Kaohsiung: Taiwan's state shipbuilder CSBC Corp is set to ink an order to build eight 1,800 teu container vessels worth a total of $192m, breaking a containership order drought of close to two years.

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia-based Silk Holdings, through its 70%-owned subsidiary Jasa Merin, has contracted Muhibbah Marine Engineering to build three anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessels worth MYR216.49m ($69.44m).

Singapore: China-based shipbuilder JES International clinched a deal to construct up to four offshore accommodation vessels valued at approximately $147m each.

Dubai: Offshore ship and rig yard group Lamprell today announced a full year net loss of $110.5m for 2012 as earnings fell 8.9% to $1bn.

Singapore: Singapore-based ST Engineering's US shipyard, VT Halter Marine, received confirmation from Bouchard Transportation on Thursday to convert an option to a firm order for an additional articulated tug barge worth around $100m.

New York: Nordic American Tankers (NAT) has entered into an agreement to acquire its twenty-first double-hull suezmax from a South Korean shipyard.

Tel Aviv: ZIM has become the latest line to cancel newbuildings, with five contracts annulled and possibly more to come.

London : Shipowner and charterer Noble Group, Asia’s largest commodities company, was already expressing alarm when head of chartering R. Raghunath met with Seatrade Global recently.

Tokyo: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and Hakata Shipbuilding have agreed to jointly develop an energy efficient 1,000 teu container carrier.

Tokyo: Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K line) today announced an order of five ultra large container vessels at Imabari Shipbuilding Co Ltd.