EXPRESS

The official steel cutting ceremony for the third commissioning service operation vessel (CSOV) Vard is building for Rem Offshore has been held in Vietnam earlier in July, marking the start of construction for the vessel set for delivery in late 2026.The first steel for the vessel was cut on July 1 at Vard Vung Tau shipyard in Vietnam.The vessel NB 983 is the sister vessel to the NB 948 vessel, named REM Wind, that was delivered to REM Offshore in April 2024, which followed the delivery of REM Power vessel a year earlier.The CSOV is tailored to provide services during the construction, operation, and maintenance of offshore wind farms worldwide. The vessel’s size is 85 m by 19.

Dutch maritime solar innovator Wattlab has delivered a solar energy system for HGK Shipping’s inland shipping cargo vessel Blue Marlin. The vessel’s 192 solar panels will provide power to both the onboard and propulsion systems, making the Blue Marlin the first inland shipping vessel in the world capable of hybrid sailing with solar power. HGK Shipping is a European inland waterway shipping company operating a fleet of 350 vessels. With annual freight figures in the region of 43 million tons, HGK Shipping is considered to be a leading player in European dry bulk, gas and chemical transport.

President Donald Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' earmarks more than $8.6 billion to increase the U.S. Coast Guard icebreaker fleet in the Arctic, where Washington hopes to counter rising Russian and Chinese dominance.The funding includes $4.3 billion for up to three new heavy Coast Guard Polar Security Cutters, $3.5 billion for medium Arctic Security Cutters, and $816 million for procurement of additional light and medium icebreaking cutters.President Trump has been pushing to revive U.S. shipbuilding to counter China's growing strength in maritime manufacturing and naval dominance.

A Greek-operated bulk carrier, Magic Seas, sustained severe damage in a multi-pronged attack off the coast of Yemen on Sunday, believed to have been carried out by Houthi militants. All 19 crew members aboard were safely rescued and are expected to arrive in Djibouti later Monday, according to the ship’s operator, Stem Shipping.However, Magic Seas, a Liberian-flagged vessel transporting iron and fertilizers from China to Turkey, is now at risk of sinking, Stem Shipping representative Michael Bodouroglou said. The attack marked the first major maritime assault in the Red Sea corridor since mid-April.

Israel has attacked Houthi targets in three Yemeni ports and a power plant, the Israeli military said early on Monday, marking the first Israeli attack on Yemen in almost a month.The strikes on Hodeidah, Ras Isa and Salif ports, and Ras Qantib power plant were due to repeated Houthi attacks on Israel, the military added.Hours after the strikes, the Israeli military said two missiles were launched from Yemen and attempts were made to intercept them, but the results of interception were still under review.The Israeli ambulance service said it had not received any calls regarding missile impacts or casualties following the launches from Yemen.