Mike Schuler

Mike Schuler

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Senior Editor/Partner, gCaptain; maritime news and shipping analysis.

Trump Warns Hormuz Users Will Shoulder Security Responsibility
SocialMar 20, 2026

Trump Warns Hormuz Users Will Shoulder Security Responsibility

Monumental Friday news dump Trump Signals Endgame in Iran, Says Hormuz Security Will Fall on 'Nations Who Use It' https://t.co/VWow7wkOmP

By Mike Schuler
Maritime Dominance Claim Clashes with Hormuz Reopening Failure
SocialMar 18, 2026

Maritime Dominance Claim Clashes with Hormuz Reopening Failure

We chased commercial tankers half way across the world and called it maritime dominance but can’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz?

By Mike Schuler
Jones Act Waivers Push U.S. Shipping Costs Higher
SocialMar 18, 2026

Jones Act Waivers Push U.S. Shipping Costs Higher

Argus: Early Jones Act waiver fixtures are coming in well above recent domestic benchmarks, signaling a sharp rise in U.S. coastwise shipping costs as foreign-flag tonnage now enters the market. https://t.co/kXsOyRdoaw

By Mike Schuler
Trump's 60‑day Jones Act Waiver Deemed Ineffective by Shippers
SocialMar 18, 2026

Trump's 60‑day Jones Act Waiver Deemed Ineffective by Shippers

Trump just waived the Jones Act for 60 days. Shipping interests say it won’t help

By Mike Schuler
Trump's Greenland Hospital Ship Spotted Off Northern California
SocialMar 16, 2026

Trump's Greenland Hospital Ship Spotted Off Northern California

Meanwhile Trump’s Greenland hospital ship is off Northern California coast sailing north at 12.6kts https://t.co/4VnOx2Xz8R

By Mike Schuler
Supertanker Costs vs Cargo Value Expose POTUS Misstatement
SocialMar 16, 2026

Supertanker Costs vs Cargo Value Expose POTUS Misstatement

Ok, first of all, supertankers cost roughly $125 million new. Fully loaded with 2 million barrels of crude, the total value of cargo is $180 million at $90 per barrel. That’s $305 million total. POTUS doesn’t have his facts straight...

By Mike Schuler
First Non‑Iranian Tanker Sails Hormuz Amid Quiet Approvals
SocialMar 16, 2026

First Non‑Iranian Tanker Sails Hormuz Amid Quiet Approvals

Did Iran just negotiate safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz? The Aframax tanker KARACHI just became the first non-Iranian cargo ship to transit the strait with AIS on since attacks on shipping escalated—raising questions about whether certain vessels are...

By Mike Schuler
Shipping Confidence Hinges on Iran Conflict Ending Soon
SocialMar 15, 2026

Shipping Confidence Hinges on Iran Conflict Ending Soon

Ok but the real question is when will shipping feel confident enough to return to normal?

By Mike Schuler
Hormuz Crisis Slashes Gulf Lease Bids Despite Oil Surge
SocialMar 11, 2026

Hormuz Crisis Slashes Gulf Lease Bids Despite Oil Surge

The Hormuz crisis just wrecked Trump's second Big Beautiful Gulf Lease Sale. Sale 1 (Dec): $279M in bids Sale 2 (Today): $46.9M Even with oil prices surging, offshore bidding collapsed. https://t.co/wtW22EKdFE

By Mike Schuler
Burned Ship May Explode, 5‑Nm Safety Zone Enforced
SocialMar 11, 2026

Burned Ship May Explode, 5‑Nm Safety Zone Enforced

5 nautical mile safety zone. So this burned out hulk may still have gas and could blow at any second? https://t.co/xSeppRNjFa

By Mike Schuler
Ten Seafarers Dead After 13 Merchant Ship Attacks
SocialMar 11, 2026

Ten Seafarers Dead After 13 Merchant Ship Attacks

Ten seafarers have now been killed in 13 attacks on merchant vessels since the Iran conflict erupted on February 28.

By Mike Schuler
Secretary Wright Retracts False Navy Escort Claim
SocialMar 10, 2026

Secretary Wright Retracts False Navy Escort Claim

Secretary Chris Wright seems to have deleted his tweeted claiming the U.S. Navy escorted a tanker through the Strait of Hormuz

By Mike Schuler
Maritime Dominance Requires More than Shipyards: Chokepoints, Navies, Finance
SocialMar 9, 2026

Maritime Dominance Requires More than Shipyards: Chokepoints, Navies, Finance

President Trump’s push for “America’s Maritime Dominance” aims to break China’s grip on global shipbuilding. But shipyards are only one piece of maritime power. Th real contest runs through chokepoints, naval force, commercial fleets, and the insurance and financial systems...

By Mike Schuler
Trump Urges Ships to Show Courage Amid Rising Deaths
SocialMar 9, 2026

Trump Urges Ships to Show Courage Amid Rising Deaths

How about no? Trump Tells Ships to ‘Show Some Guts’ in Hormuz as Seafarer Death Toll Rises https://t.co/jVzMgCqdbF

By Mike Schuler
Expiring War‑Risk Policies Prompt Shipowners to Prioritize Crew Safety
SocialMar 4, 2026

Expiring War‑Risk Policies Prompt Shipowners to Prioritize Crew Safety

Remember, many of the war risk policies weren't set to expire until midnight (00:00 GMT) on March 5, six hours from now. Insurance hasn't been the only impediment to Hormuz transits so far. I like to think shipowners are taking...

By Mike Schuler
UK Says Drone Attack Not Iranian‑launched
SocialMar 4, 2026

UK Says Drone Attack Not Iranian‑launched

"MOD confirms Shahed-like drone which targeted RAF Akrotiri at midnight on March 2 was not launched from Iran." Ok, so who dunnit?

By Mike Schuler
Red Sea Closure Threatens Shipping for Over Two Years
SocialMar 4, 2026

Red Sea Closure Threatens Shipping for Over Two Years

This sort of thing was enough to effectively “close” the Red Sea for 2+ years so we’ll see what happens

By Mike Schuler
Insurance, Not Closure, Drives Hormuz Shipping Decline
SocialMar 2, 2026

Insurance, Not Closure, Drives Hormuz Shipping Decline

Iran doesn’t need to physically “shut” the Strait of Hormuz—ship traffic has already plunged >80%. “Insurance availability may now act as a primary gating factor for transit decisions independent of formal navigational closure.” https://t.co/6FxXpLwnJq

By Mike Schuler
New Visual Tool Maps Ships, Services, and Ports
SocialMar 2, 2026

New Visual Tool Maps Ships, Services, and Ports

I’ve tinkered with this a little over the past week. Honestly, it’s pretty awesome. Being able to easily see ships, services, and ports/terminals is helpful. Could use something like this for the global fleet, not just containerships.

By Mike Schuler
25 German Vessels, Including Two Cruise Ships, Trapped in Gulf
SocialMar 2, 2026

25 German Vessels, Including Two Cruise Ships, Trapped in Gulf

The Association of German Shipowners (VDR) reported that at least 25 ships from seven German companies remain in Gulf waters, including two cruise ships carrying roughly 7,000 passengers who are unable to safely exit the region. https://t.co/Jm1JQWRcIE

By Mike Schuler
Strait of Hormuz Turns War Zone, Shipping Halts
SocialMar 1, 2026

Strait of Hormuz Turns War Zone, Shipping Halts

Here’s what we know so far… The First 36 Hours: Strait of Hormuz Becomes a War Zone, Tankers Hit, Shipping Giants Halt Gulf Transits https://t.co/Qu1u29WNZb

By Mike Schuler
Trump Misidentifies Greek Tanker as Venezuelan Vessel
SocialFeb 27, 2026

Trump Misidentifies Greek Tanker as Venezuelan Vessel

He's standing in front of the MT Cap Corpus Christi, a Greek-flagged crude oil tanker that is neither sanctioned nor seized. It also didn't visit Venezuela recently. Grok says it arrived in Corpus Christi on Feb 26 from Freeport, Bahamas (Feb...

By Mike Schuler
Maritime Legal Actions and Market Shifts Highlighted
SocialFeb 27, 2026

Maritime Legal Actions and Market Shifts Highlighted

This week’s Dispatch: 'Hospital Ship Head Fake' • DOJ moves to forfeit the M/T Skipper + $150M cargo • Another Venezuela-linked tanker boarded in the Indian Ocean • Mercy AIS points Panama Canal, not Greenland • A decade to US LNG dominance • Tariff...

By Mike Schuler
President Misstates Hospital Ship’s Destination, Heading West
SocialFeb 26, 2026

President Misstates Hospital Ship’s Destination, Heading West

I know the news cycle has moved on but are we just going to ignore that the President said a hospital ship was “on the way” to Greenland when it’s clearly headed to the Panama Canal and West Coast? ...

By Mike Schuler
USNS Mercy Heads Toward Panama Canal, Not Greenland
SocialFeb 26, 2026

USNS Mercy Heads Toward Panama Canal, Not Greenland

Hospital Ship Update: Latest AIS data shows USNS Mercy making a steady south-southeast run across the central Gulf towards the Yucatán Channel — pointing to the Panama Canal, not Greenland. https://t.co/LOKjvzQxcI

By Mike Schuler
Mercy Hospital Ship Heading Toward Panama Canal, Not Greenland
SocialFeb 25, 2026

Mercy Hospital Ship Heading Toward Panama Canal, Not Greenland

I hate to break it to you, folks… Mercy's AIS Track Points to Panama Canal—Not Greenland—as Hospital Ship Steams South https://t.co/EJNcVSIlSm

By Mike Schuler
U.S. Navy Intercepts Sanctioned Tanker Bertha in Indian Ocean
SocialFeb 24, 2026

U.S. Navy Intercepts Sanctioned Tanker Bertha in Indian Ocean

Bertha, don’t you come around here anymore U.S. Chase Ends in Indian Ocean with Boarding of Sanctioned Tanker 'Bertha' https://t.co/Fj8QRsuz6N

By Mike Schuler
Winter Greenland Deployment of Navy Hospital Ships Impractical
SocialFeb 23, 2026

Winter Greenland Deployment of Navy Hospital Ships Impractical

“Sending the U.S. Navy’s hospital ships USNS Mercy or USNS Comfort to Greenland in late winter would face major obstacles from peak sea ice, a lack of available icebreaker escorts, and ports too shallow for the ships’ deep drafts” https://t.co/xI3xIjrRbh

By Mike Schuler
Mercy and Comfort Remain Docked for Maintenance
SocialFeb 22, 2026

Mercy and Comfort Remain Docked for Maintenance

This photo was post by Alabama Shipyard on Jan 23, 2026. That’s Mercy on the right and Comfort on the left. They are currently in maintenance and not deployed or underway — Mercy in drydock and Comfort alongside the pier,...

By Mike Schuler