PGC DARKO KING

Eleven sailors were missing at sea on Tuesday from a ship sunk by a drone attack off the coast of Bulgaria, possibly the second deadly sinking of a cargo vessel in the area in a week, prompting Bulgaria to summon Russia's ambassador.Two cargo ships were hit by drones overnight and one was sunk, Bulgarian officials said. Bulgaria stopped short of explicitly accusing Russia of carrying out the attacks but Prime Minister Rumen Radev said their outcome "benefits the Russian Federation".There was no immediate comment from Moscow on the incidents."This is absolutely unacceptable — another attack in the immediate vicinity of Bulgarian territorial waters," Radev said in a televised address.

Bibby Marine has launched its new battery-first electric commissioning service operation vessel (eCSOV) at Armon Shipyard in Vigo, Spain, ahead of its planned delivery in 2027.The vessel, which will carry the name Staffordshire, entered the water on October 10 and will undergo further outfitting at the shipyard over the coming months, including the installation of its battery systems.Unlike conventional hybrid-assist designs, the eCSOV is designed to use its energy storage system as the primary source of power rather than as a supplementary propulsion system.

The U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command is a critical part of the United States’ national security equation, as any navy only goes as far as its supply chain allows. RADM Benjamin Nicholson, Commander, U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command, visited with Maritime Matters: The MarineLink Podcast, for a deep discussion on MSC, including changes in mariner pay and benefits that will enable it to attract and retain the seafarers it wants and needs.Military Sealift Command occupies an unusual position in the U.S. Navy enterprise.

TOTE Services, LLC, a U.S. maritime services company specializing in vessel construction management and ship management, signed a contract with the U.S. Department of Transportation - Maritime Administration (MARAD) to serve as vessel construction manager (VCM) for the Missile Range Instrumentation Vessel (MRIV) program. The MRIV will support the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) in advancing national security.  Immediately following this award, TOTE Services also executed a shipyard subcontract with Hanwha Philly Shipyard (HPSI) to construct the first MRIV. This ship will be the first in a planned series of vessels for MDA.The MRIV program was announced this summer by U.S.

Asia LNG Transport (ALT), a joint venture between NYK and MISC Berhad, has signed a long-term time-charter contract with Malaysia LNG for a newbuild liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier that will transport LNG to Japan.The vessel will be constructed by Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding in China, with delivery scheduled for 2028.Following delivery, the carrier will be deployed in LNG transportation services to Japan under the charter agreement.The vessel will have a cargo tank capacity of 18,700 cubic meters and will be equipped with a dual-fuel diesel-electric (DFDE) propulsion system.It will measure approximately 129.8 meters in length and 25.4 meters in beam.