Vessel Hunter News
Maritime, in motion
Port of Deventer to close as IJssel water level nears critical low
The Port of Deventer will close from Saturday for an indefinite period after the municipality confirmed its lock will stop opening once the IJssel falls below a critical water level.
Marine insurers move to ban payments to Iran for Hormuz transits
Underwriters at Lloyd's Market Association have introduced a new clause allowing insurers to cancel cover for ships found to have made payments to Iran for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Carriers swap Hamburg for Wilhelmshaven on NEMX service
Three major carriers have removed Hamburg from their joint North Europe-East Mediterranean container service, replacing it with Wilhelmshaven as the German port of call.
ST Engineering launches second multi-role combat vessel for Singapore Navy
ST Engineering has launched the second Victory-class Multi-Role Combat Vessel for the Republic of Singapore Navy, designed to operate unmanned systems and function as a command ship.
Taiwan commissions new Tuo Chiang-class corvette Dan Chiang
Taiwan has commissioned its newest Tuo Chiang-class corvette, Dan Chiang, as part of a domestic shipbuilding programme intended to strengthen the island's naval defences.
Canada extends Babcock submarine contract as it awaits new German boats
Canada has extended its maintenance contract with Babcock for its ageing Victoria-class submarines, bridging the gap until new German-built vessels begin arriving from 2032.
Petrobras delays restart of P-52 platform after gas leak investigation
Petrobras says its P-52 offshore platform remains shut down nine months after a flammable gas leak, with no timetable yet set for restarting production.
Panama says fewer ships detained in Chinese ports after agreement
Panama says the number of its flagged vessels detained for inspection in Chinese ports has fallen sharply following talks between the two governments, easing tensions that followed a canal ports dispute.
Maersk revises peak season and emergency surcharges on key trade lanes
Maersk has announced new peak season surcharges for cargo moving to Saudi Arabia, North Europe and the Mediterranean, alongside revised emergency charges for exports from Oman and the UAE.
APM Terminals launches next phase of Callao expansion in Peru
APM Terminals has begun the next phase of a major expansion at its Callao facility in Peru, investing $570 million to grow container and general cargo capacity by 2030.
EmissionLink warns cheap FuelEU compliance could weaken fuel transition
A maritime emissions advisory firm has warned that falling FuelEU Maritime surplus prices could make compliance cheaper for shipowners while weakening the regulation's ability to drive genuine uptake of lower-carbon fuels.
Heavy transport vessel CY Frontier sets out on maiden voyage to Rotterdam
The heavy transport vessel CY Frontier has departed on its maiden voyage carrying twelve inland barges bound for Rotterdam, with an intermediate call planned in South Korea.
IMO chief condemns renewed attacks on shipping in Red Sea
The head of the International Maritime Organization has condemned renewed attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, warning of risks to seafarers, trade routes and the marine environment.
Three Aframaxes open first Syria-US route for Iraqi fuel oil
Three Aframax tankers have loaded Iraqi fuel oil at Syria's Baniyas terminal for delivery to the United States, opening the first US-bound flow of its kind from a Syrian port.
BW LPG announces sale of BW Levant
BW LPG has agreed to sell the 2015-built gas carrier BW Levant, generating a net book gain of approximately $17 million as part of its ongoing fleet renewal strategy.
Tanker attacked near Hormuz towed into Iranian custody after crew rescue
The crew of the oil tanker Kavomaleas was safely rescued after an attack and fire near the Strait of Hormuz, but the vessel was subsequently towed into Iranian custody, raising fresh tension in the waterway.
Crew member found dead aboard cruise ship at Italian port
Italian authorities are investigating the death of a 33-year-old crew member found in her cabin after a cruise ship docked at La Spezia, with the cause of death not yet confirmed.
India and Panama strengthen maritime partnership
India and Panama have agreed to expand maritime cooperation across shipping, logistics, port development and digital innovation as both countries look to strengthen trade links.
ZPMC starts building large cable-laying vessel for Far East Cable
Chinese cable manufacturer Far East Cable has started construction of a new multipurpose cable-laying vessel at a Shanghai shipyard, designed for offshore wind, interconnector and telecommunications work.
Container ship refloated after grounding near Rio Grande
The container ship Dusseldorf Express ran aground near the access channel to the Port of Rio Grande in Brazil and was refloated within hours.
Seamec to provide diving support on ONGC's ageing DSV fleet
Indian offshore vessel operator Seamec has agreed to provide subsea diving services on two diving support vessels working for state energy producer ONGC.
Rubico lines up third MR newbuilding with Trafigura charter attached
Rubico is lining up its third MR tanker newbuilding through a related-party deal with Top Ships, with the vessel already carrying a charter attachment to Trafigura.
South Korea to extend offshore wind price contracts to 25 years
South Korea is preparing to extend fixed-price offshore wind contracts from 20 to 25 years, aiming to reduce bid prices and improve the economics of new projects.
Serica outbids Ratio for Pharos Energy in £145.7m deal
UK oil and gas company Serica Energy has struck a deal to acquire Pharos Energy for £145.7 million, outbidding a rival offer from Ratio Petroleum Energy.
Saipem lands $913m contract double in Ivory Coast and Italy
Saipem has won two new contracts worth a combined $913 million, covering offshore development work in Ivory Coast and an onshore project in Italy.
UK Supreme Court strengthens shipbuyers' rights over delayed deliveries
Britain's Supreme Court has ruled that shipbuyers can recover loss-of-bargain damages over seller-caused delivery delays under standard sale terms, even without a repudiatory breach.
Sinotrans doubles down on Qingshan with second feeder quartet
Sinotrans Container Lines is expanding its feeder newbuilding programme at China Merchants' Qingshan shipyard with a second batch of four 1,800 TEU vessels.
Japanese regional banks merge to create $12.8bn ship finance heavyweight
Two of Japan's most significant regional maritime lenders, Iyogin Holdings and Ehime Bank, have agreed to work toward a merger that would create a combined ship finance book worth $12.8 billion.
Rescuers scour South China Sea after Vietnamese cargo ship sinks
A multinational rescue operation is under way in the South China Sea after the Vietnamese cargo ship Khoi Nguyen 18 sank in severe weather, with dozens of crew rescued and a search continuing for the rest.
Ukraine drone strike on Iranian vessel in Caspian Sea links two wars
A Ukrainian long-range drone strike has hit an Iranian commercial vessel in the Caspian Sea, prompting Tehran to warn of retaliation in an incident that draws two separate wars closer together.
River cruise ship strikes lock wall in Vienna, injuring fourteen
A river cruise ship struck a lock wall on the Danube in Vienna at speed, injuring fourteen people and prompting a judicial inquiry into a possible technical defect.
EU moves to approve first Indian ship recycling yards
The European Commission has proposed admitting two Indian ship recycling facilities to its approved list for the first time, after years of exclusion for South Asian yards.
$690m Neu Seeschiffahrt VLOC order at Qingdao yard reported cancelled
A landmark six-ship VLOC contract between Germany's Neu Seeschiffahrt and a Chinese shipyard has reportedly been cancelled, according to industry sources, though public orderbooks still list it as active.
Chinese-built wind turbine installation vessel Fengsheng delivered to Danish owner
A new Chinese-built offshore wind turbine installation vessel has been delivered to a Danish shipping company, capable of handling the next generation of 20 MW-plus turbines.
First phase of Yangtzekanaal widening complete as Rotterdam starts phase two
Rotterdam has completed the first phase of widening its Yangtzekanaal access channel and started construction on a second phase, preparing the waterway for the next generation of container ships.
Chinese shipyards close gap on South Korea in LNG carrier orders
Chinese shipyards have narrowed South Korea's long-standing lead in LNG carrier construction, securing more orders than their Korean rivals so far this year as Korean capacity tightens.
GTT Marine wins fleet-wide digital mandate for PETRONAS LNG carriers
GTT Marine will deploy an integrated vessel performance platform across the PETRONAS-chartered LNG carrier fleet, combining data analytics, voyage optimisation and cargo monitoring in one system.
Global terminal operators post strong 2025 growth as capital spending jumps 23%
The world's largest terminal operators grew faster than the wider port market in 2025 and lifted capital spending by 23%, according to a new industry report.
DOF reshapes offshore fleet with PSV sale, CSV order and Skandi Amazonas write-off
DOF Group is selling four platform supply vessels, ordering two new construction support vessels and collecting a $115 million payout after writing off the grounded Skandi Amazonas.
Russia's container market climbs 7.1% in first half of 2026
Russia's container market grew 7.1% year on year in the first half of 2026, with June volumes reaching their highest monthly level in fifteen years.
Van Oord completes rock installation at Hollandse Kust West VI wind farm
Van Oord has finished rock placement work at the Hollandse Kust West VI offshore wind farm, using rocks of up to 450 kilograms in what it calls the heaviest deployment of its kind.
Tara Polar Station sets off on first long-term Arctic drift
France's Tara Polar Station has begun its first long-term Arctic drift, a multinational scientific mission expected to see the vessel trapped in pack ice for as long as 500 days.
Guyana ferry disaster death toll nears 100 as captain is detained
The death toll from Guyana's worst maritime disaster in decades has climbed toward 100, with the vessel's captain detained and questions mounting over its age and loading.
Yang Ming orders six LNG dual-fuel boxships worth up to $1.2bn
Yang Ming Marine Transport has chosen Hanwha Ocean to build six LNG dual-fuel container ships of around 13,000 TEU each, in a deal worth up to $1.22 billion.
HMM Rotterdam makes maiden call at Felixstowe
The 23,820 TEU HMM Rotterdam has made its first call at the Port of Felixstowe, arriving from Singapore as one of the largest container ships afloat.
Italy and UK seize cocaine hidden in banana shipments within days of each other
European customs agencies made two major cocaine seizures within days of each other after finding narcotics hidden among refrigerated banana shipments from South America.
Oil tops $100 as Red Sea attacks compound Hormuz supply crisis
Crude prices broke back above $100 a barrel after Houthi attacks on Saudi tankers added a second Gulf flashpoint to the already-paralysed Strait of Hormuz, with traders bracing for further escalation.
Chinese VLCCs test Houthi blockade with Bab el-Mandeb transit
Two Chinese-linked VLCCs are transiting the Red Sea's southern gateway just days after Houthi forces declared a blockade against Saudi shipping, with tanker traffic through the strait already thinning sharply.
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