1. Hong Kong Convention brings new recycling challenges for shipowners. With the Hong Kong Convention on ship recycling taking effect, a new webinar series aims to guide shipowners through the growing regulatory and reputational risks.
Lloyd’s Register (LR) has launched a new webinar series to help shipowners and recycling facilities navigate the complex compliance requirements of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC), which came into effect yesterday (26 June 2025).
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/07/01/hong-kong-convention-brings-new-recycling-challenges-for-shipowners/
2. New OSPAR restrictions on scrubbers in ports: Rush to judgment. Last week’s OSPAR decision to restrict the use of Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems(“scrubbers”) in the North Atlantic ports and inland waters of the Contracting Parties (member states) in OSPAR, projected to start in 2027, has created a questionable precedent. Most (not all) of the Environmental Ministers present agreed to creating what is in fact a major regional maritime regulation independent of discussion with IMO, the leading authority issuing EGCS Guidelines, and the globally recognized competent international organization for marine EGCS over the last decades.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/07/01/new-ospar-restrictions-on-scrubbers-in-ports-rush-to-judgment/
3. In the Presence of HE Al-Jasser Mawani signs Privatization contracts for Multipurpose Cargo Terminals at eight Saudi Ports with private sector investments exceeding SAR 22 billion. In the presence of H.E. Eng. Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, Minister of Transport and Logistic Services and Chairman of the Saudi Ports Authority, Mawani — in collaboration with the National Center for Privatization — signed contracts to privatize multipurpose cargo terminals at eight Saudi ports under a Build-Operate-Transfer model spanning 20 years. The agreements were signed with national partners Saudi Global Ports and Red Sea Gateway Terminal Company, with private sector investments exceeding SAR 2.2 billion.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/07/01/in-the-presence-of-he-al-jasser-mawani-signs-privatization-contracts-for-multipurpose-cargo-terminals-at-eight-saudi-ports-with-private-sector-investments-exceeding-sar-22-billion/
4. StockSpace and Axione Development establish 50M warehouse in KEZAD. Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi – KEZAD Group, one of the largest operators of integrated and purpose-built economic zones in the UAE, Grade A warehouse operator StockSpace and project master developer Axione Development have jointly announced the signing of a 50-year land lease agreement to establish a state-of-the-art Grade A warehouse facility in KEZAD Area A .
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/07/01/stockspace-and-axione-development-establish-50m-warehouse-in-kezad/
5. LS Marine Solutions picks Turkish shipyard for cable layer construction. South Korean subsea cable contractor LS Marine Solutions has signed a construction agreement with Turkey’s Tersan Shipyard to build a high-voltage direct current cable-laying vessel.According to the company, the new vessel will be Asia’s largest and one of the top five in its class globally, with a cable loading capacity of 13,000 tonnes.
https://splash247.com/ls-marine-solutions-picks-turkish-shipyard-for-cable-layer-construction/
6. Denmark extends life of two more offshore wind farms. The Danish Energy Agency (DEA) has extended the life of two offshore wind farms, which together have been in operation for almost 50 years.The Agency has notified the owners of the Middelgrunden and Nysted offshore wind farms that it will be extending their permits for electricity production. This means that the two offshore wind farms can produce electricity for an additional 25 and 10 years, respectively.
https://splash247.com/denmark-extends-life-of-two-more-offshore-wind-farms/
7. Indian shipbuilder buys majority stake in Sri Lanka’s largest yard. India’s state-run Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited (MDL) has announced its first international acquisition by securing a controlling 51% stake in Sri Lanka’s Colombo Dockyard for $52.96m. The Sri Lankan yard had previously been controlled by Japan’s Onomichi Dockyard which had been looking for investors to take over its stake.
https://splash247.com/indian-shipbuilder-buys-majority-stake-in-sri-lankas-largest-yard/
8. U.S.-Built ECO Liberty Ushers in New Era for American Offshore Wind Vessels. Equinor has officially launched the Service Operations Vessel (SOV) ECO Liberty for deployment in its Empire Wind offshore wind project in New York. The vessel was christened on Saturday at a ceremony on the Mississippi River at the Port of New Orleans, with Louisiana First Lady Sharon Landry serving as the vessel’s “Godmother.”
https://gcaptain.com/u-s-built-eco-liberty-ushers-in-new-era-for-american-offshore-wind-vessels/
9. Oil Tanker Suffers Unexplained Blast Weeks After Russia Call. The Vilamoura is being towed to Greece, where damage will be assessed upon arrival. The blast caused water intake and the vessel’s engine room is flooded, a spokesperson for TMS Tankers said. Exactly what caused the explosion was unclear, they added.
https://gcaptain.com/oil-tanker-suffers-unexplained-blast-weeks-after-russia-call/
10. Russia Deploys New ‘Shadow Fleet’ LNG Carrier to Load Gas at Sanctioned Arctic Project. Russia has started a new effort to export liquefied natural gas from its sanctioned flagship project, Arctic LNG 2. After mothballing the plant for nearly nine months last fall, majority owner Novatek has seemingly launched a new attempt to lift cargoes from the facility.
https://gcaptain.com/russia-deploys-new-shadow-fleet-lng-carrier-to-load-gas-at-sanctioned-arctic-project/