Japanese shipping industry plans donation
Three of Japan’s leading shipping companies report they have begun discussions to explore building and donating a new training vessel to the country maritime training program operated by the Japan Agency of Maritime Education and Training for Seafarers (JMETS). Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK Line), and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (“K” LINE) are exploring the project with The Japanese Shipowners’ Association.
Japan faces a growing list of challenges to maintain its maritime industry. The current population of mariners is again, and the industry reports challenges in recruiting a new generation of seafarers.
Wind-assisted propulsion enlarges to LR2s with landmark dual-fuel order
In what is believed to be the first application of wind-assisted propulsion combined with a dual-fuel tanker, the UK’s Bar Technologies reports it has confirmed what it calls a landmark order for its WindWing technology to be installed on two new LR2 dual-fuel tankers to be built in China. It follows the recent first installation of its technology on a conventional newbuild LR2 tanker, and the company says it further demonstrates the move of wind-assisted propulsion into the mainstream.
“Fitting WindWings to tankers of this type breaks new ground for wind propulsion,” says John Cooper, CEO of BAR Technologies. “It proves the technology can scale and slot alongside dual-fuel systems as a serious, practical tool for decarbonizing even the most energy-intensive vessel types.
Tanker turns away from Indian refinery
Media reports are highlighting the likely first impact from the European Union’s move last Friday (July 18) to further expand the sanctions on the Russian energy industry. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen had commented that the goal was to continue to increase the pressure on Russia, and now both Bloomberg and Reuters are reporting that at least one tanker has turned away from an Indian refinery included on the new sanctions list.
Beyond the AI hype: what really works in maritime operations
AI has swiftly become one of the most widely discussed yet misunderstood topics in the maritime industry. As digital tools gain traction, many companies now label their products as AI-powered, but not all AI is created equally. The term spans a wide range of capabilities, from traditional machine learning that detects patterns in historical data to generative AI (like ChatGPT), and the emerging class of agentic AI.
This growing interest has brought confusion. Some see AI as a driver of automation and efficiency, while others question what it really means in practice. In truth, AI is not a single technology, but a set of evolving tools shaped by the problems they are built to solve.
In the maritime sector, where operational complexity and data variation are the norm, not every AI solution is fit for purpose. The most effective applications are those designed specifically for the industry, AI tools that understand contracts, port protocols, and voyage economics in maritime terms, which is exactly the approach Marcura has taken.
Karachi port charges reduced 50pc in bid
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, has unveiled a sweeping 50 percent reduction in charges at Karachi Port, targeting a dual goal of lowering trade logistics costs and advancing sustainable shipping practices. This bold initiative forms part of Pakistan’s larger mission to modernize its maritime infrastructure while minimizing environmental impact.
The revised tariff structure eliminates the previously anticipated 5 percent annual fee hike and slashes costs across key port services—including handling, vessel operations, and storage. Officials anticipate these reforms will accelerate port turnaround times, ease congestion, and offer substantial benefits to dry bulk exporters, all while promoting low-emission maritime operations in line with global climate standards.
Chinese icebreaker ‘Xue Long 2’ operating north of Alaska
China’s first home-built polar icebreaker Xue Long 2 has arrived in the Arctic for its summer 2025 research mission. The vessel departed from Shanghai around two weeks ago on July 5. After passing through the Bering Strait and entering the Chukchi Sea, the icebreaker has now turned east, traveling into the Beaufort Sea to the north of Alaska.
The U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker Healy is currently operating around 400 nautical miles further east as part of its annual Arctic patrol. A second Chinese icebreaker, the new polar research vessel Jidi, set sail for the Arctic this past weekend from Qingdao.
Donald’s critical minerals obsession reignites deep-sea mining
The leader of one of the most aggressive seabed mining startups spent years invoking global warming to spark interest in extracting avocado-sized rocks rich in electric-vehicle battery metals from the bottom of the ocean.
“We want to help the world transition away from fossil fuels with the smallest possible climate change and environmental impact,” Gerard Barron, the Australian chief executive officer of a company then known as DeepGreen, told a 2019 meeting of the United Nations-affiliated International Seabed Authority, which for a decade has been debating regulations to allow the mining of untouched, biodiverse deep-sea ecosystems in global waters.
From EU-sanctioned Nayara Energy, oil shippers, traders stay away
Shipowners and oil traders are staying away from Russia-backed Nayara Energy Ltd. as part of the fallout faced by the Indian refiner, after it was singled out in the latest round of European Union sanctions.
At least one oil tanker, the Talara, u-turned and sailed away from Vadinar port on Sunday, according to Bloomberg ship-tracking data. The vessel was meant to pick up a cargo of fuel — likely diesel — from Nayara, shipbrokers said. The booking was cancelled following Friday’s sanction, they said, and the cargo was not loaded.