, it had crossed five dollars for the first time since December 2022. We're now at $5.62, up nearly 50 percent in five weeks, and analysts are not done talking about where it could go. Some have modeled $6. Some are discussing $7 if the
project44 acquires LunaPath.ai to accelerate AI agent orchestration across global supply chains project44, the global leader in supply chain decision intelligence, announced Tuesday its acquisition of LunaPath.ai, an AI-native logistics automation company, in an all-cash transaction. The deal strengthens project44's multi-vendor AI Agent Orchestration strategy by embedding LunaPath's execution-focused agents into the company's vast real-time logistics data graph, enabling autonomous action
Mexico truckers end strike after clashes with authorities Mexico's nationwide trucker and farmer strike came to an abrupt end Wednesday after organizers suspended highway blockades across the country following confrontations with authorities in multiple states. The National Association of Transporters (ANTAC) said it temporarily halted its mobilizations after what it described as violent responses by police in states including Tlaxcala, Veracruz and Chi
Will the end of DEF sensors mean a reduction in its consumption? If a truck driver wants to save a few bucks by running some of its miles without diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), it's now going to be possible for that to occur without the prospect of regulatory "enforcement" provided by a DEF sensor slowing down the vehicle. But what are the other consequences if that money-saving route of reducing DEF consumption is chosen? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA
The Suez Canal Authority has announced that it will introduce surcharges on transit tariffs through the Egyptian canal for most major cargo vessels, effective July 15.
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