Vard has started construction of the UPO Atlantic commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) for U-Ming Purus Offshore (UPO), following a steel-cutting ceremony at its Vard Vung Tau shipyard in Vietnam.The ceremony, held on November 2, marked the first construction milestone for the vessel, designated NB 1004 and based on Vard's VARD 4 19 design.The UPO Atlantic is being developed to support offshore wind projects in Taiwan and across Asia, as part of UPO's expansion into the region's offshore wind market.
A South Korean robotics company is commercializing a lightweight wearable robot designed to reduce physical strain on workers performing repetitive lifting and other demanding tasks, with potential applications in shipbuilding, manufacturing, construction and logistics.SARTEXO, a spin-off of the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), has introduced its Bionic Suit, a third-generation wearable robotic system that uses electrically activated artificial muscles embedded in fabric rather than conventional motors and rigid mechanical frames.
With plans to celebrate his family’s 100 years in shipping in 2027, Leif O. Høegh, Chair, Höegh Autoliners, takes a moment to reflect on the company’s bold, ‘first mover’ legacy.In 1927, a young Norwegian entrepreneur named Leif Høegh ordered his first vessel, a tanker named Varg. Backed by the legendary Danish shipowner A.P Møller, the fledgling company survived the Great Depression (and later, World War II) to operate a small fleet of oil tankers. But by the 1960s, the company began to diversify, entering new shipping segments.“Not all these investments paid off,” said Leif O. Høegh, Chair.
The Panama Canal expects to announce the pre-qualified bidders for a project to build and operate two new container terminals by the end of this year, Administrator Ilya Espino said on Wednesday, advancing a tender process linked to one of the world's most strategic trade corridors.Speaking at the Houston International Maritime Conference, Espino said the canal authority has evaluated initial proposals, and the shortlisted companies will next receive a request for proposals, moving the project into a more formal bidding stage.
Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Inc. (ESG) has been selected by HII’s Ingalls Shipbuilding division to construct key structural modular units for the U.S. Navy’s future USS Philadelphia (LPD 32), a San Antonio-class Amphibious Transport Dock.Under the contract, ESG will leverage its Gulf Coast facilities to manufacture six structural units. Production is currently underway, with final deliveries to Ingalls’ Pascagoula, Mississippi shipyard scheduled for the third and fourth quarters of 2027.The agreement supports Ingalls’ expanded distributed shipbuilding strategy.
On October 29, 2026, a Somali Pirate Action Group of 12 armed pirates hijacked the Iranian fishing dhow AZINI approximately 185 nautical miles east of Bandarbeyla, Puntland. The vessel’s crew reportedly included 21 Iranian fishermen and two Somali security guards.On November 2, the Indian Navy freed the vessel following a 48-hour operation in the Arabian Sea, and all crew are reportedly safe.The hijacking of AZINI is the first confirmed hijacking of the fourth quarter and the fourth confirmed hijacking of a dhow or fishing vessel off Somalia this year.
Oil prices fell 9% on Wednesday in volatile trading as investors awaited Washington's next move in the US-Israeli war with Iran after President Donald Trump's Republican Party lost control of Congress in midterm elections.Brent futures dropped $9.27, or 8.9%, to $94.29 a barrel, touching the lowest level since September 4, at 11:58 a.m. ET (1658 GMT). US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down $7.44, or 7.8%, to $88.54.Brent settled in the previous session at its lowest level in nearly four weeks as traders weighed talks to end wars in Ukraine and Iran.
U.S.-based Naval Systems, Inc. (in partnership with Dragonfish Technical Solutions, LLC) (NSI/DF) and U.K.-based SubSea Craft successfully demonstrated an integrated suite of advanced unmanned maritime systems during a multinational maritime exercise conducted October 5–8 off the coast of California. At the request of the Office of the Under Secretary of War for Research & Engineering (OUSW(R&E)) exercise personnel, SubSea Craft and NSI/DF combined their autonomous systems to deliver an integrated demonstration capability
Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes increased 11.4 percent from last year to a total of 4.9 million tons. Shipments were 1.5 percent above the month’s 5-year average.Year-to-date, the iron ore trade stands at 37.1 million tons, an increase of 3.5 percent compared to October 2025.Through October, iron ore loadings are 5.2 percent below their 5-year average. Great Lakes Iron Ore Shipments: October 2021-2026 and 5-Year AverageIncludes Transshipments to Quebec City for Shipment Overseas(net tons) AveragePort2021202220232024202520262021-2025Duluth, MN1,060,797914,217822,376746,629640,772764
U.S. shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes decreased 7.8 percent from 2025 to 2.95 million tons. Limestone cargos were below the month’s 5-year average by 17.3 percent. Year-to-date, the limestone trade stands at 18.8 million tons, a decrease of 17.7 percent compared to last year and 22.4 percent below the month’s 5-year average. GREAT LAKES LIMESTONE TRADE: OCTOBER 2021-2026 AND LONG-TERM AVERAGE (NET TONS) 202120222023202420252026Average2021-2025U.S.
Only one of the three reported tankers that were sailing to the U.S. with Russian diesel appears to be still heading for the Atlantic coast.The issuing of General License 135 on October 9, which temporarily allows Russian diesel to be imported to the U.S., has yet to result in any cargo being delivered to the U.S.Three tankers were flagged last month as sailing for the U.S. with diesel cargoes, including Russia-flagged TALISMAN (IMO 9292060), Sierra Leone-flagged LERUO (IMO 9385831) and Malta-flagged AGIOI FANENDES (IMO 9798375).The first two were sanctioned by the EU, the UK, or the U.S.
No Iran-affiliated tanker still transmitting AIS in the Middle East Gulf has shown a draft change indicative of loading since September 17. Before then, MIOC detected only seven AIS-transmitting tankers loading almost 6 million barrels between July 27 and September 17, a pace of around 113,000 barrels per day.Satellite imagery points the same way. Automated detection over Kharg Island from September 18 to November 1 found no dark tanker at either of the island’s loading terminals.