Maritime Industry Briefing: Key Bridge Criminal Plea, Hormuz Uncertainty, Recycling Rules, and Nuclear Shipyard Study

## Maritime Industry Briefing ### Dali Chief Engineer Admits Criminal Conduct in Key Bridge Case The chief engineer of the containership *Dali* has admitted to conduct constituting a criminal violation of US maritime safety laws in connection with the vessel's fatal allision with Baltimore's Francis Scott Key Bridge in March 2024. According to Splash247, Karthikeyan Deenadayalan, an Indian national who served as chief engineer aboard the vessel, entered the admission in what marks a significant legal development in one of the most consequential maritime disasters in recent US history. The collapse of the Key Bridge killed six construction workers and paralysed one of the US East Coast's busiest ports for months. The case continues to draw scrutiny over vessel maintenance practices and crew accountability under US maritime law. ### Hormuz Reopening Remains Fragile Amid Diplomatic and Mine Risks Vessel tracking services recorded 17 transits through the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, with two additional passages logged in the early hours of Friday — tentative signs of resumed activity in a waterway that has been effectively closed for nearly four months, Splash247 reports. However, analysts caution that the diplomatic framework underpinning a US-Iran memorandum of understanding remains under strain, and the threat posed by naval mines continues to cloud the outlook for full commercial resumption. The Strait of Hormuz handles approximately 20% of global oil trade, making any sustained disruption a critical concern for energy markets and tanker operators worldwide. ### Shipowners Push for Single Global Recycling Rulebook European and international shipowner associations have jointly called for greater alignment between European Union ship recycling regulations and the now-in-force Hong Kong Convention (HKC), arguing that the HKC's entry into force has fundamentally raised global standards and should serve as the foundation for a unified international framework. As reported by Splash247, owners contend that operating under two divergent regulatory regimes creates unnecessary compliance complexity and competitive distortions, and that harmonisation would strengthen environmental outcomes without duplicating bureaucratic burden. The HKC, which entered into force in June 2025, sets internationally agreed standards for the safe and environmentally sound recycling of ships. ### Feasibility Study Eyes Shipyard-Built Floating Nuclear Plants Maritime nuclear specialist CORE POWER has launched a feasibility study in partnership with US nuclear technology company BWX Technologies (BWXT) to examine whether shipyards could mass-produce floating nuclear power plants for deployment at coastal locations, Splash247 reports. The study will assess technical, regulatory, and commercial viability — a significant undertaking given the intersection of shipbuilding capacity, nuclear licensing regimes, and energy infrastructure investment. Proponents argue that modular, shipyard-constructed nuclear units could accelerate clean energy deployment in coastal and island markets, while critics point to the considerable regulatory and public acceptance hurdles that remain. The initiative reflects growing industry interest in nuclear propulsion and power as the maritime sector seeks pathways to decarbonisation.