Maritime

Ocean freight rates on key trans-Pacific routes are holding at elevated levels as the market heads into what could become...

Shipping is running into a problem it can no longer postpone: there simply aren’t enough qualified seafarers to meet demand. Maritime trade continues to power global supply chains, but the human side of that system is becoming harder to sustain.  For a long time, the conversation stayed fairly numerical how...

Shipbuilding is about to get a new kind of assistant — not human, but robotic.  Researchers from the University of Michigan Engineering and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology...

An international consortium led by Maersk-backed Stillstrom has secured a €5m ($5.8m) grant from the EU’s Horizon Europe programme to...

Ericsson and IoT specialist Net Feasa have launched a global partnership aimed at transforming maritime connectivity through secure, carrier-grade 4G and 5G coverage for container vessels, combined with an AI-driven operational platform designed to improve decision-making from ship to shore.  The solution integrates Ericsson Radio System technology with Ericsson’s on-demand 5G core delivered as a service, alongside Net Feasa’s Agentic Control Tower platform. Together, they aim to give shipping operators continuous, secure connectivity and AI-ready data access wherever vessels operate globally.  Connectivity backhaul will be supported through low-earth orbit satellite...

Thenamaris is pressing ahead with its tanker fleet renewal programme after booking three LR2 product tanker newbuildings at China’s Hengli Heavy Industries, further strengthening its position in the product tanker segment.  The Chinese shipyard confirmed the order via social media, although no pricing details or delivery schedule have been disclosed.  This latest move adds to an already active newbuilding pipeline...

GEFO is continuing to expand its inland gas tanker operations after agreeing to acquire the gas shipping activities of Swiss operator Unigas Shipping in a deal covering seven vessels.  The Hamburg-based company said the transaction, structured as an asset deal, is expected to be completed between June and July 2026.  The acquisition package includes three operational gas...

WinGD has taken a notable step in the maritime energy transition after securing the world’s first orders for ethanol-fuelled engines intended for deep-sea commercial vessels.  The Swiss engine designer confirmed that its new X-DF-M/E ethanol engines will power two Guaibamax-class ore carriers currently being built in China for Shandong Shipping Corporation. The vessels will operate under long-term charter to Brazilian mining giant Vale.  Each ship, with a deadweight of...

Artificial intelligence is rapidly moving from experimentation to everyday operations across the maritime sector. From chartering and voyage planning to compliance, documentation and commercial management, shipping companies are increasingly integrating AI into critical workflows.  But according to a new report from Veson Nautical, the real issue facing the industry is no longer whether to adopt AI...

The ongoing shipping crisis around the Strait of Hormuz is now triggering something far bigger than temporary disruption. Across the Middle East and Asia, governments, ports and major industrial groups are moving quickly to redesign trade routes and reduce dependence on one of the world’s most sensitive maritime chokepoints.  According to the...