Sunday, December 21, 2025
Media Kit
US helicopter above crude oil tanker

U.S. Seizes Two More Venezuela-Linked Tankers

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Spotted in a Russian-occupied area of Ukraine: a container provides the ingredients for a protective tank cage (Region22UA/Telegram)

Old Shipping Containers Find New Life as Russian Tank Protectors

Published Dec 21, 2025 7:25 PM by The Maritime Executive

After their life in oceangoing service, shipping containers get repurposed for all sorts of inventive uses - storage sheds, shop spaces, mobile offices, housing, even indoor aquaculture ponds. This month, bystanders in a Russian-occupied area of Ukraine spotted a new and even more creative application: two Russian tank crews (and possibly more) have installed cut-up shipping containers atop their vehicles to create improvised anti-drone cages. Ever since drones came to dominate the battlefield in eastern Ukraine, Russian forces have been...

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Sunflower seed truck

Russian Retaliatory Strike Hits Ukrainian Sunflower Oil Terminal

Published Dec 21, 2025 5:47 PM by The Maritime Executive

On Saturday, Russian forces attacked a sunflower seed oil terminal in the Odesa region of Ukraine, causing extensive damage. It is the latest in a series of Russian attacks targeting Ukraine's commercial export infrastructure, including bridges, port facilities, electrical grid systems and foreign-flag merchant ships. The latest strike hit the Allseeds sunflower oil terminal in Pivdennyi, a deepwater port complex just east of Odesa. Allseeds Switzerland, the parent company, told Keystone-ATS that thousands of tonnes of oil were destroyed. It...

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A U.S. Army coastal defense battery test-fires a Naval Strike Missile, 2018 (U.S. Army file image)

Denmark Builds Up Coastal Defenses in the Oresund and Kattegat

Published Dec 21, 2025 5:34 PM by The Maritime Executive

Following a series of drone overflights directed against Danish targets in September, the Danish Ministry of Defense has concluded an order with Kongsberg for coastal defense missiles. After a clear provocation succeeded in closing down Copenhagen Airport on the night of September 22, Danish authorities identified four Russian-linked ships that potentially could have been used as launch platforms: the Russian-flagged coastal freighter Astrol 1 (IMO 9906544), the dark fleet tanker Pushpa (also known as Boracay, IMO 9332810) and the coastal...

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USCGA

The Next Step for US Coast Guard's SASH Problem: Accountability

Published Dec 21, 2025 3:56 PM by Denise Krepp

The first part of Operation Fouled Anchor ended last week with the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026. Part 2, the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General investigation into sexual assaults at the US Coast Guard Academy will likely end mid 2026. Part 3, accountability for failing to prosecute the known crimes, will start in January 2026. After CNN reported on Operation Fouled Anchor in June 2023, seven congressional committees immediately started investigating the crimes...

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Offshore

Ocean City Maryland

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...

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Shipbuilding

Landing Craft medium Australia

Austal Defense Finalized $680M First Government Contract

Austal announced on Thursday, December 18, that the contract for the Australian Army’s new Landing Craft Medium has been officially awarded, valued at over A$1 billion (US$680 million). The LCM, along with the planned Landing Craft Heavy assignment, is the cornerstone of the expansion of shipbuilding in Western Australia and the company’s selection as strategic shipbuilder for Australia. The LCM Design and Build Tasking statement contract announced today appoints Austal subsidiary, Austal Defence Shipbuilding Australia, to complete the detailed design...

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Environment

hydrogen-powered bulk carrier

Norway Grants Over $120M for Hydrogen and Ammonia Ships and Bunkering

Norway announced a new round of financing grants valued at more than $120 million as it continues to support the conversion to zero—emissions fuels in shipping and other segments. Providing the support through Enova, a state enterprise owned by the Ministry of Climate and Environment, Norway seeks to build new industry and develop leadership in the new segments of the economy while reaching its goals for decarbonization. The new round focuses on seven ships, which it views as pioneers in...

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Business

Hellas Aphrodite

Report: Instability Costs Western Indian Ocean Economy $1.1B a Year

The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) continues to see a rise in maritime threats, with Red Sea security remaining uncertain throughout 2025. The volatile security environment includes a resurgence of piracy along the Somali coastline. The most recent high-profile incident occurred in November, when pirates attacked and boarded the Maltese-flagged tanker Hellas Aphrodite off Puntland's coast. But as maritime threats intensify, there is a cost for the region's vast blue economy potential. According to a report published last week by the...

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