Kongsberg Maritime has recently announced contracts for propulsion systems for Med Marine tugs, launch and recovery systems for Sea1 Offshore vessels, and propellers for Canadian Navy destroyers, all as part of its planned listing as a separate company in April 2026.
In the month Kongsberg Mesotech announced that they had expanded their global sonar footprint with new shallow water maritime security offerings and broader penetration in Asia Pacific rental fleets, reflecting a growing demand for high resolution multibeam sonar in some defense, offshore, and infrastructure applications.
Of late it would seem that navies and defence ministries have made substantial strides on key carrier, submarine and surface-combatant programmes in the face of regional tensions. NATO completed carrier strike integration; Brazil and Poland picked up the pace on submarine modernisation; and, on the surface side South Korea announced yet another advanced frigate. Handy, uniform regional moves by them tell us of their growing emphasis on deterrence, autonomous systems, and forward naval presence across multiple theatres.
In the past week, maritime emissions were thrust deeper into the spotlight, with regulators and the industry looking to tighten the screws. Shipping traders and industry personnel took a deep-dive into the European Commission's ETS coverage of shipping, while DNV did the same with ammonia's potential as a marine fuel. New research into sulfur-cutting rules sounded the alarm on the ongoing compliance and decarbonisation pressures facing shipowners.
In the last several weeks, U.S. and European regulators moved to tighten enforcement of maritime sanctions on Russian oil exports, blacklisting additional companies, vessels and individuals while regional governments scrubbed each other’s lists. Overall market data showed Russian crude exports reacting negatively to the latest of these measures; an incident involving one of those tankers in the Black Sea underscored how their operational and security risks were rising.
Offshore energy developments ventured apace over the last week as the US Interior Department announced its most sweeping leasing plan to date. Two lease sales were performed in Alaska’s Cook inlet. Meanwhile, given their proximity to Europe, Equinor announced two gas and condensate discoveries it the North Sea which bolsters the regional security of supply.
Recent developments in maritime technology include a new global centre of innovation for low carbon and intelligent ships, major funding and investment into autonomous and digital solutions, venture capital for maritime tech start-ups, awards for clean propulsion technologies and smart, connected ports, and conferences dedicated to these topics, all demonstrating rapid, commercially-driven innovation across the value chain.
Over the past week, freight rates in container shipping markets received another boost from spot general rate increases, uncertainty around Red Sea and Suez Canal return dates and operational disruptions stemming from exposure to weather and labor risks. Carriers and ports are both grappling with capacity deployment, inland bottlenecks, and investments against a quirkily entrenched global demand backdrop.
December 4-6, 2025: Suez Canal was still being overshadowed by CMA CGM’s decision to send its INDAMEX service via Suez and new research containing further analysis of the market impact of carrier returns is still several months away. The Suez Canal Authority continued to reach out to the bigger lines such as Maersk and Hapag Lloyd, but those carriers remained committed to security and schedule reliability rather than any short cuts.
Tanker shipping have recently been operating under intense security pressure and regulatory scrutiny. Bulgaria successfully managed the drift of damaged crude carrier Kairos after drone strike destruction in November; Bangladesh provided repatriation of injured crew. Russia-linked tankers were damaged off Dakar, while Iran released Talara, causing oil trades additional geopolitical risk.
From December 3 to December 5 2025, Ukraine ramped up pressure on Russia’s shadow oil fleet through long range naval drone strikes and fresh intelligence releases. Ukrainian sources noted successful attacks on sanctioned tankers in the Black Sea as well as estimates for more than 1,240 vessels acting as sanctions evasion networks in Russia - raising state, environmental and compliance costs across the rest of world shipping.
No timeline for when Gemini alliance would like to restart transits through Red Sea due to ceasefire developments said Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd on November 26. Nine Filipino seafarers from M/V Eternity C sunk by Houthis on July 17 are set for release after five months held captive by Houthis.
Ukrainian forces targeted Russian shadow fleet tankers in the Black Sea on December 1-3, 2025, damaging vessels and disrupting Russian oil exports. The strikes, involving Kairos and Virat tankers respectively, threaten to affect maritime warfare tactics affecting global energy markets and sanctions enforcement.
The ONE Henry Hudson container ship returned to its berth in Los Angeles on 26 November after firefighting efforts contained a fire that started on 21 November. Cargo inspection and discharge are continuing at this time, with salvage crews identifying containers as fire damaged, water damaged, or undamaged.
Russia's shadow fleet continues on its rapid growth path since 2022; now representing approximately 17% of total tanker capacity. Artificial intelligence analytics, multisensor fusion new detection methodologies to counter evasion methods - AIS spoofing and false flag procedures.
Ukrainian naval drones targeted two sanctioned Russian tankers of the shadow fleet, MT Kairos and MT Virat, as Kyiv aggressively expanded its campaign against Russia's sanctions-evasion shipping network. The two vessels were attacked on November 28-29th 2025.
China State Shipbuilding Corporation continues to dominate world shipbuilding with hydrogen energy partnerships and launching the next generation of a research vessel. CSSC signed a framework agreement with REFIRE on marine fuel cell development, and unveiled new hydrogen equipment products with the aim of achieving commercial mass production by 2027.
Latest achievements include more than PSA International joining Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation as first-ever port operator strategic partner and Jurong Island Terminal capacity increase. Numerous awards were presented to PSA International recognizing its excellence in container terminal operations and sustainability initiatives.
Jan De Nul, the Belgian marine contractor, has recently been awarded significant contracts in Taiwan for the installation of the Formosa 4 offshore wind farm export cables, as well as deploying its mega hopper, Cristobal Colon, for the Rasmale eco-city reclamation project in Maldives. “These contracts showcase how Jan De Nul is expanding their reach in renewable energy and infrastructure development across Asia-Pacific.”
US and China trade officials struck an historic trade deal to suspend port fees to retaliate starting November 10, 2025, to the delight of maritime operators. There appeared some relief after hundreds of massive containers were disrupted spanning months to have reached a turning point recently, as charges could be increased without congressional families.