Alternative-fuel ship orders stayed strong in 2025 despite a softer market, but Lloyd’s Register warns that faster adoption, more retrofits, and major investment are still needed to meet 2030 decarbonization targets.
The Labor Department has awarded nearly $14 million to maritime colleges to train the next generation of U.S. shipbuilders, supporting workforce growth as shipbuilding becomes a national security priority.
MarAd has taken over deepwater port licensing from the Coast Guard, assuming environmental review duties in an effort to speed approvals and support expanded U.S. offshore energy development.
Oregon Container Terminal has officially launched at Portland’s Terminal 6, restoring Oregon’s only international container gateway and providing a stable, competitive shipping option for regional exporters and importers.
Texas A&M engineers have unveiled Smart-Sea, a machine-learning system that analyzes radar data and vessel maneuverability to give seafarers real-time guidance aimed at preventing marine collisions.
The NTSB says fatigue linked to an acute COVID-19 infection caused the captain of the towing vessel Schweiger to fall asleep, leading to a dock strike and fuel spill near Ilwaco, Washington.
As ships grow more connected, ransomware and cyber intrusions threaten core vessel systems, prompting the U.S. Coast Guard to impose mandatory cybersecurity training and compliance deadlines starting in 2026.
Below-average polar sea ice and shifting ice patterns are tightening navigation windows just as expanded IMO Polar Code requirements take effect in 2026, increasing the importance of real-time ice data and voyage planning.
The NTSB says dense fog, rain, and unlit moored barges contributed to a $501,000 towboat contact near Norco after the William E. Strait was pushed astern during a tow reconfiguration.
From specialized packaging and preshipment testing to real-time sensors and customer tracking, proactive cold-chain strategies can dramatically reduce spoilage risks in marine shipments of perishable goods.
