Surveillance & Maritime News for November 2025

Concordia Damen has received a new contract from Reederei Deymann, one of Germany’s largest inland shipping companies, for the extensive refit of a dry cargo vessel, Hirschhorn. The vessel recently arrived at the Concordia Damen yard in Werkendam, where the transformation project has now started. The project marks another example of the company’s expertise in sustainable fleet renewal. The refit involves the complete renewal of the aft ship. Originally equipped with a single engine...

Dutch maritime solar innovator Wattlab has delivered a seaworthy solar energy system for globally operating shipping, trading, and maritime services company Vertom. The recently delivered ‘MV Vertom Tula’ is a 7,280 dwt diesel-electric multipurpose cargo vessel. The solar system represents a major technical milestone and a step forward for sustainable shipping. Wattlab has delivered and installed 44 Solar Flatracks that will provide power to onboard systems, reducing 20% of the hote...

Confirmation that a propulsion system retrofit is achieving fuel savings of 10 percent has persuaded Norwegian shipowner, Arriva to go ahead with its second ‘Energy & Efficiency’ project with Berg Propulsion. In January this year, long-established Berg Propulsion customer Arriva upgraded the general cargo vessel Norjarl (5,335 gt) to include Berg’s MPC800 control system and Dynamic Drive. The project sought to optimise energy use at a reduced operating speed so that t...

Technology group - Wärtsilä completed the transaction of the Marine Electrical Systems business divestment to VINCI Energies, following the agreement announced on 17 July 2025. Marine Electrical Systems, with an annual revenue of EUR 100 million in 2024, is focused on specialised and complex electrical systems integration onboard vessels. The business and all its 380 employees will transfer to VINCI Energies as of 31 October. Bernd Bertram, Head of Portfolio Business, Wärtsil&au...

The US and China reached a 12-month trade war truce this week, including lowering fentanyl tariffs by 10% and suspending port fees – but it will not halt the decline in ocean container freight rates in 2026. Average spot rates from China to US West Coast on 31 October are down 59% year-on-year at USD 2147 per FEU (40ft container). Spot rates into the US East Coast are down 48% year-on-year at USD 3044 per FEU. Declining spot rates coincide with falling volumes on Transpacific trades,...

Wallem Group, a major global maritime partner, is celebrating the centenary of moving its headquarters to Hong Kong. The celebrations will be marked by a special event on 12 November 2025 in the presence of Guest of Honour Hong Kong Finance Secretary, commemorating 100 years since the relocation – 22 years after Norwegian shipbroker and agent Haakon Wallem formed Wallem & Co. in 1903. By 1925, Haakon had earned the nickname ‘Typhoon Wallem’, reflecting his energy and busi...

Teledyne Technologies Incorporated announced the successful completion of the acquisition of the TransponderTech business from Saab AB. The newly acquired business Teledyne FLIR TransponderTech AB will join Teledyne’s Raymarine, FLIR Marine, ChartWorld and Teledyne CARIS brands, broadening the group’s maritime technology solutions. Maritime communication solutions Based outside of Linköping Sweden, the company will market its products and solutions as FLIR TransponderTech. Th...

Shipping has entered a Maritime 5.0 world defined by rapid change, artificial intelligence, advanced fuels, and digital ecosystems, where decisive leadership is critical for success. That was the message to the industry from ABS Chairman and Chief Executive, Christopher J. Wiernicki in a keynote address at the North American Marine Environment Protection (NAMEPA) Awards at SUNY Maritime College. Set of guiding principles “In this new era, change and technology will dominate our conversa...

Maritime industry pioneers explored the opportunities and critical challenges in the revitalisation of U.S. shipbuilding and maritime infrastructure at the ABS North America Regional Committee Meeting. The committee heard from ABS specialists on key regulatory, technology and market factors driving a wave of change for the global industry, making training to upskill seafarers in dynamic fuels, digital systems, and energy efficiency technologies more important than ever. Christopher J. Wiernick...

The British Ports Association (BPA) has published a new report bringing together a series of case studies from ports across the UK, highlighting the wide range of community and stakeholder projects taking place across the sector.  The report – Ports and their Communities – showcases examples from a variety of ports of all sizes and types, demonstrating how the UK ports industry is making a positive difference in their local areas. From education outreach and environm...

SD Government, the global satellite connectivity solutions provider, is making significant investments in its Tier 4 certified U.S. teleport and ground network infrastructure. The physical expansion enables SD Government to create new levels of terrestrial redundancy, bolster its military-grade cybersecurity offering, and increase capacity across its entire network. The development will also support working with multiple global carriers to optimise more geographically diverse network routes, m...