Iranian Navy Frigates Leave Bandar Abbas as Protests in Iran Intensify

A Coast Guard officer watches as the seizure of Bella 1 unfolds, January 7 (USCG)

After U.S. Seizes "Russian-Flagged" Tanker, Moscow Fumes

Published Jan 8, 2026 10:13 PM by The Maritime Executive

This week, the U.S. government captured its first vessel flying the colors of the Russian flag, much to Moscow's disappointment - and there may soon be a possibility for more. The New York Times is tracking 15 more shadow-fleet tankers that are attempting to flee the American "blockade" around Venezuela, all potentially targetable. At least one of these vessels (Veronica, IMO 9256860) has since chosen to fly the Russian flag, and her IMO number now appears on the Russian register...

Oregon Relaunches Its Only Container Terminal After Scheduled Closing

Published Jan 8, 2026 7:36 PM by The Maritime Executive

Officials gathered on January 7 at the Port of Portland, Oregon, to mark what they are calling a fresh start for a reborn container shipping terminal. The only one in the state, the small facility known for years as Terminal 6, had faced an imminent closure due to mounting financial losses and the lack of an operator. Oregon’s Governor Tina Kotek intervened to save the operation while highlighting its critical contribution to the state’s economy and local businesses. The state...

U.S. Withdraws From 66 UN Organizations, Including ReCAAP and UNCTAD

Published Jan 8, 2026 7:18 PM by The Maritime Executive

The Trump administration has withdrawn the United States from another 66 UN organizations and entities, the latest in its pullback from multilateral commitments. Several of these offices are well-known are known to the maritime community; these bodies will now continue their efforts without U.S. government participation or financial support. In maritime, the affected entities include the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combatting Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP), known for its tracking of pirate activity in the Strait...

Declining US Container Imports Contribute to Smallest Trade Gap Since 2009

Published Jan 8, 2026 6:42 PM by The Maritime Executive

New data shows that 2025 was completed with a small decline in total U.S. imports, which fluctuated during the year and closed with strong declines from China. As the rates fell in 2025, it, however, appears that it also contributed to a narrowing of the U.S. trade deficit, which Bloomberg reports is now the smallest it has been in 16 years. The U.S. Commerce Department released October 2025 figures with what Bloomberg terms an “unexpectedly narrowed” trade deficit. It highlights...

Shipping

Shadow Fleet Tanker Diverts to Turkey After Reporting Drone Attack

A Chinese-owned and managed crude oil tanker is reporting that it was attacked by a suspected drone while sailing in the Black Sea. The tanker Elbus (159,000 dwt) was traveling only with ballast along the Turkish coast, reportedly bound for the Russian terminal at Novorossiysk. The vessel called for assistance on Wednesday, January 7, reporting it had been hit and sustained some damage. The reports are conflicting, and an apparently fake photo is circulating online showing smoke billowing from a...

Tugs & Salvage

Dead Whale on Boxship's Bow Prompts Investigation

A small container ship arrived in Camden, New Jersey last week with a dead fin whale on the bulbous bow, and an investigation into the cause of death is under way. Late Sunday night, Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay reported a deceased whale on the bow of a reefer boxship at the north end of the Gloucester City Marine Terminal, next to the Walt Whitman Bridge. NOAA and the nonprofit Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) were alerted, and MMSC tentatively...

Government

U.S. Seizes Fifth “Ghost Fleet” Tanker in the Caribbean

In what they are describing as a “re-dawn action,” U.S. forces boarded another shadow fleet tanker and took control of the vessel, which was in the Caribbean. It is the fifth tanker associated with the Venezuela oil trade that the Trump administration has seized, while reports said several other vessels are currently being tracked. The U.S. Marines, along with sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear, launched the seizure supporting the U.S. Coast Guard, which is reported to be in...

Corporate News

CTO Reaffirms Regional Resilience and Operational Stability

[By: Caribbean Tourism Organization] The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and our 25 member destinations have been closely monitoring geopolitical developments in Venezuela and addressing disruptions experienced by travelers due to the temporary closure of airspace this past weekend. The Caribbean has extensive experience managing external disruptions and has consistently demonstrated the resilience of its tourism industry. We are grateful to our airline partners for adding capacity to ensure travelers were able to continue with their plans, and to the accommodations...

Cruise Ships

Appeals Court Suspends Hawaii’s “Green Fee” for Cruise Ships Pending Appeal

Hawaii’s hotly contested and closely followed “Green Fee,” a new tax on hotels, short-stay rentals, and cruises, suffered a setback just hours before it was due to go into effect. It is the first tax of its kind imposed on tourists to contribute to the state’s costs of addressing environmental issues. Two judges on the U.S. 9th Circuit Court granted on New Year’s Eve (December 31) a last-minute request for an injunction in a suit brought by the cruise industry...

Ports

Seafarers Killed and Injured as Russia Strikes Two Ships Near Ukraine

Russian forces struck two cargo ships on Friday, January 9, killing one seafarer and injuring a second crewmember, according to Ukrainian officials. It comes as Ukraine continues to accuse Russia of “deliberately targeting civilian facilities, international shipping, and food logistics.” The attack on civilian shipping came after an overnight barrage, which was one of the largest in the four-year war, and only the second time Russia has used its Oreshnik hypersonic missiles. The hypersonic missile was first deployed in November...

Shipping

Shadow Fleet Tanker Diverts to Turkey After Reporting Drone Attack

Tugs & Salvage

Dead Whale on Boxship's Bow Prompts Investigation

Government

U.S. Seizes Fifth “Ghost Fleet” Tanker in the Caribbean

Corporate News

CTO Reaffirms Regional Resilience and Operational Stability

Cruise Ships

Appeals Court Suspends Hawaii’s “Green Fee” for Cruise Ships Pending Appeal

Ports

Seafarers Killed and Injured as Russia Strikes Two Ships Near Ukraine

Offshore

Maersk Offshore Wind’s Installation Vessel Completes Sea Trials

Maersk Offshore Wind and Seatrium reported that their under-construction massive offshore wind installation vessel has completed sea trials. The vessel’s delivery, however, is approaching as the future of the U.S. offshore wind industry for which it was designed remains uncertain. Seatrium reports that the vessel, which is approximately 475 feet (145 meters) in length, successfully completed its trials in the South China Sea. Both Maersk Offshore Wind and the vessel’s classification society participated in the trials. They are continuing to...

Shipbuilding

Hanwha Defense and HavocAI Team Up on Midsize Unmanned Vessels

Korean industrial conglomerate Hanwha has been expanding its portfolio of projects in the U.S. naval and defense space, and on Thursday it announced a new agreement with an American autonomous-vessel company to compete in the medium-sized unmanned warship space. The deal pairs Hanwha Defense USA and Hanwha Systems with HavocAI, a two-year-old startup run by two Navy veterans. Jointly, the firms will explore building a 200-foot-long autonomous surface vessel, and Hanwha Philly Shipyard is under consideration as the place of...

Environment

Researchers Say the Oceans Have Passed a Milestone for Acidification

[By Anna Napolitano] The past 12 months have been worrying for researchers who study the chemistry of the ocean. More and more evidence has been published showing that human activities are fundamentally altering this chemistry in an acidic direction. At the end of 2025, it seems clear ocean acidification is pushing the largest habitat on Earth into a risky zone. Ocean acidification is part of the global carbon cycle. When carbon dioxide dissolves in water, it forms carbonic acid. This...

Business

MSC Posts Guarantee to Release Vessel as India Pursues Compensation Claims

Eight months after the loss of the MSC Elsa 3 off the coast of India, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company has posted a bond with the Kerala High Court as the government continues to pursue its compensation claims. The bond was accepted in December and permitted the release of an MSC containership that had been detained since July to protect the claim. The Kerala state government filed a claim of more than $1 billion, asserting that there had been significant environmental...

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Iranian Navy Frigates Leave Bandar Abbas as Protests in Iran Intensify

After U.S. Seizes "Russian-Flagged" Tanker, Moscow Fumes

Oregon Relaunches Its Only Container Terminal After Scheduled Closing

U.S. Withdraws From 66 UN Organizations, Including ReCAAP and UNCTAD

Declining US Container Imports Contribute to Smallest Trade Gap Since 2009

Shadow Fleet Tanker Diverts to Turkey After Reporting Drone Attack

Dead Whale on Boxship's Bow Prompts Investigation

U.S. Seizes Fifth “Ghost Fleet” Tanker in the Caribbean

CTO Reaffirms Regional Resilience and Operational Stability

Appeals Court Suspends Hawaii’s “Green Fee” for Cruise Ships Pending Appeal

Seafarers Killed and Injured as Russia Strikes Two Ships Near Ukraine

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

Shadow Fleet Tanker Diverts to Turkey After Reporting Drone Attack

Dead Whale on Boxship's Bow Prompts Investigation

U.S. Seizes Fifth “Ghost Fleet” Tanker in the Caribbean

CTO Reaffirms Regional Resilience and Operational Stability

Appeals Court Suspends Hawaii’s “Green Fee” for Cruise Ships Pending Appeal

Seafarers Killed and Injured as Russia Strikes Two Ships Near Ukraine

Maersk Offshore Wind’s Installation Vessel Completes Sea Trials

Hanwha Defense and HavocAI Team Up on Midsize Unmanned Vessels

Researchers Say the Oceans Have Passed a Milestone for Acidification

MSC Posts Guarantee to Release Vessel as India Pursues Compensation Claims

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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