Construction is underway on a next-generation 39-meter passenger ferry Incat Crowther has designed for Singapore’s Majestic Fast Ferry.

The new ferry builds on the successful first and second-generation 39-meter ferry platforms Incat Crowther has designed for the same operator.

The ferry incorporates a number of refinements developed in consultation with Majestic Fast Ferry and Indonesian shipyard PT Cahaya Samudra. 

Optimised performance and weight reduction were key design drivers, achieved through a new raked bow form and greater use of lightweight materials throughout. The vessel’s structure has also been simplified by expanding the use of extruded aluminium sections, helping to reduce the vessel’s weight and streamline build time.

Up to 20 third-generation vessels are expected to be built as part of the project, with construction on the first vessel expected to be complete by 2027.

Designed to transport 312 passengers, the new vessel is capable of speeds up to 32.5 knots, an improvement on previous 39-metre platforms. The vessel includes spacious seating and additional luggage storage options. The vessel’s main deck also includes a VIP seating area, five bathrooms – including one wheelchair accessible bathroom – and a kiosk.

The…

The American maritime industry depends on policy that supports economic growth and investment and protects national security; however, recent policy decisions have too often relied on broad administrative actions and outdated assumptions rather than modern, data-driven approaches. The extension of the Jones Act waiver and the continued use of rigid seasonal dredging windows illustrate this trend. Though distinct issues, both carry significant consequences for maritime investment, operational efficiency, and the long-term strength of the maritime industry.
 
A Brief Discussion on the Jones Act Waiver

The Jones Act (Section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act) of 1920 mandates that all vessels transporting goods between ports in the United States be built in the United States, owned by U.S. citizens, registered under the U.S. flag, and crewed by American mariners. This law has successfully protected the domestic maritime industry from foreign interference in our national and economic security. It supports national security interests by maintaining a reliable supply of trained mariners who are needed during national…

Iran’s publication of a new map asserting its control over the Strait of Hormuz risks extending an already punishing ordeal for thousands of mariners trapped on ships in the Gulf.

More than 20,000 sailors are stuck on around 2,000 vessels in the Gulf, many of them unable to leave ship, lacking adequate supplies of food and fresh water, and fearful of an uncertain future at sea in a war zone.

Sailors interviewed by Reuters in recent weeks have described the hardships and anxieties of their experience, and a federation representing them warns of dire conditions.

“The only thing we do here is plan how to spend the night and pray to God that we do not get hit during an attack,” Indian sailor Salman Siddiqui said by phone from his stranded ship last month.

ISOLATED LIVES

When Reuters travelled on a resupply boat to vessels moored off the Saudi coast this week, sailors on a tanker gathered by the handrail to wave, a rare moment of contact with the outside world.

For nearly three months, the sailors trapped in the Gulf have led isolated lives, each with a small group of shipmates, moving between tiny living quarters, communal dining areas and scorching, sun-baked decks.

Tehran closed the strait, a global oil supply route, after U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran…

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) announced the launch of the sixth edition of its benchmark publication, the Tanker Safety Guide (Chemicals). 

First published in 1971, the Tanker Safety Guide (Chemicals) is an industry reference for the safe operation of chemical tankers. This new edition provides up‑to‑date, practical guidance for those serving on board ships carrying hazardous and noxious liquid substances in bulk under MARPOL Annex II, supporting safe, compliant and pollution‑free operations.

The sixth edition incorporates substantial updates to reflect evolving industry practice, regulatory developments and the operational challenges faced by modern chemical tankers. Key new content includes:

• New guidance on Annex I to Annex II cargo changeover, featuring a detailed decision-making flowchart to support safe and efficient tank cleaning operations
• Updated enclosed space entry procedures, expanding on the latest International Maritime Organization (IMO) recommendations to improve crew safety and situational awareness
• Washing water analysis guidance, aimed at reducing unnecessary enclosed space entry 
• New recommendations on hot work hazardous zones, supporting more robust on board risk assessment
• Guidance on the safe use of shore…

The United States and French energy major TotalEnergies said on Monday they would redirect nearly $1 billion from offshore wind leases to U.S. oil and natural gas production.

The agreement marks a new strategy in the Trump administration’s wide-ranging effort to stymie development of U.S. offshore wind projects, which President Donald Trump has said he finds ugly, costly and inefficient.

His administration has moved to increase domestic fossil fuel production and scrap policies that support clean energy development.

“This agreement is yet another win for President Trump’s commitment to affordable and reliable energy for all Americans,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in a statement. “Offshore wind is one of the most expensive, unreliable, environmentally disruptive, and subsidy-dependent schemes ever forced on American ratepayers and taxpayers.”

The U.S. will reimburse Total around $1 billion that the company paid in lease purchases for offshore wind, and TotalEnergies has pledged not to develop any new offshore wind projects in the country, a U.S. Department of the Interior statement said.

An offshore wind trade group, Oceantic Network, criticized the administration for using taxpayer funds to block projects.

“This is political theater meant to…