INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR WOMEN IN MARITIME: PROMOTING GENDER EQUALITY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF VIETNAM’S MARITIME INDUSTRY I. Introduction   The maritime industry plays a vital role in global trade, transporting approximately 90% of the world’s cargo volume. However, this is a field where gender imbalance remains significant. Recognizing the importance of empowering women and promoting […]

THE U.S. SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY VS. CHINA: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE TANKER SEGMENT AMID NEW USTR RULES ​As of mid-April 2025, the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has finalized and refined its Section 301 maritime policy, significantly altering the landscape for vessels linked to China. The updated regulations, set to take effect on October 14, 2025, now impose […]

RESEARCH REPORT ON THE USE OF STARLINK SATELLITE INTERNET ON SHIPS AND COMPARISON WITH OTHER INTERNET CONNECTION OPTIONS 1. Introduction  In the modern maritime context, internet connectivity on ships has become a key factor, far beyond the role of a conventional utility. An increasing number of onboard applications and activities require a high-speed and stable […]

ANALYSIS OF THE GLOBAL SEAFARER SHORTAGE AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS Executive Summary The global maritime industry is facing a serious and escalating challenge: a shortage of qualified seafarers, particularly at the officer level. This shortage not only threatens the stability and efficiency of global supply chains, which depend heavily on maritime transport, but is also being […]

WMU STUDY ON SEAFARERS’ WORK AND REST HOURS ONBOARD SHIPS This study confirms previous findings that underreporting of working hours or “adjustment” of work/rest hour records is a widespread practice in the maritime industry, forming what is referred to as a “culture of adjustment.” Root Cause The study identifies insufficient manning levels as the root […]

GLOBAL MARITIME TRENDS 2050 REPORT The Global Maritime Trends 2050 report, conducted by Economist Impact and supported by Lloyd’s Register Foundation and Lloyd’s Register, aims to explore potential futures for the maritime industry by 2050. The study draws on desk-based research and 16 in-depth interviews with maritime and policy experts. It seeks to understand how […]

SUMMARY OF THE BOOK “MARITIME DIGITALIZATION AND DECARBONIZATION: A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE” This book is a compilation of papers and research presented during the 2024 World Maritime University (WMU) Maritime Week. It focuses on two key transformational trends shaping the future of the global maritime sector: digitalization and decarbonization, with the goal of achieving a sustainable […]

IMO REGULATORY UPDATE: IN-DEPTH ANALYSIS OF THE PFOS BAN IN SHIPBOARD FIRE-FIGHTING SYSTEMS EFFECTIVE FROM 01 JANUARY 2026 I. Introduction: IMO Directive on Phasing Out PFOS in Maritime Fire-Fighting Systems Amid growing global concern over the environmental and health impacts of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), the international maritime community is taking decisive steps to mitigate […]

TANKERS: VLCCS SLIGHTLY HIGHER LAST WEEK Clean LR2 MEG LR2’s have been in notable demand this week, as a result freight levels have spiked. The TC1 75kt MEG/Japan index jumped up 21.67 points to WS151.67 and TC20 90kt MEG/UK-Continent assessment climbed $512,500 to $3.89m with $3.9m reported on subjects twice at time of writing. West […]

RUSSIAN OIL DELIVERY TAKES SEVEN TIMES LONGER AFTER SANCTIONS The delivery of a two-million-barrel cargo of Russian oil to China took seven times longer than it would have done prior to a round of US sanctions imposed on Moscow back in January. The drawn out delivery of Sokol crude from Russia’s Sakhalin 1 project into Chinese storage […]