1. Columbia Group leader calls on the maritime industry for a reality check on alternative fuels during London International Shipping Week. CEO and President of Columbia Group Mark O’Neil suggested that the ‘runway for widespread adoption of alternative fuels is much longer and much more narrow than anyone anticipated’ and he urged the industry to slow down in its urgency in ensuring all crew members are fully trained.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/09/29/columbia-group-leader-calls-on-the-maritime-industry-for-a-reality-check-on-alternative-fuels-during-london-international-shipping-week/
2. The International Chamber of Shipping opens new office in Singapore. Mr. Ang Wee Keong, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) Chief Executive, commented: “We welcome the International Chamber of Shipping’s decision to establish its Singapore office, joining other key international organisations with a regional base here.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/09/29/the-international-chamber-of-shipping-opens-new-office-in-singapore/
3. The Nautical Institute opens up its Lüddeke Prize for nominations. Captain Lüddeke was not only a master mariner with a distinguished sea-going career but also a globally respected author and legal expert in maritime claims. His deep belief in professional integrity, clarity of practice, and the value of education lives on through this prize. He was passionate about empowering the next generation of maritime professionals – and this award stands as a testament to that mission.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/09/29/the-nautical-institute-opens-up-its-luddeke-prize-for-nominations/
4. Box rates rates sink to lowest levels since Red Sea crisis. Container freight rates are sliding further, with Drewry’s World Container Index (WCI) dropping 8% this week to $1,761 per feu — the fifteenth consecutive weekly decline. The fall is being felt across key trade lanes, with carriers struggling to hold the line despite capacity cuts.
https://splash247.com/box-rates-rates-sink-to-lowest-levels-since-red-sea-crisis/
5. TechnipFMC bags work on Exxon’s seventh Guyana project. Offshore contracting giant TechnipFMC has been awarded a contract to supply subsea production systems for ExxonMobil’s Hammerhead development in Guyana’s Stabroek Block.
https://splash247.com/technipfmc-bags-work-on-exxons-seventh-guyana-project/
6. Global Maritime Forum Warns Industry Risks Leadership Crisis Without Diversity Reform. A comprehensive new report from the Global Maritime Forum reveals how outdated norms and exclusionary practices are preventing the maritime sector from realizing its full leadership potential at a time when the industry faces a projected shortage of 90,000 trained officers by 2026.
https://gcaptain.com/global-maritime-forum-warns-industry-risks-leadership-crisis-without-diversity-reform/
7. LNG Carriers Pile Up Near Egypt Terminals as Demand Craters. Three liquefied natural gas vessels are waiting outside Egypt’s import terminals as scheduling issues and a faster-than-expected seasonal demand decline in the North African nation reduces need for the fuel.
https://gcaptain.com/lng-carriers-pile-up-near-egypt-terminals-as-demand-craters/
8. Port of Oakland Enhances Efficiency with New Digital Dashboards. The Port of Oakland has empowered shippers, truckers, and community members with a suite of digital dashboards on its Oakland Portal website and mobile app. It gives better insight into how the port is operating in real-time.
https://www.seanews.co.uk/ports/port-of-oakland-enhances-efficiency-with-new-digital-dashboards
9. Nuclear Energy is Superior Pathway for Shipowners. This journey begins with shoreside applications – powering ports and producing hydrogen – and moves offshore through floating data centers, synthetic fuel platforms, and desalination systems.
https://www.seanews.co.uk/maritime/nuclear-energy-is-superior-pathway-for-shipowners
10. CMA CGM Gets its 2025 Green Marine Europe Certification. Green Marine Europe represents a groundbreaking environmental certification program specifically designed for the European maritime industry.
https://www.seanews.co.uk/maritime/cma-cgm-gets-its-2025-green-marine-europe-certification