The supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford is among the assets positioned off Venezuela (USN file image)

Trump Orders Partial Blockade of Venezuela's Oil Exports

California Protects Blue Whales and Blue Skies With Historic State Law

Published Dec 16, 2025 4:33 PM by Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies

In October, California Assembly Bill 14, “Coastal resources: Protecting Blue Whales and Blue Skies Program” (AB-14) was signed into law, making California the first state in the country to strengthen a longstanding voluntary effort to reduce air pollution and risks to endangered whale populations off California’s coast by reducing speeds of large ocean-going vessels. Air pollution is one of the biggest environmental threats to human health, linked both to increased risk of chronic diseases and mortality. In California, due to...

AIS data shows just one ship located near the region of massive 50-foot wave heights (Pole Star Global)

Severe Weather Disrupts Shipping in the North Atlantic

Published Dec 16, 2025 4:25 PM by The Maritime Executive

A severe, rapidly-intensifying storm is forcing ships to divert southwards to avoid serious conditions. A massive low of just 938 millibars is churning south of Greenland, bringing winds of up to 80 knots and "phenomenal" seas of up to 54 feet - genuinely difficult weather, even for large merchant ships. AIS data provided by Pole Star Global suggests that almost all transatlantic shipping has diverted well to the south in order to avoid the worst wave heights, which are located...

Swedish Navy Reports Russia’s Steps to Protect Shadow Tankers in the Baltic

Published Dec 16, 2025 4:18 PM by The Maritime Executive

The Swedish Navy is confirming that Russia is taking increased steps to protect the shadow tanker fleet while it is operating in the Baltic. During an interview with SVT Nyheter, the Swedish Navy’s Chief of Operations Marko Petovic detailed the actions the Navy and Coast Guard have seen or heard taken by Russia as Sweden and other nations increased their monitoring of the Baltic. “The Russian naval presence has become more permanent and present in large parts of the Baltic...

HD Hyundai Buys Tiny Welding Robots for Human Shipbuilding Tasks

Published Dec 16, 2025 3:44 PM by The Maritime Executive

HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has begun using compact, lightweight welding robots that can be moved around the shipyard to automate complex welding tasks - even inside the interior of a ship under construction. The development brings robotic repeatability and speed to tasks that were previously reachable only by human workers, who are in short supply in Korea's shipbuilding industry. The new capability is the product of a joint initiative between welding robot builder JCT and precision-control company Rainbow Robotics. The...

Shipping

California Protects Blue Whales and Blue Skies With Historic State Law

Tugs & Salvage

Satellite Imaging Shows Ukrainian Drone Hit Pier, Not Russian Sub

Satellite imaging shows that the Ukrainian attack on the Russian sub pens at Novorossiysk struck the corner of a pier, not the Kilo-class attack sub a few feet away. The imagery appears to support Russian claims that the submarine was not damaged, though it is by no means conclusive. On Tuesday, reporters Mike Eckel and Mark Krutov and naval analyst Tom Bike posted satellite photos of the sub piers in Novorossiysk's inner harbor, taken before and after the attack. The...

Government

Trump Orders Partial Blockade of Venezuela's Oil Exports

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump declared a naval blockade on all sanctioned tankers transiting to and from Venezuela. The declaration turns the seizure of a single tanker into an explicit policy, with significant implications for Venezuela's oil exports - already grinding to a halt from the implicit threat of interdiction. "Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest armada ever assembled in the history of South America. It will only get bigger," Trump said. "I am ordering a total and complete...

Corporate News

Crowley Appoints Jen Leonard as Chief People Officer

[By: Crowley] Crowley announced today that Jen Leonard has been appointed chief people officer, effective January 1, 2026, leading its enterprise-wide activities to sustain an elite culture and high performance at the maritime, logistics and energy solutions company. As vice president of Crowley’s Talent and Culture group since 2023, Leonard has been instrumental in advancing the company’s human capital strategy and programs. These include talent strategies for employee performance, experience and engagement — such as corporate citizenship and learning and...

Cruise Ships

Cruise Ship Limits Become Effective on the French Riviera

The regional authorities governing the ports along the French Riviera signed the new decree, which makes effective the limitations on the number of cruise passengers at the popular ports, including Nice and Villefranche. It comes after a tumultuous year in which the local authorities attempted to impose their own restrictions on cruise ship calls. While pressing the efforts at the local level, the local government had said it required the action of the regional prefects to set the policy for...

Ports

Hong Kong Customs Use ROV to Find Cocaine Hidden in Sea Chest

Hong Kong Customs is highlighting its first use of a new ROV for ship inspections and reports that last month it, for the first time, discovered a large stash of cocaine hidden in the sea chest of a containership. Speaking at a press event on December 16, the officials highlighted that the smugglers are using new techniques in an attempt to avoid detection. The unnamed containership, only described as being 333 meters (1,092 feet) in length, was targeted using intelligence...

Shipping

California Protects Blue Whales and Blue Skies With Historic State Law

Tugs & Salvage

Satellite Imaging Shows Ukrainian Drone Hit Pier, Not Russian Sub

Government

Trump Orders Partial Blockade of Venezuela's Oil Exports

Corporate News

Crowley Appoints Jen Leonard as Chief People Officer

Cruise Ships

Cruise Ship Limits Become Effective on the French Riviera

Ports

Hong Kong Customs Use ROV to Find Cocaine Hidden in Sea Chest

Offshore

Court Denies Motion for Injunction of BOEM’s Review of Maryland COP

A federal court judge in Maryland has denied a request by offshore wind developer US Wind for a preliminary injunction against the federal government in its ongoing fight to save its planned offshore wind project off Ocean City, Maryland. It is the latest twist in the ongoing court battle over Maryland’s first offshore wind project and the broader battle against the Trump administration’s efforts to derail the industry and revoke existing permits. US Wind, which is a partnership between investment...

Shipbuilding

Hapag-Lloyd Pursues Strategy to Add Feeders that Improve Efficiency

Hapag-Lloyd is moving forward with its corporate strategy to expand its fleet of feeder containerships that will enhance the efficiency and environmental performance of the fleet. Feeders have taken on an increasing importance as the carrier is part of the new Gemini Cooperation with Maersk that is built around a network of feeders and hub ports for the liner service between Asia and Europe. The carrier announced last week that it had ordered eight 4,500 TEU containerships at an investment...

Environment

Odfjell Tankers Launches Green Corridor Between Brazil and Europe

Norwegian shipping major Odfjell reports it has initiated the first green corridor for service between Brazil and Europe. The company emphasizes that this is not a one-off demonstration, but instead, with supply contracts, it becomes a long-term commitment to demonstrating what is possible today. The company reports it has secured a supply of sustainable biofuel, which will be used as its chemical tankers make the 5,000-nautical-mile journey between Brazil and Europe. The corridor will operate 12 to 15 voyages per...

Business

Report: “Intractable Impasse” in Hutchison-BlackRock-MCS Deal Due to China

A new report indicates that with negotiations dragging on for months, the sale of Hutchison’s international terminal operations to a partnership of BlackRock and MSC’s Terminal Investment Limited (TiL) may have now hit an “intractable impasse.” The Wall Street Journal, in an exclusive report, writes that China has “upped its demands,” possibly sinking a potential agreement. Earlier reports said that China was demanding an equal share for the state-owned shipping company, COSCO, in the deal alongside BlackRock and MSC’s TiL....

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Trump Orders Partial Blockade of Venezuela's Oil Exports

California Protects Blue Whales and Blue Skies With Historic State Law

Severe Weather Disrupts Shipping in the North Atlantic

Swedish Navy Reports Russia’s Steps to Protect Shadow Tankers in the Baltic

HD Hyundai Buys Tiny Welding Robots for Human Shipbuilding Tasks

California Protects Blue Whales and Blue Skies With Historic State Law

Satellite Imaging Shows Ukrainian Drone Hit Pier, Not Russian Sub

Trump Orders Partial Blockade of Venezuela's Oil Exports

Crowley Appoints Jen Leonard as Chief People Officer

Cruise Ship Limits Become Effective on the French Riviera

Hong Kong Customs Use ROV to Find Cocaine Hidden in Sea Chest

California Protects Blue Whales and Blue Skies With Historic State Law

One Event. World Of Maritime. This February, Copenhagen is the Place to Be

Drew Marine Insights Tour: Connecting Expertise with Shipboard Challenges

California Protects Blue Whales and Blue Skies With Historic State Law

Satellite Imaging Shows Ukrainian Drone Hit Pier, Not Russian Sub

Trump Orders Partial Blockade of Venezuela's Oil Exports

Crowley Appoints Jen Leonard as Chief People Officer

Cruise Ship Limits Become Effective on the French Riviera

Hong Kong Customs Use ROV to Find Cocaine Hidden in Sea Chest

Court Denies Motion for Injunction of BOEM’s Review of Maryland COP

Hapag-Lloyd Pursues Strategy to Add Feeders that Improve Efficiency

Odfjell Tankers Launches Green Corridor Between Brazil and Europe

Report: “Intractable Impasse” in Hutchison-BlackRock-MCS Deal Due to China

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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