On 3 January, a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier detained at Bayuquan Port after failing inspection caught fire nearby and local responders contained it successfully. This incident came as dry bulk freight markets began 2026 on an uninspiring note; analysts noted increased deliveries while remaining cautiously optimistic for 2019.
Regulators have taken several measures against shadow fleets evading oil sanctions over the last week. EU targeted nine Russian-linked firms on December 31, while US OFAC sanctioned 29 Iranian vessels and four Venezuelan tankers; Finland also detained a ship carrying hidden Russian cargo highlighting risks in Baltic and Arctic regions; all this action aims to limit sanctioned oil revenues.
DEME Group expanded its offshore wind capabilities by taking delivery of the hybrid-powered WTIV Norse Wind and signing three major contracts totaling $350 million at Polands BC-Wind project. These developments, announced in December 2025, further solidify DEMEs leadership position as Europe continues to increase demand for sustainable maritime solutions.
Kongsberg announced in December 2025 its plan for demerger in order to spin off Kongsberg Maritime for listing in Q2 2026 and secured contracts for submarine combat and navigation systems for Germany and Norway, coastal defence for Denmark, propellers for Canadian destroyers, LARS for offshore vessels as well as propellers for LARS vessels - reflecting their strategic focus on defence growth amid global security needs.[62 words]
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and Denmark reached agreements that exceeded EUR 100 million to supply Naval Strike Missile Coastal Defence Systems to fortify Baltic and North Sea defenses, and an ORCCA combat system deal on German and Norwegian 212CD submarines, totalling NOK 3.5 billion in value. Furthermore, Kongsberg acquired Zone 5 Technologies of US in order to boost affordable missile production capabilities.
From December 6 to 25, 2025, maritime sanctions escalated with Australia designating 45 Russian-linked vessels; EU member states adding 41 vessels to the shadow fleet ban list; the U.S. seizing Venezuelan oil tankers Centuries and Bella 1, Ukraine striking Qendil tanker and Sweden detaining Russian vessel Adler as examples of behavior-based enforcement to disrupt dark fleet operations worldwide. All these actions signify a change towards behavior-based enforcement to effectively dismantle dark fleet operations worldwide.
Imenco AS group companies are reporting an unprecedented flurry of commercial activity in renewables, defence, and offshore energy sectors. Imenco Future Technologies secured substantial visual systems contracts, expanded in North America, and joined an 18-month US ocean power demonstration. At the same time, their UK subsea and mechanical division experienced enquiry values rise almost 50 percent as it expanded into new markets such as Africa and Middle East.
AXYS has cemented its monitoring position in the offshore renewable energy sector with two new dual-LiDAR floating system deployments, servicing a wind farm in the Baltic Sea, and cooperative efforts driving widespread commercial uptake of floating LiDAR.
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace announced key maritime defence deals in November-December 2025, including a NOK 3.5 billion combat system contract upgrade for German and Norwegian 212CD submarines and Denmark valued in excess of EUR 100 million, plus upgrades for German 212A submarines' navigation systems. All three deals bolster NATO allies capabilities for anti-submarine warfare in coastal approaches.
Over the past month, offshore wind was driven by changing policy signals, auction design debates, and climate diplomacy. In Germany, industry groups called for tenders to be delayed to 2026 as the market adjusted to rising costs and an unsuccessful auction held in 2025; globally, at COP30, there was new analysis showing that existing national targets could still support a tripling of offshore capacity by 2030, even with notable slowdowns occurring within some nations (namely, the U.S.).
More recently, commercial access to the oceans has been changed by incremental moves by carriers back in the direction of the Suez Canal; continuing security risks offshore in the Red and Black Seas; and an increased naval tempo in the Baltic. Carriers, insurers and regulators are adjusting routing, risk premiums and enforcement to try and find an optimum balance between efficient schedule operation and mitigating geo-political and maritime security risk.
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.
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.
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.