Christian Laursen

Barcelona

Reporter at Dow Jones Newswires

Reporter for @DowJones and @WSJ on the energy and mining industry in the EMEA.

Articles

Norden's profit down by half in year's first months

2 weeks ago | shippingwatch.com | Christian Laursen

The bulk and tanker operator labels the result ”solid” given high uncertainty and challenging market conditions. Full-year guidance is maintained. Norden’s net profit for the first three months of the year fell to just over half compared to the same period last year after a period of heightened turmoil and difficult market conditions.
Strike paralyzes Port of Antwerp and forces ships to queue

2 weeks ago | shippingwatch.com | Christian Laursen

Europe’s second-largest port is reporting serious disruptions in shipping to and from the port. Strikes across Belgium are currently affecting the port of Antwerp-Bruges, Europe’s second-largest port in terms of traffic and tonnage.
LNG industry warns Trump: Can't comply with US ship regulations

2 weeks ago | shippingwatch.com | Christian Laursen

There are currently no US-built ships capable of carrying LNG and US shipyards are not able to build LNG carriers by the deadline. US liquefied natural gas (LNG) companies will not be able to comply with new rules forcing them to use US cargo ships, says the largest US trade association for the oil and natural gas industry, the American Petroleum Institute (API), according to the Financial Times.
Wärtsilä reports growing demand from maritime customers despite turmoil

2 weeks ago | shippingwatch.com | Christian Laursen

The Finnish tech supplier is experiencing a declining appetite for newbuilds, but customers are still hungry for Wärtsilä’s services. Wärtsilä expects demand to increase over the next twelve months in the Finnish engine manufacturer’s marine business after its order book reached new heights in the first quarter.
Maersk Offshore Wind continues to build despite red light for US wind project

3 weeks ago | shippingwatch.com | Christian Laursen

Even though the Empire Wind project has been halted by order of the Trump administration, Maersk Offshore Wind intends to fulfill the contract. Maersk Offshore Wind will continue to build a vessel to install offshore wind turbines off the coast of New York, even though the US government has shelved the Empire Wind project.
Unifeeder eyes growth this year despite strain from soaring costs

3 weeks ago | shippingwatch.com | Christian Laursen

Rising operational costs are hurting profit margins, says chief exec - but he believes the net profit will improve by 2025. 2024 was a year of growth for Unifeeder in terms of cargo volumes as well as revenue.
Record number of pirate attacks in the first months of the year

4 weeks ago | shippingwatch.com | Christian Laursen

Pirates attacked more ships in the first quarter of the year than in the previous four years. Most attacks occur in the Singapore Strait. The number of reported cases of piracy and armed robbery attempts has increased dramatically during the first three months of 2025 compared to the same period last year, shows a new report from ICC’s International Maritime Bureau, IMB.
Norden cashes in on another two vessels

1 month ago | shippingwatch.com | Christian Laursen

The tanker and dry cargo operator continues the strategy of selling vessels from its active fleet. Norden has sold two vessels and is now up to seven sales from the active fleet since the beginning of February, the company writes in a press release.
US considers easing controversial plan to tax Chinese ships

1 month ago | shippingwatch.com | Christian Laursen

After heavy criticism, the Trump administration is considering easing proposed fees on China-connected ships calling at port in the US. The US government is reportedly considering to ease proposed levies on China-linked ships calling at US ports after several industries warned it would be economically devastating, reports Reuters , citing six anonymous sources with knowledge of the matter.
Industry calls for clear framework ahead of IMO negotiations

1 month ago | shippingwatch.com | Christian Laursen

Without concrete decisions on carbon pricing and clean fuels, the shipping industry risks losing momentum in the green energy transition. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is on the verge of reaching the world’s first global agreement on carbon pricing for any industry.