J.BERGVOLL

Fincantieri and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCL) have signed a multi-billion dollar agreement for the construction of four new cruise ships.With a gross tonnage of approximately 226,000 tons, the new units will be the largest ever built for NCL.The ships will be built at the Fincantieri Monfalcone shipyard, with the first unit to be delivered in 2030 and the others to follow in 2032, 2034, and 2036.Fincantieri deemed the contract ‘very important’, which means its value exceeds $2 billion. According to media reports citing sources close to the matter, the value of the contract is over $9 billion.The firm order follows the letter of intent the companies signed in April 2024.

U.S. President Donald Trump will restore his "maximum pressure" campaign on Iran and drive its oil exports down to zero, a U.S. official said on Tuesday.Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz for traffic as a retaliation for Western pressure. That would shut down the region's trade and lead to a spike in oil prices.The Streit of Hormuz & OilThe strait lies between Oman and Iran and links the Gulf north of it with the Gulf of Oman to the south and the Arabian Sea beyond.It is 21 miles (33 km) wide at its narrowest point, with the shipping lane just two miles (three km) wide in either direction.

In what should be a surprise to no one, the Chinese maritime industry continued its dominance in 2024, with the nation’s vessel orderbook surpassing $123 billion. Data from VesselsValue reveals a strong year for both Chinese shipowners and shipbuilders, with significant investments across various vessel sectors.Chinese Ship Owning MarketAmong Chinese shipowners, China Merchants Shipping led the way with orders for 28 new vessels, worth an estimated $4.4 billion. This investment was primarily directed toward the Tanker and LNG sectors, each accounting for approximately 33% of the total orders, with additional investments in Bulk Carriers and Vehicle Carriers.

Container shipping firm Hapag-Lloyd has secured long-term financing, in the amount of $4 billion, for 24 large container ships ordered in October 2024, with a combined capacity of 312,000 TEU.Around $900 million of the purchase price will be financed using the company’s own funds. A total of $500 million will be made available from two banks in the form of bilateral mortgage loans.Another part, in the amount of $1.8 billion, will be financed via three leasing structures, and $1.1 billion will be financed via a syndicated credit facility backed by the China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation (Sinosure).

The United States' maritime coastal security poses a significant challenge due to the vastness of its coastline and the complexity of its maritime borders. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Geodetic Survey there are approximately 95,000 miles of coastline. According to the Department of Homeland Security 2007 Transportation Systems publication there are “361 ports, and 3.3 million square miles of Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) to secure”. The country's maritime borders present a formidable task for security agencies.