The Naval Architect
@navalarchitect.bsky.social
A Professional Engineer (PE) with decades of experience in ship design, construction, repair and conversion, having worked in the international maritime industry in Europe, USA, N Asia and New Zealand.
Although details about the proposed new class of US Navy battleships are vague, I always try to find the most authoritative source of information, knowing that much in the media gets syndicated and/or plagiarised. Here is a reasonable report for starters. www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
Trump Announces Nuclear-Armed Battleships for the U.S. Navy - Naval News
The U.S. Navy will take delivery of new-build battleships, the largest ever built, in an announcement from President Trump in Florida.
www.navalnews.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Although details about the proposed new class of US Navy battleships are vague, I always try to find the most authoritative source of information, knowing that much in the media gets syndicated and/or plagiarised. Here is a reasonable report for starters. www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2...
Distress signals being reported from a #VLCC in Caribbean waters, apparently BELLA 1 (IMO 9230880, 161,233 gt, built 2002, previously Panama flag & Lloyds Register class until last year). Ironic, coming from a ship which is stateless, with no call sign nor MMSI. Maybe another USCG PSC inspection?
December 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Distress signals being reported from a #VLCC in Caribbean waters, apparently BELLA 1 (IMO 9230880, 161,233 gt, built 2002, previously Panama flag & Lloyds Register class until last year). Ironic, coming from a ship which is stateless, with no call sign nor MMSI. Maybe another USCG PSC inspection?
Reposted by The Naval Architect
CENTURIES (9206310)
December 20, 2025 at 9:57 PM
CENTURIES (9206310)
Reposted by The Naval Architect
SKIPPER (9304667): We are tracking her by satellite imagery (just to confirm the AIS data) and can see that she is about a day away from reaching GOLA where she will have to transfer her 1.85 million barrels cargo onto three smaller tankers in order to feed oil refineries in ports such as Houston.
December 20, 2025 at 11:00 PM
SKIPPER (9304667): We are tracking her by satellite imagery (just to confirm the AIS data) and can see that she is about a day away from reaching GOLA where she will have to transfer her 1.85 million barrels cargo onto three smaller tankers in order to feed oil refineries in ports such as Houston.
Here we go again… another VLCC seized by US forces in the Caribbean as reported by various news agencies, apparently identified as CENTURIES (IMO 9206310) (built 2001, 160,084 gt, Panama flag, non-IACS class society also in Panama)
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
Exclusive: US seizes oil tanker off Venezuelan coast, officials say
This would mark the second time in recent weeks that the United States has seized a tanker near Venezuela.
www.reuters.com
December 20, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Here we go again… another VLCC seized by US forces in the Caribbean as reported by various news agencies, apparently identified as CENTURIES (IMO 9206310) (built 2001, 160,084 gt, Panama flag, non-IACS class society also in Panama)
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
www.reuters.com/world/americ...
Reposted by The Naval Architect
Well-informed report about the prospects for advancement of the U.S. mercantile shipbuilding industry, which will need well over a decade of continuous investment and unabated commitment by Governments of all colors
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/14/t...
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/14/t...
Trump wants the U.S. shipbuilding industry to be great again. Here's what it will take, and what's at stake
President Donald Trump is promising a U.S. shipbuilding renaissance to rival China, but it will not happen overnight and will require allies.
www.cnbc.com
December 14, 2025 at 9:47 PM
Well-informed report about the prospects for advancement of the U.S. mercantile shipbuilding industry, which will need well over a decade of continuous investment and unabated commitment by Governments of all colors
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/14/t...
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/14/t...
Cargo loss from 8,540 TEU container ship ONE CONTINUITY (IMO 9388352) (88k gt, Singapore flag, NKK Class). ONE doesn’t seem to have much luck with these types of casualties, the worst being ONE APUS in 2020.
www.facebook.com/story.php?st...
www.facebook.com/story.php?st...
Redirecting...
www.facebook.com
December 14, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Cargo loss from 8,540 TEU container ship ONE CONTINUITY (IMO 9388352) (88k gt, Singapore flag, NKK Class). ONE doesn’t seem to have much luck with these types of casualties, the worst being ONE APUS in 2020.
www.facebook.com/story.php?st...
www.facebook.com/story.php?st...
Very well-researched article by France24 - the embodiment of world-class investigative journalism www.france24.com/en/europe/20...
'They're no longer hiding': How Russia is shipping liquefied natural gas to China despite sanctions
A cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Russia's Portovaya plant was delivered to the Beihai terminal in China on December 8. This marks the first delivery since the facility was placed under US…
www.france24.com
December 13, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Very well-researched article by France24 - the embodiment of world-class investigative journalism www.france24.com/en/europe/20...
British class society Lloyds Register of Shipping getting tough with its surveyors and staff in unprecedented pay dispute
www.ier.org.uk/news/lloyds-...
www.ier.org.uk/news/lloyds-...
Verifying connection
www.ier.org.uk
December 12, 2025 at 12:00 PM
British class society Lloyds Register of Shipping getting tough with its surveyors and staff in unprecedented pay dispute
www.ier.org.uk/news/lloyds-...
www.ier.org.uk/news/lloyds-...
Well-compiled report by SkyNews UK bringing into public awareness a maritime crisis hitherto the preserve of analytical expertise such as @maritimekiwi.bsky.social @pa.nton.cx @michellewb.bsky.social. It’s a chance to salute the efforts of this valiant cohort of analysts
news.sky.com/story/moving...
news.sky.com/story/moving...
Moving in the shadows: Why tanker seized by US off Venezuela was 'spoofing' its location
Here's what we know about how and why the oil tanker Skipper 'spoofed' its location, and what eventually led to it being seized by the US.
news.sky.com
December 11, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Well-compiled report by SkyNews UK bringing into public awareness a maritime crisis hitherto the preserve of analytical expertise such as @maritimekiwi.bsky.social @pa.nton.cx @michellewb.bsky.social. It’s a chance to salute the efforts of this valiant cohort of analysts
news.sky.com/story/moving...
news.sky.com/story/moving...
Reposted by The Naval Architect
SKIPPER (9304667) in hi-res. Nothing escapes Planet Labs.
December 11, 2025 at 12:05 AM
SKIPPER (9304667) in hi-res. Nothing escapes Planet Labs.
Another oil tanker of interest - DASHAN (IMO 9299666) - “no such flag” - DoB 2005
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Ukraine disables 'shadow fleet' vessel with sea drones in Black Sea
Ukrainian sea drones on Wednesday hit and disabled a tanker involved in trading Russian oil as it sailed through Ukraine's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea to the Russian port of Novorossiysk,...
www.reuters.com
December 10, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Another oil tanker of interest - DASHAN (IMO 9299666) - “no such flag” - DoB 2005
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Oil tanker of interest: SKIPPER (ex ADISA) (IMO 9304667) - Guyana flag, DoB 2005 - seemingly on its way “home”
sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov/Details.aspx...
sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov/Details.aspx...
Sanctions List Search
sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov
December 10, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Oil tanker of interest: SKIPPER (ex ADISA) (IMO 9304667) - Guyana flag, DoB 2005 - seemingly on its way “home”
sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov/Details.aspx...
sanctionssearch.ofac.treas.gov/Details.aspx...
I was interested to find out what an “experimentation” ship can do (see below re-post from @warshipcam.bsky.social depicting OCEAN VALOR) (IMO 9281396) and came across a good link which includes the ship’s General Arrangement. www.stabbertmaritime.com/wp-content/u...
www.stabbertmaritime.com
December 9, 2025 at 7:00 AM
I was interested to find out what an “experimentation” ship can do (see below re-post from @warshipcam.bsky.social depicting OCEAN VALOR) (IMO 9281396) and came across a good link which includes the ship’s General Arrangement. www.stabbertmaritime.com/wp-content/u...
Reposted by The Naval Architect
Military Sealift Command fleet experimentation ship M/V Ocean Valor leaving San Diego - December 8, 2025 SRC: YT- SanDiegoWebcam
December 9, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Military Sealift Command fleet experimentation ship M/V Ocean Valor leaving San Diego - December 8, 2025 SRC: YT- SanDiegoWebcam
When 40’ containers fall off a ship in choppy seas, it’s usually because of inadequate lashing, poor box maintenance, wrong stowage and/or weight misdeclaration. At 14k gt, BALTIC KLIPPER (IMO 9454758, Liberia flag, BV class) is not a small ship and this shouldn’t happen! www.bbc.com/news/article...
Banana containers clear-up operation under way on Sussex beaches - BBC News
Response teams start clearing cargo from containers that fell from a ship in the Solent.
www.bbc.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:33 AM
When 40’ containers fall off a ship in choppy seas, it’s usually because of inadequate lashing, poor box maintenance, wrong stowage and/or weight misdeclaration. At 14k gt, BALTIC KLIPPER (IMO 9454758, Liberia flag, BV class) is not a small ship and this shouldn’t happen! www.bbc.com/news/article...
Interesting breaking news, one for Sal
@mercoglianos.bsky.social
First time in maritime history that Lloyds class surveyors have gone on strike! Could have serious impact on shipping in north Europe because of so many ships that are certified by Lloyds class.
bsky.app/profile/tran...
@mercoglianos.bsky.social
First time in maritime history that Lloyds class surveyors have gone on strike! Could have serious impact on shipping in north Europe because of so many ships that are certified by Lloyds class.
bsky.app/profile/tran...
Nautilus kondigt acties aan bij Lloyd’s Register na verlopen ultimatum over loonsverhoging
Lees meer: www.transport-online.nl/108188/nauti...
#loonsverhoging #LloydsRegister #acties
Lees meer: www.transport-online.nl/108188/nauti...
#loonsverhoging #LloydsRegister #acties
Nautilus kondigt acties aan bij Lloyd’s Register na verlopen ultimatum over loonsverhoging
ROTTERDAM - De maritieme vakbond Nautilus International kondigt werkonderbrekingen en stakingen aan bij de Nederlandse tak van Lloyd’s Register, nu het bedrijf een ultimatum voor een rechtvaardige loo...
www.transport-online.nl
November 27, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Interesting breaking news, one for Sal
@mercoglianos.bsky.social
First time in maritime history that Lloyds class surveyors have gone on strike! Could have serious impact on shipping in north Europe because of so many ships that are certified by Lloyds class.
bsky.app/profile/tran...
@mercoglianos.bsky.social
First time in maritime history that Lloyds class surveyors have gone on strike! Could have serious impact on shipping in north Europe because of so many ships that are certified by Lloyds class.
bsky.app/profile/tran...
I have a very particular set of skills, Charlie Brown!
(I don’t know why, but #CharlieBrown is currently trending, so I thought I’d join in for once!)
(I don’t know why, but #CharlieBrown is currently trending, so I thought I’d join in for once!)
November 24, 2025 at 10:50 PM
I have a very particular set of skills, Charlie Brown!
(I don’t know why, but #CharlieBrown is currently trending, so I thought I’d join in for once!)
(I don’t know why, but #CharlieBrown is currently trending, so I thought I’d join in for once!)
Report broadcast this morning on BBC’s ‘Today’ programme from Estonia - “On the front line of Europe's standoff with Russia's sanction-busting shadow fleet”
November 19, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Report broadcast this morning on BBC’s ‘Today’ programme from Estonia - “On the front line of Europe's standoff with Russia's sanction-busting shadow fleet”
Today is apparently World Jellyfish Day! Who knew? Increasingly the scourge of ships’ sea water cooling systems in our warming oceans, the genus has its special day today, 3rd November.
November 3, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Today is apparently World Jellyfish Day! Who knew? Increasingly the scourge of ships’ sea water cooling systems in our warming oceans, the genus has its special day today, 3rd November.
For every £1 donated to British Red Cross, the UK Government will add another £1
donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/hurri...
donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/hurri...
donate.redcross.org.uk
November 1, 2025 at 6:36 PM
For every £1 donated to British Red Cross, the UK Government will add another £1
donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/hurri...
donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/hurri...
To everyone reading this in the UK, we’re all desperate to support our brothers & sisters in Jamaica in their time of need. Where are the usual appeals from the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC)? C’mon, time is of the essence! The basics - shelter, drinking water, helicopter support, generators…
October 29, 2025 at 3:15 PM
To everyone reading this in the UK, we’re all desperate to support our brothers & sisters in Jamaica in their time of need. Where are the usual appeals from the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC)? C’mon, time is of the essence! The basics - shelter, drinking water, helicopter support, generators…
The stateless and classless LPG carrier FALCON (IMO 9014432) has been abandoned in the Gulf of Aden with two crew members missing after, apparently, an accident which resulted in an explosion and fire. There are some useful images in this link. #shadowfleet www.eeas.europa.eu/eunavfor-asp...
MV FALCON THIRD UPDATE (October 19th, 2025)
Gulf of Aden, October 19, 2025. Fire onboard LPG Tanker MV FALCON – SAR Operations Underway. THIRD UPDATE
www.eeas.europa.eu
October 20, 2025 at 9:52 PM
The stateless and classless LPG carrier FALCON (IMO 9014432) has been abandoned in the Gulf of Aden with two crew members missing after, apparently, an accident which resulted in an explosion and fire. There are some useful images in this link. #shadowfleet www.eeas.europa.eu/eunavfor-asp...