warship off the Somali coast monitoring pirates

Tanker Far At Sea Reports Approach as Surge in Somali Pirates Grows

First Commercial Bunkering of Ammonia Completed on Exmar Ship in Ulsan

Published Apr 28, 2026 8:09 PM by The Maritime Executive

The emerging market for ammonia-fueled commercial shipping achieved its next milestone with the first-ever port-to-ship bunkering on an ocean-going vessel. Previously, the only bunkering had been done as demonstrations, while extensive work has been underway by port authorities, classification societies, and others to develop the processes for safely handling highly toxic ammonia as a marine fuel. The Ulsan Port Authority (UPA) in South Korea announced that the first ammonia bunkering operation had been carried out on April 23. The gas...

India Reveals Unreported Incident of Iran Firing Warning Shots at Tanker

Published Apr 28, 2026 7:07 PM by The Maritime Executive

Indian officials, during an inter-ministerial meeting on Monday, revealed the details of an incident over the weekend during which a small product tanker with Indian seafarers was shot at by the IRGC. They reported that none of the Indians aboard the product tanker were injured but said they are continuing to monitor the Persian Gulf situation closely as many Indian ships and seafarers remain trapped. Shipping Minister Director Mandeep Singh Radhawa detailed the incident involving the product tanker Chrion 7,...

Major Scrap Metal Fire Breaks Out Aboard Bulker at Port of Newport

Published Apr 28, 2026 6:45 PM by The Maritime Executive

On Sunday, a scrap metal fire broke out aboard a bulker at the Newport Docks port complex in Wales, drawing a major emergency response to the scene. It was the latest in a long string of scrap fires, which have increased in frequency in recent years due to the prevalence of flammable contaminants like lithium-ion batteries. According to the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service, the fire broke out early Sunday aboard the bulker Nord Houston, which was alongside at...

South Korea Extends Antitrust Restrictions on Hanwha from DSME Acquisition

Published Apr 28, 2026 6:07 PM by The Maritime Executive

South Korea’s antitrust regulators have taken the unusual step of extending a series of restrictions imposed on several of Hanwha’s companies as a condition for the 2023 acquisition of Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering. At the time, the Korea Fair Trade Commission expressed concerns that Hanwha’s combination of the shipbuilding operation and its military component systems could create an unfair advantage or monopolistic elements, especially in naval shipbuilding. The FTC said the combination in 2023 would give the companies potentially...

Shipping

Tanker Far At Sea Reports Approach as Surge in Somali Pirates Grows

In what is thought to be the fifth confirmed piracy incident in just over a week, a tanker far out to sea is reporting it was approached but able to evade boarding by a suspected pirate action group. The authorities and security groups have each warned that they believe the pirate groups have extended their range using motherships, which are often hijacked dhows. The latest incident took place approximately 500 nautical miles east of Mogadishu, Somalia, according to information supplied...

Tugs & Salvage

Third Ukrainian Strike Damages Russian Oil Terminal at Tuapse

For the third time this month, Ukraine's drone forces have launched a long-range attack on the Russian port of Tuapse, hitting oil export and refining infrastructure that contributes to the financing of the ongoing invasion. The Tuapse facility has the capacity to refine about 12 million tonnes of oil per year, equivalent to about 4-5 percent of Russian refining capacity. Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces have been rotating through a target deck of Russian oil export ports, tank farms, pipelines and...

Government

The container terminal at Balboa (CK Hutchison file image)

Six States Criticize China for Detaining Panama-Flagged Ships

The U.S. government and five small Latin American states have issued a statement pushing back on perceived Chinese retaliation against Panama in connection with the CK Hutchison port lease dispute. Last year, following heavy pressure from Washington over perceived Chinese influence in the canal zone, Panama initiated a review of Hutchison's operating contracts at the ports of Balboa and Cristobal. The authorities claimed that they had found enough irregularities to move to revoke the leases, and they filed suit in...

Corporate News

Everllence Warns of 50GW Gap in Meeting IMO’s GHG Strategy Goals

[By: Everllence] Everllence has expressed concern over the current viability of the IMO’s 2023 GHG Strategy that aims for net?zero emissions from international shipping by or around 2050. Essentially, it believes that the NZF (Net-Zero Framework) is only achievable through combining ZNZ-fuelled newbuilds with large?scale engine conversions. Klaus Rasmussen – Project Sales Director, PrimeServ Denmark – Everllence, said: “The retrofit market is currently in the doldrums with shipowners backing off investment until clarity arrives regarding IMO rules. This leaves a...

Cruise Ships

Carnival Firenze, seen here as the Costa Firenze (Carnival press handout)

Cruise Ship Passenger Dies in Fall Near Catalina Island

On Monday, a passenger fell to her death from her balcony aboard the cruise ship Carnival Firenze. The circumstances of the fall are under investigation, and the FBI has joined the inquiry. The Carnival Firenze got under way Sunday from Los Angeles for a coastal cruise to Mexico. On Monday, while the vessel was transiting off Catalina Island, the victim fell from her balcony onto a deck below. In a statement, Carnival said that it would be supporting the victim's...

Ports

First Commercial Bunkering of Ammonia Completed on Exmar Ship in Ulsan

Shipping

Tanker Far At Sea Reports Approach as Surge in Somali Pirates Grows

Tugs & Salvage

Third Ukrainian Strike Damages Russian Oil Terminal at Tuapse

Government

Six States Criticize China for Detaining Panama-Flagged Ships

Corporate News

Everllence Warns of 50GW Gap in Meeting IMO’s GHG Strategy Goals

Cruise Ships

Cruise Ship Passenger Dies in Fall Near Catalina Island

Ports

First Commercial Bunkering of Ammonia Completed on Exmar Ship in Ulsan

Offshore

UAE Exits OPEC, Casting Shadow Over the Oil Cartel's Future

The United Arab Emirates has announced a decision to leave the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), a major blow to the supply cartel that has exerted influence over global oil prices since 1960. "The UAE’s decision to exit from OPEC reflects a policy-driven evolution aligned with long-term market fundamentals," said UAE energy minister Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei in a statement. "We thank OPEC and its member countries for decades of constructive cooperation. We remain committed to energy security, providing...

Shipbuilding

South Korea Extends Antitrust Restrictions on Hanwha from DSME Acquisition

Environment

IMO Consensus-Building Process Underway at MPEC Meeting

Delegates to the International Maritime Organisation’s Marine Environmental Protection Committee’s 84th Session appear to have taken the IMO Secretary General’s opening remarks to heart. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez called for delegates to approach discussions on the way forward for the Net Zero Framework proposal, which was rejected last October, in a constructive and pragmatic manner. He encouraged avoiding the rancorous manner in which discussions had taken place before last October’s vote. The “listening to each other” process seemed very much...

Business

Maritime Executive March April 2026 promotion

The Maritime Executive's Annual Energy Edition is Now Available Online

“Strait Outa Compton" That's the witty title of View From the E.U. columnist Erik Kravets' tongue-in-cheek comparison of N.W.A's hip-hop hit from 1988 and Iran's current strategy in the Gulf. But it's not all tongue-in-cheek, as you'll find out. Give it a read. You won't be disappointed. The war in Iran is, understandably, the subject of several articles in this, our annual "Energy Exploration & Production" edition. Allen Brooks, Eye on Energy columnist, uses it as backdrop for why the...

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Tanker Far At Sea Reports Approach as Surge in Somali Pirates Grows

First Commercial Bunkering of Ammonia Completed on Exmar Ship in Ulsan

India Reveals Unreported Incident of Iran Firing Warning Shots at Tanker

Major Scrap Metal Fire Breaks Out Aboard Bulker at Port of Newport

South Korea Extends Antitrust Restrictions on Hanwha from DSME Acquisition

Tanker Far At Sea Reports Approach as Surge in Somali Pirates Grows

Third Ukrainian Strike Damages Russian Oil Terminal at Tuapse

Six States Criticize China for Detaining Panama-Flagged Ships

Everllence Warns of 50GW Gap in Meeting IMO’s GHG Strategy Goals

Cruise Ship Passenger Dies in Fall Near Catalina Island

First Commercial Bunkering of Ammonia Completed on Exmar Ship in Ulsan

Containers Don’t Lie Symposium: Actionable Forum in Chaotic Times

From Fossil Fuels to Shore Power With the Port of San Diego

From Local to Global: Genoa Maritime Forum to Bring the Industry Together

Tanker Far At Sea Reports Approach as Surge in Somali Pirates Grows

Third Ukrainian Strike Damages Russian Oil Terminal at Tuapse

Six States Criticize China for Detaining Panama-Flagged Ships

Everllence Warns of 50GW Gap in Meeting IMO’s GHG Strategy Goals

Cruise Ship Passenger Dies in Fall Near Catalina Island

First Commercial Bunkering of Ammonia Completed on Exmar Ship in Ulsan

UAE Exits OPEC, Casting Shadow Over the Oil Cartel's Future

South Korea Extends Antitrust Restrictions on Hanwha from DSME Acquisition

IMO Consensus-Building Process Underway at MPEC Meeting

The Maritime Executive's Annual Energy Edition is Now Available Online

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