Chinese-Led South African Naval Exercise Slides into Diplomatic Disaster

With Five Shadow Fleet Tankers in Custody, U.S. Could Seize Dozens More

Published Jan 14, 2026 5:51 PM by The Maritime Executive

As the U.S. Coast Guard ushers five recently-seized shadow fleet tankers into U.S. custody, the Department of Justice is seeking warrants to capture dozens more, according to Reuters. The legal petitions are not public, but an insider told the news agency that the administration is asking federal courts to write warrants for civil forfeiture of a large number of sanctioned tankers. The warrants would enable boarding, search and seizure missions to capture the vessels and take them to the U.S.,...

UK Awards Europe’s Largest Offshore Wind Energy Allocation for 8.4 GW

Published Jan 14, 2026 5:23 PM by The Maritime Executive

The UK government is hailing what it calls a “monumental step” in energy independence as it awarded 8.4 GW in a total of 12 offshore wind energy projects. The results are the biggest single procurement of offshore wind energy in British and European history, and are seen as a significant validation for the industry. The government is highlighting the turnaround it was able to achieve with the seventh round of Contracts for Difference Allocation. Round 5 closed in September 2023...

Diversified Acquires Marine Money

Published Jan 14, 2026 4:16 PM by The Maritime Executive

Diversified, the Maine-based maritime media and conference company, has purchased the shipping-finance event firm Marine Money. The acquisition brings together two of the best-known names on the maritime conference circuit. Marine Money has been organizing high-level gatherings for shipping executives and financiers since the 1980s, and is the premier platform for connecting shipping finance professionals. Its panel talks and networking events are quite often the talk of the town. Diversified's portfolio includes a variety of adjacent events, like the Workboat...

French Exploration Cruise Ship Exploris One to Hit Auction Block

Published Jan 14, 2026 4:01 PM by The Maritime Executive

The small exploration cruise ship Exploris One, which had started service in 2023 for a French company of the same name, is now set to hit the auction block at the end of January. A previous attempt at a court-supervised sale of the vessel failed to proceed. The company Exploris Croiseres & Expeditions was launched in 2023 by a former executive of another French cruise company, Ponant, and had promoted that they would be “the best an expedition cruise has...

Shipping

South Africa Rescues 21 Fishermen from a Burning Fishing Trawler

South Africa is reporting one of its most dramatic rescue operations in recent years, saving the lives of 21 fishermen who were forced to abandon ship after their trawler went up in flames Monday evening. The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) reports that multiple rescue teams were activated after it received a distress mayday call from the crew of the fishing vessel Silver Dorado. The crew said they were preparing to abandon ship as the fire overtook their vessel. The...

Tugs & Salvage

Iranian Freighter Sinks in the Caspian Sea

An Iranian-flagged freighter has gone down in the Caspian Sea, according to Turkmenistan's ministry of foreign affairs. On January 14, the cargo ship Rona issued a distress call off the coast of Turkmenistan. Turkmen responders reached the scene promptly and rescued all 14 people aboard the vessel, the ministry said. The crew was composed of Iranian and Indian nationals. Unverified footage on Ukrainian social media showed apparent damage amidships, accompanied by smoke, and the vessel appeared to be trimmed heavily...

Government

The patrol-boat pier at South Padre Island (USCG file image)

U.S. Coast Guard Awards its Biggest Shoreside Construction Contract Ever

The U.S. Coast Guard is moving swiftly to capitalize on the multi-billion-dollar cash infusion it received from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the supplemental spending agreement enacted last year. Its latest contract signing is a $200 million award for the reconstruction of Coast Guard Station South Padre Island in Texas, a key installation for border control and fisheries enforcement. It is the largest single order for a shore infrastructure construction project in the agency's history. The Coast Guard selected...

Corporate News

Emissions Mission: Scope 3 Savings with UECC’s Sail for Change

[By: UECC] Toyota Motor Europe (TME) reduced its Scope 3 emissions by more than 22,000 tonnes of CO2e last year through bunkering of low-carbon fuels under United European Car Carriers’ (UECC) Sail for Change fuel-switch programme – and is set to more than double these savings in 2025. The reduction of 22,148 tonnes of CO2e – equivalent to the climate effect of growing 366,215 tree seedlings over 10 years – was achieved with transport of 54,991 vehicles on UECC vessels...

Cruise Ships

French Exploration Cruise Ship Exploris One to Hit Auction Block

Ports

Shanghai Exceeds 55 Million TEU in Container Throughput for 2025

The Shanghai International Port Group is highlighting that its port operation has remained the world’s busiest container port for the 16th consecutive year. They also report completion of the 14th Five-Year Plan as it looks toward the future by taking more steps to build its role as a global container transshipment hub. Releasing its final tally for 2025, SIPG says the Shanghai port overall handled 55.06 million TEU, which was a 6.9 percent increase in throughput. Over volume, however, lagged...

Shipping

South Africa Rescues 21 Fishermen from a Burning Fishing Trawler

Tugs & Salvage

Iranian Freighter Sinks in the Caspian Sea

Government

U.S. Coast Guard Awards its Biggest Shoreside Construction Contract Ever

Corporate News

Emissions Mission: Scope 3 Savings with UECC’s Sail for Change

Cruise Ships

French Exploration Cruise Ship Exploris One to Hit Auction Block

Ports

Shanghai Exceeds 55 Million TEU in Container Throughput for 2025

Offshore

UK Awards Europe’s Largest Offshore Wind Energy Allocation for 8.4 GW

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

HMM and HD KSOE Start Demonstration and Testing of Wing Sail on Tanker

South Korea’s HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering and HMM are starting a demonstration and test period for Korea’s first domestically developed wing sail for wind-assisted propulsion. The shipbuilder has been developing its version of the technology as part of its efforts to advance value-added, green ship designs and technology. The wing sail was recently installed on the product tanker Oriental Aquamarine (50,000 dwt). The vessel was built in 2020 and has been owned by HMM since 2023. Registered in...

Business

Dry Bulk Takeover Battle Heats Up Between Diana and Genco

Two of the leaders in the dry bulk space, Genco Shipping & Trading and Diana Shipping, are trading public jabs in the brewing takeover battle that calls for consolidating the dry bulk sector. Both companies issued public statements six weeks after Diana first went public with its rumored efforts to buy Genco. Both companies emphasize the opportunities they see emerging in the dry bulk sector. Combined, they would have a fleet of approximately 80 vessels with approximately 9 million dwt....

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Chinese-Led South African Naval Exercise Slides into Diplomatic Disaster

With Five Shadow Fleet Tankers in Custody, U.S. Could Seize Dozens More

UK Awards Europe’s Largest Offshore Wind Energy Allocation for 8.4 GW

Diversified Acquires Marine Money

French Exploration Cruise Ship Exploris One to Hit Auction Block

South Africa Rescues 21 Fishermen from a Burning Fishing Trawler

Iranian Freighter Sinks in the Caspian Sea

U.S. Coast Guard Awards its Biggest Shoreside Construction Contract Ever

Emissions Mission: Scope 3 Savings with UECC’s Sail for Change

French Exploration Cruise Ship Exploris One to Hit Auction Block

Shanghai Exceeds 55 Million TEU in Container Throughput for 2025

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

South Africa Rescues 21 Fishermen from a Burning Fishing Trawler

Iranian Freighter Sinks in the Caspian Sea

U.S. Coast Guard Awards its Biggest Shoreside Construction Contract Ever

Emissions Mission: Scope 3 Savings with UECC’s Sail for Change

French Exploration Cruise Ship Exploris One to Hit Auction Block

Shanghai Exceeds 55 Million TEU in Container Throughput for 2025

UK Awards Europe’s Largest Offshore Wind Energy Allocation for 8.4 GW

Report: India Wants to Ramp Up its Warship Exports

HMM and HD KSOE Start Demonstration and Testing of Wing Sail on Tanker

Dry Bulk Takeover Battle Heats Up Between Diana and Genco

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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