CAVALCADE

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and five other HD Hyundai affiliates are embarking on the development of a robot and data-based integrated hull management solution that automates the entire process—from hull diagnosis to cleaning and performance verification—for the first time in the shipbuilding industry.HD Hyundai Heavy Industries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the joint development and commercialization of the "Total Hull Care Solution" with affiliates HD Korea Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering, HD Hyundai Robotics, HD Hyundai Marine Solution, and Avicus, as well as with KCC, a specialist in marine paints, and TAS Global, a specialist in underwater robots.

ABS, Polaris Shipping, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and autonomous navigation solutions provider AVIKUS have signed a four-party Concept Study Agreement for the implementation of a Conditional Unmanned Bridge.Under the agreement, the parties will jointly develop an autonomous navigation concept enabling unmanned bridge operation during deep-sea voyages, when defined conditions are met, on one of Polaris Shipping's 325K Very Large Ore Carriers (VLOCs).The concept is not a fully unmanned operation across the entire voyage. Rather, it is a phased autonomous navigation concept under which the bridge is left unmanned only under specific low-risk conditions, such as open-ocean passage.

British commandos boarded and intercepted a sanctioned Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in the Channel on Sunday, leading for the first time an operation to disrupt the oil revenue that helps fund Russia's war in Ukraine.The vessel Smyrtos, sailing under a Cameroonian flag, was boarded by Royal Marine Commandos and National Crime Agency (NCA) officials in the early hours on Sunday, with support from Chinook helicopters and other aircraft, a frigate and a minehunter."This successful operation delivers yet another blow to Russia and reminds those fuelling Putin's war in Ukraine that we will not let them hide," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a post on X.

The Netherlands Coast Guard has appointed Klaasjan Schipper as its new director, succeeding Nicole Kuipers, who led the organization since 2022.Schipper officially assumed the role on June 17 during a handover ceremony in Den Helder, becoming the tenth director in the Coast Guard's history. A Royal Netherlands Navy officer, he takes charge at a time of significant organizational and operational change for the agency.In his first remarks as director, Schipper emphasized the importance of collaboration and engagement with Coast Guard personnel and partner organizations as he works to strengthen the organization and prepare it for future challenges.

NYK Bulkship (Asia) Pte. Ltd. (“NBAsia”), a Singapore-based company of the NYK Group, has concluded a time-charter contract with JERA Co., Inc. for two very large gas carriers (VLGCs)* from NBAsia to JERA. The contract follows continued discussions and evaluations conducted under a memorandum of understanding signed in 2022 and heads of agreements reached in December 2025.The two VLGCs covered by the Contract are expected to transport low‑carbon ammonia produced in the U.S. state of Louisiana to JERA’s Hekinan Thermal Power Station (Hekinan City, Aichi Prefecture).