Concerns grew on Monday that the ceasefire between the United States and Iran might not hold after the U.S. said it had seized an Iranian cargo ship that tried to run its blockade and Iran vowed to retaliate.Efforts to build a more lasting peace in the region likewise appeared to be on shaky ground, as Iran said it would not participate in a second round of negotiations that the U.S.
U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is on a mission to weaken China's global network of ports and bring more strategic terminals under Western control, according to three sources familiar with the plan.The drive is part of the most ambitious effort to expand U.S. maritime influence since the 1970s and is designed to address growing fears in Washington that it would be at a disadvantage
Van Oord's new offshore wind installation vessel Boreas was officially christened on June 18 in Rotterdam. The event marked a milestone in Van Oord’s commitment to enhancing the energy transition. In addition, Van Oord announced that it had become the first marine contractor to receive approval on science-based targets for its decarbonization approach. The Boreas was christened by Ms.
Limestone shipments from U.S. ports decreased 27.5 percent compared to April 2025 to 1.1 million net tons. Loadings were also below the month’s 5-year average by 35.4 percent. Year-to-date, the U.S. limestone trade stands at 1.2 million tons, a decrease of 26.6 percent from last year and 31.9 percent below the 5-year average.
Zeabuz has entered a partnership with Brim Explorer to deploy ZeaWatch Docking Assist across Brim Explorer’s fleet, starting with MS Bre later this year. Set to be installed in Q3 2026, the system will increase docking precision through advanced situational awareness, contributing to predictable, safe and cost-efficient operations.
Limestone shipments on the Great Lakes totaled 26.6 million tons in 2025, a decrease of 5.9 percent compared to the previous year. 2025’s loadings were below the trade’s 5-year average by 6.7 percent.Shipments from U.S. quarries decreased 5 percent from 2024 to 21.7 million tons. Loadings from U.S. quarries were also 5 percent below their 5-year average.
On January 6, 2026, Ms. Laura DiBella of Florida was sworn in as a Commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC or Commission). Commissioner DiBella will serve for a term that expires on June 30, 2028. Commissioner DiBella was nominated by President Trump on September 3, 2025, confirmed by the United States Senate on December 18, 2025
During a live showcase on board Scylla’s new passenger vessel MS Lumière, Shipping Technology, Retina, and Scylla successfully completed the first-ever autonomous Dock2Dock voyage—from undocking in Hardinxveld-Giessendam to docking in Gorinchem.The demonstration combined Retina’s M-Pilot maneuvering system with the ST BRAIN and Autonomous Lane Assist (ST Sailing) from Shipping Technology
On October 9, 2025, the Fratelli Cosulich Group launched Maya Cosulich — the world’s first methanol-powered IMO II chemical bunker tanker — at Taizhou Maple Leaf Shipyard.The ceremony was attended by Ms. Hoe Sook Mei from the Fratelli Cosulich Singapore office, who served as the Godmother of Maya Cosulich.
Construction has started on the operations and maintenance (O&M) base for the 1.1 GW Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm at Montrose Port in Angus, Scotland.The base will expand Inch Cape’s existing presence at Montrose, where its marine coordination center is already located, and confirms the port’s role as a major Scottish offshore wind hub.
The Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard Company (ASRY) launched a pair of bunker vessels for Bapco Refining, a subsidiary of Bapco Energies, at a ceremony held on Monday, attended by ASRY Chief Executive Officer Dr Ahmed Al Abri, Bapco Refining Deputy Chief Executive Officer Ms. Afaf Zainalabedin, and senior representatives from both companies.
Shipments of limestone across the Great Lakes held relatively steady in July 2025, totaling 3.53 million tons — a fractional drop of less than 1% compared to the same month last year, according to the Lake Carriers’ Association (LCA). Despite the minimal year-over-year change, the trade fell 6.7% short of the month’s five-year average, reflecting softer demand from some key markets.