Dali containership and remains of bridge

Judge Dismisses Most of Remaining Dali Civil Damage Claims

Ningbo-Zhoushan Tops Singapore as World’s Second Busiest Container Port

Published Aug 26, 2026 5:35 PM by The Maritime Executive

China’s ports are continuing to support the expansion of the country’s exports despite the Trump administration’s efforts at tariffs. China now has six of the top 10 ports by volume, according to Alphaliner’s latest rankings, and in a surprise move, the Ningbo-Zhoushan port complex edged out Singapore for the position of the world’s second busiest port. Officials at the Zhejiang Provincial Seaport Group and Ningbo-Zhoushan Port Group highlighted that they had fully implemented their plans to strengthen work style and...

Iran's Floating Oil Storage Shrinks to Five-Month Supply

Published Aug 26, 2026 4:54 PM by The Maritime Executive

Analyst and media commentary on Operation Economic Outcast, US Treasury Secretary Bessent’s plan to squeeze Iran financially, has focused on how long it will take for the effects of his squeeze to have a decisive impact on the Iranian political leadership. There is some skepticism abroad. Much of the commentary has been speculative, and has focused on how complete a blockade on Iran would be. But the blockade and sanctions measures taken do not have to be 100% effective to...

India Maps 5-Year Plan to Build Shipping Independence with 100 New Ships

Published Aug 26, 2026 4:46 PM by The Maritime Executive

The Indian government continues to pursue its vision of expanding its national shipping capabilities as part of a plan to achieve greater independence and lower the amount of money spent on foreign shipping. The reconstituted National Shipping Board hosted a new dialogue to bring together members of the industry and government to map the strategy for shipping independence. The National Shipping Board was first formed in 1958 with a goal of ensuring the industry was represented in India’s shipping policy....

IRGC Claims That Oman and Iran Have Reached Deal on Hormuz Transit Fees

Published Aug 26, 2026 4:10 PM by The Maritime Executive

One day after Omani and Iranian negotiators hinted at an approaching agreement for a "temporary" Hormuz transit corridor, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has announced that two important points have been settled - neither of which will be viewed favorably in Washington. According to IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebbi, Omani and Iranian negotiators have quietly reached agreement on "each country's share of the starit's waters" and on "share of its revenues." The latter refers to the transit fee system that the...

Shipping

Trump Administration Moves to Revive Prize Courts for Vessel Seizures

The Trump administration is moving to reestablish a 19th-century maritime institution that has fallen into disuse: the prize court, a special-purpose tribunal for speedily determining the legality of the seizure and forfeiture of an enemy merchant vessel. The American legal framework for a prize court hasn't been tested since World War II, and only rarely after 1900; but dusty as it may be, the administration sees it as a way to circumvent the delay-prone appeals process of the civil court...

Tugs & Salvage

Tanker Hit By "Unknown Projectile" in Strait of Hormuz

A tanker was struck in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday night, according to the Royal Navy's UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). It is the latest in a long string of attacks on neutral shipping in the contested waterway, and a sign that Iran plans to keep pressure on traffic in the U.S.-defended corridor along the Omani coast. At about 1730 hours UTC on the 25th, UKMTO's staff received a report that a tanker had been hit by an unknown...

Government

Iran's Floating Oil Storage Shrinks to Five-Month Supply

Corporate News

ABS Joins Hanwha Shipping for Naming Ceremony of First VLCC in New Fleet

[By: ABS] ABS joined Hanwha Shipping for the naming ceremony of the ELANDRA K2, a 320,000-dwt very large crude carrier (VLCC) built to ABS Class at Hanwha Ocean’s Okpo Shipyard. The vessel is the first in Hanwha Shipping’s fleet. Catherine Sagar, spouse of James Sagar, CEO of Hanwha Shipping, served as the vessel sponsor. The ELANDRA K2 is the first of three 320,000-dwt VLCCs under construction for Hanwha Shipping. The ELANDRA KUNLUN (H5520) is scheduled for delivery in December 2026,...

Cruise Ships

Margaritaville Sets Harland & Wolff Conversion and Galveston Introduction

Margaritaville at Sea has selected Harland & Wolff as the location for the conversion of its third cruise ship as part of its expansion plans. The line will refurbish its largest cruise ship, the former Costa Fortuna (102,587 gross tons), ahead of its January 2027 introduction and, as part of its expansion, also announced it will be homeporting a ship in Galveston, Texas. The cruise line, which brings the styles and spirit of legendary musician Jimmy Buffett to sea, launched...

Ports

Canada’s West Coast Ports Drive Trade Growth Beyond the U.S.

As it finds itself locked in a deepening trade war with the United States, Canada is successfully building its international trade. A newly released study sponsored by Canada’s West Coast ports shows that they are playing a critical role in growing foreign trade as the Canadian government highlights that it is investing in the country’s seaports. The Economic Impact of West Coast Ports study, released today, August 26, highlights that British Columbia’s maritime gateways at the ports of Vancouver, Prince...

Shipping

Trump Administration Moves to Revive Prize Courts for Vessel Seizures

Tugs & Salvage

Tanker Hit By "Unknown Projectile" in Strait of Hormuz

Government

Iran's Floating Oil Storage Shrinks to Five-Month Supply

Corporate News

ABS Joins Hanwha Shipping for Naming Ceremony of First VLCC in New Fleet

Cruise Ships

Margaritaville Sets Harland & Wolff Conversion and Galveston Introduction

Ports

Canada’s West Coast Ports Drive Trade Growth Beyond the U.S.

Offshore

Australia’s First Offshore Wind Energy Auction is Now Live

After delays and uncertainty among the developers, Australia has finally opened its first offshore wind energy auction. It has been a slow process for the country to move its offshore energy aspirations forward to catch up with its overall leadership in renewable energy. The first auction is coming from Australia’s Victoria state in the southeast of the country and home to the city of Melbourne. Officials point out that renewables account for 45 percent of the state's total electricity generation...

Shipbuilding

File image courtesy Hengli Heavy Industries

Hengli Heavy Industries Emerges as a Winner of China's Shipbuilding Boom

China's state-owned shipyards are a dominant force in the shipbuilding industry, but their full orderbooks are creating opportunities for privately-held competitors as well - notably Hengli Heavy Industries, which in a few short years has expanded to become the world's largest single shipyard (by order backlog). In its latest quarterly report, released August 24, Hengli Heavy said that it received 207 vessel orders in the first half of the year - a new all-time global record for a single yard....

Environment

Laura DiBella, Chairman Federal Maritime Commission

Op-Ed: FMC Chairman DiBella Calls for Rethinking IMO’s Net-Zero Framework

The Net-Zero Framework (NZF), currently under consideration at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), is an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships, aiming for net-zero emissions in the maritime sector by the year 2050. In its current state, this initiative raises more questions than it answers and must be rethought before international acceptance and implementation. Specifically, any viable proposal must allow for the maximum range of alternate fuel sources, including LNG and bio-LNG. The primary flaw in the NZF...

Business