1. Prodevelop drives port digitalisation in Cyprus through the European aerOS project. Technology company Prodevelop presented today at the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) the results of its participation in the European project aerOS, an initiative under the Horizon Europe programme aimed at creating an intelligent infrastructure to digitalize and automate operations in ports and terminals.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/10/20/prodevelop-drives-port-digitalisation-in-cyprus-through-the-european-aeros-project/
2. Statement from International Chamber of Shipping following conclusion of MEPC ES. The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) comments following the conclusion of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Extraordinary Session of Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting held in London to discuss the Net-Zero Framework for the shipping industry. The framework would have created the first global carbon pricing mechanism for any industrial sector with the aim of delivering a clear path for shipping’s transition to net zero.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/10/20/statement-from-international-chamber-of-shipping-following-conclusion-of-mepc-es/
3. IMO net-zero shipping talks to resume in 2026. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has agreed to adjourn the extraordinary session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), which was convened this week (14 to 17 October 2025) to consider the adoption of draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, including the IMO Net-Zero Framework.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/10/20/imo-net-zero-shipping-talks-to-resume-in-2026/
4. Pacific Basin transfers bulkers and top team to Singapore to limit US port fee exposure. Hong Kong-listed Pacific Basin Shipping is moving half of its bulker fleet to Singapore and reflagging vessels under its Singapore entity to reduce exposure to new US port fees introduced under the USTR Section 301 scheme.
https://splash247.com/pacific-basin-shifting-half-of-bulker-fleet-to-singapore-to-limit-us-port-fee-exposure/
5. Too close to call: IMO’s make-or-break vote to define shipping’s decarbonisation path. The global shipping industry will find out today its green future with one of the most contentious Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meetings drawing to a close this evening at the London headquarters of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the vote on the Net-Zero Framework (NZF) now deemed too close to call.
https://splash247.com/too-close-to-call-imos-make-or-break-vote-to-define-shippings-decarbonisation-path/
6. ABS buys MetaSHIP in digital training push. US classification society ABS has agreed to acquire the MetaSHIP training and simulation platform from Orka Informatics, following in the footsteps of its UK peer Lloyd’s Register, which bought Ocean Technologies Group (OTG) in late 2024. The move marks another major step by a leading class society into immersive digital learning as the industry looks to close the skills gap created by rapid technological change.
https://splash247.com/abs-buys-metaship-in-digital-training-push/
7. China Joins Russia’s Shadow Fleet with First-Ever Dark LNG Ship-to-Ship Transfer. Russia has carried out its first ship-to-ship (STS) transfer of liquefied natural gas (LNG) using so-called “shadow fleet” vessels, teaming up with a Chinese gas carrier. Satellite images and partial AIS data suggest that the transfer took place off the coast of Malaysia on October 18, 2025 between the 170,471-cbm Perle and the 145,000-cbm CCH Gas.
https://gcaptain.com/china-joins-russias-dark-fleet-with-first-ever-lng-ship-to-ship-transfer/
8. The Possible Rise of “Ports of Convenience”- Selena Jones, Founder & CEO, Seaman Solutions.
As the EU’s carbon trading rules extend to shipping, non-EU ports like Tanger Med and Port Said could become “Ports of Convenience,” allowing carriers to cut costs — and potentially shifting emissions and trade away from Europe.
https://www.seanews.co.uk/maritime/the-possible-rise-of-ports-of-convenience-selena-jones-founder-ceo-seaman-solutions
9. Vatn Systems Launches INS for Maritime Navigation in GPS-Denied Areas. Vatn Systems, a leading defense technology company building autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), has launched INStinct. This is a next-generation inertial navigation system (INS) built to deliver precise and resilient maritime navigation in GPS-denied environments at a fraction of the cost of existing systems.
https://www.seanews.co.uk/technology/vatn-systems-launches-ins-for-maritime-navigation-in-gps-denied-areas
10. Elomatic to Design Canada’s Polar Icebreaker.
Measuring approximately 158 metres in length and 28 metres in beam, the vessel will feature more than 40 MW of installed power, specialised laboratories, a moon pool, a helicopter deck and hangar, and capacity for remotely piloted aircraft systems.
https://www.seanews.co.uk/maritime/elomatic-to-design-canada-s-polar-icebreaker