Maritime news . Week 48
d’Amico Locks Big Tanker Deals
d’Amico International Shipping has fixed two MR tankers on nearly two-year charters at “highly profitable” rates. The deals cover an Eco-MR1 and an Eco-MR2 for 23–26 months with a reputable counterparty. These contracts give the company 57% coverage of vessel days in Q4 2025 and 42% for 2026, with average earnings above $23,000/day. The CEO said the fixtures strengthen their strategy of balancing spot exposure with fixed income. d’Amico currently operates a fleet of 31 double-hulled product tankers.
https://splash247.com/damico-clinches-high-rate-charters-for-mr-pair/
StormGeo: How decision-making in shipping is changing
StormGeo forecasts that the next 12 months will become a turning point for maritime solutions, driven by the rapid growth of generative AI and autonomous agents. New tools are already improving forecast accuracy, optimizing routes, and increasing fuel savings by up to +5%.
The company is launching AI-based routing, port analytics, and vessel performance models, processing up to 20 TB of data daily. Despite these breakthroughs, StormGeo emphasizes that in high-risk situations, human judgment will remain essential.
In 2025, the company will expand its Voyage Intelligence platform to further enhance fleet safety, efficiency, and sustainability
https://splash247.com/stormgeo-how-decision-making-in-shipping-is-changing/
Offshore Strike Threat Looms
Over 400 Bilfinger UK offshore workers have voted for strike action over inadequate pension contributions. The company currently pays up to 3% of “qualifying earnings,” capping employer payments at £1,320 a year — even for employees earning £59,500. Unite says workers are losing over £2,250 annually compared with full-salary pension schemes common in the sector. Unless Bilfinger raises contributions to industry levels (around 6–6.5%), dozens of North Sea installations may face disruption. The company insists it complies with requirements, but the union warns strikes could begin within weeks..
https://splash247.com/bilfinger-uk-faces-offshore-strike-threat-in-pension-row/
Black Sea Shipping Risk Surges
Insurance rates for ships in the Black Sea have surged after attacks on Russia-linked vessels. Marsh reports that premiums for Ukrainian ports jumped from 0.25–0.3% of a ship’s value to 1% for some locations. Ukraine claimed responsibility for strikes on two Russian tankers, with two more incidents last week. Russia warned it could retaliate, potentially targeting ships from countries supporting Ukraine. Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey continue joint mine-clearing operations, destroying around 150 floating mines since the start of the war.