Royal Caribbean Orders Two More Icon-Class Megaships From Meyer Turku
Tourists leave the Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, the largest cruise ship in the world, after arriving at Costa Maya Cruise Port, in the village town of Mahahual, Quintana Roo state, Mexico, February 6, 2024. REUTERS/Paola Chiomante/File Photo
Royal Caribbean Orders Two More Icon-Class Megaships From Meyer Turku
Mike Schuler
Total Views: 0
April 28, 2026
Royal Caribbean Group is doubling down on the world’s largest cruise ship class, confirming orders with Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku for a sixth and seventh Icon-class vessel to be delivered in 2029 and 2030.
The deal expands one of the cruise sector’s most significant shipbuilding programs and further extends Royal Caribbean’s long-term pipeline of megaship deliveries at a time when major cruise operators continue to lean into larger, more technologically advanced vessels despite
broader uncertainty
in global cruise-shipbuilding capacity.
The order falls under a long-term framework agreement securing Royal Caribbean access to
Korea’s Big Three Race to Build Ammonia-powered Ships
Korea’s Big Three Race to Build Ammonia-powered Ships
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Shipbuilding News
27/04/2026
As environmental regulations driven by the climate crisis put pressure on the entire shipbuilding and shipping industry, the domestic shipbuilding sector is accelerating the development of ships using ammonia, considered a carbon-free fuel.
According to a report published by the Korean Register (KR) on April 23, the shipping sector accounts for approximately 2.9% of global carbon emissions.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted its Initial GHG Reduction Strategy in 2018, setting a goal to halve carbon emissions from shipping by 2050. The European Union (EU) has also been directly imposing the cost of carbon emissions by including the shipping sector in its Emissions Trading System (ETS) starting from 2024.
Amid these changes in the policy environment, shipping companies are treating greenhouse gas reduction and the development of eco-friendly ships as a necessity, not a choice, and are
What happens if your FuelEU pool fails? The execution risk under FuelEU Maritime
What happens if your FuelEU pool fails? The execution risk under FuelEU Maritime
in
International Shipping News
27/04/2026
Today, pooling is widely recognised as a reliable compliance mechanism under FuelEU Maritime. In most commercial discussions, the underlying assumption is that once a pool is agreed, it will be executed. This assumption deserves closer investigation.
In practice, pooling is not a single step but a multi-stage process with dependencies and hard deadlines.
Global maritime climate technology market exceeds NOK 400 billion: Norway among leading suppliers
Global maritime climate technology market exceeds NOK 400 billion: Norway among leading suppliers
in
International Shipping News
27/04/2026
A new report shows that the global market for maritime climate technology has already surpassed NOK 400 billion, highlighting significant opportunities for suppliers worldwide as the shipping industry accelerates its transition to low- and zero-emission solutions.
The report, Maritime Climate Technology – Norwegian Positions in Global Markets, has been developed by Menon Economics and Maritime CleanTech on behalf of Innovation Norway. It provides one of the first comprehensive estimates of the global market and maps the position of Norwegian suppliers within it.
“We have good reason to be proud of the findings in this report. The fact that Norway holds such a significant market share demonstrates the strength of our maritime climate technology capabilities.
2026 Vessel Speed Reduction Season Kicked off on Earth Day
apphire award winning shipping lines recognized at the ceremony; Credit: Adam Ernster
2026 Vessel Speed Reduction Season Kicked off on Earth Day
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April 27, 2026
Industry Leadership Celebrated by Blue Whales and Blue Skies Program
Earth Day marked several important milestones for California’s coast, benefiting both coastal counties and marine life. On April 22, Blue Whales and Blue Skies (BWBS) launched the 2026 voluntary Vessel Speed Reduction (VSR) Season, now along the entire California coast as set forth in California Assembly Bill 14, authored by Assemblymember Gregg Hart and signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom last year.
The season kickoff also featured an in-person gathering near the Port of Oakland for the annual BWBS Awards Ceremony. Industry, public agencies, and nonprofit leaders gathered to recognize shipping lines’ verified efforts in responsible shipping over the course of the 2025 Season.
India open to South Korean firms in vessel flagging, port infra projects
India open to South Korean firms in vessel flagging, port infra projects
in
Port News
27/04/2026
India conveyed to the visiting South Korean delegation, led by President Lee Jae Myung, that their country’s ship owners could flag vessels in India, recruit from New Delhi’s rapidly growing seafarer pool, and contribute to the infrastructure of Maharashtra’s Vadhvan container port, a multipurpose terminal in Bahuda in Odisha, and the Deendayal Port in Gujarat, among others.
The South Korean President concluded his three-day visit to India on Tuesday afternoon, which India’s Ministry of External Affairs termed as one that delivered tangible outcomes in key areas. The highlight of Lee’s visit was India and South Korea announcing the ‘Shared Vision for Operation of Yard Assisted Growth with Efficiency and Scale’, or VOYAGES, agreement.
An agreement was signed between Bharat Earth Movers Limited of India, HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), and HD Hyundai Samho Company Li
LNG Shipping Subdued Last Week
LNG Shipping Subdued Last Week
in
International Shipping News
27/04/2026
LNG
The LNG spot market saw a quiet week, with limited activity particularly at the start of the week. Overall, the market appears relatively balanced between available cargoes and open tonnage, resulting in sideways trading across most routes.
On the BLNG1 Australia–Japan route, rates edged down slightly over the week, declining by $400 to settle at $73,300/day.
The BLNG2 US Gulf–Continent route gained $1,600 week-on-week to close at $104,400/day, supported by improving sentiment in the Atlantic basin as the week progressed.
Similarly, the BLNG3 US Gulf–Japan route strengthened, rising by $1,600 to finish at $116,400/day, reflecting steadier demand towards the end of the week.
In the time charter market, sentiment was mixed. The six-month rate increased by $5,000 to $95,000/day, while the one-year rate edged down by $567 to $80,433/day.
HJ Shipbuilding wins 11,000-TEU orders in Korea, boosts eco-friendly fleet
HJ Shipbuilding wins 11,000-TEU orders in Korea, boosts eco-friendly fleet
in
Shipbuilding News
27/04/2026
HJ Shipbuilding & Construction said on the 27th it won an order from a European shipowner for two 11,000-TEU (1 TEU is one 20-foot container) container ships for 357.2 billion won.
The 11,000-TEU container ship is the largest that can be built at the Yeongdo Shipyard in Busan, based on HJ Shipbuilding & Construction’s self-developed eco-friendly 7,700- to 9,000-TEU container ship. it first won an order for two vessels, and this time secured two additional vessels.
The newly ordered vessels are also eco-friendly container carriers that minimize greenhouse gas emissions and will be equipped with scrubbers, a desulfurization system to meet International Maritime Organization (IMO) environmental rules.
In addition, an alternative maritime power (AMP) system will be installed so the ship can shut down engines that cause air pollution while berthed and receive the necessary electricity
MOL, Partners Earn AiP for Basic Design of an Unmanned Autonomous Rocket Recovery Vessel
MOL, Partners Earn AiP for Basic Design of an Unmanned Autonomous Rocket Recovery Vessel
in
International Shipping News
27/04/2026
Mitsui O.S.K. announced that MOL and its partners (Note 1), Innovative Space Carrier, Inc. (ISC: CEO: Kojiro Hatada) and TSUNEISHI SOLUTIONS TOKYOBAY Co., Ltd.
Scorpio Tankers Inc. Announces New Credit Facility
Announces New Credit Facility
in
International Shipping News
27/04/2026
Scorpio Tankers Inc. announced today that the Company has received a commitment from Bank of America for a credit facility of up to $50 million. The credit facility will be used to finance two 2015 built LR2 product tankers, STI Rose and STI Alexis.