GeoLocation
Zodiac Maritime has been identified as the buyer of two 174,000-cbm LNG carriers at South Korea’s Hanwha Ocean, in its first move into conventional LNG shipping. The contract, signed on 23 Sep 2026, is worth KRW680bn for the two firm ships and includes options for two more of the same size.
RCL has ordered four more container ships from CSSC Huangpu Wenchong Shipbuilding, working with China Shipbuilding Trading Co. Ltd (CSTC). The contract was signed on 29 Sep 2026 and follows Huangpu Wenchong’s recent 1,900 TEU order from Erasmus Shipinvest.
Navantia UK said it wants to lead delivery of the floating docks programme for submarine maintenance at HM Naval Base Clyde from its shipyards in Methil, Fife, and Belfast. The company backed the Chancellor’s multi-billion-pound investment in British shipbuilding and said the work would support thousands of skilled jobs across the UK supply chain.
Union Maritime has ordered nine newbuildings covering Newcastlemax and handysize bulk carriers, plus chemical and petroleum product tankers. The company did not disclose how the vessels are split across the four categories, or name the shipyards, prices, specifications or delivery dates.
Harland & Wolff Belfast has welcomed 66 new apprentices as Navantia UK steps up investment at the yard. The recruits will train across shipbuilding and support roles while Belfast prepares to assemble, commission and deliver all three Royal Fleet Auxiliary Fleet Solid Support ships.
Navantia UK said a temporary cover developed with production teams in Belfast has cut welding time on sections with drainage openings by more than half. The yard said the fix lets robots weld straight across the openings without stopping and reduces manual finishing work.
Harland & Wolff has secured what Navantia UK called its largest investment in a cruise ship revitalisation project at the Belfast yard since acquisition. Margaritaville at Sea’s flagship Beachcomber will be transformed there, with the work expected to generate about £40 million for the Belfast region.
Navantia UK has taken on 21 new apprentices at its Methil yard, lifting the site total to 75. The intake forms part of 121 apprentices hired across the company this year, as Methil also works on the Navantia UK Seahorse and a new export vessel contract.
Concordia Damen has signed a contract to build two CDS River Cruise 135 vessels for TUI River Cruises. The ships will be built at the Dutch yard and delivered in 2028, with each vessel set to carry 188 guests in 94 cabins.
Strategic Marine and Mainprize Offshore signed a protocol of delivery and acceptance for the MO15 and MO16 vessels. The agreement follows the Seawork 2024 multi-vessel contract and comes after deliveries of MO10, MO11 and the first two MO12 and MO14 Supa Swath vessels earlier this year.
Strategic Marine has signed contracts with Mainprize Offshore for two 33 metre Supa Swath crew transfer vessels. The order takes the total number of Supa Swath vessels delivered and on order to 10, with the first two units due in Q3 2027.
Strategic Marine has delivered the first two Supa Swath vessels to Mainprize Offshore under a six-vessel programme signed at Seawork in June 2024. The contract includes options for a further six units, and the vessels are intended for offshore renewables work in Europe.