Safeen Prestige Reportedly Sank in the Strait of Hormuz

First LNG Carrier Among Three Omani Ships Breaking Out Through Hormuz

Published Apr 2, 2026 5:19 PM by The Maritime Executive

Three vessels, including the first LNG carrier in a month, were spotted making their way along the northern coast of Oman on Thursday, April 2, in an apparent breakout from the Persian Gulf. It appears Iran decided to look the other way as reports surfaced that Oman and Iran are in discussions for a protocol to manage the Strait of Hormuz. The analysts at TankerTrackers.com had posted on Wednesday, “To our best knowledge, not a single LNG tanker departed via...

Ukraine Lines Up Plans to Sell a Sanctioned Politician's Yacht

Published Apr 2, 2026 4:25 PM by The Maritime Executive

The government of Ukraine is lining up plans to sell a yacht that formerly belonged to Viktor Medvedchuk, the pro-Russian politician who was captured in Kyiv in the early days of the Russian invasion. Medvedchuk, a pro-Soviet lawyer by background, served a variety of leadership roles in pro-Russian political circles in Ukraine through the 2000s and 2010s. As head of the Ukraine's Choice party, he opposed pro-EU popular protests of 2013-14, the Euromaidan movement. In 2021, he was sanctioned by...

Libya Says Tow Failed and Warns Wreck of Arctic Metagaz Is Out of Control

Published Apr 2, 2026 1:35 PM by The Maritime Executive

Libya’s Ports and Maritime Transport Authority posted an urgent notice on Thursday, April 2, warning that the wreck of the Russian-flagged LNG carrier Arctic Metagaz is adrift and out of control. They had reported more than a week ago that they had been successful in getting a towline attached to the vessel, but the line has now parted, and weather conditions are preventing reattaching the line, according to the statement. Over the weekend, the towline reportedly failed several times, but...

Iran's IRGC is Charging Millions in Cryptocurrency for Hormuz Transits

Published Apr 1, 2026 11:23 PM by The Maritime Executive

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has begun to implement a formal system of payment and permitting for merchant ships requesting passage through the Strait of Hormuz, according to Bloomberg. The commercial terms are negotiated case-by-case, but are based on a tiered pricing system with payment in cryptocurrency or Chinese yuan - measures which reduce exposure to the U.S. financial system. According to Bloomberg's industry sources, the pattern of the transactions is well-established now. A front company for the IRGC receives...

Shipping

Four People Rescued by Vehicle Carrier Transiting the Bay of Biscay

Four people aboard a large sailboat were successfully rescued after their vessel began taking on water during a storm in the Bay of Biscay. UECC (United European Car Carriers), a 50:50 partnership between NYK and Wallenius Lines, is recounting the tale and saluting the seamanship of the crew aboard its vessel Autosun. The company’s main business activity is the short sea transportation of new cars and light commercial vehicles. The Autosun, built in 2000 and registered in Madeira, was crossing...

Tugs & Salvage

Libya Says Tow Failed and Warns Wreck of Arctic Metagaz Is Out of Control

Government

The submarine cable to the Matsu Islands damaged earlier this week (Submarine Cable Map / CC BY)

Taiwan Accuses Salvage Barge of Damaging Subsea Cable

Taiwanese officials suspect that a Chinese salvage barge damaged a subsea cable off the coast of the Matsu Islands while recovering a grounded fishing vessel. The allegation carries national security implications: Chinese vessels have been accused of tampering with Taiwan's subsea cables before, and defense officials have concerns about China's abilities to target critical infrastructure with deniable methods, like dragging anchor. Last month, the barge Hai Hong Gong 66 was contracted to remove the Chinese fishing vessel Min Lian Yu...

Corporate News

JA Moody Partners with Phoenix Lighting to Expand into Electrical Products

[By JA Moody] JA Moody, a premier supplier of flow control products to the U.S. Navy and marine industry, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with Phoenix Lighting, a leading manufacturer of heavy-duty LED lighting solutions. This collaboration marks JA Moody’s official expansion into electrical products, further strengthening its ability to provide comprehensive, best-in-class solutions to its Navy and marine customers. Through this partnership, JA Moody will offer Phoenix Lighting’s rugged, high-performance LED lighting systems designed specifically for demanding...

Cruise Ships

TUI Orders First Methanol River Cruise Ships as Sector Growth Continues

River cruising continues to be one of the hottest segments in the cruise industry, with strong growth continuing, especially in the European market. Analysts report there are over 380 river cruise ships currently sailing, with an additional 10 percent currently under construction and continuing new orders. The UK division of Germany’s TUI Group announced that it has ordered two more new builds, and these ships are being designed and built for the next generation of alternative fuels. The company reports...

Ports

Boxship Departing Taiwan Clips Docked Ship Sending Containers into Harbor

Operations were briefly interrupted on Wednesday, April 1, at the Port of Kaohsiung, Taiwan, after a departing containership clipped a docked vessel. The port authority suspended operations while four containers that fell into the harbor could be secured. The Port Authority reports the containership Zeal Lumos (158,097 dwt) had been cleared for departure at 1100 on the first. The vessel, which is managed by Zodiac Maritime and registered in the UK, is operating under charter to Ocean Network Express (ONE)....

Shipping

Four People Rescued by Vehicle Carrier Transiting the Bay of Biscay

Tugs & Salvage

Libya Says Tow Failed and Warns Wreck of Arctic Metagaz Is Out of Control

Government

Taiwan Accuses Salvage Barge of Damaging Subsea Cable

Corporate News

JA Moody Partners with Phoenix Lighting to Expand into Electrical Products

Cruise Ships

TUI Orders First Methanol River Cruise Ships as Sector Growth Continues

Ports

Boxship Departing Taiwan Clips Docked Ship Sending Containers into Harbor

Offshore

QatarEnergy’s U.S. LNG Plant Achieves First Production at Critical Time

Just as the world is looking for alternative sources of LNG, Golden Pass LNG in Texas reported it has achieved first production. The project, which has been in planning and development for 15 years, is set to start export shipments in the second quarter, coming online to help fill some of the shortfall from Qatar and the Middle East. The United States is already setting records for LNG shipments and has been rivaling Qatar for the title of the largest...

Shipbuilding

Strike Ends at Bath Iron Works After One Week

The members of the Bath Marine Draftsmen’s Association ratified a new contract on Saturday, March 28, ending a strike at Bath Iron Works that had begun on the prior Monday. It was the first strike in six years at the critical government contractor and impacted about a tenth of the total workforce, specifically among designers, clerks, and technicians. The union reported that it had been negotiating for about three weeks and was unable to come to terms with one of...

Environment

Japan Demonstrates Hydrogen-Fueled Engine for Large Commercial Vessels

Japan reports a breakthrough with the demonstration of a large hydrogen-fueled engine being developed by Japan Engine Corporation, working with Kawasaki Heavy Industries, for a demonstration project for an ocean-going vessel. It points out that most work so far with hydrogen is on smaller engines for coastal vessels, making this a major technological milestone toward the practical use of hydrogen-fueled vessels. While interest has developed in hydrogen, to date, the Japanese project points out that most of the initiatives are...

Business

MARAD Increases Funding for Grants for Small Shipyards

The Maritime Administration (MARAD) reported that it is increasing the funding pool available for the 2026 grants in the Small Shipyard Grant Program. It follows the launch of the 2026 Port Infrastructure Development Program application period last week and is part of the Trump administration's strategy to increase support for the U.S. maritime industry. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlights that the grant pool for small shipyards is being increased by 200 percent to $35 million versus June 2025, when just...

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Safeen Prestige Reportedly Sank in the Strait of Hormuz

First LNG Carrier Among Three Omani Ships Breaking Out Through Hormuz

Ukraine Lines Up Plans to Sell a Sanctioned Politician's Yacht

Libya Says Tow Failed and Warns Wreck of Arctic Metagaz Is Out of Control

Iran's IRGC is Charging Millions in Cryptocurrency for Hormuz Transits

Four People Rescued by Vehicle Carrier Transiting the Bay of Biscay

Libya Says Tow Failed and Warns Wreck of Arctic Metagaz Is Out of Control

Taiwan Accuses Salvage Barge of Damaging Subsea Cable

JA Moody Partners with Phoenix Lighting to Expand into Electrical Products

TUI Orders First Methanol River Cruise Ships as Sector Growth Continues

Boxship Departing Taiwan Clips Docked Ship Sending Containers into Harbor

Cyber Risk in Shipping: From Technical Threat to Business Reality

Architecture of Adaptability: Designing Vessels to Stand the Test of Time

Improve Fleet Value With Digital Optimization of Cruise Ship Hotel Areas

Four People Rescued by Vehicle Carrier Transiting the Bay of Biscay

Libya Says Tow Failed and Warns Wreck of Arctic Metagaz Is Out of Control

Taiwan Accuses Salvage Barge of Damaging Subsea Cable

JA Moody Partners with Phoenix Lighting to Expand into Electrical Products

TUI Orders First Methanol River Cruise Ships as Sector Growth Continues

Boxship Departing Taiwan Clips Docked Ship Sending Containers into Harbor

QatarEnergy’s U.S. LNG Plant Achieves First Production at Critical Time

Strike Ends at Bath Iron Works After One Week

Japan Demonstrates Hydrogen-Fueled Engine for Large Commercial Vessels

MARAD Increases Funding for Grants for Small Shipyards

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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