Containership Briefly Grounds Blocking Port of Mobile

Officers open a shipping container filled with spare outboards for the smuggling gang (Policia Nacional)

Spanish Police Bust Major Cocaine Smuggling Syndicate

Published Jan 26, 2026 5:43 PM by The Maritime Executive

Spain's National Police have taken down a major maritime smuggling ring in a year-long operation, netting more than 100 arrests and more than 10 tonnes of cocaine. The Central Drug and Organized Crime Unit (UDYCO) believes that the blow is enough to "destabilize" the criminal group, though the mastermind remains at large. Law enforcement officials laid out a map of a sweeping transatlantic crime syndicate involving speedboats, burner phones, payoffs, multiple storage houses and "state of the art electronic devices...

European Governments Adopt Ambitious Plan for 100 GW of Offshore Wind Power

Published Jan 26, 2026 4:37 PM by The Maritime Executive

Meeting for the third North Sea Summit, the governments of nine Northern European countries adopted a new plan calling for coordination, power sharing, and working in unison to develop 100 GW of offshore wind power. They estimated it represents an investment of over $1 trillion. Known as the Hamburg Declaration, the agreement was signed by the governments of Germany, France, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg, to achieve what they are calling energy sovereignty. The countries...

Op-Ed: Baltimore's Bridge Collapse and the Making of a P&I Super Loss

Published Jan 26, 2026 4:18 PM by Priyatham Sanjeeva Reddy, Ramidi

On a calm March night in 2024, a containership outbound from Baltimore lost electrical power, struck a main pier of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, and brought down a vital artery of the U.S. transport network in seconds. Six road workers died; the channel was choked for weeks; and the casualty's cost rippled from salvage crews to global supply chains. The proximate cause, investigators later concluded, was astonishingly small: an improperly installed electrical wire that loosened, starving critical systems and...

French commandos seize the shadow fleet tanker Grinch, January 2025 (French Joint Staff)

Geopolitics Has Moved From the Margins to the Engine Room of Shipping

Published Jan 26, 2026 2:59 PM by Irene Rosberg

For much of its modern history, the maritime industry treated geopolitics as background noise. Today, that is no longer possible. Political instability is now shaping day-to-day operational decisions, cost structures and risk exposure across global shipping. The most visible impact has been route disruption. Vessels diverted away from key corridors are burning more fuel and spending longer at sea, pushing operating costs sharply higher. Insurance premiums have followed the same trajectory. At the same time, investment in decarbonization is being...

Shipping

Tugs Rush to Aid Cargo Ship That Touched Bottom and Lost Rudder

A drama is playing out along the central Portuguese coast as a cargo ship reportedly lost its rudder as it departed and is now awaiting assistance off the coast. Portuguese officials ordered the port closed and warned of the dangers while also citing a failed dredging effort in the entrance channel to the Figueira da Foz port. According to the briefing, the Dutch-flagged cargo ship Eikborg (3,592 dwt) operated by Royal Wagenborg touched bottom as it was departing the port...

Tugs & Salvage

Op-Ed: Baltimore's Bridge Collapse and the Making of a P&I Super Loss

Government

French commandos aboard the aging shadow fleet tanker Boracay, 2025 (French Joint Staff)

European Nations Warn Shadow Fleet Shipowners to Play By the Rules

The coastal states of the North Sea and the Baltic have released a joint letter to remind shadow fleet shipowners and flag states of their legal obligations. Notably absent from the signatory list is Russia, the easternmost Baltic coastal state and the alleged root cause of the safety questions at issue in the letter. The missive begins with a warning about the ever-growing problem of GNSS interference in the Eastern Baltic, well-documented for years by ship trackers and researchers. Strong...

Corporate News

Damen and PVE Equipment USA Sign Reseller Agreement

[By: Damen Shipyards Group] Damen Shipyards Group announced a reseller agreement with PVE Equipment USA (PVE USA) that appoints PVE as authorised partner and official supplier for the sales, service, and parts supply of Damen’s DOP submersible dredge pumps across the US. Under the agreement, PVE USA will leverage its nationwide network in piling, vibro, and foundation equipment to expand US access to DOP pumps, while providing local stock and service, trained technicians, and quick access to parts to minimize...

Cruise Ships

Luxury Expedition Cruise Ship Will Feature Sails for Sustainable Cruising

In what is being billed as a new era of luxury expedition cruising, Atlas Ocean Voyages unveiled its designs for a new expedition cruise ship that will include three masts and large sails. The company is presenting the ship, which will be built in China, as a luxury expedition sailing yacht capable of accommodating up to 400 passengers. Named Atlas Adventure, the ship, which will be 26,000 gross tons, will measure 690 feet (210 meters) in length. It will have...

Ports

Containership Briefly Grounds Blocking Port of Mobile

The Alabama Port Authority is reporting that the containership Ruby Tower (127,952 dwt) has been refloated and is no longer blocking the Mobile shipping channel. The ship, however, is holding in Mobile Bay with tugs assisting the ship and the U.S. Coast Guard standing by. The vessel, which is owned by UK-based Zodiac Marine, operates under charter to Ocean Network Express (ONE) and is shared with Yang Ming. It departed Mobile late morning on January 26, bound for Mexico. It...

Shipping

Tugs Rush to Aid Cargo Ship That Touched Bottom and Lost Rudder

Tugs & Salvage

Op-Ed: Baltimore's Bridge Collapse and the Making of a P&I Super Loss

Government

European Nations Warn Shadow Fleet Shipowners to Play By the Rules

Corporate News

Damen and PVE Equipment USA Sign Reseller Agreement

Cruise Ships

Luxury Expedition Cruise Ship Will Feature Sails for Sustainable Cruising

Ports

Containership Briefly Grounds Blocking Port of Mobile

Offshore

BOEM Releases Call Areas for California Offshore Drilling Plan

On Monday, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management began the process for an offshore oil and gas lease sale off California with the publication of two call areas, which cover the southern and central areas of the state. The announcement suggests that the first lease sales will occur next year - giving time for local opposition, which has already begun to gather momentum. "We’re taking the first step toward a stronger, more secure American energy future," said BOEM Acting...

Shipbuilding

India’s First Chemical Tanker Order Advances Shipbuilding Ambitions

Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited (SDHI), located in India, confirmed that it has received its first shipbuilding order as part of the revitalization of its operations. The order, which comes from a European shipowner, is both the country’s first for a chemical tanker and aligns with India’s ambitions to develop into a leading global shipbuilder. The order was placed by Bergen, Norway-based Rederiet Stenersen, a 50-plus year old operator of chemical/product tankers. The company currently has a fleet of...

Environment

Interferry Demands Pause for EU ETS Due to Inequities and Use of Funds

Interferry, the global trade association for the ferry industry, is calling for an immediate halt to the further phasing-in of the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) for the maritime sector. The group is citing inequities and a severe competitive disadvantage as road transport remains exempt from the program. Further, it alleges that a lack of a funding scheme for e-fuels and investments such as electrification means the monies are instead being diverted to national member state budgets. The trade group...

Business

Geopolitics Has Moved From the Margins to the Engine Room of Shipping

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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

Containership Briefly Grounds Blocking Port of Mobile

Spanish Police Bust Major Cocaine Smuggling Syndicate

European Governments Adopt Ambitious Plan for 100 GW of Offshore Wind Power

Op-Ed: Baltimore's Bridge Collapse and the Making of a P&I Super Loss

Geopolitics Has Moved From the Margins to the Engine Room of Shipping

Tugs Rush to Aid Cargo Ship That Touched Bottom and Lost Rudder

Op-Ed: Baltimore's Bridge Collapse and the Making of a P&I Super Loss

European Nations Warn Shadow Fleet Shipowners to Play By the Rules

Damen and PVE Equipment USA Sign Reseller Agreement

Luxury Expedition Cruise Ship Will Feature Sails for Sustainable Cruising

Containership Briefly Grounds Blocking Port of Mobile

Beyond Sanctions Lists: Navigating Fragmented Enforcement in Maritime Trade

The Modular Pivot: Repurposing Containers as Strategic Infrastructure

Navigating Port Funding Uncertainty: Adaptation Unlocks Opportunities

Tugs Rush to Aid Cargo Ship That Touched Bottom and Lost Rudder

Op-Ed: Baltimore's Bridge Collapse and the Making of a P&I Super Loss

European Nations Warn Shadow Fleet Shipowners to Play By the Rules

Damen and PVE Equipment USA Sign Reseller Agreement

Luxury Expedition Cruise Ship Will Feature Sails for Sustainable Cruising

Containership Briefly Grounds Blocking Port of Mobile

BOEM Releases Call Areas for California Offshore Drilling Plan

India’s First Chemical Tanker Order Advances Shipbuilding Ambitions

Interferry Demands Pause for EU ETS Due to Inequities and Use of Funds

Geopolitics Has Moved From the Margins to the Engine Room of Shipping

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

Join the conversation.

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events