Maritime news . Week 17
India’s First International Cruise Terminal Opens In Mumbai
India’s first international cruise terminal located at Mumbai’s Ballard Pier in Mazgaon, was inaugurated today, April 21, 2025 by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal.
The terminal is developed by the Mumbai Port Authority (MbPA).
The state-of-the-art terminal is spread over 415,000 square feet and can handle 500 cruise ships and up to 1 million passengers every year.
https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/indias...
BYD Launches World’s Largest Car Carrier With 9,200 Vehicle Capacity
China’s leading electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer BYD has officially launched the world’s largest car carrier ship, “BYD Shenzhen.”
The 219.9 meter long and 37.7 meter wide vessel was delivered on April 22 during a naming ceremony held in Yizheng, located in China’s Jiangsu Province.
The massive roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) ship features 16 decks and can carry up to 9,200 vehicles at once-surpassing the 9,100 car capacity of the Höegh Aurora class vessels operated by Norway’s Höegh Autoliners.
https://www.marineinsight.com/shipping-news/byd-la...
All ships passing through European waters must now provide proof of insurance
The European Commission has adopted another key measure to crackdown on the so-called shadow fleet passing through its waters. The amendment to the Vessel Monitoring Directive now requires all vessels, including those merely passing through European Union waters without entering an EU port, to provide insurance information.
The number of vessels hit by sanctions surpassed 1,000 late last year with data from S&P Global Market Intelligence showing that more 800 of these ships do not have confirmed insurance. Moreover, the average age of sanctioned ships – 21 years – is some eight years older than the global average, adding to growing concern that the sprawling so-called shadow fleet could lead to multiple costly environmental catastrophes.
Director-general for mobility and transport, Magda Kopczyńska, stated: “This is a targeted measure with potentially great impact, enhancing the preparedness of the EU’s coastal states.”
https://splash247.com/all-ships-passing-through-eu...
CMB.TECH and Golden Ocean merging to create fleet of more than 250 ships
Belgium’s CMB.TECH and one of Europe’s largest dry bulk owners, Golden Ocean, have signed a term sheet for a stock-for-stock merger that will create a maritime giant with a combined fleet of more than 250 vessels.
The merger, which remains subject to customary conditions, including definitive transaction agreements, would see the creation of one of the world’s largest diversified listed maritime groups across five shipping divisions and also one of the largest dry bulk fleets, including 87 modern capesize and newcastlemax vessels.
“By merging CMB.TECH and Golden Ocean, we would take another great step forward in building our leading diversified maritime group,” said Alexander Saverys, CEO of CMB.TECH, adding, “The value of our fleet would reach more than $11bn and, combined with our public listings and enhanced liquidity in our shares, we will have all the necessary firepower to continue to invest in our fleet and seize opportunities.”