Beijing, China – In a groundbreaking expedition, Chinese scientists have successfully deployed a manned submersible to explore one of Earth’s last untouched seafloors beneath the Arctic pack ice. The Fendouzhe submersible reached a depth of 5,277 meters to survey the previously uncharted eastern Gakkel Ridge, a volcanic underwater mountain range stretching between Greenland and Siberia.
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Port Hueneme, California – The U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) recently completed cargo loading for Operation Deep Freeze 2026, sending the Dutch-flagged heavy-lift vessel Plantijngracht to McMurdo Station in Antarctica. The decision to charter a foreign-flagged ship has sparked discussions over MSC’s reliance on non-U.S. vessels for critical government missions.
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Islamabad – Pakistan Customs, operating under the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), has taken a major step to ensure transparency in the shipping industry by enforcing shipping charges according to official bank exchange rates.
The move effectively ends the long-standing practice of arbitrary and inflated billing by international shipping lines. According to the FBR, all shipping fees are now calculated strictly based on exchange rates provided by authorized commercial banks, in compliance with State Bank of Pakistan regulations.
According to the Wall street journal, the United States’ intensified crackdown on Venezuelan oil exports has dramatically reshaped global crude supply patterns, sharply reducing shipments and forcing major importers such as China to seek alternative sources. This strategic move comes amid heightened enforcement against sanctioned tankers and follows decisive U.S. actions in Caracas.
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The United States has approved a major initiative to modernize Peru’s main naval base, located just 80 kilometers from the strategically important Port of Chancay. Valued at up to $1.5 billion, the project aims to strengthen security cooperation between Washington and Lima while enhancing Peru’s naval capabilities.
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The world’s first dual-fuel LNG-powered container ship, CMA CGM Tenere, has successfully completed its first class dry dock inspection at COSCO Zhoushan Shipyard, marking a significant milestone in the operation of this new generation of vessels. The ship rejoined commercial service on January 15, deployed on the Asia–Caribbean route, jointly operated by CMA CGM (PEX2) and COSCO (CAX1). This service features a fleet of twelve vessels ranging from 9,000 to 15,000 TEUs, with the 6,000 TEU CMA CGM Baikal being replaced by the Tenere, according to Alphaliner.
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To support research aimed at strengthening the United States’ maritime industrial base, the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland, has installed a new industrial robotic arm at its advanced manufacturing facility. The system, known as the RAMLAB MaxQ robot, will be used to study, test, and validate advanced repair and manufacturing methods, with the goal of identifying the most effective ways to transfer these capabilities to small businesses and industry partners.
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The European Union and the Mercosur bloc of South American nations have formally signed a landmark free trade agreement in Asunción, Paraguay, concluding more than 25 years of complex and often stalled negotiations aimed at deepening commercial ties at a time of rising global protectionism and trade tensions.
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The Pakistan National Shipping Corporation (PNSC) has inaugurated its newly developed West Wharf Workshop, marking a significant step forward in Pakistan’s maritime industry and technical self-sufficiency. The state-of-the-art facility reflects PNSC’s growing industrial capacity and long-term commitment to indigenous ship repair and engineering excellence.
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Red Sea Container Terminals (RSCT) has officially inaugurated Egypt’s first semi-automated container terminal at Sokhna Port on the Gulf of Suez. The milestone project, backed by a 30-year concession agreement with the Egyptian government, reinforces Egypt’s position as a strategic hub for international trade and investment.
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The world’s first legally binding global treaty aimed at protecting marine biodiversity in international waters will enter into force on 17 January 2026, marking a major milestone in ocean governance. Known formally as the Biodiversity beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, the treaty establishes a comprehensive framework for the sustainable use and conservation of marine resources on the high seas.
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India and the European Union are nearing the conclusion of a long-awaited free trade agreement (FTA), with negotiations expected to wrap up later this month, according to India’s Trade Secretary Rajesh Agrawal. If finalized, the deal would become India’s largest trade agreement, as New Delhi looks to diversify export markets amid ongoing U.S. tariff pressures and slower progress in trade talks with Washington.
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Maersk, the Danish shipping giant, has announced plans to resume limited operations through the Red Sea and Suez Canal later this month, ending more than a year of avoiding the critical route due to security concerns linked to Houthi attacks.
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A fire broke out at a container terminal near West Wharf Road at Karachi Port Trust (KPT) on Friday, local media reported.
According to initial details, multiple emergency agencies launched a coordinated operation to control the blaze. Teams from the Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC), Rescue 1122, Karachi Port Trust, and the Pakistan Navy are actively involved in firefighting efforts.
Shanghai: COSCO Shipping Holdings has selected Jiangnan Shipyard for the construction of 12 new 18,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessels, reinforcing its long-term fleet expansion and decarbonization strategy.
The shipbuilding contracts are signed and each ship is estimated to cost around RMB 1.4 billion (USD 200 million). The order is a significant move in the quest by COSCO Shipping to increase its fleet capacity, balance growth and competitive edge in the global container shipping market.
