MarRI-UK Maritime Round Up #119

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April 2026
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Xue Xu

Welcome to the MarRI-UK weekly roundup!

Last week saw escalating geopolitical risk dominate maritime markets, with a US blockade of Iranian ports triggering Iranian threats of wider disruption and early signs of rerouted trade flows. This raises immediate concerns for energy security, freight volatility, and naval tensions. The UK advanced offshore wind and nuclear ambitions, including a 1.5GW project approval and SMR progress, reinforcing net-zero strategy. Industry signals highlight LNG as the most deployable near-term marine fuel, while wind propulsion gains traction. Defence and surveillance activity intensified, particularly around subsea and offshore assets. Globally, strong shipbuilding orders contrast with uncertainty over decarbonisation pathways and supply chain resilience.

This week’s highlight

  • The 9th MTPC will be held at University of Strathclyde, Glasgow on 15-17 June 2026.
  • US blockade of Iranian ports comes into force Read more
  • Iran threatens wider blockade Read more
  • Industry landscape and global trade priorities: A strategic overview Read more

MarRI-UK Member’s and Partner’s News

  • (16/04) QinetiQ’s aerial tribute to iconic Spitfire Read more
  • (14/04) New report finds LNG remains cruise shipping’s most deployable decarbonisation option Read more
  • (13/04) BMT appoints Mark Steel to lead regional capability across UK & Europe Read more
  • (13/04) Babcock to continue supporting Royal Navy’s surface ships Read more
  • (30/03) Through the Porthole: Rediscovering the Library’s Ship Models Read more

UK Maritime

  • (16/04) UK approves 1.5GW offshore wind farm off Lincolnshire coast Read more
  • (15/04) 80 Turbines Installed at Sofia Offshore Wind Farm Read more
  • (15/04) UK’s Railway Owner-Operator Buys Power from Gwynt y Môr Offshore Wind Farm Read more
  • (15/04) Russian naval vessel spotted hanging around UK offshore wind farms Read more
  • (15/04) VTOL drone demonstrates submarine tracking capabilities for Royal Navy Read more
  • (15/04) UKAEA sets out fusion strategy for coming years Read more
  • (15/04) UK scientists unite for seabed survey off the south‑west coast Read more
  • (15/04) AF Gruppen buys Acteon business to expand its decom and offshore wind offering Read more
  • (15/04) Anemoi and NACKS Rotor Sail integration design for Ultramax segment receives AiP from Class NK Read more
  • (15/04) MastChain: Ship tracking enters the sharing economy Read more
  • (14/04) Cadeler’s New M-Class Vessel Takes Over Turbine Installation in Poland as Wind Osprey Moves to UK’s East Anglia Three Read more
  • (14/04) Evolve Energy Buys Race Bank Offshore Wind Farm Power from Shell Read more
  • (13/04) Rolls-Royce welcomes landmark contract with UK Government for delivery of Small Modular Reactors Read more
  • (13/04) HENSOLDT UK Secures Two Contracts for 50 Coastal Surveillance Radars Read more
  • (13/04) UKEF secures £128 million submarine rescue deals with Indonesia Read more
  • (13/04) First ROVs deployed from Boskalis’ new remote operations center Read more
  • (13/04) BP widens its oil & gas horizons in Namibian waters with three blocks Read more
  • (13/04) Geotechnical Investigations Coming Up at 1 GW Bowdun Offshore Wind Site Read more
  • (10/04) Maritime Multi Link milestone unlocks next-generation communications for Royal Navy fleet Read more

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

Events Highlight

Publication

  • Paving the way for safe hydrogen shipping Read more
  • Alarm management in focus, assessing digital maturity and advancing hydrogen shipping Read more
  • Understanding the potential for marine AI transformation Read more
  • Delivering with confidence in China Read more
  • From research to regulation: Alarm management reaches the IMO Read more
  • Incident and Crisis Management – Actionable information and decision support when seconds count Read more
  • GCMD Impact Report 2025 Read more

Global Maritime News

Offshore Renewable Energy

  • (16/04) US Company Granted Offshore Wind Survey Licence in Vietnam Read more
  • (15/04) Swedish firm looking to deploy its hybrid ocean energy platform in Costa Rica Read more
  • (14/04) Both Nordseecluster A Offshore Substations In Place Read more
  • (14/04) TGS wins new offshore wind survey contract in Europe Read more
  • (14/04) Vineyard Wind files lawsuit to block GE exit from 800MW offshore wind project Read more
  • (13/04) Polish Gov’t Flags Low Domestic Share in Offshore Wind as It Rolls Out Local Content Framework Read more
  • (10/04) Van Oord Installs All Monopiles at Hollandse Kust West VI, Completes ‘Industry’s First’ Silent Installation Read more

Clean Maritime

  • (17/04) Pacific Basin drops methanol dual-fuel orders in newbuild rethink Read more
  • (16/04) Schottel equips two Spanish hybrid tankers with propulsion Read more
  • (16/04) First-ever global study reveals wind propulsion can cut fleet-wide emissions today but only with stronger policy action Read more
  • (15/04) CCS exploration drilling ops cleared for launch offshore Japan Read more
  • (15/04) OneSubsea and TOYO to explore CCS opportunities in Southeast Asia Read more
  • (15/04) South Korean giant taps Wärtsilä for very large ethane carrier pair Read more
  • (14/04) Net zero by 2050? This decade’s fuel choices will decide Read more
  • (13/04) Vale and Shandong Shipping unveil ethanol-powered ore carriers Read more
  • (13/04) Econowind unveils larger sails for deepsea ships Read more
  • (13/04) Deal positions Hong Kong firm as bridge for China’s green methanol exports Read more

Nuclear Energy

  • (16/04) Application lodged to build microreactor at US university Read more
  • (16/04) Growing recognition of nuclear fuel cycle’s importance, WNFC hears Read more
  • (15/04) Grohnde nuclear fuel transfer completed Read more
  • (15/04) Bulgarian repository officially opened Read more
  • (15/04) Outer dome installed at Changjiang unit 4 Read more
  • (14/04) Dutch nuclear new-build partnership announced Read more
  • (14/04) US Air Force names potential SMR hosts Read more
  • (14/04) SGE to cooperate with Spanish fuel manufacturers Read more
  • (14/04) Swedish state to take stake in nuclear development firm Read more
  • (13/04) Third unit at Korea’s Saeul plant starts up Read more
  • (13/04) First-of-a-kind microreactor test bed open for business Read more
  • (13/04) Podcast: China’s ambitious plans for new nuclear capacity Read more

Ports

Navy

  • (16/04) First phase of US Navy’s LSM program kicks off Read more
  • (16/04) World’s largest warship breaks record for longest modern deployment Read more
  • (16/04) Australia rolls out decade-long $425B defense investment plan Read more
  • (16/04) Indra to equip Type 212CD submarines with electronic warfare and radar systems Read more
  • (16/04) Pakistan Navy conducts live-fire test of indigenous anti-ship ballistic missile Read more
  • (16/04) Another US aircraft carrier struck by onboard fire Read more
  • (15/04) Australian Navy names autonomous systems unit Read more
  • (15/04) US Navy awards $183M repair contract for USS Truxtun following collision at sea Read more
  • (15/04) Fincantieri delivers multi-purpose support vessel to Italian Navy Read more
  • (15/04) Iranian-flagged vessel tries to evade US Navy blockade in Strait of Hormuz Read more
  • (15/04) TKMS and Navantia ink MOU to explore naval cooperation Read more
  • (14/04) TKMS forges new industrial partnership for Canadian Navy’s submarine program Read more
  • (14/04) Navantia signs maintenance deal for Turkish Navy’s flagship TCG Anadolu Read more
  • (14/04) Freire Shipyard launches new diving support vessel for Spanish Navy Read more
  • (14/04) MBDA’s AKERON LP wraps up test against moving sea target Read more
  • (14/04) Shipbuilding majors discuss expanded naval collaboration in Canada Read more
  • (14/04) CENTCOM: More than 10K troops, 12 warships shut down access to Iranian ports Read more
  • (13/04) US Navy’s new Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer enters service Read more
  • (13/04) Metal Shark completes deliveries under US Navy 40PB Flight 1 program Read more
  • (13/04) US Navy to retire USS Boise, redirect funds for new submarine classes Read more
  • (13/04) Contract awarded for design of Canadian Coast Guard’s mid-shore multi-mission vessels Read more

Global Shipping & Newbuild

  • (17/04) COSCO adds panamax tankers to orderbook Read more
  • (17/04) Seaspan breaks into MPP segment with four newbuilds Read more
  • (17/04) Yangzijiang Maritime places major VLCC bet with eight-ship order Read more
  • (16/04) Vessel order change: 4 conventional Ultramax and 6 Handysize newbuildings on shipbuilding menu Read more
  • (16/04) Wah Kwong targets bulk fleet growth with dedicated arm Read more
  • (16/04) Middle East conflict to redesign container trade flows Read more
  • (16/04) Marielena Procopiou tanker venture enters suezmax segment with China order Read more
  • (16/04) Wah Kwong spins off dry bulk arm with 60-ship target Read more
  • (16/04) Financing, innovation, and sustainability in global shipping Read more
  • (15/04) Norse Shipholding orders container ships at Fujian Shipbuilding Read more
  • (15/04) Samsung Heavy Industries handpicks GTT for LNG vessel’s tank design Read more
  • (15/04) UAE firm to enrich fleet with two LNG carriers by 2027, first vessel deal now in the bag Read more
  • (15/04) Ernst Russ moves into tankers with four-ship newbuild deal Read more
  • (15/04) Greek Ship Owners Increase Newbuilding Orders Read more
  • (14/04) Bangladesh in ship recycling pole position but supply remains weak Read more
  • (14/04) Cosco Shipping Bulk launches first container service Read more
  • (14/04) Hull assembly starts for Asso.subsea’s new cable layer as keel is laid Read more
  • (14/04) MSC hits 1,000 boxships Read more
  • (13/04) Chinese bulker owner Yangpu Zhongxin doubles down on tankers Read more
  • (13/04) Vafias makes VLCC comeback with South Korea order Read more
  • (13/04) VLCC newbuild bonanza smashes two-decade-old annual record in just six months Read more

Smart Maritime

  • (17/04) Fugro unveils new ROV test pool in Singapore Read more
  • (15/04) Insurers herald ‘paradigm change’ in safety with Orca AI’s platform Read more

Other news

  • (17/04) Africa’s unwanted war Read more
  • (17/04) US widens Hormuz blockade net as dark fleet hunted across Pacific Read more
  • (17/04) Iran VLCC and US govt military vessel sail past each other Read more
  • (17/04) U.S. natural gas exports to grow nearly 30% by 2027 as LNG facilities ramp up Read more
  • (16/04) War adds to US supply chain uncertainty, impact not drastic yet Read more
  • (16/04) US targets dark fleet, contraband cargoes with blockade extension Read more
  • (16/04) Vår Energi pushes Barents Sea expansion with $360m project Read more
  • (16/04) Global compensation regime nears for hazardous cargoes Read more
  • (16/04) The end of the Hormuz bargain Read more
  • (15/04) Norway eyes enhanced oil & gas recovery projects to boost production Read more
  • (15/04) Industry alliance launches platform to tackle sexual misconduct at sea Read more
  • (15/04) Four centuries of maritime freedom at stake Read more
  • (15/04) Seven key signals: Venezuela trade flows — an update Read more
  • (15/04) Six vessels turned around by US blockade of Iran ports Read more
  • (14/04) IEA cuts oil outlook on ‘largest disruption in history’ Read more
  • (14/04) Cranemaster raises the bar with the world’s largest 3000T Passive Heave Compensator with Heerema pushing the limits of offshore heavy lifting Read more
  • (14/04) Installation of two Argentina FLNGs goes to CoreMarine and Jumbo Read more
  • (14/04) ‘Silver tsunami’ drives surge in shipping claims Read more
  • (14/04) Singapore stands firm on freedom of navigation Read more
  • (14/04) TotalEnergies teams with Turkish Petroleum on Black Sea exploration Read more
  • (13/04) Petrobras strikes fresh deepwater hydrocarbon discovery in Brazil Read more
  • (13/04) TotalEnergies finds more hydrocarbons offshore Congo Read more
  • (13/04) Crews trapped between duty and danger Read more
  • (13/04) 22-year-old aframax sets $33m record Read more
  • (13/04) Sweden detains bulker carrying Russian coal to Spain Read more
  • (13/04) Trump’s blockade brinkmanship fuels oil surge Read more
  • (13/04) Fire extinguished on Evergreen container ship in Singapore Read more
  • (10/04) Gulf of Suez oil output on the rise as new well joins in on the action Read more

Maritime Events Archive

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