Pacific Radiance, an APAC offshore vessel operator, recently received Prosperous 6 from Chartwell Marine - an efficient crew transfer vessel capable of exceeding 25 knots during trials with superior fuel efficiency. Based on this success, Pacific Radiance committed to five additional vessels to meet rising offshore wind demand across Taiwan, South Korea and Japan.
Imabari Shipbuilding marked December 2025 by delivering the advanced 13,900-TEU containership ONE SERENITY and receiving regulatory clearance to increase their Japan Marine United stake from 51% to 60% as well as signing MoUs with CO2 carriers and industry revitalization partners - steps which aligned perfectly with Japans consolidation roadmap amid global competition.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines celebrated December 2025 with strategic announcements such as AiP for subsea cable vessels, low-carbon ammonia transportation deal with JERA and carbon removal partnership as well as their India manning arm's 30th anniversary celebrations and Jotaro Tamura's anticipated takeover as CEO during Blue Action 2035 Phase 2. A leadership transition date of April 2026 is planned under this initiative.
NYK Line advanced its sustainability agenda through several partnerships in December 2025, such as investing in LNG carrier investments with Ocean Yield, entering Heads of Agreement with JERA for low-carbon ammonia transport and renewing their decarbonization MoU with BHP. They also initiated a U.S. methanol supply study as well as earning CDP A List recognition once more demonstrating their leadership in maritime decarbonization.
November 2025 saw significant advances in subsea cable infrastructure, from new vessel launches and cable installations for offshore wind to technological innovations across Japan, Europe and China. These events demonstrate how Japan, Europe and China maritime sectors are working towards improving offshore energy connectivity with increased offshore connectivity capabilities such as Jan De Nul and Asso.subsea at the forefront of these advancements.
Aquatec Group Ltd of the UK, the subsea instrumentation company, landed another toehold in 2025 with the signing of an agreement in December with Sequoia Scientific. Japanese and Romanian partners are now on board. Aquatec expects the latest agreement to drive uptake of its subsea solution.
Over the last week, maritime technology developments highlight decarbonisation, digitalisation and autonomous operations. Lloyds Register and partners open global innovation centre for future ship technologies; NAPA gathers Japanese maritime stakeholders for AI-powered design; Shipbuilding knowledge transfer AI platform announced; and, Kraken Robotics presents innovative integration of unmanned mine countermeasure systems for NATO navies.
International Submarine Engineering Ltd. has bolstered its subsea offering with an exclusive collaboration with Babcock Canada for autonomous underwater docking applications, and a successful delivery of an ROV to Japanese sea-user Fukada Salvage and Marine Works.
Offshore construction activity over the month has seen wind cable installation progress in the US, new multi-purpose support vessel orders in Europe, and next generation construction support equipment contracts across Asia. Taken together, these suggest an industry tentatively increasing capacity and capability while effectively managing costs and meeting shifting project schedules.
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 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.
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) partnered with seven other Japanese businesses to develop a common design for CO2 carriers and other fuel vessels, and took delivery of a 210,000 dwt LNG-fueled bulker, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable shipping operations.
October 2025 was an eventful month for maritime equipment developments with the likes of ABB landing an electric propulsion contract for Canada’s next esbreaker, Raymarine expanding its radar systems, and StormGeo introducing its next-generation bunker management platform. Digital simulation initiatives from Japanese shipbuilders were launched while Finland’s Bluetech unveiled its wind optimized tanker design.
November 2025 saw developments such as NATO’s MET Workshop more focused on digitalization than ever, Philippines’ MET conference first time ever held paperless, U.S. Navy Reserve prepares for wider responsibilities with readiness exercises, Singapore launches new energy training facility.
On November 20, the Trump administration announced the largest ever offshore oil and gas leasing program, proposing 34 possible lease sales across 1.27 billion acres. Floating offshore wind continues its international march, with 25 MW installed across the globe by 2025, and 2.5GW expected operational by 2030.
Following the conclusion of trade discussions between President Trump and President Xi, the United States for one year as of November 10 suspended Section 301 vessel fees on China-linked vessels. In other developments, the UK published extensive guidance regarding how Russia seeks to evade sanctions in maritime sectors focusing on common methods of circumventing sanctions.
Classification societies have markedly increased the level of regulatory and technical updates between November and December 2025, focussing on emission reporting deadlines, lifting appliance requirements and new technology approvals. Among these, the U.S. Coast Guard have published updates to their Alternate Compliance Program, and there are also revisions to SOLAS, among other guidance around lifting equipment.