Hormuz Traffic Plummets as Shipowners Obey New Iranian Closure Order

Scattered debris field after the strike, June 18 (Southern Command)

U.S. Completes 65th Lethal Strike on Suspected Smuggling Boat

Published Jun 20, 2026 11:08 PM by The Maritime Executive

U.S. Southern Command has completed its 65th lethal strike on a suspected drug boat, destroying the vessel and killing the occupants. It was the second strike in a week and the third this month. On Thursday, the U.S. military intercepted a go-fast vessel in the Eastern Pacific and determined that it was likely engaged in narco-trafficking. The vessel had four outboard motors, was traveling at high speed, and was heavily laden with packages towards the bow. On June 18, at...

Russian Navy Struggling to Maintain a Mediterranean Presence

Published Jun 20, 2026 2:28 PM by The Maritime Executive

The Russian Navy seems once again to be heading for a Mediterranean exit, after a presence in May suggested it might be attempting to re-establish its permanent base in the Syrian port of Tartus, once the headquarters of the Mediterranean Flotilla. On April 29, a convoy passed into the Mediterranean through the Strait of Gibraltar, escorted by the Gorshkov Class frigate RFS Admiral Kasatonov (F461). The convoy consisted of three sanctioned vessels, often involved in arms shipments and resupply activities,...

cargo ship intercepted in the Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands Intercept Shadowy Vessel Suspected of International Crimes

Published Jun 19, 2026 6:38 PM by The Maritime Executive

The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), Solomon Islands Customs, and Immigration conducted a joint operation working with international authorities in the apprehension of a shadowy vessel suspected of involvement in transnational organised criminal activities. The ship has been brought to Honiara, on the island of Guadalcanal, the capital of the Solomon Islands, on the island of Guadalcanal, for further investigation. The authorities reported they had been tracking the vessel’s movements since April after intelligence reports indicated suspicious movements and...

Pirates Become More Aggressive Using Gunfire in Attempts to Board Ships

Published Jun 19, 2026 5:58 PM by The Maritime Executive

The frequency and brazenness of pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden and along the Somali coast continue to increase, with the authorities warning ships to maintain heightened vigilance and immediately report any suspicious activity. This week, there were three reports of attempted boarding in the same area northeast of Aden, and in each incident, the small skiffs opened fire on their targets, and in one attack used an RPG. The Maritime Security Center Indian Ocean (MSCIO), which was established...

Shipping

Norway Awards $130 Million in Grants for Green Ship Orders

Norway's government has announced a new round of funding to support newbuild orders for green ships. Last week, the Norwegian state-backed energy innovation fund Enova awarded over $130 million to seven local maritime companies. The firms are in the process of placing orders for ten new emission-free ships. Of the ten vessels, six will run on batteries, two on hydrogen and two on ammonia. This will add to 22 other green ships already under construction, which are planned for use...

Tugs & Salvage

Japanese Ro-Ro Cargo Ferry Goes Hard Aground on Its Way to Tokyo

A Japanese cargo ferry making its way from Osaka to Tokyo went hard aground overnight. While there were no immediate reports of damage or environmental issues, the ship remains hard aground after efforts to bring it free during the day on Friday. The Niraikanai II (7,762 dwt) is a Ro-Ro ferry used to transport cars and cargo between Osaka and Toko. At approximately 0330 local time on Friday, June 19, the vessel’s crew reported it had gone aground off Toshima...

Government

Op-Ed: In the Strait of Hormuz, Free Transit Is No More

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the leaders of Iran and the United States last week sets the agenda for further negotiations, which, after some delays, have now commenced between the two parties, with Pakistan and Qatar present as intermediaries. The talks are taking place in the Qatari-owned mountainside resort of Bürgenstock in Switzerland. Political commentators have gone into overdrive, seeking to paint the MoU as a victory or defeat for one side or another. Much remains to be...

Corporate News

HaiSea Celebrates 100 Successful LNG Carrier Escorts into Kitimat, Canada

[By Seaspan] HaiSea Marine’s (HaiSea) fleet of electric and dual-fuel tugboats has successfully guided 100 LNG carriers through the Douglas Channel to Kitimat. This marks a significant step for the HaiSea crew, who celebrated the first successful escort operation in April 2025, representing months of training and planning. The powerful, dual-fuel HaiSea Kermode was joined by the fully electric HaiSea Wamis, Wee’git and Brave tugboats to safely guide Valencia Knutsen more than 130 nautical miles to LNG Canada’s marine terminal...

Cruise Ships

Turkish Cruise Ship Remains Detained as It Loses Flag and Classification

Problems continue to build for the small Turkish cruise ship Gemini, which has been under detention for more than 200 days. A Greek court refused to release the ship last week, while media reports are that the ship is running out of fuel and provisions for the skeleton crew of 25 on board. The ship is also reported to have had its classification certificates withdrawn and is now under a false flag. Built in 1992 in Spain, the Gemini is...

Ports

Master and Pilot at Fault as Bulker Contacted Wharf During Departure

Failure by the master and pilot of the bulk carrier Pacific Century to clearly discuss and agree on the departure procedures caused the vessel to make contact with a wharf and the sinking of a boat at Taiwan’s largest commercial port last year. That was the finding in a report issued by the Taiwan Transportation Safety Board (TTSB). Investigators found that the 295-meter Hong Kong-flagged bulk carrier made contact with Wharf No. 89 during departure operations at the Port of...

Shipping

Norway Awards $130 Million in Grants for Green Ship Orders

Tugs & Salvage

Japanese Ro-Ro Cargo Ferry Goes Hard Aground on Its Way to Tokyo

Government

Op-Ed: In the Strait of Hormuz, Free Transit Is No More

Corporate News

HaiSea Celebrates 100 Successful LNG Carrier Escorts into Kitimat, Canada

Cruise Ships

Turkish Cruise Ship Remains Detained as It Loses Flag and Classification

Ports

Master and Pilot at Fault as Bulker Contacted Wharf During Departure

Offshore

Trump Administration to Buy Back Four More Offshore Wind Leases

Continuing its strategy of canceling offshore wind projects by buying back the leases in exchange for other energy investments, the Department of the Interior announced its third agreement. The administration has committed nearly $2.6 billion to canceling offshore wind leases even as the strategy is being challenged in court and by regulators. Invenergy will voluntarily terminate four offshore wind leases it purchased in the past from the government and will redirect the investments toward other domestic energy sources, said the...

Shipbuilding

JERA Signs Charters with MOL and NYK to Import US Ammonia to Japan

Japan's largest power generation company, JERA, has finalized charter agreements with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and NYK for the charter of four new gas carriers that will be dedicated to importing ammonia produced in Louisiana as a fuel component at Japan’s largest power generation station. Expected to be in service by 2029, this project would likely mark the first shipment of low-carbon ammonia as a fuel for power generation in Japan. The companies launched projects beginning in late 2022 to...

Environment

hydrogen-powered short-sea dry bulk carrier concept

Norway Accelerates Hydrogen-Power Bulker Project for Shortsea Shipping

Norway’s LH2 Shipping reports it is accelerating the development of hydrogen-powered shortsea shipping bulkers for the Baltic with an additional grant from the Norwegian government program to accelerate the green energy transition. The company will add a fifth and sixth bulker to its plan, saying that increased support reflects the growing momentum for liquid hydrogen as a viable alternative fuel for shortsea shipping. The company was awarded an additional grant of approximately $35.82 million from Enova, which it says will...

Business

Interview: Sanmar's Ali Gürün on 50 Years of Tug Innovation

Specialty shipyards have to bring a unique set of capabilities to the table in order to compete - a mix of innovation, adaptability, and finely-honed expertise in their niche. Sanmar Shipyard has succeeded in the workboat business for 50 years because it has developed world-leading capabilities in high-end tug construction, helped by strong relationships with the naval architects at Robert Allan Ltd. and with the top global towage operators. To learn more about what it takes to succeed in this...

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

Select any month to view events: June July August September October November December January February March April May

Hormuz Traffic Plummets as Shipowners Obey New Iranian Closure Order

U.S. Completes 65th Lethal Strike on Suspected Smuggling Boat

Russian Navy Struggling to Maintain a Mediterranean Presence

Solomon Islands Intercept Shadowy Vessel Suspected of International Crimes

Pirates Become More Aggressive Using Gunfire in Attempts to Board Ships

Norway Awards $130 Million in Grants for Green Ship Orders

Japanese Ro-Ro Cargo Ferry Goes Hard Aground on Its Way to Tokyo

Op-Ed: In the Strait of Hormuz, Free Transit Is No More

HaiSea Celebrates 100 Successful LNG Carrier Escorts into Kitimat, Canada

Turkish Cruise Ship Remains Detained as It Loses Flag and Classification

Master and Pilot at Fault as Bulker Contacted Wharf During Departure

New Digital Platform Connects Shipowners Directly With Seafarers

The Hidden Clause Contradictions Driving Demurrage Claims

Six Estonian Maritime Companies Solving Retrofit and Port Challenges

Norway Awards $130 Million in Grants for Green Ship Orders

Japanese Ro-Ro Cargo Ferry Goes Hard Aground on Its Way to Tokyo

Op-Ed: In the Strait of Hormuz, Free Transit Is No More

HaiSea Celebrates 100 Successful LNG Carrier Escorts into Kitimat, Canada

Turkish Cruise Ship Remains Detained as It Loses Flag and Classification

Master and Pilot at Fault as Bulker Contacted Wharf During Departure

Trump Administration to Buy Back Four More Offshore Wind Leases

JERA Signs Charters with MOL and NYK to Import US Ammonia to Japan

Norway Accelerates Hydrogen-Power Bulker Project for Shortsea Shipping

Interview: Sanmar's Ali Gürün on 50 Years of Tug Innovation

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

Join the conversation.

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events