Seven Days to Tahiti
Chief Engineer Rosa’s Log | 02:14 UTC Pressure drop again in circuit 18B. I’ve tagged the pipe section for review—possible microfracture. Recommend we reroute pressure and monitor overnight. Temp holding at 88°C...
Trade Routes Shift as China Navigates New Tariff Landscape
Amid escalating trade tensions and newly imposed tariffs, China’s export sector is undergoing significant adjustments. While shipments to the United States have declined, alternative trade routes and markets are emerging to sustain China’s export...
Decarbonization Momentum Accelerates Across Sectors in May 2025
Recent developments in May 2025 highlight significant strides in global decarbonization efforts, encompassing policy initiatives, technological advancements, and corporate commitments. Policy and Regulatory Developments The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has reached a pivotal consensus...
2025 Shipbuilding Pulse: Asia Leads While Rivals Regroup
The global shipbuilding industry in 2025 is experiencing significant transformations, driven by technological advancements, geopolitical shifts, and strategic policy initiatives. Asia continues to lead in ship production, while nations like the United States and...
Ships for America Act Summary: A Quick and Detailed Rundown on the Key Provisions
In 2025, the U.S. introduced the SHIPS for America Act: a sweeping 343-page legislative push designed to rebuild the nation’s maritime strength. With declining numbers of U.S.-flagged commercial vessels and growing global reliance on...
Global Ports Welcome a New Class of Green Ships
A transformative shift is underway in maritime transport as ports worldwide begin to accommodate a new generation of eco-friendly vessels. These ships, powered by renewable energy sources such as batteries, wind, and solar, are...
From Drones to Data: Maritime Security Gets Smarter
In recent weeks, maritime security has taken center stage globally, with a series of incidents and strategic developments underscoring the evolving challenges faced by nations and industries alike. From drone attacks on humanitarian vessels...
Lighter Loads Heavier Stakes
A significant shift is underway along the U.S. West Coast as shipping lines respond to new tariffs and weakening demand by deploying lighter vessels and reducing transpacific capacity. The changes, visible in smaller ship...
Sailing Light? Top Strategies to Stay Profitable
Lighter loads may not be permanent, but they are a clear and present reality for shipowners, operators, and cargo planners across major trade lanes. Whether driven by tariff shifts, reduced exports, or seasonal volatility,...
Pressure Mounts at West Coast Ports as Tariffs Hit Home
The West Coast ports of the United States, particularly the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, are experiencing significant disruptions due to recent tariff implementations and shifting global trade dynamics. These developments have...
Empty Containers Pile Up as Trade Imbalance Grows
Ports around the world are facing a growing logistical challenge: a glut of empty shipping containers. The problem, once seen during pandemic-related shutdowns, has returned in a new form—this time driven by falling exports,...
Empty Containers: A Growing Crisis Hidden in Plain Sight
How a Portside Backlog in the U.S. Could Disrupt Global Trade Flows, Inflate Shipping Costs, and Unravel Supply Chain Stability. At first glance, a stack of empty shipping containers sitting idle at U.S. ports...
Global Freight Rates Slide as Trade Realigns in Wake of Tariff Shocks
After months of mounting trade tensions and policy uncertainty, global freight rates are beginning to reflect the shifting reality of international logistics. As of May 1, 2025, Drewry’s latest World Container Index (WCI) shows...
Global Oil Shipping Faces Turbulence Amid Tariffs and Trade Shifts
In April 2025, the global oil shipping industry experienced significant disruptions due to escalating tariffs, shifting trade routes, and geopolitical tensions. These developments have reshaped oil flows, impacting exporters, importers, and shipping companies worldwide....
Ship Sales and Charters Navigate Choppy Waters in 2025
In 2025, the global ship buying and selling market is experiencing significant shifts. Geopolitical tensions, evolving trade policies, and economic uncertainties are influencing ship sales, charters, and valuations. These factors are reshaping strategies for...
10 Maritime Giants and How They Got to the Top
They dominate global trade routes, move millions of containers a year, and set the pace for innovation and sustainability across the shipping world. These maritime giants didn’t just appear overnight — they built reputations...
Potential Supply Chain Headaches in Store for the USA
The American supply chain is no stranger to pressure—but this spring, a series of converging maritime and trade disruptions is setting the stage for a potential nationwide logistics slowdown. From stacked-up ports to triple-digit...
LNG Shipping Accelerates with Global Buildout
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) continues to rise as a defining force in maritime energy. In recent months, a flurry of activity across major ports, shipping lines, and infrastructure projects has placed LNG at the...
The Last Voyage of the Broken Bow
Three men crossed paths over an aging vessel. Each made a choice. Only one knew what he was leaving behind. ShipUniverse Note This post is part of our Wednesday Shiplog Stories series at ShipUniverse...
Surging Investments Signal Maritime Tech Renaissance
Amidst a backdrop of global trade complexity and rapid technological acceleration, the maritime industry is seeing a decisive shift in investment patterns. From AI-powered logistics to autonomous drone technologies, funding rounds and acquisitions in...
Shadow Fleets Create Waves in Global Trade
As regulatory frameworks tighten and sanctions expand in 2025, especially around Russian oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), the operational footprint of shadow vessels has grown. They often sail under flags of convenience, obscure...
U.S. Ports Grapple with Tariff-Induced Disruptions
U.S. ports are at the center of mounting economic pressures as a new wave of tariffs reshapes global trade flows. With sweeping import duties now in effect — including a 10% universal tariff and...
The 5 Fastest-Growing Maritime Sectors in 2025
The maritime industry is entering one of its most dynamic eras in modern history. Driven by urgent decarbonization goals, new global regulations, and rapid technological advances, several high-growth sectors are reshaping how ships are...
IMO’s Net-Zero Framework: A Landmark Step Towards Decarbonizing Global Shipping
In April 2025, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) introduced the Net-Zero Framework, marking a significant milestone in the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the maritime sector. This framework establishes the first-ever...
Smart Technologies Redefine Global Maritime Operations
The shipping world is entering a new digital era in 2025, as advances in smart technology begin to fundamentally reshape how vessels, ports, and logistics networks operate. Recent months have seen the launch of...
Alternative Fuels Face Mixed Sentiment Amid Global Energy Transition
As the maritime industry intensifies efforts to decarbonize, alternative fuels like liquefied natural gas (LNG), wind propulsion, and emerging technologies are under scrutiny. Recent developments highlight both advancements and challenges in adopting these fuels....
Tariff Talks Intensify as U.S. and China Navigate Economic Fallout
The global trade environment is entering a critical phase this week as tariff discussions between the United States and China edge forward under mounting political and economic pressure. After several weeks of escalating measures,...
Tariff Tsunamis: How Smart Shipowners Are Turning a Crisis into Profit
The shipping world is no stranger to volatility, but the current surge in tariffs is unlike anything we’ve seen in decades. Instead of sinking under the pressure, a sharp segment of shipowners is seizing...
Ports Navigate Turbulent Waters Amid Global Disruptions
Shipping ports around the world are entering a critical period of transition in 2025. As global trade dynamics shift under the weight of escalating tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and changing sourcing strategies, major logistics hubs...
How AI Will Impact 20 Key Maritime Careers
The maritime industry is on the cusp of a technological transformation, with artificial intelligence (AI) set to influence everything from navigation and engineering to compliance and logistics. While vessels continue to grow in complexity,...