MAERSK PALERMO

In the ever-evolving world of maritime trade, ship ownership is a key indicator of economic influence and global commerce. As we enter 2025, Veson Nautical offers its Top 10 Ship Owning Nations, offering a detailed analysis of fleet values and industry shifts. This year, China has surged to the top, overtaking Japan in total fleet value, while geopolitical events and shifting market dynamics continue to shape the rankings.Let’s take a closer look at the global giants of ship ownership and the forces driving their dominance.1.

CORE POWER (US) Inc. has engaged with Glosten to help its team design a floating nuclear power plant (FNPP) to power U.S. ports. Created by CORE POWER, the FNPP concept is a nearshore infrastructure system that includes a barge-based nuclear power plant, barge support services, electrical grid integration, and operational teams. Easy to transport and rapidly deploy, the FNPP will provide an estimated 175GWh of clean electricity per year. The FNPP connection will allow ports to achieve zero-emissions electrical generation for visiting ships, terminal cranes and equipment, and port vehicles.See related article: ABS issues rules for Floating Nuclear Power Plants.

Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp. has entered into two definitive agreements with unaffiliated third parties in Japan for the purchase of a Japanese-built Newcastlemax vessel and a bareboat charter with a purchase obligation for one Japanese-built Capesize vessel, for approximately $69 million.The Newcastlemax was built in 2013 at Imabari Shipbuilding, Saijo Shipyard, and has a cargo-carrying capacity of approximately 207,851 deadweight tons (dwt).The vessel will be renamed Meiship and is expected to be delivered within the first quarter of 2025, subject to customary closing conditions, the Greek shipowner said. The Capesize was built in 2011 at Mitsui SB and has a capacity of 178,459 dwt.

The crew of the Hong Kong-flagged ASL Bauhinia have abandoned the container ship in the Red Sea after it caught fire on Tuesday, two maritime sources said, adding the cause of the incident was not immediately clear.The crew were rescued by another vessel and are safe, the sources said, adding that the incident took place in the open sea off Yemen.The Shanghai-based manager of ASL Bauhinia, Asean Seas Line, was not immediately available for comment.Earlier this month, Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militia said the group would limit their attacks on commercial vessels sailing through the Red Sea to Israel-linked ships provided the Gaza ceasefire is fully implemented.

This episode of Maritime Matters: The MarineLink Podcast, delves into the critical importance of the inland waterways infrastructure in the U.S., focusing on the Chickamauga Lock Project on the Tennessee River. A trio of experts – Tracy Zea, President & CEO of WCI; Elizabeth Burks, USACE Nashville Division Chief; and Capt. Joe Cotton, Project Manager, Chickamauga Lock Project – discuss the current state of the inland waterways, the history and significance of the Chickamauga Lock, and the ongoing efforts to modernize this essential infrastructure.Key PointsThere are 12,000 navigable miles of inland waterways in the U.S.80% of locks are past their 50-year design life, increasing failure risk.