Ukraine to Prosecute Captain of Detained Cargo Ship for Trips to Crimea

At Hormuz, two options ahead: the IRGC Navy, seen at left, or the U.S. Navy, at right (USN file image)

Freedom of Navigation May Not Return to the Strait of Hormuz

Published Apr 7, 2026 3:41 PM by The Maritime Executive

It is possible that shipping interests may have to pay tolls to pass the Strait of Hormuz under any scenario after the Iran conflict ends, President Donald Trump implied at a press conference Sunday. Trump claimed that since the United States has already won the conflict, America should take over operation of Iran's tolling procedure at the strait. The tolls currently run up to $2 million per ship and would generate tens of billions of dollars per year for the...

drifting wreck of Russian LNG gas carrier

Libya Resumes Monitoring Arctic Metagaz as Report Details Ukrainian Attack

Published Apr 7, 2026 2:51 PM by The Maritime Executive

Libyan officials are again monitoring the hulk of the Russian-flagged LNG carrier Arctic Metagaz while they continue to discuss how to handle the wreck. At the same time, reports surfaced first in France and now on Associated Press, confirming that the Ukrainians struck the vessel from a base in Libya and that it was, in fact, the second such incident. The independent French outlet RFI broke the report, saying that Ukraine was behind the attacks on Russian vessels in the...

Container Vessel Reports Being Hit Off Iran

Published Apr 7, 2026 12:17 PM by The Maritime Executive

Attacks on containerships in the Persian Gulf continued with a new report of a vessel being struck off Iran. It is the fourth containership reportedly targeted by Iran in the past three days. Few details were released while the investigations were ongoing. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reports it was advised of the attack. The unnamed vessel was said to have been approximately 25 nautical miles from Kish Island, Iran, and the northwestern side of the Strait of Hormuz....

Curating an Unforgettable Experience with the Port of San Diego

Published Apr 7, 2026 12:14 PM by Port of San Diego

Whether you are considering adventure as a cruise line operator or a guest, when it comes to putting together an experience to remember, the details matter. At the Port of San Diego’s Port of Land and See, every aspect of adventure for cruise lines and guests is considered and distilled into two key features: proximity and convenience. The Key Features of an Unforgettable Experience: Proximity & Convenience From the moment a ship drops anchor to when it sets sail, the...

Shipping

Japan and South Korea Advance Autonomous Navigation

As efforts continue to develop autonomous navigation systems for large commercial ships, both Japan and South Korea are reporting projects that reached key milestones. They are working to continue to develop the parameters for safe autonomous operations and to advance commercialization of the technologies. Japan’s The Nippon Foundation has been sponsoring a series of demonstration projects over the past few years designed to develop key elements of the technology. ClassNK officials point out that the efforts are aimed at improving...

Tugs & Salvage

Tanker Truck Blast Closes Bridge Over Panama Canal

An explosion at a fuel facility next to the Bridge of the Americas has killed one and injured several others, according to the fire department for Panama City, Panama. The fireball from the fuel burn-off made contact with the bridge, which spans the Panama Canal and carries logistics traffic for the port of Balboa. A large tank farm is located next to and beneath the bridge on the eastern bank, between the International Maritime University of Panama and a luxury...

Government

Fire aboard the boxship Safeen Prestige, Strait of Hormuz, March 2026 (Saint Javelin / social media)

Russia and China Veto UN Security Council Resolution on Hormuz Security

On Tuesday, Russia and China vetoed a proposed UN Security Council resolution that would have endorsed defenses against Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, even though the language had been substantially watered down from the original text. Iran's delegation expressed its "appreciation to China and Russia for their responsible conduct" in exercising their veto powers. Bahrain (currently holding the UNSC presidency) and other Gulf states have been advocating for a UN authorization for the use of force to reopen...

Corporate News

RINA & Hanwha Sign Agreement to Promote Battery-Hybrid Propulsion Systems

[By: RINA] RINA, a global ship classification, inspection, certification and consulting engineering group, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Hanwha Group, through its key affiliates Hanwha Power Systems (now Hanwha Power), Hanwha Aerospace, and Hanwha Engine, with the aim of promoting the adoption of advanced battery hybrid propulsion systems in the maritime sector, particularly in the Ro-Ro ferry segment. The collaboration aims to accelerate the transition to low-emission vessels by leveraging innovative technologies that enable the shift from...

Cruise Ships

Passengers Abandon Cruise Grounded on Island from 2000 Movie “Cast Away"

Passengers aboard the Fiji cruise ship might have thought they were about to relive a scene from the 2000 movie “Cast Away,” in which Tom Hanks becomes stranded for years on an uninhabited island. Their ship, the Fiji Princess, grounded on April 4 on the same island used in the movie. The 179-foot (55-meter) cruise ship operates cruises up to a week in length around the islands in Fiji. Built in 1998, the ship has 32 passenger cabins with a...

Ports

Curating an Unforgettable Experience with the Port of San Diego

Shipping

Japan and South Korea Advance Autonomous Navigation

Tugs & Salvage

Tanker Truck Blast Closes Bridge Over Panama Canal

Government

Russia and China Veto UN Security Council Resolution on Hormuz Security

Corporate News

RINA & Hanwha Sign Agreement to Promote Battery-Hybrid Propulsion Systems

Cruise Ships

Passengers Abandon Cruise Grounded on Island from 2000 Movie “Cast Away"

Ports

Curating an Unforgettable Experience with the Port of San Diego

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

Indian Shipbuilding SDHI Adds First Ammonia-Fueled Vessels to Orderbook

The revitalization of the former Reliance Naval and Engineering shipbuilder as Swan Defence and Heavy Industries (SDHI) continues as the yard is winning landmark deals and building its orderbook. It is now reporting India’s first order for ammonia dual-fuel ships as well as the order for some of the largest commercial ships yet built in India. SDHI is the relaunched operation, which went through years of financial difficulties that finally saw the yard suspend operations. It was sold and resumed...

Environment

NOAA Reopens Northeast Canyons Nat'l Monument to Commercial Fishing

NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service has withdrawn a longstanding ban on commercial fishing within the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. The action follows through on a proclamation to reopen the area, signed by President Donald Trump in February - but certain gear types are still restricted. The monument area covers about 4,900 square miles, and it is home to high-value species like red crab, mackerel and swordfish. In a statement, NOAA said that it was following input it...

Business

Largest Ship Repair Yard in East Africa Inaugurated in Djibouti

Officials in Djibouti officially inaugurated the Djibouti Ship Repair Yard on April 4, marking what they called a milestone in the development of the country’s maritime economy. It becomes the largest ship repair yard in the Red Sea region and East Africa, available to provide critical repair and maintenance work. “The DSRY project has always been a national priority, given Djibouti’s strategic location at the entrance to the Bab el-Mandeb, one of the world’s busiest maritime routes,” said President Ismaïl...

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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Ukraine to Prosecute Captain of Detained Cargo Ship for Trips to Crimea

Freedom of Navigation May Not Return to the Strait of Hormuz

Libya Resumes Monitoring Arctic Metagaz as Report Details Ukrainian Attack

Container Vessel Reports Being Hit Off Iran

Curating an Unforgettable Experience with the Port of San Diego

Japan and South Korea Advance Autonomous Navigation

Tanker Truck Blast Closes Bridge Over Panama Canal

Russia and China Veto UN Security Council Resolution on Hormuz Security

RINA & Hanwha Sign Agreement to Promote Battery-Hybrid Propulsion Systems

Passengers Abandon Cruise Grounded on Island from 2000 Movie “Cast Away"

Curating an Unforgettable Experience with the Port of San Diego

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

Japan and South Korea Advance Autonomous Navigation

Tanker Truck Blast Closes Bridge Over Panama Canal

Russia and China Veto UN Security Council Resolution on Hormuz Security

RINA & Hanwha Sign Agreement to Promote Battery-Hybrid Propulsion Systems

Passengers Abandon Cruise Grounded on Island from 2000 Movie “Cast Away"

Curating an Unforgettable Experience with the Port of San Diego

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

Indian Shipbuilding SDHI Adds First Ammonia-Fueled Vessels to Orderbook

NOAA Reopens Northeast Canyons Nat'l Monument to Commercial Fishing

Largest Ship Repair Yard in East Africa Inaugurated in Djibouti

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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Maritime Industry Conferences and Events