Two Ships Report Iranian Attacks in Strait of Hormuz

Search and Rescue as Stowaways Jump from Containership off Cape Town

Published Apr 21, 2026 7:22 PM by The Maritime Executive

The authorities in Cape Town reported that a search and rescue operation had been launched after reports that seven apparent stowaways had been seen jumping from a containership. The unidentified vessel was reportedly arriving in Cape Town when the people, all believed to be males, decided to swim for shore. The alarm was sounded around 1415 on April 21 as the containership was approximately five nautical miles from shore. It was inbound for the port, but the individuals apparently thought...

Crew of the carrier USS Gerald R. Ford move a drop tank on deck, Red Sea, April 19 (Central Command)

Trump Extends Ceasefire With Iran Indefinitely

Published Apr 21, 2026 6:43 PM by The Maritime Executive

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. will extend its ceasefire with Iran without an end date, suspending his pledges to attack Iranian civilian infrastructure unless Tehran reached terms to end the seven-week conflict. As recently as this morning, the president warned that he was unwilling to extend the ceasefire and had said that he would "expect to be bombing" if the deadline passed without an agreement. Citing apparent leadership divisions within Iran, Trump said that he would...

Activists Sailing to Gaza Encircle MSC Containership in the Mediterranean

Published Apr 21, 2026 6:22 PM by The Maritime Executive

A group of activists, which is staging its third flotilla aiming to support Gaza and draw attention to the situation, reported that it attempted to interfere with an MSC containership sailing in the Mediterranean. According to their claims, they used approximately 20 sailboats to encircle the massive containership while it was sailing between Libya and Malta on April 20. The group known as the Global Summud Flotilla set sail on April 15 from Barcelona. They report that 39 sailboats are...

U.S. is Negotiating to Cancel More Offshore Wind Leases

Published Apr 21, 2026 5:25 PM by The Maritime Executive

Executives at the French company Engie confirmed today that they are in discussions with U.S. officials about possibly canceling their offshore wind farm leases. Last month, the administration agreed to reimburse TotalEnergies for its offshore wind leases and hinted it might use the same technique with others, although advocates and lawmakers are questioning the legal authority. The Trump administration said in March that it had agreed to reimburse TotalEnergies nearly $1 billion it had paid to acquire a large lease...

Shipping

Shipping Interests Call for Unity as IMO Net Zero Debate Approaches

As delegates head to London for MEPC 84 and the next round of talks on the Net Zero Framework, shipping industry heavyweights are lining up to endorse the universal authority of the IMO and the value of a single global rulebook - but as ever, opinions vary on the climate regulations at issue. The main shipowners associations - ICS, BIMCO, CLIA, Intercargo, WSC and Intertanko - say that they remain committed to the NZF, offering both input and support; the...

Tugs & Salvage

Two Ships Report Iranian Attacks in Strait of Hormuz

On Wednesday morning, two ships were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, signaling Iran's willingness to use force after recent U.S. interdictions of Iranian tonnage. UK Maritime Trade Operations said ds that it is "aware of high levels of activity in the SoH area and encourages vessels to report any suspicious activity." In the first incident, at a position about 15 nm off the Musandam Peninsula, the master of a boxship reported that one IRGC gunboat approached without making contact...

Government

Coast Guard’s Heavy Icebreaker Returns from Antarctica, Marking 50 Years

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star returned to her home port of Seattle last week, wrapping up her annual deployment to Antarctica. This year was special, for in addition to supporting the resupply mission and scientific research, the vessel marked 50 years in service. Through extensive overhauls and regular maintenance, she continues to play a critical role as the U.S.’s only heavy icebreaker and must remain active until at least 2030, when the first of the new vessels is...

Corporate News

Port of Baltimore Gets New Grain Facility

A new grain transloading facility at the Port of Baltimore Seagirt Marine Terminal will make it easier for Maryland farmers to get their products to the Port for export worldwide. The facility will encompass four acres, include three grain silos, and be used to facilitate the export of soybeans, corn, wheat, and other agricultural commodities around the world. The project is a partnership agreement between Ports America Chesapeake and Frey Commodities and is expected to be open and operational in...

Cruise Ships

Saudi-Owned Cruise Ship Escaped Before Hormuz Closure Resumed

The Aroya, a cruise ship operation launched in coordination with Cruise Saudi, became the last of the cruise ships to transit the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend. Five other cruise ships, operated by MSC Cruises, TUI Group, and Celestyal Cruises, had previously made the transit over the weekend, taking advantage of the brief lull in the region. The 151,000 gross ton cruise ship owned by Saudi interests but registered in Malta had not joined the others in their sailing,...

Ports

Ukraine Attacks Russian Black Sea Port of Tuapse Starting Large Fire

Ukraine is continuing its pressure on the Russian oil export infrastructure as it seeks to interrupt the revenues coming from the surging oil market. After repeated attacks on the ports in the Baltic, Ukraine has targeted the Black Sea port of Tuapse with two attacks in recent days. The governor of the region described the overnight assault as a “massive drone attack” targeting the seaport and the nearby refinery. Operated by Rosneft, the refinery reportedly has an annual capacity of...

Shipping

Shipping Interests Call for Unity as IMO Net Zero Debate Approaches

Tugs & Salvage

Two Ships Report Iranian Attacks in Strait of Hormuz

Government

Coast Guard’s Heavy Icebreaker Returns from Antarctica, Marking 50 Years

Corporate News

Port of Baltimore Gets New Grain Facility

Cruise Ships

Saudi-Owned Cruise Ship Escaped Before Hormuz Closure Resumed

Ports

Ukraine Attacks Russian Black Sea Port of Tuapse Starting Large Fire

Offshore

U.S. is Negotiating to Cancel More Offshore Wind Leases

Shipbuilding

A weapons elevator aboard USS Ford (USN)

Future Ford-Class Carrier Orders May Be at Risk

The future of the world's most expensive warship program is in doubt, according to the Associated Press. The long-delayed, much-scrutinized Ford-class carrier series is under review, and on Tuesday, Navy Secretary John Phelan refused to rule out the possibility that future orders might be called off. The Ford-class is a 100,000-tonne warship built around first-of-a-kind electromagnetic systems for the carrier's core equipment - her catapults, arresting gear and weapons elevators. These were not fully tested to a mature state of...

Environment

Riding the LNG Wave

The age of global LNG is upon us. In the latter half of 2025, the global supply increased nearly seven percent. This came largely from North America, which frankly has LNG down to a science. It's abundant here. We know how to extract it in an environmentally conscious manner, and we have the infrastructure to process, store and move it. New U.S. LNG projects reaching final investment decisions in 2025 included Louisiana LNG, Corpus Christi Trains 8 & 9, CP2...

Business

A VLCC in ballast arrives at Port of Corpus Christi (file image courtesy Port of Corpus Christi)

"Energy Dominance" In Action

The crisis in the Middle East and in particular the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has upended global oil markets. Both crude oil and refined products are now in short supply. Refiners around the world are desperate to get their hands on alternative sources of crude oil, almost at any price. However, the options are limited and dwindling. The volume of Russian and Iranian oil in floating storage is shrinking fast since the U.S. has lifted some of...

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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Two Ships Report Iranian Attacks in Strait of Hormuz

Search and Rescue as Stowaways Jump from Containership off Cape Town

Trump Extends Ceasefire With Iran Indefinitely

Activists Sailing to Gaza Encircle MSC Containership in the Mediterranean

U.S. is Negotiating to Cancel More Offshore Wind Leases

Shipping Interests Call for Unity as IMO Net Zero Debate Approaches

Two Ships Report Iranian Attacks in Strait of Hormuz

Coast Guard’s Heavy Icebreaker Returns from Antarctica, Marking 50 Years

Port of Baltimore Gets New Grain Facility

Saudi-Owned Cruise Ship Escaped Before Hormuz Closure Resumed

Ukraine Attacks Russian Black Sea Port of Tuapse Starting Large Fire

Estonian Solutions Support Cruise Industry’s Green Transition

Cyber Risk in Shipping: From Technical Threat to Business Reality

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

Shipping Interests Call for Unity as IMO Net Zero Debate Approaches

Two Ships Report Iranian Attacks in Strait of Hormuz

Coast Guard’s Heavy Icebreaker Returns from Antarctica, Marking 50 Years

Port of Baltimore Gets New Grain Facility

Saudi-Owned Cruise Ship Escaped Before Hormuz Closure Resumed

Ukraine Attacks Russian Black Sea Port of Tuapse Starting Large Fire

U.S. is Negotiating to Cancel More Offshore Wind Leases

Future Ford-Class Carrier Orders May Be at Risk

Riding the LNG Wave

"Energy Dominance" In Action

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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Maritime Industry Conferences and Events