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Maritime news
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Reporting archive
Port of Auckland lays first deck panel at Bledisloe North, signals final construction phase
The Port of Auckland has laid the first precast panel slab at Bledisloe North, starting deck laying and entering the final phase of construction on the city’s first big-ship multi-use wharf, Port Technology International reported on 17 August 2026.
DP World completes delivery of three MHCs to Port of Tartous
Three mobile harbour cranes have been delivered to the Port of Tartous under DP World’s $800 million investment programme, a move the reporting says should raise cargo-handling capacity by about 40 per cent.
Natasha Griffin named CEO of CMA CGM North America
CMA CGM Group has appointed Natasha Griffin as chief executive of its North American arm, which will be based in Norfolk, Virginia and oversee the Group’s shipping, logistics, intermodal and supply chain activities.
ADM to expand storage and berthing at Port of Greenock
ADM will increase its Scottish port facilities with new storage and berthing at Peel Ports' Port of Greenock, complementing its King George V Dock operations in Glasgow, Port Technology International reported on 17 August 2026.
Gulf of America continues to be the principal testbed for offshore technology
Drawing on a MarineLink Maritime News report of 17 August 2026, this piece outlines how US-based engineers, mariners, fabricators and regulators have made the Gulf of America a long-standing proving ground for offshore energy innovation.
USC Global Supply Chain Institute honours Port of Los Angeles and Gene Seroka
The USC Randall R. Kendrick Global Supply Chain Institute has presented its Global Supply Chain Leadership Excellence Award to the Port of Los Angeles and executive director Gene Seroka for leadership during periods of supply‑chain disruption, sources indicated on 17 August 2026.
Palm oil rises to highest since April as demand prospects firm
Malaysian palm oil futures jumped more than 2% to about MYR 4,820 per tonne on 17 August 2026, their strongest level since early April, as sentiment was lifted by firmer edible oils on Dalian and higher imports into India.
Oil nears $90 as Lebanon fighting and vessel attacks raise supply fears
ICE Brent traded just below $90 per barrel in early Asian trade on 17 August 2026 as renewed fighting in Lebanon and attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz stoked fears of regional supply disruption, according to reports.
MOBY Robotics enters subsea swarm robotics market for mineral recovery
MOBY Robotics, established in 2025, has positioned itself as a new player in subsea swarm autonomous robotics with ambitions to lead in discovery and recovery of seabed minerals, amid a recent acceleration in interest for deep-ocean critical minerals.
End of summer wind events strain CSOV availability
MarineLink reported on 17 August 2026 that recent wind events and multiple contract expiries at the end of the northern hemisphere summer are tightening the crew supply and offshore support vessel market as owners reposition tonnage for winter and the following summer.
Genoa and Savona‑Vado handle 31.1m tonnes in H1 2026 as transhipment slides
Port Technology International reports a 1.9 per cent year‑on‑year fall in combined throughput to 31.1 million tonnes in the first half of 2026, with transhipment activity cited as a key contributor to the decline.
HHLA H1 EBIT falls 35% as Hamburg terminal modernisation and rail works weigh on volumes
HHLA said earnings before interest and tax fell 35 per cent in the first half of 2026 as automation works at Hamburg terminals and rail network construction coincided with geopolitical and macroeconomic pressures; group container handling fell to 2.95 million TEUs.
Maersk holds Felixstowe EFS at £3.82 for September
Maersk has confirmed the Emergency Fuel Surcharge at the Port of Felixstowe will remain £3.82 per import laden container from 1 September 2026, with a further review scheduled ahead of October, Port Technology International reported on 17 August 2026.
NWSA receives second battery-electric forklift at EB-1 terminal
The Northwest Seaport Alliance has placed a second battery-electric forklift into service at the East Blair One terminal in Tacoma Harbour, a deployment supported by a $2.63m Washington State Department of Transportation Port Electrification award.
EJMT meeting in Lamongan advances East Java links to Eastern Indonesia, says report
Industry representatives met at ICTSI’s East Java Multipurpose Terminal in Lamongan to discuss freight development, market access and transport connections to Eastern Indonesia, Port Technology International reported.
UK MCA publishes form MSF 4736 for ship mortgage registration
The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency published form MSF 4736 on 14 August 2026 to record a mortgage deed with the Register of Shipping and Seamen during ship registration.
UK MCA publishes guidance titled "Ship security" explaining management and compliance
The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency published guidance on 14 August 2026 explaining how ship security is managed in the UK and how to comply with UK regulations on ship security.
MMO publishes guidance on 2025 technical conservation and landing obligation rules
The UK Marine Management Organisation published guidance on the 2025 technical conservation and landing obligation regulations on 13 August 2026, covering rule application, selling undersize fish, reporting and quota management.
UK port freight edges higher as deep-sea routes gain ground
Official 2025 figures show imports rising and exports falling, while deep-sea traffic grew against a decline in short-sea tonnage and units.
Southampton handled 86% of UK international cruise passengers in record 2025
Final Department for Transport statistics put UK international cruise passengers at 3.1 million, with Southampton accounting for 2.6 million.
Permanent Secretary visits Felixstowe to view autonomous trucks and investment plans
On 2 July 2026 the Port of Felixstowe hosted Department for Transport Permanent Secretary Jo Shanmugalingam for a visit that included demonstrations of autonomous trucks and briefings on investment, resilience and decarbonisation.
Los Angeles and Shenzhen formalise sister‑port partnership focused on green tech and logistics
A memorandum signed on 9 July 2026 establishes a sister‑port relationship between the Port of Los Angeles, Shenzhen Port Group and Yantian International Container Terminals with a focus on green technology, logistics and workforce collaboration.
Government proposes National Minimum Wage equivalence and work-time limits for Channel seafarers
A Department for Transport consultation would guarantee pay equivalent to the National Minimum Wage for journeys between the UK, France and the Channel Islands and introduce limits on sea-work and rest periods, while several operators have secured Seafarers' Charter status.
IMO committee backs new checks to counter fraudulent ship registration
Proposed guidelines would strengthen verification, ownership records and oversight after the IMO reported 529 ships falsely flying a country’s flag.
Commission publishes EU ports framework to strengthen competitiveness, resilience and sustainability
The European Commission has adopted a framework to improve competitiveness, security and sustainability across European ports, setting out measures on permitting, electrification and energy partnerships.
UK Ship Register falls as trading fleet slips in world rankings
Official figures show a smaller UK register at the end of 2025, while the wider Red Ensign Group would have held a stronger combined position by deadweight tonnage.
Future carrier John F. Kennedy completes builder’s sea trials at Newport News
The future USS John F. Kennedy, the second ship of the Gerald R. Ford class, has left Newport News Shipbuilding for Builder's Sea Trials, where Navy and shipyard teams jointly evaluated systems and trained pre-commissioning sailors.
Los Angeles port pairs a strong container year with a new investment agenda
The Port of Los Angeles reported 10.2 million container units in 2025 and set out plans spanning a proposed terminal, a cruise centre and zero-emission equipment.
Singapore port sets a record while preparing for another demanding year
Singapore handled a record container volume in 2025, with its maritime authority linking the result to a programme of industry collaboration for future readiness.
ABB chosen to build and maintain shore power at three Rotterdam deep‑sea container terminals
Rotterdam Shore Power has awarded ABB a contract to engineer, build and maintain shore‑power systems at APM Terminals Maasvlakte II and both Hutchison Ports ECT terminals, covering eight kilometres of quay and 35 ship connection points.
Maersk reports monitored return of container ship through Red Sea
The Singapore-flagged Maersk Sebarok completed an initial Bab el-Mandeb and Red Sea passage, but the company said no wider network change followed.
Royal Caribbean outlines Legend of the Seas as family-focused LNG ship for 2026 Med and Caribbean seasons
Royal Caribbean has unveiled details of Legend of the Seas, a family-focused LNG-fuelled ship due in the Western Mediterranean in July 2026 and Fort Lauderdale for Caribbean cruises from November 2026, featuring a six-slide Category 6 waterpark and 28 dining venues.
UNCTAD: maritime trade growth to stall in 2025 as diversions and emissions bite
UNCTAD reports that longer voyages, volatile freight markets and constrained uptake of alternative fuels pushed shipping ton-miles to a record increase in 2024 while overall trade growth is forecast to stagnate in 2025.
Four allied warships leave Florida for 66th UNITAS exercise
Ships from Canada, Spain, Brazil and Argentina departed Naval Station Mayport for UNITAS 2025, a multinational maritime exercise focused on interoperability and partnerships.
UK Cruise Growth Plan places coastal communities at the centre of expansion
A Department for Transport policy paper sets out a shared ambition for sustained cruise growth, with economic opportunity linked to responsible development.
Maersk lifts guidance after Q2 as Asian exports and Gemini roll‑out boost volumes and margins
Maersk reported Q2 2025 revenue of USD 13.130bn and raised full‑year guidance after volume growth from Asian exports and benefits from its Gemini Cooperation.
Multinational Operation Nasse ends US Coast Guard participation after three months in Pacific
The United States Coast Guard finished its participation in a three-month, multinational fisheries-enforcement mission on 11 July 2025 that spanned more than 6.54 million square nautical miles and involved partners from Australia, France, New Zealand and several Pacific island states.
UK Flag Forum puts training, fuels and autonomy on the agenda
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s 2025 forum brought shipping figures and policymakers together to examine the future of the UK flag and the rules around new technology.
DNV publishes July 2025 rules package; changes to take effect 1 January 2026
The Norwegian classification society released a 119-document July 2025 rules edition for ships and offshore units that will apply from 1 January 2026, introducing new operational qualifiers and class notations for sustainability and mooring integrity.
IMO starts work on stronger ship safety management and protections against onboard violence
The Maritime Safety Committee has begun a multi-year revision of safety-management guidance, with fatigue and harassment among its priorities.
Royal Navy patrol vessels test defences against uncrewed surface craft in Baltic exercise
British P2000 patrol vessels joined US Navy personnel for a BALTOPS 2025 activity centred on responding to uncrewed surface vessels in the Baltic Sea.
UK consultation seeks to extend Polar Code to more vessels and tighten environmental safeguards
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency asked stakeholders to comment on draft regulations that would bring additional vessel types into the Polar Code and introduce measures to reduce pollution risks in polar ecosystems.
BC Ferries awards build contract for four Summit Class vessels
BC Ferries has confirmed a contract to build four Summit Class vessels aimed at replacing ageing ships on busy routes, with the first vessel due to enter service in 2029 and all four by 2031.
UK ports policy proposals put faster planning beside cleaner infrastructure
The Department for Transport published proposals to revise England’s National Policy Statement for Ports, with an emphasis on clearer planning and new energy technologies.
MAIB interim report: extreme wind and critical heel blamed in Bayesian sinking
The MAIB’s interim report into the loss of the UK‑registered sailing yacht Bayesian states extreme wind knocked the vessel over on 19 August 2024. Once the yacht heeled beyond 70 degrees the situation was assessed as irrecoverable; seven people died.
IMO backs draft framework linking cleaner ship fuels with emissions pricing
A proposed international regime would combine a fuel-intensity standard with an economic mechanism for ocean-going ships above 5,000 gross tonnage.
MEPC 83 adopts 2025 action plan on ship‑generated plastic litter and approves Atlantic emissions controls
The IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee met in London from 7 to 11 April 2025 and adopted a phased action plan on ship‑generated plastic litter, including mandatory measures for plastic pellets, while approving a regional emissions‑control proposal for the North‑East Atlantic.