MarRI-UK Maritime Round Up #114

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March 2026
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Xue Xu

Welcome to the MarRI-UK weekly roundup!

The maritime sector continues to navigate a complex geopolitical and technological landscape this week. Escalating tensions around the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran conflict are disrupting shipping routes, driving volatility in freight markets and raising safety concerns for seafarers operating in the region. At the same time, industry innovation continues to advance, with subsea engineering reaching new depths as Nexans set a record by installing cable at 3,000 metres below sea level. Momentum is also building around nuclear-powered vessels and small modular reactor technologies, while progress in clean maritime solutions is highlighted by the successful factory acceptance testing of new ammonia fuel supply systems.

This week’s highlight

MarRI-UK Member’s and Partner’s News

  • (12/03) LR grants approval for GIT Coatings’ next generation graphene-based hull coating Read more
  • (12/03) New project aims to accelerate the safe adoption of autonomous shipping Read more
  • (12/03) XOCEAN’s X-30 achieves ROUV certification under the UK Workboat Code Edition 3 Read more
  • (11/03) Indian government partners with LR Advisory to deliver decarbonisation and digital transformation programme Read more
  • (10/03) BMT Launches ROC-Sim at Oceanology International Read more
  • (10/03) Babcock Launches Joint Skills MoU with Fife and Forth Valley Colleges to Boost Scotland’s Defence Workforce Read more
  • (10/03) Babcock Australasia leadership change Read more
  • (10/03) Hammerhead USVs put allies to the test Read more
  • (09/03) The importance of countering the electronic and cyber warfare threats to UAVs and loitering munitions Read more
  • (09/03) SME LumOptica tests laser technology through T&E Innovation Gateway Read more
  • (09/03) Babcock to support British Army’s FEPS Read more
  • (06/03) Which is best ‘cleaner’ fuel for shipping? Read more

UK Maritime

  • (13/03) Boskalis wins Shell UK subsea decommissioning contract Read more
  • (13/03) UK implementing nuclear regulatory review recommendations Read more
  • (13/03) Regulatory justification for Rolls‑Royce SMR Read more
  • (12/03) Shell’s Mediterranean gas drilling ops lead to ‘encouraging initial indications’ Read more
  • (12/03) Arup to support delivery of the UK’s first SMR Read more
  • (12/03) AquaTerra performs ‘first-of-its-kind’ repair work on North Sea platform Read more
  • (11/03) Acteon brings Upstream Engineering into its fold, upping offshore engineering ante Read more
  • (11/03) HMS Dragon heads to Eastern Mediterranean mission Read more
  • (11/03) UK moves forward with Project Beehive, plans 20 new uncrewed surface vessels Read more
  • (11/03) Installation of Inch Cape Monopile TPs About to Start, First Jacket Foundations Arrive in Scotland Read more
  • (11/03) LINEV Systems UK wins ADS Security Innovation Award Read more
  • (11/03) UK-first achieved in advanced materials Read more
  • (11/03) UK scraps tariffs on offshore wind manufacturing imports Read more
  • (10/03) Equilibrion assesses nuclear-derived sustainable aviation fuel Read more
  • (10/03) Venterra Companies Expand Capabilities, Geographical Reach Read more
  • (10/03) Griffon Marine Completes MOD Commando Raiding Craft Conversion Programme Read more
  • (10/03) RWE Orders 2.76 GW of Offshore Wind Turbines at Vestas Read more
  • (09/03) Lamprell, RTE International to collaborate on offshore transmission projects Read more
  • (06/03) Strategic Marine Delivers First Two Supa Swath Vessels to Mainprize Offshore Read more
  • (06/03) GBE-N granted licence to generate electricity Read more
  • (06/03) British warship shadows Russia’s Ropucha-class landing ships through English Channel Read more

Newly added Funding Opportunities – access the full list via MarRI-UK: Maritime Funding Opportunities

Events Highlight

Publication

  • LR Summary Report: IMO Ship Systems and Equipment Sub-Committee (SSE 12) Download
  • Annual Cyber Threat Intelligence Report 2025 Read more
  • ADS 2026 Security & Resilience Sector Outlook Read more
  • Annual report on procurement activity in Scotland 2023 – 2024 Read more
  • DNV Energy Transition Outlook UK 2026 Read more

Global Maritime News

Offshore Renewable Energy

  • (12/03) Floating Wind Tech Developer Zooms In on AI | Aikido Unveils Data Centre Concept, Selected for NVIDIA Programme Read more
  • (12/03) ‘World-first’ pre-commercial offshore wave energy project launches in Mauritius Read more
  • (12/03) Maersk Names Its First Wind Turbine Installation Vessel Ahead of Deployment in US Read more
  • (11/03) Marco Polo Marine Raises EUR 14 Million to Accelerate Business Expansion in Offshore Wind Read more
  • (11/03) Davi Rolling Technology Powers Sif Group’s Manufacturing Ramp-Up at Maasvlakte II Read more
  • (10/03) Floating Offshore Wind’s International Growth and Progressive Maturity – And Obvious Need for Constructive Exchanges Between Global Experts Read more
  • (10/03) Nordseecluster A Offshore Wind Farm to Power Munich Airport Read more
  • (09/03) Fugro wins work on Irish offshore wind project Read more
  • (06/03) Eco Wave Power’s pilot delivers ‘record output’ during three-meter waves Read more
  • (06/03) Quoceant to Provide Engineering Support for Ocean Winds’ Polish Offshore Wind Farm Read more

Clean Maritime

  • (13/03) Why adaptation, not just efficiency, will define maritime performance Read more
  • (12/03) Bernhard Schulte Offshore Takes Delivery of Third Methanol-Ready CSOV Read more
  • (11/03) Commercial readiness confirmed for Alfa Laval’s ammonia fuel supply system as FAT wraps up Read more
  • (11/03) IMO delay turns decarbonisation into discipline Read more
  • (09/03) CMA CGM completes its first and ‘China’s largest’ single biomethanol bunkering Read more

Nuclear Energy

  • (13/03) US aims for 5 GW more from existing nuclear Read more
  • (11/03) Deep Fission begins drilling first data acquisition well Read more
  • (11/03) EDF launches global nuclear investment and financing advisory board Read more
  • (11/03) Energy Secretary backs congressman’s call to reopen Indian Point Read more
  • (11/03) Framatome and NuScale expand fuel partnership Read more
  • (10/03) Greece to explore use of nuclear power in energy mix, PM says Read more
  • (10/03) ABS, HD Hyundai team up for nuclear-propelled container ships Read more
  • (10/03) China and Brazil among new signatories to tripling nuclear goal Read more
  • (10/03) Von der Leyen: It was strategic mistake to turn against nuclear Read more
  • (09/03) Korean partnership to consider use of HTGRs Read more
  • (09/03) Nuclear included in Japan-Canada strategic roadmap Read more
  • (09/03) Oklo, Centrus explore advanced nuclear fuel joint venture Read more
  • (06/03) US establishes Nuclear Energy Launch Pad Read more
  • (06/03) Decommissioning of Finnish research reactor completed Read more
  • (06/03) Haiyang 3 completes cold tests Read more

Ports

Navy

  • (13/03) Ships in a warzone – naval escort effectiveness questioned Read more
  • (12/03) US Coast Guard authenticates keel for three new cutters Read more
  • (12/03) US eliminates 16 Iranian minelayers near Strait of Hormuz Read more
  • (12/03) Fire breaks out aboard USS Gerald R. Ford in Red Sea Read more
  • (12/03) Ireland plans new legal powers for naval service to strengthen maritime security Read more
  • (11/03) Australia orders 40 additional Bluebottle USVs Read more
  • (11/03) Everllence scores new engine order for Canadian Navy’s naval large tugs Read more
  • (11/03) Angolan Navy’s first BR71 MK II corvette launched Read more
  • (11/03) TKMS and VEM Technologies join hands on torpedo production in India Read more
  • (10/03) TKMS signs agreement with Canadian universities to support submarine program Read more
  • (10/03) Rolls-Royce and PGZ team up on joint projects for Poland’s armed forces Read more
  • (10/03) Canadian Navy enriches fleet with new naval large tug Read more
  • (10/03) Japan commissions fifth Taigei-class submarine Read more
  • (09/03) NASSCO christens sixth and final ship in US Navy’s ESB program Read more
  • (09/03) Hanwha Ocean forms new Canadian partnerships tied to patrol submarine program Read more
  • (09/03) US says Iran’s frigate sunk by submarine was legitimate target, rejects claim it was unarmed Read more
  • (07/03) US shares photos of USS Abraham Lincoln at sea after Iran’s claims it was struck by missile Read more
  • (06/03) US Navy christens oceanographic survey ship Read more
  • (06/03) US strike sets Iranian drone carrier ablaze; 30+ ships targeted so far Read more

Global Shipping & Newbuild

  • (13/03) Duration of Closure of Hormuz to Dictate Shipping Rates Read more
  • (13/03) Yang Ming readies order for six LNG dual-fuel boxships Read more
  • (12/03) US domestic dry bulk – aging fleet and newbuilds too costly Read more
  • (12/03) Ship Recycling Slowing Down as Tensions in the Middle East Prevail Read more
  • (12/03) Venergy targets crude segment with suezmax newbuilds in China Read more
  • (12/03) d’Amico grows orderbook to 10 ships with latest MR2 order Read more
  • (11/03) China Ministry of Transport summons Maersk and MSC Read more
  • (11/03) Wan Hai deepens newbuild push with LNG and methanol-ready boxships Read more
  • (10/03) N-Sea’s fleet to expand with offshore support vessel in 2027 Read more
  • (10/03) Chinese launch next-gen deepwater multi-purpose offshore engineering vessel Read more
  • (10/03) One New and One Converted Trenching Support Vessel to Enrich Jan De Nul’s Fleet Read more
  • (10/03) Tianjin Southwest returns to Huangpu Wenchong for more ammonia-capable tonnage Read more
  • (10/03) Simonsen expands tanker fleet with newbuild brace in Turkey Read more
  • (10/03) Danaos doubles down on dry bulk with newcastlemax newbuilds Read more
  • (10/03) Container lines offer convoluted connections from Asia – Middle East Read more
  • (09/03) Deutsche Offshore Schifffahrt Starts Building First of Four C-CSOVs Read more
  • (09/03) Hanwha Ocean delivers second of four VLCCs to DHT Holdings Read more
  • (09/03) Africa boasts the world’s four fastest‑growing container lanes Read more
  • (06/03) Samsung Heavy Industries books French firm’s tank design for new LNG vessel Read more

Smart Maritime

  • (06/03) Equinor and Hydromea first to send wireless ocean floor data directly to cloud Read more

Other news

  • (13/03) India taps 65m barrels of Russian crude Read more
  • (13/03) ‘The largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market’: IEA’s take on the Hormuz crisis Read more
  • (13/03) When seafarers die, statements are not enough Read more
  • (13/03) Search for three missing crew from Mayuree Naree continues Read more
  • (13/03) New safety kits help seafarers prepare for missile and drone attacks in conflict zones Read more
  • (13/03) Strait of Hormuz update: VLGCs ballasting from Gulf of Oman; Asian petchem receives a serious blow Read more
  • (12/03) Construction starts on Vietnam’s first 400 kV extra-high-voltage cable plant Read more
  • (12/03) Coal demand could be supported by war in the Arabian Gulf Read more
  • (12/03) Explosions after two tankers struck off Iraq Read more
  • (12/03) SLB reduces operations in Middle East amid regional crisis Read more
  • (12/03) Second Gulf of Mexico auction under Trump bill draws weaker industry interest Read more
  • (12/03) Middle East latest: Inferno at sea and shore Read more
  • (12/03) Salt trade seasoned with strong Egyptian flows Read more
  • (11/03) Who pays for ships stranded in the Gulf? Read more
  • (11/03) Dajin Heavy Industry Plans to Go Public on Hong Kong Stock Exchange Read more
  • (11/03) Pieces of $5.1 billion LNG project in Canada keep falling into place Read more
  • (11/03) PASSER and Australian partner plan dedicated storage and cable‑handling hub in Singapore Read more
  • (11/03) MOL buys into V.Ships France Read more
  • (11/03) Multiple ships hit on day 12 of Iran war Read more
  • (11/03) Warning of a widespread food crisis if Iran war continues Read more
  • (11/03) Trump’s ‘show some guts’ comment problematic for shipping Read more
  • (11/03) Strait of Hormuz uncertainties ramp up amid latest military intervention Read more
  • (10/03) Italy opens new LNG chapter with FSRU ticking off first small scale cargo Read more
  • (10/03) Southeast Asian gas drilling ops edging closer with ‘major milestone’ reached Read more
  • (10/03) Nexans breaks world record again by installing subsea cable 3,000 meters under water Read more
  • (10/03) US economy hit by job losses and Gulf conflict Read more
  • (10/03) War in Iran – congestion, rerouting of trade and higher fuel prices Read more
  • (10/03) How Much is Too Much Geopolitical Risk? Shipping at The Epicenter of Another Crisis Read more
  • (10/03) How can the IMO reassert its role as shipping’s global regulator? Read more
  • (10/03) Hormuz closure sends bunker prices to record levels Read more
  • (10/03) Trump threatens ‘Death, Fire and Fury’ if Iran closes Strait of Hormuz Read more
  • (09/03) Any attack on innocent seafarers unacceptable: IMO Secretary-General Read more
  • (09/03) Southeast Asian infill drilling campaign ups oil production ante Read more
  • (09/03) Oil breaches $100 as tankers stranded and rates skyrocket Read more
  • (09/03) Strait of Hormuz crisis – a legal perspective Read more
  • (09/03) Borr Drilling pauses Gulf rig operations over security concerns Read more
  • (09/03) Sweden seizes Russian shadow ship and detains crewmember Read more
  • (07/03) Tanker Market: Almost Half of China’s Crude Oil Imports in 2025 Arrived from the Arabian Gulf Read more
  • (06/03) Deadly attack on tug assisting abandoned container ship in Strait of Hormuz Read more

Maritime Events Archive

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