Swedish Navy Reports Russia’s Steps to Protect Shadow Tankers in the Baltic

Report: “Intractable Impasse” in Hutchison-BlackRock-MCS Deal Due to China

Published Dec 16, 2025 3:41 PM by The Maritime Executive

A new report indicates that with negotiations dragging on for months, the sale of Hutchison’s international terminal operations to a partnership of BlackRock and MSC’s Terminal Investment Limited (TiL) may have now hit an “intractable impasse.” The Wall Street Journal, in an exclusive report, writes that China has “upped its demands,” possibly sinking a potential agreement. Earlier reports said that China was demanding an equal share for the state-owned shipping company, COSCO, in the deal alongside BlackRock and MSC’s TiL....

Hong Kong Customs Use ROV to Find Cocaine Hidden in Sea Chest

Published Dec 16, 2025 1:45 PM by The Maritime Executive

Hong Kong Customs is highlighting its first use of a new ROV for ship inspections and reports that last month it, for the first time, discovered a large stash of cocaine hidden in the sea chest of a containership. Speaking at a press event on December 16, the officials highlighted that the smugglers are using new techniques in an attempt to avoid detection. The unnamed containership, only described as being 333 meters (1,092 feet) in length, was targeted using intelligence...

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

Published Dec 16, 2025 9:28 AM by IGGS Group

The highly anticipated World Maritime Forum 2026 is set to become one of the most influential gatherings in the global shipping and ocean-tech community. Scheduled to take place at the exceptional Bella Sky Convention Center in Copenhagen, the event is poised to deliver a world-class experience that blends strategic insight, innovation, and high-level networking. Appropriately dubbed “One Event. World Of Maritime,” the forum captures the full scope of the industry’s current challenges and future opportunities. Bringing together 800 attendees, 50...

Southern Command Strikes Three More Suspected Drug Boats, Killing Eight

Published Dec 16, 2025 12:57 AM by The Maritime Executive

On Monday, U.S. Southern Command reported that its forces attached and destroyed three drug-smuggling boats in the Eastern Pacific, killing the occupants. In a statement, Southern Command emphasized that it carried out the strikes at the direction of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. Based on intelligence suggesting that the boats were engaged in narco-trafficking, including their presence in the known Eastern Pacific smuggling lanes, U.S. forces launched three aerial attacks. Three suspected smugglers were killed in the first strike; two...

Shipping

California Protects Blue Whales and Blue Skies With Historic State Law

In October, California Assembly Bill 14, “Coastal resources: Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies Program” (AB-14) was signed into law, making California the first state in the country to strengthen a longstanding voluntary effort to reduce air pollution and risks to endangered whale populations off California’s coast by reducing speeds of large ocean-going vessels. Air pollution is one of the biggest environmental threats to human health, linked both to increased risk of chronic diseases and mortality. In California, due to...

Tugs & Salvage

Strait of Gibraltar Ferry Tossed by High Waves, Damaging Dozens of Cars

The ferry Ciudad de Mahon encountered rougher conditions that she was expecting when she left the port of Algeciras and sailed out into the Strait of Gibraltar. Force 7 winds from Storm Emilia was blowing hard, tossing the ro/ro ship about in unexpectedly high waves. Late Saturday night, the vessel made an attempt to depart Algeciras for Ceuta, leaving the dock three hours behind schedule. But she didn't make it far. After heavy pitching and rolling in the severe swells,...

Government

AIS data shows just one ship located near the region of massive 50-foot wave heights (Pole Star Global)

Severe Weather Disrupts Shipping in the North Atlantic

A severe, rapidly-intensifying storm is forcing ships to divert southwards to avoid serious conditions. A massive low of just 938 millibars is churning south of Greenland, bringing winds of up to 80 knots and "phenomenal" seas of up to 54 feet - genuinely difficult weather, even for large merchant ships. AIS data provided by Pole Star Global suggests that almost all transatlantic shipping has diverted well to the south in order to avoid the worst wave heights, which are located...

Corporate News

EFIS Maroc Accelerates Commercial Ambition Under New Commercial Director

[By: ECS Group] ECS Group has appointed Yousra Khalihamou as the new Commercial Director of EFIS Maroc, reinforcing its strategy to accelerate commercial performance in one of North Africa’s most competitive and high-potential cargo markets. Her promotion marks a key step in strengthening EFIS Maroc’s leadership as Morocco continues to consolidate its position as a strategic cargo gateway between Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Yousra’s career is a clear example of internal talent development within ECS Group. She began...

Cruise Ships

PortMiami Starts Winter Cruise Season with New Daily Record

The 2025-2026 cruise season started with a bang for PortMiami, with the port, which likes to call itself the cruise capital of the world, setting its third record this year for the number of passengers handled in a single day. It is the start of what promises to be a very busy season as the cruise industry continues its dramatic growth. The port highlights that on November 30, it set a new daily passenger record with 75,201 passengers (embarking and...

Ports

Hong Kong Customs Use ROV to Find Cocaine Hidden in Sea Chest

Shipping

California Protects Blue Whales and Blue Skies With Historic State Law

Tugs & Salvage

Strait of Gibraltar Ferry Tossed by High Waves, Damaging Dozens of Cars

Government

Severe Weather Disrupts Shipping in the North Atlantic

Corporate News

EFIS Maroc Accelerates Commercial Ambition Under New Commercial Director

Cruise Ships

PortMiami Starts Winter Cruise Season with New Daily Record

Ports

Hong Kong Customs Use ROV to Find Cocaine Hidden in Sea Chest

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

HD Hyundai Buys Tiny Welding Robots for Human Shipbuilding Tasks

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has begun using compact, lightweight welding robots that can be moved around the shipyard to automate complex welding tasks - even inside the interior of a ship under construction. The development brings robotic repeatability and speed to tasks that were previously reachable only by human workers, who are in short supply in Korea's shipbuilding industry. The new capability is the product of a joint initiative between welding robot builder JCT and precision-control company Rainbow Robotics. The...

Environment

Odfjell Tankers Launches Green Corridor Between Brazil and Europe

Norwegian shipping major Odfjell reports it has initiated the first green corridor for service between Brazil and Europe. The company emphasizes that this is not a one-off demonstration, but instead, with supply contracts, it becomes a long-term commitment to demonstrating what is possible today. The company reports it has secured a supply of sustainable biofuel, which will be used as its chemical tankers make the 5,000-nautical-mile journey between Brazil and Europe. The corridor will operate 12 to 15 voyages per...

Business

Report: “Intractable Impasse” in Hutchison-BlackRock-MCS Deal Due to China

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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

Join the conversation.

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events