Carnival Dream (file image courtesy Kiran891 / CC BY SA 4.0)

Lifeboat Falls Off Cruise Ship During Safety Drill

Success of Naval Laser Weapon Leads to $400M Contract

Published Nov 23, 2025 5:20 PM by Royal Navy News

  More than $400 million is being invested in the Royal Navy’s first ever laser weapon after it downed high-velocity drones in the latest trials. The success of the latest firings has prompted Whitehall to sign a $415 million contract with defense firm MBDA UK to continue developing the weapon – and install it on a Type 45 destroyer within two years. At present the Daring class rely on Sea Viper missiles, cannon and small arms, plus the Phalanx system to...

Depiction of the PLAN pier and causeway beach invasion landing system (Wikideas1 / Public domain)

Taiwan War Plans May Be Behind the Purge of Top Chinese Officers

Published Nov 23, 2025 5:09 PM by The Maritime Executive

  In October, the Maritime Executive summarized what was then known about a purge amongst the senior ranks of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Nine officers of four-star rank were identified as having been purged, including three senior officers from the PLA Navy (PLAN). The dismissals were made public in an announcement made by Chinese Ministry of Defense on October 17. Our assumption was that the purge had been much deeper, extending from the four-star level down into the...

fire on containership Port of Los Angeles

Fire Contained Aboard ONE Container Ship at Port of Los Angeles

Published Nov 23, 2025 3:42 PM by The Maritime Executive

[Updated] Fire crews from Los Angeles and Long Beach responded to a fire aboard an Ocean Network Express (ONE) container ship docked at the Port of Los Angeles on Friday evening. As of 1330 hours on Saturday, the fire was isolated to a single cargo hold aboard the ship, and a fire boat from the Port of Los Angeles was on scene to provide cooling water. The ship has been moved to an anchorage about one mile offshore....

New Tactics Could Curb Immigrant Rubber-Boat Traffic in English Channel

Published Nov 23, 2025 3:16 PM by The Maritime Executive

  Illegal immigrants continue to make passage across the 25-mile-wide English Channel to claim asylum in the United Kingdom. In recent months, the number of refugees making landfall in the UK has been rising. According to British government figures, 45,264 refugees made the crossing in 2024. More than 39,000 have crossed so far this year, and if the trend continues and undetected crossings are also included, the total by the year's end will be greater than in 2024, and probably higher than...

Shipping

MMA Vision off Auckland (Robert Weber / VesselFinder)

Union Protests Decision to End Charter for Cook Strait Rescue Tug

  Plans by the New Zealand government to terminate the services of a dedicated tugboat that has been aiding vessels - including aging interisland ferries - at the busy Cook Strait harbor has ignited uproar from a trade union, which argues the move could compromise safety. New Zealand Transport Minister Chris Bishop is on record stating that following the move by the government to award contracts for two new interisland ferries that will have “return to port” capabilities, the services for the MMA...

Tugs & Salvage

Cargo Barge Damaged and Taking on Water North of Vancouver

  A U.S.-bound cargo barge being towed by a U.S. tug reported that it was taking on water north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, while traveling along the Inside Passage. Officials said that the vessels were moved into a more secure location and that the situation remains stable while the operators prepare to lighten the cargo load on the barge. The Dunlap Towing Company tug Malolo reported on Tuesday morning, November 18, that the barge it was towing was taking...

Government

Op-Ed: Peace in Gaza May Not Mean Peace in the Red Sea

  [By Matt Reisener] Since October 2023, the Houthis, a Yemeni rebel group that seized control over much of the country over a decade ago, have waged a campaign against shipping vessels in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait, and Gulf of Aden, attacking over 100 commercial maritime vessels. The Houthis have long cited Israel’s war in Gaza as the raison d’être for its campaign, claiming that the attacks on Israeli ships or any vessels conducting business at Israeli ports are intended to...

Corporate News

Kongsberg Maritime to Power Med Marine’s Next-Generation Tugs

[By: Kongsberg Maritime] Kongsberg Maritime has signed a significant contract with Turkish shipbuilder and leading tugboat operator Med Marine to supply US series azimuth thrusters and a combination of electric and hydraulic towing winches for nine new tug designs. The agreement includes Med Marine’s new ‘VoltRA’ all-electric tug, which will be built at the company’s Eregli Shipyard, renowned for its modern infrastructure and craftsmanship. The new contract covers the supply of eight shipsets of Kongsberg Maritime’s high-performance US255 azimuth thrusters...

Cruise Ships

Lifeboat Falls Off Cruise Ship During Safety Drill

  Last week, passengers aboard the cruise ship Carnival Dream reported that one of the vessel's lifeboats broke away from its davit and fell into the water while the ship was berthed at Cozumel, Mexico. Photos from the scene appear to show structural damage to the bow of the lifeboat.  The dropped boat was on the starboard side, opposite the pier, according to Cruise Hive. It fell into the water and drifted up to a wharf, where it was retrieved....

Ports

Fire Contained Aboard ONE Container Ship at Port of Los Angeles

Shipping

Union Protests Decision to End Charter for Cook Strait Rescue Tug

Tugs & Salvage

Cargo Barge Damaged and Taking on Water North of Vancouver

Government

Op-Ed: Peace in Gaza May Not Mean Peace in the Red Sea

Corporate News

Kongsberg Maritime to Power Med Marine’s Next-Generation Tugs

Cruise Ships

Lifeboat Falls Off Cruise Ship During Safety Drill

Ports

Fire Contained Aboard ONE Container Ship at Port of Los Angeles

Offshore

Denmark Adds Subsidies as it Takes New Try at Offshore Wind Farm Tender

The Danish Energy Agency returned to the market for offshore wind farms, announcing the opening of a new round of tenders for three projects, which will run through 2028. It comes after the country failed to receive bids in a 2024 round and incorporates revisions based on the input from the market. While it was not unexpected based on changes in the market, the agency still said it was disappointed in December 2024 when it failed...

Shipbuilding

Chinese Yard Delivers DP-Capable Floating Fish Farm Ship

  China's Jiangsu Dajin Heavy Industry Co. has delivered a unique world's first: a DP-capable, ship-shaped, cage-type aquaculture vessel for oceangoing service. The unusual ship design will be deployed off the coast of Naozhou Island, Zhanjiang, where it will be initially used to raise yellow croaker. The new Zhanjiang Bay 1 is a "mobile marine ranch," according to Chinese state media. It is designed to raise multiple species within one fish farm, and has 12 separate production bays. Targeted production is...

Environment

Racing Team Launches Scientific Mission to Antarctica on Aluminum Sailboat

A team of researchers led by environmental advocate Boris Herrmann is undertaking an audacious scientific expedition to a remote archipelago at the north-eastern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula. The mission marks the maiden voyage for an aluminum sailboat and team best known for its competitive racing. Team Malizia, a professional offshore sailing team that has been racing around the world, says its goal is to create awareness of environmental issues. Known as competitors in races including The Ocean...

Business

LNG Shipping Shortage Behind Dramatic Hike in Atlantic Rates

  Increased production of LNG in West Africa and the United States, and delays in discharges at Egyptian LNG terminals, has prompted a short squeeze on LNG shipping availability. Rates have increased dramatically over the past three weeks. LNG freight was being offered at $170,000 per day on the follow in the London market on the morning of November 21. This represents a 150 percent rise in rates in comparison with the Atlantic $75,000 per day rate being quoted two...

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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

Lifeboat Falls Off Cruise Ship During Safety Drill

Success of Naval Laser Weapon Leads to $400M Contract

Taiwan War Plans May Be Behind the Purge of Top Chinese Officers

Fire Contained Aboard ONE Container Ship at Port of Los Angeles

New Tactics Could Curb Immigrant Rubber-Boat Traffic in English Channel

Union Protests Decision to End Charter for Cook Strait Rescue Tug

Cargo Barge Damaged and Taking on Water North of Vancouver

Op-Ed: Peace in Gaza May Not Mean Peace in the Red Sea

Kongsberg Maritime to Power Med Marine’s Next-Generation Tugs

Lifeboat Falls Off Cruise Ship During Safety Drill

Fire Contained Aboard ONE Container Ship at Port of Los Angeles

Why Financial Wellbeing Is Central to Seafarer Welfare

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

Smart Analytics for Proactive Threat Detection in Ports and Harbors

Union Protests Decision to End Charter for Cook Strait Rescue Tug

Cargo Barge Damaged and Taking on Water North of Vancouver

Op-Ed: Peace in Gaza May Not Mean Peace in the Red Sea

Kongsberg Maritime to Power Med Marine’s Next-Generation Tugs

Lifeboat Falls Off Cruise Ship During Safety Drill

Fire Contained Aboard ONE Container Ship at Port of Los Angeles

Denmark Adds Subsidies as it Takes New Try at Offshore Wind Farm Tender

Chinese Yard Delivers DP-Capable Floating Fish Farm Ship

Racing Team Launches Scientific Mission to Antarctica on Aluminum Sailboat

LNG Shipping Shortage Behind Dramatic Hike in Atlantic Rates

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

Join the conversation.

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events