MarRI-UK Maritime Round Up #117

News Categories

Recent Posts

Archive

April 2026
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
27282930  

Xue Xu

Welcome to the MarRI-UK weekly roundup!

This week highlights a clear shift: maritime is now firmly a national security priority for the UK, spanning shipbuilding, energy, and AI. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz underline how global trade routes can be both monetised and weaponised. At the same time, offshore wind, nuclear (SMRs), and port infrastructure are converging into integrated energy systems, with infrastructure emerging as the key constraint. Meanwhile, defence is accelerating toward autonomy. The strategic focus across academia, policy, and industry is increasingly on resilience, integration, and sovereign capability.

This week’s highlight

  • The 9th MTPC will be held at University of Strathclyde, Glasgow on 15-17 June 2026
  • Hormuz now a pay to pass corridor Read more
  • British shipbuilding, steel, AI and energy infrastructure to be prioritised for government contracts for national security Read more
  • US regulator merger plan rewrites post-Deepwater Horizon reforms Read more

MarRI-UK Member’s and Partner’s News

  • (03/04)  Babcock secures bridging contract to support UK’s naval base and submarine fleet Read more
  • (02/04) BAE Systems awarded $180m contract for Tridon Mk2 from Sweden Read more
  • (02/04) Executive leadership changes to support next phase of growth Read more
  • (02/04) Babcock announces Capability Centre location in heart of Plymouth Read more
  • (01/04) Cavendish Nuclear secures major role in joint venture contract for UK’s first small modular reactors Read more
  • (27/03) SMIFutures Early Career Profile: Dayna Ferguson Read more
  • (26/03) Strathclyde and Japan Marine United Corporation partner to advance offshore renewables Read more

UK Maritime

  • (02/04) 6% of Welsh people think renewable energy development should decrease, research shows Read more
  • (02/04) UK plant transfers to government ownership Read more
  • (02/04) TenneT, National Grid Ink Joint Development Agreement for LionLink Offshore Wind Interconnector Read more
  • (02/04) 35 nations to meet to discuss Hormuz reopening Read more
  • (01/04) UK awards Teledyne contract for autonomous underwater vehicles and floats Read more
  • (31/03) Navantia UK welcomes Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to Harland & Wolff Read more
  • (31/03) Holtec SMR design clears key UK regulatory stage Read more
  • (31/03) First Hornsea 3 Offshore Substation Stands Complete Read more
  • (31/03) Beckett Rankine and University of Greenwich’s new partnership could revolutionise historic ship conservation Read more
  • (30/03) Royal Navy turns RFA Lyme Bay into drone mothership for mine warfare Read more
  • (30/03) Grieg Maritime Group invests in Jet Sails Read more
  • (30/03) Foundation Installation Coming Up at Hornsea 3 Read more
  • (30/03) After Prysmian, Siemens Energy confirmed as supplier for UK’s Eastern Green Link 4 Read more
  • (27/03) UK Continues Offshore Wind Expansion with 6 GW Leasing Round Planned for Early 2027 Read more
  • (27/03) Griffon Marine Contracts Drive Growth and Jobs in Portsmouth Region Read more
  • (26/03) Welsh Port Granted GBP 64 Million for Floating Wind Hub Read more
  • (25/03) Maritime nuclear enters the just transition conversation in Scotland Read more

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

Events Highlight

Publication

  • SMI: Ocean Power: An Enabler for Growth Download
  • ESA Green Hydrogen Focus Report Read more
  • LR: Engine retrofit capability builds as regulatory uncertainty delays conversions Download
  • LR Class News 07/2026: SOLAS amendments – Fire Safety Requirements for ro-ro Passenger Ships Read more
  • ICS Leadership Insights March 2026 Download
  • DfT: Transport Data Action Plan Find out more

Global Maritime News

Offshore Renewable Energy

  • (06/04) Netherlands to offer another 1GW site in upcoming offshore wind round Read more
  • (03/04) Brazil Establishes Offshore Wind Guidelines, Prepares Next Steps Read more
  • (03/04) France to Launch Massive Offshore Wind Tender as Gov’t Bundles AO9 and AO10 into Single Round Read more
  • (02/04) Vietnam’s REE Unveils Offshore Wind Ambitions in Capacity Expansion Plan Read more
  • (02/04) ASML Returns to RWE for More Offshore Wind Power Read more
  • (01/04) ClassNK Grants Approval for High-Corrosion-Resistant Wire Cable for Floating Wind Mooring Read more
  • (01/04) Fugro Secures Offshore Wind Work in Brazil as Petrobras Moves Forward with 18 MW Pilot Project Read more
  • (01/04) Foundation Installation at New French Offshore Wind Farm Reaches Halfway Mark Read more
  • (01/04) Japan’s FLOWRA, Bureau Veritas Sign Floating Wind MoU Read more
  • (01/04) Wave energy pilot concludes at Port of Los Angeles Read more
  • (31/03) Malta opens call to probe renewable energy import from North Africa Read more
  • (31/03) First Turbine Being Installed at Ørsted’s New US Offshore Wind Farm Read more
  • (31/03) Virginia Passes Bill to Advance Offshore Wind Workforce Development Read more
  • (31/03) Maersk Viridis En Route to US to Install Empire Wind 1 Turbines Read more
  • (31/03) Tekmar bags €2+ million in contracts for Japanese offshore wind project Read more
  • (31/03) US weighs more offshore wind buyouts with fossil fuels reinvestment Read more
  • (31/03) Malta opens call to probe renewable energy import from North Africa Read more
  • (30/03) Danish Test Centre Launches Main Bearing Testing Facility for Offshore Wind Turbines of Up to 25 MW Read more
  • (30/03) Seabed Preparation Starts Ahead of Construction of New Dutch Offshore Wind Farm Read more
  • (30/03) Taiwan launches 3.6GW offshore wind auction Read more
  • (27/03) RWE Cleared to Start Nordseecluster B Offshore Construction Next Year as Germany Grants Planning Permission Read more
  • (27/03) Global Maritime to Decommission TetraSpar Floater Offshore Norway Read more

Clean Maritime

  • (01/04) Soil survey underway for Dutch hydrogen and CO2 pipeline network Read more
  • (31/03) The rise of hydrogen in short sea shipping Read more
  • (31/03) Chiyoda, NYK and KNCC jointly pursuing global carbon capture and storage projects Read more
  • (30/03) Nantong Cosco and Norsepower aim to accelerate rotor sail take-up Read more
  • (30/03) Oil-to-CO2 storage wells begin transformation journey offshore Denmark Read more
  • (30/03) Tankers: Demand for Alternative Fuels to Increase Read more

Nuclear Energy

  • (02/04) Reactor vessel installed at Lianjiang unit 2 Read more
  • (02/04) New England governors unite for nuclear Read more
  • (02/04) OPG applies for operating licence for BWRX-300 SMR Read more
  • (02/04) Polish companies team up for regional SMR deployment Read more
  • (01/04) France expects green light for €70bn nuclear expansion despite EU probe – EUobserver Read more
  • (01/04) Ukraine’s cabinet approves nuclear fuel production plan Read more
  • (01/04) EC launches investigation into French nuclear funding plans Read more
  • (01/04) Constellation seeks regulator’s help for 2027 plant restart Read more
  • (31/03) Demand and delivery reshape the energy conversation at CERAWeek 2026 Read more
  • (31/03) South Africa’s Necsa seeks SMR partnership Read more
  • (30/03) New US company plans uranium conversion facility Read more
  • (30/03) Bulgarian repository moves closer to commissioning Read more
  • (30/03) Containment tests completed at Sanmen 3 Read more
  • (27/03) Taipower applies to restart Maanshan plant Read more
  • (27/03) Study outlines Finnish options for new nuclear capacity Read more
  • (27/03) First 10 years of Russian final waste repository reviewed Read more
  • (27/03) Microsoft, Nvidia team up for AI for nuclear Read more

Ports

Navy

  • (03/04) US Marines conduct first live-fire drone strike against maritime surface vessel Read more
  • (03/04) USS Gerald R. Ford concludes Croatia visit, resumes operations Read more
  • (03/04) France orders fifth FDI frigate from Naval Group Read more
  • (03/04) Three shipyards form alliance to compete for US Coast Guard icebreaker contract Read more
  • (02/04) 31 ships, 19 nations: Australia stages major naval gathering in Sydney Read more
  • (02/04) HII splashes US Navy’s new Flight III Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Read more
  • (02/04) HD HHI launches Korea Coast Guard’s new patrol vessel Read more
  • (02/04) AeroVironment wins spot in US Navy ISR initiative with JUMP 20-X UAS Read more
  • (02/04) US Navy deploys another aircraft carrier Read more
  • (01/04) Dutch Navy starts V-BAT UAS operations Read more
  • (01/04) GSL launches India’s next-gen patrol vessel, delivers new FPV Read more
  • (01/04) ST Engineering lands contract for Kuwait’s missile gun boats Read more
  • (01/04) Construction begins on Canada’s next-gen polar icebreaker Read more
  • (31/03) Sweden orders more GAVIA AUV systems from Teledyne Read more
  • (31/03) GRSE delivers three warships to Indian Navy Read more
  • (31/03) Indra develops new satellite communications terminal for submarines Read more
  • (31/03) Northrop Grumman secures expanded SEWIP Block 3 order Read more
  • (31/03) Thai Navy takes delivery of new hydrographic vessel Read more
  • (31/03) Vard scores US Navy’s logistics ship design deal, teams up with Hanwha Read more
  • (30/03) US Navy’s Virginia-class sub USS Massachusetts enters service Read more
  • (30/03) World’s largest warship USS Gerald R. Ford reaches Croatia Read more
  • (30/03) Kongsberg and Salt to design standardized vessels for Norwegian Navy Read more
  • (30/03) ROKN’s next-gen KSS-III submarine embarks on first-of-its-kind deployment to Canada Read more
  • (30/03) EU expands naval ops in Red Sea and Indian Ocean Read more
  • (28/03) US Navy’s amphibious warship reaches Middle East Read more
  • (27/03) Kratos to supply rocket motors and TVC kits for US Navy programs Read more
  • (27/03) Lockheed Martin scores $478M US Navy submarine imaging system contract Read more

Global Shipping & Newbuild

  • (06/04) Ship repair yard opens in Djibouti Read more
  • (06/04) COSCO targets dozen LNG dual-fuel boxships in $2bn move Read more
  • (03/04) Hafnia orders eight ‘fuel-efficient’ tankers from South Korean shipyard Read more
  • (02/04) Venergy Maritime orders tanker pair at Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Read more
  • (02/04) JP Morgan interests circle new VLGC pair at Samsung yard Read more
  • (02/04) Ciner adds six ultramaxes in fresh $204m China order Read more
  • (02/04) Vellis family in for pair of LR2s at Hyundai Philippines Read more
  • (01/04) China Merchants Energy Shipping splashes out $1.24 bn on VLCCs Read more
  • (01/04) South Korean shipyard holds naming ceremony for US player’s new FSRU Read more
  • (01/04) Hormuz closure drives global coal comeback Read more
  • (01/04) BRS exposes the scale of the challenge facing Trump’s maritime ambitions Read more
  • (01/04) INTERCARGO Convenes Maritime Industry to Advance Common Approach to Dry Bulk STS Transfers Read more
  • (01/04) Ship Owner Keep Making Moves in the Newbuilding and S&P Markets Read more
  • (31/03) Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation reports 2% profit increase Read more
  • (31/03) Seven reasons for a global revenue-raising policy on international shipping Read more
  • (31/03) China Merchants Energy stacks orderbook with 10-ship VLCC series Read more
  • (31/03) Reactivations and mega expansions signal long-term China shipbuilding hegemony Read more
  • (31/03) Kuwaiti VLCC on fire after attack off Dubai Read more
  • (30/03) Yang Ming to launch new China-Singapore-Malaysia service Read more
  • (30/03) Iran conflict costing shipping industry €340 million a day Read more
  • (30/03) Schoeller books more MPP tonnage in China Read more
  • (30/03) Erasmus lines up kamsarmax series at New Hantong Read more
  • (30/03) Laskaridis ramps up suezmax play Read more
  • (27/03) Nanjing Tanker orders four tankers from Dingheng Shipyard Read more

Smart Maritime

  • (01/04) Maritime AI developments to be showcased at Posidonia 2026 Read more
  • (01/04) MPC Capital and Wilhelmsen launch vessel IT venture Read more
  • (30/03) The data problem behind shipping’s digital transformation Read more
  • (30/03) MOL and Hitachi to convert used ships into floating data centres Read more

Other news

  • (06/04) Iran allows 15 ships through Strait of Hormuz Read more
  • (06/04) Ten injured in ONGC offshore platform fire Read more
  • (06/04) Sweden seizes chemical tanker suspected of illegal Baltic oil spill Read more
  • (06/04) Novorossiysk in flames as Kyiv intensifies campaign against Russian energy exports Read more
  • (03/04) BP and ADNOC’s JV pouring $500 million to bring Egyptian gas project to life Read more
  • (03/04) First LNG carrier transits Strait of Hormuz since Iran war began Read more
  • (02/04) VLCC loadings in Yanbu soar due to Hormuz disruption Read more
  • (02/04) Iran to give safe passage for Philippines ships and seafarers Read more
  • (02/04) Hormuz crisis places seafarers in conditions unmatched since WWII Read more
  • (02/04) Global trade and growth to slow due to Hormuz closure, warns UNCTAD Read more
  • (01/04) Bahamas upgrades maritime regulatory framework Read more
  • (01/04) Costs of conflict could drive decarbonisation Read more
  • (01/04) Missile hits oil tanker chartered to QatarEnergy Read more
  • (01/04) Singapore launches red flag guide to help shipping industry detect wildlife trafficking in containers Read more
  • (31/03) Handover of training ship an important waypoint for US maritime Read more
  • (31/03) French court jails Chinese shadow fleet captain in absentia Read more
  • (30/03) GPS jamming in Gulf drops as Strait of Hormuz transits increase Read more
  • (30/03) New front opens up with Houthis entering the war Read more
  • (30/03) Category 5 storm makes damage to oil field offshore Western Australia Read more
  • (27/03) New joint project aims to bring subsea chemical storage technology to deployment Read more
  • (27/03) Venture Global and Edison put LNG arbitration battle behind them Read more

Maritime Events Archive

To subscribe/unsubscribe, or share your feedback on the content, please get in touch with xue.xu@strath.ac.uk or marri-uk-dmem@strath.ac.uk.