News
Global News
Frustrations as Departure of Famed Ocean Liner SS United States Delayed
Excitement over the impending departure of the famed ocean liner ss United States was building last week before a further delay appeared prolonging her stay in Philadelphia. The new owners of the liner, Florida's Okaloosa County, have been trying for months...
Korean Shipbuilders Top Chinese in January After Return to Profits in 2024
The rivalry between China and South Korea’s shipbuilders continues to heat up. While there is growing concern due to China’s apparent domination of the market, South Korea’s shipbuilders achieved strong results in 2024 and continue to carve out the high-end market....
AD Ports to Battle DP World for Cargo Business at Port of Luanda, Angola
The Port of Luanda in Angola is set to become a battleground of competition for two giant Arab companies after AD Ports officially commenced operations at the port under a long-term concession. AD Ports, the Abu Dhabi-based operator, announced that it has begun the...
Two Sunken Tankers at Kerch Strait Were Refueling Russia’s Dark Fleet
The two river-sea tankers that broke up near the Kerch Strait last month were part of a flotilla that bunkers Russia's "dark fleet," including at least three U.S.-sanctioned deep sea tankers, according to Russian investigative news outlet IStories. Many of their...
How to Get Ready for the U.S. Coast Guard’s Cybersecurity Rule
On January 17, the US Coast Guard released its much-anticipated final rule on cybersecurity in the US Marine Transportation System, which establishes mandatory minimum cybersecurity requirements for the maritime sector. The new regulations are effective July 16,...
Norway Releases Reefer Cargo Ship After Investigation into Cable Damage
Norwegian authorities late on Friday, January 31, reported they have released a Norwegian-owned reefer cargo ship used in the fish trade after a day-long investigation. It was the latest vessel to be detained in the growing investigations into damaged cables in the...
Canada Aims to Restore Reliable Ferry Service on Critical Route to PEI
Canada is hoping to restore reliable ferry transport on the critical Prince Edward Island (PEI) and Nova Scotia route following the arrival of ro/pax ferry MV Northumberland. The government acquired the ferry in November 2023 as an interim replacement for the...
Russian Tanker Abandoned in Poland Draws Renewed Interest
A Russian-registered product tanker languishing in the Port of Gdynia is drawing renewed interest from Polish authorities. According to a report on Poland’s Radio ZET, new security concerns as well as safety issues with the tanker were raised in light of the ongoing...
Vessels Approached and Hailed as Iran Stages Persian Gulf Naval Exercise
Reports coming from the Persian Gulf and the area around the vital Strait of Hormuz indicate that one vessel was approached and others contacted and instructed to alter course toward Iranian territorial waters. The incidents came as Iran highlighted its naval...
WinGD Reports Ammonia Engine Progress Targeting First Deliveries in June
The competition to deliver the first ammonia-fueled engine continues to report progress with Swiss-based WinGD now reporting it expects to complete final validation in time for the first engine deliveries in June 2025. After achieving results with a single-cylinder in...
Sistership to Containership Dali Breaks Down in Pacific
One of the sisterships to the containership Dali which destroyed Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key bridge is reporting engine troubles in the Pacific. The vessel which is also managed by Synergy Marine and sailing under charter as the Maersk Saltoro is...
France Faces More Port Strikes to Protest Lack of Action on Pension Reforms
The long-running dispute between the French government and the powerful trade unions over proposed pension reforms is again prompting threats of port strikes across the country. The government has been pushing for pension reforms and changes to France’s work rules...
Retailers Continue to Front-Load Imports into U.S. Ports
Retailers are continuing to front-load their imports which is driving up the volumes seen at major U.S. ports. The National Retail Federation in its monthly read on container volumes expects the rush to get merchandise into the country will continue in part started by...
Video: USCG Icebreakers Aid Great Lakes Bulkers as Winter Sets In
It is the end of the season on the Great Lakes and with the deep cold that has set across the region this week, the U.S. Coast Guard extended its ongoing icebreaking operations to aid two bulkers caught in the ice flows. It is part of an annual tradition on the lakes...
China Calls Shipbuilding Report “Obvious Unilateralism and Protectionism”
Chinese officials ranging from the ministries of commerce and foreign affairs to the shipbuilding association each condemned the U.S. Trade Representative’s report on the shipbuilding industry. They used some of their harshest language saying the report contains false...
Carriers Adopt New Standard to Prevent Deadly Charcoal Fires
The shipping industry is taking proactive steps to implement improved safety measures for transporting charcoal, ahead of mandatory IMO regulations in 2026. Experts have long warned that misdeclared, poorly handled, and poorly packed dangerous goods are one of the...
Germany’s First Fully Electric Seagoing Vessel Completes Trials
The first fully electric seagoing vessel in Germany, a catamaran ferry, has completed its acceptance trials and is preparing to be deployed. It joins a growing number of battery-powered ferries that are demonstrating the growing opportunities for electric power. The...
Maritime Trade Leads Revival of Ukraine’s Export Economy
Ukraine's export economy posted a 13% increase in value and a 29% rise in tonnage, according to year-end data released by Ukraine's economy ministry. The war-torn nation exported 129 million tons of goods valued at $41 billion, outpacing 2023's figures of 100 million...
DP World’s Global Footprint Crosses 100 Million TEU Mark
Ports operator and logistics giant DP World is celebrating a major milestone: it now has 100 million TEU in container handling capacity across its global footprint. Over the past four and a half decades, the Dubai-based conglomerate has been aggressive in bidding for...
Norway Launches Second Phase of Nuclear Propulsion in Shipping Study
Norway’s NuProShip (Nuclear Propulsion in Shipping) project is transitioning into its second stage as of January 2025 after having completed initial studies into Generation IV reactors. The project which launched in 2023 has the ultimate purpose to develop a...
Bangladesh Could Lose Top Position in the Global Shipbreaking Market
With global ship demolition at record low levels, Bangladesh’s shipbreaking industry has reported that 2024 saw a massive drop in scrap ship imports. Only 144 ships were sent to Bangladesh last year for recycling, equivalent to 968,000 GT, the lowest since 2005. As...
U.S. Sanctions More Than 180 Russian “Shadow Fleet” Tankers
The U.S. Treasury has announced new action against the Russian "shadow fleet" with sanctions on an unprecedented 183 tankers, along with two Russian insurers specializing in questionable P&I cover. "The United States is taking sweeping action against...
Report: ILA-USMX to Resume Contract Negotiations for East/Gulf Coast Ports
A report from S&P Global’s Journal of Commerce says talks are set to resume between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the terminal operators at U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast ports represented by the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX). This comes after...
Singapore PSA Terminal Operator Sets Record Passing 40 Million TEU in 2024
In what is being called a “significant milestone,” Singapore’s largest terminal operator PSA Singapore reported that as of December 24, it surpassed 40 million TEU handled at its terminal in 2024. Representing significant volume growth, it came as the port struggled...
Helsinki Court Rejects Release of “Dark Fleet” Tanker Eagle S
Legal activities around the “dark fleet” tanker Eagle S continued to intensify in Finland as a court heard arguments for the release of the tanker and additional complaints were filed. The authorities have said the investigation could take months and have...
UANI Calls for New Enforcement Methods as Iran’s Oil Exports Grow
The NGO United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), which is at the forefront of tracking Iran’s dark tanker fleet and oil exports, is out with its year-end review citing continued dramatic growth in the dark tanker fleet supporting Iran’s oil exports. The group is calling...
Canada Sells Vandalized Coast Guard Ship for Scrap
The Canadian Coast Guard has finally contracted with a metal recycler to dispose of its patrol ship CCGS Corporal McLaren six years after vandals damaged the ship. The Financial Post newspaper located the awarding of the contract on the government’s website...
Baltic Countries Increase Infrastructure Patrols and Call for NATO Support
The nations of the Baltic region, including Estonia, Lithuania, Sweden, and Finland, all report they have launched new efforts to monitor and protect critical undersea infrastructure in response to the Christmas Day incident which damaged a key power cable between...
China Floats Largest, Next-Generation Amphibious Assault Ship
The Chinese PLA Navy today, December 27, celebrated the float out of the first of its next-generation amphibious assault ships. The vessel named Sichuan is reported to be the largest of its kind and incorporates advanced technology. The new ship was built at...
Houthis Claim Retaliatory Attack on Maersk Ship and Israel’s Airport
A day after Israel pounded Houthi targets including reports of paralyzing all three Red Sea seaports in Yemen, the militants claimed to have responded with attacks on a containership and Israel’s international airport. Spokesperson Yahya Sare'e claimed direct hits...
Oslo Bulk Refutes Russia’s Claims It Refused Aid to Crew of Ursa Major
Russian authorities continue to present a wide range of claims associated with the sinking of the cargo ship Ursa Major off Spain at the beginning of the week. After saying that it was an act of terrorism, the shipowner and Russia’s Dmitry Medvedev...
Vietnam Completes Construction of Its Largest Bulk Carrier
Vietnamese officials were on hand for the handover of the largest dry bulk carrier ever built in a domestic shipyard. The 65,000 dwt Truong Minh Dream was hailed as a key advancement and in keeping with the government’s plans to expand shipbuilding and...
Shipowners Need to Prepare for the HKC Hazardous Materials Inventory
On June 26, 2025—right around the corner—the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (Hong Kong Convention) will enter into force. This landmark agreement is crucial for...
Castor Maritime Expands into Containerships Buying Stake in MPC
Cyprus-based Castor Maritime led by Petros Panagiotidis is expanding its role in containership to take advantage of the hot charter market. Castor reports it has agreed to acquire 74 percent of Frankfurt-listed investment and asset manager MPC Münchmeyer Petersen...
Matson’s Third LNG Conversion Boxship Entered Service
The containership Kaimana Hila (50,981 dwt) has returned to service after completing the third LNG conversion for Matson. When she was completed in 2019, Matson highlighted that commercial supplies of LNG were not available along its network but the vessel...
Indian-Owned Tanker Saves 73 Migrants South of Gavros
The U.S. Navy's undergunned Littoral Combat Ship classes are both about to get a major armament upgrade, according to USNI. At the USNI Defense Forum on Wednesday, outgoing Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro told the audience that many LCS hulls will eventually carry the...
Littoral Combat Ships Could Come Off the Sidelines With SM-6 Launchers
The U.S. Navy's undergunned Littoral Combat Ship classes are both about to get a major armament upgrade, according to USNI. At the USNI Defense Forum on Wednesday, outgoing Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro told the audience that many LCS hulls will eventually carry the...
India and Pakistan Coordinate to Rescue Crew from Sinking Cargo Ship
The Coast Guard from India and Pakistan along with the Pakistan Navy coordinated in an effort to save the crew of a small Indian cargo ship sinking in the Arabian Sea. In a demonstration of cooperation and coordination, the forces were able to save 12 crewmembers who...
Cargo Ship Grounds in Norway Loaded with Military Supplies for Poland
The DFDS Ro-Ro cargo ship Finlandia Seaways (8,700 dwt) grounded last night, December 5, departing Norway. It quickly became apparent it was no ordinary casualty as the Norwegian military established a security zone and confirmed the vessel was loaded with...
Wind Tunnel Tests Mark Next Milestone Toward Wind-Powered Vehicle Carrier
Wind tunnel testing got underway today in Sweden to further the design of what could become the world’s first wind-powered PCTC (Pure Car and Truck Carrier) vessel. Wallenius Marine highlights the tests calling them a milestone in the development of the vessel....
Global Trade is On Track for a New Record in 2024
With inflation easing and service trade booming, the total volume of world trade is likely to hit a new record of $33 trillion in 2024, according to UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD). The forecast represents an increase of $1 trillion over UNCTAD's last update,...
Biomimetics and Nanotechnology Create Next Generation in Hull Coatings
R&D teams are building on their use of biomimetics, the study of mimicking biological processes, adding in nanotechnology to develop new more efficient hull coatings. These developments are becoming increasingly important as the shipping industry faces the...
New Zealand Survey Ship’s Crew Ran Aground Because They Left Autopilot On
he New Zealand Defence Force has released its initial findings on the grounding of navy ship HMNZS Manawanui on a reef off Samoa last month, and it put the blame squarely on mistakes made by the crew. A Court of Inquiry established that the...
Antwerp Receives Europe’s First Electric RSD Tug in Sustainability Drive
The Port of Antwerp-Bruges celebrated the arrival of six new energy-efficient tugs including Europe’s first fully-electric RSD tugboat. The vessels built by Damen in Vietnam are the next step in the port’s ambitious sustainability plan. Damen began construction of the...
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners Plans Ammonia Shipping Newbuilds
The well-known Danish fund manager Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) which focuses on renewable energy investments is moving forward to develop ammonia-fueled carriers to lead in the energy transition. Its Energy Transition Fund entered into agreements with...
U-Ming to Add Anemoi’s Rotor Sails to Giant Ore Carrier
Taiwan’s U-Ming Marine is becoming the latest in a growing list of shipowners to adopt wind-assisted propulsion. Bulkers are a popular category for the technology which is now planned for a broad range of vessel sizes. U-Ming plans to add rotors made by the UK’s...
Westinghouse and Core Power Partner for Floating Nuclear Power Plants
Westinghouse Electric Company, one of the leaders in nuclear power, and Core Power are launching a cooperation for the design and development of a floating nuclear power plant using a microreactor. According to the companies, by leveraging shipyard capabilities, it...
Boston to Invest $100M in Cruise Port as It Sets New Passenger Record
The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) operators of Flynn Cruiseport Boston unveiled plans for a $100 million investment into its cruise operations to support future growth and incorporate shore power into the terminal. Port officials announced the plan while...
Mexico Plans Historic Investment to Expand Port of Manzanillo
Mexico is planning a generational investment in the Port of Manzanillo, its primary container gateway on the Pacific Coast. The $3 billion expansion program will quadruple its acreage and more than double its container capacity from 3.7 to 10 million TEU per year by...
Plan Approved to Save Cal Maritime from Looming Financial Collapse
The Board of Trustees of California State University approved a plan today designed to preserve and strengthen the California State University Maritime Academy (Cal Maritime), which according to the board was in danger of financial collapse. It is the only U.S....
Local News
My Take | Can Malaysia afford to cut petrol subsidies as US tariff threats put jobs on the line?
US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats have caused no small amount of trouble for the rest of the world, as governments scramble to convince Washington to reduce the levies that have already jammed up global trade and thrown financial planning into a...
Pakistani begging networks spark global concern as Malaysia becomes new hub
A growing wave of concern is sweeping across Southeast Asia and the Middle East as transnational begging networks, reportedly orchestrated from Pakistan, continue to expand into new territories. Once considered a domestic problem tied to poverty and unemployment, the...
Denmark and Malaysia strengthen green transition alliance
The Danish Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (DanCham) took part in a high-level networking reception on Tuesday 22 April 2025, highlighting recent progress in green collaboration between Denmark and Malaysia. The reception, hosted by Danish Ambassador H.E. Kirstine...
Malaysia pushes for Asean Halal Council at Jakarta talks to boost trade, harmonise certification
KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 — Malaysia has proposed the creation of an Asean Halal Council to strengthen strategic cooperation in the regional halal industry, facilitate the entry of halal products between countries, and boost intra-Asean trade, which has yet to reach its...
China’s growing appetite for tree-ripened Malaysian durians fuels export boom
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian durian farmers are poised to capture a larger portion of China’s lucrative fruit market this year, driven by increasing Chinese consumer preference for naturally ripened produce, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP). Industry...
Shipowners’ association highlights financing as key to growing Malaysia’s shipping industry
SIBU (April 20): Malaysia’s reliance on foreign ships highlights the demand for shipping services, which local industry players can meet with sufficient government support, said Malaysia Shipowners’ Association (Masa) chairman Mohamed Safwan Othman. He emphasised that...
Malaysia, China to deepen strategic cooperation in four key sectors
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and China will deepen economic cooperation by focusing on four key sectors - the digital, green, blue, and tourism economies - with efforts aimed at enhancing integration across industrial, supply, value, data, and talent chains. In a joint...
How logistics fuels Asean 2025’s sustainable and inclusive future
AS Malaysia strides into 2025 on a high note, it formally assumes its role at the Asean Chairmanship under the theme of “Inclusion and Sustainability”, serving as a rallying call for regional peace, stability, and prosperity in an evolving global landscape. Transport...
Embracing disruption, driving transformation: Malaysia’s strategic response to Trump tariff turbulence
IN a recent op-ed (“Trump Tariff Shock: Resilience, Not Retaliation,” 7 April 2025), EMIR Research argued that President Trump’s sweeping tariffs—targeting Malaysia and others—reflect political posturing more than sound economic strategy. Crucially, Malaysia’s refusal...
Malaysia: regulators scrutinise price-fixing cartels and antitrust risks in the digital landscape
In summary This article provides an overview of developments in competition law from 2024 to 2025, including the status of proposed amendments to introduce a cross-sectoral merger control regime in Malaysia, the application of merger control via sectoral laws and...
Malaysia furniture exporters in race to beat Trump’s 90-day tariff window
MUAR (AP) – In southern Malaysia, furniture manufacturers are in a race against United States (US) President Donald Trump’s tariffs. After threatening to impose a 24 per cent tax on all goods imported from the Southeast Asian country, Trump said he would cut rates 10...
Trump tariffs: Singapore economy could be hit hard by trade slowdown but there may be a silver lining, say analysts
SINGAPORE: Singapore's small, open economy could be hit hard by a US-led global trade slowdown, analysts warned, even if the country may gain a relative advantage due to significantly higher tariffs being imposed on its regional peers. Their comments followed US...
Malaysia’s manufacturing PMI falls in March amid global trade uncertainty
KUALA LUMPUR: The seasonally adjusted S&P Global Malaysia Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) fell from 49.7 in February to 48.8 in March, indicating a slight slowdown in sector health. S&P Global Market Intelligence's Usamah Bhatti said Malaysian...
Malaysia’s rail port project targets a European trade corridor shake-up
Perlis Inland Port aims to offer Southeast Asia a viable land-based trade alternative to the instability of current shipping routes A sprawling inland port under construction in Malaysia’s northern state of Perlis is being touted as a game-changer for global...
Danish companies in Malaysia unite to accelerate green transition
A new strategic initiative spearheaded by the Danish Embassy in Malaysia has brought together major Danish companies to advance the green agenda in the country. The initiative, called the Green Transition Alliance, officially kicked off on Wednesday 3 April 2025...
Malaysia retail industry posts 3.5% sales growth in Q4’24, misses forecast:Survey
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s retail industry recorded a less-than-expected growth rate of 3.5% in sales for the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. According to a survey compiled by Retail Group Malaysia (RGM) and conducted with members of the...
Thailand Drafts Law To Speed Up $29 Billion Transport Link
Mar 22, 2025 (Bloomberg) –Thailand unveiled draft legislation to create a special economic zone in the south of the country that would pave the way for a multibillion-dollar transport project linking the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The bill would establish a commission...
Malaysia’s Aerodyne Group eyes drone production in Uzbekistan
Aerodyne’s CEO, Kamarul Muhamed, recently met with Uzbekistan's ambassador to Malaysia, Karomiddin Gadoev, to discuss potential cooperation. The talks focused on integrating drone technology into Uzbekistan’s agricultural sector. Initially, Aerodyne plans to introduce...
Malaysia emerging as key hub in Asean’s digital future
Driven by rapid digital adoption and increasing foreign investments, Asean is one of the world’s fastest-growing technology markets. The World Economic Forum projects that the region’s digital economy will grow from US$300 billion to an estimated US$1 trillion over...
Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone: Transformative or Tempting?
The Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone has a compelling argument. But it may not be as transformative as it is touted to be. Malaysia and Singapore launched the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) in January 2025. Located in the Malaysian state of Johor...