The U.S. is expanding its icebreaking fleet to strengthen Arctic and domestic access, and support commercial shipping, seabed resources, subsea cables and fisheries. Current plans include 1–3 heavy Polar Security Cutters (PSCs), 11 medium Arctic Security Cutters (ASCs), seven Homeland Security Cutter (HSC) HSC-L (light) icebreakers, 11 HSC-Ms (medium) and one additional heavy HSC-H (heavy).
The “Badan Riset dan Inovasi Nasional” (BRIN), Indonesia’s national agency for research and innovation, has commissioned the French shipbuilder PIRIOU to design and build two research vessels:a multimission offshore hydro-oceanographic vessel (ORV – Ocean Going Research Vessel) and a coastal research vessel (CRV – Coastal Research Vessel).
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.
The UK P&I Club has announced the appointment of Ms. Jeong-Sook Kim as Senior Underwriting Director, with initial responsibility for the Korean market. Based in the Club's London office, she will work closely with William Beveridge, Chief Underwriting Officer, and the wider Asia-Pacific leadership team.
Louisiana-based logistics company Gulf of America Logistics (GoAL) has appointed Mike Camara as chief executive officer (CEO), effective immediately, while he continues to serve as the company's president.Camara assumed the role of President in February 2026 and has since overseen GoAL's operations across the energy, power, industrial and data center sectors.
Dutch marine services firm Boskalis has christened the Windpiper, which it describes as the world’s largest subsea rock installation (SRI) vessel, following an 18-month conversion project.The 227-meter-long and 40-meter-wide vessel was officially christened on July 3 by Ms. Jones-Bos, a member of the Boskalis Supervisory Board, Boskalis said.
Gulf of America Logistics (GoAL), the 100% Louisiana-owned capital projects specialist, has announced the appointment of Jake Minner as Vice President of Operations - Specialized Transport and Trucking, and the opening of a new Baton Rouge office, bringing its statewide network to four locations.
American Cruise Lines has announced that new riverboat American Encore was christened in Lewiston, Idaho on May 12th. The boat’s inaugural 9-Day Columbia & Snake Rivers cruise departed from Stevenson, Washington on May 6th with guests also enjoying an included hotel stay in Portland, Oregon on May 5th.
The U.S. Navy and GSA have awarded Gecko Robotics a five-year IDIQ contract with a $71 million ceiling to deploy artificial intelligence and robotics to assess and maintain the health of military assets. Gecko will start work with 18 ships in the U.S. Pacific Fleet with the initial award worth up to $54m over a five-year period.
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
KERSHIP welcomed Mr. Aleksa Bečić, Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro, and Mr. Dragan Krapovic, Minister of Defense of Montenegro on Wednesday, December 17, at its Lanester site. This second visit marks a significant step forward since the construction launch ceremony of the first offshore patrol vessel.
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.