The maritime shipbuilding sector wrapped up 2025 on an impressive note with several noteworthy deliveries and ceremonies in late December, signaling their continued momentum into 2026. Verifiable events from this past week highlight advancements in naval combatants, offshore wind installation vessels and LNG transport vessels, reflecting resilience amid global decarbonization efforts and defense priorities.
US Navy Accepts Future USS Ted Stevens Destroyer
On December 29th, Ingalls Shipbuilding delivered to the U.S. Navy their third Arleigh Burke-class Flight III guided-missile destroyer - DDG-128 - completed since construction started in December 2023 and scheduled for launch March 2025, following successful sea trials conducted between October and November 2025 in the Gulf of Mexico to validate propulsion, navigation, and combat systems.
This vessel incorporates advanced radar and combat system technologies from Ingalls: an AN/SPY-6(V)1 radar and Aegis Baseline 10 combat system designed to improve detection and response against ballistic missiles and surface threats. With this delivery, Ingalls has supplied 36 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers so far; USS Jack H. Lucas being one of them. Commissioning is scheduled for 2026 after which time she will join operational fleets for maritime presence and multinational exercises.
At Ingalls Shipbuilding, a distributed construction model is utilized. Working alongside other shipyards and suppliers to meet timelines for additional Flight III destroyers such as USS Jeremiah Denton (DDG-129), George F. Lehmann (DDG-177), and Telesforo Trinidad (DDG-139) requires working collaboratively in order to meet expectations on schedule.
Cadeler's Wind Mover WTIV Delivered Early
Hanwha Ocean delivered the Wind Mover, a wind turbine installation vessel (WTIV), to Cadeler earlier than scheduled on November 28. After departing Korean shipyard on December 2 for its maiden offshore wind project in Europe following a naming ceremony, this WTIV set sail.
Cadeler ordered Wind Mover as their second M-class WTIV in 2021; her sister ship Wind Maker will arrive in January 2025. Cadeler now boasts additional capacity in supporting installation operations across Europe with these deliveries of their two M-class WTIVs.
QatarEnergy Announces Two New LNG Carriers
On December 3rd, a joint venture of NYK, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha MISC and China LNG Shipping (Holdings) Limited held a naming ceremony for two 174,000 cubic meter LNG carriers built for QatarEnergy that were manufactured at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea. They serve global LNG transport.
These deliveries align with QatarEnergy's expansion strategy amid growing demand for cleaner energy carriers, showing its commitment to invest in high-capacity gas transport infrastructure.
Shipbuilding Activity Context.
At this late 2025 juncture, naval programs are flourishing amidst robust naval programs - US Coast Guard contracts awarded to Bollinger Shipyards and Finnish yards like Rauma Marine Constructions; Babcock's keel laying of HMS Formidable for UK's Type 31 frigate program being two notable examples.
Commercial sectors also demonstrate innovation with NYK placing an order with Shinkai Toyohashi Shipbuilding for delivery by March 2026, featuring autonomous navigation and motion mitigation systems; Svitzer contracting Cochin Shipyard to build electric tugs;
BIMCO data indicates a 61% year-on-year decline in global contracting volumes in 2025; yet these milestones demonstrate specific progress made in defense and renewables sectors.