The supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford is among the assets positioned off Venezuela (USN file image)

Trump Orders Partial Blockade of Venezuela's Oil Exports

Port of LA Expects 2025 to be in the Top Three and 2026 to See Some Slowing

Published Dec 17, 2025 7:29 PM by The Maritime Executive

The Port of Los Angeles notes that despite all the uncertainties of 2025 and the rapid changes in trade policies, that it will still have one of its top three years of all time, making it again the only North American port to exceed 10 million TEU in a year. Port executives, however, point to uncertainties and a lack of settled trade policies contributing to a challenging year in 2026 that should see slowed import levels. “Even with all the...

HMS His Majesty King Saud (F820) (Saudi Ministry of Defense)

Saudi Arabia's First LCS-Based Frigate Launches at Fincantieri

Published Dec 17, 2025 7:12 PM by The Maritime Executive

The first vessel of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) new multi-mission combat ship Tuwaiq Class was this week launched into the water at the Lockheed Martin Marinette shipyard in Wisconsin. HMS His Majesty King Saud (F820) is the first of four vessels being built for the RSNF under Project Tuwaiq, with the keel of the third vessel of the class HMS His Majesty King Abdullah already laid in Marinette back in May 2023. Project Tuwaiq, being developed jointly with...

Fincantieri Outlines Plan to Consolidate and Strengthen Shipbuilding Ops

Published Dec 17, 2025 6:54 PM by The Maritime Executive

Italian shipbuilding group Fincantieri outlined its next long-term strategic plan, calling for growing its operations in the defense and underwater segments as well as specialized vessels. By 2030, the group projects it will grow revenues by 40 percent and improve margins and profitability, contributing to a 90 percent increase in EBITDA. The company projects a net profit of €500 million ($587 million) in 2030. Fincantieri points to its strong foundation in shipbuilding with a recognized leadership in cruise ship construction...

Norway Grants Over $120M for Hydrogen and Ammonia Ships and Bunkering

Published Dec 17, 2025 6:53 PM by The Maritime Executive

Norway announced a new round of financing grants valued at more than $120 million as it continues to support the conversion to zero—emissions fuels in shipping and other segments. Providing the support through Enova, a state enterprise owned by the Ministry of Climate and Environment, Norway seeks to build new industry and develop leadership in the new segments of the economy while reaching its goals for decarbonization. The new round focuses on seven ships, which it views as pioneers in...

Shipping

Hapag and NCL Win Tender from Major Brands for E-Fuel Container Shipping

A buyers alliance made up of major brands, including Amazon, Patagonia, IKEA, Nike, and others, awarded its second tender for low-emission container shipping to Hapag-Lloyd and North Sea Container Lines. The project aggregates demand from the shippers to help drive the use of new alternative low-emission fuels. Known as the Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA), the group launched its second tender in February 2025, focusing specifically on e-fuels. They announced today, December 17, that they decided to split the...

Tugs & Salvage

Inland Cargo Ship Damaged and Taking on Water After Hitting a Wall

The Dutch inland cargo ship Anja 1 was damaged after hitting a wall while transiting near the German city of Dortmund. The bow of the vessel sustained severe damage due to the allision with a wall near the Ellinghauser Strabe bridge, and the vessel was taking on water. The Dortmund fire department reports that 24 firefighters were dispatched to assist the vessel, Monday evening, December 15, after it received a report that the ship had taken on water at the...

Government

Venezuela Dispatches its Navy to Escort Tankers Past U.S. "Blockade"

In defiance of the Trump administration's "blockade" of sanctioned tanker traffic to Venezuela's crude export terminals, Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro has ordered his navy to provide departing vessels with a warship escort. According to the New York Times, these escort operations have already occurred on several departures for tankers bound for Asia; they raise the risk of a possible military-to-military encounter with the U.S. Navy, which has built up a massive presence in the Caribbean. The White House is considering...

Corporate News

Anemoi Rotor Sails & Union Maritime Chemical Tankers Beat IMO 2030 Targets

[By: Anemoi Marine Technologies] Anemoi Marine Technologies, the UK-based leading designer of Rotor Sails for wind-assisted ship propulsion, is to install Rotor Sails on two newbuild chemical tankers under construction for Union Maritime Limited. The 18,500 DWT vessels, to be built by Wuhu Shipyard Co in China, will feature a combination of technologies and retrofit readiness to safeguard cost-effective decarbonisation across their lifecycle. The Rotor Sails are set to be installed at Wuhu in early 2026 after construction at Anemoi’s...

Cruise Ships

Op-Ed: LNG Has Matured Into a Proven Solution for the Cruise Industry

[By Maikel Arts] As the cruise industry embraces LNG, the focus has shifted from proving feasibility to tackling methane slip. New engine technology, independent validation, and how the cruise sector is operating high-profile vessels such as MSC’s World Europa, Princess Cruises’ Princess Sun and Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas are showing how LNG is maturing into a credible, scalable fuel solution for passenger shipping. All of these ships use the latest advanced Wärtsilä engines, demonstrating how technology and operational...

Ports

Port of LA Expects 2025 to be in the Top Three and 2026 to See Some Slowing

Shipping

Hapag and NCL Win Tender from Major Brands for E-Fuel Container Shipping

Tugs & Salvage

Inland Cargo Ship Damaged and Taking on Water After Hitting a Wall

Government

Venezuela Dispatches its Navy to Escort Tankers Past U.S. "Blockade"

Corporate News

Anemoi Rotor Sails & Union Maritime Chemical Tankers Beat IMO 2030 Targets

Cruise Ships

Op-Ed: LNG Has Matured Into a Proven Solution for the Cruise Industry

Ports

Port of LA Expects 2025 to be in the Top Three and 2026 to See Some Slowing

Offshore

Court Denies Motion for Injunction of BOEM’s Review of Maryland COP

A federal court judge in Maryland has denied a request by offshore wind developer US Wind for a preliminary injunction against the federal government in its ongoing fight to save its planned offshore wind project off Ocean City, Maryland. It is the latest twist in the ongoing court battle over Maryland’s first offshore wind project and the broader battle against the Trump administration’s efforts to derail the industry and revoke existing permits. US Wind, which is a partnership between investment...

Shipbuilding

Saudi Arabia's First LCS-Based Frigate Launches at Fincantieri

Environment

Norway Grants Over $120M for Hydrogen and Ammonia Ships and Bunkering

Business

Shaping Class for the Future

This has been a significant year for ClassNK and for Hayato Suga, who stepped up to the role of President & CEO in March. Drawing on 40 years of ClassNK experience, the new CEO suggests shipping needs additional support from classification societies at a time when "boundaries between industries are becoming increasingly blurred due to environmental challenges and digital transformation." "It is our responsibility to work with customers to provide certification and related services in a timely manner that meet...

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Trump Orders Partial Blockade of Venezuela's Oil Exports

Port of LA Expects 2025 to be in the Top Three and 2026 to See Some Slowing

Saudi Arabia's First LCS-Based Frigate Launches at Fincantieri

Fincantieri Outlines Plan to Consolidate and Strengthen Shipbuilding Ops

Norway Grants Over $120M for Hydrogen and Ammonia Ships and Bunkering

Hapag and NCL Win Tender from Major Brands for E-Fuel Container Shipping

Inland Cargo Ship Damaged and Taking on Water After Hitting a Wall

Venezuela Dispatches its Navy to Escort Tankers Past U.S. "Blockade"

Anemoi Rotor Sails & Union Maritime Chemical Tankers Beat IMO 2030 Targets

Op-Ed: LNG Has Matured Into a Proven Solution for the Cruise Industry

Port of LA Expects 2025 to be in the Top Three and 2026 to See Some Slowing

California Protects Blue Whales and Blue Skies With Historic State Law

One Event. World Of Maritime. This February, Copenhagen is the Place to Be

Drew Marine Insights Tour: Connecting Expertise with Shipboard Challenges

Hapag and NCL Win Tender from Major Brands for E-Fuel Container Shipping

Inland Cargo Ship Damaged and Taking on Water After Hitting a Wall

Venezuela Dispatches its Navy to Escort Tankers Past U.S. "Blockade"

Anemoi Rotor Sails & Union Maritime Chemical Tankers Beat IMO 2030 Targets

Op-Ed: LNG Has Matured Into a Proven Solution for the Cruise Industry

Port of LA Expects 2025 to be in the Top Three and 2026 to See Some Slowing

Court Denies Motion for Injunction of BOEM’s Review of Maryland COP

Saudi Arabia's First LCS-Based Frigate Launches at Fincantieri

Norway Grants Over $120M for Hydrogen and Ammonia Ships and Bunkering

Shaping Class for the Future

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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Maritime Industry Conferences and Events