The Conversation

The Conversation US arose out of deep-seated concerns for the fading quality of our public discourse – and recognition of the vital role that academic experts can play in the public arena: https://theconversation.com/us/who-we-are

Seamounts are vital oases in the open sea. NOAA, CC BY-NC-ND

Bottom Trawlers Do Huge Amounts of Damage to Life on Undersea Mountains

Published Oct 27, 2026 2:36 PM by The Conversation

Posted in: Government

[By Elin Angharad Thomas] Tens of thousands of underwater mountains dot the ocean floor around the world. A few break the surface,...

Op-Ed: Jackdaw Gas Project Passed UK's Legal Test - Rosebank Will Be Harder

Published Oct 25, 2026 7:41 PM by The Conversation

Posted in: Offshore

[By Robert Hargreaves] For the first time, UK ministers have had to weigh the emissions from burning gas extracted from a North Se...

Map showing exploratory oil field (Sea Lion) in North Falklands Basin and exploratory oil wells in East Falklands Basin. Pensoft/Researchgate, CC BY-ND

Argentina Seeks UNCLOS Ruling on UK-Backed Oil Project off the Falklands

Published Oct 22, 2026 12:13 PM by The Conversation

Posted in: Offshore

[By Vicky Kapogianni] Argentina is trying to stop a planned oil project near the Falkland Islands. On October 13, the government a...

Africa’s Red Sea States Face Growing Risks as Houthis Expand Their Reach

Published Sep 18, 2026 7:09 PM by The Conversation

Posted in: Government

[By Burak Sakir Seker] The Houthi takeover of parts of the Red Sea gives the armed group a new platform to challenge global shippi...

AI Companies Look to the Ocean as a Place to Put Data Centers

Published Aug 23, 2026 2:34 PM by The Conversation

Posted in: Business

[By Nir Kshetri] The artificial intelligence boom is driving unprecedented demand for data centers, raising concerns about their g...

China Opens New Arctic Trade Route–But Obstacles Will Prevent Its Wider Use

Published Aug 21, 2026 4:10 PM by The Conversation

Posted in: Shipping

[By Edward Rhys Jones} Sea Legend, a Chinese shipping line, recently announced it was launching a regular container service betwee...

Op-Ed: Marine Heatwaves are Cooking Ocean Ecosystems, And Will Get Stronger

Published Aug 16, 2026 1:00 PM by The Conversation

Posted in: Environment

[By Sina Pinter and Nicole L. Jones] You may have heard reports of fish die-offs or seen photos of hauntingly bleached coral. Thos...

Tiny Crystals Reveal Historical Background of the Batavia Mutiny

Published Aug 2, 2026 6:12 PM by The Conversation

Posted in: Shipping

[By Anthony Clarke and Chris Kirkland] Few episodes occupy a darker place in maritime history than the wreck of the Batavia. Wreck...

A U.S. Navy destroyer moves through the haze in the Strait of Hormuz (USN file image)

"Navalization" of Economic Warfare Turns Trade Routes Into Zones of Force

Published Jul 23, 2026 4:34 PM by The Conversation

Posted in: Government

[By John Calabrese] With more than 80% of global trade by volume being transported by sea, maritime shipping lanes are indispensab...

IRGC attack speedboats in the Strait of Hormuz (USN file image)

Op-Ed: Iran Won't be Able to Toll the Strait of Hormuz in the Long Term

Published Jul 1, 2026 5:03 PM by The Conversation

Posted in: Government

[By Jennifer Parker] Since Iran was attacked by the US and Israel it has increasingly signaled its intent to make control of the S...