Ukraine Sinks Russian-Flagged Containership in Black Sea

Sweden Arrests Cargo Ship Captain After Deaths in Pleasure Boat Collision

Published Jul 31, 2026 3:22 PM by The Maritime Executive

Swedish prosecutors confirmed that they have taken the captain of a Norwegian cargo ship into custody after an accident on Tuesday night that killed a mother and her young daughter and injured the father and his son. The Norwegian-flagged vessel Misje Verde (5,300 dwt) is believed to have run down a pleasure boat off the west coast of Sweden. The cargo ship, which was built in 2023, was traveling from Uddevalla, Sweden, to Kragero, Norway, on Tuesday night, July 28....

Icelandic special squad boarding the activist vessel

Iceland Seizes Paul Watson Foundation’s Boat as it Tracks Whale Hunt

Published Jul 31, 2026 12:53 PM by The Maritime Executive

The Icelandic Coast Guard and a team of special forces from the police boarded the vessel Bandero operated by the Captain Paul Watson Foundation on July 31 and arrested the captain. The forces took control of the vessel, which was accused of disobeying instructions from the Coast Guard as the activists were pursuing a whaling vessel. The well-known activist group had reported it was launching a campaign this summer seeking to find and interrupt Iceland’s whaling efforts. The group accuses...

warship escorting containership in the Red Sea

Saudi Arabia Builds Maritime Coalition to Keep Red Sea Shipping Moving

Published Jul 31, 2026 11:46 AM by The Maritime Executive

Saudi Arabia convened an inaugural meeting in Riyadh on July 30 of nations interested in joining a maritime defense coalition to “enhance maritime security, protect international maritime corridors, and counter threats targeting maritime navigation and global trade.” The maritime corridor in question appears to be the Maritime Transit Security Corridor (MTSC), the trade route passing through the southern Red Sea, the Bab el Mandeb, and the Gulf of Aden. It was reported that 43 of 50 invited nations attended the...

UAE Resumes Cross-Gulf Trade with Iran

Published Jul 31, 2026 11:22 AM by The Maritime Executive

A little-appreciated consequence of the all-out war that broke out in the Gulf on February 28 has been the disruption to the United Arab Emirates’ trade with Iran. A foundation of the Emirates’ extraordinary growth since 1979 has been its role as the import-export gateway to Iran. Not so long ago, about 90 percent of Iran’s trade with the outside world passed through DP World’s massive container terminal at Jebel Ali, where, from a central distribution point, global container liners...

Shipping

Ukraine Sinks Russian-Flagged Containership in Black Sea

Ukraine struck a container vessel operated by Fesco, a division of Rosatom, while the vessel was transiting the Black Sea bound for Novorossiysk, Russia. The reports indicated that the crew was rescued, but Rosatom’s CEO was quick to denounce the attack as “piracy” and “maritime robbery.” The containership Yanina (13,000 dwt) was struck by two drones while it was approximately 130 miles from Novorossiysk. Its AIS signal showed the vessel was coming from India as part of Fesco’s regular container...

Tugs & Salvage

A handful of barges transit the Rhine near Kaub, Germany, July 30 (Copernicus / Sentinel-2)

Drought Makes Upper Rhine Unnavigable, Driving Barge Rates to New Record

Low summertime water levels are a routine problem for navigation on the River Rhine, especially in recent years, but the intense drought conditions affecting Western Europe have left the waterway all but unnavigable at a key chokepoint - sending freight rates to record highs. The limiting factor is the gage depth at Kaub, downriver from Wiesbaden. At present it is less than 12 inches, the bare minimum for most barges to transit in laden condition. The shutdown closes off access...

Government

CENTCOM Denies Iran's Gulf Breakout Claims Saying Danger is Verbal Threats

The war of words and claims continued after several days of relative calm, with no vessels attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran is making bold claims about stopping all traffic and turning back tankers, while U.S. Central Command denied the claims that two Iranian ships have eluded the blockade. It was being widely reported that the crude oil tanker Nora (298,414 dwt) had passed out of the Gulf. The shadow fleet vessel, which is under U.S. sanctions, has been...

Corporate News

BMT Expands International Maritime Design Expertise with One2three

[By BMT] BMT’s acquisition of One2three Naval Architects strengthens its globally connected ship design offering across ferries, specialist craft and advanced vessel technologies. (0900 AEST, Sydney, Australia) — BMT has acquired Australian naval architecture business One2three Naval Architects, further strengthening its position in independent global commercial and specialist vessel design. The acquisition expands BMT’s ability to support customers delivering complex vessel programs across international markets and broadens its strengths in maritime design across ferries, specialist craft, autonomy and advanced vessel...

Cruise Ships

Viking River Cruise Ship Evacuated After Grounding on the Danube

Bulgaria’s Border Police were leading an orderly evacuation of the passenger from the Viking river cruise ship Viking Ullur after the vessel grounded early on July 28. The authorities cited low water levels and the dark of night as contributing factors but said the vessel had ultimately left the navigation channel before it grounded. At various points along the Danube, which is the second longest river in Europe, authorities have warned of extreme low water levels due to a prolonged...

Ports

Hapag-Lloyd Reports Temporary Suspension of Feeder Calls to Ukraine

Citing the continued deterioration of the security situation, Hapag-Lloyd announced on July 31 that feeder operators have temporarily suspended calls to the Ukrainian Black Sea ports. It comes as Russian attacks on the ports have discouraged other shippers, including Maersk, which reported last week that it was diverting cargo to Romania. Hapag reports that feeder service is currently not available to the ports of Chornomorsk, Odesa, and Pivdennyi until further notice. As such, it says cargo originally planned for Ukrainian...

Shipping

Ukraine Sinks Russian-Flagged Containership in Black Sea

Tugs & Salvage

Drought Makes Upper Rhine Unnavigable, Driving Barge Rates to New Record

Government

CENTCOM Denies Iran's Gulf Breakout Claims Saying Danger is Verbal Threats

Corporate News

BMT Expands International Maritime Design Expertise with One2three

Cruise Ships

Viking River Cruise Ship Evacuated After Grounding on the Danube

Ports

Hapag-Lloyd Reports Temporary Suspension of Feeder Calls to Ukraine

Offshore

Borr Drilling Buys Paratus' Jack-Up Fleet for Mexican Market

Oslo-listed Borr Drilling has acquired five jack-up rigs from the former Seadrill fleet through its joint venture vehicle in the Mexican offshore market. The rigs include Oeron, Titania FE, Courageous, Defender and Intrepid, all located in Mexican waters. All belonged to Paratus Energy Services, a firm spun off from Seadrill in 2022 during Seadrill's bankruptcy proceedings. The JV, BC Ventures, is getting the rigs for a total of about $287 million, including $237 million in financing from the seller. The...

Shipbuilding

HD Hyundai Launches First Ship From Revitalized Philippine Shipyard

The Philippines marked a key milestone in its long efforts to revitalize the former shipbuilding operations at Subic Bay as HD Hyundai officially launched its first new construction. The South Korean shipbuilder last year took over the former Hanjin shipyard and restarted operations with a promise of significant investments. The 115,000 dwt petrochemical tanker Orion Jade was launched on July 29 as the first newbuild at the yard, which had ceased operations in 2019. At its pinnacle, the Philippines used...

Environment

The New Normal for Hull Husbandry: A Continuous Hull Record

Biofouling regulation is moving from voluntary guidance to mandatory rules. But the building throughline is this: hull management is becoming a matter of record, and keeping the hull clean is only part of what that record has to show. The Rules are Changing For most of the past decade, managing biofouling was a matter of good practice. The IMO's biofouling guidelines are still voluntary, but the direction remains strong. Regionally, the rules are already here, and they are spreading. California...

Business

UAE Resumes Cross-Gulf Trade with Iran

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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Ukraine Sinks Russian-Flagged Containership in Black Sea

Sweden Arrests Cargo Ship Captain After Deaths in Pleasure Boat Collision

Iceland Seizes Paul Watson Foundation’s Boat as it Tracks Whale Hunt

Saudi Arabia Builds Maritime Coalition to Keep Red Sea Shipping Moving

UAE Resumes Cross-Gulf Trade with Iran

Ukraine Sinks Russian-Flagged Containership in Black Sea

Drought Makes Upper Rhine Unnavigable, Driving Barge Rates to New Record

CENTCOM Denies Iran's Gulf Breakout Claims Saying Danger is Verbal Threats

BMT Expands International Maritime Design Expertise with One2three

Viking River Cruise Ship Evacuated After Grounding on the Danube

Hapag-Lloyd Reports Temporary Suspension of Feeder Calls to Ukraine

The New Normal for Hull Husbandry: A Continuous Hull Record

The Hidden Operational Value in Your Emissions Data

New Reality of Tanker Ops: Why Onboard Blending and Cargo Control Matter

Ukraine Sinks Russian-Flagged Containership in Black Sea

Drought Makes Upper Rhine Unnavigable, Driving Barge Rates to New Record

CENTCOM Denies Iran's Gulf Breakout Claims Saying Danger is Verbal Threats

BMT Expands International Maritime Design Expertise with One2three

Viking River Cruise Ship Evacuated After Grounding on the Danube

Hapag-Lloyd Reports Temporary Suspension of Feeder Calls to Ukraine

Borr Drilling Buys Paratus' Jack-Up Fleet for Mexican Market

HD Hyundai Launches First Ship From Revitalized Philippine Shipyard

The New Normal for Hull Husbandry: A Continuous Hull Record

UAE Resumes Cross-Gulf Trade with Iran

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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