US Oil Majors Want Changes in Venezuelan Energy Laws Before Jumping In

U.S. forces prepare to board the stateless vessel Skipper off Venezuela (DOJ)

Op-Ed: U.S. Tanker Boardings Appear Consistent With International Law

Published Jan 11, 2026 1:35 PM by The Maritime Executive

Recent US boardings of oil tankers linked to Venezuela have prompted claims of piracy and illegality under international law. In reality, many of these boardings rest on a sound legal basis. Boarding vessels at sea is a routine naval activity permitted in limited circumstances under international law. This explainer outlines the international law governing maritime boardings and how it applies to the Venezuela cases. Boarding operations on the high seas, beyond the 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, are governed by the...

Navigating Port Funding Uncertainty: Adaptation Unlocks Opportunities

Published Jan 11, 2026 12:36 PM by Michael Vanderbeek and Rebecca Crow

The port funding landscape has shifted dramatically as federal discretionary grants become less predictable and debt capacity reaches its limits. Successful ports are adapting by diversifying funding sources, embracing innovative partnerships and developing strategic approaches that align projects with evolving political priorities. The key is building flexibility into funding strategies while maintaining focus on long-term operational needs. The new funding reality Port financing has undergone a fundamental transformation over the past two decades. What began as straightforward debt financing based...

World’s First Large LCO2/Multi-Gas Carrier Delivered to Capital

Published Jan 11, 2026 11:29 AM by The Maritime Executive

The first large capacity vessel designed to support the efforts for the capture, transport, and storage or reuse of CO2 has been completed, marking a new segment for shipping. The vessel, which has a capacity of 22,000 cubic meters, is designed for charter operations and can move seamlessly between LCO2 transport and gas cargos, including LPG, ammonia, and selected petrochemicals. Greece’s Capital Maritime Group launched the new operation known as Capital Clean Energy Carriers to develop the emerging market. It...

Container Imports to U.S. Expected to Remain Down Till Spring Says Retailer

Published Jan 9, 2026 9:12 PM by The Maritime Executive

The National Retail Federation issued its first outlook for 2026 imports, saying that it believes retailers are assessing what is ahead for 2026 and, as such, import levels are expected to remain down year-over-year until at least spring. While they expect a slight increase this month due to the change in timing of the Lunar New Year holiday in Asia, the retail trade group expects overall import levels will be down five percent year-over-year for the first five months of...

Shipping

World’s First Large LCO2/Multi-Gas Carrier Delivered to Capital

Tugs & Salvage

Dead Whale on Boxship's Bow Prompts Investigation

A small container ship arrived in Camden, New Jersey last week with a dead fin whale on the bulbous bow, and an investigation into the cause of death is under way. Late Sunday night, Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay reported a deceased whale on the bow of a reefer boxship at the north end of the Gloucester City Marine Terminal, next to the Walt Whitman Bridge. NOAA and the nonprofit Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) were alerted, and MMSC tentatively...

Government

Op-Ed: Bangladesh's Phased HKC Rollout Makes Sense - If Enforced

When the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships (HKC) entered into force on June 26, 2025, it changed the legal landscape of global ship recycling overnight. What had long been discussed as a future compliance goal suddenly became binding international law. Bangladesh, the world’s largest ship-recycling state by volume, immediately found itself under intense scrutiny. Critics were quick to argue that allowing ship-recycling yards to comply with the Convention “phase by phase” after...

Corporate News

IMO: Raft Of Shipping Rules in Force From January 1, 2026

[By: IMO] A set of amendments to key IMO treaties and Codes have entered into force on 1 January 2026. They include the following: Preventing and responding to bullying, harassment and sexual assault Amendments to the Seafarers' Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Code (STCW Code) aim to prevent and respond to violence and harassment in the maritime sector, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault. The amendments are included in table A-VI/1-4 (Specification of minimum standard of competence in personal safety...

Cruise Ships

Appeals Court Suspends Hawaii’s “Green Fee” for Cruise Ships Pending Appeal

Hawaii’s hotly contested and closely followed “Green Fee,” a new tax on hotels, short-stay rentals, and cruises, suffered a setback just hours before it was due to go into effect. It is the first tax of its kind imposed on tourists to contribute to the state’s costs of addressing environmental issues. Two judges on the U.S. 9th Circuit Court granted on New Year’s Eve (December 31) a last-minute request for an injunction in a suit brought by the cruise industry...

Ports

Two U.S. Ports Add New STS Cranes to Boost Competitiveness

Two ports in the U.S. are enhancing their competitiveness by investing in new ship to shore cranes, which will improve operational efficiency, advance environmental goals and push growth. Jacksonville Port Authority (Jaxport) in Florida and California’s Port of Oakland have both made big strides with new infrastructure for business growth. Jaxport reports that two new 50-gauge ship-to-shore container cranes have started operations at its Blount Island marine terminal, a move that significantly expands cargo-handling capabilities at the facility. Installed at...

Shipping

World’s First Large LCO2/Multi-Gas Carrier Delivered to Capital

Tugs & Salvage

Dead Whale on Boxship's Bow Prompts Investigation

Government

Op-Ed: Bangladesh's Phased HKC Rollout Makes Sense - If Enforced

Corporate News

IMO: Raft Of Shipping Rules in Force From January 1, 2026

Cruise Ships

Appeals Court Suspends Hawaii’s “Green Fee” for Cruise Ships Pending Appeal

Ports

Two U.S. Ports Add New STS Cranes to Boost Competitiveness

Offshore

Taiwan Refocuses Offshore Wind Tenders to Maximize Viability

For the upcoming Round 3.3 offshore wind auction, Taiwan has proposed a raft of measures geared towards improving project viability. In 2025, the offshore wind sector proved rather turbulent, with multiple projects globally failing to reach final investment decision. To counter these challenges, Taiwan has signaled a change in policy guiding allocation of offshore wind capacity going forward. Last week, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) held a public consultation on draft rules for Round 3.3. Although a consensus is...

Shipbuilding

Hanwha Defense and HavocAI Team Up on Midsize Unmanned Vessels

Korean industrial conglomerate Hanwha has been expanding its portfolio of projects in the U.S. naval and defense space, and on Thursday it announced a new agreement with an American autonomous-vessel company to compete in the medium-sized unmanned warship space. The deal pairs Hanwha Defense USA and Hanwha Systems with HavocAI, a two-year-old startup run by two Navy veterans. Jointly, the firms will explore building a 200-foot-long autonomous surface vessel, and Hanwha Philly Shipyard is under consideration as the place of...

Environment

Researchers Say the Oceans Have Passed a Milestone for Acidification

[By Anna Napolitano] The past 12 months have been worrying for researchers who study the chemistry of the ocean. More and more evidence has been published showing that human activities are fundamentally altering this chemistry in an acidic direction. At the end of 2025, it seems clear ocean acidification is pushing the largest habitat on Earth into a risky zone. Ocean acidification is part of the global carbon cycle. When carbon dioxide dissolves in water, it forms carbonic acid. This...

Business