LAUREN HANSEN

The U.S. inland waterways don’t just move cargo — they move people into long-term, well-paid careers. At a time when trucking and rail struggle with shortages, turnover, and burnout, inland waterways operators quietly offer something different: a job you can start without experience, a career you can grow into, and a paycheck that gets better every step of the way.A new study commissioned by the National Waterways Foundation and conducted by the Texas A&M Transportation Instituteputs hard numbers behind what operators and mariners have known for decades.

Amon Maritime was awarded investment grants of NOK 298 million ($29m) from Enova to support the construction of three new ammonia-fueled bulk carriers.The vessels, each in the Kamsarmax segment with a capacity of approximately 80,000–85,000 DWT, are designed to combine high energy efficiency with carbon free fuel. Fully aligned with the requirements of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and the FuelEU Maritime regulation, they are designed for the future, delivering strong economics under the evolving regulatory regime while ensuring compliance with ambitious climate targets.

MPC Container Ships (MPCC) has entered into contracts with Taizhou Sanfu Ship Engineering in China for the construction of six 3,700 TEU container vessels scheduled for first delivery in second half of 2028.Each vessel will operate under a 10-year time charter, with extension options, to a top five liner company.The vessels are based on the newest design, which optimizes speed and fuel consumption for regional and feeder trades, while keeping enough flexibility to shift between trade lanes as markets evolve.

Ukraine's navy accused Russia of deliberately attacking a civilian Turkish vessel carrying sunflower oil to Egypt with a drone on Saturday, a day after Moscow hit two Ukrainian ports.In a statement on Telegram, the navy said the vessel was called the Viva and had 11 Turkish citizens on board. It added that nobody was hurt and the vessel was continuing its journey to Egypt."The strike was carried out in the open sea in Ukraine's exclusive economic zone, outside the range of Ukrainian air defence systems," the statement said, accusing Russia of breaching maritime laws.The navy said it was in contact with the ship's captain.

According to Veson Nautical’s 2025 End-of-Year Market Report, a report which breaks down prevailing trends in all major oceangoing shipping sectors globally, these are the prevailing trends shipowners should watch in 2026.1. Routing Normalization vs. Geopolitical RealityMuch of 2025’s earnings strength—especially in containers, crude tankers and dry bulk—was driven by longer voyages around the Cape of Good Hope. Any sustained return to Suez transits in 2026 would compress ton-mile demand quickly. Owners should plan for volatility rather than assume a clean reversion to pre-Red Sea norms.2.