U.S. Seizes Third Runaway Sanctioned Tanker in the Indian Ocean

U.S. Strikes Suspected Drug-Smuggling Boat, Killing Three

Published Feb 23, 2026 10:27 PM by The Maritime Executive

On Monday morning, U.S. forces struck and destroyed a drifting suspected drug boat in the Caribbean, killing three. It was the second strike in a week, following an attack Friday that killed three additional suspects, and was the eighth declared strike since the beginning of the month. The death toll from U.S. Southern Command's kinetic countertrafficking campaign is now at least 137, and possibly as high as 148. In parallel with the airstrikes on drug boats - led by special...

From Sea to Sky

Published Feb 23, 2026 8:26 PM by Mia Bennett

Nestled within the aptly named Post Office Bay on Galapagos' Floreana Island sits a relic of analog communication. A barrel beckons visitors to pitch in their unstamped postcards in the hopes that a passer-by bound for the addressed location retrieves the epistle and ferries it to its destination. If, say, you were a tourist from Palm Beach, Florida and you found a missive to Miami in the barrel, you might take it with you and hand-deliver it to the addressee...

PCG servicemembers recover another body from the water at the wreck site, February 21 (PCG)

Philippine Divers Release Video of Search for Remains Inside Lost Ferry

Published Feb 23, 2026 8:22 PM by The Maritime Executive

The Philippine Coast Guard's salvage divers continue to conduct dangerous and difficult search-and-recovery work at the wreck site of the Trisha Kerstin 3, the ferry that capsized and sank off Basilan in late January. The confirmed death toll from the sinking has risen to 65, and Philippine leaders have demanded accountability - even prosecution - for those responsible for the vessel's final voyage. Over the weekend, divers recovered another body from the wreck - the remains of crewmember Rodolfo Cabilan...

Seatrium Consolidating Business by Divesting Non-Core Assets

Published Feb 23, 2026 7:44 PM by The Maritime Executive

Singapore-based Seatrium is highlighting a series of recent transaction agreements, all designed to consolidate its business and produce operating cost savings from the sale of non-core assets. It highlights that it has already created US$40 million in savings while noting that it has earmarked additional non-core assets for investment. Seatrium was formed by the 2023 merger of Sembcorp Marine and Keppel Offshore & Marine. “These divestments represent an acceleration in Seatrium’s asset portfolio optimization strategy, optimizing the group’s cost structure,...

Shipping

Report: Maritime Cyberattacks Doubled in 2025

The prevalence of maritime cyberattacks doubled in 2025, according to Korean security firm Cytur, led by an explosion of malware and distributed denial of service (DDoS) incidents. Some of the most concerning examples involved a high-level penetration of the shoreside supply chain, giving the attackers useful information about systems (or even remote access) at a fleet level. Others extended to worst-case scenarios: destroyed equipment, hacked ECDIS chart systems, and remote control of ballast valves. Hackers are getting better at targeting...

Tugs & Salvage

Philippine Divers Release Video of Search for Remains Inside Lost Ferry

Government

U.S. Seizes Third Runaway Sanctioned Tanker in the Indian Ocean

The Pentagon confirmed that U.S. forces interdicted a third runaway tanker, named Bertha, while it was sailing in the Indian Ocean on February 24. It followed the previous seizures of the Aquila II and the Veronica III, also in the Indian Ocean, as part of a group of tankers that had fled Venezuela, likely bound for China with Venezuelan crude. “From the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, we tracked it and stopped it,” the posting on social media said. “International...

Corporate News

ILO, ICS and ITF Celebrate 20th Anniversary of Maritime Labor Convention

Joint statement from the International Labour Organization, the International Chamber of Shipping, and International Transport Workers’ Federation on the 20th anniversary of the Maritime Labour Convention On the 20th anniversary of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, we jointly reaffirm our commitment to the principles and protections it embodies and recognise the profound impact it has had on seafarers and on global shipping. The MLC consolidated and modernised around seventy maritime labour instruments into a single, comprehensive international framework. In doing...

Cruise Ships

The Maritime Executive's Annual Cruise Edition is Now Available Online

Celebrating Cruising It was another record year for cruising in 2025, and this year is shaping up to be even better. Since the pandemic brought things to a halt in 2020-21, the cruise industry has been on a non-stop tear, fueled by pent-up demand and so-called “revenge travel.” Nearly 40 million people will take a cruise in 2026, more than half of them from the U.S. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered – everything you want to know about...

Ports

Port of Balboa container terminal Panama

China and Hutchison Condemn “Illegal Takeover” of Port Terminals

The Hong Kong Government and CK Hutchison condemned the actions of the Government of Panama, saying they would seek legal recourse after Panama took possession of the terminals in Balboa and Cristobal and signed new operating contracts with Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC). Hutchison confirmed that its subsidiary, the Panama Ports Company, has ceased operations. Hutchison asserts that the representatives of Panama “made direct physical entry into the terminals,” saying they “arrived without invitation.” It further asserts that representatives...

Shipping

Report: Maritime Cyberattacks Doubled in 2025

Tugs & Salvage

Philippine Divers Release Video of Search for Remains Inside Lost Ferry

Government

U.S. Seizes Third Runaway Sanctioned Tanker in the Indian Ocean

Corporate News

ILO, ICS and ITF Celebrate 20th Anniversary of Maritime Labor Convention

Cruise Ships

The Maritime Executive's Annual Cruise Edition is Now Available Online

Ports

China and Hutchison Condemn “Illegal Takeover” of Port Terminals

Offshore

DOJ Files Appeal on Court Blocking Trump’s Moratorium on Wind Energy

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Environment & Natural Resources Division filed notice with the district court in Massachusetts for an appeal on the court ruling blocking Donald Trump’s Executive Order from January 2025 establishing a moratorium on permitting, leasing, and other authorizations for wind energy projects. It is the latest step in the Trump administration's continuing battle against renewable wind energy. The filing came 45 days after District Judge Patti B. Saris had ruled in December 2025, calling the Executive...

Shipbuilding

Austal Finalizes Large Contract to Build Australia’s Landing Craft Heavy

Austal Defence Shipbuilding Australia highlighted the announcement by the government’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, and Minister for Defence Industry, Pat Conroy, as the finalization of a large contract to build the country’s new Landing Craft Heavy (LCH) vessels. It was expecting to sign the contract, valued at approximately A$4 billion (US$2.8 billion), later on Friday while highlighting it was the second major contract for the company under its Strategic Shipbuilding Agreement (SSA) with Australia. The...

Environment

Navigating the Deadlock: Accelleron’s Daniel Bischofberger on Green Fuels

Accelleron, a leading provider of turbocharging, fuel injection, and digital solutions for marine engines and ships, recently released a study on the multifaceted, multi-industry challenges slowing shipping's transition to carbon-neutral fuels. TME recently spoke with CEO Daniel Bischofberger about the current state of marine decarbonization, regional developments in Asia-Pacific, and the path forward for the industry. Can you describe the current state of shipping's transition to carbon-neutral fuels? The ships are ready, but the fuel is not. The technology exists...

Business

Zim Employees Return to Work as Union Reports Tentative Agreements

The union representing Zim’s Israeli workers has reportedly reached terms on a tentative agreement regarding employment, severance payments, and compensation after staging a strike that stopped port activity and work at the company’s headquarters. The union said a tentative agreement would be finalized between ZIM CEO and Hapag-Lloyd, and according to the news outlet Calcalist, it has total trust in Eli Glickman to honor the agreement. The union had reacted to a lack of employment agreements and said it had...

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U.S. Seizes Third Runaway Sanctioned Tanker in the Indian Ocean

U.S. Strikes Suspected Drug-Smuggling Boat, Killing Three

From Sea to Sky

Philippine Divers Release Video of Search for Remains Inside Lost Ferry

Seatrium Consolidating Business by Divesting Non-Core Assets

Report: Maritime Cyberattacks Doubled in 2025

Philippine Divers Release Video of Search for Remains Inside Lost Ferry

U.S. Seizes Third Runaway Sanctioned Tanker in the Indian Ocean

ILO, ICS and ITF Celebrate 20th Anniversary of Maritime Labor Convention

The Maritime Executive's Annual Cruise Edition is Now Available Online

China and Hutchison Condemn “Illegal Takeover” of Port Terminals

Environmental Remediation at Aging Ports

Beyond Sanctions Lists: Navigating Fragmented Enforcement in Maritime Trade

The Modular Pivot: Repurposing Containers as Strategic Infrastructure

Report: Maritime Cyberattacks Doubled in 2025

Philippine Divers Release Video of Search for Remains Inside Lost Ferry

U.S. Seizes Third Runaway Sanctioned Tanker in the Indian Ocean

ILO, ICS and ITF Celebrate 20th Anniversary of Maritime Labor Convention

The Maritime Executive's Annual Cruise Edition is Now Available Online

China and Hutchison Condemn “Illegal Takeover” of Port Terminals

DOJ Files Appeal on Court Blocking Trump’s Moratorium on Wind Energy

Austal Finalizes Large Contract to Build Australia’s Landing Craft Heavy

Navigating the Deadlock: Accelleron’s Daniel Bischofberger on Green Fuels

Zim Employees Return to Work as Union Reports Tentative Agreements

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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