THARSIS

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.

The U.S. has seized a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, President Donald Trump said on Wednesday, a move that sent oil prices higher and sharply escalated tensions between Washington and Caracas"We've just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela, large tanker, very large, largest one ever, actually, and other things are happening," said Trump, who has been pressuring Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to step down.Asked what would happen with the oil, Trump said: "We keep it, I guess."Trump has repeatedly raised the possibility of U.S. military intervention in Venezuela.

Japan Engine Corporation (J-ENG) has commenced development of the methanol-fueled engine, UEC50LSJM. Following the completion of its first ammonia-fueled engine, 7UEC50LSJA, in August of this year, J-ENG is also working on the development of the hydrogen-fueled engine, 6UEC35LSGH. The aim is to have the engine complete within fiscal year 2027.Methanol is a low-carbon fuel that has the effect of reducing GHG (Greenhouse Gas) emissions, as well as sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter.

Morocco's leading port operator, Marsa Maroc, said on Tuesday it signed a deal to acquire a 45% stake in Spain's Boluda Maritime Terminals (BMT), a branch of Spain's Boluda Corporacion Maritima for 80 million euros ($94.01 million).The deal, approved by Marsa Maroc's board, is subject to regulatory clearance, the company said in a statement.BMT handled more than 1 million containers in 2024 through its nine terminals across mainland Spain and the Canary Islands.The acquisition would enable Marsa Maroc International Logistics (MMIL), the group's international expansion, to strengthen its positioning on the Spain-Morocco corridor, it added.