Topic
ships
Logistics Korean Shipbuilders Unveil US Projects as Lutnick Demands Deliverable Ships, Not MOUs
South Korea's leading shipbuilders have unveiled a wave of US partnerships covering naval vessels, LNG bunkering ships, smart yards, and workforce training as the Korea-US Shipbuilding Partnership Center opens in Washington. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick made clear that the Trump administration will judge the venture by physical output, not announcements.
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 U.S. Government Plans First Nuclear Power Tests on Ships at Port of Long Beach
The U.S. Maritime Administration will sign a first-ever agreement with the Port of Long Beach to test small modular reactors (SMRs) for commercial vessels and port power. Separately, startup Bluecore Energy raised $10 million to develop floating barge-mounted SMRs. The testing could eventually reduce emissions and change energy use at the busiest U.S. container port.
Logistics Sharp Decrease in Asia Armed Robbery Against Ships in First Half of 2026
A new report from the ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre reveals a 64% drop in armed robbery against ships in Asian waters during the first half of 2026, with only 35 incidents reported. The decline is attributed to effective preventive measures and law enforcement responses, though Philippine ports saw a surge from zero to 10 incidents. The Strait of Malacca and Singapore Strait remain the most affected area, accounting for 60% of all incidents.
Logistics Deadly Black Sea Attacks on Grain Carrier and Other Vessels Disrupt Commercial Shipping
The Black Sea saw one of its most violent weekends of the war, with Russian cruise missiles hitting the Turkish-owned grain carrier Golden Leo and Ukrainian drone strikes targeting Russian-linked ships. Casualties include six dead on the Golden Leo and one on the Venturo, while Ukraine claimed to have hit 12 Russian vessels. The attacks raise war risk and disrupt commercial shipping routes.
Logistics Wind-powered hydrogen ships line up $500m rollout: Drift Energy signs framework with Commenda Capital Partners
UK startup Drift Energy has signed an exclusive capital and project framework with Commenda Capital Partners to support the rollout of at least 50 wind-powered hydrogen production vessels, targeting more than $500m of project-level investment. The vessels will harvest wind energy at sea to produce green hydrogen onboard for delivery to ports, islands, and coastal users. The concept received approval in principle from RINA earlier this year, and Drift plans to launch its first ship in 2027 before moving into series production.
Logistics Officer Shortage Could Exceed 100,000 by 2030, Threatening Global Shipping Operations
The global shipping industry faces a critical shortage of qualified officers, with demand projected to exceed supply by over 100,000 by 2030. The latest BIMCO/ICS Seafarer Workforce Report highlights a current shortfall of 39,100 officers and warns that nearly half of seafarers plan to leave within five years, posing significant risks to supply chain reliability and freight costs.
Logistics Four fertiliser ships clear Strait of Hormuz; head to Indian ports
Four cargo vessels carrying urea, DAP and sulphur have successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz amid West Asia tensions and are heading to Indian ports (Krishnapatnam, Kakinada, Paradeep, Mundra). The Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers reported that cumulative fertiliser stocks as of June 22 stood at 196.08 lakh tonne, up from 168.67 lakh tonne a year ago, with domestic production reaching 133.12 lakh tonne and imports at 43.69 lakh tonne since March 1.
Logistics Nearly 12 Ships Carrying Fertiliser Cross Strait of Hormuz Amid Iran Conflict Disruption
Nearly 12 ships carrying fertiliser have crossed the Strait of Hormuz, according to an Economic Times report, marking a partial resumption of shipping after US and Israeli strikes on Iran from February 28 disrupted the critical waterway. The vessels, including urea, DAP, ammonia, and sulphur carriers bound for India, had been stranded since the closure, which also choked LNG supplies and slowed domestic urea production. Global ammonia and sulphur prices hit multi-month highs, and a full normalisation could take months.
Trade Shippers Say Renewed Tax on Chinese Ships Could Put Some U.S. Ag Producers Out of Business
Democratic Senators Mark Kelly and Elizabeth Warren are urging the Trump administration to reinstate port fees on Chinese cargo vessels, which were suspended until November 2026. The Agriculture Transportation Coalition warns the fees could put some U.S. agricultural producers out of business by dramatically increasing shipping costs and singling out exports for the harshest measures.