CENTCOM Says for First Time in 23 Years Three Carriers Are in Middle East

A PLA Navy amphibious assault drill (PLA file image)

China's Naval Drills Show Growing Focus on Capturing Taiwan

Published Apr 23, 2026 10:32 PM by The Maritime Executive

China's military has been conducting exercises near the self-governing island of Taiwan for years, simulating naval blockades, air incursions and landings. But a round of drills conducted last fall appeared to be a much more "focused, realistic and sophisticated" simulation of an amphibious assault on the island, down to the distances between exercise locations and the conditions found near shore, according to a new analysis by four scholars at the U.S. Naval War College. The report arrives amidst news of...

Sapphire Princess (file image courtesy Sabung Hamster / CC BY SA 4.0)

Cruise Ship Sapphire Princess Recovers Five Bodies From the Mediterranean

Published Apr 23, 2026 9:54 PM by The Maritime Executive

On Tuesday, the crew of the cruise ship Sapphire Princess took on the difficult task of recovering five bodies from the waters of the western Mediterranean. After departing Cagliari on Monday evening on a routine voyage to Cartagena, Sapphire Princess encountered signs of a distress situation at a position about 80 nautical miles to the northwest of Algiers. After a lifejacket was spotted in the water, the crew turned back on their course and launched a rescue boat to investigate....

Tanker escort in the Arabian Gulf, Operation Earnest Will, 1987 (USN)

U.S.-Backed War Risk Cover for Hormuz Will Have to Wait for Convoys

Published Apr 23, 2026 9:33 PM by The Maritime Executive

The Trump administration has worked out a co-insurance arrangement to provide war risk cover for shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and Arabian Gulf, to be administered by NYSE-listed insurer Chubb. The program has yet to start, Chubb CEO and Chairman Evan Greenberg says, because it is conditioned on the use of U.S. Navy convoys and escorts. At present, the Iranian threat in the strait remains elevated, and the Navy's attention is focused on blockading Iran's commercial traffic. "The government...

Hornbeck and Helix to Merge in Further Consolidation in the Offshore Sector

Published Apr 23, 2026 8:28 PM by The Maritime Executive

Hornbeck Offshore Services and Helix Energy Solutions Group announced that they have agreed to merge their businesses to form a more integrated global offering in the offshore sector. It is the latest in a series of large deals consolidating the industry. The terms call for an all-stock deal that will combine the two companies and create what they say will be a more integrated service offering across a global platform. Hornbeck Offshore Services will be the surviving company, listed on...

Shipping

Report: Pirates Hijacked Small Product Tanker off Somalia

In a developing story, it is being reported that a small product tanker has apparently been seized off the coast of Somalia. The BBC was the first to report the story, saying the product tanker Honour 25 (3,000 dwt) had been commandeered and brought to an anchorage off the northern Somali coast. EUNAVFOR Atalanta has not yet acknowledged the incident nor the local authorities, according to the BBC. However, it comes during a busy week in which there was an...

Tugs & Salvage

Cruise Ship Sapphire Princess Recovers Five Bodies From the Mediterranean

Government

Iranian Shipping Blockade to Expand Says US as Hormuz Remains at Standstill

The Pentagon on Friday, during a press briefing on the conflict with Iran, vowed to expand the blockade on shipping while saying it was becoming more effective and stronger. The strategy continues to apply economic pressure on Iran by choking off most shipping, while, however, Iran continues its stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz. “We seized their sanctioned ships, and we will seize more,” said U.S. Secretary Pete Hegseth. “Our blockade is growing and going global.” Hegseth pointed to the...

Corporate News

Birdon America and Mythos AI Jointly Pursuing U.S. Navy MUSV Opportunities

[By: Birdon America] Birdon America and Mythos AI yesterday announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding at Sea-Air-Space 2026 to collaborate on the development and pursuit of Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel (MUSV) opportunities in support of emerging United States Navy operational and acquisition requirements. Under the collaboration, Birdon America will contribute its maritime platform, integration, and program execution capabilities, while Mythos AI will serve as the autonomy provider, contributing autonomous navigation, perception, command and control, and mission software capabilities...

Cruise Ships

Oceania Cruises to Convert Older Ship for Luxury, Long Cruises

Oceania Cruises announced plans to convert one of the line’s oldest cruise ships as the platform for long, luxury cruises. The brand has been working to move more upscale in its offerings while also pursuing a strong expansion program that will add five new, larger cruise ships. The brand was launched in 2002 using two small cruise ships, Regatta and Insignia, as a reincarnation of the failed Renaissance Cruises. The original company was building six 30,000 gross ton cruise ships...

Ports

Ukraine Destroys Sea Drone as Russian Strikes Odesa Ports and Cargo Ships

Ukrainian officials report that Russia continues to target the port infrastructure in the Greater Odesa region in an effort to disrupt commercial trade. They assert the recent strikes on commercial shipping are deliberate acts by the enemy. Overnight, another cargo ship was struck while sailing in the corridor that Ukraine has maintained for two and a half years for commercial shipping. According to the reports, it was the third commercial ship struck recently, however the Ukrainian Navy also released images...

Shipping

Report: Pirates Hijacked Small Product Tanker off Somalia

Tugs & Salvage

Cruise Ship Sapphire Princess Recovers Five Bodies From the Mediterranean

Government

Iranian Shipping Blockade to Expand Says US as Hormuz Remains at Standstill

Corporate News

Birdon America and Mythos AI Jointly Pursuing U.S. Navy MUSV Opportunities

Cruise Ships

Oceania Cruises to Convert Older Ship for Luxury, Long Cruises

Ports

Ukraine Destroys Sea Drone as Russian Strikes Odesa Ports and Cargo Ships

Offshore

U.S. is Negotiating to Cancel More Offshore Wind Leases

Executives at the French company Engie confirmed today that they are in discussions with U.S. officials about possibly canceling their offshore wind farm leases. Last month, the administration agreed to reimburse TotalEnergies for its offshore wind leases and hinted it might use the same technique with others, although advocates and lawmakers are questioning the legal authority. The Trump administration said in March that it had agreed to reimburse TotalEnergies nearly $1 billion it had paid to acquire a large lease...

Shipbuilding

Paying the Piper

The average merchant ship has a service life of 20-25 years, in some cases more. That's a long time to stay in compliance with all the rules that govern shipping, and owners know they have to set themselves up for success. It's not enough to meet regulations on day one: Every ship system has to be supported throughout a lifetime of industrial service if it's going to satisfy inspectors on day 5,000. Without solid backing from the original equipment manufacturer...

Environment

Winning Formula

For residents living near ports, seafarers working aboard ships and passengers stepping ashore, the question is no longer abstract: Why am I still breathing this? Sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) from ship exhausts are a daily reality in many port cities. A 2023 World Bank report estimated that more than 250 million people globally are exposed to air pollution around ports, underscoring that maritime emissions are not only a climate issue but a public-health issue....

Business

U.S.-Backed War Risk Cover for Hormuz Will Have to Wait for Convoys

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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CENTCOM Says for First Time in 23 Years Three Carriers Are in Middle East

China's Naval Drills Show Growing Focus on Capturing Taiwan

Cruise Ship Sapphire Princess Recovers Five Bodies From the Mediterranean

U.S.-Backed War Risk Cover for Hormuz Will Have to Wait for Convoys

Hornbeck and Helix to Merge in Further Consolidation in the Offshore Sector

Report: Pirates Hijacked Small Product Tanker off Somalia

Cruise Ship Sapphire Princess Recovers Five Bodies From the Mediterranean

Iranian Shipping Blockade to Expand Says US as Hormuz Remains at Standstill

Birdon America and Mythos AI Jointly Pursuing U.S. Navy MUSV Opportunities

Oceania Cruises to Convert Older Ship for Luxury, Long Cruises

Ukraine Destroys Sea Drone as Russian Strikes Odesa Ports and Cargo Ships

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

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

Estonian Solutions Support Cruise Industry’s Green Transition

Report: Pirates Hijacked Small Product Tanker off Somalia

Cruise Ship Sapphire Princess Recovers Five Bodies From the Mediterranean

Iranian Shipping Blockade to Expand Says US as Hormuz Remains at Standstill

Birdon America and Mythos AI Jointly Pursuing U.S. Navy MUSV Opportunities

Oceania Cruises to Convert Older Ship for Luxury, Long Cruises

Ukraine Destroys Sea Drone as Russian Strikes Odesa Ports and Cargo Ships

U.S. is Negotiating to Cancel More Offshore Wind Leases

Paying the Piper

Winning Formula

U.S.-Backed War Risk Cover for Hormuz Will Have to Wait for Convoys

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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Maritime Industry Conferences and Events