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Two-hour session features India-based experts addressing corrosion control, decarbonization, and evolving regulatory challenges in global shipping

Maharashtra, India – (April 17, 2026) — As global shipping faces increasing pressure from decarbonization mandates, aging fleets, and supply chain disruptions, maritime experts from India are playing a growing role in shaping how the industry responds to these challenges.

The Association for Materials Protection and Performance (AMPP), the world’s leading authority on corrosion control and protective coatings, will host an upcoming webcast focused on strengthening safety, sustainability, and operational resilience across the global commercial maritime industry—featuring a strong lineup of India-based experts.

The event, “Corrosion, Safety, and Sustainability in Commercial Maritime,” will take place on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. EDT (6:30 p.m. IST). In this two-hour session, global industry experts, including leaders from India’s maritime, engineering, and training sectors, will examine how shipowners, operators, port authorities, and supply-chain partners can address evolving challenges and advance modern, sustainable practices. The session brings together perspectives from engineering, operations, and maritime training to provide practical, real-world approaches to today’s most pressing industry challenges.

With approximately 90% of international trade moving by sea, ship reliability and performance are critical to global commerce. As India continues to expand its maritime capabilities and global footprint, experts from across the country are contributing to key discussions on asset integrity, regulatory compliance, and long-term sustainability in commercial shipping.

Speakers include:

•         Dylan Goddard, Coating Performance Specialist, Seaspan
•         Venkatraman Sheshashayee, Executive Chairman, Shipworkz Marine Services LLC
•         Capt. RKP Sinha, Co-Founder & Director, Marine Solutionz Group
•         Rishabh Jangra, Senior Engineer, American Bureau of Shipping
•         Dr. (Captain) Suresh Bhardwaj, Director & Principal, MASSA Maritime Academy, Chennai

 Attendees will gain insights into:

•         Decarbonization strategies and port-led green transitions
•         Maritime security frameworks and risk mitigation
•         Seafarer wellbeing and workforce considerations
•         Practical implementation of evolving International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations
•        Ongoing modernization efforts across commercial maritime operations

“Commercial maritime operations are facing a convergence of pressures, from stricter environmental regulations to increasing demands on global supply chains,” said Jennifer Merck, Vice President of Maritime and Defense at AMPP. “Corrosion control is not a maintenance issue. It’s a reliability and risk issue that directly impacts safety, operational continuity, and long-term sustainability.”

As regulatory requirements evolve and global trade demands intensify, industry stakeholders must align technical practices with broader operational goals. Corrosion prevention plays a critical role in extending asset life, reducing unplanned downtime, and supporting compliance with environmental standards.

Register to gain practical insights from global maritime experts and stay ahead of evolving regulatory and operational demands.

To learn more and register, visit: https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/5274653/8E575277B915AA579A28F6F7E002F41B?partnerref=AMPPWeb

Carlsbad, California. 17th April 2026: TAU Systems, the pioneer in compact laser-powered accelerator technology, today announced it has joined RADNEXT 2030, a European initiative coordinated by CERN that provides access to world-class radiation testing infrastructures for electronics. As a network member, TAU Systems will open its TAU Labs facility in California to European researchers and industry testers, supported by a dedicated allocation of European funding to subsidize test time for qualifying users.

RADNEXT 2030 is being developed in response to the Horizon Europe programme and unites a network of accelerator-based and complementary testing facilities across Europe and beyond. The initiative enables researchers, industry users, and early-stage innovators to test and better understand the effects of radiation on electronics for applications in space, automotive, communications, energy, and quantum technologies.

TAU Systems’ inclusion in the network, as its only US-based test facility, reflects the growing recognition of laser-powered accelerators as a credible and commercially accessible complement to traditional large-scale facilities. TAU Labs in Carlsbad, California, the world’s first commercial laser-powered accelerator center, is capable of generating high-energy particle beams to replicate real-world radiation environments with high precision, repeatability, and flexibility. The facility offers beamtime-as-a-service for Single Event Effects (SEE) testing for space, defense, semiconductor, and industrial electronics.

“Joining the RADNEXT 2030 network is a significant milestone for TAU Systems and for the future of radiation testing,” said Jerome Paye, CEO of TAU Systems. “There is a serious global bottleneck in access to radiation testing infrastructure, and Europe in particular is working hard to address that gap. Being part of this network means European researchers and companies can now access our unique laser-powered accelerator capabilities, backed by European funding, and without the long wait times that have traditionally held the industry back. We are proud to contribute to this important initiative and to work alongside some of the world’s leading testing facilities.”

Rubén García Alía, RADNEXT Project Coordinator, CERN, said:  “Given the overall scarcity of heavy-ion SEE testing beam time, as well as the physical anti-correlation between the energy of a heavy ion and its capability of generating failures in electronics, alternative testing approaches such as the one proposed by TAU Systems need to be explored and carefully validated. Space electronics testing requires very high levels of accuracy and reproducibility, and therefore a thorough benchmarking of the proposed technique – as planned within the framework of the RADNEXT 2030 activities on this topic – will be of great relevance and impact for the radiation effects community. We are therefore delighted to welcome TAU Systems as a key partner in the RADNEXT 2030 international facility network.”

TAU’s technology is particularly well-suited to Single Event Effects testing, providing electron beams that effectively simulate the cosmic radiation environment encountered by space-bound and safety-critical electronics.

The RADNEXT 2030 project is targeted to run from June 2026 through May 2030.

Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team has extended its longstanding relationship with Memento Exclusives, the world’s leading motorsport memorabilia specialist and expert provider of Simulators and Show Cars.

This new multi-year extension will see Memento Exclusives continue to provide industry leading products for elite activations as well as a host of categories for sale at multiple price-points via the officially licensed memorabilia retail and auction platform F1® Authentics. 

One of the most popular items is the 2026 Official Team Motion Simulator, designed and built at Memento Exclusives’ facility, just 15 minutes away from the AMR Technology Campus. This fully immersive Championship Simulator experience is made using the team’s CAD drawings to perfectly recreate the design and manufacture of the actual car. New additions to the expanded 2026 range include the X range, focusing purely on getting in the driver’s seat, as well as a static wheelchair-accessible variation, ensuring professional-level realism and performance is made available more fans than ever before.

These simulators are made to order and painted in iconic British racing green, bringing fans as close as possible to the experience of becoming an F1® driver, just like Fernando Alonso or Lance Stroll.

Memento Exclusives is also the supplier of the Official 2026 AMR26 Replica Car. Whether unveiled on stage, featured at a partner event or displayed within a VIP hospitality environment, these strictly limited-edition replicas showcase craftsmanship, authenticity and technical quality.

Brand-new additions to the official licensed lineup in 2026 are set to include a Pit-Stop System, featuring the front half of a Show Car and offering the ability to compete, just like a member of the race crew.

Barry Gough, Founder & CEO, Memento Exclusives, added: “The Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team continues to be one of our most valued licensees. We are excited to have extended our relationship and to be able to continue to offer fans and partners new ways to engage with the iconic team. From our expanded Simulator Range to limited-edition Replica Show Cars and the brand-new Pit Stop Systems launching in 2026, all available in AMR26 livery, there is more opportunity than ever for Aston Martin Aramco fans to Own The Moment.”

Matt Chapman, Head of Licensing and Merchandise, Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team, said: “We are pleased to extend our longstanding relationship with Memento Exclusives through this new multi-year agreement. Building on our existing product ranges, we are excited to further expand our offering with the introduction of new products later this year, continuing our commitment to delivering high-quality, innovative experiences for fans.”

To explore the latest Official Aston Martin Aramco Formula One™ Team products available, visit  F1® Authentics now.

Tehran, April 16(BNP): In a crucial diplomatic move aimed at stabilising the Middle East, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Field Marshal Asim Munir, arrived in Tehran on Wednesday, leading a high-level political and security delegation.

The visit comes at a critical juncture as Pakistan steps up its role as a key mediator between the United States and Iran, with efforts underway to sustain a fragile ceasefire and revive stalled negotiations.

Field Marshal Munir, accompanied by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and senior officials, was received by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The delegation is expected to engage in high-level discussions focused on de-escalation and diplomatic coordination.

According to sources, the primary objectives of the visit include conveying a fresh framework from Washington aimed at breaking the deadlock following the recent Islamabad talks held on April 11–12. Another key focus is to ensure the continuation of the two-week ceasefire brokered on April 8, which is set to expire on April 22.

The visit also aims to lay the groundwork for a second round of high-level negotiations, which are likely to be hosted in Islamabad in the coming days.

The renewed diplomatic push follows weeks of heightened tensions in the region since late February. While earlier direct talks between US and Iranian officials extended over several hours, key issues—particularly Iran’s nuclear programme and the strategic Strait of Hormuz—remain unresolved.

Pakistan’s mediation efforts are being closely watched as regional and global stakeholders seek to prevent further escalation and work towards a sustainable peace framework.

New Delhi/Gujarat, April 16(BNP): In a curious development amid ongoing US restrictions on Iran’s oil exports, an Iranian tanker carrying an estimated 2 million barrels of crude oil arrived near the Gujarat coast on Tuesday without a declared buyer or destination.

According to ship-tracking data and industry sources, the vessel appeared unannounced, raising questions over its intended offloading and potential buyers.

The development comes even as India has recently resumed limited procurement of Iranian crude following a US sanctions waiver issued last month, which permitted the sale of oil that had already been loaded on tankers prior to the specified cut-off date.

However, sources indicated that Indian refiners are unlikely to lift the cargo from this particular tanker, as it is believed to have been loaded after the waiver deadline, making it ineligible under the relaxed sanctions framework.

The situation underscores the complexities of global oil trade amid geopolitical tensions and regulatory restrictions, with uncertainty continuing over the tanker’s final destination.

3 in 4 Marine Mammals Most at Risk from Plastic Pollution Already Recognized as Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically Endangered

WASHINGTON (Apr 16) – A new study released in Conservation Biology today and co-authored by scientists at Ocean Conservancy, Arizona State University and Shaw Institute is the first to rank marine mammals based on their vulnerability to macroplastic pollution (any plastic piece larger than 5mm, roughly the width of a pencil eraser). 

The study, A global ranking of the relative vulnerability of marine mammals to macroplastic pollution, found that Hawaiian monk seals, African manatees, Australian sea lions, vaquita porpoises, and Mediterranean monk seals are the five marine mammals most at risk of population declines from plastics ingestion or entanglement. When the results are assessed at the level of order instead of individual species, sirenians, which include manatees and dugongs, are the most vulnerable to plastic pollution.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies 125 species as marine mammals, of which 8 were excluded from the study because they live primarily in freshwater habitats (like hippopotamuses) or live most of their life on land (like polar bears). Of the 117 marine mammals evaluated, more than 1 in 3 are red-listed as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered according to the IUCN; and of the 22 marine mammals in the highest-risk group, 17 are vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. 

“All marine mammals are affected by plastic pollution, but we wanted to understand: which ones should we be most worried about? Which populations are most at risk?” said Dr. Erin Murphy, Ocean Conservancy’s manager of ocean plastic research and co-author of the study. “Knowing the answer to these questions can guide our efforts and add urgency where it’s needed most.”

To get their results, the researchers scored species according to 11 different traits reflecting the animals’ likelihood of exposure, relative sensitivity to plastics, and population resilience (the ability to bounce back from stressors); then ranked their vulnerability as high, medium-high, medium, medium-low and low. 

The following specific species across mammal types and geographies landed on the highest risk list:

Hawaiian monk seal 
African manatee 
Australian sea lion
Vaquita (porpoise) 
Mediterranean monk seal
West Indian (Florida) manatee 
Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin
Sei whale 
North Atlantic right whale
Hector’s dolphin
Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin
Dugong 
Gray whale 
North Pacific right whale
Irrawaddy dolphin
Atlantic spotted dolphin
Atlantic humpback dolphin
Risso’s dolphin 
Common bottlenose dolphin
Baird’s beaked whale 
Arnoux’s beaked whale
Indo-Pacific finless porpoise

“It is not surprising that Hawaiian monk seals emerged at the top of this list because they are curious fish-eaters that have been found tangled in fishing gear,” said Murphy. “They also have a small population located near the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, exposing them to a lot of plastic. Local organizations have been conducting targeted debris removal programs to help protect the Hawaiian monk seal, and studies have shown that this has helped the population rebound. This gives us a lot of hope for how to protect the species at the top of the list.”

Murphy, alongside Ocean Conservancy colleagues Dr. Britta Baechler and Nicholas Mallos, co-authored a complementary study published in November 2025 that quantified the extent to which a range of plastic types result in the death of seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals that consume them. Drawing on data from more than 10,000 necropsies, or animal autopsies, the study found that even relatively small amounts of plastics can be deadly when ingested: ingesting less than a sixth of a soccer ball’s worth of plastics kills one in two harbor porpoises, the smallest of marine mammal species. Out of approximately 7,000 marine mammals in the study that had plastics in their guts at their time of death, 72% had consumed fishing debris, 10% soft plastics, 5% rubber, 3% hard plastics, 2% foam, and 0.7% synthetic cloth.

“You can’t fix a problem you don’t understand and that’s why Ocean Conservancy is committed to not only solving the ocean plastics crisis through prevention and cleanup but also advancing research,” said Dr. Britta Baechler, Ocean Conservancy’s director of ocean plastics research. “And it’s been energizing to see the impact our research has made, from inspiring volunteers to influencing policymakers to take action.”

An estimated 11 million metric tons of plastics enter the ocean each year, the equivalent of one garbage truck’s worth every minute. In addition to conducting original plastics research, Ocean Conservancy advocates for solutions to plastic pollution that prevent it from reaching beaches and waterways in the first place. Ocean Conservancy has advocated for policies at the local, state, federal and international levels such as California’s SB54, Florida’s balloon release ban, the Farewell to Foam Act, the UN Plastics Treaty and more. Ocean Conservancy is also home to the International Coastal Cleanup® – the largest single day beach and waterway cleanup in the world, mobilizing hundreds of thousands of volunteers annually to remove millions of pounds of trash – and the Global Ghost Gear Initiative™, the largest international alliance dedicated to solving the issue of lost or abandoned fishing gear, also known as ghost gear, which is pound for pound the deadliest form of plastic pollution to marine life.

LONDON/HOUSTON/SINGAPORE, April 16, 2026 – Middle East conflict has elevated strategic energy security priorities as countries seek supply diversification, international shale exploration can play a key role in meeting those goals, according to new research from Wood Mackenzie, titled “A hydrocarbon copy: the upstream industry’s return to international shale exploration”.

Six countries are advancing unconventional resource development to help address energy security objectives. Algeria leads for European supply diversification, while the UAE, Mexico, Australia, Türkiye, and Indonesia pursue domestic energy strategies through international partnerships and technology deployment.

Algeria’s proximity to European market

Algeria hosts vast reserves, and the Lower Silurian shale offers piped export potential. ExxonMobil and Chevron have exploration partnerships, though oilfield service bottlenecks require resolution.

Five additional countries target energy independence:

• UAE – Abu Dhabi National Oil Company is moving toward final investment decisions for unconventional gas supporting a 2030 self-sufficiency target. Drilling could exceed 300 wells per year.
• Mexico – Pemex set 2030 shale gas and tight oil targets amid US trade tensions.
• Australia –The Northern Territory Beetaloo gas project targets LNG backfill and east-coast market supply.
• Türkiye – Continental is working in the Diyarbakır and Thrace basins and advancing exploration at an accelerated pace compared to other companies’ earlier efforts.
• Indonesia – Regulators seek US participation in Sumatra basin tight oil. Targets include lacustrine sediments, once thought too challenging but proven viable by the Uinta basin in the US.

From Permian concentration to global re-engagement

A mix of subsurface and regulatory challenges slowed international shale progress in the 2010s, but the evolving Permian opportunity proved decisive. Companies ended global shale exploration and pivoted to West Texas for lower-risk, lower-cost growth.

Eight companies that once led global shale exploration—ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, BP, ConocoPhillips, Marathon, EOG, and APA—spent $230 billion acquiring and developing Permian positions between 2012 and 2025. Breakevens were driven down by more efficient operations and dramatically improved well recoveries, positioning the Permian lower on the global cost curve

US Lower 48 growth is slowing now though, and companies are looking elsewhere to leverage their unconventional skillsets.

A high-graded global search

Global shale exploration last decade also suffered from a lack of focus. Companies are now evaluating approximately 20 high-graded plays, compared with over 100 assessed last decade.

“Explorers know the countries to avoid,” said Robert Clarke, Vice President, Upstream Research at Wood Mackenzie. “Bans on hydraulic fracturing or unworkable fiscal terms will make certain projects impossible. Companies also have a better understanding of supply-chain risks, such as red tape that restricts the import of critical drilling and completion equipment.”

Two US shale specialists have made concrete moves. Continental Resources entered Argentina’s Vaca Muerta through multiple deals and formed an unconventional joint venture with Türkiye’s state oil company. EOG Resources made unconventional entries into Bahrain and the UAE. Some plays being studied are assets EOG evaluated during the first wave of global shale exploration. Majors, international oil companies and national oil companies are all participating.

Proof of scale and requirements for success

Argentina’s Vaca Muerta and Saudi Arabia’s Jafurah demonstrate achievable scale in plays outside North America. Combined, the projects will produce more than 2.5 million barrels of oil equivalent per day in the next decade and absorb $250 billion in future capital expenditure. Jafurah and Vaca Muerta prove that public companies, private investors and national oil companies can all participate.

“Countries seeking to commercialize projects must customize fiscal arrangements, terms for work programs and licensing,” said Josh Dixon, Senior Research Analyst at Wood Mackenzie. “Where there is alignment with national interest and the will to make these projects succeed, incentives for investment will follow.”

“The greatest advantage for global shale 2.0 is that there is no new US play on the scale of the Permian Basin to compete for future short cycle capital,” said Robert Clarke. “US shale drove growth over two decades nearly equivalent to the next ten countries combined—that’s the scale energy-thirsty economies abroad want to replicate. Technology has pushed costs down across all US shale basins. Where host governments align unconventional development with national energy security and provide fast regulatory timelines, investment and expertise will follow.”

Even brief exposure to the insecticide used in mosquito repellents can significantly impair bumblebees’ ability to find their way back to the nest. The bumblebees’ ability to navigate back to the nest is vital to the survival of the entire colony.

In the summer, many people turn to mosquito repellents to reduce the insects’ buzzing and bites. One solution that has become increasingly popular in recent years is the Thermacell device, which releases vaporized, pyrethroid-based insecticide prallethrin into the air. There has been much discussion in recent years about the effects of this substance on nature and pollinators in particular, but research data has been limited.

Researchers from the University of Turku and University of Oulu in Finland studied how prallethrin impacts bumblebees’ behaviour. The results of the study show that even a brief exposure to the insecticide can significantly impair bumblebees’ ability to find their way back to the nest.

“For bumblebees, returning to the nest is no small matter, on the contrary, it is essential to the survival of the entire colony. If the workers cannot find their way back, the nest will not get any food,” says Senior Research Fellow Olli Loukola from the University of Turku.

Impact on navigation was clear, but exposure did not increase mortality

The researchers studied the behaviour of 167 buff-tailed bumblebees (Bombus terrestris). They were exposed to prallethrin for one, ten or twenty minutes with a repellent device meant for consumer use, after which the bumblebees were released a kilometre from their nest and their return was monitored for three days.

The results were clear. Of the bumblebees in the control group that were not exposed to prallethrin, 37% returned to the nest. The return percent of the bumblebees that were exposed to prallethrin for one minute did not differ from that of the control group. However, of the bees that were exposed for ten minutes, only 17% found their way back, and just 5% of the bumblebees that were exposed to the insecticide for twenty minutes returned to the nest.

For those individuals that managed to return, the time taken to do so was not prolonged. Furthermore, laboratory tests showed that exposure did not increase bumblebee mortality, suggesting that the effect is specifically related to impaired navigation ability rather than direct toxicity.

“Bumblebee colonies depend on workers collecting food, so if they cannot find their way back to the nest, the colony’s ability to obtain nutrition deteriorates. Over time, this can weaken the nest, reduce the number of new queens and, in the worst-case scenario, result in the death of the entire colony,” says Researcher Kimmo Kaakinen from the University of Turku.

Researchers recommend reassessing the ecological safety of mosquito repellents

In Finland, the use of Thermacell devices is permitted, but their use is restricted to the immediate vicinity of residential buildings, such as yards and patios. The devices must not be used indoors or in natural environments, such as forests or national parks.

“Prallethrin-based repellents are used in many countries primarily for convenience. In some situations, their use may be justified, for example, in the prevention of diseases spread by mosquitoes,” says Kaakinen.

According to the researchers, it is important to conduct a more detailed assessment of the effects of household insecticides on pollinators. They state that the study’s findings highlight the need to reassess the ecological safety of these products.

The research was conducted in collaboration between the University of Turku and the University of Oulu and the research article was published in the journal Biology Letters.
Read the research article: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2025.0749