Key Insurance Rates Double Amid Rising Conflict Zones
According to multiple industry sources, war-risk insurance premiums for ships transiting the Red Sea have more than doubled in just days following recent Houthi attacks, including hits on the Magic Seas and Eternity C. Premiums...
Zero-Emission Tugboats Made Simple: 2025 Update
Once considered too slow or underpowered for demanding port work, zero-emission tugboats have entered a new era. Ports from Los Angeles to Antwerp are now deploying all-electric or hydrogen-electric tugs that match traditional diesel...
Tariff Turbulence as U.S. Trade Shifts Reshape Global Shipping Routes
The latest wave of U.S. tariff announcements, targeting Chinese imports, foreign port cranes, and commodity shipments from countries like Brazil and the Philippines is triggering rapid realignment in global shipping operations. As manufacturing pivots...
Red Sea Crisis Deepens as “Eternity C” Cargo Ship Sinks, Six Rescued and 15 Unaccounted For
Out of 25 crew and security personnel on board the Eternity C, six were rescued alive after more than a day in the water, while four have been confirmed dead and at least 15...
15 Things Shipowners Need to Know About Underwater Maintenance (But Usually Don’t)
What’s quietly costing shipowners millions in fuel, dragging down CII scores, and slipping past routine inspections? It’s not a failed engine or a missed charter, it’s what’s growing beneath the waterline. From barnacles to...
IMO Chief Pushes Diplomacy as Red Sea Attacks Surge
After months of quiet, deadly attacks on commercial ships have erupted in the Red Sea, prompting the IMO Secretary‑General to urge international diplomacy. On July 6–8, 2025, the Magic Seas and Eternity C, both Liberian‑flagged and...
India Detains MSC Vessel in Major Maritime Legal Dispute
India’s Kerala state government has taken decisive maritime legal action following the sinking of the MSC Elsa 3 container ship, escalating efforts to recover over $1 billion in environmental and economic damages. The Kerala High...
Rust and Riches
A forgotten ship. A hidden room. And some silly words that could change everything. Ship Universe Note This post is part of our Wednesday ShipLog Stories series at Ship Universe We spotlight the human...
South Africa Moves to Safeguard Ports by Classifying Key Workers as Essential
South Africa’s Department of Labour has issued a directive designating certain port operations, including navigation, pilotage, towage, berthing, and hazardous cargo handling, as essential services. This step effectively prohibits strike actions by those Transnet...
Calm Bunker Rates Mask Looming Regulatory Fuel Costs
Daily bunker rates have remained relatively stable in recent days. However, the outlook is shifting as global regulatory changes, especially in the European Union are poised to reshape the cost dynamics of marine fuel...
UK Targets Shadow Fleet Vessels to Enforce Sanctions and Halt Evasion
UK maritime authorities are ramping up pressure against the so-called “shadow fleet”, aging and under‑insured tankers suspected of transporting Russian oil to evade Western sanctions. Between October and June, they issued 343 challenges, over...
Japan to Launch World-First Deep-Sea Rare-Earth Test Mining Operation
Japan is preparing to conduct the world’s first-ever test extraction of rare-earth–rich seabed mud in early 2026. The pilot program, located roughly 1,900 km southeast of Tokyo near Minamitori Island, aims to retrieve strategic minerals...
Seafarers Killed in Houthi Attack Revives Red Sea Risk
A fresh wave of attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea has resumed after months of calm. In the latest incident, the Liberian‑flagged, Greek‑operated bulk carrier Eternity C was targeted near Yemen, resulting in...
EEXI vs. CII Made Simple: The Easy 2025 Breakdown for Shipowners
Two of the most important decarbonization rules in global shipping, EEXI and CII, are creating confusion across the industry. Many shipowners are unsure how the rules differ or what actions are required to stay...
Trump’s August 1 Tariff Shock Targets Key Nations
In a sharp turn in U.S. trade policy, direct letters to global partners now threaten tariff surcharges of up to 40% unless new trade deals are finalized by August 1. The letters frame the...
Operation Black Flag: Israel Strikes Three Houthi‑Controlled Yemeni Ports
Israel launched a series of coordinated airstrikes on three Houthi-controlled Yemeni ports; Hodeidah, Ras Isa, and Salif, alongside a power plant in response to a recent militant attack on the bulk carrier Magic Seas. This...
U.S. Coast Guard Receives $8.6 Billion to Accelerate Arctic Icebreaker Fleet Expansion
A newly approved federal package has allocated $8.6 billion to accelerate the U.S. Coast Guard’s Arctic icebreaker capabilities. This investment marks a major strategic shift to counter growing polar influence from countries like Russia...
12 Ports That Are Winning the Post-Pandemic Trade Race
The chaos of the pandemic exposed which ports could adapt, invest, and lead under pressure. In 2025, a handful of seaports aren’t just back to normal, they’re setting the new global standard with record...
Deadly Ferry Sinking Off Bali Leaves Dozens Missing
A routine overnight crossing turned deadly off the coast of Bali this week, as a roll-on/roll-off passenger ferry capsized in the narrow strait between Java and Bali. The vessel, identified as KMP Tunu Pratama...
Armed Assault on Bulk Carrier Raises Tensions in Red Sea Shipping Lanes
An international merchant vessel transiting the Red Sea came under coordinated attack on July 6, 2025, marking one of the most serious maritime security incidents in the region this year. The Magic Seas, a...
Which Maritime Sectors Feel Like They Are Drowning in Regulation… and Which ones Don’t?
To some in the industry, it may feel like everyone’s drowning in regulation, no matter the vessel or mission. Whether you’re pushing containers across oceans, navigating cruise compliance, or managing a naval fleet, the...
Latest Maritime Regulation Updates Across Key Sectors
New regulatory frameworks are reshaping the future of maritime operations. From decarbonization initiatives to cybersecurity upgrades and shore power mandates, the latest developments span commercial fleets, ports, cruise terminals, naval systems, and offshore support...
Decarbonization Pushes Forward as Maritime Sector Hits Milestones and Faces Realities
Momentum around decarbonization has surged in recent weeks, with multiple breakthroughs, commitments, and growing urgency shaping the path forward. From ammonia-fueled charter deals to full carbon capture value chains and expanding fuel infrastructure, the...
Offshore Wind Gathers Momentum with Global Projects and Policy Wins
Offshore energy is riding a new wave of development, investment, and policy support across the globe. From large-scale port upgrades in Northern Ireland to innovative data-integrated offshore wind leases in Texas, recent weeks have...
Deck 7: Ignition Point
Aboard a RoRo ship in the mid-Atlantic, a single electric vehicle ignites deep in the cargo deck, triggering a race against time as the crew battles a spreading fire that no standard system can...
Maritime Mergers and Acquisitions: 10 Recent Deals Reshaping the Industry
Major players are expanding their reach through high-impact mergers and acquisitions. From shipyard consolidations and strategic port positioning to tech-driven takeovers, a wave of deals that could reshape the industry’s competitive landscape. Below are...
June Wrap-up: Key Maritime Autonomy Developments
The maritime world is undergoing a rapid and sometimes controversial shift and the last month has made that clearer than ever. From NATO’s deployment of uncrewed patrol vessels in contested waters to China’s multi-port...
Full Steam Ahead: Inside the Latest Global Shipbuilding Developments
Shipbuilding momentum continues across naval, commercial, and industrial sectors as global demand evolves. Governments are investing in new warships and polar research vessels, commercial carriers are securing next-generation container ships and LNG tankers, and...
12 Unseen Costs in Maritime Logistics That Are Quietly Growing
Global maritime logistics has always run on a complex mix of visible and hidden expenses, but in 2025, the balance is shifting. While fuel prices and freight rates dominate headlines, a growing number of...
Spot Ship: Redefining Maritime Intelligence Through Smart Automation
Today, on Ship Universe we spotlight the company, Spot Ship. In a global industry where speed, precision, and information access can mean the difference between profit and loss, Spot Ship offers a smarter way...