U.S. Disables Small Containership Approaching Iranian Blockade

Star Bulk Walks Away from Deal to Buy Genco Bulkers from Diana

Published Aug 11, 2026 7:01 PM by The Maritime Executive

Another piece of the proposed deal for Diana Shipping to acquire Genco Shipping & Trading has ended with Star Bulk Carriers Corp. announcing that it decided to withdraw from the vessel purchase agreement with Diana. Another major bulker operator, Star Bulk, had agreed to buy 16 of Genco’s vessels from Diana with the closing of the merger, which would have provided another element of financing for the deal. Diana said that it respected Star Bulk’s decision and thanked them for...

MSC’s Terminal Company Withdraws Antitrust Review for Barcelona Acquisition

Published Aug 11, 2026 6:19 PM by The Maritime Executive

MSCs’ terminal operating company, TiL (Terminal Investment Limited), withdrew its application last week for an EU antitrust review for its proposed acquisition in Barcelona. Last year, the company agreed to the acquisition of the Barcelona Europe South Terminal (BEST) operated Terminal Catalunya in Barcelona, which is a division of CK Hutchison. There was no explanation why the application was withdrawn, just a brief status note as of August 3 on the case, which was under review by the European Commission....

Video: SMIT Helps Egyptian Port Authority Refloat FSRU After Drone Strike

Published Aug 11, 2026 5:26 PM by The Maritime Executive

In conjunction with SMIT Salvage, the staff of the Damietta Port Authority have completed a delicate operation to refloat the LNG FSRU Energos Winter and remove it to a safe anchorage. Energos Winter was attacked by a drone from an unknown adversary on July 29, causing a blast and a fire on board. The blaze spread to a second nearby LNGC, the GasLog Salem. Both fires were brought under control, and no injuries were reported. Egyptian authorities confirmed that the...

Ecuador Seizes Cocaine Impregnated into Cardboard in a Container

Published Aug 11, 2026 5:05 PM by The Maritime Executive

The Ecuadorian National Police are reporting a particularly challenging seizure of cocaine in the Port of Guayaquil before it could be exported on a containership to Spain. The seizure is part of the ongoing operation Fenix that targets exports in the port for inspection. Using risk analysis techniques applied to export cargo, the police reported they stopped a container that was labeled to be going to Spain. It was loaded with 1,080 cardboard boxes. The cocaine was impregnated between the...

Shipping

Chinese destroyer in the Gulf of Aden in 2024

China Continues Gulf of Aden Security Mission by Dispatching 49th Fleet

China’s Ministry of National Defense reported on August 11 that it will continue its escort mission in the Gulf of Aden and Somali waters. It said preparations are underway for the 48th fleet to depart, continuing a mission that started in December 2008. When the mission was launched 18 years ago, China said it was in support of the UN Security Council and to support security in the region. It was reported to be the first time that China sent...

Tugs & Salvage

Apparent damage to the Novorossiysk naval harbor, August 11 (ExileNova Plus)

Ukrainian Strikes Hit Novorossiysk Naval Harbor

On Wednesday morning, the waterfront at the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk was once again blanketed in smoke, the result of yet another Ukrainian drone strike on the strategic port facility. Novorossiysk is a key export hub for Russia's Black Sea oil trade, including both all-Russian volumes at the Sheskharis terminal in the inner harbor and the primarily-Kazakh volumes at the CPC single-point mooring facility just off the coast. Inside the harbor, the Russian Navy has accumulated a large...

Government

Philippine officials tour the damage to a merchant vessel that was hit in a drone attack in the Black Sea, August 2026 (DMW)

In Manila, Back-to-Back Repatriations Show Toll of Conflict for Seafarers

Filipino seafarers can be found in all of shipping's high-risk zones, with all of the attendant hazards - as shown on Monday, when two back-to-back flight arrivals at Manila International brought home survivors from two different far-flung conflicts. On the evening of the 10th, the Philippines' Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) welcomed back 14 crewmembers of the tanker Acheloos and eight crewmembers from the bulker Else. The two ships had been attacked in separate conflict zones 2,000 miles apart. On...

Corporate News

Windward Power Systems Repowers Boston Harbor Ferry M/V Outward Bound

[By: Laborde Products] As part of a major mid-life refit completed by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Windward Power Systems repowered the M/V Outward Bound with a Mitsubishi S6B3 Tier 3 engine supplied by Laborde Products. Rated at 429 horsepower at 1940 RPM, the engine replaced the vessel's legacy Detroit Diesel 8V92, providing a modern mechanical power solution for continued service in Boston Harbor. Originally built in 1995 by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, the 64-foot steel ferry transports visitors and supplies to the Cathleen Stone...

Cruise Ships

Crystal Cruises Finalizes Order with Fincantieri for Third Luxury Ship

Crystal Cruises finalized the order with Fincantieri for a third luxury cruise ship as the brand continues its revitalization under the ownership of A&K Travel Group (Abercrombie & Kent). Planning for the new cruise ships had been underway since the brand returned to operations in 2023, and a memorandum of agreement was signed in 2024 that called for two new cruise ships with an option for a third. Construction for the first of the three ships began in May 2026...

Ports

MSC’s Terminal Company Withdraws Antitrust Review for Barcelona Acquisition

Shipping

China Continues Gulf of Aden Security Mission by Dispatching 49th Fleet

Tugs & Salvage

Ukrainian Strikes Hit Novorossiysk Naval Harbor

Government

In Manila, Back-to-Back Repatriations Show Toll of Conflict for Seafarers

Corporate News

Windward Power Systems Repowers Boston Harbor Ferry M/V Outward Bound

Cruise Ships

Crystal Cruises Finalizes Order with Fincantieri for Third Luxury Ship

Ports

MSC’s Terminal Company Withdraws Antitrust Review for Barcelona Acquisition

Offshore

Wind turbine installation jack-up vessels

Cadeler Orders Two More WTIV Vessels Citing Continued Strong Sector Demand

Cadeler, which already says it has the industry’s largest fleet of jack-up offshore wind installation vessels, reported that it has placed a new construction order for two more vessels. The company is continuing its relationship with COSCO Shipping Offshore shipyard in Qidong, China, reporting the value of the new contract at approximately €805 million (US$930 million). The company recently took delivery of its eleventh vessel, also from the shipyard in China, and still has one more vessel under construction due...

Shipbuilding

Hanwha Offers to Buy Austal USA

The U.S. division of South Korean shipbuilding giant Hanwha has made a non-binding offer to buy Austal USA, the American operations of Australian shipbuilder Austal Ltd. If accepted, the bid would achieve most of Hanwha's previous, unsuccessful effort to acquire the entire Australian parent company. The new bid for Austal USA is in the range of US$1.0-1.2 billion, according to an Australian stock market filing posted by Austal Ltd. - a marked improvement over its last reported offer for all...

Environment

A boarding team crewmember inventories shark fins on a suspect vessel, May 2026 (NOAA Fisheries)

Canadian-Led Operation Reveals Scope of Illegal Fishing in North Pacific

A Canadian-led operation aimed at cracking down on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing has again exposed how the vast North Pacific continues to be a hotspot for criminal activity that poses a major threat to fish populations, marine environments and global seafood supply chains. Following the completion of the annual multinational mission known as Operation North Pacific Guard (Op. NPG), which involved more than two months of patrolling North Pacific waters at sea, in the air and by satellite,...

Business

Star Bulk Walks Away from Deal to Buy Genco Bulkers from Diana

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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U.S. Disables Small Containership Approaching Iranian Blockade

Star Bulk Walks Away from Deal to Buy Genco Bulkers from Diana

MSC’s Terminal Company Withdraws Antitrust Review for Barcelona Acquisition

Video: SMIT Helps Egyptian Port Authority Refloat FSRU After Drone Strike

Ecuador Seizes Cocaine Impregnated into Cardboard in a Container

China Continues Gulf of Aden Security Mission by Dispatching 49th Fleet

Ukrainian Strikes Hit Novorossiysk Naval Harbor

In Manila, Back-to-Back Repatriations Show Toll of Conflict for Seafarers

Windward Power Systems Repowers Boston Harbor Ferry M/V Outward Bound

Crystal Cruises Finalizes Order with Fincantieri for Third Luxury Ship

MSC’s Terminal Company Withdraws Antitrust Review for Barcelona Acquisition

A Mediterranean Residence Worth Pursuing for American Families

The Future of Fleet Efficiency is Stacked Optimization

The New Normal for Hull Husbandry: A Continuous Hull Record

China Continues Gulf of Aden Security Mission by Dispatching 49th Fleet

Ukrainian Strikes Hit Novorossiysk Naval Harbor

In Manila, Back-to-Back Repatriations Show Toll of Conflict for Seafarers

Windward Power Systems Repowers Boston Harbor Ferry M/V Outward Bound

Crystal Cruises Finalizes Order with Fincantieri for Third Luxury Ship

MSC’s Terminal Company Withdraws Antitrust Review for Barcelona Acquisition

Cadeler Orders Two More WTIV Vessels Citing Continued Strong Sector Demand

Hanwha Offers to Buy Austal USA

Canadian-Led Operation Reveals Scope of Illegal Fishing in North Pacific

Star Bulk Walks Away from Deal to Buy Genco Bulkers from Diana

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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Maritime Industry Conferences and Events