Philippine News

November 18 ------ Greenpeace is calling for an end to the uranium trade between France and Russia after reporting that it has resumed after a nearly three-year hiatus. The group released pictures of containers with spent uranium being loaded onto a cargo ship in the port of Dunkirk and bound for Russia. At least 10 containers of uranium, clearly marked with dangerous cargo symbols, were observed arriving in the port of Dunkirk, France, on Saturday, November 15, and being loa

November 18 ------ Norwegian container tonnage provider MPC Container Ships (MPCC) has entered into contracts with China’s shipbuilder Jiangsu Hantong Ship Heavy Industry for the construction of four 4,500 TEU container vessels. As informed, the contract price per vessel is $58 million and the agreement includes options for two additional units at the same price. The first containership will be delivered in the first half of 2028. Each vessel will operate under a 10-year time

November 17 ------ Last week’s Manila Dialogue demonstrated that the Philippines is far from cowed or isolated in the face of China’s continued bullying in the South China Sea. But it also highlighted the limitations of transparency as a stand-alone strategy against Beijing’s maritime encroachment. The dialogue’s focus on international law has broader relevance for Australia. This annual meeting about the South China Sea is a fairly new addition to the regional conference sce

November 17 ------ The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) is optimistic that transits are gradually returning to normal after the canal witnessed the passage of three mega ships operated by CMA CGM in a span of one week. Just a day after the UN Security Council overwhelmingly voted to renew sanctions against the Yemeni Houthis’ who have been waging attacks on commercial vessels forcing them to avoid the Red Sea, SCA now believes the situation is easing and mega ships are making trans

November 17 ------ Animal advocacy groups have been raising the alarm over the situation aboard livestock carrier Spiridon II, which was stranded off the Turkish coast for weeks due to irregularities in paperwork. 58 cows have already died, with another 140 pregnant cows suffering miscarriages. Shortly after publication of a report on the situation by Sky News, the vessel weighed anchor and got under way. Spiridon II was stranded in the Turkish waters for 24 days, and the aut

November 17 ------ A two-stroke ammonia engine manufactured by German marine engine producer Everllence (formerly known as MAN Energy Solutions) is all but ready to hit the maritime industry market. As disclosed, Everllence’s dual-fuel ME-LGIA (-liquid gas injection ammonia) engine, which was unveiled for the first time at a recent maritime conference, is now prepared for newbuilding orders. As noted, the inaugural unit of the ME-LGIA engine is set to be handed over in the fi

November 16 ------ Despite the existing uncertainty in global regulations for clean shipping, some decarbonization initiatives are setting ambitious targets for transitioning to alternative fuels. One such example is the South Africa-Europe iron ore shipping route, which could feasibly deploy ammonia-fueled bulk carriers as soon as 2029 and scale toward full decarbonization by 2035. These findings are contained in a feasibility study by the Global Maritime Forum, produced in

November 16 ------ Cruising is among the shipping segments pursuing new environmentally sensitive technologies, with exploration and luxury at the forefront. Large cruise ships have adopted LNG, scrubbers, and solar panels, while two newly launched expedition cruise ships will be among the most environmentally advanced to date. The ASENAV shipyard in Valdivia, Chile, seeks to establish its position in the sector with the launch of the new Magellan Discoverer for the sustainab

November 15 ------ In November 2024, BIMCO launched a Ship Recycling Alliance to help accelerate safe and environmentally sound ship recycling of ships through the coordination of the voices of the ship recycling industry and the shipping industry. The alliance was also launched to help facilitate the global implementation of the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships 2009 (HKC) prior to its entering into force in June 202

November 15 ------ The National Retail Federation, an industry trade group, issued its monthly report on expected import volumes through the major U.S. container ports, projecting that volumes will fall below two million TEU per month and continue a steady decline through the first quarter of 2026. With tariff uncertainty continuing but most holiday merchandise already in stores or warehouses, it projects that import cargo volume will see the usual end-of-year slowdown in Nov

November 14 ------ The VLCC market is currently booming and driving shipping’s strongest earnings performance in over two years. Spot earnings are reaching $100,000 per day on key routes, and analysts suggest this surge could reshape tanker deployment strategies well into 2026. Freight markets have surged, powered by a buoyant crude market, resurgent OPEC+ production, and tightening tonnage capacity. For VLCC owners, this marks not just a rally, but a key turning point, and o

November 14 ------ Japanese shipping major Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) has announced plans to issue transition bonds in late November in an effort to accelerate its decarbonization projects. As explained, transition bonds are designed to facilitate the transition to a low-carbon society. This marks the company’s fifth issuance of such bonds, showing the evolving role of this financial instrument in the shipping industry. Specifically, the company’s transition bonds will have a

November 14 ------ Bahrain and Qatar have for the first time established a direct ferry link. Previously, GCC citizens who wished to travel between the two countries had to fly, or take a long land route through Saudi Arabia subject to border controls. The new ferry route, which went into service on November 6, makes the direct transit in 50 minutes. Initially, two return services will run each day, but from this modest start the operator wants to build a higher-volume servic

November 14 ------ Florida-headquartered Disney Cruise Line has held a naming ceremony for its third cruise ship fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG). As disclosed, the 340-meter-long and 39-meter-wide vessel was formally named Disney Destiny at its homeport of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The Wish-class cruise ship, which features a gross tonnage of 144,000 and a capacity to carry up to 4,000 passengers, is the seventh vessel of its kind to be operated by th

November 13 ------ Three months after the Hong Kong Convention (HKC) came into force, the ship recycling industry looks much the same. The yards remain busy, the paperwork continues to grow, and the sweeping reform promised by the Convention has yet to take shape. This slow start is no surprise. The industry had more than a decade to prepare. Many shipowners, some had already aligned with the European Union Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR), which set stricter standards and

November 13 ------ When considering where to register commercial vessels, shipowners have a broad range of options, each with its own advantages. Among European flags, Estonia has emerged as a compelling choice thanks to its cutting-edge digital infrastructure, favorable fiscal policies, and streamlined administrative processes. A Maritime Nation Embracing Digital Transformation Estonia's seafaring traditions stretch back centuries, but its approach to ship registration refle

November 13 ------ The container sector continues to grow, with attention focused on the carriers’ total orderbook, which is more than 10 million TEU is the largest in history. While all the largest carriers continue to grow, two carriers, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company and HMM, hit significant milestones in their strategies recently. MSC has for the first time topped the 7 million TEU capacity mark, making its capacity 50 percent larger than the second largest carrier, M

November 13 ------ ElbOil, a German-based company specializing in the trading, brokering, and hedging of marine fuels, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Chinese companies Shandong Shunli Hydrogen Energy Technology, a subsidiary of Henan Shuncheng Group, and Shanghai Wenji Biotechnology, which is responsible for domestic trade procedures, to support the future production and distribution of green methanol. Starting in early 2027, the initiative is expected to

November 12 ------ The long-running debate over whether the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal, 1989 (BC), and the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009 (HKC), are in conflict has divided policymakers, shipowners, and environmental advocates for years. It is often claimed that Basel’s strict export controls on hazardous waste contradict the HKC’s effort

November 12 ------ As tensions rise amongst the Houthi rebel leadership in Yemen, the Royal Saudi Navy (RSNF)'s Western Fleet has launched Exercise Red Wave 8. From flags on display at the opening ceremony in Jeddah, Djibouti, Jordan, Pakistan, Sudan and the Internationally Recognized Government (IRG) of Yemen are amongst the nations participating in the exercise. The operational focus of the training appears to be countering piracy and the Houthi threat, both in the Red Sea