Thursday, May 07, 2026
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VPA

Sarah McCoy Takes Helm as CEO of Port of Virginia

Published May 6, 2026 6:46 PM by The Maritime Executive

The Virginia Port Authority has named its next chief executive officer: Sarah J. McCoy, a longtime veteran of port operations at VPA who had been filling the role on an interim basis since earlier this year. She has received unanimous board approval to continue on as permanent CEO. "We spoke to many very capable and experienced leaders inside and outside the maritime industry across the globe," board chairman Bill Kirk said in a statement. "We are very fortunate to have...

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grounded ferry being refloated

New Zealand Fines Ferry Operator for Grounding and Lack of Crew Training

Published May 6, 2026 6:32 PM by The Maritime Executive

New Zealand has ordered inter-island RoRo ferry operator KiwiRail to pay a fine of NZ$400,000 ($234,671) after it was found culpable of endangering the safety of passengers. It stems from a June 2024 incident in which one of the company’s ferries grounded because the crew prematurely activated the autopilot system while the vessel was navigating out of the harbor. On the evening of June 21, KiwiRail’s ferry Aratere ran aground shortly after departing for a sailing between Picton and Wellington....

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CMA CGM San Antonio

After Iranian Strike on Boxship, US Says Operator Wasn't Following Rules

Published May 6, 2026 5:20 PM by The Maritime Executive

Despite assurances from the U.S. military that transits through Omani waters of the Strait of Hormuz could be protected from Iranian attacks, the boxship CMA CGM San Antonio was struck by a cruise missile on Tuesday as it passed eastbound through the waterway. The IMO confirmed in a statement that eight crewmembers were injured in the strike, and CMA CGM told media that the wounded were evacuated for medical treatment. It appears to be the largest number of seafarer injuries...

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OOCL containership

OOCL Seeks to Overturn $45M Award Alleging FMC Process is Unconstitutional

Published May 6, 2026 5:09 PM by The Maritime Executive

Lawyers for Orient Overseas Container Line filed suit in U.S. District Court on May 5, challenging the Federal Maritime Commission’s adjudication process, alleging the internal process is unconstitutional and that the company, confronted by two claims, is in a situation that is “constitutionally untenable.” The suit came after the FMC’s administrative law judge awarded a $45 million judgment to bankrupt retailer Bed Bath & Beyond, and a picture frame and art supply company, Nielsen & Bainbridge, is also pursuing a...

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Offshore

An Iranian FSO in more peaceful times, before the war (NIOC)

Why Does It Matter if Iran Shuts In its Oil Wells?

[By Nima Shokri and Martin J. Blunt] The Strait of Hormuz – the narrow waterway through which between 20% and 25% of the world’s seaborne oil normally passes – has been effectively closed for just over two months. As tensions have escalated, Iran has restricted passage through the Strait, while the US has imposed a naval blockade on Iranian shipping, sharply limiting Tehran’s ability to export crude. On May 3, the US president Donald Trump announced Project Freedom, by which...

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Shipbuilding

Mangalia shipyard Romania

Rheinmetall and MSC in Negotiations to Buy Romania’s Mangalia Shipyard

German industrial giant Rheinmetall confirmed it is discussing a deal with MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company for the two companies to take over the bankrupt Mangalia shipyard in Romania. A year ago, MSC had expressed interest in the yard as the government was beginning a reorganization of the operations. Romanian government officials are reported to be negotiating a deal in which Rheinmetall and MSC would acquire the majority ownership in the yard, with the government retaining a small investment share. The...

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Environment

ship emitting smoke

IMO Adopts World’s Largest Emission Control Area and Other Issues at MPEC

While much of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MPEC 84) was bogged down with political positioning and stalling tactics, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), however, reports decisions on a number of key initiatives, including the North-East Atlantic Control Area (ECA) as well as efforts on plastics and ballast water. The new Atlantic ECA is being billed as the world’s largest emission control area, extending the efforts in Northern Europe with a far broader reach. The efforts for the ECA had...

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Business

Zim

Last-Minute Offer Adds a Twist to Hapag-Lloyd's Acquisition of Zim

A competing bid is the latest twist in the saga of Hapag-Lloyd's planned takeover of Israeli shipping line Zim - even though Zim's shareholders have already approved Hapag's offer. An Israeli businessman, Haim Sakal, has reportedly offered $4.5 billion in cash for all of ZIM, about $300 million more than the joint offer from Hapag-Lloyd and the Israeli investment fund FIMI. The new offer includes a $250 million employee bonus and a promise of continued Israeli control of the Zim...

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