1. Lloyd’s Register introduces new class notation for fin stabilisers. For decades, fin stabilisers have been considered a ‘nice to have’ feature rather than an essential component of a ship. However, with the increasing demand for enhanced passenger experiences on modern cruise ships, fin stabilisers have become integral to providing a smooth and enjoyable journey.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/02/10/lloyds-register-introduces-new-class-notation-for-fin-stabilisers/
2. The Suez Canal witnesses the transit of the oil tanker CHRYSALIS on its first journey since last July. It is the vessel’s first transit since it was attacked in the Red Sea last July
Admiral Ossama Rabiee: “The return of the tanker to transit through the Suez Canal is a strong message of reassurance regarding the positive developments towards the return of stability to the Red Sea region”
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/02/10/the-suez-canal-witnesses-the-transit-of-the-oil-tanker-chrysalis-on-its-first-journey-since-last-july/
3. Baltic Exchange enters the Chemical Tanker Market with New Chemical and Agricultural Oil Freight Assessments. Baltic Exchange has launched a new series of chemical and agricultural oil assessments in order to meet the evolving needs of the maritime freight market and bring its renowned expertise and benchmarking data to the chemical and agri-oil shipping sectors.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/02/10/baltic-exchange-enters-the-chemical-tanker-market-with-new-chemical-and-agricultural-oil-freight-assessments/
4. Boa orders semisub heavy lift barge at Dalian. Norway’s Boa has signed a contract with Dalian Shipbuilding Offshore Co, for the construction of up to two semi-submersible heavy lift barges.
The in-house-designed Boabarge 39, first introduced in November 2023, is targeted for delivery in the third quarter of 2026, and the company has secured an optional slot for an additional newbuild.
https://splash247.com/boa-orders-semisub-heavy-lift-barge-at-dalian/
5. Louis Dreyfus Armateurs JV secures French wind farm CTV Deal. Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) and its joint venture partner, Tidal Transit, have been selected by wind turbine maker Siemens Gamesa to provide a crew transfer vessel for the Eoliennes en mer des îles d’Yeu et de Noirmoutier (EMYN) offshore wind farm in France.
https://splash247.com/louis-dreyfus-armateurs-jv-secures-french-wind-farm-ctv-deal/
6. Dorange Becomes Youngest Sailor To Complete Vendee Globe. At 23-years-old, Violette Dorange became the youngest sailor to finish the after completing the gruelling solo round-the-world yacht race on Sunday.
Dorange completed the race in 25th place after 90 days, 22 hours and 37 minutes at sea and overcame the record set in 2016 by the previous youngest-ever finisher Alan Roura, who had completed the 2016-17 race after 105 days.
https://gcaptain.com/dorange-becomes-youngest-sailor-to-complete-vendee-globe/
7. Baltic States Switch To European Power Grid, Ending Russia Ties. The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania completed a switch from Russia’s electricity grid to the EU’s system on Sunday, severing Soviet-era ties amid heightened security after the suspected sabotage of several subsea cables and pipelines.
https://gcaptain.com/baltic-states-switch-to-european-power-grid-ending-russia-ties/
8. Transits through the Panama Canal remain down 10%. “Between September 2024 and January 2025, ship capacity in deadweight tonnes transiting through the Panama Canal was 10% lower than the 2019-22 average,” says Filipe Gouveia, Shipping Analysis Manager at BIMCO. “Although there were no transit restrictions during this period, transits of dry bulk, LNG and, to a lesser extent, tanker ships have not recovered to their historical levels,”
https://shipmanagementinternational.com/transits-through-the-panama-canal-remain-down-10/
9. IMO agrees on a revised action plan to tackle marine plastic litter. The IMO’s Sub-Committee on Pollution Prevention and Response have agreed on the draft 2025 Action Plan to Address Marine Plastic Litter from Ships, with a view to its approval by the Marine Environment Protection Committee at its upcoming session from 7-11 April 2025 (MEPC 83).
https://shipmanagementinternational.com/imo-agrees-on-a-revised-action-plan-to-tackle-marine-plastic-litter/