From December 11-13, 2025, the United States ramped up its campaign against the global shadow fleet by seizing the tanker Skipper off Venezuela with commando raids, while Ukraine and the EU keep up the pressure against dark shipping associated with Russia. The assaults highlighted deteriorating legal, operational and market conditions for owners looking to protect vessels involved in shadowy oil trades.
In past week the impress of bulker news has been writ with the growth of vessel numbers, the lowering of ordering and accenting of the safety and security, say analysts. Less scrapping, the dwindling out now of newbuild contracts and the casualty findings of INTERCARGO as owners try to find the right touches for altering mix and risk and so for 2025 and beyond.
Recent deals of shipbuilder Imabari that demonstrate the company’s strength in Japan’s changing shipbuilding landscape include two fuel efficient bulk carriers that were delivered, support of an industry-wide plan to double Japan’s shipbuilding capacity through investment in automation and R&D, and investment in design partnerships for next generation low and zero carbon vessels.
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.
Wartsila secured repeat orders for hybrid propulsion systems from Aasen Shipping, and expanded its training footprint in the maritime sector with Sinocrew in China. Its technology group also identified key trends for 2026 as: decarbonization, digitalization and lifecycle optimization - now key processes across global shipping.
In November 2022, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha reinforced its net zero carbon emissions by 2025 commitment by developing ammonia vessels, issuing transition bonds, and rejoining 2020. The company delivered its fourth PCTC powered by LNG dual fuel engines and set ammonia as its preferred pathway for decarbonization by 2050.
Evergreen marine will cement its place among the world’s leaders in container shipping, buying 14 LNG dual-fuel boxships of 14,000-TEU capacity from Samsung Heavy Industries and Guangzhou Shipyard International for about $2.8-$3bn by November 2025.