1. Looking ahead: From regulation to reality. The maritime sector stands at a junction, faced with evolving regulatory pressures, the transformative impact of rapid technological advancements, and geopolitical uncertainties that disrupt supply chains and trade routes, while also responding to the increasing frequency of climate-related disruptions.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/02/13/looking-ahead-from-regulation-to-reality/
2. Will 2025 be the year of the WAPS? In August 2023 the CEO of a major wind equipment supplier boldly predicted that by 2025 “half the new-build ships will be ordered with wind propulsion”. Whilst 2024 has seen a significant increase in large commercial vessels being fitted with some form of WAPS, up to approximately 50 to date, the newbuilding numbers are still a long way short of that prediction. But is there reason for optimism that 2025 will be the year of the WAPS?
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/02/13/will-2025-be-the-year-of-the-waps/
3. The Swedish Club launches passage plan+ guide to enhance safe navigation. Marine insurance specialist, The Swedish Club, today announced the launch of its Passage Plan+ Guide, an essential resource designed to support shipowners, operators, and navigational officers.
Voyage/Passage planning is something that must be carried out for every vessel before departure. Every company has its own procedures and there are many guides defining how it should be handled.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/02/13/the-swedish-club-launches-passage-plan-guide-to-enhance-safe-navigation/
4. Diana sells 15-year-old post-panamax and nets newcastlemax charter extension. Greece’s Diana Shipping has agreed to sell its 2010-built post-panamax bulker Alcmene for about $11.9m and secured a charter extension for one of its newcastlemaxes at a bumper rate.
The New York-listed company said it will deliver the 93,193 dwt vessel to an undisclosed buyer by March 7.
https://splash247.com/diana-sells-15-year-old-post-panamax-and-nets-newcastlemax-charter-extension/
5. Golden Ocean snaps up eight SFL capesizes. John Fredriksen-backed dry bulk player Golden Ocean Group is taking eight capsizes out of leases from Fredriksen’s shipowning company SFL Corp.
The Nasdaq- and Oslo-listed company has declared purchase options worth $112m in total in connection to the vessels’ 10-year charter-in anniversary.
https://splash247.com/golden-ocean-snaps-up-eight-sfl-capesizes/
6. Globus Maritime continues ageing bulkers clearout. Nasdaq-listed Greek dry bulk owner Globus Maritime has continued the sell-off of older vessels as it makes room for fresh tonnage to join the fleet.
The Athens-based firm is shipping out the 2007-built supramax River Globe for $8.55m before commissions.
https://splash247.com/globus-maritime-continues-ageing-bulkers-clearout/
7. Another Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ LNG Tanker Abandons Voyage After Five Months, Offloads Cargo to FSU. U.S. sanctions continue to severely hamper Russia’s efforts to deliver LNG from the designated Arctic LNG 2 plant to customers. Five months after loading cargo at the Arctic gas terminal LNG carrier East Energy (139,833-cbm) moored up yesterday alongside the Koryak floating storage barge to seemingly offload its cargo.
https://gcaptain.com/another-russian-shadow-fleet-lng-tanker-abandons-voyage-after-five-months-offloads-cargo-to-fsu/
8. First US Navy Ships Sail Through Taiwan Strait Since Trump Inauguration. Two U.S. Navy ships sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait this week in the first such mission since President Donald Trump took office last month, drawing an angry reaction from China, which said the mission increased security risks.
https://gcaptain.com/first-us-navy-ships-sail-through-taiwan-strait-since-trump-inauguration/
9. Safe and green recycling for shipowners: DNV issues guidance to help navigate sustainability regulations. With the Hong Kong Convention (HKC) set to take effect this year, shipowners should ensure compliance with regulatory controls and inspections governing ship recycling for their vessels. DNV’s latest guidance paper ‘Safe and Green Recycling for Ship Owners’ outlines how they can work in line with both existing EU Ship Recycling Regulations (EU SRR) and the HKC, coming into effect on June 26, 2025.
https://shipmanagementinternational.com/safe-and-green-recycling-for-shipowners-dnv-issues-guidance-to-help-navigate-sustainability-regulations/
10. Next Ocean secures investment to scale Vessel Motion Radar offshore safety technology. Dutch company Next Ocean, a pioneer in Vessel Motion Radar technology, has secured Seed Investment from Arches Capital to drive its expansion and enhance maritime safety worldwide. This funding will accelerate Next Ocean’s growth, enabling the company to scale production, expand into new markets, and further develop its predictive radar technology.
https://shipmanagementinternational.com/next-ocean-secures-investment-to-scale-vessel-motion-radar-offshore-safety-technology/