Bulgaria Responds to Mystery as Sanctioned Tanker Drifts Toward Shore

Eye on Energy: The IEA Struggles With Its Mandate

Published Dec 5, 2025 4:14 PM by G. Allen Brooks

  The 1973 Arab oil embargo significantly altered the global energy market.  No longer were the Seven Sisters (the Anglo-American fraternity of major oil companies) in charge. Decisions about oil production and supply were to be made by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), an alliance established in 1960 in response to pressure from Western oil companies on oil prices and, consequently, the profits of the exporting countries. In retaliation for Western governments' support of Israel's defense against...

German Seafarers Agree to New 30-Month Contract with Real Wage Increases

Published Dec 5, 2025 2:39 PM by The Maritime Executive

German shipowners, the association for the industry, and the trade union ver.di are all saying that a fair agreement has been reached for a new contract for German seafarers.  They concluded an agreement during the second round of talks, which took place on December 4, and will apply to all seafarers sailing on German-flag ships that are members of the collective bargaining association. The two sides had been far apart during their first negotiations in November, raising the...

Op-Ed: Link Adm. Lunday's Confirmation to Transparency on SASH

Published Dec 5, 2025 2:06 PM by Denise Krepp

  Next week, the Senate Commerce Committee is voting on Admiral Kevin Lunday’s nomination to be Coast Guard Commandant. Coast Guard veterans asked the Committee in a November 2025 letter to refrain from confirming Lunday until the service provides all Operation Fouled Anchor documents to Congress. The veterans also asked the Committee to link Lunday’s confirmation to the development and implementation of a plan to hold admirals accountable for failing to address the decades of crime at the US...

Renewed Speculation of Potential Bidders to Acquire HMM

Published Dec 5, 2025 1:55 PM by The Maritime Executive

  Korean media reports suggest that there continues to be exploration over the possible privatization of container carrier HMM, nearly two years after a prior attempt collapsed. According to Korea’s Maeil Business Newspaper group, the food and logistics giant Dongwon Group has decided to renew its exploration to formulate an offer for the company. Next year will mark a decade since the government stepped in to rescue Hyundai Merchant Marine. It took majority ownership through the Korea Development Bank and...

Shipping

Historic Liverpool Waterfront Vessels Undergo Vital Preservation Repairs

  Efforts are underway in Liverpool to preserve two historic vessels that are a familiar sight in the city’s waterfront, a move that is aimed at ensuring they continue attracting visitors for years to come. The National Museums Liverpool is undertaking a £200,000 ($267,000) conservation project to preserve the future of tugboat Brocklebank and pilot boat Edmund Gardner, both of which have come under threat due to years of decay. A national heritage, Brocklebank is a tug that was launched...

Tugs & Salvage

Bulgaria Responds to Mystery as Sanctioned Tanker Drifts Toward Shore

  The mystery around the sanctioned tanker Kairos (149,989 dwt) is continuing to grow as the vessel, which was attacked with a drone last week, is now reported drifting off Bulgaria. The Bulgarian authorities are seeking to assure the population that there is no immediate danger while they continue to monitor the vessel, which is now requesting an evacuation. Kairos was the first of two tankers attacked by the Ukrainians off Turkey on November 28. The tanker, which...

Government

Eye on Energy: The IEA Struggles With Its Mandate

Corporate News

Wärtsilä Identifies Four Key Trends to Shape the Future of Shipping in 2026

[By: Wärtsilä] As the maritime industry prepares to enter 2026, technology group Wärtsilä has identified four important trends that will affect global shipping in 2026. From the rise of digitalisation and big data to the growing importance of flexible decarbonisation strategies, these trends are set to redefine competitiveness, efficiency, and sustainability for vessel owners and operators worldwide: Lifecycle optimisation: With rapid technological advances and evolving regulations, vessel owners are shifting from short-term fixes to holistic, long-term strategies. Lifecycle optimisation...

Cruise Ships

New Cruise Company Signs with China Merchant for Eight B-to-B Ships

  Ship manager United Waterways announced its plans to expand its unique B-to-B approach into ocean cruising, focusing on the popular expedition and coastal cruising segments. The company, which has been a provider of ship management services, announced earlier this year plans to expand into the ownership of river cruise ships and now says it has booked construction slots with China Merchant for the expedition and coastal ships. The B-to-B concept calls for the company to build the vessels, but...

Ports

Port of Long Beach to Name Long-Time Executive Hacegaba Next CEO

  The Port of Long Beach (California) revealed today that it plans to name long-time executive and well-known industry figure Dr. Noel Hacegaba as the port’s next Chief Executive Officer as of the new year. With nearly 16 years of experience with the port, Hacegaba succeeds Mario Cordero, who will step down at year’s end. Hacegaba is well-known in the industry, having first joined the Port of Long Beach in July 2010 with a background in trade and...

Shipping

Historic Liverpool Waterfront Vessels Undergo Vital Preservation Repairs

Tugs & Salvage

Bulgaria Responds to Mystery as Sanctioned Tanker Drifts Toward Shore

Government

Eye on Energy: The IEA Struggles With Its Mandate

Corporate News

Wärtsilä Identifies Four Key Trends to Shape the Future of Shipping in 2026

Cruise Ships

New Cruise Company Signs with China Merchant for Eight B-to-B Ships

Ports

Port of Long Beach to Name Long-Time Executive Hacegaba Next CEO

Offshore

Wind Farm to Power Amazon and Google Sends First Power to German Grid

  The Borkum Riffgrund 3 offshore wind farm started feeding its first power to the German grid on December 3. The wind farm marks another milestone both for Germany and the EU, becoming the largest offshore wind farm in Ørsted’s German portfolio and one that has contracted more than four-fifths of its power with long-term corporate power purchase agreements. Located about 45 miles off the German coast in the North Sea, the project is being developed in a partnership between...

Shipbuilding

At WorkBoat 2025, Cost Control Takes Center Stage

  American operators often get sticker shock when pricing out new vessel tonnage these days, and at WorkBoat 2025, vessel affordability was at the top of the agenda. How can yards bring down the cost of construction, and how can owners, naval architects and engineers write specs for value - not just perfection? TME asked around the show to find out, and came away with a few answers - some well-known, some less so.  Well-known solutions First, there are a few...

Environment

Maersk is Proceeding with Ethanol Tests After First Successful Trial

  Maersk reports it completed a first, successful trial of blending ethanol into methanol to create an alternative fuel for its vessels. It plans to proceed with increased levels of ethanol and 100 percent ethanol tests as it explores steps to enlarge the availability and sourcing pool for alternative fuels for its dual-fuel vessels. One of the challenges Maersk and other shipowners have pointed to is the availability of methanol and other alternative fuels and the ability of suppliers to...

Business

Renewed Speculation of Potential Bidders to Acquire HMM

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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Bulgaria Responds to Mystery as Sanctioned Tanker Drifts Toward Shore

Eye on Energy: The IEA Struggles With Its Mandate

German Seafarers Agree to New 30-Month Contract with Real Wage Increases

Op-Ed: Link Adm. Lunday's Confirmation to Transparency on SASH

Renewed Speculation of Potential Bidders to Acquire HMM

Historic Liverpool Waterfront Vessels Undergo Vital Preservation Repairs

Bulgaria Responds to Mystery as Sanctioned Tanker Drifts Toward Shore

Eye on Energy: The IEA Struggles With Its Mandate

Wärtsilä Identifies Four Key Trends to Shape the Future of Shipping in 2026

New Cruise Company Signs with China Merchant for Eight B-to-B Ships

Port of Long Beach to Name Long-Time Executive Hacegaba Next CEO

Understanding Hazardous Area Classification on Ships and Offshore

Why Financial Wellbeing Is Central to Seafarer Welfare

Estonia's Digital-First Ship Registry: A Modern Maritime Flag

Historic Liverpool Waterfront Vessels Undergo Vital Preservation Repairs

Bulgaria Responds to Mystery as Sanctioned Tanker Drifts Toward Shore

Eye on Energy: The IEA Struggles With Its Mandate

Wärtsilä Identifies Four Key Trends to Shape the Future of Shipping in 2026

New Cruise Company Signs with China Merchant for Eight B-to-B Ships

Port of Long Beach to Name Long-Time Executive Hacegaba Next CEO

Wind Farm to Power Amazon and Google Sends First Power to German Grid

At WorkBoat 2025, Cost Control Takes Center Stage

Maersk is Proceeding with Ethanol Tests After First Successful Trial

Renewed Speculation of Potential Bidders to Acquire HMM

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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Maritime Industry Conferences and Events