Traffic Through Strait of Hormuz Remains at a Trickle Due to Uncertainties

Liberian Registry: Sanctions Compliance Checks Should Extend to Seafarers

Published Apr 8, 2026 7:51 PM by The Maritime Executive

The world's largest shipping registry is calling for coordinated action to extend sanctions compliance checks to seafarers, starting with the credentialing process. It is the latest in the ever-expanding series of compliance verification protocols that shipping stakeholders must think about, according to the Liberian Registry, which holds a leading 17 percent share of the global flag-services market. “The regulatory environment has changed, and the industry must adapt," said Alfonso Castillero, CEO of the Liberian Registry. "As the leading flag in...

Piracy Falls to Lowest Levels in 35 Years During First Quarter of 2026

Published Apr 8, 2026 7:16 PM by The Maritime Executive

Global maritime piracy and armed robbery incidents fell to levels not seen since 1991, reports the International Maritime Bureau in its quarterly report on maritime piracy. It, however, notes pockets of continued concern and warns of continued vigilance, saying that piracy has not been eradicated. During the first quarter, it received reports of just 16 incidents globally, compared to 45 in Q1 2025 and 33 in Q1 2024. While citing the positive impact of sustained cooperation and enforcement efforts, it...

The chemical/oil products tanker Universal (VesselFinder/Jensen)

Russia's Shadow Fleet Thumbs its Nose at the Royal Navy

Published Apr 8, 2026 6:41 PM by The Maritime Executive

The Russian Navy has mocked Britain’s Royal Navy by escorting two sanctioned, fully-laden shadow fleet tankers though the English Channel. This comes notwithstanding the completion of a drawn-out legal review which confirmed that existing British legislation provides sufficient cause to interdict shadow fleet tankers. The shadow fleet tankers were the Cameroon-flagged Enigma (IMO 9333412), which loaded at Ust Luga on March 21, and is sanctioned by OFAC, the EU and the UK. The second was the Russian-flagged Universal (IMO 9384306),...

Retail Imports Continue Decline Despite Little Impact from the Middle East

Published Apr 8, 2026 5:34 PM by The Maritime Executive

Retailers' import volume into the United States continues to be weighed down by concerns over tariffs and trade policy, says the National Retail Federation. It continues to expect month-over-month and year-over-year declines through most of the first half of 2026, while saying that other than fuel costs, retailers are not being significantly affected by the conflict in Iran. The retail trade group issued its monthly outlook for container import volumes, projecting monthly declines in six of the first eight months...

Shipping

Traffic Through Strait of Hormuz Remains at a Trickle Due to Uncertainties

While there is little agreement on just how many vessels have been able to make the transit through the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the ceasefire, it remains clear that traffic continued at a trickle as the agreement went into its second day. The White House asserts the Strait is open while Iran continues to move to consolidate its control over the vital shipping lane. The hastily arranged ceasefire left open questions of control, Iran’s assertions of fees,...

Tugs & Salvage

Baltimore Fireboats Respond to Sinking Towboat

The Baltimore City Fireboat Station is reporting that it received a mayday call from a tug operating south of the city in the Curtis Bay/Curtis Creek region. The vessel reported it was taking on water. The vessel is being identified as the Gale (145 gross tons) towboat, and from the pictures, it appears to have been moving a fuel barge. The vessel, built in 1980, has been owned by a Maryland-based company, McLean Contracting, since 2020. It is 65.5 feet...

Government

Waesche's crew board the the ASC trawler Northern Eagle (USCG)

Bering Sea Trawler Boarded and Investigated in Pollock-Counting Dispute

The U.S. Coast Guard and the Seattle-based American Seafoods Company (ASC) have launched a public dispute over how to count the pollock aboard a factory trawler in the Bering Sea. The Coast Guard claims that it found "significant violations" of fishing regulations aboard the vessel Northern Eagle, based on an allegedly substantial difference between the ship's pollock production records and its official electronic logbook. No charges have yet been filed, and ASC disputes any allegations of wrongdoing; in a statement...

Corporate News

Statement from the International Chamber of Shipping

[By: International Chamber of Shipping] Statement from Thomas A. Kazakos, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping, following the announcement of the conditional ceasefire between the United States and Iran Thomas A. Kazakos said: "We welcome the conditional ceasefire between the United States and Iran and hope this signals a beginning of a return to stability in the region. “This news will be a relief to the 20,000 seafarers who have been at the forefront of this crisis. Our...

Cruise Ships

Passengers Abandon Cruise Grounded on Island from 2000 Movie “Cast Away"

Passengers aboard the Fiji cruise ship might have thought they were about to relive a scene from the 2000 movie “Cast Away,” in which Tom Hanks becomes stranded for years on an uninhabited island. Their ship, the Fiji Princess, grounded on April 4 on the same island used in the movie. The 179-foot (55-meter) cruise ship operates cruises up to a week in length around the islands in Fiji. Built in 1998, the ship has 32 passenger cabins with a...

Ports

Retail Imports Continue Decline Despite Little Impact from the Middle East

Shipping

Traffic Through Strait of Hormuz Remains at a Trickle Due to Uncertainties

Tugs & Salvage

Baltimore Fireboats Respond to Sinking Towboat

Government

Bering Sea Trawler Boarded and Investigated in Pollock-Counting Dispute

Corporate News

Statement from the International Chamber of Shipping

Cruise Ships

Passengers Abandon Cruise Grounded on Island from 2000 Movie “Cast Away"

Ports

Retail Imports Continue Decline Despite Little Impact from the Middle East

Offshore

QatarEnergy’s U.S. LNG Plant Achieves First Production at Critical Time

Just as the world is looking for alternative sources of LNG, Golden Pass LNG in Texas reported it has achieved first production. The project, which has been in planning and development for 15 years, is set to start export shipments in the second quarter, coming online to help fill some of the shortfall from Qatar and the Middle East. The United States is already setting records for LNG shipments and has been rivaling Qatar for the title of the largest...

Shipbuilding

Indian Shipbuilding SDHI Adds First Ammonia-Fueled Vessels to Orderbook

The revitalization of the former Reliance Naval and Engineering shipbuilder as Swan Defence and Heavy Industries (SDHI) continues as the yard is winning landmark deals and building its orderbook. It is now reporting India’s first order for ammonia dual-fuel ships as well as the order for some of the largest commercial ships yet built in India. SDHI is the relaunched operation, which went through years of financial difficulties that finally saw the yard suspend operations. It was sold and resumed...

Environment

EcoNavis to Validate and Demonstrate Improved Design for Wind Rotors

Scotland-based EcoNavis Solutions believes it has a technological innovation that can enhance the performance of wind rotors. With wind-assisted propulsion gaining increased interest, the company is using a Scottish Enterprise research grant to move its concept from the drawing board to validation and demonstration. The basic concept of the wind rotor promoted by Anton Flettner in the 1920s remains largely unchanged after more than a century. The spinning rotor captures the energy of the wind to provide additional thrust for...

Business

Largest Ship Repair Yard in East Africa Inaugurated in Djibouti

Officials in Djibouti officially inaugurated the Djibouti Ship Repair Yard on April 4, marking what they called a milestone in the development of the country’s maritime economy. It becomes the largest ship repair yard in the Red Sea region and East Africa, available to provide critical repair and maintenance work. “The DSRY project has always been a national priority, given Djibouti’s strategic location at the entrance to the Bab el-Mandeb, one of the world’s busiest maritime routes,” said President Ismaïl...

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Traffic Through Strait of Hormuz Remains at a Trickle Due to Uncertainties

Liberian Registry: Sanctions Compliance Checks Should Extend to Seafarers

Piracy Falls to Lowest Levels in 35 Years During First Quarter of 2026

Russia's Shadow Fleet Thumbs its Nose at the Royal Navy

Retail Imports Continue Decline Despite Little Impact from the Middle East

Traffic Through Strait of Hormuz Remains at a Trickle Due to Uncertainties

Baltimore Fireboats Respond to Sinking Towboat

Bering Sea Trawler Boarded and Investigated in Pollock-Counting Dispute

Statement from the International Chamber of Shipping

Passengers Abandon Cruise Grounded on Island from 2000 Movie “Cast Away"

Retail Imports Continue Decline Despite Little Impact from the Middle East

Cyber Risk in Shipping: From Technical Threat to Business Reality

Architecture of Adaptability: Designing Vessels to Stand the Test of Time

Improve Fleet Value With Digital Optimization of Cruise Ship Hotel Areas

Traffic Through Strait of Hormuz Remains at a Trickle Due to Uncertainties

Baltimore Fireboats Respond to Sinking Towboat

Bering Sea Trawler Boarded and Investigated in Pollock-Counting Dispute

Statement from the International Chamber of Shipping

Passengers Abandon Cruise Grounded on Island from 2000 Movie “Cast Away"

Retail Imports Continue Decline Despite Little Impact from the Middle East

QatarEnergy’s U.S. LNG Plant Achieves First Production at Critical Time

Indian Shipbuilding SDHI Adds First Ammonia-Fueled Vessels to Orderbook

EcoNavis to Validate and Demonstrate Improved Design for Wind Rotors

Largest Ship Repair Yard in East Africa Inaugurated in Djibouti

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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