Topic
fleet
Logistics KNOT Offshore Partners acquires modern shuttle tanker Hedda Knutsen from parent in $113m deal
KNOT Offshore Partners is acquiring the 2024-built shuttle tanker Hedda Knutsen from parent Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers in a $113m deal, taking its fleet to 20 vessels. The DP2 suezmax is under firm charter to Petrobras in Brazil until 2034, with an option to 2039. The partnership also completed a $225m refinancing with DNB Bank to replace debt due in September.
Logistics DNV: Build fleets that can survive the wrong fuel call
DNV's 10th Maritime Forecast to 2050 urges shipowners to stop betting on a single decarbonisation pathway and instead build fleets that can survive multiple regulatory, fuel and technology outcomes. The report highlights energy efficiency as an immediate strategic hedge while low-GHG fuel markets struggle to emerge. Shippers and operators should expect cost structures to vary by trade lane as regulatory divergence persists.
Logistics ADNOC L&S Exercises Options for Two LNG Carriers, Lifting Newbuild Programme to 20 Ships
ADNOC Logistics & Services has exercised options for two 175,000 cu m LNG carriers at Jiangnan Shipyard, adding $444m to its newbuild bill and lifting its LNG newbuild programme to 20 ships. The company has committed around $2.7bn to vessel acquisitions and newbuildings in 2026, including a $1.3bn deal for six VLCCs and five VLGCs.
Manufacturing Used Truck Supply Falls Below COVID Floor, Driving Strong Pricing and Carrier Gains
Used sleeper truck inventory has fallen below its COVID-era floor, pushing prices sharply higher and enabling carriers to sell aging equipment at a gain, according to Daimler Trucks Remarketing President Chris Backeberg. Microprocessor shortages from 2021-2023 and carriers holding trucks longer tightened supply, while day cab demand accelerates with port and intermodal activity. Backeberg sees tight supply continuing for 12 to 18 months.
Logistics Maersk abandons 4.4m teu fleet ceiling as CEO Vincent Clerc signals capacity growth
Maersk has abandoned its 4-4.4m teu capacity ceiling, with its operated fleet now above 4.7m teu. CEO Vincent Clerc told investors the carrier will 'ensure that we have the capacity to grow.' Analysts are split on whether this will trigger a newbuilding spree or more chartering.
Logistics Seacon Shipping refinances chemical tanker quartet in $103.4m sale-and-leaseback switch
Seacon Shipping is refinancing four 18,500 dwt chemical tankers in a $103.4m sale-and-leaseback switch that cuts financing margins by 50 to 65 basis points, according to Splash247. The Qingdao-based, Hong Kong-listed owner is moving three vessels to Guangzhou Yuexiu Financial Leasing and one to Tianjin Maxwealth Changyang No.4 Leasing, replacing AVIC-backed leases from 2024. The deal is expected to close by the end of August.
Logistics Port Congestion Removes 1.7m TEU of Capacity, Nearly an Evergreen-Sized Fleet
Sea-Intelligence analysis reported by Splash247 finds persistent port congestion is removing about 1.7m teu of containership capacity from the global market, approaching the size of Evergreen's fleet. June 2026 schedule reliability remains at 60–65%, while delays absorb 5% of the global container fleet. Maersk has raised its full-year guidance again, citing congestion as a key freight rate driver.
Logistics Franbo Lines approves $29m Japanese newbuild, lifts MPP fleet expansion to 12 ships
Taiwan's Franbo Lines has approved a $29m multipurpose newbuild at an unidentified Japanese yard, lifting its MPP expansion slate to 12 ships. The 16,500 dwt Singapore-flagged vessel was ordered through new vehicle Franbo Jade, with no delivery date disclosed. The order marks a return to Japanese shipbuilding after recent fleet expansion shifted to China.
Logistics China's VLOC conveyor belt threatens to dilute Simandou cape upside
Broker SSY reports that VLOCs of more than 220,000 dwt carried nearly half of Simandou's iron ore shipments in H1 2026, while Chinese tonnage accounts for nearly 40% of the VLOC orderbook. According to Splash247, the emerging conveyor-belt structure — led by Winning International and China Merchants Energy Shipping — may keep Simandou hugely positive for overall tonne-miles but less spectacular for independent capesize owners.
Logistics Fleet Costs Rise 8.6%: Love's Travel Stops Pitches Predictive Maintenance and AI Auditing
Fleet maintenance costs have climbed 8.6% per the latest ATRI report, driven by tariffs, technician shortages, and extended trade cycles. Love's Travel Stops' FleetView platform cuts invoice processing time by up to 60% and maintenance costs by 15-20% in pilot areas, according to FreightWaves.
Logistics Rhine crisis prompts HGK to call for €12.5bn European shallow-water fleet build
German inland shipping group HGK is calling for a government-backed €12.5bn programme to build 1,000 shallow-water-capable vessels across Europe by 2035, according to Splash247. The push comes as Rhine water levels at the Kaub gauge fall to 16 cm, limiting cargo capacity. HGK warns that about 80% of dry cargo tonnage was built in the last century, with only 13 new dry cargo ships and 38 tankers added in 2024.
Logistics SK Shipping takes aim at Asia LNG top spot in H-Line tanker swap
SK Shipping will double its LNG carrier fleet to 32 ships through a 28-vessel swap with sister company H-Line, according to Splash247. The deal makes it Asia's largest LNG carrier operator and third largest globally, with charters to Vitol, ExxonMobil, Petronas and QatarEnergy. SK Shipping also exits tankers via asset transfers including a prior VLCC sale to Pan Ocean.
Logistics Iranian Owner Kamal & Adel Enters Boxship Sector with Chinese Newbuild Order
Tehran-based Kamal & Adel has placed an order with China's Chizhou Tianyu Shipbuilding for a single 1,700 TEU containership, priced at around $31.5 million and scheduled for delivery in 2028. The order marks the low-profile operator's first move into the containership segment, having previously focused on tugs and harbour craft. Alphaliner suggests the vessel could potentially be deployed locally in the Persian Gulf.
Logistics China Merchants Energy Shipping exercises option for second DSIC shuttle tanker
China Merchants Energy Shipping has exercised an option for a second 154,000 dwt shuttle tanker at Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co, confirming a two-ship debut in the specialised sector. The pair is valued at about RMB1.79bn with delivery in 2028. The order is part of a larger tanker newbuilding programme including ten VLCCs and five aframaxes.
Logistics Fleet Liability Playbook Shifts From Defense to Proof as Nuclear Verdicts Rise
Zonar CEO Charles Kriete says plaintiff attorneys now subpoena video data daily in discovery. Nuclear verdicts are adding proof as a third competitive variable alongside price and service. Fleets with documented safety programs and video evidence can change their court story.
Logistics Hagland Shipping Charters Gerdes Battery-Hybrid Mini-Bulker for Northern Europe Trades
Hagland Shipping has taken the battery-hybrid mini-bulker Forty-Two G on a multiyear charter from Reederei Gerdes, adding a fourth externally owned vessel to its chartered fleet. The 3,800 dwt Damen Combi Freighter 3850, built at Ba Son Shipyard in Vietnam, will be fitted with an excavator for self-unloading in Northern European shortsea bulk trades.
Logistics Shipowners shouldn't assume today's strong recycling market will last, Wirana warns
Limited demolition supply and intense buyer competition have made ship recycling a seller's market, but Wirana Shipping warns owners not to assume it will last. Strong freight markets are keeping older vessels trading, while Red Sea reopening or easing Iran sanctions could flip the balance.
Logistics Himalaya Shipping switches two newcastlemax bulkers to fixed hire at $51,200 per day
Himalaya Shipping has switched two newcastlemax bulkers from index-linked charters to fixed-rate agreements averaging $51,200 per day for five months. The cover, running from August 1 to end-2026, is worth about $15.7m in gross hire, according to Splash247. The move follows earlier conversions of two ships at $38,700/day and four ships at $56,500/day.
Logistics Equipment Sale Gains Save Heartland Express Q2, Masking 103% Operating Ratio
Heartland Express returned to profitability in Q2 on a $22 million year-over-year increase in gains from equipment sales, though revenue fell 13% and adjusted operating ratio would have been near 103% without the gains. The carrier continues to dispose of underutilized trailers and cut net debt by $33 million.
Logistics Atlas grows Kodiak driverless truck fleet to 100 rigs
Atlas Energy Solutions is expanding its driverless truck fleet with Kodiak AI from 28 to 100 rigs by mid-2027, adding a second load-out point in the Permian Basin. The fleet has already hauled more than 450,000 tons of sand and set a single-day record of 176 loads, with public-road operations planned for early 2027.
Logistics HMM pauses new container ship orders, shifting focus to tankers and gas carriers
Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM), South Korea's flag carrier, is pausing finalization of newbuild orders for at least ten 13,000-TEU LNG dual-fuel container ships planned for the second half of 2026, instead focusing on Suezmax tankers, MR petroleum tankers, VLGCs, and LNG carriers. The shift comes amid warnings of newbuild-driven oversupply, geopolitical cost pressure, and trade policy risks, according to the company's Q1 2026 earnings release.
Logistics GTT Projects 550 New LNG Carriers Needed by 2035, Signaling Fleet Expansion
GTT expects around 550 LNG carriers to be ordered between 2026 and 2035, adding to the current record orderbook of 338 ships. The forecast is driven by 37m tonnes per annum of new liquefaction capacity reaching FID this year and a projected 5% annual LNG demand growth, primarily from Asia. Shipyard capacity is expanding to meet demand, with Korean and Chinese yards expected to exceed 100 annual slots by 2028.
Logistics DOF revamps offshore fleet with PSV sales and CSV acquisitions from China
Norwegian offshore vessel owner DOF is reshaping its fleet by selling four platform supply vessels (PSVs) and acquiring two construction support vessels (CSVs) under construction in China. The moves are part of a fleet high-grading programme aimed at lifting earnings capacity while maintaining leverage. Separately, DOF declared a constructive total loss on the Skandi Amazonas after a grounding, triggering a $115m insurance payout.
Logistics COSCO orders eight heavylift ships at Chengxi Shipyard to boost offshore wind capacity
COSCO Shipping Specialised Carriers has ordered eight 60,000 dwt multipurpose heavylift newbuildings at CSSC Chengxi Shipyard with an investment of up to RMB2.624bn ($387.8m). Deliveries are scheduled from April 2029 to June 2030 to meet growing demand from offshore wind and Chinese industrial equipment exports. This follows previous orders for four 40,000 dwt ships and a leasing deal for six similar vessels.
Logistics Seamec strengthens offshore fleet with $70m diving support vessel buy
Indian offshore vessel operator Seamec has signed a definitive agreement to purchase the diving support vessel (DSV) Seamec Anant from its parent company HAL Offshore for $70 million. The vessel, built in 2023, will be chartered back to HAL Offshore at a $45,000 dayrate after delivery around August 31. Separately, Seamec's board approved the sale of the bulk carrier Seamec Gallant for $9.5 million.
Logistics Record 2 Million Cars Tipped to Move in Containers as China Outgrows Car Carrier Fleet
A record two million cars are expected to be shipped in containers and other non-dedicated vessels in 2026 as China's vehicle exports outpace the growth of the pure car carrier fleet. Veson Nautical reports the shift from temporary fix to structural feature, with China projected to export 10 million light vehicles this year. The first five months of 2026 saw 4.06 million vehicles exported, up 63% year-on-year.
Logistics ADNOC L&S orders four LNG carriers worth $900m from Jiangnan Shipyard in fleet expansion
ADNOC Logistics & Services has ordered four 175,000 cubic meter LNG carriers from Jiangnan Shipyard in a deal worth approximately $900 million. The vessels, delivered in 2029, expand ADNOC L&S’s LNG newbuilding programme to 18 ships, reinforcing its role in long-term LNG supply chains.
Logistics Class 8 Truck Orders Surge 241% as Fleets Rush to Secure Remaining 2026 Build Slots
North American Class 8 truck orders soared 241% year-over-year in June to 30,500 units, the second-highest June volume on record, as fleets race to lock in remaining 2026 production slots. The surge, fueled by improving freight rates and regulatory uncertainty, signals tightening truck capacity and potential rate increases for shippers and freight forwarders.
Logistics New Zealand Set to Lose Last Flagged Container Ship as Swire Consulting on Pacifica Closure
Swire Shipping is consulting on ending Pacifica Shipping's coastal container operation, which would remove the last New Zealand-flagged container vessel, the 1,700 TEU Moana Chief, from domestic trade. The ship is due to leave for drydocking in Asia at the end of July with no domestic drydock available. The Maritime Union of New Zealand calls it a 'catastrophic milestone' for economic resilience and urges reform of Section 198 of the Maritime Transport Act.
Finance Insurance Premiums Rise as Progressive Commercial Launches Cargo Plus to Cover Temperature and Moisture Losses
Insurance costs for truckers continue to rise, with ATRI reporting a 5.8% year-over-year increase in Q1 2025. In response, Progressive Commercial has launched Cargo Plus, an automatic endorsement that expands coverage for moisture, temperature fluctuations, and corrosion. The update aims to close exclusion gaps that could otherwise bankrupt small carriers.
Logistics Hayfin Sells 11-Vessel AHTS Fleet to New Maritime Investment-Backed Company
Hayfin Capital Management has agreed to sell an 11-vessel AHTS fleet managed by United Offshore Support to a newly established company backed by leading maritime investors. Two vessels have already been transferred, with the remainder to follow. Separately, Capital Offshore has completed its acquisition of 50% of UOS from Hayfin, forming UOS Capital.
Logistics Tor Olav Trøim-backed Bruton splits 12-ship VLCC programme into two listed vehicles
Bruton, backed by Tor Olav Trøim, is splitting its 12-ship VLCC orderbook into two separate listed vehicles. The first four VLCCs from New Times Shipyard will remain in Bruton Limited as a dividend-paying company, while the remaining eight (four at New Times and four at CIMC Raffles) will be spun into a new Bermuda company expected to list on Euronext Growth Oslo by end of August. The company has taken delivery of its first VLCC, Mount Vision, which will start a time charter with a fixed rate of $95,000 per day for the first nine months. Lars-Christian Svensen has been appointed interim CEO.
Logistics Indonesian Owners Give Older LNG Carriers a Second Life Amid Sliding Values
Indonesian owners have bought six large LNG carriers in 2026, half of which were laid up, as vessel values continue a four-year decline. Sillo Maritime Perdana and Soechi Lines each purchased a 158,000 cu m MISC vessel for about $65m, while Buana Lautan Line bought a 138,000 cu m steam turbine carrier for $14.9m. The reactivation of idle tonnage affects LNG shipping supply, while one older vessel is being scrapped.
Logistics myMechanic's Dealer-Connect Cuts Fleet Roadside Repair Time by Digitizing Dispatch
myMechanic launched Dealer-Connect, a digital dispatch layer that connects fleets directly to tire dealers, eliminating phone chains and reducing roadside breakdown resolution time by 15-25 minutes. The platform addresses the costly gap between telematics data and manual coordination, which currently costs fleets $450-$750 per day per downed truck.
Logistics HMM commits $1.1bn to 10 bulk and gas carriers in fleet diversification push
HMM has placed a KRW1.7trn ($1.1bn) order for eight bulk carriers and two gas carriers, continuing its expansion beyond container shipping. The investment aligns with a 2030 plan to grow its dry bulk fleet from 36 to 110 vessels and diversify into tanker and gas markets.
Logistics Taylor Maritime Adds Two More Vessel Disposals, Returning $28M to Shareholders
London-listed dry bulk owner Taylor Maritime has agreed two more vessel-related disposals, generating $28M net proceeds. The company plans a third capital return in July, bringing total returned to $218.4M since its managed realisation process began. The owned fleet is now reduced to six bulkers.
Logistics Swift, FleetForce launch CDL training hub at Mobile terminal to address driver shortage
Swift Transportation and FleetForce Truck Driver Training launched a CDL training hub at Swift's Mobile, Alabama terminal. The program aims to address the driver shortage in the Southeast and create a direct employment pipeline, with training also available for current Swift employees. Mobile is home to Alabama's only seaport and the nation's 11th-largest deep-water port, making the hub strategically important for regional freight flows.
Logistics Eastern Pacific exits chemical tanker sector as fleet shifts to Ace and Womar
Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) is exiting the chemical tanker business through an en bloc transaction involving Ace Tankers and Womar Tankers. The deal, expected to close this week, will transfer EPS's 14-vessel chemical tanker fleet between the two operators. Seven vessels will remain under Ace Quantum Chemical Tanker management, while seven (including three newbuildings) move to Womar Tankers.
Logistics Dali casualty exposes erosion of technical ownership in shipmanagement, warns veteran Kapoor
Industry veteran Sunil Kapoor, writing for Splash247, warns that the Dali bridge collision is a symptom of systemic failures in third-party shipmanagement as the focus shifts from technical expertise to fleet growth and profitability. The modern superintendent has become a node in an information chain, reducing the priority of vessel condition and repair.
Logistics UPS Meets Deadline for Retrofitting 2,000 Delivery Vans with AC, Teamsters Say
UPS met its obligation to retrofit 2,000 parcel delivery vans with air conditioning in the hottest parts of the U.S. by June 1, Teamsters union President Sean O'Brien announced. The company also launched a pilot to cool cargo compartments. The progress resulted from enforcement of the 2023 national contract, which includes a standing arbitrator for grievances.
Logistics Sea Cargo Charter Signatories Hold Emissions Line Amid 2025 Shipping Turmoil
The Sea Cargo Charter’s 2025 annual report shows signatories maintained climate performance, averaging 11.6% behind IMO’s minimum decarbonisation trajectory, an improvement from 12.2% in 2024. Despite geopolitical turmoil and shifting trade patterns, 20 of 29 reporting companies lowered carbon intensity. Operational optimizations remain the primary tool, with growing interest in low-carbon fuels and wind propulsion.
Logistics Fortescue Revises Fleet Procedures After Bulker Loses Propulsion Off Port Hedlan
Fortescue's shipping arm has introduced fleetwide engine management changes after its bulk carrier FMG Nicola lost propulsion while departing Port Hedland on February 7, 2025. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) found the shutdown was caused by an erroneous activation of a low lubricating oil pressure emergency shutdown switch. FMG International has upgraded testing procedures and introduced a standardised rapid-response protocol.
Logistics PV Drilling Expands Fleet with New Jackup Rig Acquisition
Petrovietnam Drilling and Well Service Corporation (PV Drilling) has expanded its fleet with the acquisition of a new jackup drilling rig, increasing its total to eight. The rig, named PV Drilling X, will be transported to Vietnam for upgrades and is expected to enter service in 2027.
Logistics Containership Orderbook Reaches 39% of Global Fleet
The containership orderbook has reached 39% of the global fleet, marking a post-2010 high. This surge is driven by strong market conditions and includes plans to convert bulk carriers into container vessels.