Tensions Remain High in Hormuz as Trump Says Navy Will “Shoot to Kill”

How Officers Manage Bulker Overloading Risks on the Mississippi

Published Apr 23, 2026 3:43 PM by Priyatham Sanjeeva Reddy, Ramidi

Each year, hundreds of bulk carriers load grain and soybeans along the Mississippi River, intending to transit the Panama Canal. While the Canal enforces strict draft limits, the real risk originates long before, often at the loading berth—where commercial pressure, draft miscalculations, and inaccurate loading sequences can compromise compliance and safety. This article examines the operational challenges tied to grain loading on the Mississippi River, highlighting how Chief Officers can safeguard vessel draft, ensure Panama compliance, and avoid significant delays...

Pirates Trade Gunfire with Security Team on Cargo Ship off Somalia

Published Apr 23, 2026 1:29 PM by The Maritime Executive

A cargo ship departing Somalia is reporting that it was shot at by an approaching small boat and returned fire. It is the second report of a possible new piracy event in the region this week, with EUNAVFOR Atalanta confirming that the reports are under investigation. A small boat, which is being described as a white fishing boat, came within approximately 600 meters (less than 2,000 feet) of the cargo ship. It appeared to be working with a second boat,...

US Forces Board Shadow Tanker in Indian Ocean as Iran Blockade Efforts Grow

Published Apr 23, 2026 12:27 PM by The Maritime Executive

The Pentagon announced that U.S. forces have boarded another tanker linked to Iran as the White House vowed to expand the blockade to strangle Iran’s economy. It is the second tanker the Pentagon has confirmed it has boarded this week, while CENTCOM reported that a total of 31 tankers have now been ordered to turn around or return to port as part of the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and shipping. Releasing pictures and videos, the Pentagon identified the crude...

An IRGC minelaying boat. Iran possessed thousands of mines before the war, some deployable from civilian small craft (IRGC)

Report: Removing Mines From Strait of Hormuz Could Take Six Months

Published Apr 22, 2026 11:03 PM by The Maritime Executive

Reopening the Strait of Hormuz is a top-of-mind objective for the White House, but it may take more than a deal with Iran to get the situation back to normal in the waterway, according to the Washington Post. The Pentagon's internal assessment is that it could take six months to complete minesweeping operations in the strait after hostilities have ceased, the Post's Dan Lamothe reports - even with the advanced minesweeping and minehunting equipment embarked on three Independence-class littoral combat...

Shipping

Trump Administration Extends Jones Act Waiver for Another 90 Days

Last month, the Trump administration issued a 60-day waiver of the Jones Act in order to make it easier to move petroleum and fertilizer products between U.S. ports. Availability of foreign tanker tonnage in a tight market was an initial limitation, and uptake was low at first, but in recent weeks about 40 foreign-flagged vessels have moved products in U.S. coastwise trade. Now, the administration has notified Congress that it plans to extend the waiver for another 90 days. "As...

Tugs & Salvage

Libya Again Warns That Wreck of Arctic Metagaz is Drifting Out of Control

Nearly two months after the Russian LNG carrier Arctic Metagaz was ripped apart by an explosion likely caused by a Ukrainian drone attack, the wreck is still a danger to navigation and the environment with no solution in place. Libyan authorities issued a new alert that the wreck has broken free in the Mediterranean. The Libyan Ports and Maritime Transport Authority warns that the wreck broke its towline at midday local time on April 22. It was approximately 120 nautical...

Government

IRGC attack boats in a mass drill (IRGC)

The IRGC's Hormuz Toll System is Unlikely to be Exposed

Tasnim and Fars, both IRGC-linked semi-official news agencies in Iran, have claimed that Strait of Hormuz transit fees are being deposited into the ‘national treasury’. These claims are being carried by a number of media outlets, notwithstanding the lack of any evidence presented as to who has paid what fees, and without clues as to which institution might be the ‘national treasury’. Any successful underworld enterprise normally demands money from a criminal transaction before the goods or services are handed...

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

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

The maritime industry has evolved to integrate renewable energy, emissions reduction strategies, and eco-efficiency within every aspect of its operations. From cruise efforts to create an inviting and welcoming environment to streamlining cargo and trade operations with modern technologies and sustainable systems, the Port of San Diego’s latest shore power efforts and milestones serve as a prime example of how small shifts within daily operations can make a huge impact on delivering cleaner air and streamlined logistic processes. Shore Power...

Shipping

Trump Administration Extends Jones Act Waiver for Another 90 Days

Tugs & Salvage

Libya Again Warns That Wreck of Arctic Metagaz is Drifting Out of Control

Government

The IRGC's Hormuz Toll System is Unlikely to be Exposed

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

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

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

USS Zumwalt on her initial sea trials (USN file image)

Report: Three Injured in Fire Aboard USS Zumwalt

A fire aboard the first-in-class destroyer USS Zumwalt has injured three sailors, according to the U.S. Navy. Zumwalt is currently at shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi to undergo modifications needed to launch the service's next-generation hypersonic missile. Launch tubes and equipment have replaced both of the Zumwalt's iconic deck guns, which were designed to deliver high velocity, high tech shore bombardment from a stealthy platform. According to USNI and Naval Surface Forces, a fire was reported aboard Zumwalt at about 2145...

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

Bourbon’s New Shareholders Drive Rapid Expansion in Offshore Operations

France’s Bourbon is highlighting the rapid expansion of its fleet and efforts to consolidate its position in the offshore market since the start of the year. The group completed a series of steps in 2025, which restructured its financial and capital structure, and with the emergence of new majority shareholders, who said they would contribute to new growth. Since the start of 2026, the group reports it has added 13 offshore support vessels to its fleet. They said it represents...

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Tensions Remain High in Hormuz as Trump Says Navy Will “Shoot to Kill”

How Officers Manage Bulker Overloading Risks on the Mississippi

Pirates Trade Gunfire with Security Team on Cargo Ship off Somalia

US Forces Board Shadow Tanker in Indian Ocean as Iran Blockade Efforts Grow

Report: Removing Mines From Strait of Hormuz Could Take Six Months

Trump Administration Extends Jones Act Waiver for Another 90 Days

Libya Again Warns That Wreck of Arctic Metagaz is Drifting Out of Control

The IRGC's Hormuz Toll System is Unlikely to be Exposed

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

Oceania Cruises to Convert Older Ship for Luxury, Long Cruises

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

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

Trump Administration Extends Jones Act Waiver for Another 90 Days

Libya Again Warns That Wreck of Arctic Metagaz is Drifting Out of Control

The IRGC's Hormuz Toll System is Unlikely to be Exposed

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

Oceania Cruises to Convert Older Ship for Luxury, Long Cruises

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

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

Report: Three Injured in Fire Aboard USS Zumwalt

Winning Formula

Bourbon’s New Shareholders Drive Rapid Expansion in Offshore Operations

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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Maritime Industry Conferences and Events