Canada has rapidly become the world’s second-largest importer of soybean oil, driven primarily by growing demand from the renewable diesel sector, particularly the Braya Renewable Fuels facility in Newfoundland. Imports are projected to reach 800,000 tonnes in 2025–26, fueled by shipments from Argentina, where lower-cost, low-carbon feedstock is readily available. The surge reflects limited domestic supply and increasing biofuel production needs, highlighting how Canada’s energy transition is reshaping agricultural trade flows and supply chains.

BC Ferries has launched its 10th and final Island Class vessel, Island K’asa, at Damen Shipyards in Romania, marking a key milestone in its fleet renewal program. The new vessels are designed to significantly increase passenger and vehicle capacity while improving comfort and reducing environmental impact through hybrid-electric capability. Set to enter service in early 2027, the vessel will support routes such as Campbell River–Quadra Island, as part of a broader plan to modernize ageing assets and enhance reliable service for coastal communities.

LNG Canada will take a lead role in advancing a potential expansion of the Coastal GasLink pipeline, a project tied to its proposed Phase 2 LNG terminal expansion in Kitimat. Operated by TC Energy, the expansion would involve doubling pipeline capacity to support increased LNG exports, with LNG Canada overseeing engineering and construction while Coastal GasLink retains permitting and advisory roles. The project remains contingent on a final investment decision expected by the end of 2026 and continues to face cost, regulatory, and stakeholder scrutiny.

Enbridge expects Gulf Coast re-exports of Canadian heavy crude to rise significantly over the next decade as new and expanded pipeline capacity comes online. While the Trans Mountain pipeline has shifted some exports to Canada’s Pacific coast, Enbridge’s Mainline and Flanagan South expansions, along with potential future phases, are set to increase flows to the US Midwest and Gulf Coast. Current re-exports of 200,000 to 400,000 barrels per day are projected to grow, with markets such as India and parts of Africa seen as key demand centres. Additional proposals, including reviving segments of Keystone XL and further Trans Mountain enhancements, could further boost export capacity.

The Vancouver Maritime Museum (VMM) is proposing a partnership with HAVN Sauna to operate a floating hydrotherapy facility on a refitted naval barge at Kits Point as part of efforts to generate sustainable revenue. The project, currently under public review, would offer a low-impact wellness experience while helping address ongoing operating deficits and funding gaps. If approved, the initiative is expected to support long-term financial viability, enhance waterfront activity, and fund improvements to museum infrastructure, programming, and staffing.

The Canada Border Services Agency is urging businesses to plan for importing commercial goods into Canada ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, as increased volumes are expected during the event. The agency highlights the importance of using the CARM system to manage duties and taxes, ensure proper documentation, and meet all regulatory requirements. Businesses are encouraged to secure a CRA business number, understand applicable duties, and consider programs such as Release Prior to Payment or temporary import options to facilitate smoother border processing during the busy period.

David Eby is planning a trade mission to China aimed at diversifying BC’s trading partners, with LNG expected to feature prominently amid global supply uncertainty driven by the Middle East conflict. With projects such as LNG Canada already exporting and several others advancing, BC is positioning itself as a stable and reliable energy supplier to Asian markets. Analysts suggest the disruption of traditional suppliers like Qatar could increase demand, and potentially pricing, for Canadian LNG, strengthening the business case for pending projects.

Canada-Alberta Methane Equivalency Agreement outlines a joint commitment to achieve a 75% reduction in methane emissions by 2035 (relative to 2014 levels) through a performance-based, outcome-focused regulatory approach. Under the proposed framework, federal methane regulations would be stood down in Alberta in favour of a provincial system, supported by independent third-party analysis and ongoing monitoring. A draft agreement is expected in 2026, with finalization targeted by year-end and implementation by 2027, providing long-term regulatory certainty while ensuring corrective actions if emissions targets are not met.

The US Department of Transportation, through the Maritime Administration, has announced $488.6 million in grants under the Port Infrastructure Development Program to upgrade port facilities, improve cargo movement, and strengthen supply chain resilience. The funding targets projects that reduce bottlenecks, modernize infrastructure, and support regional and smaller ports, with at least 25% allocated to smaller-scale initiatives. The program remains a key federal tool for enhancing the efficiency and competitiveness of US maritime infrastructure amid evolving global trade dynamics.

The National Transportation Safety Board found that a harbour pilot’s simple but critical error led to the tanker Platanos striking a refinery pier during an undocking manoeuvre in California. The pilot mistakenly reversed the positions of assist tugs on a reference card and issued incorrect commands, causing the vessel’s stern to swing toward the pier instead of away. The incident, which resulted in over $500,000 in damage but no injuries or pollution, highlights how routine operations can quickly escalate due to human error, particularly under conditions of limited visibility and fatigue.

The Federal Maritime Commission has rejected requests from major carriers, including Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM, and ZIM, to waive the mandatory 30-day notice period for implementing war-related surcharges. The decision delays the introduction of new fees tied to rising fuel and operational costs from the Middle East conflict, with regulators citing insufficient justification and lack of cost transparency from carriers. The ruling underscores increased scrutiny on surcharge practices and aims to ensure fees are clearly linked to actual cost increases.

The US Coast Guard has issued a request for information as it moves toward procuring up to seven new light icebreakers under its Homeland Security Cutter–Light Icebreaker program. The vessels will replace aging platforms and support year-round navigation across the Northeast and Great Lakes, ensuring critical shipping lanes remain open during winter conditions. Expected to enter procurement by late 2026, the new cutters will combine icebreaking and buoy-tending capabilities into a more versatile design, forming part of a broader fleet renewal effort to strengthen maritime safety, commerce, and resilience in ice-prone regions.

Bunker fuel availability in Asia remains manageable but is tightening as disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz constrain supply, raising concerns of global shortages if the situation persists. Carriers are responding with measures such as slow steaming, sourcing fuel from Europe and the US, and introducing emergency surcharges to offset rising costs. While inventories in key hubs like Singapore and China are holding for now, a lack of replenishment could lead to reduced vessel deployment and service cuts, with broader implications for global shipping capacity and costs if the disruption continues.

Lloyd’s Register reports that shipowners are delaying engine retrofit investments despite growing technical readiness, citing uncertainty around global decarbonization regulations. While retrofit capabilities for fuels like methanol, LNG, and ethanol are advancing, a lack of clear policy signals, particularly from the IMO, is limiting large-scale commitments. The report warns this could lead to a bottleneck later in the decade, as more vessels require upgrades within a compressed timeframe to meet emissions targets, potentially driving up costs and straining shipyard capacity.

Iran is reportedly drafting legislation to impose a fee on vessels seeking safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, formalizing an arrangement already emerging amid ongoing conflict. The proposal would assert Iranian oversight over the strategic waterway, where limited vessel traffic has continued under tightly controlled conditions. Reported fees, potentially reaching up to $2 million per transit, raise significant legal, security, and sanctions concerns for shipowners, while challenging long-standing principles of freedom of navigation. The situation is further disrupting global energy flows and contributing to rising oil prices as trade through the region remains constrained.

Sailors’ Society has launched an emergency appeal to support seafarers and their families affected by the escalating conflict around the Strait of Hormuz. The charity says crews are facing severe risks, with incidents including missile strikes on vessels and ongoing detentions of seafarers in the region. Through its crisis response network and welfare programs, Sailors’ Society is providing urgent assistance, counselling, and support to impacted crews and families, while calling for donations to sustain its 24/7 services during the crisis.

Canada Steamship Lines and its CSL International Pool partners have named MV CSL Kuleana, the second in a series of five methanol-ready, Kamsarmax-based self-unloaders under their fleet renewal program. The vessel reflects a broader strategy to replace older tonnage with more efficient, environmentally prepared ships designed for long-term service across global trades. The milestone highlights ongoing progress in modernizing the Pool fleet, with a focus on performance, sustainability, and operational reliability.