CSSC’s rotor sail aims to drive global green ship tech
CSSC’s rotor sail aims to drive global green ship tech
in
International Shipping News
20/04/2026
Engineers at China State Shipbuilding Corp, the world’s largest shipbuilder, have developed one of the world’s largest models of rotor sail, aiming to tap the burgeoning global market of green ships.
The rotor sail system, which is yet to be named, has been designed at the Luoyang Ship Material Research Institute, and has undergone a series of ground-based, full-system tests.
It marks a major breakthrough in China’s efforts to ensure a leading position in green ship technology, and will facilitate the global shipping industry’s endeavor to reduce carbon emission.
The Luoyang institute is part of CSSC and specializes in shipbuilding materials and techniques. Engineers at the institute used their expertise in green composite materials and wind turbine blades when designing the rotor sail.
With a maximum rotating speed of 180 revolutions per minute, each of the new rotor sails is able to produ
Spring port strikes cast shadow over Russian oil exports
Spring port strikes cast shadow over Russian oil exports
in
International Shipping News
20/04/2026
March and April saw significant disruptions in Russian oil infrastructure due to Ukrainian aerial strikes in the Baltic and Black Sea.
As a result, total seaborne crude/condensate exports fell by 800kbd from March 23 (start of the attacks) until April 15, observed on a 28-day moving average basis. This is 400kbd below the 2016-2025 seasonal average.
Seaborne clean refined product exports declined by 400kbd in the same comparison period, while dirty petroleum exports declined by 200kbd.
This is aligned with ongoing strikes on Russian refineries, setting the stage for persistent export constraints.
Production capacity underpins diesel weakness
Russian seaborne diesel/gasoil exports have been on a downward trend against the seasonal average since the start of this year (see below), averaging 200kbd below year-ago levels in the first three months of 2026.
Continuous exhaustion of the refining
Shipping Analytics in Europe: Emissions, Market Intelligence, and Port Efficiency
Shipping Analytics in Europe: Emissions, Market Intelligence, and Port Efficiency
in
International Shipping News
20/04/2026
Shipping analytics, in practice, is about turning operational and market data into decisions that improve voyage economics, reduce risk, and support compliance. For commercial and operations teams, this means understanding what is happening on the water and in ports, and how those conditions affect costs, schedules, and competitiveness.
Europe stands out as one of the most analytics-intensive shipping regions globally. High regulatory pressure, tight margins, congested ports, and accelerating decarbonisation requirements make intuition alone insufficient.
Hormuz shipping chaos returns as Iran reverses transit reopening
Hormuz shipping chaos returns as Iran reverses transit reopening
in
International Shipping News
20/04/2026
The brief glimmer of hope for a resumption of normal energy transit through the Strait of Hormuz has been abruptly extinguished, as Iran once again reimposed strict controls over the critical maritime chokepoint just hours after declaring it open.
A reversal of fortunes
The strategic waterway, which carries approximately one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies, saw a wave of tankers attempt to transit on Saturday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi’s Friday announcement that the strait was “completely open” in line with a ceasefire in Lebanon had triggered the attempted crossings.
However, the optimism proved short-lived.
Shipping data and maritime security reports confirmed that Iranian gunboats intercepted and fired upon several commercial vessels, including at least one container ship and a tanker, without prior radio challenge.
The sudden pivot came after
India’s Kandla port eyes mid-2028 start for eMethanol bunkering
India’s Kandla port eyes mid-2028 start for eMethanol bunkering
in
Port News
20/04/2026
India’s Deendayal Port Authority is positioning Kandla as a competitive bunkering hub by mid-2028, targeting a cost of $700-$750/mt for Renewable Fuel of Non-Biological Origin-compliant eMethanol, significantly below current prices, according to DPA chairman Sushil Kumar Singh.
DPA has firmed up plans with Assam Petro-chemicals and Thermax to produce renewable methanol at Kandla, while simultaneously working with Solar Energy Corp. of India (SECI) for a separate procurement tender to source domestic eMethanol, Singh said late April 3.
“Kandla falls more or less midway between Rotterdam and Singapore,” Singh told Platts, part of S&P Global Energy. “Kandla will become one of the potential points where the ships will start seeking refueling of their tanks.”
The SECI tender aims to secure 500,000 metric tons/year of RFNBO-compliant methanol in two years, Singh said, adding Kandla will offer competitive
Indian Govt responds to West Asia shipping insurance spike with funding pool
Indian Govt responds to West Asia shipping insurance spike with funding pool
in
International Shipping News
20/04/2026
As the West Asia war has led to a near 1000 per cent hike in shipping insurance, union cabinet on Saturday approved the creation of a domestic insurance pool — ‘Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool’ (BMI pool) — with a sovereign guarantee of Rs.12,980 crores to facilitate continuous maritime insurance coverage.
According to information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the pool ensures that Indian trade continues to have access to affordable insurance for vessels carrying cargo from any international origin to Indian ports and vice-versa, even when transiting volatile maritime corridors.
Indian industry has faced the brunt of high insurance costs since the war began on February 28.
The pool would cover all maritime risks like Hull and Machinery, Cargo, P&I and War risk, a statement by the cabinet said.
The policies will be issued by insurers that are Pool members,
U.S. shipyards deploy AI robots to rebuild industry and close labor gap
shipyards deploy AI robots to rebuild industry and close labor gap
in
Shipbuilding News
20/04/2026
U.S. shipyards are accelerating process automation to improve productivity. They aim to solve the labor problem, cited as the biggest obstacle to rebuilding shipbuilding, by introducing artificial intelligence (AI) and robots.
According to Business Insider and other foreign media on the 17th, Huntington Ingalls, the largest U.S.
Ceasefire At Risk After US Seizes Iranian Ship, Iran Shuns Peace Talks
Marines from the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA 7) rappel onto M/V Touska. (Source: US Central Command)
Ceasefire At Risk After US Seizes Iranian Ship, Iran Shuns Peace Talks
Reuters
Total Views: 0
April 20, 2026
By Parisa Hafezi and Hatem Maher
DUBAI, April 20 (Reuters) – A ceasefire between the
United States and Iran
appeared in jeopardy on Monday after the U.S. said it had seized an Iranian cargo ship that tried to run its blockade and Tehran vowed to retaliate, refusing for now to join new peace talks.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Washington has shown it was “not serious” about pursuing the
diplomatic process
and Tehran would not change its clearly stated demands, adding that it did not believe in deadlines or ultimatums when safeguarding national interests.
The U.S.
Oceans Apart, One Voyage: IntegratingCollaborative Online InternationalLearning into Maritime Education.
Oceans Apart, One Voyage: IntegratingCollaborative Online InternationalLearning into Maritime Education.
Sponsored
Total Views: 52
April 20, 2026
Dr Adele Merlino Ph.D | Anthony Rogone MS | Captain Abhinandan Prasad
Maritime education today stands at the intersection of tradition, regulation, and rapidly evolving global expectations. As the maritime industry continues to operate as the backbone of international trade, transporting nearly 90% of global goods, the competence of maritime professionals must extend beyond technical proficiency. It must not only encompass regulatory literacy and environmental stewardship, but also the ability to operate effectively in multicultural environments.
This article examines a COIL-based collaboration between
SUNY Maritime College
in the United States and Lyceum-Northwestern University in the Philippines.
Cruise Ships Seized Brief Hormuz Reopening To Flee Persian Gulf
A German tourist stands on the cruise ship ‘Mein Schiff 2’ of TUI Cruises after it was docked at dawn in Malaga port, becoming the first cruise ship carrying tourists to arrive on Spain’s mainland since June 2020, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, in Malaga, southern Spain, June 15, 2021. REUTERS/Jon Nazca
Cruise Ships Seized Brief Hormuz Reopening To Flee Persian Gulf
Bloomberg
Total Views: 0
April 19, 2026
By Laura Alviž and Julian Lee
Apr 19, 2026, 11:31 AM (Bloomberg) –Several cruise ships trapped in the Persian Gulf as a result of the Iran war raced to exit through the
Strait of Hormuz over the weekend
, taking advantage of a brief reopening of the passageway.
Travel operator TUI Cruises said on Sunday that two of its vessels — Mein Schiff 4 and Mein Schiff 5 — had “successfully passed” the strait by early afternoon.
“The passage took place based on the relevant
coordination and approvals
from the authorities, in a controlled manner and with careful consideration o