Highlighting their shared commitment to advancing sustainability, innovation, and secure maritime solutions, the governments of Singapore and France announced an enhanced maritime partnership agreement. The move which is designed to advance key initiatives in sustainability and digitalization was announced after French President Emmanuel Macron conducted a two-day visit to the city-state during his tour of Asia at the end of May.
“This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to advancing sustainable, innovative, and secure maritime solutions,” said Eric Banel, Director General for Maritime Affairs, Fisheries and Aquaculture in Singapore. “Both France and Singapore, as global maritime hubs and key worldwide players in innovation and engineering, recognize the strategic importance of strengthening cooperation in port digitalization, green shipping, and maritime safety and security.”
French shipping company CMA CGM will also be joining in with the initiatives. It will participate as it seeks to support fuel innovation and the adoption of digital standards for the industry.
One of the key pilots will focus on supporting the adoption of biomethane. Working to advance maritime decarbonization, the partners will explore the development of a bio-methane supply chain and certification program.
They are planning the first bio-methane bunkering trail which will take place in Singapore. They will develop a certification framework similar to the efforts Singapore undertook to develop the first ammonia bunkering. The port conducted the first ammonia bunkering as a marine fuel in March 2024 and working with CMA CGM will conduct the first for bio-methane.
The French shipping company will also support an initiative between France’s HAROPA Port, the operator for the ports of Le Havre, Rouen, and Paris, and the Port of Marseille-Fos authority to advance digitization. This initiative will focus on port call optimization and maritime digitalization testing ship-to-shore data exchange to automate and streamline port clearance processes. By reducing manual documentation, they believe the industry will improve the timeliness and accuracy of operational data. They will look to support efforts to have internationally recognized data standards.
The government of Panama issued a statement rejecting the claims of critics that its flag registry has failed to take sufficient action to stop vessels supporting the Iranian oil trade by citing its removal of vessels from the registry. As the largest registry by the number of ships, approximately 8,500 vessels, Panama has come under scrutiny for the number of shadow tankers or vessels transporting Iranian oil that are operating under its flag.
The statement details the actions taken by the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP) over the past few years to purge the ranks of its registry. It is a frequent topic that has often drawn criticism. Today, the AMP asserts that it has de-flagged more than 650 ships from its registry since 2019. In the past, it has discussed the changes to rules and efforts to speed up the cancellation process.
It also reports that last October it took a further step empowering the AMP to unilaterally remove vessels from its registry if their owners appear on international sanctions lists. Today, they claim this has resulted in the cancellation of 214 vessels representing more than 12 million tons over the past eight months.
The statement came after long-time critic, the NGO United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), renewed its calls for Panama to increase its efforts to stop its support of the Iranian oil trade. UANI CEO Ambassador Mark Wallace asserted that the registry has a “lack of consistent, proactive enforcement,” which the group says permits Iran to continue to earn billions from the oil trade.
UANI asserted that its analysis shows that one in five vessels suspected of transporting Iranian oil, or 17 percent of the 542 vessels the group has listed, sail under the flag of Panama. The group points to the fact that the U.S. and others continue to list vessels registered in Panama when they announce sanctions.
The AMP has highlighted its efforts over the past few years to increase the oversight of its registry and remove violators. In the past, they noted it was a slow process.
Starting in 2019, the AMP has taken steps such as establishing rules that sanction vessels for deliberately deactivating Long-Rage Identification and Tracking or their AIS signal. Recently, the AMP also established new rules for the reporting of planned ship-to-ship oil transfers, another technique favored by shadow tankers to obscure the source of oil.
Panama was also instrumental in working with other registries to establish information sharing. The program was aimed at notifying other flags when a registry cancels or initiates a sanction or cancellation process. It was designed to crack down on the practice of flag hopping to avoid cancellation or other penalties.
In responding to the critics, the registry highlights that it follows IMO and United Nations standards and maintains close collaboration with the United States. During the Biden administration, the U.S. State Department met with Panama to discuss enforcement and the crackdown on vessels that were violating sanctions.
The Government of Panama notes that the AMP carries out investigations into compliance. It also highlights that the efforts go beyond tankers to also include a focus on illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
India’s Adani Group, which is one of the largest conglomerates and well-known for its port operations, is reportedly under investigation for possible violations of the U.S. sanctions on the Iranian energy industry. President Donald Trump has vowed to crack down on companies in the trade imposing secondary sanctions on anyone trading with Iran for oil and gas.
There has been a lot of attention on India’s energy imports with most of the focus being on its large importation of Russian oil. At times, India has responded to U.S. sanction threats blocking listed shadow tankers while it also has acted to support the insurance market for shadow tankers.
In an exclusive report, The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Adani is now being investigated for a possible role in the importation of Iranian LPG. The newspaper tracks the movements of LPG carriers that it asserts are using well-known evasion tactics including AIS spoofing to disguise lifting and carrying products from Iran.
The Wall Street Journal tracked shipments into the Mundra port in India which is operated by one of the Adani companies. Adani Group and Gujarat State Petroleum Corp highlighted in 2018 the development of the gas terminal in Mundra port. They reported a capacity to handle five million tons of LNG per year and India’s prime minister Narendra Modi traveled to the port to mark the commissioning of two gas pipelines.
Adani responded to The Wall Street Journal denying any “deliberate engagement” to avoid sanctions or illegal trade with Iranian-origin petroleum products. A spokesperson confirmed to the newspaper the company is in the LPG business calling it small but growing for Adani.
The newspaper reports the U.S. Justice Department is investigating the activities of several LPG tankers delivering product to India.
Adani Group is run by Gautam Adani who is the wealthiest person in India and has close ties to Prime Minister Modi. The Wall Street Journal reports his companies are valued at $150 billion.
The company has been accused of other issues in the past but none have been proven. One report said the company was violating Indian securities laws. There have also been unproven allegations of fraud, and bribery.
Adani Group has called the allegations baseless and lies. The Wall Street Journal reports the company hired U.S. lawyers to lobby the U.S. government in hopes of bringing the government investigations to a close.
A Greek ferry diverted Sunday, June 1, from its normal course responding to a distress call. The Hellenic Coast Guard reported the incident but did not supply details on the people who are believed to be migrants or their attempted destination.
The first reports of the unfolding situation came from some of the 200 passengers aboard the interisland ferry Blue Star Xios. They reported that the 14,000 gross ton ferry was stopped early Sunday morning and had put down a boat possibly searching for migrants.
The authorities reported that a distress call came from the sailboat which was located approximately 14 nautical miles off the island of Karpathos in the southeastern Aegean. Reports said the weather conditions were mild with wind considered to be a fresh breeze at around 20 knots.
Built in 2007, the ferry is 141 meters (462 feet) in length. It has limited accommodations carrying a total of 1,700 passengers mostly in seating. It is a RoRo with a garage.
Passengers from the ferry posted videos online showing the sailboat coming alongside packed with people. Reports indicate between 70 and 75 people were taken from the overloaded boat onto the ferry. A Greek coast guard vessel was reportedly standing by during the operation.
Greece has had a tumultuous relationship with the influx of migrants and frequent disputes with Turkey which accuses Greece of driving back the migrants. In the latest development in the struggle over the flow of migrants, prosecutors in Greece last week charged 17 crewmembers from a Hellenic Coast Guard cutter for their involvement in a 2023 incident in which another overcrowded boat overturned. Only about 100 people survived, while 72 bodies were recovered and there were accusations that several hundred went down with the boat. The Coast Guard had been tracking the boat and survivors accused a patrol boat of contributing to the loss of the boat.
International organizations have been critical of the organization of operations in the Eastern Mediterranean to handle the flow of migrants. They have called for reforms to organize and coordinate the rescue efforts.
[By: Portchain Connect]
APM?Terminals Barcelona and APM?Terminals Valencia have joined the Portchain?Connect Network, giving both terminals access to a global berth?alignment platform used by more than 150 terminals worldwide. By sharing schedule data through secure digital handshakes, the two Spanish hubs can provide their carrier customers with earlier, more reliable updates and a single, consistent channel for berth coordination.
For the terminals, Portchain?Connect reduces manual communication, increases berth?plan accuracy, and helps planners boost berth utilisation. For carrier customers, faster alignment supports Just?in?Time port calls, trimming waiting time by around 2 hours per port call and enabling fuel savings of up to 10?percent on certain voyages, while lowering associated CO? emissions.
“Bringing APM Terminals Barcelona and Valencia onto Portchain?Connect gives our customers one trusted view of berth windows across both gateways,” said Julián Fernández, APM Terminals Spanish Gateways Managing Director. “The result is smoother operations for our teams, higher berth efficiency, and a more predictable, sustainable supply chain for shipping lines.”
Portchain Connect
Portchain Connect streamlines the flow of schedule data to shorten the time to align the berthing window. The platform allows terminals and carriers to share and receive quality data and reduce delays in information transmission. Portchain Connect provides users with an easy- to-use overview of all their vessel calls and ensures they can securely transfer berthing information, remove the costs associated with manual non-digitised communication and align on berthing windows to improve schedule reliability. Download the brochure for more information.
“Bringing APM?Terminals Barcelona and Valencia onto Portchain?Connect strengthens our Network in two crucial Mediterranean hubs. Together, we’re improving berth efficiency and cutting emissions for the carriers that call these terminals.” Thor Thorup, CCO & Co-Founder at Portchain
[By: WinGD]
Swiss marine power company WinGD has launched its global service offer, expanding the original parts supply, in-service support and technical advisory it currently delivers during the engine warranty period across the entire vessel lifecycle. Global Service by WinGD will support ship operators by maximising the profit-making potential of their engines and vessels, maintaining optimal efficiency and extending the compliant lifetime of their assets.
Built on a foundation of over 125 years of two-stroke engine design expertise, the service expansion pairs WinGD’s deep-rooted understanding of the vessel energy system with a global service network delivering on-time and on-budget field service, technical support and spare parts. Global Service by WinGD complements the full lifecycle support already offered to global WinGD users through digital optimisation, hybrid energy integration and management, and crew training solutions. WinGD CEO Dominik Schneiter shared: “Our customers are increasingly looking to us to help them navigate the challenges of deep-sea shipping. Today this includes not only the clean energy transition but also supply chain uncertainty, the growing complexity of ship systems, and the need to leverage insights available through digitalisation. Our unique understanding of the main engine means we are the ideal partner to help keep vessels running at optimal performance, ensuring peace of mind for our customers.”
To develop a service offer that fully meets customer expectations, WinGD has partnered with key engine users on service programme pilots. Working directly with vessels in operation, the service business has been designed from the perspective of a global customer prioritising responsiveness and reliability. To achieve this, the service offer will be supported by experienced personnel stationed around the globe, technical support centred in Switzerland and Asia, and spare parts deployed from warehouse locations worldwide.
“With Global Service by WinGD, we’re not just meeting customer expectations — we’re redefining them.” added Benny Hilström, Vice President of Market Development at WinGD. “Ship owners worldwide have come to rely on WinGD not just for high-performance engines, but for unwavering support exactly when and how they need it. This is service on their terms and we’re setting a new standard.”
The service offer will be available to all customers of a WinGD designed engine.
Dutch and Belgian rescue teams responded to a serious collision on the River Scheldt which seriously injured one person and caused two others to fall overboard as a CMA CGM-operated container feeder and an inland fuel barge collided. One person was sent to the hospital while multiple vessels worked to stabilize the barge and prevent it from sinking.
The Dutch fuel barge Beringzee (82 meters / 269 feet) was underway at mid-day on Friday, May 30, between Antwerp and Vlissingen in the Netherlands, when it was being overtaken by Containerships Nord (20,200 dwt / 1,400 TEU). Authorities are still investigating how it occurred, but the barge was run over by the containership causing it to begin taking on water and leaking fuel.
KNRM, the Dutch rescue service, responded and reported that one person was seriously injured in the collision while the captain and one seafarer both ended up in the water. A large-scale rescue operation was launched, including the KNRM lifeboats Jan van Engelenburg and Zeemanshoop, a Coastguard helicopter, a Coastguard aircraft, police boats from both the Netherlands and Belgium, a patrol vessel from Rijkswaterstaat and several tugboats.
The captain of the inland vessel managed to bring the seriously injured passenger to safety from a part of the ship that was quickly taking on water. He also was able to rescue the sailor who had fallen into the water.
“The captain had sustained injuries and swallowed a lot of water during the rescue operation,” reports KNRM. He was taken by boat to shore and treated by an ambulance crew along with the injured sailor.
A Belgian police boat arrived at the scene and the seriously injured person was taken on board along with an ambulance nurse, who was part of the helicopter crew. The nurse was lowered to the police boat by the Coast Guard helicopter and the patient was taken to hospital by helicopter.
Barges were placed alongside the Beringzee to stop it from sinking and the fuel was being transferred to one of the barges. Reports indicated that there was a leak of likely a lightweight diesel fuel. It was expected to evaporate in the river.
The containership sustained only minor damage but was ordered to move into the anchorage to await an inspection. AIS signals show it is back underway as of Monday. It had been traveling from Antwerp to Dunkirk, France at the time of the collision.
Delivered in 2018, Containerships Nord was the first LNG-fueled ship to enter the CMA CGM fleet. The French company had recently completed the acquisition of the Germany-based Containerships and the vessel was the first of four LNG feeders ordered for the European service.
Norwegian shipowner Kristian Jebsen and his family have reached an agreement with will complete their exit from Gearbulk, a company they founded about six decades ago and emerged as a leader in the open hatch segment. Japanese conglomerate Marubeni, which is a large vessel owner and has a 20-year relationship with Gearbulkk, agreed to purchase the remaining shares which will make it a minority investor alongside Japan’s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines.
The Jebsen family embarked on the road of exiting the company in June last year agreeing to sell a 23 percent stake to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines. When the deal was completed in January, the Japanese company had increased its shareholding to 72 percent. Gearbulk had reported in October 2024 that it was negotiating the sale of the additional stake to Marubeni.
The family retained a 28 percent shareholding in Gearbulk which it has now agreed to sell to Marubeni. Gearbulk was established by Kristian Gerhard Jebsen together with three partners in 1968 and today operates the world’s largest fleet of open hatch gantry crane and semi-open jib crane vessels. The value of the transaction with Marubeni was not disclosed.
Japanese trading and investment conglomerate reports that it will aid in providing Gearbulk with its vessel ownership capabilities and global network. It intends to contribute to the sustainable enhancement of Gearbulk’s corporate value to further strengthen and expand its vessel ownership and operation functions. In collaboration with MOL, the company has set goals of also pioneering new business domains in open hatch vessel operations, the ultimate objective of which is to maximize revenue opportunities and drive further growth in its shipping business.
Headquartered in Switzerland, Gearbulk maintains market leadership in open hatch shipping, a specialized segment of the dry bulk sector. Together with its joint venture, G2 Ocean, it owns and operates a fleet of 59 vessels that are purpose-built to carry forest products and other unitized breakbulk cargo like pulp, steel, and aluminum ingots. The design of the vessels also allows for the loading of project cargoes, including wind power equipment and heavy cargo, on deck or hatch covers.
On April 30, Gearbulk released its 2024 Integrated Report and ESG Report indicating that the company managed to sustain focus on financial resilience in a year that was marked by market volatility. It acknowledged that its financial performance during the year was weak due to losses in the open hatch segment despite positive contributions from non-core activities. Being privately owned, the company is not obligated to make its financial statements public.
A Strategic Defence Review (SDR) commissioned by the British government and to be published on June 2 has set a course for a doubling of the United Kingdom’s nuclear attack submarine force.
The Royal Navy is currently deploying its seven-strong fleet of Astute nuclear attack submarines. The sixth boat in the Astute fleet HMS Agamemnon (S123) was launched last October, and the final boat HMS Achilles (S125) is due to enter service in late 2026.
The 12 new AUKUS submarines to replace the Astute class will be built by BAE in Barrow in Furness, where the fabrication facility is being doubled in size so as to be able to turn out a new submarine every 18 months. The AUKUS design will be common to both the Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy, who are scheduled to take at least eight AUKUS submarines, to be built by a joint venture by ASC and BAE at the Osborne Naval Shipyard in South Australia. The first British AUKUS submarine is likely to be delivered in the late 2030s, and the first Australian submarine in the early 2040s.
While the AUKUS design is a long way from being fixed, the submarines are likely to feature both vertical launch tubes for missiles and forward launch tubes for torpedoes. Although nuclear-powered, there is currently no intention for the AUKUS submarines in British service to perform the nuclear deterrence role. With the UK’s nuclear deterrence currently provided solely by the four boats of the Vanguard Class, this role will be taken over by four new Dreadnought Class submarines, the first three of which are already under construction in Barrow – the first of class HMS Dreadnought is likely to come into service in 2032. However, the SDR has recommended that the UK’s nuclear capability be broadened, so it is possible that the vertically-launched missiles on British AUKUS submarines could eventually be armed with nuclear warheads. The Royal Air Force is also likely to be re-equipped with nuclear weapons, a capability dropped in 1998, with F-35A aircraft to be procured for this purpose.
Amongst 62 SDR recommendations, all apparently accepted by the British government, one of the first to be implemented will be a significant increase in explosives, missile, and ammunition manufacturing capability, with four new factories to be commissioned, dispersed across the UK.
The SDR has come in for some criticism because the review has made recommendations based on an assumption that UK defense spending will increase to 3 percent of GDP. The government has not yet specified by when this target pledge will be honored.
Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, has launched SmartTrack, a game-changing premium service that gives customers real-time access to shipment location and condition data, raising the bar for transparency in global air freight. Unveiled at Air Cargo Europe 2025 in Munich, SmartTrack positions Etihad Cargo as the first carrier globally to implement this type of advanced smart tracking solution.
Developed in partnership with Tag-N-Trac, SmartTrack leverages cutting-edge smart label technology to deliver comprehensive end-to-end shipment monitoring. The label is equipped with cellular, GPS, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, capturing real-time data on exact location, temperature and humidity, shock, tilt and light exposure. This makes SmartTrack the ideal solution for mission-critical and condition-sensitive cargo, including pharmaceuticals, electronics and high-value goods.
SmartTrack is designed with a focus on both efficiency and sustainability. The smart label, which can remain active for up to 30 days, features minimal packaging and eliminates the need for return logistics.
SmartTrack will be fully integrated into Etihad Cargo’s digital platform and mobile app and aims to provide customers with a tailored, intuitive interface featuring live maps, milestone updates and access to full sensor data. This digital experience is supported by Etihad Cargo’s centralised control tower, which delivers 24/7 operational oversight and proactive performance monitoring, ensuring transparency and service excellence at every stage of the journey.
“This launch represents a transformation in how we deliver even more peace of mind to our customers,” said Stanislas Brun, Chief Cargo Officer at Etihad Airways. “By combining simplicity, intelligence and automation, we are reinforcing our commitment to smarter, more transparent logistics.”
“When Etihad Airways’ cargo team asked us if we could deliver an air cargo visibility digital solution in three months, we were up for the challenge. We knew we were setting a new standard in cargo visibility with our smart label-based RELATIVITY platform, empowering Etihad with the information they need, when they need it, across the globe,” said Venu Gutlapalli, CEO of Tag-N-Trac.
Following extensive field testing across major global trade lanes, the SmartTrack label has demonstrated consistent, high-accuracy performance across both air and ground transport.
SmartTrack will be available to customers via the Etihad Cargo website and mobile app from October 2025, as part of the airline’s broader digital transformation strategy focused on innovation, operational excellence and exceeding evolving customer expectations.
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