Welcome to the MarRI-UK weekly roundup!
Last week, the maritime sector was shaped by defence, energy and global trade developments. The UK successfully launched a strike drone from a ship at sea, marking a significant defence capability milestone, while the Inch Cape offshore wind farm completed export cable installation and several major floating wind projects advanced. Globally, security in the Strait of Hormuz remained the biggest risk, with shipping recovering only partially despite a ceasefire, keeping insurance costs elevated and disrupting tanker traffic. Container freight rates reached four-year highs, driven by strong demand and ongoing supply chain uncertainty.
This week’s highlight
- UKRI- Timetable of funding opportunities June-November 2026 Find out more
- UK carbon market extends to shipping from today Read more
- El Niño to impact shipping on a global scale Read more
- UK Submarine Enterprise Conference Express of Interest
MarRI-UK Member’s and Partner’s News
- (02/07) Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry hosted by QinetiQ at MOD Boscombe Down Read more
- (02/07) Position, Navigation & Timing: the technology the modern world runs on Read more
- (02/07) Babcock recognised with two national skills awards Read more
- (01/07) QinetiQ introduces additive manufacturing capability for UK submarine maintenance Read more
- (30/06) Response to the UK Defence Investment Plan Read more
- (29/06) UK drops Type 83 destroyer plans, moves to build at least six hybrid warships Read more
UK Maritime
- (03/07) UK launches strike drone from experimentation ship at sea Read more
- (03/07) Export Cable Installation Completed at Inch Cape Offshore Wind Farm Read more
- (03/07) Bernhard Schulte Offshore Takes Delivery of Fourth CSOV in Newbuild Series Read more
- (02/07) SGE-led team targets 14 BWRX-300 SMRs in UK Read more
- (02/07) Imenco Invests in Next-Generation Underwater Robotics Firm Read more
- (02/07) UK power superhighway first HVDC cable to use 100% recycled copper Read more
- (02/07) UK scaling up for a new kind of warfare, with £298 billion poured into defense Read more
- (01/07) A fantastic leap for eco-engineering in the UK marine sector Read more
- (01/07) Kent Appointed Owner’s Engineer for Buchan Floating Wind Project Read more
- (01/07) Gwynt Glas Submits EIA Scoping Report for 1.5 GW Celtic Sea Floating Wind Project Read more
- (01/07) Guidance: Participating in the UK ETS Read more
- (01/07) Scottish sites suitable for nuclear new build, study says Read more
- (01/07) Commonwealth Fusion Systems joins UKAEA’s tritium blanket testing programme Read more
- (30/06) Balaena Ready to Deliver for Britain Following Defence Investment Plan Read more
- (30/06) Develop Consulting Achieves Outstanding Results in 2026 UK Consulting Rankings with New Maritime Recognition Read more
- (30/06) Jo Bird & Company Limited Celebrates 40 Years of Engineering Excellence and Innovation Read more
- (29/06) Maritime and Coastguard Agency refreshes safety tool for senior leaders Read more
- (29/06) Rolls-Royce SMR plans manufacturing development centre in Derby Read more
- (24/06) Quiet operation propels sales of electric motors for boats Read more
Newly added Funding Opportunities – access the full list via MarRI-UK: Maritime Funding Opportunities
- Fast Grants for British Progress – Call for Proposals Find out more and apply
- Hydrogen End-to-End Dashboard: Digital platform creation (NAVIGATE) Apply before 15 July 2026
- The Arctic Region: Safety, Navigation and Operations Apply before 5 November 2026
Events Highlight
- 7 July 2026 – Gemini Call: Cybersecurity in Transport Digital Twins – Online
- 15 July 2026 – SME Excellence Series: Investment Readiness: DON’T DO these 10 things if you’re fundraising – Online
- 1-4 September 2026 –SMM 2026 – Hamburg, Germany
- 9 September 2026 – ESA: The Arctic Region: Safety, Navigation, and Operations Webinar – Online
- 29 September 2026 – ESA: Space-to-Sea Solutions – Online
- 20-22 October 2026 – Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global– Manila, Philippines
- 20-22 October 2026 – TOC Americas – Cartagena, Colombia
- 19 November 2026 – Euro-CASE Annual Conference 2026 – Belfast, UK
- 24-25 November 2026 – Offshore Energy Exhibition & Conference (OEEC 2026) – Amsterdam, Netherlands
- 26 November 2026 – SMI Annual Dinner 2026 – London, UK
- 2-5 November 2027 – Europort 2027 – Rotterdam, Netherlands
Publication
- ICS Leadership Insights June 2026 Read more
- DNV: New IMO requirements for pilot transfer arrangements Read more
- DNV: The July 2026 edition of the DNV class rules and standards for ship and offshore Download
- LR: Future IMO and ILO Legislation Summer 2026 – Upcoming changes to mandatory statutory regulations and instruments Read more
Global Maritime News
Offshore Renewable Energy
- (03/07) Swedish hybrid ocean energy platform on sea trials in commercialization push Read more
- (03/07) 700 MW Lithuanian Offshore Wind Project Gets Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Light Read more
- (02/07) Ocean energy can supply 13% of global electricity demand, report says Read more
- (02/07) CIP Secures 1 GW Across Two Projects in South Korea’s Offshore Wind Auction Read more
- (02/07) First Monopile In at Vattenfall’s Nordlicht I Offshore Wind Farm Read more
- (01/07) Aker Solutions Nets ‘Substantial’ Offshore Wind Contract Read more
- (01/07) DNV assessment clears Fred. Olsen 1848’s floating solar system for rougher conditions Read more
- (30/06) Skyborn Becomes Sole Owner of Nordergründe Offshore Wind Farm Read more
- (30/06) All Jacket Foundations Installed at Dieppe-Le Tréport Offshore Wind Farm Read more
- (30/06) Trump adds Duke Energy to offshore wind buyout campaign Read more
- (29/06) Philippines Gov’t, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners Talk Advancing ‘Southeast Asia’s First’ Offshore Wind Project Read more
- (29/06) South Korea’s Jeonbuk State Names Preferred Bidder for 800 MW Offshore Wind Project Read more
- (29/06) Seven Pre-Qualified Bidders for Canada’s First Offshore Wind Auction Unveiled Read more
- (29/06) PTO module assembly starts for BiMEP-destined wave energy unit ahead of October deployment Read more
- (29/06) Equinor pulls out of Japan offshore wind market Read more
Clean Maritime
- (03/07) LNG logs lion’s share of alternative-fuelled vessel contracts Read more
- (02/07) Floating hydrogen terminals edge closer to reality with ammonia cracking tech validation Read more
- (02/07) China opens first zero-carbon sea-river electric container route Read more
- (01/07) Grimaldi picks AYK batteries for nine new vessels Read more
- (01/07) WinGD engines chosen for Dynacom’s $1.47bn VLCC order Read more
- (01/07) Europe cannot afford to sleepwalk into Chinese-built electric corridors Read more
- (30/06) Record breaking heatwaves – why the IMO NZF must go ahead Read more
- (30/06) Artemis Technologies Launches World’s First 100% Electric Hydrofoil Pilot Boat Read more
- (29/06) India inaugurates nuclear-powered hydrogen production facility Read more
- (29/06) VARD Delivers Japan-Bound Hybrid Construction and Cable Laying Vessel Read more
Nuclear Energy
- (03/07) Nuclear can play its part in decarbonising shipping, says IMO chief Read more
- (03/07) International safety review of Finnish SMR design completed Read more
- (02/07) Action needed to achieve tripling of global nuclear capacity target, says NEA Read more
- (01/07) Russia and Rwanda hold first nuclear energy joint committee meeting Read more
- (01/07) US uranium project completes federal permitting process Read more
- (01/07) State support needed to make new Swiss reactors viable, report says Read more
- (30/06) Polish developer applies for CfD for three SMR plants Read more
- (29/06) Blykalla teams up with Hitachi for SMR deployment Read more
- (29/06) Oil and mining giants among firms exploring nuclear’s industrial use potential Read more
Ports
- (03/07) PSA to invest in new deepsea container hub in northern Vietnam Read more
- (01/07) Shenzhen Port and Bureau Veritas partner up for green shipping corridor development Read more
- (30/06) CMA CGM and Asyad Group build new Sohar terminal Read more
Navy
- (03/07) Denmark orders four marine environmental protection and minelaying vessels Read more
- (03/07) Navantia lays keel for Saudi Arabia’s eighth Avante 2200 corvette Read more
- (03/07) Saronic splashes new autonomous surface vessel Mirage Read more
- (03/07) Contracts finalized for USCG’s six Arctic security cutters Read more
- (02/07) Hanwha Ocean named preferred bidder for South Korea’s KDDX destroyer program Read more
- (02/07) HII starts fabrication of US Navy’s newest Flight III Arleigh Burke‑class destroyer Read more
- (02/07) US Navy begins inactivation of USS Alexandria after 35 years of service Read more
- (01/07) US Navy completes modernization of two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers Read more
- (01/07) Fincantieri, Albanian partners sign training pact to support naval shipbuilding Read more
- (30/06) EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW with Intel Marine: Integrating industry strengths to build tomorrow’s fleet Read more
- (30/06) Brazilian Navy’s third Tamandaré-class frigate hits the water Read more
- (30/06) GA-ASI upgrades ground control stations for MQ-9B drones Read more
- (30/06) MHI delivers Japan’s tenth Mogami-class frigate Nagara Read more
- (29/06) French Navy accepts delivery of fourth Barracuda-class submarine Read more
- (29/06) Raytheon nets $1.1B US Navy contract to produce AIM-9X Block II missiles Read more
- (29/06) Airbus, KHI to work on Japanese anti-submarine warfare variant of Eurodrone Read more
- (29/06) Poland orders three A26 submarines from Saab Read more
- (29/06) Desan Shipyard lays keel for Malaysia’s secodn multi-purpose mission vessel Read more
Global Shipping & Newbuild
- (03/07) Bangladesh’s Akij books four bulker newbuilds in China Read more
- (03/07) Wagenborg and Carisbrooke line up ice-class newbuilds in China Read more
- (03/07) Container spot rates hit four-year highs Read more
- (02/07) Tsakos expands LNG fleet with fresh HD Hyundai order Read more
- (01/07) Newbuilding Orders Going Strong Read more
- (01/07) COSCO orders 24 bulkers in $1.27bn leasing play Read more
- (30/06) Container shipping’s intra-Asia mini-peak is waning Read more
- (30/06) RS certifies India’s first indigenously-built enclosed lifeboats Read more
- (30/06) Pan Ocean keeps VLCC push rolling Read more
- (30/06) VLCC Freight Market – Q2 2026 in Review Read more
- (29/06) Cosco Shipping Energy partners Shell and Jiangnan Shipyard Read more
- (29/06) SBM Offshore places order for 13th multi-purpose floater hull to bolster its FPSO fleet Read more
- (29/06) U-Ming signs for newcastlemax newbuilds in China Read more
- (29/06) Korean shipyard moves closer to revival after nine-year hiatus Read more
- (29/06) Livestock carriers remain shipping’s worst-performing fleet Read more
- (29/06) MSC returns to megaship ordering with up to 20 new giants Read more
- (29/06) Liner networks shift away from Asia’s mega hubs Read more
Smart Maritime
- (03/07) AI is ending shipping’s copy-and-paste era Read more
- (29/06) A pathway to deploying AI in shipping Read more
Other news
- (03/07) Canada pipeline plan points to bigger Pacific tanker trade Read more
- (03/07) Tanker Market: Venezuelan Oil Market Coming Into Play Once More Read more
- (03/07) Iran tries to exert control over Hormuz with armed response warning Read more
- (02/07) US Jones Act controversy intensifies over foreign-flag vessel charters Read more
- (02/07) Hormuz dispute shifts from access to control Read more
- (02/07) The danger of stories that refuse to fade Read more
- (02/07) Pirates board and damage tanker south of Yemen Read more
- (02/07) CMA CGM buys FedEx logistics arm in $1.4bn US push Read more
- (01/07) Container ship grounded in Hormuz may have been there for months Read more
- (01/07) Australia in need of new gas investments to ensure energy security Read more
- (01/07) Shell offloads stakes in certain US Gulf deepwater oil assets for $1.7 billion Read more
- (01/07) ExxonMobil, QatarEnergy pen commercial gas discovery declaration in Cyprus Read more
- (01/07) NKT completes expansion of Danish power cable factory, over 100 new employees join Read more
- (01/07) Sanctions, uncertainty and the shadow fleet Read more
- (01/07) US targets Mexican cartel fuel smuggling Read more
- (01/07) Mercuria and Eni form global energy trading venture Read more
- (30/06) ‘World’s largest’ vertical continuous vulcanization tower under construction in US Read more
- (30/06) Maersk goes from red to black Read more
- (30/06) Machine guns spotted on Russian LNG carrier in the Baltic Read more
- (30/06) The Impact of the Iran Conflict on BAF Read more
- (30/06) Dry Bulk Carriers’ Values on the Rise Read more
- (30/06) Maersk sharply ups full year profit forecast Read more
- (29/06) Cable for Malta’s second interconnector with Sicily ready for installation Read more
- (29/06) Lightning strike sparks fire at offshore platform off Malaysia Read more
- (29/06) Hormuz is a test of trust for shipmanagers Read more
- (29/06) Norway is about to tunnel a shipping lane through a mountain Read more
- (29/06) Hormuz security in tatters as US and Iran trade fresh strikes Read more
Maritime Events Archive
- 14 July 2026 – S-100: The UK perspective | World Hydrography Day 2026 – Online
- 16 July 2026 – SMI CMG Roundtable – Maritime Nuclear Technology: Reality, Risk, Opportunity – Online & London, UK
- 26-28 August 2026 – ICMTI 2026 – Liverpool, UK
- 14-15 September 2026 – 1st Engineering CCP Conference – Oxford, UK
- 14-16 September 2026 – ICCAS 2026: International Conference on Computer Applications in Shipbuilding – Singapore
- 7 October 2026 – Women in Green Business Awards 2026 – London, UK
- 10-12 November 2026 – IMarEST | INEC/iSCSS 2026 – Edinburgh, UK
- 19 November 2026 – Euro-CASE Annual Conference 2026 – Belfast, UK
- 7-10 September 2027 – DSEI 2027 – London, UK
- 13-17 September 2027 – London International Shipping Week – London, UK
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.