Professional Mariner – May/June 2026

Robert Allan designs hybrid escort tug for Harbor Docking & Towing

A Lake Charles, La.-based ship-assist and escort operator has partnered with one of the leading tugboat designers to develop a new hybrid vessel. In February, Canadian firm Robert Allan Ltd. completed a new design of a RApport 2800-H hybrid ship-docking tug for Harbor Docking & Towing (HDT). Construction will be carried out at C&C Marine and Repair’s shipyard in Belle Chasse, La.…

China revisits nuclear propulsion with thorium-powered containership concept

A proposed Chinese containership powered by a thorium-based reactor revisits one of shipping’s oldest ideas — nuclear propulsion — as the industry searches for ways to meet emissions targets. State-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation is working with the China National Nuclear Corporation on early designs for a large container vessel that would rely on a closed-loop reactor system rather than…

All American Marine to build sister ship for Alaska eco-tour operator

All American Marine is building a high-speed passenger vessel for Alaska-based operator Phillips Cruises & Tours, expanding a proven eco-tour platform designed for long-range service in Prince William Sound. The Bellingham, Wash., shipyard said the new vessel will be a sister ship to Chugach Express, delivered in 2025, and will operate daily from Whittier, Alaska. “After seeing how the Chugach…

Hanwha Philly delivers third NSMV as academy fleet takes shape

Hanwha Philly Shipyard has delivered the third of five national security multi-mission vessels (NSMVs) to the U.S. Maritime Administration, marking the program’s midpoint as new training ships enter service at the nation’s state maritime academies. The vessel, State of Maine, will serve Maine Maritime Academy and follows earlier deliveries to SUNY Maritime College and Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Two additional vessels…

Study favors transformer-based shore power for North American ports

A maritime energy firm is pointing to new analysis supporting transformer-based shore power systems as ports expand electrification infrastructure to meet tightening emissions regulations and cruise industry demand. Watts Marine cited a recent white paper by L&T Digital Energy Solutions comparing transformer-based and power-electronics converter-based shore power architectures, concluding that transformer systems offer greater reliability and lower lifecycle costs, particularly…

IMO advances STCW overhaul, fuel training and fatigue review

The International Maritime Organization is advancing a sweeping review of seafarer training standards while expanding work on alternative fuels and fatigue, as regulators look to align workforce requirements with an industry under pressure to adapt. At the latest Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW) subcommittee meeting in February, IMO delegates continued a comprehensive overhaul of the STCW Convention and Code,…

Hornblower expands Bridgeport yard to grow East Coast service capacity

Hornblower Group has expanded its shipyard footprint in Bridgeport, Conn., significantly increasing repair and service capacity at a time when yard space remains tight across the Northeast. The company said its Steelpointe Shipyard facility has grown from 1 acre to 17 acres, with 45,000 square feet of indoor space, three Marine Travelifts capable of hauling vessels up to 700 tons…

Lawmakers revisit antitrust exemption for ocean carriers

In March, the House Judiciary Committee examined whether existing antitrust exemptions continue to serve U.S. trade and supply chain interests. At a hearing titled “Pier Pressure: Regulation and Competition in Maritime Shipping,” lawmakers revisited the exemption that allows ocean carriers to coordinate through global alliances, renewing scrutiny of a legal framework that underpins container shipping. The exemption allows carriers to…

Shipping industry turns to proactive hull cleaning to boost efficiency

It’s been called a Roomba for ships. The Hullskater is a rectangular robotic device, about 3.3 feet wide and 5.2 feet long and weighing about 450 pounds. Using magnetic wheels, it traverses the hulls of containerships, brushing off microorganisms, algae and other pests that cling to submerged surfaces — a problem known as biofouling. The robot was developed by engineers…

Broad Jones Act waiver tied to Middle East tensions sparks industry concern

In mid-March, the Trump administration issued a 60-day waiver of the Jones Act, temporarily allowing foreign-flagged vessels to transport crude oil, refined products and related bulk cargoes between U.S. ports as part of an effort to ease rising fuel prices after U.S. and Israeli military action targeting Iran. The waiver follows disruptions to global energy markets tied to fighting in…