Ukraine to Prosecute Captain of Detained Cargo Ship for Trips to Crimea

EcoNavis to Validate and Demonstrate Improved Design for Wind Rotors

Published Apr 7, 2026 5:57 PM by The Maritime Executive

Scotland-based EcoNavis Solutions believes it has a technological innovation that can enhance the performance of wind rotors. With wind-assisted propulsion gaining increased interest, the company is using a Scottish Enterprise research grant to move its concept from the drawing board to validation and demonstration. The basic concept of the wind rotor promoted by Anton Flettner in the 1920s remains largely unchanged after more than a century. The spinning rotor captures the energy of the wind to provide additional thrust for...

Fire aboard the boxship Safeen Prestige, Strait of Hormuz, March 2026 (Saint Javelin / social media)

Russia and China Veto UN Security Council Resolution on Hormuz Security

Published Apr 7, 2026 5:29 PM by The Maritime Executive

On Tuesday, Russia and China vetoed a proposed UN Security Council resolution that would have endorsed defenses against Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, even though the language had been substantially watered down from the original text. Iran's delegation expressed its "appreciation to China and Russia for their responsible conduct" in exercising their veto powers. Bahrain (currently holding the UNSC presidency) and other Gulf states have been advocating for a UN authorization for the use of force to reopen...

Indian Shipbuilding SDHI Adds First Ammonia-Fueled Vessels to Orderbook

Published Apr 7, 2026 5:26 PM by The Maritime Executive

The revitalization of the former Reliance Naval and Engineering shipbuilder as Swan Defence and Heavy Industries (SDHI) continues as the yard is winning landmark deals and building its orderbook. It is now reporting India’s first order for ammonia dual-fuel ships as well as the order for some of the largest commercial ships yet built in India. SDHI is the relaunched operation, which went through years of financial difficulties that finally saw the yard suspend operations. It was sold and resumed...

Japan and South Korea Advance Autonomous Navigation

Published Apr 7, 2026 4:06 PM by The Maritime Executive

As efforts continue to develop autonomous navigation systems for large commercial ships, both Japan and South Korea are reporting projects that reached key milestones. They are working to continue to develop the parameters for safe autonomous operations and to advance commercialization of the technologies. Japan’s The Nippon Foundation has been sponsoring a series of demonstration projects over the past few years designed to develop key elements of the technology. ClassNK officials point out that the efforts are aimed at improving...

Shipping

Iran Confirms Two-Week Ceasefire and a Limited Opening of Strait of Hormuz

Iran has confirmed that it plans to allow marine traffic to pass through the Strait of Hormuz during a two-week ceasefire with the Trump administration - subject to conditions. Following last-minute negotiations mediated by the government of Pakistan, Trump agreed to further talks based on the framework of Iran's 10-point plan for the next two weeks, and to hold off on further strikes. For its part, Iran promised to cease its attacks and allow safe passage through the Strait of...

Tugs & Salvage

Tanker Truck Blast Closes Bridge Over Panama Canal

An explosion at a fuel facility next to the Bridge of the Americas has killed one and injured several others, according to the fire department for Panama City, Panama. The fireball from the fuel burn-off made contact with the bridge, which spans the Panama Canal and carries logistics traffic for the port of Balboa. A large tank farm is located next to and beneath the bridge on the eastern bank, between the International Maritime University of Panama and a luxury...

Government

Video: Marines Carry Out Their First Boat-to-Boat Drone Strike

Much like Ukraine's front-line units, U.S. Marine Corps specialists are learning to build and deploy their own attack drones with available technology, innovating new ways to deliver effects in the maritime environment. At a recent exercise in Okinawa, a team of Marines set up their own drone boat craft, then used it as a target in the service's first live fire boat-to-boat drone strike. In March, Marines from III Expeditionary Operations Training Group and operators from U.S. Naval Special Warfare...

Corporate News

Kongsberg Maritime Secures Waterjet Contract for Indian Navy Missile Vessel

[By: Kongsberg Maritime] Kongsberg Maritime has signed a landmark contract to supply 18 large Kamewa waterjets for the Indian Navy’s Next Generation Missile Vessel (NGMV) programme. Each of the vessels will feature waterjets, delivering exceptional speed and manoeuvrability for high-performance naval operations. The NGMV fleet is being built by Cochin Shipyard Limited and will play a critical role in India’s maritime defence strategy. This contract marks Kongsberg Maritime’s largest single waterjet order to date and signals a strong return to...

Cruise Ships

Passengers Abandon Cruise Grounded on Island from 2000 Movie “Cast Away"

Passengers aboard the Fiji cruise ship might have thought they were about to relive a scene from the 2000 movie “Cast Away,” in which Tom Hanks becomes stranded for years on an uninhabited island. Their ship, the Fiji Princess, grounded on April 4 on the same island used in the movie. The 179-foot (55-meter) cruise ship operates cruises up to a week in length around the islands in Fiji. Built in 1998, the ship has 32 passenger cabins with a...

Ports

CK Hutchison Files Arbitral Claim Against Maersk Over Panama Terminals

CK Hutchison, the Hong Kong-based ports giant, has filed an arbitral claim against AP Moller-Maersk. The case expands on an earlier arbitral claim that Hutchison filed against the Panamanian government, alleging that it has illegally seized two of Hutchison's container terminal leases. Until this year, CK Hutchison was the operator of container terminals in Balboa and Cristobal, Panama, among dozens of its other global holdings. Following pressure from the Trump administration to reduce Chinese "influence" at the Panama Canal, the...

Shipping

Iran Confirms Two-Week Ceasefire and a Limited Opening of Strait of Hormuz

Tugs & Salvage

Tanker Truck Blast Closes Bridge Over Panama Canal

Government

Video: Marines Carry Out Their First Boat-to-Boat Drone Strike

Corporate News

Kongsberg Maritime Secures Waterjet Contract for Indian Navy Missile Vessel

Cruise Ships

Passengers Abandon Cruise Grounded on Island from 2000 Movie “Cast Away"

Ports

CK Hutchison Files Arbitral Claim Against Maersk Over Panama Terminals

Offshore

QatarEnergy’s U.S. LNG Plant Achieves First Production at Critical Time

Just as the world is looking for alternative sources of LNG, Golden Pass LNG in Texas reported it has achieved first production. The project, which has been in planning and development for 15 years, is set to start export shipments in the second quarter, coming online to help fill some of the shortfall from Qatar and the Middle East. The United States is already setting records for LNG shipments and has been rivaling Qatar for the title of the largest...

Shipbuilding

Indian Shipbuilding SDHI Adds First Ammonia-Fueled Vessels to Orderbook

Environment

EcoNavis to Validate and Demonstrate Improved Design for Wind Rotors

Business

Largest Ship Repair Yard in East Africa Inaugurated in Djibouti

Officials in Djibouti officially inaugurated the Djibouti Ship Repair Yard on April 4, marking what they called a milestone in the development of the country’s maritime economy. It becomes the largest ship repair yard in the Red Sea region and East Africa, available to provide critical repair and maintenance work. “The DSRY project has always been a national priority, given Djibouti’s strategic location at the entrance to the Bab el-Mandeb, one of the world’s busiest maritime routes,” said President Ismaïl...

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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Ukraine to Prosecute Captain of Detained Cargo Ship for Trips to Crimea

EcoNavis to Validate and Demonstrate Improved Design for Wind Rotors

Russia and China Veto UN Security Council Resolution on Hormuz Security

Indian Shipbuilding SDHI Adds First Ammonia-Fueled Vessels to Orderbook

Japan and South Korea Advance Autonomous Navigation

Iran Confirms Two-Week Ceasefire and a Limited Opening of Strait of Hormuz

Tanker Truck Blast Closes Bridge Over Panama Canal

Video: Marines Carry Out Their First Boat-to-Boat Drone Strike

Kongsberg Maritime Secures Waterjet Contract for Indian Navy Missile Vessel

Passengers Abandon Cruise Grounded on Island from 2000 Movie “Cast Away"

CK Hutchison Files Arbitral Claim Against Maersk Over Panama Terminals

Cyber Risk in Shipping: From Technical Threat to Business Reality

Architecture of Adaptability: Designing Vessels to Stand the Test of Time

Improve Fleet Value With Digital Optimization of Cruise Ship Hotel Areas

Iran Confirms Two-Week Ceasefire and a Limited Opening of Strait of Hormuz

Tanker Truck Blast Closes Bridge Over Panama Canal

Video: Marines Carry Out Their First Boat-to-Boat Drone Strike

Kongsberg Maritime Secures Waterjet Contract for Indian Navy Missile Vessel

Passengers Abandon Cruise Grounded on Island from 2000 Movie “Cast Away"

CK Hutchison Files Arbitral Claim Against Maersk Over Panama Terminals

QatarEnergy’s U.S. LNG Plant Achieves First Production at Critical Time

Indian Shipbuilding SDHI Adds First Ammonia-Fueled Vessels to Orderbook

EcoNavis to Validate and Demonstrate Improved Design for Wind Rotors

Largest Ship Repair Yard in East Africa Inaugurated in Djibouti

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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