Industry News – Page 5 – Professional Mariner

Geopolitical pressures, long hours and dwindling shore leave cast a shadow on life at sea

A pair of new reports have painted a stark picture of life on merchant vessels, highlighting intense workloads, rising stress and deep concerns about the sustainability of the maritime workforce. The broader body of evidence underscores systemic risks to seafarer well-being, retention and the industry’s ability to operate safely, all of which are being shaped by conditions that have yet to meaningfully change.…

Mare Island Dry Dock closure underscores loss of U.S. repair capacity

In early January, Mare Island Dry Dock (MIDD) informed the city of Vallejo that it had permanently closed, resulting in the loss of more than 80 full-time union and non-union jobs and marking another reduction in U.S. commercial dry-dock capacity, even as lawmakers continue to call for a revival of the nation’s maritime strength. “After 12 incredible years, the difficult…

Major carriers modernize fleet connectivity

One of the world’s largest container shipping lines, A.P. Moller-Maersk, has partnered with Inmarsat Maritime to upgrade satellite communications services across its fleet of roughly 340 containerships — a fleet-wide, centrally managed rollout that advances a global shift toward high-bandwidth, data-driven vessel operations. The upgrades, scheduled for rollout between 2025 and 2026, will expand capacity under Inmarsat’s Fleet Xpress service,…

Coast Guard awards Rozema major contract for new surf- capable rescue boat

A small Pacific Northwest shipyard celebrating 70 years of continuous operation has been awarded a major contract by the U.S. Coast Guard to replace a fleet of its surf-capable vessels. The Coast Guard has awarded a nearly $71 million contract to the Washington-based Rozema Boat Works to build up to six of its next-generation 64-foot special-purpose heavy-weather craft. The new…

New autonomous navigation systems move closer to commercial deployment

Two new autonomy platforms — one for docking and surface maneuvering, the other for compact high-precision navigation — show how quickly automation technology is migrating from research projects and luxury boats to the commercial maritime sector. Simrad Marine Electronics, part of Brunswick Corporation’s Navico Group, has launched AutoCaptain, an autonomous docking and low-speed maneuvering system that provides 360-degree situational awareness…

ABS chief calls for IMO ‘timeout’ on net-zero framework

The head of the American Bureau of Shipping is calling on the International Maritime Organization to pause and reconsider its framework for reaching net-zero emissions, warning that current timelines are too ambitious relative to the industry’s practical ability to comply. ABS Chairman and CEO Christopher Wiernicki made the remarks during the launch of the 2025 ABS Sustainability Outlook at the…

MarAd warns of cyber risks linked to Chinese port equipment

In October 2025, the U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) warned maritime operators and port stakeholders about potential cyber vulnerabilities tied to foreign-made port equipment and logistics systems that may expose critical U.S. infrastructure and shipping data to exploitation. The Oct. 6, 2025, advisory replaced a prior post in April; MarAd said that equipment and digital platforms manufactured or maintained by China-based…

Standard Horizon rolls out next-gen integrated comms platform

A longtime manufacturer in the marine electronics market has introduced a new suite of communication systems aimed at bringing professional-grade connectivity and control to light commercial craft. Standard Horizon, a division of Japan’s Yaesu Musen Co., has released three products signaling a modern iteration of VHF technology: The GX2410 Matrix Series fixed-mount VHF radio integrates GPS, AIS receiver, DSC communication…

Coast Guard orders next generation of trailerable buoy-tending boats

The U.S. Coast Guard has awarded a contract to Inventech Marine Solutions of Bremerton, Wash., to build up to 89 new trailerable aids to navigation boats, or TANB II, replacing a first-generation fleet that entered service in 2006. Announced by the Coast Guard Office of Boat Forces on Aug. 27, the contract will modernize one of the service’s most versatile…

Crew well-being slipping under mounting operational strain, new seafarer survey finds

The Mission to Seafarers, a global charity operating in more than 200 ports and offering welfare support to merchant crews around the world, has released new data from its quarterly Seafarers’ Happiness Index showing a broad deterioration in seafarer happiness and morale. Launched in 2015 and published quarterly, the Seafarers’ Happiness Index allows seafarers from all nationalities and vessel types…