Maritime news . Week 49
Burnout Hits Crews Worldwide
Seafarer wellbeing is deteriorating, with the Seafarers Happiness Index dropping from 7.54 to 7.05 in Q3 2025 — one of the sharpest declines on record. The biggest fall was in physical health and exercise, directly impacting safety and resilience onboard. Fatigue and rest-hour violations remain widespread, with falsified records often treated as routine. Chronic exhaustion reduces focus and raises operational risk, especially during holiday periods. Alarmingly, suicides have overtaken accidents as the leading cause of death among seafarers.
https://splash247.com/burnout-wave-hits-crews-worldwide/
Raids, Records, Trade Rewired
US forces seized the VLCC Skipper off Venezuela, warning that more vessels could be targeted. COSCO placed a record order for 87 newbuildings worth over $7bn, the largest domestic shipbuilding deal ever in China. Ukraine continued its drone campaign, striking the suezmax Dashan in the Black Sea and Russian port infrastructure. HD Hyundai is preparing a $2bn mega-yard in southern India, intensifying global shipbuilding competition. DP World is retiring legacy brands like Unifeeder and P&O, consolidating marine services under a single global structure.
https://splash247.com/splash-wrap-raids-record-orders-and-rewired-trade/
CMA CGM Returns to Suez
CMA CGM is set to become the first major container line to fully resume a regular service via the Suez Canal and Red Sea after Houthi attacks forced diversions. Its INDAMEX service linking India, Pakistan and the U.S. East Coast will again transit Suez in both directions, with CMA CGM VERDI sailing the first full loop on 15 January 2026. The move cuts the round voyage by two weeks to 77 days and allows the carrier to remove two vessels from the service. Other carriers remain cautious, with Suez traffic still far below pre-crisis levels. Analysts warn that a broader return could flood the market with capacity and push freight rates sharply lower.
US Navy Launches Ship OS
The US Navy has launched a $448m Ship OS programme with Palantir to speed up shipbuilding and maintenance. The AI system will integrate construction, repair and supply data to improve schedules, cost visibility and risk management. Early trials showed dramatic gains: submarine planning dropped from 160 hours to under 10 minutes, while material reviews fell from weeks to less than an hour. The project involves four public and two private shipyards, initially focused on submarines and key suppliers. The move signals a broader Pentagon push to embed AI across defence manufacturing.