MSC Ishyka Manuel Hernandez Lafuente Vesselfinder 2015

Iran Claims to Have Hit an MSC Container Ship in the Mideast

Report: Russia Faces Logistical Nightmare in Redirecting Yamal LNG to Asia

Published Apr 5, 2026 3:46 PM by The Maritime Executive

With Russia’s Yamal LNG exports rebounding amidst the war in the Middle East, new research reveals that a logistics challenge is likely to impact the project as early as 2027. While most of the Yamal shipments are currently heading to ports in Europe, Moscow has announced a pivot to the Asian market. In January, the European Union also approved a ban of Russian LNG imports to the bloc from January 2027. These shifts will add pressure to Russia’s existing transport...

Demand for LPG has soared in Africa, driving need for vessels like the Africa Gas, above (Hyundai Mipo press handout)

Agility at Sea: Geopolitical Shocks Reshape Energy Shipping

Published Apr 5, 2026 3:26 PM by Glenn Schatz

Conflict in the Middle East has practically halted shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The narrow passageway is not technically closed, but the risks now dissuade most attempts at passing through. Tanker traffic has dropped roughly 90 percent. Around 400 vessels, many just sitting full of oil, wait anchored or sheltering in the Gulf. Maersk, MSC, Hapag-Lloyd, and CMA CGM all suspended transits. Insurers pulled war risk coverage almost immediately, and freight rates experienced massive hourly volatility. The Strait...

The IRISL-operated container ship Rayen (IMO 9820245) (VesselFinder/Ya Ray Yang)

Amidst War, Iran's Merchant Fleet is Enjoying Boom Times

Published Apr 5, 2026 2:35 PM by The Maritime Executive

The merchant marine tends to sail on regardless in time of war, notwithstanding the risk. As the risk goes up, so do cargo rates. And so also does demand for the goods being carried. For ships of the Iranian merchant navy, dominated by the state-owned but US-sanctioned Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) and its subsidiaries, the current war is no exception. Business is booming. The immediate evidence is on show in Iran’s ports. Since the start of the...

Op-Ed: An Urgent Need for Quicker and Cheaper Naval Procurement

Published Apr 5, 2026 1:45 PM by The Maritime Executive

Conflict in Ukraine, over the last several years in the Near East, and now over Iran, has done nothing to undermine a truth established in warfare for centuries: success cannot be achieved unless the winning side has sailors who are well-trained, tenacious and skillfully led, this moral and human component to fighting capability often being overlooked. But at the same time, recent experience in particular demonstrates that the ability to innovate technically – at a pace faster than one’s enemy...

Shipping

RFS Stoykiy (Russian Ministry of Defense file image)

Lone Russian Corvette Flies the St. Andrew’s Flag in the Med

At a time of active conflict involving both Lebanon and Israel, and when the French Navy has deployed at full strength to prevent further attacks on the British Sovereign Base Area in Cyprus, the strength of the Mediterranean Flotilla has sunk to a single ship flying the St. Andrew’s Flag of the Russian Navy. On March 31, the Improved Kilo (Project 636.6) class submarine RFS Krasnodar (B-265) and its shadowing tug Altay (IMO 4622404) passed westwards back through the Strait...

Tugs & Salvage

Human Remains Reportedly Found on Thai Bulker Attacked by Iranians

The Thai shipping company Precious Shipping reported on Friday, April 3, that human remains had been located aboard its vessel, the Mayuree Naree, more than three weeks after the ship was attacked near the Strait of Hormuz. The company had reported that three crewmembers were missing after the attack, and the ship was abandoned. The company had previously said it appeared unlikely that the crewmembers would be located. The Royal Omani Navy rescued 20 crewmembers who abandoned the ship, with...

Government

Op-Ed: An Urgent Need for Quicker and Cheaper Naval Procurement

Corporate News

Maine Maritime Academy Welcomes Historic Arrival of T/S State of Maine

[By: Maine Maritime Academy] Maine Maritime Academy, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD), TOTE Services, and Hanwha Philly Shipyard, on March 31 welcomed the training ship State of Maine, one of the nation’s newest National Security Multi-Mission Vessels (NSMV), during a formal delivery ceremony at Ocean Gateway. The vessel arrived in Portland Harbor on March 21, where it was greeted by a ceremonial water salute marking its first entry into port. The State of Maine...

Cruise Ships

TUI Orders First Methanol River Cruise Ships as Sector Growth Continues

River cruising continues to be one of the hottest segments in the cruise industry, with strong growth continuing, especially in the European market. Analysts report there are over 380 river cruise ships currently sailing, with an additional 10 percent currently under construction and continuing new orders. The UK division of Germany’s TUI Group announced that it has ordered two more new builds, and these ships are being designed and built for the next generation of alternative fuels. The company reports...

Ports

Podcast: Port Everglades CEO & Port Director Joseph Morris

In this episode of The Maritime Executive's podcast series, TME editor-in-chief Tony Munoz caught up with Joseph Morris, CEO and Port Director of Port Everglades, for an in-depth discussion of the port's business and the opportunities ahead. Port Everglades is one of the busiest cruise ports in the world, and it also handles critical cargoes to keep South Florida's economy running. Last year, it welcomed a record-setting 4.77 million cruise guests, and it's on track to set another traffic record...

Shipping

Lone Russian Corvette Flies the St. Andrew’s Flag in the Med

Tugs & Salvage

Human Remains Reportedly Found on Thai Bulker Attacked by Iranians

Government

Op-Ed: An Urgent Need for Quicker and Cheaper Naval Procurement

Corporate News

Maine Maritime Academy Welcomes Historic Arrival of T/S State of Maine

Cruise Ships

TUI Orders First Methanol River Cruise Ships as Sector Growth Continues

Ports

Podcast: Port Everglades CEO & Port Director Joseph Morris

Offshore

QatarEnergy’s U.S. LNG Plant Achieves First Production at Critical Time

Just as the world is looking for alternative sources of LNG, Golden Pass LNG in Texas reported it has achieved first production. The project, which has been in planning and development for 15 years, is set to start export shipments in the second quarter, coming online to help fill some of the shortfall from Qatar and the Middle East. The United States is already setting records for LNG shipments and has been rivaling Qatar for the title of the largest...

Shipbuilding

Samsung Heavy Industries Participates in Its First U.S. Navy MASGA Project

South Korean shipbuilder Samsung Heavy Industries announced that it will be participating in its first U.S. shipbuilding project, working with General Dynamics NASSCO and DSEC. It is a design project that is being billed as part of the South Korean program launched last year, calling for a $150 billion investment project known as Make American Shipbuilding Great Again (MASGA). The project is for the refining of the design of the future “Next Generation Logistics Support Ship,” which the U.S. Navy...

Environment

Japan Demonstrates Hydrogen-Fueled Engine for Large Commercial Vessels

Japan reports a breakthrough with the demonstration of a large hydrogen-fueled engine being developed by Japan Engine Corporation, working with Kawasaki Heavy Industries, for a demonstration project for an ocean-going vessel. It points out that most work so far with hydrogen is on smaller engines for coastal vessels, making this a major technological milestone toward the practical use of hydrogen-fueled vessels. While interest has developed in hydrogen, to date, the Japanese project points out that most of the initiatives are...

Business

On-Demand Manufacturing: A New Direction for Marine & Energy Parts Sourcing

For decades, global supply chains operated with predictable lead times and stable delivery expectations. End users ordered parts from OEMs, who built and delivered them within an agreed timeframe. Over the past decade, marked by COVID-19 disruption and rising geopolitical tension, the fragility of traditional supply chains has been exposed. Under increasing pressure from end users, OEMs are now being forced to consider alternative production models. In the maritime and energy sectors assets are built to last, with many now...

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Iran Claims to Have Hit an MSC Container Ship in the Mideast

Report: Russia Faces Logistical Nightmare in Redirecting Yamal LNG to Asia

Agility at Sea: Geopolitical Shocks Reshape Energy Shipping

Amidst War, Iran's Merchant Fleet is Enjoying Boom Times

Op-Ed: An Urgent Need for Quicker and Cheaper Naval Procurement

Lone Russian Corvette Flies the St. Andrew’s Flag in the Med

Human Remains Reportedly Found on Thai Bulker Attacked by Iranians

Op-Ed: An Urgent Need for Quicker and Cheaper Naval Procurement

Maine Maritime Academy Welcomes Historic Arrival of T/S State of Maine

TUI Orders First Methanol River Cruise Ships as Sector Growth Continues

Podcast: Port Everglades CEO & Port Director Joseph Morris

Cyber Risk in Shipping: From Technical Threat to Business Reality

Architecture of Adaptability: Designing Vessels to Stand the Test of Time

Improve Fleet Value With Digital Optimization of Cruise Ship Hotel Areas

Lone Russian Corvette Flies the St. Andrew’s Flag in the Med

Human Remains Reportedly Found on Thai Bulker Attacked by Iranians

Op-Ed: An Urgent Need for Quicker and Cheaper Naval Procurement

Maine Maritime Academy Welcomes Historic Arrival of T/S State of Maine

TUI Orders First Methanol River Cruise Ships as Sector Growth Continues

Podcast: Port Everglades CEO & Port Director Joseph Morris

QatarEnergy’s U.S. LNG Plant Achieves First Production at Critical Time

Samsung Heavy Industries Participates in Its First U.S. Navy MASGA Project

Japan Demonstrates Hydrogen-Fueled Engine for Large Commercial Vessels

On-Demand Manufacturing: A New Direction for Marine & Energy Parts Sourcing

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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Maritime Industry Conferences and Events