The newbuild dual fuel Ro-Pax Visborg left the docks at Guangzhou Shipyard International on Tuesday, December 18, and is presently on its way to Sweden.

Over the last decade, maritime security concerns have featured prominently in ASEAN member states’ individual and collective agendas. Issues as diverse as China’s aggressive maritime strategy, piracy, terrorism, transnational organised crime, and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the Asia–Pacific are consistently challenging sovereignty, the rule of law and regional stability.

Finnish operator Containerships took delivery of Containerships Nord, its first LNG-powered vessel, at Wenchong Shipyard on Wednesday, December 12.

Wuchang Shipbuilding Industrial Group launched Shen Hai Yi Hao (“Deep Sea Number 1”), a new mothership for manned submersibles, in a ceremony on Saturday, December 8.

A new survey vessel for the Pakistan Navy was launched in China on Tuesday, December 11.

German operator TT-Line and Jinling Shipyard in China have signed a contract for the construction of an LNG-powered Ro-Pax ferry with an option for a second vessel.

During the November APEC Summit, Vice President Mike Pence announced that the US will work with Australia and Papua New Guinea to develop the Lombrum naval base on Manus Island.

Chengxi Shipyard, a subsidiary of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC), launched a new 82,000-tonne bulk carrier at its shipyard on December 5.