Speculation About LNG Shipments as Qatar Sends Carrier Through Hormuz

A Russian drone closes in on a Ukrainian port target (Russian MOD)

Russia Claims Strikes on Two More Ships Near Odesa

Published Jul 29, 2026 6:59 PM by The Maritime Executive

Russia's ministry of defense claims that its forces have struck two more ships near the port of Odesa, along with shoreside infrastructure. As the ministry often does, it claimed that the vessels were carrying arms for Ukraine's military. Ukraine's shipping corridor almost certainly serves the transport of arms, but its civilian usage is just as important to the country's economy. The Black Sea carries the bulk of Ukraine's grain exports, which account for a substantial share of its GDP. Ukraine...

Nigerian Navy Detains Chinese-Owned Tanker Accused of Stealing Oil

Published Jul 29, 2026 6:21 PM by The Maritime Executive

The Nigerian Navy is publicizing its recent arrest of a Chinese-owned tanker and its crew as part of an ongoing effort that is cracking down on oil theft. It is alleging the vessel had illegally loaded crude oil without the required documentation or lawful authorization. The command operations officer, Commodore AA Umar, asserted that the tanker Filia (3,158 dwt) had remained within the vicinity of the offshore terminal for more than seven days, during which time it was under surveillance...

U.S. Sanctions Two "Insurers" for Handling Iran's Hormuz Transit Fees

Published Jul 29, 2026 6:01 PM by The Maritime Executive

The U.S. government has released a new round of sanctions targeting Iran's attempt to set up a transit fee structure for the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement Wednesday, the U.S. Treasury said that it is placing sanctions on two companies that it believes are at the center of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' "insurance" business, which protects ships from the IRGC's own attacks. The two companies are the Persian Gulf Marine Insurance Company and HormuzSafe Marine Services Authority. The...

South Africa Drydocks Largest Vessel in More than a Decade

Published Jul 29, 2026 5:31 PM by The Maritime Executive

As part of the ongoing efforts to modernize capabilities to support the maritime industry, South Africa’s Transnet National Port Authority has drydocked its largest vessel in more than a decade. The 73,180-dwt tanker Troy recently entered the historic Prince Edward Graving Dock in Durban for 10 days of scheduled maintenance. The dry dock, which was commissioned in 1924, remains one of the largest in Africa and provides a critical capability for shipping in the region. The crude oil tanker Troy...

Shipping

Speculation About LNG Shipments as Qatar Sends Carrier Through Hormuz

A move by QatarEnergy to send an LNG carrier through the Strait of Hormuz is drawing wide attention and spurring speculation about future shipments. The LNG carrier Al Areesh (148,786 cbm) cleared the Strait, marking the first time an LNG carrier working for Qatar has made the transit in nearly three weeks. The vessel, which was built in 2007 and is operating under the Bahamas flag managed by Seapeak Maritime, is shown in the Gulf of Oman. Kpler indicates the...

Tugs & Salvage

Turkish Bulker Heading to Russia Breaks Down and Blocks the Dardanelles

Turkish authorities briefly suspended traffic in the business Dardanelles overnight as they worked to clear a bulker bound for Russia that had broken down. According to the reports, the bulker Pilatus Marie (56,632 dwt) was approaching an area known as the Nara turn near the Canakkale Strait portion of the waterway when it ran aground. Built in 2011 and now registered in San Marino, the vessel reported an engine failure, which caused it to ground in the busy waterway. The...

Government

U.S. Launches Heavy Wave of Strikes on Iran

On July 29, U.S. Central Command carried out a new round of airstrikes on Iranian positions in response to yesterday's missile attacks on U.S. bases in Jordan. The latest target deck included command centers, drone and missile launch sites, coastal surveillance sites and "maritime capabilities." Drone footage provided by U.S. Central Command showed a series of strikes on small attack speedboats, like those typically used by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. CENTCOM says it struck dozens of targets in a...

Corporate News

Damen Launches Second CSOV 9020 for TSSM

[By: Damen Shipyards Group] Damen Shipyards Group has launched the second in a series of two Commissioning Service Operations Vessels (CSOV) 9020 for Ta San Shang Marine Co., Ltd. (TSSM). The company, a joint venture between Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. of Japan and Ta Tong Marine Co., Ltd. of Taiwan, will use the vessels to support construction and maintenance activities at offshore wind farms in Taiwanese waters. When delivered in early 2027, the CSOV 9020, to be named TSS Challenger,...

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

collapsed crane resting on containership

Port and River Tyne to Close to Clear Damaged Containership and Crane

The Port of Tyne, along with a section of the River Tyne, will be closed for nine hours on Thursday, July 30, as the recovery operation continues from the allision in the port on July 19. Specialized teams have been working with the port to secure damaged containers and the vessel BG Orange, along with removing the gantry crane that collapsed as the container vessel was struck. Several containers were badly damaged when the WTIV Wind Orca struck the container...

Shipping

Speculation About LNG Shipments as Qatar Sends Carrier Through Hormuz

Tugs & Salvage

Turkish Bulker Heading to Russia Breaks Down and Blocks the Dardanelles

Government

U.S. Launches Heavy Wave of Strikes on Iran

Corporate News

Damen Launches Second CSOV 9020 for TSSM

Cruise Ships

Viking River Cruise Ship Evacuated After Grounding on the Danube

Ports

Port and River Tyne to Close to Clear Damaged Containership and Crane

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

Royal Caribbean Posts Strong Q2 Despite Fuel Costs, Geopolitical Impact

Concerns for the outlook for cruising moderated with strong stock gains after Royal Caribbean Group reported strong second quarter results, beating estimates. The company was able to control costs despite strong pressure from fuel and what it called a “modest booking impact” due to “prolonged geopolitical activity.” Excluding fuel, Royal Caribbean reported a net cruise cost increase of 4.5 percent, contributing to better-than-expected results for earnings this quarter. Despite a six percent increase in total revenues and a 110 percent...

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Speculation About LNG Shipments as Qatar Sends Carrier Through Hormuz

Russia Claims Strikes on Two More Ships Near Odesa

Nigerian Navy Detains Chinese-Owned Tanker Accused of Stealing Oil

U.S. Sanctions Two "Insurers" for Handling Iran's Hormuz Transit Fees

South Africa Drydocks Largest Vessel in More than a Decade

Speculation About LNG Shipments as Qatar Sends Carrier Through Hormuz

Turkish Bulker Heading to Russia Breaks Down and Blocks the Dardanelles

U.S. Launches Heavy Wave of Strikes on Iran

Damen Launches Second CSOV 9020 for TSSM

Viking River Cruise Ship Evacuated After Grounding on the Danube

Port and River Tyne to Close to Clear Damaged Containership and Crane

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

Speculation About LNG Shipments as Qatar Sends Carrier Through Hormuz

Turkish Bulker Heading to Russia Breaks Down and Blocks the Dardanelles

U.S. Launches Heavy Wave of Strikes on Iran

Damen Launches Second CSOV 9020 for TSSM

Viking River Cruise Ship Evacuated After Grounding on the Danube

Port and River Tyne to Close to Clear Damaged Containership and Crane

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

Royal Caribbean Posts Strong Q2 Despite Fuel Costs, Geopolitical Impact

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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