Rising costs - News

JLA Media Ltd has rebranded as JLA Communication and responded to growing demand to offer reputation management to maritime, offshore and logistics executives by adding JLA Reputation to its portfolio of services. Brought to market by the pioneering team of PR and communications professionals in the sector, JLA Reputation offers full consultative services for industry pioneers. Focusing on the opportunities and challenges individuals face in their public and media engagement...

A new report, released now, has found that adopting methanol as the primary fuel for voyages between the Port of Tyne, Newcastle and Port of IJmuiden, Amsterdam could avoid up to £420 million in future regulatory costs and deliver an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Green shipping corridors are specific routes where vessels use low-emission propulsion. The study, led by Ricardo, an environmental, energy and engineering consultancy and world pioneers in maritime decarbonisa...

Major carrier - CMA CGM has announced its INDAMEX service will transit Suez Canal on fronthaul and backhaul voyages between India/Pakistan and US East Coast in a notable step towards a large-scale return of container ships to the Red Sea region. The first vessel to complete a full service loop via Suez Canal will be CMA CGM VERDI, sailing from Karachi to New York on 15 January. eeSea by Xeneta data shows voyages via Suez Canal rather than Cape of Good Hope reduces full loop transit time on this...

As the industry explores multiple decarbonisation pathways, methanol is gaining attention as a practical and scalable alternative fuel for deep-sea shipping. This is supported by over 450 methanol-capable vessels in operation and on order and technical solutions now available for all major ship types. Low-GHG methanol production DNV’s latest white paper, “Methanol fuel in shipping,” highlights that methanol-fuelled engines and technical systems have reached high readiness le...

NorthStandard has advised Members of a 5% increase in P&I premiums for the marine insurance year, starting 20 February 2026, to reflect ongoing market unpredictability and risk. The global marine insurer projects a rise in premium income for 2025-26, as well as better returns on investments, higher reserves, and continued success for its diversification strategy. However, it believes a modest increase for 2026-27 is prudent in the current risk environment. S&P Global ‘A’ ra...

The US and China reached a 12-month trade war truce this week, including lowering fentanyl tariffs by 10% and suspending port fees – but it will not halt the decline in ocean container freight rates in 2026. Average spot rates from China to US West Coast on 31 October are down 59% year-on-year at USD 2147 per FEU (40ft container). Spot rates into the US East Coast are down 48% year-on-year at USD 3044 per FEU. Declining spot rates coincide with falling volumes on Transpacific trades,...

Alfa Laval UK is focused on supporting shipowners with drydocking by helping them identify the kits and parts required for maintenance, whether these are unique to each vessel or pre-identified kits, enabling smarter planning, faster turnaround, and longer fleet uptime. A major focus will be providing condition audit services up to six months before docking. "By auditing systems months before docking, we can spot issues early, plan ahead, and prevent costly surprises," said Ezgi Sezen, UK...

Icelandic tech company - Hefring Marine has announced a new partnership with the Northern Ireland Fishermen’s Federation (NIFF), which was formed in early 2025 to pilot innovative solutions that support the fishing fleet in tackling rising fuel costs, improving safety, and reducing emissions. With support from the previous Marine Environment & Fisheries Fund from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland, this initiative will see members of the N...

DNV, the independent energy expert and assurance provider, is launching the industry’s first public tender portal for e-methanol procurement within the European Union and the United Kingdom via the DNV.com website. The initiative connects a pioneering e-methanol producer with industrial offtakers across EU and UK markets, creating a new pathway to secure long-term, reliable supplies of this key low-carbon fuel. Key European regulatory frameworks As the global energy transition...

To mark World Mental Health Day, The London P&I Club has funded one full day of Stella Maris’ UK operations, supporting the charity’s work in providing practical, spiritual, and emotional support to thousands of seafarers every year who are struggling with stress, loneliness, exhaustion, bullying or exploitation. The Club’s contribution covers the costs of the charity’s ship visits, welfare support and pastoral care for a 24-hour period, ensuring thousands of seafare...

Staci Satterwhite, CEO of ABS Wavesight, the ABS-affiliated software-as-a-service (SaaS) company, has challenged the industry to embrace software as a competitive advantage at a time of growing pressure on performance. Speaking to delegates at the 15th Annual Capital Link Operational Excellence in Shipping Forum in Athens, Greece, Satterwhite laid out the growing roster of operational risks facing shipping and invited them to consider the importance of software in creating solutions. Regulator...

“Shipping and the IMO are on different trajectories. There is no clear pathway for green fuel availability and scalability and infrastructure support. LNG and biofuels are mission critical to any success and should not be overlooked, over penalised or discarded in the Net Zero regulation. Quite frankly, achieving net zero for shipping by 2050 looks like a wildcard.” That was the message for the industry from ABS Chairman and CEO - Christopher J. Wiernicki at the launch of the 2025...

ION Commodities, a pioneer in energy and commodity management solutions, is relaunching Softmar as a SaaS platform, expanding beyond chartering and operations to address the new realities of freight management. Volatility, sanctions, and tougher emissions and regulatory rules are redefining freight markets. Rate swings are squeezing shipowners’ margins, while traders grapple with rising costs and compliance obligations. Global commodity supply chains This unpredictability has...

Gibdock has completed a series of high-profile offshore support vessel (OSV) projects in recent months to consolidate its reputation for delivering exceptional and timely service to the offshore industry. In a significant and growing market for Gibdock, the Gibraltar-based ship repair yard has established itself as a trusted strategic partner to several major offshore players by consistently executing projects on time, within budget, and to the highest safety and quality standards. Gibdock&rsq...

Daphne Technology has released a new white paper: From Assumptions to Accuracy-Unlocking the Value of Direct Emissions Monitoring in the Maritime Industry. The publication examines the limitations of estimation-based emissions reporting and explains how direct measurement offers a more accurate, transparent, and future-proof approach. Quality of emissions data The quality of emissions data is becoming a financial and operational priority for shipowners and operators As regulations tight...

The Platts global bunker fuel cost calculator shows how Platts price assessments for methanol, ammonia, LNG, bioblends and conventional oil-based fuels can be used to calculate the cost of marine fuels around the world, taking into account the EU Emissions Trading System and adjusted for energy density to put them on an equal footing. Methanol blend Shipping firms are struggling to acquire sustainable methanol due to its scarcity, and some industry participants suggest blending the green fuel...

Do not expect the EU-US tariff agreement or US-China negotiations in Stockholm this week over a new trade deal to breathe life into ocean container shipping demand or halt the dramatic decline in freight rates in 2025, analysts warn. Latest data from Xeneta – the ocean and air freight intelligence platform – shows average spot rates from China to the US West Coast are down 59% since 1 June at USD 2,268 per FEU (40ft container). Rates have also plummeted on the US East Coast, down 4...

KR (Korean Register) is pleased to announce that Lee Jungkun, General Manager of KR’s Convention & Legislation Service Team, has been elected as the next Chair of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) Safety Panel, with a three-year term running from January 1, 2026, through December 31, 2028.  The appointment was confirmed at the 91st IACS Council Meeting held in Beijing, China.  IACS’s seven technical panels The Safety Panel is one of IAC...

ClassNK launches a new service, ‘ClassNK Fleet Cost Simulation’, as part of its ‘ClassNK Transition Support Services’, which aims to facilitate the maritime industry’s transition to decarbonised fuels. This new service estimates the cost impact of GHG emission reduction regulations, including IMO's mid-term measures, EU-ETS, and FuelEU Maritime on behalf of clients. This service provides the ‘ClassNK Fleet Cost Calculator’, a calculation tool that simu...

Turkish shipowner, Susesea, has successfully upgraded the cylinder lubrication strategy across its fleet of six bulk carriers by adopting Chevron’s Taro® Ultra Advanced 40 (TUA 40). Working closely with Chevron Marine Lubricants and its regional distributor, Petrol Ofisi, Susesea has streamlined vessel operations and reduced cylinder oil feed rates by approximately 33 percent, delivering both technical and commercial benefits. MAN Mark 9 engines Susesea’s engineers rotated bet...

The London P&I Club has announced its financial results for 2024/25, reporting an operating surplus of US$21.3m, while also strengthening its free reserves to US$171.2m. Gross earned premium income increased 12% to reach US$159.8m. The Club’s combined ratio for the period was 101.7%, which contributed to an improved three-year weighted average combined ratio of 103.9%. Meanwhile, the investment return on assets under management and cash was 6.3%, contributing US$24.7m to the operating...

KR (Korean Register) has officially launched a joint working group to establish international standards for the safe discharge of toxic ammonia effluent generated from ammonia-fueled ships. The initiative brings together Korean major shipbuilders—HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI), HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), HD Hyundai Samho, Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), and Hanwha Ocean—as well as the Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR), a national ce...

Proteus Energy, headquartered in Singapore, has developed the Proteus® Maritime Fuel Cell Solution, a modular hydrogen fuel-based system for ports and vessels. The first offering is the Proteus®75. Each fuel cell stack is 75 kW output, and these can be combined for larger power requirements. Offshore support Symbio is jointly owned by global industrial groups Michelin, Stellantis, and Forvia The vessel types being targeted are harbour craft, and vessels in the coastal, offshore...

Unseenlabs, the pioneer in space-based radio frequency (RF) detection, announces the upcoming launch of its latest satellite, BRO-18. This new asset will expand Unseenlabs’ existing constellation and further strengthen its operational capabilities in tracking illegal and unreported maritime activity. The launch is scheduled for NET June 2025 aboard SpaceX’s Transporter-14 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, with the support of Exolaunch. A concrete response to g...

ABS Chairman and CEO Christopher J. Wiernicki was honoured by The Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI), receiving the 2025 Silver Bell Award for lifelong service and outstanding leadership in the maritime industry. Lives of mariners and seafarers SCI is a nearly 200-year-old charity headquartered in New York that serves and protects the personal and professional lives of mariners and seafarers, both internationally and domestically, by partnering with the maritime industry to ensure dignity w...

Swiss marine power company - WinGD is to deliver X-DF-A ammonia-fuelled engine designs for four newbuild medium gas carriers (MGC) to be built by HD Hyundai Mipo for Trafigura, a market pioneer in the global commodities industry. The 45,000 cubic.metres vessels will each be powered by a six-cylinder, 52-bore 6X52DF-A engine with high-pressure selective catalytic reduction. WinGD ammonia-carrying vessels The order is one of several that WinGD has received for ammonia-carrying vessels The Traf...

EV Maritime, New Zealand’s pioneering electric ferry design and technology company, announced the launch of its first fully electric passenger ferry. The new vessel will operate between downtown Auckland and the suburb of Half Moon Bay. This is the first of the EVM200 class – a series of battery-electric fast ferries built using lightweight carbon fibre. Designed for urban public transport, the EVM200 offers service speeds of up to 25 knots and a range of up to 20 miles. Auckland T...

In a complex case highlighting the risks ship managers face from legacy vessel issues, the International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC) has successfully resolved a US$6 million claim against a ship manager for only a fraction of the original demand. The ship manager took charge of a ship over 12 years old under a SHIPMAN contract, albeit for just a short six-month duration. Despite the brief tenure, the manager faced a substantial claim alleging failure to identify and address pre-existin...

ABB has been awarded a large order by Seatrium, a provider of marine engineering solutions based in Singapore, for the supply of electrical equipment and automation solutions on a new generation of floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessels for operator Petrobras. The two vessels – P-84 and P-85 – will be deployed in the Atapu and Sépia fields, approximately 200 kilometres off the coast of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. ABB Ability™ System 800xA® ABB wil...

BERG Propulsion is offering the shipping industry its first opportunity to select propeller shafts made using the climate-neutral GreenForge® production process, in a maritime sector that is highly exposed to anticipated carbon pricing. Three Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) ro-ro vessels due in service from 2026 to carry aircraft parts across the Atlantic are already set to take advantage of sustainable wind power, courtesy of their rotor sails, while their hybrid propulsion, power manag...