An unprecedented level of investment in multi-deck vehicle carriers is being driven by tonnage replacement and scale economy strategies, but emphatically also by explosive growth in China’s automotive exports.Global deep-sea automotive shipments, excluding the Russian trade, were estimated at some 15.6 million units in 2025, up 5 percent on 2024, maintaining recent years’ trajectory. China’s inexorable rise as a producer and exporter is the conspicuous influence on traffic development.
A Russian frigate fired two flares towards a Danish military helicopter in international waters off Denmark on Monday, narrowly missing the aircraft, the Nordic NATO member's military said.The Baltic Sea region is on high alert after incidents involving gas pipeline outages, airspace violations and drone sightings since Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, all of which have increased tensions between Moscow and the West.The Fennec military helicopter had been on a routine mission to photograph the Russian frigate, the Danish defence command said in a statement late on Monday.
Shipping group Maersk said on Monday that four more of its joint container services with Germany's Hapag-Lloyd will resume sailings through the Suez Canal, as they gradually return to using the shortcut between Asia and Europe.The Asia-Europe trade corridor through the Suez Canal was abandoned by most shippers earlier this decade after attacks in the Red Sea by Yemen's Houthis, forcing ships to take the much longer trip around Africa."The Suez Canal is a vital maritime corridor between East and West and a key driver of efficient global supply chains," Denmark's Maersk said in a statement.
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis launched a new attack on Saudi Arabia on Monday and Gulf Arab states postponed planned talks with Iran, underscoring fears that the Middle East conflict could spread further and threaten global oil supplies.U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran wanted to reach a deal with Washington, signalling a possible diplomatic opening despite the widening regional tensions."The failing Nation of Iran wants to make a deal, quickly and badly. I will determine whether or not the U.S.A. will choose to engage - The concept of which we are open to," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Indian marine automation provider Accurate Industrial Controls is set to begin converting three patrol boats to Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) as part of a six-vessel deal with the Indian Navy.The company has already undertaken a feasibility assessment of the first three vessels ahead of converting them to fully autonomous boats at Mumbai’s Naval Dockyard.Dharmesh Popatlal Gala, Accurate’s director of AI & Robotics, said the three vessels include a 13m Fast Interceptor Craft (FIC) used in coastal reconnaissance and two larger 23m Immediate Support Vessels (ISV).
Robosys Automation, a provider of autonomous navigation and vessel control systems, announced the integration of its VOYAGER AI Autonomous Navigation System (ANS) software with FarSounder’s Forward Looking Sonar (FLS) technology, delivering real-time situational awareness, obstacle detection, and navigation decision support for both luxury superyachts and Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USVs).The integration combines VOYAGER AI's navigation, route planning, COLREGs collision avoidance and autonomous vessel control capabilities with FarSounder's 3D forward-looking sonar technology.
Oil prices jumped over 4% to a 16-week high on Monday after new strikes on Saudi Arabian energy infrastructure and attacks on ships in the Middle East compounded energy supply concerns.Brent futures rose $4.68, or 4.5%, to $109.29 per barrel at 10:15 a.m. EDT (1415 GMT), while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose $4.21, or 4.2%, to $104.26.That kept both benchmarks in technically overbought territory for more than a week and put Brent and WTI on track for their highest closes since May 19.
Lloyd’s Register (LR) has joined forces with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (KSOE) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) to develop a new generation of LNG carrier designs using hybrid electric propulsion.The partners signed an Approval in Principle (AiP) at Gastech 2026 in Bangkok to advance the design of a 185,000 cbm LNG carrier featuring a hybrid electric propulsion system. Under the AiP, the partners will work on the development and safety verification of the vessel’s hybrid electric propulsion system, with a focus on strengthening system architecture
DNV and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore strategic collaboration on Software Defined Vessel (SDV) technologies and associated verification and assurance frameworks. The collaboration will combine HD KSOE’s work in SDV technologies and digital ship systems with DNV’s expertise in the independent assurance, verification, and certification of maritime technologies. The agreement was signed during Gastech by Kim Hyung-Kwan, President and CEO of HD KSOE, and Vidar Dolonen of DNV Regional Manager Korea & Japan.
SCHOTTEL has unveiled PropControl 4, the latest generation of its propulsion control systems. The new solution helps operators and crews manage complex propulsion systems safely, efficiently, and intuitively. It combines control functions, user-friendly handling, operational reliability, and digital connectivity within a single platform. Designed for azimuth thrusters, transverse thrusters, and controllable pitch propellers, the system can be modularly adapted to a wide range of vessel types and propulsion configurations
KERSHIP, a joint venture between PIRIOU and Naval Group, launched the PETAR NJEGOS I, the first of two OPV 60M offshore patrol vessels ordered by Montenegro, at its Lanester shipyard on Friday, September 11, 2026.The ceremony, marking a milestone in the program, was attended by numerous Montenegrin and French dignitaries, including Mr. Aleksa Becic, Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Dragan Krapovié, Minister of Defence of Montenegro, Ms Dubravka Lalovic, Ambassador of Montenegro in France, Ms Cécile Humbert-Bouvet, Ambassador of France in Montenegro
MacGregor has secured orders to deliver deck cranes, handling equipment, and deck machinery for four new oceanographic research vessels. The orders were booked into MacGregor’s second and third quarter 2026 order intake, with equipment deliveries starting in 2027 and scheduled to complete by the third quarter of 2029 at the latest. Two of the vessels will be built at the GONDAN Shipbuilders in Spain for the German Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH). The remaining two will be constructed at Titagarh Naval Systems Limited in India for the Geological Survey of India (GSI).