New industry-led platform will bring together international shipping, energy, infrastructure and finance leaders, positioning Nigeria as a hub for maritime dialogue and development in Africa.

Lloyd’s Register (LR), and NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML) have announced plans to establish a new global maritime forum in Nigeria, creating a new platform for industry leaders to address the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of shipping, energy, infrastructure and investment.

Announced as part of the partners’ ongoing commitment to supporting Africa’s maritime development, the NSML-LR Maritime Future Forum will bring together organisations from across the maritime value chain, including shipowners, operators, regulators, energy companies, investors, insurers, ports and technology providers.

Discussions will focus on how shipping, energy, infrastructure, technology, people and investment can work together to unlock economic growth, strengthen supply chains and support sustainable development across Africa and beyond.

The initiative builds on the Memorandum of Understanding signed by LR and NSML at Gastech 2025 to strengthen maritime skills, training and capability development in West Africa. The proposed forum represents the next phase of that collaboration, expanding its focus to create a long-term platform for strategic dialogue, knowledge sharing and industry leadership.

The launch comes as Africa’s maritime sector enters a period of significant transformation. Growing investment in LNG, offshore energy, ports, shipping and logistics is increasing the importance of maritime infrastructure, workforce development and cross-sector collaboration. At the same time, digitalisation, decarbonisation and evolving trade patterns are reshaping the demands placed on the industry.

Against this backdrop, the forum aims to position Nigeria as a convening point for global maritime expertise and discussion. This reflects the partners’ ambition to demonstrate that Nigeria can be at the forefront of maritime innovation and leadership, both within Africa and internationally.

Ngozi Gwam, Business Director and Senior Representative for Africa, LR, said: “Africa’s maritime future will be defined by how effectively we connect people, infrastructure, technology, energy and investment. The Maritime Future Forum has been created by industry, for industry. Our ambition is to establish a platform that brings together stakeholders from across the value chain to explore practical solutions, exchange expertise and support sustainable growth across the maritime sector.”

An NSML spokesperson said: “NSML has consistently been at the forefront of shaping discourse in the Nigerian maritime industry. The NSML-LR Maritime Forum, therefore, serves as a strategic platform for maritime stakeholders to engage on pressing industry issues, share insights, and collaboratively develop solutions that advance the growth, competitiveness and sustainability of the sector.”

About Lloyd’s Register

Lloyd’s Register (LR) is a global professional services group specialising in marine engineering, technology and digital solutions. We were created more than 260 years ago as the world’s first marine classification society to improve and set standards for the safety of ships.

Today we are a leading provider of classification and compliance services to the defence, energy, marine and offshore industries, helping our clients design, construct and operate their assets to accepted levels of safety and environmental compliance.

We also provide advisory services and digital solutions, supporting fleet and voyage performance and optimisation.  Through OneOcean, LR delivers integrated digital solutions supporting voyage planning, optimisation, compliance, training and fleet performance across more than 30,000 vessels globally.

In the race to zero emissions, our research, advisory and technical expertise and industry-firsts are supporting a safe, sustainable maritime energy transition.

Lloyd’s Register Group is wholly owned by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation, a politically and financially independent global charity that promotes safety and education.

www.lr.org

About NSML

NLNG Shipping and Marine Services Limited (NSML), a subsidiary of NLNG, is a leading integrated maritime services company offering top-tier maritime solutions while supporting the growth and development of the Nigerian maritime industry.

NSML provides a broad range of maritime services including, vessel and technical management, crew management and administration, maritime training, research and project management, terminal management and business advisory services; in line with its strategic pillars of safety, reliability and value creation.

Το άρθρο Lloyd’s Register and NSML launch plans for global maritime forum in Nigeria εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Maritimes.

HarborLab, the AI-powered platform for port cost management, has launched DEX, an AI assistant that checks every port expense on a DA, so analysts can focus on what needs a decision.

DA analysts are skilled professionals who know the tariffs, the ports, and the agents they work with. Yet every line of every DA gets the same attention, whether it needs it or not. Pilotage that matches the tariff takes as long to confirm as a line that needs a closer look, while port call volumes grow faster than the teams that review them. DEX redirects that attention by doing the routine checks, so analysts start with the answer and spend their time on exceptions.

Integrated into HarborLab’s DA evaluation page, DEX reviews Proforma and Final Disbursement Accounts for commercial port calls. Each port expense is checked against the applicable port tariff, parameters are validated against historical Final DA data, and every line is classified as correct, incorrect, or open to negotiation. Open points are consolidated into a single clarification email to the agent, and on Proformas, expenses that meet the company’s approval rules can be approved automatically. On Final DAs, expenses are located in the supporting documents and checked against live tariffs.

Control stays with the customer. DEX works under rules agreed with each company, and each step can wait for the evaluator or run automatically, depending on the company’s choice. DEX never approves a DA and never sends an email on its own. Every action is logged, so teams always know what DEX did and what their analysts approved.

HarborLab ran DEX on its own DA desk before making it available to customers.

“Every port call ends with a DA, and every line of that DA gets checked, whether it needs it or not. DEX changes where that attention goes. It does the routine work under the rules each company sets, and leaves its people the decisions only people should make. We put it to work on our own DA desk first, because that is the standard we hold ourselves to. Today we open it to the industry,” said Antonis Malaxianakis, Founder and CEO of HarborLab.

DEX is built on HarborLab’s platform, which handles more than 40,000 port calls a year across more than 1,400 ports. It brings HarborLab’s existing AI tools for DA evaluation together in one guided flow, drawing on the same tariff data and historical Final DAs that already underpin the platform’s port cost checks. Operators using HarborLab’s platform recover an average of $700 per port call, with savings that compound significantly across larger fleets.

DEX is designed for DA teams on commercial port calls at ship owners, commercial traders, and charterers. Teams can book a live demo from today, and HarborLab is onboarding customers in phases, starting this year.

To book a demo, visit https://harborlab.com/why-we-built-dex/

About HarborLab
HarborLab is a pioneering maritime technology company dedicated to transforming port cost management. Through its advanced, fully automated platform, HarborLab ensures unparalleled accuracy, transparency, and efficiency in maritime operations. By streamlining cargo operations and optimising husbandry services, HarborLab fosters collaboration among agents, principals, and vendors, enhancing trust within the maritime ecosystem. Committed to innovation, HarborLab empowers its clients with the tools they need to navigate the complexities of the industry and improve their financial management processes.

Το άρθρο HarborLab launches DEX, an AI assistant for DA evaluation teams εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Maritimes.

This is slightly below the all-time high of 210.4m CGT reached in May but remains above the previous record of 195.4m CGT from 2008.

Much of the growth has been captured by Chinese shipyards, who secured 74% of the CGT contracted during the past year. This has further strengthened China’s position as the world’s largest shipbuilding nation. Chinese shipyards now hold 64% of the global order book while South Korean shipyards hold 19% and Japanese 6%.

China’s dominance extends across the major cargo-carrying ship sectors. Its shipyards hold more than 72% of the order book in each of the six main sectors: container, tanker, gas tanker, dry bulk, other dry cargo and RoRo. Combined, these sectors account for 88% of the global order book. Their yards’ largest share is in the container ship segment, with 81% of the order book.

“Container ships dominate both the order book and its growth over the past 12 months. They account for 30% of CGT on order and 68% of the increase during the past year,” says Rasmussen.

Additionally, Chinese shipyards currently have better capacity coverage than their South Korean and Japanese competitors. If each shipyard’s current capacity is assumed to equal its highest annual CGT output during 2021–2025, Chinese shipyards hold orders equivalent to an average of 4.2 years of capacity. The corresponding figures for South Korean and Japanese yards are 1.9 and 1.7 years .

Combined deliveries from China, South Korea and Japan peaked at 40.1m CGT in 2025, but 55.9m CGT and 60.0m CGT are currently scheduled for delivery in 2027 and 2028. Chinese yards, in particular, will have to raise output to manage the scheduled deliveries.

Current capacity could therefore be assumed to equal the highest annual CGT delivered or scheduled for delivery during 2021–2030. In that case, average coverage falls to 2.1 years for Chinese shipyards and 1.6 years for both South Korean and Japanese shipyards.

“China has further strengthened its position as the world’s leading shipbuilding nation, but its shipyards must raise annual output to new record highs in order to deliver. Chinese yards are scheduled to deliver a record 44.0m CGT in 2028, nearly twice the 22.7m CGT delivered in 2025. The capacity expansion needed to achieve this could increase the risk of underutilisation if contracting weakens in the future,” says Rasmussen.

Το άρθρο Global shipyard order book grows 13%, strengthening China’s lead εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Maritimes.

Το άρθρο 2026 North Bund Forum opens in Shanghai, focusing on resilient global shipping εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Maritimes.

KR (Korean Register) marked the launch of the pilot service of KR Cyber Resilience Platform (KR-CRP), a cyber resilience management platform developed by KR, with an event at the Wyndham Grand Busan on October 13. Nearly a hundred participants attended, including executives from leading Korean shipping companies and ship managers such as SK Shipping, H-Line Shipping, Hyundai LNG Shipping, HMM Ocean Service and POS SM, as well as representatives of system integration (SI), security and IT solution companies.

The event kicked off with a seminar on international regulations and response measures for ship cyber security, followed by a presentation of KR-CRP’s pilot service.

Offering a digital environment for preparing and managing the design documents required under IACS Unified Requirement (UR) E26 on cyber resilience of ships, the platform is linked to KR’s drawing approval and classification survey processes. This is intended to reduce the documentation and approval burden on shipowners and shipyards and make regulatory compliance more efficient.

Topics covered during the seminar included ISO/IEC 27001:2022 on information security management systems, standard procedures on cyber security for shore-based managers, and KR-CRP for UR E26 compliance. A demonstration then showed how KR-CRP can draw on data from existing onboard security monitoring systems developed and installed by third parties to support data-driven class surveys, streamlining survey preparation and reducing time on board, highlighting its practical applicability.

To support prompt, systematic response to ship cyber incidents, KR also announced plans for an internal collaborative framework. Its Statutory System Certification Team, which works with shipping companies on ISM and ISPS Code audits, will act as the single point of contact for reporting incidents, with relevant departments working together on technical analysis, recovery support, vessel safety verification and survey support.

Feedback from shipowners and shipyards gathered during the pilot service will be used to continually improve the functions and usability of KR-CRP, further strengthening the industry’s cyber resilience and compliance with international regulations.

“As ships and shore-side systems become more connected, cyber resilience is fast becoming a prerequisite for safe and reliable shipping,” said Yongsok Lee, Chairman & CEO of KR. “We will continue to support our clients, including shipowners and shipyards, with practical, technology-driven services such as KR-CRP, to help ease the burden of regulatory compliance and focus on operating safely at sea.”

KR

KR (Korean Register) was established in 1960 with the purpose of promoting safety of life, property and the protection of the marine environment. KR currently classes an international fleet of 3,250 vessels totalling 92 million GT. It is headquartered in Busan, South Korea with a network of 80 offices around the world. KR is authorized to perform statutory and certification services in 80 countries around the world.

Το άρθρο KR Launches Pilot Service of Cyber Resilience Platform to Support IACS UR E26 Compliance εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Maritimes.

·         35% of ATPI’s marine business now managed from Greece

·         More than 130 professionals supporting clients across every major maritime time zone

ATPI Greece is marking its 50th anniversary this month, recognising half a century of supporting the Greek and global shipping community and the growth of its Athens operation into a key hub for ATPI Marine Travel globally.

The Greek office now manages 35% of ATPI’s marine business, with more than 130 dedicated professionals supporting shipping clients across every major maritime time zone. Over its history, ATPI has managed approximately 2.4 million crew changes, supporting the movement of seafarers to and from vessels around the world.

ATPI Greece’s story has developed alongside Greece’s position as one of the world’s leading shipping centres. The heritage behind today’s operation can be traced to a specialist travel business established in the 1970s under the Griffin Travel brand, which expanded over the next 15 years to become a global marine network.

A further significant chapter began in 2015, when ATPI acquired Griffin Travel as part of the group’s expansion in specialist marine travel. The Greece team has since grown to more than 130 professionals and become an important hub within ATPI Marine Travel’s global network.

Nikos Gazelidis, Chief Commercial Officer, ATPI Marine division & Managing Director Greece & Cyprus, said: “Our 50th anniversary reflects a long-standing relationship with the Greek and global shipping community and the expertise built by generations of colleagues. Over that time, the business has grown from its specialist roots in Greece into an operation supporting clients and seafarers around the world.

“Crew change logistics have changed enormously too, from the way journeys are planned and managed to the technology and data now available to support them. What has remained constant is the importance of experienced people who understand shipping and can respond when circumstances change. That combination of heritage, people and continued evolution has shaped the business we have today.”

The team remains firmly embedded in Athens’ maritime community. In 2023, ATPI Marine Travel established the ATPI Crew Logistics Lab at Business College Athens, strengthening links between industry and maritime education with a focus on crew rotation optimisation and seafarer well-being. Its commitment to people is also reflected within the business, with ATPI Greece recognised among Greece’s Best Workplaces in recent years.

The most recent milestone came in 2025, when Direct Travel acquired ATPI, bringing all ATPI offices worldwide, including ATPI Greece, into the Direct Travel group. The acquisition opened a new chapter in the Greece operation’s 50-year story, combining its long-standing marine expertise with the wider global capabilities of Direct Travel.

Christal Bemont, CEO, Direct Travel, said: “50 years serving the shipping community is a significant milestone and reflects the depth of expertise and relationships within ATPI Greece. Athens is an important hub for our global marine business, and we see considerable opportunity to build on that heritage by continuing to bring together exceptional people, specialist knowledge and technology for maritime clients worldwide.”

As ATPI Greece enters its next chapter, its role continues to connect the expertise built within Greece’s shipping community with the needs of an increasingly global maritime sector.

About ATPI Marine Travel

ATPI Marine Travel is the international leader in specialist travel solutions to the shipping, cruise and yachting sectors. With deep-rooted expertise in crew rotation supported by 24/7 service and innovative technology, the company positions cost, operational efficiency, safety, and wellbeing at the forefront of its clients’ travel strategies. ATPI Marine Travel was responsible for more than 800,000 seafarer transactions in 2025 and with a network of offices in all global maritime centres, there is always an expert ready to help clients and crew.
As a specialist division of Direct Travel, ATPI Marine Travel delivers global travel management solutions tailored to the marine sector.For more information, visit https://www.atpi.com/marine-travel/

About Direct Travel, Inc.

Direct Travel is one of the world’s largest travel management companies, focused on delivering exceptional, innovative solutions to every client and traveler. With a long history of proven market expertise, we blend advanced technology, superior service and expert insight to drive tangible value and meaningful savings across Corporate Travel, Leisure Travel, Meetings & Events and specialty travel businesses.

Through Avenir, our next-generation platform developed with leading technology partners, we provide the industry’s broadest inventory and a modern, real-time shopping experience that empowers travelers and simplifies program management. What truly sets us apart is the human care behind the technology, delivered by an experienced, passionate team dedicated to anticipating needs and delivering exceptional service at every step.

For more information about Direct Travel, visit www.dt.com

Το άρθρο ATPI Greece marks 50 years at the heart of global crew changes εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Maritimes.

Piraeus, 19 October 2026 – Around 70 students and faculty members from the Department of Tourism Management of the University of Patras visited MSC Fantasia at the port of Piraeus on Thursday, 15 October. On board, they saw first-hand how a modern cruise ship operates and learned about the career opportunities the cruise industry offers. The Career Day was held under the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Hellenic Association of Women in Culture and Tourism and the University of Patras and was hosted by MSC Cruises. Attendees included the Head of the Department, Mr. Apostolos Rafailidis, Dr. Maria Argyropoulou, member of the Laboratory Teaching Staff, and Ms. Evi Chatzopoulou, Assistant Professor of Marketing.

Greece on the Map of the MSC Group’s Cruise Division

Captain Elias Tsoukalas, General Manager of MSC in Greece, presented MSC Group’s Cruise Division and its two brands, MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys. He placed particular emphasis on the Greek market and its distinctive role in the Group’s strategy: in 2026, eight ships are making almost 500 calls at 22 Greek destinations, while Piraeus serves as a year-round homeport. Mr. Tsoukalas spoke about the wide range of professional roles on board and the career development opportunities within a Group of more than 50,000 employees in 155 countries. He highlighted also that MSC currently employ 320 Greek nationals in various positions across our fleet. He also highlighted the company’s commitment to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

“Behind every guest experience are teams of skilled professionals, and every role on board is the starting point of a career journey. We want young people studying tourism to know that cruising offers real opportunities to learn, grow and lead,” he said.

The Skills That Make the Difference

The President of the Hellenic Association of Women in Culture and Tourism (HAWCT), Ms. Chrysa Voulgaridou, gave a talk entitled “Bridging the University and the Job Market.” She presented the Memorandum of Cooperation and explained how students can benefit from it. She also stressed that moving from studies to employment requires both technical knowledge (hard skills) and interpersonal skills (soft skills). She closed with a personal message to the students: “Be patient, show empathy and never lose your smile. These are your most valuable assets, not only in the job market but in everyday life.”

Cruising and Tourism: A Mutually Beneficial Relationship

HAWCT Vice President Ms. Angela Kampouraki (Kamper Tourism) opened her talk by asking the students whether a passenger who spends just seven hours in a destination can make a real contribution to the local economy. Her answer was a clear yes. The arrival of a cruise ship generates business for many local enterprises and mobilizes a wide network of professionals, from port services to tour guides. A cruise is often a traveler’s first encounter with a destination, and many return later for a longer holiday. In the case of Piraeus, many passengers also stay in Athens before or after their cruise. “Cruising does not simply carry people from one port to another. It connects destinations, cultures, businesses and economies,” she stressed.

A Q&A session followed, giving students the opportunity to speak directly with the speakers about career prospects in the industry. Dr. Maria Argyropoulou closed the session with her concluding remarks.

From Ship to Shore: The Hotel Visit

After a guided tour of MSC Fantasia and lunch on board, the day concluded at the Mitsis N’U Piraeus Port hotel. General Manager Mr. Apostolos Michalovits and Director of Sales Ms. Xenia Rizouli presented the Mitsis Hotels group and how it operates. They also discussed the rapid growth of the hotel sector in Piraeus, driven by homeporting, as cruise passengers begin and end their voyages in the city. Beyond seeing how a hotel operates, the students saw first-hand how cruising and hospitality on land are connected in practice.

About MSC Group’s Cruise Division

The Cruise Division of MSC Group, the privately-owned world leader in transportation is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland with two distinct brands – MSC Cruises, covering the contemporary and premium segments and Explora Journeys dedicated to the luxury segment.

MSC Cruises is the world’s third largest cruise line and the market leader in Europe with a strong and growing presence in North America. A global cruise brand with 23 modern ships offering cruises across five continents, guests can visit more than 100 countries worldwide with more than 250 destinations, making unforgettable memories and enjoying the finest hospitality. For more information visit msccruises.eu

Explora Journeys, launched in 2023, is the luxury ocean travel brand redefining the experience for a new generation of discerning travellers. The fleet, currently comprising three ships and expanding to six by 2028, offers effortless yet refined luxury. Guests embark on transformative journeys, connecting with the sea through exceptional itineraries that inspire discovery in all its forms. For more information visit explorajourneys.com

Το άρθρο Career day at sea: University of Patras students discover the world of cruising aboard MSC Fantasia εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Maritimes.

The milestone marks significant growth for Mintra’s business, with its training and OCS HR solutions now supporting 3 million users across the global maritime and offshore sector. Since entering the maritime training market in 2021, Mintra has seen exponential growth from almost zero vessels to the 15, 000 vessels of today.

Reaching 15,000 vessels, positions Mintra among the largest providers of digital training and HR technology to the maritime sector. The growth has come through a combination of increased demand from new and existing customers, continued investment in technology and targeted acquisitions that have expanded the company’s capabilities and international reach.

“Reaching 15,000 vessels is an important milestone, but what matters most is what sits behind that number,” said Kevin Short, CEO of Mintra. “It reflects the trust our customers place in us to support their people and operations, and the growing role that digital technology plays in managing competence and workforces in an increasingly complex sector.

“We have deliberately invested in building a broader business, combining our established expertise in digital learning and workforce management with new technology and specialist capabilities. Our acquisitions, together with continued investment in our own products and people, have helped us expand our reach while staying focused on what our customers need.”

Together with Mintra’s established operations and customer base, targeted acquisitions have contributed to a broader international footprint. The acquisition of US-based Moxie Media expanded Mintra’s presence in North America, while Greek maritime training specialist SQLearn brought further expertise and customer relationships in a major European shipping market.

Mintra has also continued to invest in technology that supports the changing needs of maritime workforces. Its immersive learning solution provides affordable and accessible scenario-based training onboard without requiring specialist simulator equipment, while Mentor AI gives seafarers access to trusted information drawn from Mintra content and customer documentation at the point of need.

“Reaching 15,000 vessels gives us a strong platform for the next stage of our growth,” said Kjetil Flood, Chief Commercial Officer at Mintra. “Our customers operate across different markets, vessel types and regulatory environments, but the need for effective workforce management and accessible training is consistent.

“Having a growing presence across Europe, North America, Asia, India and other key maritime markets means we can bring together expertise from across the industry, while continuing to invest in solutions that work for customers wherever they operate. Our focus is on building long-term relationships and finding solutions that are practical, accessible and useful to the people who rely on them every day.”

The milestone comes during a period of continued recognition for Mintra. In 2026, the company retained its position as a Core Leader in the Fosway 9 Grid for Digital Learning and achieved the Learning and Performance Institute’s Gold Standard accreditation for the 16th consecutive year. Mentor AI has also been named a finalist in the Crew Connect Global Awards 2026 Innovation and Technology category as well as the Safety4Sea 2026 Digitalisation Awards.

With more than 15,000 vessels now using Mintra solutions, the company is continuing to expand its reach across the maritime sector whilst investing in technology and partnerships that support the development and management of safety-critical workforces across the globe.

About Mintra:

Mintra is a leading provider of digital learning and human capital management systems for safety-critical industries worldwide. Mintra develops and deploys software solutions that enable its clients to develop and deploy their people, readily demonstrate compliance and maximise operational efficiency.

Mintra’s Trainingportal learning and competency management system is certified to the ST-0595 Training Platform standard and plays a vital role in supporting 2.8 million workers and 4,000 companies. Mintra offers an extensive portfolio of training courses tailored to the maritime and energy sectors, encompassing over 2,600 titles and, as a multi-approved training provider, issues certificates for the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA), OPITO, DNV, ECITB, IOSH, ClassNK and The Nautical Institute. For more than four decades, OCS HR, Mintra’s crew management system, has streamlined the planning and administration of seafarers worldwide.

Originating in Oslo in 1997, Mintra’s strategic growth has seen the incorporation of OnSoft Computer Systems (OCS) in 2016, Atlas Knowledge in 2018, Safebridge in 2021, Seably in 2023 and Moxie Media in 2025. Mintra’s skilled team exceeds 200 specialists in consulting, design, development, and support, operates from their headquarters in Bergen, with offices spanning Oslo, Stavanger, Aberdeen, Gothenburg, Limassol and New Orleans. This geographic distribution ideally positions Mintra to address the training, HR, payroll, and workforce management requirements of the maritime and energy sectors on a global scale. The Maritime sector has become a significant focus, currently serving close to 15,000 vessels through Mintra’s solutions.

Mintra is a DNV-ST-0029 approved Maritime Training Provider and certified by DNV to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). Associate member of Intertanko, Mintra holds a range of prestigious memberships, including OEUK (Offshore Energies UK), the Martime Safety Forum and Step Change In Safety in the UK, WISTA (Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association) in the UK and Norway and YoungShip in Cyprus and Norway. Mintra is pre-qualified for buyers by SEQual, Magnet JQS and both Achilles Oil & Gas Europe Community and Utilities Nordic & Central Europe (UNCE).

Το άρθρο Mintra Reaches 15,000 Vessel Milestone as Demand for Digital Workforce Solutions Grows εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Maritimes.

Athens – 20 October 2026 – Euronext today congratulates CAPITAL MARITIME FINANCE CORP., a leading maritime shipping company in the container sector, on its initial public offering and listing on Euronext Athens’ regulated market (ticker code: CMFC).

The Listing marks the first-ever primary listing of a shipping company exclusively on Euronext Athens and the largest maritime equity offering in Greece. CAPITAL MARITIME FINANCE CORP.’s Listing is the third consecutive of a shipping company on the Euronext Athens in 2026.

CAPITAL MARITIME FINANCE CORP. is an international shipping company engaged in the ownership, operation and management of containerships, providing marine transportation services to global liner operators through long-term charter agreements. As of today, the Company’s operating fleet consists of thirteen (13) containerships with an aggregate capacity of 27,891 TEU (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit). The Company has an additional twenty-three (23) containerships under construction, with an aggregate capacity of 120,874 TEU. On a fully delivered basis, the Company’s fleet will consist of 36 fully owned containerships, all with long term time charters running through 2038. The Company’s entire share capital of 140,000,000 shares, comprising 100,000,000 existing shares and 40,000,000 new shares issued following completion of the IPO, has been admitted to trading on Euronext Athens.

The IPO raised a total of €300 million, attracting strong demand from international and domestic institutional and retail investors, with the IPO 4.34x oversubscribed at the offer price of €7.50 per share. Market capitalisation was €1.05 billion on the day of Listing.

Gerasimos Kalogiratos, Chairman of the Board of Directors of CAPITAL MARITIME FINANCE CORP., said: “We are delighted to welcome our new shareholders and to begin our journey as a listed company on Euronext Athens. The strong demand for our offering is a vote of confidence in Capital Maritime Finance Corp.’s disciplined business model: a modern, high specification, energy-efficient containership fleet, fully contracted under long-term charters with top-tier liner operators, and a clear path to growth with 23 additional vessels on order. This listing strengthens Greece’s position as a global maritime hub and gives us the platform to pursue our strategy with the backing of the international and domestic investment community. I would like to thank our investors, our underwriters and advisors, the Hellenic Capital Markets Committee and of course our partners at Euronext and everyone at Capital who made today possible.”

1 Based on the IPO pricing.

Το άρθρο CAPITAL MARITIME FINANCE CORP. lists on Euronext εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Maritimes.

Across the UK, a structural shift is underway as ports evolve into hubs for electrification, battery storage, clean transport and industrial energy resilience. Shore power, electric vessel charging and integrated battery infrastructure are moving beyond the pilot stage. They are becoming essential components of a modern maritime economy.

The opportunity now is to ensure that policy, planning and grid delivery keep pace with that change.

This matters because Britain sits at the intersection of two major transitions: decarbonising shipping and restructuring the national electricity system around renewable energy and storage.

Ports are where those two transformations increasingly converge.

Around 95 per cent of the UK’s trade by volume is estimated to move through ports, including critical imports of food, fuel, industrial components and consumer goods. The resilience of Britain’s ports is therefore inseparable from the resilience of the wider economy.

For decades, ports have largely been viewed through the lens of logistics, freight capacity and cargo throughput. That is changing. The ports that will hold the greatest strategic value over the next decade will not simply be those that can move goods efficiently. They will increasingly be those capable of integrating energy, transport and industrial infrastructure into a single modern system, distributing clean power as effectively as they move cargo.

From shipping corridors to energy corridors

That transition is already beginning around the Irish Sea.

The proposed Belfast-Heysham green shipping corridor points towards a different model of maritime infrastructure. Shore power, battery storage and electric vessel charging can help ships reduce emissions while berthed and increasingly support electrified short-sea routes operating on fixed commercial schedules.

This is precisely the type of route where electrification can move from ambition to operation. High-frequency commercial services, predictable schedules and regular port calls create the conditions for infrastructure to be planned around known vessel and energy requirements.

NatPower Marine’s partnership with Peel Ports demonstrates how this approach can be put into practice. NatPower Marine is developing privately financed clean power infrastructure designed around the needs of ports, vessels and shipping corridors, combining shore power, cold ironing, e-ship charging and battery-backed energy systems.

This is not simply a shore-power project. It is an integrated infrastructure model designed to give ports and shipping operators access to the energy capacity they need to transition.

Government has an important enabling role: providing planning certainty, coordinating grid delivery, granting separate allocation to strategic sectors such as AI data centres and marine electrification to avoid unfair competition, creating the regulatory clarity required for private investment to move quickly and responsibly, and reducing the cost of energy by cutting VAT and waiving system costs.

Making better use of Britain’s clean power

The opportunity extends well beyond shipping.

Britain has some of Europe’s strongest offshore wind resources. Yet increasing volumes of renewable electricity are being constrained because the grid cannot always absorb power at the right time or in the right place.

At the same time, ports and shipping corridors remain exposed to fossil fuel costs and increasing pressure to reduce emissions.

That creates an important economic opportunity. If Britain can store more of the clean electricity it already produces and use it where demand is concentrated, including at ports, it can reduce wasted renewable generation, improve resilience and support cleaner trade.

Battery storage changes the equation by allowing electricity to be stored when supply is abundant and deployed when demand rises.

Integrated into ports, this infrastructure can support shore power, heavy vehicle charging, cold ironing and electric propulsion systems for commercial shipping.

In effect, ports are becoming flexible energy hubs as well as transport assets.

BESS: infrastructure, not an afterthought

This is also where the conversation around battery energy storage systems, or BESS, needs to mature.

Battery storage is sometimes treated in local debates as new or inherently unsuitable for sensitive infrastructure locations. Modern BESS projects, however, can be designed with multiple layers of safety, monitoring and operational control.

California provides a useful illustration of what happens when battery storage is deployed at scale. As solar generation expanded, the state faced a familiar challenge: clean electricity was increasingly abundant during the day while demand peaked later in the evening. Large-scale battery storage helped shift that electricity to periods when it was most needed.

By early 2026, California had installed nearly 17GW of grid-scale battery storage. On one evening in March 2026, batteries supplied more than 12GW to the grid, demonstrating how storage has become an increasingly important component of system flexibility and reliability.

The lesson for Britain is not that it should copy California wholesale. It is that storage can turn surplus renewable generation into flexible capacity.

For ports, that lesson is directly relevant. Shore power, cold ironing, e-ship charging and heavy transport electrification will all require flexible power systems capable of managing demand safely while minimising unnecessary pressure on the wider grid.

Battery-backed port infrastructure can therefore serve two purposes: supporting cleaner shipping and contributing to wider energy resilience.

It should be assessed as critical infrastructure that can be delivered safely and responsibly, not simply as a technology to be excluded because of concerns about its risks.

Public confidence is central to this. Local communities are right to expect clear safety standards, robust design, emergency planning and transparent engagement. Infrastructure providers have a responsibility to answer those questions openly and demonstrate how projects are designed, monitored and operated.

NatPower Marine’s position is clear: port electrification must be delivered safely, sustainably and with community confidence from the outset.

That means battery storage should not be bolted onto an electrification project as an afterthought. It should be considered as part of an integrated energy system, alongside grid capacity, clean generation, shore power, charging, energy management and operational resilience. In a rapidly changing world, we need many more GW and GWh of energy storage than NESO estimated years ago. 7GW / 56GWh would be needed for shipping electrification only, a segment that is dramatically accelerating due to the Chinese new five-year plan targeting shipping electrification by 2030 and UK convergence towards EU emission regulations.

From ambition to infrastructure

This shift has important policy implications.

If ports are increasingly functioning as both strategic trade and energy infrastructure, they should be treated accordingly in planning and grid connection frameworks. Accelerated grid access for port electrification should be viewed not simply as a transport issue, but as part of Britain’s wider economic and energy security strategy.

Ports should be recognised as strategic energy hubs when planning and allocating grid capacity.

Britain does not need to wait for another technology breakthrough. The technologies required to support port electrification already exist. The challenge now is aligning private capital, grid capacity, energy supply and maritime demand so that projects can be delivered at scale.

Much of the investment required already exists within the private sector.

NatPower is investing on the basis that port electrification, battery storage and clean shipping infrastructure will become essential components of Britain’s future industrial economy. Its model is built around privately financed infrastructure designed for the specific needs of ports and shipping corridors: shore power, cold ironing, e-ship charging, giga-scale and long-duration flexible battery-backed demand management and long-term energy resilience.

The constraint is increasingly not a lack of ambition or capital. It is the practical challenge of aligning planning approvals, grid connections and regulatory certainty around infrastructure that is nationally important.

This is where partnership with Government becomes critical.

Battery storage also needs a planning framework that reflects its growing role in the energy system.

Modern battery energy storage systems incorporate multiple layers of safety protection. These typically include battery management and monitoring systems, thermal management, automated shutdown and isolation, fire detection, physical separation or compartmentalisation, and site-specific fire protection and emergency response measures designed to reduce the likelihood and consequences of a failure.

Many newer utility-scale projects use lithium iron phosphate, or LFP, battery chemistry. LFP is generally considered more thermally stable than other commonly used lithium-ion chemistries, such as nickel manganese cobalt, or NMC, although appropriate safety design and operational controls remain essential.

Sustainable storage also means looking beyond the battery itself. Responsible projects should seek to minimise environmental impact, improve biodiversity wherever possible, provide clear community benefit and support the wider energy transition without placing unnecessary pressure on existing local infrastructure. NatPower Marine’s projects, for example, target biodiversity net gain above the statutory requirement.

The state does not need to finance every major infrastructure project itself. Its role is to create the conditions for private capital to move quickly and at scale.

Faster planning decisions, accelerated grid access, clearer long-term frameworks for shore power and maritime electrification, modernised planning guidance for BESS and stronger technical support for local authorities and emergency services could unlock significant private investment alongside public funding.

A competitive opportunity for Britain

The strategic importance of this should not be underestimated.

Global shipping is entering a period of structural transition driven by tightening emissions regulation, volatile fuel costs and increasing pressure from cargo owners to decarbonise supply chains. Ports with reliable, clean power infrastructure will become increasingly important to shipping operators and cargo owners.

Other European markets and China are already moving to position ports as integrated energy and logistics hubs, supported by investment in storage and grid flexibility.

Britain has the opportunity to do the same.

The UK possesses strong renewable energy resources, globally significant maritime trade routes and growing private-sector investment in clean infrastructure.

The next step is to turn those advantages into delivery.

The ports that succeed in the next phase of maritime trade will not simply be those with the greatest cargo volumes. They will increasingly be those capable of integrating energy, logistics and industrial infrastructure into a coherent modern system.

The transition has already begun. The question now is how quickly Britain can bring policy, grid planning and private investment together to scale it.

BESS safety standards

Battery energy storage systems are subject to detailed safety assessment, planning scrutiny and operational controls. Internationally, a number of standards and test methodologies inform BESS design and fire safety assessment. Two widely referenced North American examples are NFPA 855 and UL 9540A.

NFPA 855, developed by the US National Fire Protection Association, addresses the installation of stationary energy storage systems. It includes requirements and guidance on system siting, separation, fire detection and protection, ventilation, emergency planning, and commissioning.

UL 9540A is a US and Canadian test standard used to evaluate thermal runaway and fire propagation within battery energy storage systems. Testing can assess behaviour from cell level through to larger system and installation-level configurations, providing information on issues including thermal runaway propagation, heat and gas release, fire spread and the effectiveness of proposed protection measures.

In the UK, BESS developments are also required to comply with applicable UK health and safety legislation, electrical requirements and the planning regime, with engagement with the relevant Fire and Rescue Service forming an important part of the development and emergency-planning process.

For UK deployment, the key issue is not whether BESS can be developed safely, but whether local authorities, fire services and communities receive consistent technical guidance, clear evidence and proper engagement so projects can be assessed on facts rather than fear.

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