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

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

Published Jan 11, 2026 5:29 PM by The Maritime Executive

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...

Taiwan Refocuses Offshore Wind Tenders to Maximize Viability

Published Jan 11, 2026 3:14 PM by The Maritime Executive

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...

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

Published Jan 11, 2026 2:30 PM by Prof. Dr. Ishtiaque Ahmed

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...

UAE Joins in an Exercise With the Iranian Navy for the First Time

Published Jan 11, 2026 1:55 PM by The Maritime Executive

With Exercise Mosi-3 - now renamed Exercise Will for Peace 2026 - scheduled to start with a dockside parade on January 10, naval participants have begun arriving in False Bay near Cape Town in South Africa, home of the Simon’s Town Naval Base. As predicted, Russian Steregushchiy-class corvette Stoykiy (F545) and its escorting Altay-class oiler Yelnya (A168) have been seen in harbor, having completed a port call to Walvis Bay. The Chinese People Liberation Army (PLA) Navy Type 052DL guided-missile...

Shipping

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

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...

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

U.S. forces board and capture the tanker Olina (Courtesy U.S. Southern Command)

Venezuela Tanker Seizures Have Set a New Precedent, and More May Follow

The U.S. government has seized five shadow fleet tankers to date in its campaign to control Venezuela's energy exports, and it plans to market the seized oil on board. With the new government in Caracas agreeing to cooperate with U.S. authorities on the marketing and sale of the crude, there will likely be fewer need for at-sea seizures after the current roundup of a dozen-odd fugitive vessels has been completed. Four "escapee" vessels voluntarily returned to port in Venezuela over...

Corporate News

Casablanca Cruise Port Opens New Cruise Chapter with Silver Muse Call

[By: Global Ports Holding] Casablanca Cruise Port marked the start of the cruise season with the arrival of Silver Muse of Silversea Cruises on 6th January, welcoming its first cruise call under the management of Global Ports Holding (GPH), the world’s largest cruise port operator. For the 2026 cruise season, Casablanca Cruise Port is expected to welcome over 100 cruise calls, with passenger volumes projected at approximately 135k, reflecting increasing cruise line interest in Casablanca as a regional hub. The...

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

Shipping

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

Tugs & Salvage

Dead Whale on Boxship's Bow Prompts Investigation

Government

Venezuela Tanker Seizures Have Set a New Precedent, and More May Follow

Corporate News

Casablanca Cruise Port Opens New Cruise Chapter with Silver Muse Call

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

Shipbuilding

A new P-17A class frigate, Mahendragiri, at launch at Mazagon Dock (Gov't of India)

Report: India Wants to Ramp Up its Warship Exports

India is reportedly working to expand warship exports as part of the ongoing push to revamp its shipbuilding industry. The Ministry of Defense (MOD) has already issued directives to the state-owned shipyards, instructing the facilities to build their capacities for export orders. According to a report by the defense news site Indian Defense Research Wing, the MOD’s directive covers expansion of docking and manufacturing infrastructure in the shipyards. In addition, the shipyards are expected to customize their blueprints for naval...

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

Union Condemns Pace of Investigation Into P&O Ferries' 2022 Ferry Layoffs

A trade union in the United Kingdom is reawakening the ghosts of the 2022 unilateral sacking of about 800 seafarers by P&O Ferries after condemning a government agency for delays in concluding civil investigations against the company’s bosses. The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) has criticized the Insolvency Service over delays in launching a civil trial against P&O Ferries. RMT believes the delayed civil investigation is eroding confidence and allowing senior figures involved in the layoffs...

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

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

Taiwan Refocuses Offshore Wind Tenders to Maximize Viability

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

UAE Joins in an Exercise With the Iranian Navy for the First Time

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

Dead Whale on Boxship's Bow Prompts Investigation

Venezuela Tanker Seizures Have Set a New Precedent, and More May Follow

Casablanca Cruise Port Opens New Cruise Chapter with Silver Muse Call

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

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

Navigating Port Funding Uncertainty: Adaptation Unlocks Opportunities

California Protects Blue Whales and Blue Skies With Historic State Law

One Event. World Of Maritime. This February, Copenhagen is the Place to Be

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

Dead Whale on Boxship's Bow Prompts Investigation

Venezuela Tanker Seizures Have Set a New Precedent, and More May Follow

Casablanca Cruise Port Opens New Cruise Chapter with Silver Muse Call

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

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

Taiwan Refocuses Offshore Wind Tenders to Maximize Viability

Report: India Wants to Ramp Up its Warship Exports

Researchers Say the Oceans Have Passed a Milestone for Acidification

Union Condemns Pace of Investigation Into P&O Ferries' 2022 Ferry Layoffs

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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