French Navy Stops Sanctioned Shadow Fleet Tanker Sailing Under False Flag

NTSB: Bulker Grounded Due to “Expectation Bias" and Lack of Communications

Published Mar 19, 2026 8:58 PM by The Maritime Executive

The National Transportation Safety Board released its final report on the grounding of a bulker near Philadelphia in the Delaware River, saying it believes the pilot made errors based on his expectations instead of what was actually happening with the vessel. Further, it cites poor communications as part of the lack of bridge resource management. The incident happened on the evening of January 8, 2025, as the Algoma Verity (50,259 dwt), a modern self-unloader bulker, was transiting north on the...

Damage to the tanker Skylight off Oman, March 2026 (Omani social media)

As Vessel Casualties Mount in Gulf, IMO Endorses Safe-Passage Exit Route

Published Mar 19, 2026 8:32 PM by The Maritime Executive

Amidst the ongoing exchange of fire in the Arabian Gulf region, thousands of seafarers are caught in the middle. In the early hours of Thursday morning, two more vessels were hit by projectiles during periods of active Iranian strikes, reportedly leaving one vessel burned and its captain missing. At about 0300 hours local time Thursday, an unnamed vessel was hit by a projectile at a position about 11 nautical miles off the coast of Khor Fakkan, UAE, a busy anchorage...

Bessent: U.S. May Allow Iran to Sell Oil in Order to Increase Supply

Published Mar 19, 2026 8:03 PM by The Maritime Executive

The U.S. government may soon release additional barrels from its strategic reserves to calm oil markets amidst the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and might even relax its "maximum pressure" sanctions on Iranian oil in order to free up more barrels on the water, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said Thursday. The turnaround on Iranian oil sanctions would be a reversal, and a swift one. Just three weeks ago, U.S. forces boarded and seized a shadow fleet tanker...

Fincantieri Floats for Viking "First Hydrogen-Powered Cruise Ship"

Published Mar 19, 2026 7:52 PM by The Maritime Executive

Fincantieri marked another milestone in cruise ship development as it floated out the Viking Libra (54,300 gross tons), which is being billed as the “world’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship.” It advanced the ambitions for zero-emission shipping and the long-held vision of Viking CEO Torstein Hagen to produce a hydrogen-powered ship. According to the companies, the project has been developed with strong attention to environmental aspects to ensure the ship will be capable of navigating and operating with zero emissions, allowing...

Shipping

English and Russian warships in English Channel

UK Tracks Russian Tanker as US Tightens the Rules on Oil to Cuba

Close attention is being paid to two tankers, which observers suspected were heading toward Cuba in a Russian effort to provide some relief to the fuel-starved island. The Trump administration is continuing its efforts toward regime change by imposing a near-total ban on support to the island and its communist government. The UK Royal Navy reported yesterday, March 19, that it had been tracking a Russian-flagged tanker managed by Sovcomflot and its warship escort. The tanker Anatoly Kolodkin is thought...

Tugs & Salvage

Aftermath of a drug boat strike, February 2026 (Southern Command)

U.S. Southern Command Says Drug Boat Strikes "Aren't the Answer"

In a Senate hearing Thursday, U.S. Southern Command's top officer told lawmakers that the high-profile airstrikes on drug boats that the Pentagon has championed "aren't the answer" to cocaine smuggling in the Americas. SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan (USMC) told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the military is pivoting to a comprehensive campaign to target and dismantle drug trafficking organizations, rather than individual boats. Since the start of enhanced operations in September, the U.S. military has conducted 45...

Government

strike of suspected drug smuggling speed boat

Video: Three Survive Latest U.S. Strike on Suspected Drug Smuggling Boat

U.S. Southern Command is confirming a new strike on a suspected drug smuggling boat while saying it believes three individuals survived the strike. News of the latest strike came just a day after the Commander of the U.S. Southern Command, Marine General Francis Donovan, who is said to have directed yesterday’s strike, told a U.S. Senate hearing that they would be shifting tactics. The report said intelligence confirmed a low-profile vessel transiting along what were termed “known narco-trafficking routes.” Few...

Corporate News

All American Marine Begins Construction on Univ. of Texas Research Vessel

All American Marine (AAM) has begun construction on a next-gen 78’ x 26.7’ aluminum catamaran research vessel for the University of Texas Marine Science Institute (UTMSI). The vessel is being built on Teknicraft Design’s proven multi-purpose research platform and is designed to support scientific research, survey, and teaching missions throughout the Gulf of Mexico, including offshore operations up to 150 nautical miles from shore. Purpose-built for multi-mission flexibility, the twin-engine, propeller driven vessel will support a broad range of scientific...

Cruise Ships

World’s Largest Sail Yacht Cruise Ship Sets New Mark on Trials

The sail-powered cruise ship Orient Express Corinthian recently completed its propulsion tests, and builder Chantiers de l’Atlantique reports the ship achieved a speed first for a sailing ship of its size. The ship is preparing for its delivery and entry into service in May 2026 as Accor Group launches its first cruise offering. The Orient Express Corinthian is a 25,200 gross ton cruise ship that will have 54 suites with a capacity for 110 passengers. The ship measures 220 meters...

Ports

Saudi Arabia Loses Patience as Red Sea Terminal and Refinery are Targeted

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry spoke out on Thursday, March 19, saying that any “trust with Tehran has been shattered” after reporting that the capital of Riyadh, along with the critical Yanbu oil terminal on the Red Sea and the neighboring refinery, had all been targeted. The state-owned oil company Aramco has been rushing to increase exports from Yanbu to offset its lost capacity on the Persian Gulf. The Ministry of Defense confirmed that a drone “crashed in the SAMREF refinery.”...

Shipping

UK Tracks Russian Tanker as US Tightens the Rules on Oil to Cuba

Tugs & Salvage

U.S. Southern Command Says Drug Boat Strikes "Aren't the Answer"

Government

Video: Three Survive Latest U.S. Strike on Suspected Drug Smuggling Boat

Corporate News

All American Marine Begins Construction on Univ. of Texas Research Vessel

Cruise Ships

World’s Largest Sail Yacht Cruise Ship Sets New Mark on Trials

Ports

Saudi Arabia Loses Patience as Red Sea Terminal and Refinery are Targeted

Offshore

In the Know Podcast 77: Aaron Smith, President and CEO of OMSA

For the latest edition of In the Know, The Maritime Executive's podcast series, editor-in-chief Tony Munoz spoke with OMSA President and CEO Aaron Smith about the importance of Jones Act shipping in the offshore sector. OMSA - the Offshore Marine Service Association - is the voice of the U.S. offshore-vessel industry, and its primary mission is to protect the Jones Act's benefits for American mariners and shipowners. Smith, the organization's longtime leader, joins the podcast to talk about how loopholes...

Shipbuilding

Fincantieri Floats for Viking "First Hydrogen-Powered Cruise Ship"

Environment

Op-Ed: Ships Should Meet the Polar Code Before Entering Canadian Arctic

The United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted the Polar Code in November 2014 to reduce loss of life at sea caused by inadequate preparedness for operations in polar regions, which are more isolated and challenging than lower-latitude waters. The Code entered into force on January 1, 2017 and initially applied to seagoing vessels of 500 gross tonnage (GT) and above, as well as certain vessel classes such as cruise ships. On January 1, 2026, the IMO expanded the categories...

Business

Genco Rejects Diana’s Revised Offer Citing Value and “Fire Sale” of Ships

The battle to further consolidate the dry bulk segment continues with Genco Shipping & Trading announcing that its board unanimously rejected the revised, non-binding indicative proposal from Diana Shipping to acquire the company. Two weeks ago, Diana had increased its offer while detailing financial commitments and saying that after closing, it would sell 16 Genco vessels to Star Bulk. “Our board reviewed and rejected Diana’s revised proposal and determined that it is substantially below Genco’s intrinsic value and fails to...

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French Navy Stops Sanctioned Shadow Fleet Tanker Sailing Under False Flag

NTSB: Bulker Grounded Due to “Expectation Bias" and Lack of Communications

As Vessel Casualties Mount in Gulf, IMO Endorses Safe-Passage Exit Route

Bessent: U.S. May Allow Iran to Sell Oil in Order to Increase Supply

Fincantieri Floats for Viking "First Hydrogen-Powered Cruise Ship"

UK Tracks Russian Tanker as US Tightens the Rules on Oil to Cuba

U.S. Southern Command Says Drug Boat Strikes "Aren't the Answer"

Video: Three Survive Latest U.S. Strike on Suspected Drug Smuggling Boat

All American Marine Begins Construction on Univ. of Texas Research Vessel

World’s Largest Sail Yacht Cruise Ship Sets New Mark on Trials

Saudi Arabia Loses Patience as Red Sea Terminal and Refinery are Targeted

Port Everglades: A Diversified Cargo Gateway Built for Performance

One Net Unifies Four Maritime Tech Brands Under One Umbrella

Could Earlier Warning Systems be the Answer to Risk Reduction in Terminals?

UK Tracks Russian Tanker as US Tightens the Rules on Oil to Cuba

U.S. Southern Command Says Drug Boat Strikes "Aren't the Answer"

Video: Three Survive Latest U.S. Strike on Suspected Drug Smuggling Boat

All American Marine Begins Construction on Univ. of Texas Research Vessel

World’s Largest Sail Yacht Cruise Ship Sets New Mark on Trials

Saudi Arabia Loses Patience as Red Sea Terminal and Refinery are Targeted

In the Know Podcast 77: Aaron Smith, President and CEO of OMSA

Fincantieri Floats for Viking "First Hydrogen-Powered Cruise Ship"

Op-Ed: Ships Should Meet the Polar Code Before Entering Canadian Arctic

Genco Rejects Diana’s Revised Offer Citing Value and “Fire Sale” of Ships

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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