[By Simon Goodman] Once a haven for flamingos, sturgeon and thousands of seals, fast-receding waters are turning the northern coast of the Caspian Sea into barren stretches of dry sand. In some places, the sea has retreated more than 50 kilometers. Wetlands are becoming deserts, fishing ports are being left high and dry, and […]
International container rates have plummeted over the past few weeks, pulled down by cooling economic signals in the West and the onset of the Golden Week holiday in China. The core Shanghai-U.S. West Coast route saw rates drop by 31 percent week-on-week, down to just $1,600 per FEU. The all-water route from Shanghai to […]
In February, a draft executive order was leaked that outlined a plan for the government to address the Navy and commercial shipbuilding problems as well as the inadequate supply of U.S. mariners. The effort was promoted as addressing a national security issue. The Administration’s efforts were mirrored in the bipartisan congressional SHIPS for America […]
Meyer Turk in Finland has secured a long-term agreement to build cruise ships for Royal Caribbean Group through 2036. The yard, which reports it has built 25 ships for Royal Caribbean since the mid-1990s, received a firm order for a fifth mega cruise ship of the Icon class as well as an additional option for […]
[By LT Chris Rielage] Navy thinkers have already laid the intellectual groundwork for aggressive change. Senior leaders now need to follow through with equally radical actions. It has been just under two years since the last Call for Notes to the New CNO, written for Admiral Lisa Franchetti – and most of those good ideas still […]
Two vessels have arrived at the site of the grounding of the Thamesborg in the Northwest Passage, the ultra-remote maze of narrows and inlets north of mainland Canada. The freighter Thamesborg was en route from China to Quebec when it grounded in Franklin Strait, just southeast of Prince of Wales Island. Though the vessel […]
Houston-based class society ABS has announced a new collaboration with robotics company Persona AI to develop a humanoid robot for shipyard uses. Robotic systems offer a way to perform the same task with fewer workers, freeing up scarce personnel for other jobs. ABS’ plan for this new technology is to use robotically-collected data for […]
Skilled mariners are the backbone of the merchant fleet, and they work tirelessly to keep commerce moving smoothly. But their skills don’t simply appear. Years of sea time and high-quality training are essential to building talent. The top-paying jobs in shipping require intensive study early on and throughout the mariner’s career. That means maritime […]
The Danish authorities have identified three Russian-linked ships that potentially could have been used as launch platforms for drone overflights that closed down Copenhagen Airport on the night of September 22. Three large drones, which advertised their presence by switching lights on and off, overflew Copenhagen Airport, causing the airport to be shut down […]
Seatrium, the recently-merged combination of Singaporean rivals Keppel and Sembcorp Marine, has sold its American yard in Brownsville, Texas. The AmFELS facility, best known for building the offshore wind ship Charybdis, will now be owned by Turkish fossil-fueled powerplant builder Karpowership, a longtime partner and customer of Seatrium. AmFELS is a full-service offshore shipyard […]
The twin messages from the spectacle that unfolded in Tiananmen Square on September 3 could not be missed. China’s military parade, watched over by Xi Jinping as he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan’s surrender in the Second World War, was carefully calibrated for distinctly different audiences […]
[By: Gallagher] Gallagher has agreed a partnership with Vanguard Tech, a maritime insurance tech specialist. Through the agreement, Vanguard Tech will act as an appointed representative for Gallagher in the marine insurance market and Gallagher clients will benefit from its AI platform, monitoring technology and risk & security insight. Gallagher can now provide clients with […]
