Ukraine Hits Two Tankers at Novorossiysk and Three Vessels at Primorsk
Ukraine’s security forces used long‑range drones to strike two shadow‑fleet tankers at the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk and three vessels—including a Karakurt‑class guided‑missile corvette, a patrol boat, and another tanker—at the Baltic port of Primorsk. The attacks demonstrate Ukraine’s ability to conduct coordinated strikes on Russia’s most critical oil export hubs, exposing gaps in Russian air‑defense coverage. President Zelensky framed the hits as “sanctions” against the shadow oil fleet, noting that propulsion was disabled while avoiding oil spills. Repeated strikes on the Tuapse terminal underscore a broader campaign against Russian energy logistics.
World’s Largest Sail Cruise Ship Celebrates Naming and Delivery
The Orient Express Corinthian, the world’s largest sailing ship, was christened in Saint‑Nazaire and delivered to Orient Express Sailing Yachts. Built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, the 220‑meter vessel uses SolidSail technology to achieve 100% wind‑powered propulsion and set a speed...
IMO Adopts World’s Largest Emission Control Area and Other Issues at MPEC
The International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee approved the world’s largest emission control area, a North‑East Atlantic ECA that will become effective in 2028. The zone stretches 200 nautical miles from Greenland down to Portugal and imposes a sulfur...
Military Permit Derails South Korea’s Anma Offshore Wind Project
The 532 MW Anma offshore wind farm, a $3.5 billion project slated for 2029 completion, has stalled because its site overlaps a military weapons‑testing area, preventing the required public waters permit. Major suppliers SK Oceanplant and LS Cable & System have suspended...
Bulker Evades Suspicious Approach South of Yemen
A skiff carrying seven armed individuals approached a bulk carrier within 10 metres south of Al Mukalla, Yemen, on May 1. The vessel increased speed, executed evasive maneuvers, and relied on armed security guards to deter the boarding attempt. UK Maritime Trade Operations...
Turks Use Breeches Buoy to Rescue Crew From Grounded Cargo Ship
Turkish authorities rescued eight crew members from the grounded cargo ship Ninova using a breeches buoy after the 2,500‑dwt vessel ran aground near Sakarya on May 1 amid a severe Black Sea storm. Heavy surf and wind prevented water‑borne or helicopter...
Photos: Hijacked Car Carrier Galaxy Leader Has Partially Sunk
The car carrier Galaxy Leader was seized by Yemen’s Houthi militia on November 19, 2023 and taken to a sheltered bay where the crew remained detained until January 2025. After release, the rebels repurposed the vessel as an observation post,...
Congress Approves DHS Bill, Ending Coast Guard's Desperate Cashflow Crunch
The U.S. House passed a Senate‑crafted DHS appropriations bill, ending a 76‑day shutdown that left the Coast Guard without operating funds. During the lapse, the service could not pay over 6,000 utility bills and sailors were forced to front relocation...
Maryland Plans to Replace Its Contractor for Key Bridge Reconstruction
Maryland announced it will replace Kiewit Corporation as the contractor for rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed after a ship strike in March 2024. The state’s new cable‑stayed design adds 300 feet of width and 45 feet of air draft,...
Contract Awarded for the Removal of the MSC Baltic III Wreck
Fourteen months after the MSC Baltic III ran aground off Newfoundland, MSC has awarded Florida‑based Resolve Marine Group the contract to dismantle the wreck. The 208‑meter, 33,767‑dwt containership was lost in a February 2025 winter storm, prompting a dramatic helicopter rescue of...
ETA Report Offers First Ever Industry Benchmark of ECDIS Knowledge
NorthStandard released the first industry‑wide benchmark of ECDIS competence, drawing on more than 5,000 assessments completed by roughly 120 member vessels over the past year. The report reveals persistent gaps: two‑thirds of bridge teams cannot spot ENC updates and nearly...
Liberian Registry Unveils Next-Generation Seafarer Platform
The Liberian Registry, the world’s largest ship flag, launched SEA360, a mobile app that provides electronic Seaman’s Books, licenses, qualifications and sea‑service records. The new Seafarer Portal integrates licensing, medical certification and training, while the Crew360 engine adds enhanced vetting...
Carnival Advances Fuel Procurement Modernization With New Digital Platform
Carnival Corporation has fully deployed Inatech’s Shiptech, a cloud‑native digital platform that manages marine fuel procurement across its eight cruise lines and 94 ships. The solution unifies data, provides real‑time visibility, and streamlines purchasing, compliance, and audit processes. Early results...
First of Canadian Coast Guard’s New Arctic-Offshore Patrol Ships Launched
Canada launched the first Arctic‑Offshore Patrol Ship, CCGS Donjek, marking a key step in its National Shipbuilding Strategy. The 103‑metre, 6,677‑ton vessel was floated out of Halifax and will join a fleet that includes two more patrol ships, two polar icebreakers...
Empty Tankers Are Extending Iran's Ability to Wait Out the U.S. Blockade
Iran is using empty ballast tankers as floating storage to stretch its crude‑export capacity despite the U.S. Navy’s Red Sea blockade. TankerTrackers.com estimates the loitering tonnage could keep shipments flowing until mid‑June, far longer than other analysts who projected late...
Iranian Trader Boats Are Still Crossing the Strait of Hormuz
Iranian trader speedboats continue to cross the Strait of Hormuz, bartering pistachios, carpets, live sheep and other goods with Omani merchants in Musandam. The nocturnal runs evade Iran’s customs patrols but are legal under Omani law, creating a long‑standing gray...
Third Ukrainian Strike Damages Russian Oil Terminal at Tuapse
Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces carried out three long‑range drone strikes on the Russian oil terminal at Tuapse in April, hitting a refinery that processes roughly 12 million tonnes of crude annually—about 4‑5% of Russia’s total capacity. The attacks destroyed multiple storage...
U.S. Troops Search Containership Suspected of Violating Iran Blockade
U.S. Central Command confirmed that Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit fast‑roped onto the 4,259‑dwt containership Blue Star 3 in the Arabian Sea, suspecting it of breaching the U.S.‑ordered blockade of Iranian ports. The vessel, listed as stateless after multiple...
Turkish Boxship Arriving From Russia Breaks Down and Blocks Bosphorus
A Turkish‑owned containership, the 13,700‑dwt Kappa, suffered a steering failure while transiting the Bosphorus on April 28 and drifted onto the northern shore near Istanbul’s upscale Yeniköy district. Turkish authorities halted Bosphorus traffic from 02:00 to 07:50, deploying rescue tugs,...
Why Freight Decarbonization Must Become Network-Based
The article argues that freight decarbonization must move beyond isolated green corridors to network‑wide solutions that can be repeatedly used by shippers. It highlights that scalable freight systems rely on reusable transport legs that meet volume, frequency and reliability thresholds,...
Ukraine Summons Israel's Ambassador Over Second Shipload of Stolen Grain
Ukraine’s foreign ministry summoned Israel’s ambassador on Monday, demanding an explanation for a second shipment of grain it says was stolen from Russian‑occupied Ukrainian fields and off‑loaded at Haifa. The vessel, identified as the Greek‑owned bulk carrier Panormitis, is alleged...
Workboat Hits and Damages Moored Fast Ferry Near Trondheim
A 90‑foot service vessel, the Multi Power, struck the moored fast‑ferry catamaran Froyfart at the small port of Froya, northwest of Trondheim. The collision tore a large gash at the waterline, partially flooding the port‑side hull and damaging deck structures. Oya...
Search Called Off for Cruise Crewmember Who Went Overboard Off Cape Cod
The U.S. Coast Guard halted a search Sunday after a crew member fell overboard from the Norwegian Breakaway off Wellfleet, Massachusetts. Video captured the man slipping from an upper deck, prompting the ship to reverse course and a Coast Guard helicopter...
BV Calls for Greater Connectivity Across Value Chains
Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore used Singapore Maritime Week to unveil its roadmap for a digitally‑connected, low‑carbon shipping ecosystem. Executive Vice‑President Matthieu de Tugny said decarbonization, digitalization and resilience will converge, pushing the industry from isolated vessel tweaks to end‑to‑end value‑chain...
Car Carrier Damaged in Allision With Bridge Pier at Bremerhaven
The 2024‑built ro‑ro carrier CMA CGM Monza collided with the remains of a decommissioned swing bridge pier in Bremerhaven’s inner harbor, creating an eight‑foot breach on its starboard side. Strong, gusty winds prompted the master to request an extra tug, but the...
Liberia Tables a Pragmatic Net Zero Proposal for the IMO
Liberia, backed by Argentina and Panama, will introduce a revised net‑zero emissions proposal to the IMO Marine Environmental Protection Committee at its 84th session. The new draft removes the controversial compliance‑fine fund and replaces penalties with incentives for low‑carbon fuels,...
Report: Arctic Routes to Remain Peripheral, Especially for Boxships
Arctic shipping has grown, but Coface predicts its commercial impact will stay marginal over the next five years. The routes can cut East Asia‑Europe distances by up to 40 %, offering clear cost benefits for liquid‑bulk and some dry‑bulk cargoes. Container...
IMO Passes Major Reform of Ship Registration Process
The International Maritime Organization approved new ship‑registration guidelines to close a regulatory gap that has enabled false‑flagging, especially among Russia’s shadow‑fleet tankers. The IMO reports 529 vessels flew fraudulent flags between April 2025 and April 2026, affecting 40 member states. The guidelines...
Churn in Horn of Africa Political Alliances
The Horn of Africa’s political turbulence is reshaping the Bab el‑Mandeb corridor, now handling over half of Saudi oil after the Strait of Hormuz blockage. The United Arab Emirates’ pullout has shuttered several Red Sea bases, eroding maritime surveillance. Meanwhile, Washington...
Phi Earth and ABS Sign MOU at Singapore Maritime Week
Phi Earth Technologies and the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) signed a memorandum of understanding at Singapore Maritime Week to develop regenerative biomass systems for marine biofuels. The partnership will create traceable, audit‑ready biomass feedstocks and digital‑twin monitoring to satisfy...
EU Breaks Deadlock on Russian Sanctions but Defers Maritime Services Ban
The European Council finally broke a weeks‑long deadlock and approved its 20th sanction package on Russia, coupling it with a €90 billion ($105.5 billion) loan to Ukraine. The measures add 46 vessels to the sanctions list, bringing the total to 632, and...
Iranian Shipping Blockade to Expand Says US as Hormuz Remains at Standstill
The U.S. Pentagon announced it will broaden its maritime blockade of Iran, saying the effort has become more effective and global. In the past week the Navy seized three sanctioned tankers and diverted 34 vessels without incident, while only five...
Houthis Remain on the Sideline While Iran Threatens to Widen Conflict
Iranian hardliners, led by IRGC‑linked officials, have escalated rhetoric, threatening undersea cable attacks and a list of Saudi oil‑related targets if the Red Sea cease‑fire collapses. Major General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi warned that continued interception of Iranian merchant ships would...
Birdon America and Mythos AI Jointly Pursuing U.S. Navy MUSV Opportunities
Birdon America and Mythos AI signed a memorandum of understanding at Sea‑Air‑Space 2026 to develop medium unmanned surface vessels (MUSVs) for the U.S. Navy. Birdon will provide maritime platform, integration and program execution expertise, while Mythos AI will supply autonomous navigation,...
DP World Joins Clean Seas Initiative to Cut Maritime Plastic Waste
DP World announced its membership in the Maritime Association for Clean Seas (MACS), a coalition aimed at curbing plastic waste throughout the maritime supply chain. The move expands DP World’s sustainability agenda beyond its ports to include logistics partners, ship...
Libya Again Warns That Wreck of Arctic Metagaz Is Drifting Out of Control
The Russian LNG carrier Arctic Metagaz, damaged in a suspected Ukrainian drone strike, remains adrift in the Mediterranean after its towline snapped on April 22, roughly 120 nautical miles north of Benghazi. The wreck, still afloat despite extensive fire damage, contains about...
Trump Administration Extends Jones Act Waiver for Another 90 Days
The Trump administration, after issuing a 60‑day waiver to ease coastwise transport of petroleum and fertilizer, is weighing a further 90‑day extension of the Jones Act exemption. About 40 foreign‑flagged vessels have already moved products between U.S. ports, delivering gasoline...
How Officers Manage Bulker Overloading Risks on the Mississippi
Panama Canal draft limits for Neopanamax vessels have risen to 49 ft in August, but remain fluid, forcing Chief Officers at Mississippi River grain terminals to project canal arrival drafts well before departure. Freshwater’s lower density and variable river conditions reduce...
Pirates Trade Gunfire with Security Team on Cargo Ship Off Somalia
A Turkish‑owned cargo vessel, the 10,000‑dwt Elfriede, was approached off Somalia by a white fishing boat and a second skiff. The ship's security team fired warning shots, prompting a brief exchange of fire before both boats retreated unharmed. EUNAVFOR Atalanta...
Report: Russian Oil Output Falls After Ukrainian Drone Strikes
Russia’s oil producers trimmed output by up to 400,000 barrels per day in March after a wave of Ukrainian drone attacks on key ports and refinery complexes. Export volumes at Baltic terminals such as Ust‑Luga and Primorsk fell roughly 50%,...
Two Ships Report Iranian Attacks in Strait of Hormuz
Two MSC‑chartered boxships were attacked by Iranian Revolutionary Guard gunboats in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, with one vessel sustaining bridge damage and the other halted but unharmed. Both ships had their AIS off until the moments of the...
Future Ford-Class Carrier Orders May Be at Risk
The U.S. Navy’s Ford‑class carrier program, the world’s most expensive warship effort, is under a "prudent and practical review" after years of cost overruns and schedule slips. The lead ship, USS Gerald R. Ford, cost $2.8 billion more than planned and took 12 years to...
Coast Guard’s Heavy Icebreaker Returns From Antarctica, Marking 50 Years
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star returned to Seattle after a 146‑day, 20,000‑nautical‑mile Antarctic deployment, celebrating 50 years in service. The heavy icebreaker cut a seven‑mile channel through ice up to eight feet thick to escort a fuel tanker...
Port of Baltimore Gets New Grain Facility
A four‑acre grain transloading hub with three silos is under construction at the Port of Baltimore’s Seagirt Marine Terminal. The facility will let farm trucks unload directly onto a conveyor that fills the silos, after which Ports America Chesapeake will...
Search and Rescue as Stowaways Jump From Containership Off Cape Town
Seven men leapt from a containership about five nautical miles off Cape Town on April 21. Six were retrieved quickly by the vessel, a nearby bulker and another containership, while the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) deployed boats and a drift...
Trump Extends Ceasefire With Iran Indefinitely
President Donald Trump announced an indefinite extension of the U.S. ceasefire with Iran, reversing earlier threats to bomb Iranian civilian infrastructure. The move follows weeks of heightened rhetoric and a looming deadline that could have triggered air strikes. While hostilities...
U.S. Is Negotiating to Cancel More Offshore Wind Leases
Engie confirmed it is negotiating with the Trump administration to cancel three offshore wind leases in the United States, following the administration’s recent reimbursement of TotalEnergies for a similar lease. The leases – Southcoast Wind in Massachusetts, Bluepoint in the New York...
Saildrone Joins Growing Competition for Navy's Medium-Sized Drone Vessel
San Francisco‑based Saildrone entered the Navy's Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) competition with its Spectre design, a 250‑tonne craft capable of 27 knots and a 25‑tonne payload. The vessel features optional sail‑driven, near‑silent propulsion for anti‑submarine warfare and can be reconfigured...
US LNG Growth with First Export at Golden Pass and Tug Order for Woodside
Golden Pass LNG, a QatarEnergy‑ExxonMobil joint venture in Texas, docked its first LNG tanker, the Al Qaiyyah, signaling the start of commercial shipments. The facility is currently producing about 400 million cubic feet per day, roughly half of its intended capacity,...
Port of Gothenburg Signs €18M Dredging Contract for Major Fairway Project
The Port of Gothenburg has awarded Boskalis Sweden AB an approximately $19 million contract to perform blasting and dredging for the Skandia Gateway project. The work will deepen the port’s fairway from 13.5 metres to 17.5 metres, allowing larger, deeper‑draught vessels to call...