Don’t Miss Your Daily Briefing for the Maritime Industry
Join the leading maritime news network
— trusted by our 108,973 members
The U.S. Navy’s Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary mobile base USS Miguel Keith (ESB-5) completed a five-month Regular Overhaul (ROH) availability at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Yokohama, Japan, April 15, 2025. U.S. Navy Photo
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 U.S. Navy’s Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary mobile base USS Miguel Keith (ESB-5) completed a five-month Regular Overhaul (ROH) availability at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), Yokohama, Japan, April 15, 2025, marking the first time a Japanese shipyard has secured an ROH contract of this scale for a U.S. Navy vessel. U.S. Navy Photo
Top Stories
Trump Strikes Deal with Houthi
President Trump announced this week that the U.S. is halting airstrikes on Yemen’s Houthi rebels, citing a deal—mediated by Oman—under which the Iran-aligned group has pledged to stop targeting U.S. ships in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait. Trump described the agreement bluntly: “They said, ‘Please don’t bomb us anymore,’ and we’re not going to attack your ships.”
But not so fast. Critics point out the ceasefire deal does not require the Houthis to stop attacking Israel in exchange for the U.S. halting military action, as direct clashes between Israel and the Houthis have intensified. The Houthis say their attacks on Israel and Israeli-linked shipping will continue unabated, raising concerns that Red Sea disruptions are far from over.
The deal’s ambiguity—and absence of guarantees—has left shipping wary. Maersk this week said it expects disruptions to continue through year-end as companies await definitive safety assurances before returning. Others warn that even if a ceasefire deal were reached, it could be months before any notable return of ships to the region, given shipping’s hesitancy following the previous Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
Still, freight analysts warn that the return of commercial shipping to Red Sea routes could have whiplash effects on rates. Xeneta estimates that re-routing back through Suez could reduce global TEU-mile demand by 6%—a move that may collapse freight rates inflated by months of Cape of Good Hope detours.
“Any meaningful return to the region would have massive consequences,” said Xeneta’s Peter Sand, who warns that a rate plunge could be compounded by Trump’s new tariffs dampening U.S. import demand.
Bottom line: U.S. bombing may be paused, but smooth sailing? Not quite yet.
Seafarers Stranded
With US-Houthi ceasefire easing some of the regional tensions, seafarers stranded at Yemen’s Houth-held Ras Isa Port may soon find relief. Over 200 crew aboard 15+ ships have been stuck for weeks amid armed confrontations and vessel detentions.
The IMO and ITF have voiced deep concern for crew safety. “The ITF is working urgently to support these crews, but they need more than words; they need safe passage home,” ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton said.
Ice, Ice, Breakers?
Two of America’s Gulf Coast shipbuilding powerhouses—Bollinger Shipyards and Edison Chouest Offshore—have teamed up to fast-track the next generation of Arctic icebreakers. Under the banner of the United Shipbuilding Alliance (USA), the duo says it can take a medium-sized icebreaker design from contract to launch in just 36 months, responding to the Coast Guard’s call for Arctic Security Cutters with commercial speed and savvy.
The plan leans on a proven approach: the commercial build model behind the National Security Multi-Mission Vessel (NSMV) program. Their proposal could slash costs by over 40% and sidestep the delays that have haunted the Polar Security Cutter, now years late and double its original budget.
Together, USA boasts 6,000 workers across 33 shipyards and some serious polar pedigree—four icebreakers built and counting. The message? If Washington wants ships fast, Gulf Coast shipyards are here to help.
Blowback: States Sue Trump Over Wind Energy Freeze
Eighteen states, led by New York Attorney General and Trump arch-nemesis Letitia James, are suing the Trump administration over its freeze on wind energy projects. The legal challenge aims to stop what they call an unlawful and economically damaging halt to one of America’s fastest-growing clean energy sectors.
At stake: over $28 billion in offshore wind investments, including New York’s $5 billion Empire Wind project, which was ordered to stop construction by the feds in April. The project was set to power 500,000 homes and had already secured $3 billion in financing.
The administration says it’s pressing pause over alleged fast-tracking by the Biden White House, but states say the freeze threatens thousands of jobs and undermines long-term energy goals.
The lawsuit seeks an injunction to get the turbines spinning again. As Governor Hochul put it: “This order sows chaos.”
When Training Goes Up in Smoke
A deadly 2023 fire aboard the Grande Costa D’Avorio in Port Newark has spotlighted a national gap in shipboard firefighter training. The NTSB’s newly released report cites a lack of preparedness as a major factor in the deaths of two Newark firefighters—and warns it’s not an isolated issue.
The report details how most responders had never trained on a large vessel. Newark’s fireboats? Operated by crews without tactical shipboard training. The NTSB says that even now, training remains limited to a four-hour awareness class and vessel tours—far from adequate.
The fire, traced to an overheated (and unauthorized) Jeep used to shove non-running cars onto the ship, spread rapidly. Firefighters entered after CO2 was deployed, reintroducing oxygen and worsening conditions. Six others were injured, and the ship racked up $23 million in damage.
The FDNY and Port of Virginia were held up as models—Newark, not so much.
Another Super Hornet Bites the Sea
The USS Harry S. Truman has lost its second F/A-18 Super Hornet in just over a week, this time due to a botched landing in the Red Sea. The pilot and weapons officer ejected safely and were picked up by rescue chopper with only minor injuries, according to CNN.
News of the mishap came shortly after President Trump announced a ceasefire with Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The carrier is part of Operation Rough Rider, which has targeted Houthi sites more than 800 times since March.
The previous Super Hornet took a surprise swim after being accidentally launched from the hangar—tow tractor included. That’s $120 million worth of jets now residing at the bottom of the Red Sea.
Tariffs Take a Toll: Imports Headed South
After a hot 18-month streak, U.S. container imports are cooling off—fast. The latest Global Port Tracker shows import volumes poised for their first year-over-year drop since 2023, with June forecasted to plunge over 20%. Why? President Trump’s new tariffs are starting to bite.
With a 145% tariff on Chinese goods and other duties in place, importers are hitting the brakes. May volumes are expected to fall nearly 13%, reversing earlier growth forecasts. Retailers had front-loaded shipments ahead of the April tariff rollout, helping April hit 2.4 million TEUs—up 9.1% year-over-year. But the party appears over.
Maersk this week cut its 2025 global transport forecast to a range of –1% to +4%, citing rising geopolitical uncertainty and a U.S.-China trade war that’s already slashed transpacific volumes by as much as 40%.
Industry pros say the worst may show up in May’s data. For now, the outlook is clear: higher costs, lower volumes, and choppier seas ahead for the supply chain.
Trump Strikes Concepts of a Deal with UK
Global leaders trying to decode Trump’s trade tactics may find hints in his first deal: a framework agreement with the UK. Announced with fanfare in the Oval Office, the pact lacks final terms but checks the box for political progress. Tariffs on British cars will drop to 10% (from 27.5%) for 100,000 vehicles, and metals tariffs go to zero—though the U.S. keeps its 10% baseline for now.
But analysts say this may be less a model than a one-off concept. Unlike Japan or South Korea, the UK doesn’t run a trade surplus with the U.S., making the deal easier to strike. Trump’s willingness to deal without final details, and selectively trim levies, suggests flexibility.
Korea’s Robot Shipbuilders Take Shape
South Korea’s HD Hyundai is suiting up for the future—literally—with plans to deploy humanoid welding robots at its shipyards. In a new partnership with AI firm Persona AI and robotics toolmaker Vazil, Hyundai’s shipbuilding arm and HD Hyundai Robotics are developing bots that can handle the sparks and heat of shipyard welding.
The project marks Korea’s first official welding humanoid initiative, with a prototype is due by late 2026 followed by shipyard testing and commercialization in 2027.
These aren’t your average assembly-line bots. They’re designed to observe, reason, and make decisions—perfect for high-risk trades where skilled labor is increasingly scarce. Persona AI’s CEO called shipyards “one of the largest real-world proving grounds” for rugged humanoids.
If successful, this humanoid crew could reshape not just shipbuilding, but the future of heavy industry.
Britain Torpedoes Russia’s Shadow Fleet
The UK just dropped anchor on Russia’s secret shipping scheme, unveiling its biggest-ever sanctions package aimed at up to 100 tankers moving $24 billion in oil since early 2024. Prime Minister Keir Starmer made the splashy announcement at the Joint Expeditionary Force summit in Oslo, warning that these “shadow fleet” ships pose a major threat to European maritime security—and subsea infrastructure carrying 99% of the world’s data and energy.
The blacklisted vessels often sail with dodgy paperwork, no safety systems, and a knack for “going dark” by turning off tracking devices. Some have even reportedly damaged critical infrastructure through reckless navigation.
To keep tabs, the UK-led Nordic Warden system is now monitoring 22 maritime hotspots, from the English Channel to the Baltic Sea.
The UK vows to starve Putin’s war chest by sinking the shadow fleet’s operations—not literally (yet), but financially. It’s the latest salvo in a growing maritime battle on the high seas.
Wärtsilä’s Carbon-Catching Tech Sets Sail
Wärtsilä has thrown maritime decarbonization a lifeline with the launch of its ‘game-changing’ commercial carbon capture system (CCS), now commercially available and operational aboard the ethylene carrier Clipper Eris. The tech promises cuts to CO? emissions by up to 70%, capturing exhaust from all fuel types—HFO, methanol, LNG, you name it.
Tested since 2019 and now proven at sea, the system can capture 10 tonnes of CO? daily and costs around €50–70 per ton, all-in. It works alongside existing scrubbers and filters, making it a flexible plug-in for fleets still running on fossil fuels.
Wärtsilä calls it a game-changer. Solvang ASA, the system’s first commercial adopter, calls it just the beginning—they’re already prepping their newbuilds to be CCS-ready. With net-zero deadlines looming and alternative fuels still finding their sea legs, carbon capture may be shipping’s fastest route to climate compliance—no greenwashing required.
Pier Pressure: Pentagon Report Flag Major s Flaws in Gaza Pier Mission
The Pentagon’s Inspector General has issued a stinging review of the military’s Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) capabilities following last year’s humanitarian mission to Gaza. The operation—code-named Neptune Solace—was announced during President Biden’s 2024 State of the Union and aimed to deliver aid via a temporary pier built off Gaza’s coast.
The DoD report cites $31 million in equipment damage and 62 U.S. personnel injuries, while spotlighting readiness issues within Army and Navy watercraft units. Key problems included equipment shortfalls, training gaps, and major interoperability hiccups between Army and Navy systems—issues that reportedly hampered operations and led to preventable damage.
The report recommends a sweeping review of watercraft units and improvements in training, communications, and maintenance. Those recommendations remain open as the DoD works on fixes.
The takeaway? While the aid got through, the effort exposed serious cracks in U.S. over-the-shore logistics—a problem the Pentagon can’t afford to leave unpatched.
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.
2025 Unofficial Networks LLC
Tags:
Subscribe for Daily Maritime Insights
Sign up for gCaptain’s newsletter and never miss an update
Global container shipping rates have seen a dramatic upturn, with Drewry’s World Container Index climbing 41% this week to reach $3,527 per 40ft container. This increase stems from President Trump’s...
A cargo ship that was abandoned in the middle of the Pacific Ocean after catching fire Tuesday was carrying cars from several Chinese automakers, according to people familiar with the matter.
The U.S. Coast Guard is coordinating response efforts after a fire broke out aboard the vehicle carrier Morning Midas approximately 300 miles south of Adak, Alaska. The response began when...
19 hours ago
Total Views: 10857
Get The Industry’s Go-To News
Subscribe to gCaptain Daily and stay informed with the latest global maritime and offshore news
— just like 108,973 professionals
Secure Your Spot
on the gCaptain Crew
Stay informed with the latest maritime and offshore news, delivered daily straight to your inbox
— trusted by our 108,973 members
Your Gateway to the Maritime World!
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Join The Club
