Unprecedented fleet utilization puts another layer of uncertainty in global shipping
The global container shipping industry is entering uncharted waters as it sails into an era of unprecedented fleet utilization, with idle capacity plunging to a mere 0.6% of the world’s 32 million TEU fleet, according to Alphaliner’s report. With just 70 vessels (185,157 TEUs) currently inactive, the liner sector has become virtually fully employed, a […]
Green shipping leaders struggle to meet efficiency targets
Just how big a mountain shipping has to climb if it is to keep up with the green goals set by the International Maritime Organization(IMO) has been set in sharp relief with the latest disclosure report from the Sea Cargo Charter, whose members are considered environmental leaders in shipping. Signatories to the charter were still […]
India takes action against MSC over sinking of 28-year-old ship
Two recent ship casualties are making daily headlines in India, and stirring debate about cracking down on ageing vessels passing through the nation’s waters. Nearly three weeks after the 28-year-old MSC Elsa 3 capsized off the coast of Kerala, the state’s coastal police have officially registered a criminal case against Mediterranean Shipping Co, the vessel’s […]
Chinese master jailed for damaging Taiwanese undersea cable
A court in Taiwan has sentenced a Chinese national, identified only as Captain Wang, to three years in prison for intentionally damaging an undersea communication cable connecting Taiwan’s main island to the Penghu archipelago. This verdict marks the first conviction related to the severing of Taiwan’s critical undersea infrastructure. On February 25, 2025, the Togolese-flagged […]
Davie moves to buy Texas Shipyards
Canadian shipbuilder Davie has set out to acquire shipbuilding assets in Galveston and Port Arthur from Gulf Copper & Manufacturing Corporation, a Texas-based company specialising in ship repair, construction, and marine services. The transaction for Texas Shipyards is still subject to financial, legal, and regulatory closing conditions, as well as land lease negotiations with the Galveston Wharves […]
Middle East shipping routes on alert amid rising US-Iran-Israel tensions
A rare and urgent joint advisory issued by United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa, and Joint Maritime Information Centre has set alarm bells ringing for ship operators passing through the Middle East. The advisory warns of an increased threat level in the Arabian/Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and the […]
Entropy and shipping
Occasional columnist Santosh Patil on how rising disorder is reshaping our industry. The second law of thermodynamics and the concept of entropy which states that systems naturally progress from order to disorder is well-known. Today, few sectors reflect this principle more vividly than the global shipping industry. This rising disorder—or entropy—is reshaping the maritime world. […]
Crew rescued from sinking bulker in Indian Ocean
All 23 crewmembers aboard the Panama-flagged bulk carrier Run Fun 3 have been rescued after abandoning their sinking ship in the Indian Ocean. The 172-m-long ship, built in 1997, departed Singapore and was sailing towards Togo when it began sinking due to an unknown cause of cargo hold flooding. The crew who escaped on life […]
Philippines launches 3.3GW offshore wind round
The Department of Energy of the Philippines has launched its Fifth Green Energy Auction, looking to secure 3.3GW of fixed-bottom offshore wind capacity with delivery slated between 2028 and 2030. This will be the first round to focus solely on fixed-bottom offshore wind technology. The DOE chose fixed-bottom offshore wind due to its established track […]
DOF anchor handler to stay in Canada for another three years
Norwegian offshore vessel owner DOF has won a contract extension for one of its anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels. The extension was awarded to the 2015-built Skandi Cutter by an undisclosed charterer. The vessel is currently operating in Canada under a contract set to end at the end of 2025. The vessel will now […]