Friday, December 19, 2025
Media Kit
tanker attack

Video: Ukraine Claims First Strike in the Mediterranean on Shadow Tanker

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Port of Tampa Bay

Positive Steps

Published Dec 18, 2025 11:43 PM by Tom Peters

Container cargo exporters and importers need to have their heads on a swivel when looking back at what happened in the first six months of 2025 and looking forward to the rest of the year. Uncertainty over cargo volumes in upcoming months is widespread as the issues of trade, tariffs and a return to normalcy in trade lanes like the Red Sea keep industry analysts vigilant. But despite some unpredictability in the future direction of global trade, container ports continue...

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Lucas Drone

U.S. Navy Test-Launches an Iranian Drone Clone From a Ship's Helideck

Published Dec 18, 2025 11:23 PM by The Maritime Executive

Iran has perfected the high-volume, low-cost suicide drone with the Shahed-136, a small piston-engined one way attack drone used by Iranian and Russian forces. Thousands have been built and launched at Ukrainian bases, seaports, powerplants and apartment blocks, to devastating effect. Since the ubiquitous Shahed is combat-proven and easy to mass-produce, the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps are skipping clean-sheet R&D and are testing an American adaptation of the infamous Iranian design. On Tuesday, the Independence-class littoral combat ship USS...

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containership terminal

Port of NY/NJ Reaches Landmark Agreement Extending Maher Terminals Lease

Published Dec 18, 2025 8:21 PM by The Maritime Executive

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced a new agreement that it is calling a landmark as it prepares for the long-term future growth of the port, which is the largest on the U.S. East Coast. It directly supports the Port Authority’s Port Master Plan 2050, which forecasts cargo volumes doubling or tripling by mid-century. The Port Authority Board of Commissioners voted to approve a 33-year lease extension at Maher Terminals, the largest and busiest container terminal...

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PDVSA

Report: White House Solicits U.S. Oil Firms' Interest in Venezuelan Assets

Published Dec 18, 2025 8:06 PM by The Maritime Executive

After the U.S. Coast Guard seized a sanctioned tanker carrying Venezuelan crude off Trinidad last week, the regime of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro called it "piracy" and accused the Trump administration of plotting to take Venezuela's oil resources. In a statement Tuesday, Trump confirmed that one political objective of the military buildup around Venezuela was to retrieve "the oil, land, and other assets that they previously stole from us," a reference to Venezuelan resources that were developed by American oil...

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Offshore

Ocean City Maryland

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...

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Shipbuilding

Landing Craft medium Australia

Austal Defense Finalized $680M First Government Contract

Austal announced on Thursday, December 18, that the contract for the Australian Army’s new Landing Craft Medium has been officially awarded, valued at over A$1 billion (US$680 million). The LCM, along with the planned Landing Craft Heavy assignment, is the cornerstone of the expansion of shipbuilding in Western Australia and the company’s selection as strategic shipbuilder for Australia. The LCM Design and Build Tasking statement contract announced today appoints Austal subsidiary, Austal Defence Shipbuilding Australia, to complete the detailed design...

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Environment

hydrogen-powered bulk carrier

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

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...

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Business

Hayato Suga

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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