Fuel Barge Goes Hard Aground at San Juan Harbor Entrance

The severe damage from the Beirut blast in the immediate aftermath (UNIFIL)

Smuggling Chief Who Was Implicated in Beirut Blast Steps Down

Published Feb 9, 2026 4:43 PM by The Maritime Executive

A key figure in Hezbollah’s smuggling operations in Lebanon, and a godfather figure in particular in the Beirut docks, Wafiq Safa resigned his formal position on February 6 as head of Hezbollah’s Liaison and Coordination Unit. Wafiq Safa is regarded as having had a crucial role for at least 25 years in the organization of Hezbollah smuggling activities through the Port of Beirut. In all likelihood, he was behind a scheme to pilfer the cargo of 2,750 tons of ammonium...

Tighter Shadow Fleet Sanctions Set to Boost Legitimate Tanker Owners

Published Feb 9, 2026 4:43 PM by The Maritime Executive

Reports that Mercuria is ordering up to four new 307,000-dwt VLCC tankers from Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co in China, in a contract apparently worth up to $500 million, are a significant indication of a developing trend. Historically, Mercuria has not been much of a ship owner, focusing instead on its trading activities, and either chartering tankers or in effect buying the shipping it needs as part of its trading in cargoes. But being focused on trading activities, Mercuria has a...

Maersk Goes Big Capacity with Innovative Next Boxship Order

Published Feb 9, 2026 4:28 PM by The Maritime Executive

Maersk confirmed its next shipbuilding order, reporting it will build a series of large vessels that will maintain efficiency while increasing flexibility. It said the latest order is part of its ongoing fleet renewal program. The order is with China’s New Times Shipbuilding Company and calls for eight large vessels for delivery in 2029 and 2030. The ships will be equipped with dual-fuel engines for conventional bunker fuel or liquefied gas and have a capacity for 18,600 TEU. Maersk highlights...

French Navy Seizes Large Cocaine Shipment from Fishing Vessel

Published Feb 9, 2026 2:55 PM by The Maritime Executive

The French Navy is reporting the seizure of a large shipment of cocaine in the Atlantic Ocean region. It was unusual because the smugglers were using a fishing vessel. According to the report, the seizure was made under the authority of the public prosecutor in Brest. The French Customs Intelligence and Investigations unit and the Office of Anti-Narcotics requested the intervention based on intelligence gathered in a joint operation. The British National Crime Agency and the U.S.’s Drug Enforcement Administration...

Shipping

Russian Military Cargo Ship Draws Attention Lingering for Days off Sardinia

A Russian-flagged cargo ship, well-known for its military support operations, was lingering off the coast of Sardinia for nearly a week. While the ship has not violated any regulations, its unusual pattern of behavior has drawn attention, including it appears from the Italian Navy. The Sparta IV (8,870 dwt) is one of a series of Russian cargo ships frequently linked to the movement of military equipment. The ship was spotted making numerous trips to Syria and, along with other ships...

Tugs & Salvage

Caesarea Trader, seen here in Condor livery as the Commodore Goodwill (John K. Thorne photo - CC0 1.0)

Freight Ferry Catches Fire, Goes to Anchor off Isle of Wight

On Monday evening, a fire broke out aboard a DFDS ferry off the coast of the Isle of Wight, the large island opposite Portsmouth at the entrance to the Solent. The 400-foot freight ferry Caesarea Trader operates between Portsmouth and the isle of Jersey, just off the coast of France. AIS data provided by Pole Star Global shows that at about 1600 hours GMT, the vessel was inbound for Portsmouth when she slowed and dropped anchor off Wight in about...

Government

Tighter Shadow Fleet Sanctions Set to Boost Legitimate Tanker Owners

Corporate News

KR, Korean Government & Industry Partner to Set International Standards

[By: Korean Register] As the maritime industry accelerates its transition to zero-carbon fuels in line with the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s 2050 net-zero target, ammonia-fueled ships are emerging as a promising next-generation solution. While the IMO has established interim guidelines to facilitate the use of ammonia as a marine fuel, international standards governing the safe treatment and discharge of toxic ammonia effluent generated during vessel operations have yet to be developed. During the operation of ammonia-fueled ships, effluent containing toxic...

Cruise Ships

Strength of Cruise Market Spurs New Niche Startups

The continuing strong demand for cruise vacations and the positive outlook are once again attracting new players into the market and driving the formation of niche offerings. The COVID-19 pandemic and the economics of operating cruise ships largely drove small players from the market, but the strength of the industry is once again creating interest for new companies. Much of the focus on 2026 will be on the entry of the luxury hotel brands into the market. Ritz-Carlton started the...

Ports

U.S. Container Imports Expected to Fall in First Half of 2026

While there appear to be signs of a normalization in the U.S. container import flows and less impact from frontloading, the expectations are that volumes will continue to fall at least through the first four months of 2026. Uncertainty about the U.S.’s tariffs, policy issues, and geopolitical developments all continue to weigh on the outlook for trade. Both the National Retail Federation and Descartes Global are pointing to a weak start to 2026 import volumes. Descartes calculates that January container...

Shipping

Russian Military Cargo Ship Draws Attention Lingering for Days off Sardinia

Tugs & Salvage

Freight Ferry Catches Fire, Goes to Anchor off Isle of Wight

Government

Tighter Shadow Fleet Sanctions Set to Boost Legitimate Tanker Owners

Corporate News

KR, Korean Government & Industry Partner to Set International Standards

Cruise Ships

Strength of Cruise Market Spurs New Niche Startups

Ports

U.S. Container Imports Expected to Fall in First Half of 2026

Offshore

Massachusetts Looks to Nova Scotia to Supply Offshore Wind Energy

Faced with the need for more electrical power and a desire to expand renewable energy, Massachusetts is looking toward the import of renewable energy from neighboring Nova Scotia. The first-of-its-kind agreement would present a novel solution to meeting the needs while also addressing the opposition of the Trump administration to the development of offshore wind energy generation. Massachusetts is a strong supporter of the offshore wind energy industry, with some of the first large projects in the United States. It...

Shipbuilding

PaxOcean Opens New Singapore Shipyard to Handle Larger Projects

PaxOcean marked the opening of its new Singapore shipyard, which is larger and incorporates the latest technologies to strengthen Singapore’s newbuilding, fabrication, conversion, and repair capabilities. The yard replaces the older yard launched in 2007 and will feature a center for R&D, along with a purpose-built innovation hub. The company reports it spent two years developing the new facility located in the Jurong Industrial Estate and invested more than S$200 million (US$158 million) in its development. At 17.26 hectares, it...

Environment

Northern Lights has Deals With Shipping Lines to Double CO2 Transport Fleet

The Norwegian CO2 storage initiative, which became the first commercial operation for carbon capture and storage, announced a new deal that will double the company’s fleet by 2029. This comes just months after the company completed its first injection of liquid CO2 for permanent storage. Northern Lights, which is a joint venture between Equinor, TotalEnergies, and Shell, reports it has struck a new charter deal with major shipping companies, including existing partner Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (“K” Line), while adding MISC...

Business

Samsung Heavy Industries Cancels Tanker Linked to Sanctioned Manager

According to a stock exchange filing, Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries canceled the delivery of the first of two crude oil tankers just as the vessel was due to be delivered. It cites the “shipowner’s financial difficulties,” warning that the second vessel could also be revised, while the speculation is that these tankers were ordered as part of a network linked to shipping Iranian and Russian oil. The contract was reported in June 2023, and, in the style of the South...

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

Select any month to view events: February March April May June July August September October November December January

Fuel Barge Goes Hard Aground at San Juan Harbor Entrance

Smuggling Chief Who Was Implicated in Beirut Blast Steps Down

Tighter Shadow Fleet Sanctions Set to Boost Legitimate Tanker Owners

Maersk Goes Big Capacity with Innovative Next Boxship Order

French Navy Seizes Large Cocaine Shipment from Fishing Vessel

Russian Military Cargo Ship Draws Attention Lingering for Days off Sardinia

Freight Ferry Catches Fire, Goes to Anchor off Isle of Wight

Tighter Shadow Fleet Sanctions Set to Boost Legitimate Tanker Owners

KR, Korean Government & Industry Partner to Set International Standards

Strength of Cruise Market Spurs New Niche Startups

U.S. Container Imports Expected to Fall in First Half of 2026

Beyond Sanctions Lists: Navigating Fragmented Enforcement in Maritime Trade

The Modular Pivot: Repurposing Containers as Strategic Infrastructure

Navigating Port Funding Uncertainty: Adaptation Unlocks Opportunities

Russian Military Cargo Ship Draws Attention Lingering for Days off Sardinia

Freight Ferry Catches Fire, Goes to Anchor off Isle of Wight

Tighter Shadow Fleet Sanctions Set to Boost Legitimate Tanker Owners

KR, Korean Government & Industry Partner to Set International Standards

Strength of Cruise Market Spurs New Niche Startups

U.S. Container Imports Expected to Fall in First Half of 2026

Massachusetts Looks to Nova Scotia to Supply Offshore Wind Energy

PaxOcean Opens New Singapore Shipyard to Handle Larger Projects

Northern Lights has Deals With Shipping Lines to Double CO2 Transport Fleet

Samsung Heavy Industries Cancels Tanker Linked to Sanctioned Manager

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

Join the conversation.

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events