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Japan taps public-private funds for shipbuilding, eyeing next-generation vessels

The Japan Times

Nippon Yusen and other companies aim to complete the world's first ammonia-fueled medium gas carrier for international shipping in November. Japan's public and private sectors are stepping up joint efforts to revive the nation's struggling shipbuilding industry. Last year, the transport ministry drew up a road map for revitalizing Japan's shipbuilding sector, setting a target of doubling shipbuilding volume by 2035 from the 2024 level. The plan calls for ¥1 trillion in combined public-and private-sector investment. In addition to capital spending, the road map aims to strengthen the industry as a whole by improving productivity through the use of robots and artificial intelligence technology, while also developing human resources. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever.


Nuclear molten salt could power future cargo ships

Popular Science

These experimental ship designs rely on smaller nd potentially safer molten salt nuclear reactors. More information Adding us as a Preferred Source in Google by using this link indicates that you would like to see more of our content in Google News results. A graphic rendering of a containership that is powered by small modular nuclear reactors. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy .


What Is the Status of the Strait of Hormuz?

TIME - Tech

Follow this section to personalize your feed and get instant alerts. Follow Go to your personalized feed WHY FOLLOW? Smart Alerts: Get notified about major news as it happens. Follow this tag to personalize your feed and get instant alerts. Follow Go to your personalized feed WHY FOLLOW? Smart Alerts: Get notified about major news as it happens.


Witkoff and Kushner in Doha to Meet Mediators, But No High-Level Talks Set With Iran, Says Qatar

TIME - Tech

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US conducts retaliatory strikes on Iran after second shipping attack

BBC News

The US has conducted new strikes on Iran, following a drone attack on a Panama-flagged vessel in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday. US Central Command (Centcom) said it hit multiple targets across Iran in direct response to continued aggression against commercial shipping, including military equipment, communication systems, air defense sites and drone storage facilities. Iran was given a chance to honor the ceasefire agreement but elected not to when its forces launched a one-way attack drone that hit MT Kiku, a Panama-flagged tanker, it said in a statement. Commercial vessels are continuing to operate in the Strait of Hormuz, Centcom said. Iran is yet to comment on the latest strikes. The latest strikes come less than a day after the US launched retaliatory strikes on Iran that it said were in response to a drone attack on Singapore-flagged cargo ship, MV Ever Lovely, on 25 June.


DHL explores familiar shipping option: wind power

Popular Science

French start-up VELA claims its massive sailboat can move 415 metric tons across the Atlantic, using only the wind. More information Adding us as a Preferred Source in Google by using this link indicates that you would like to see more of our content in Google News results. The three-hulled design increases stability and helps it cut through open ocean swells. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy .


Apache helicopter gunships showed off their power cleaning up the Strait of Hormuz

FOX News

Apache helicopters are playing a major role in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, policing shipping lanes despite the combat loss of one gunship to an Iranian drone.


Inverse Control Constrained Optimization of Vessel Speed Decisions Under Environmental Risk: Evidence from Arctic Shipping

arXiv.org Machine Learning

Understanding how decision makers balance operational efficiency with environmental and ecological risks is central to vessel navigation. We model vessel speed as a control variable in a constrained optimization framework in which vessel operators balance multiple competing objectives, including transit efficiency, ice related navigational risk, and whale related ecological risk. The underlying risk parameters are estimated using over 14 million Automatic Identification System (AIS) observations from the United States Arctic (2010-2019), together with environmental covariates and spatially explicit whale density estimates. The framework incorporates a nonlinear risk objective, vessel heterogeneity, and regularization to ensure stable and interpretable results.The inferred trade offs reveal distinct decision making patterns across vessel groups and navigational statuses. Vessel types such as Tug Tow and Cargo balance operational speed with environmental and ecological considerations. In contrast, several vessel groups, including Fishing, Passenger, and Unspecified vessels, are strongly influenced by ice related risk, while Pleasure Craft and Tankers exhibit higher sensitivity to whale related risk. Across navigational status categories, similar heterogeneity is observed. The dominant status, under way using engine, displays a clear trade off, whereas other statuses, such as aground and undefined, are strongly shaped by ice related constraints. Statuses including restricted maneuverability and engaged in fishing exhibit higher estimated sensitivity to whale related risk, though with substantial uncertainty.Sensitivity analysis indicates that increasing whale-related risk weighting produces limited changes in model-implied optimal speed, whereas increasing ice-related risk leads to more consistent reductions.


New Zealand to invest in drones and fleet to shield maritime routes

The Japan Times

A Philippine Navy band plays music to welcome the Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Te Kaha upon arrival at the South Harbor, for a four-day goodwill visit in metro Manila in April 2017. New Zealand intends to spend about 1.6 billion New Zealand dollars ($936 million) on drones, ship maintenance and naval upgrades to bolster the island nation's maritime security at a time of increasing concern about supply routes. Defense Minister Chris Penk said Saturday that the government will invest in two types of drones: one for the southwest Pacific to provide long-duration intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; the other is a polar-capable vehicle that can operate from naval vessels in the Southern Ocean. "New Zealand's prosperity and security depend on the sea," Penk said in a statement. "Recent events have served as a reminder of how quickly disruptions to international shipping routes can affect economies and supply chains across the globe. The oceans are not a barrier to danger, but a vital national interest that must be actively secured."


US-Iran ceasefire under strain as Gulf states report drone attacks

Al Jazeera

How well do you know Iran? A fragile ceasefire in the US-Israel war on Iran is coming under growing strain as several Gulf countries have reported drone attacks. Qatar said on Sunday that a drone struck a cargo ship in Qatari waters, sparking a fire, while Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates said they repelled drone attacks. Qatar's Ministry of Defence said the freighter had been arriving in the country's waters from the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, and was hit by a drone northeast of the port of Mesaieed. "The vessel continued its journey toward Mesaieed Port after the fire was brought under control," the ministry said. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a bulk carrier reported being struck by an "unknown projectile", and a small fire had been extinguished, but there were no casualties from the incident.