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The Service Operations Vessel (SOV) ECO Liberty is the first plug-in hybrid service vessel in the U.S. offshore wind sector that is capable of sailing partly on battery power.. Photo courtesy Equinor
Hello Club Members! Here is your weekly Dispatch with all the maritime news you need to know to end your week.
Ship Photo of The Week
The ECO Liberty is the first plug-in hybrid Service Operations Vessel (SOV) in the U.S. offshore wind sector that is capable of sailing partly on battery power. Photo courtesy Equinor
Top Stories
Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” Supercharges Maritime Spending
President Trump has just signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a sweeping—and controversial—piece of legislation that includes a $150 billion defense spending package delivering one of the largest maritime investments in recent memory. Here’s some of what’s inside:
$9B Arctic Boost: U.S. Coast Guard Eyes Icebreaker Supremacy
The Coast Guard’s long-delayed icebreaker expansion finally gets funding. The bill allocates $4.3B for Polar Security Cutters and $3.5B for Arctic Security Cutters, plus $1.1B for support infrastructure. The goal: rival Russia’s 40-vessel icebreaker fleet and deepen cooperation with Finnish and Canadian partners.
Historic $24.6B Coast Guard Package Charts Course Through 2029
Beyond the Arctic, the Coast Guard gets a long-term modernization windfall. Funded: Fast Response Cutters, autonomous patrol assets, aviation upgrades, and boot camp overhauls. It’s the most significant investment in Coast Guard readiness in a generation.
$29B for Navy Shipbuilding: Subs, Destroyers, and Unmanned Systems
The Navy walks away with big wins: funding for a second Virginia-class submarine, two more DDGs, and billions for unmanned surface and underwater vessels. Also included: $750M for supplier development, $450M for workforce training, and nearly $500M for advanced shipbuilding technologies.
$600M for Sealift: A Lifeline for Aging Logistics Fleet
A quiet but critical provision delivers $600 million to the National Defense Sealift Fund, targeting the lease or purchase of new sealift vessels. With the Ready Reserve Force aging out, this investment is key to sustaining U.S. surge mobility and logistics. While the sealift fund allows foreign-built vessels under tight restrictions, priority remains on U.S.-built ships—making it a potential windfall for American shipyards.
Bottom Line:
Whether it’s icebreakers, sealift ships, or robot boats, Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” is a full-steam-ahead moment for U.S. maritime power. Now comes the hard part: building the fleet.
Offshore Drilling Gets Green Light Through 2040
The bill also mandates 30 region-wide lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico by 2040, starting December 2025, plus six more in Alaska’s Cook Inlet. Each Gulf sale must offer at least 80 million acres. Royalty caps are rolled back, and commingling is now allowed—unless safety is compromised. Revenue-sharing limits are reset, giving clarity to states and producers alike.
Father-Daughter Rescue on Disney Dream Renews MOB Tech Push
A five-year-old girl fell from the fourth deck of the Disney Dream — and was rescued, thanks to her father and a working man overboard alert system. Experts say most MOB cases go unnoticed for hours and end in tragedy. With AI-enabled systems like Zelim’s ZOE now available, advocates are calling for cruise lines to act — even if regulators haven’t.
GAO: MARAD Has Millions in Shipbuilding Aid — But No Metrics
A new GAO report has found that none of MARAD’s four financial assistance programs have clear performance goals or metrics. Despite nearly $400M in loan guarantees and widespread tax deferrals, officials “cannot determine” whether the aid is helping rebuild the fleet. DOT agrees with the report’s seven recommendations. Meanwhile, Stephen Carmel’s nomination as Maritime Administrator remains in limbo.
Shell Starts Canada’s First LNG Exports, Eyes East Asia
Shell has launched the first cargo from LNG Canada, its Kitimat-based export facility. Once fully operational in 2026, the 14M ton/year plant will make Canada the 8th-largest LNG exporter globally. Shell, which manages 10% of the world’s LNG fleet, expects to add 12M tons of new supply by 2030 — largely targeting Asian demand.
Finland Bans Ship Sewage and Scrubber Waste — A Global First
Finland’s new maritime wastewater rules took effect this week, banning sewage and open-loop scrubber discharges in its Baltic waters. Additional bans on greywater and closed-loop discharges follow in 2029 and 2030. Sweden and Denmark are adopting similar policies. Advocates say it’s a necessary step to protect the Baltic Sea’s fragile ecosystem.
Hybrid Wind Vessel ECO Liberty Christened in New Orleans
Equinor’s ECO Liberty, the first U.S. offshore wind service vessel with hybrid power, has been launched for New York’s Empire Wind project. Built by Edison Chouest with American steel, the 262-foot SOV will house 60 offshore workers and support construction in South Brooklyn. It’s one of seven new U.S.-flagged vessels tied to Empire Wind 1.
Container Losses Rise as Ships Avoid Red Sea
The World Shipping Council reports 576 containers lost at sea in 2024, up from 221 last year, but still well below the 10-year average. A third of those were lost while rounding the stormy Cape of Good Hope, rerouted due to Red Sea threats. A new cargo safety system and mandatory reporting to the IMO begin in 2025–2026.
LNG Boom Creates Waterway Clash on the Gulf Coast
Venture Global is warning that Louisiana’s Calcasieu Ship Channel is nearing capacity. The company is urging regulators to revisit Commonwealth LNG’s waterway plan, citing risks of traffic shutdowns, excessive dredging, and tanker congestion. The two projects would sit directly across from one another, in a waterway already home to six LNG developments — and counting.
Crew Charged After Deadly Tanker Collision Near Singapore
Two crew members from the Hafnia Nile have been charged under Singapore’s Merchant Shipping Act following a fatal collision with the Ceres I, part of Iran’s suspected shadow fleet. One crew member was killed, another injured. The Hafnia Nile was carrying 300,000 barrels of naphtha to Japan. No major spill occurred, but it’s the first known collision involving a shadow fleet tanker.
Captain of NewNew Polar Bear Charged Over Baltic Cable Damage
The captain of the NewNew Polar Bearremains in custody in Hong Kong, charged with criminal damage to the Balticconnector gas pipeline and telecom cables last October. The vessel allegedly dragged anchor through infrastructure linking Finland and Estonia. European officials haven’t determined whether the damage was accidental or deliberate — but the incident has heightened concerns over critical seabed infrastructure.
That’s all for now. Until next time, full steam ahead!
— The gCaptain Team
As always, we’d love to hear your feedback. Email [email protected] with any questions, comments, tips, or concerns. Don’t forget to check out the Club Discord and gCaptain.com for the latest maritime news.
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