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Ports and Shipping

COSCO Shipping Orders 12 LNG Dual-Fuel 18,000 TEU Container Ships from Jiangnan Shipyard

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.

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Maritime Environment Policy and Law

IMO’s SENSREC Project Launches Three-Part Video Series Highlighting Women’s Role in Ship Recycling

The SENSREC project of the International Maritime Organization has released a series of three parts of the video that demonstrate the various and significant roles played by women in the ship recycling sector. The campaign brings into focus how the industry can be more accommodating, fairer, and more productive through acknowledging and harnessing women’s transferable skills in the maritime workforce.

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Maritime Trade & Economy

Norway Awards 57 Offshore Oil & Gas Licenses in Annual Exploration Round

Norway has issued 57 offshore oil and gas exploration licenses to 19 companies under in its latest annual licensing round and indicated that it will drill more acreage in the next year. This marks an increase in licenses awarded in mature areas, rising from 53 last year, while the total number of companies receiving permits decreased from 20, Energy Minister Terje Aasland announced at a recent energy conference.

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Maritime Trade & Economy

China, Canada Move to Reset Trade Ties as Trump Tariffs Force Strategic Rethink

Canada and China are preparing to revive bilateral trade talks after years of diplomatic and economic strain, as shifting global trade dynamics and renewed US tariffs under President Donald Trump push both countries to reassess their reliance on Washington. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first official visit to Beijing this week has signaled a possible reset in China–Canada trade relations, particularly in key sectors such as energy, agriculture, and raw materials.

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Maritime Safety , Security and Technology

UK Reviews Legal Options to Redirect Seized Russian Shadow Fleet Oil Toward Ukraine Support

The United Kingdom is reportedly examining legal options to use oil seized from vessels linked to Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” to help fund military assistance for Ukraine, according to The Times, citing a UK government source.
Russia has relied on a network of aging tankers, commonly referred to as the shadow fleet,to bypass Western sanctions imposed on its energy sector following the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. British officials are now assessing whether proceeds from sanctioned oil cargoes could be redirected away from Moscow and toward supporting Ukraine’s defense efforts.

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Maritime Environment Policy and Law

South Korea and Japan Discuss CPTPP Accession Bid and Ongoing Seafood Ban

South Korea has reiterated its intention to join the trans-Pacific trade pact during high-level summit talks between President Lee Jae Myung and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, according to an official statement released. The discussions highlighted Seoul’s interest in acceding to the 12-member Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), a major regional free trade agreement.

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Maritime Trade & Economy

Trump Announces 25% Tariff on Countries Trading with Iran amid Ongoing Protests

WASHINGTON– President Donald Trump announced on Monday that any country conducting business with Iran will face a 25% tariff on all trade with the United States, as Washington evaluates its response to Iran’s largest anti-government protests in years.“Effective immediately, any country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a25% tariff on all trade with the United States,” Trump stated on Truth Social, emphasizing the order as “final and conclusive.”

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Ports and Shipping

Nova Marine Carriers Enters New Amsterdam Port Partnership with Bolten and Ership

Nova Marine Carriers, in partnership with Germany’s Aug. Bolten and Spain-based Ership Group, has finalized the acquisition of 100% ownership of VCK Port Logistics along with its port infrastructure at the Port of Amsterdam. The deal was completed through the Dutch subsidiary Maja Stuwadoorsgroep B.V., strengthening the consortium’s operational footprint in one of Europe’s key maritime hubs.

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Maritime Trade & Economy

Li Chenggang: The Skilled Negotiator Shaping U.S.-China Trade Talks

Beijing/Geneva/Washington– Li Chenggang, China’s lead trade negotiator with the U.S., has been at the center of global attention after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described him as “unhinged” for breaking diplomatic norms ahead of a major summit last October. While the remark painted Li as a rebellious junior official, insiders say he is far from loose cannon.

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