Iranian Cargo Ship Sailing Near USS Abraham Lincoln in Straits of Malacca

Ghana’s Takoradi Port Receives Largest Bulker as Manganese Exports Surge

Published Jan 18, 2026 11:45 PM by The Maritime Executive

The dry bulk shipping market in West Africa continues to see massive transformation, as China’s appetite for minerals from the region surge. In the last few years, capsize and above loadings in West Africa have maintained a double-digit growth. In a market report last year, the investment bank Jefferies estimated that West Africa now represents 14 percent of Capesize liftings compared to six percent four years ago. This momentum is likely to be sustained in 2026, buoyed by uptick of...

Electric car plant, Vietnam, 2023 (Taofast / CC BY SA 4.0)

Vietnam is Winning the Trade Wars

Published Jan 18, 2026 11:32 PM by The Lowy Interpreter

[By Roland Rajah] Vietnam has again emerged as the apparent winner of Donald Trump’s trade wars, as was the case during his first presidency. Vietnam’s exports have boomed, despite facing US tariffs (now at 20%) and having to compete with surging Chinese exports. Vietnam exported $474 billion worth of goods in 2025, up almost $70 billion on 2024. As my colleagues and I argued in a recent paper, this export strength could prove relatively durable – driven by Vietnam’s sheer...

"Chip Wreck" off Sussex Coast in Second Edible Food Invasion

Published Jan 18, 2026 10:04 PM by The Maritime Executive

In early December, beaches in the county of Sussex on the southern coast of England were carpeted in bananas washed ashore from 16 containers which had broken free in a storm from the reefer ship Baltic Klipper (IMO 9454759) in Southampton Water. Bananas not only covered some beaches, but were also driven ashore, making driving conditions on some coastal roads slippery. Bananas washed ashore near Selsey in England (CJRC) In the traditional battle between coastal dwellers who feel entitle to...

Past instances of Chinese fishing vessel gatherings have occurred in the Spratly Islands, as above, but at smaller scale (PCG file image)

Chinese Fishing Boats Assembled in Vast Formation Near Taiwan

Published Jan 18, 2026 9:24 PM by The Maritime Executive

Last month, ship-tracking data consultancy Starboard Maritime Intelligence detected something unusual in the East China Sea. In partnership with remote-sensing analysis firm ingeniSpace, its systems detected the simultaneous convergence of more than a thousand Chinese fishing vessels into a tight, coordinated line formation. The sudden, choreographed movement would serve little purpose for fishing, but could be useful for arranging a blockade. The first instance occurred on December 23-25, with the formation fully formed and in place on Christmas Day. 1,700...

Shipping

Ship Takes Refuge in Spain After Container Stacks Collapse in Storm

A smaller cargo ship transporting containers along the coast between Portugal and Spain was forced to take refuge after it experienced a stack collapse last week. The ship Maria Francisca arrived at the Port of Vigo with two rows of boxes toppled over and several crushed boxes hanging over the side of the vessel. The 30,000-dwt vessel had departed Lisbon, Portugal, on January 14 and overnight encountered the heavy winter weather that has been disrupting operations across parts of Europe....

Tugs & Salvage

Masts of Famed Glasgow Tall Ship Removed for Restoration

In the port city of Glasgow, Scotland, the masts of a famous ship that serves as a reminder of a proud shipping past have been removed for the first time in 30 years. For decades, the masts of tall ship Glenlee have been a familiar site on River Clyde where she serves as a floating museum sitting alongside Glasgow’s Riverside Museum. Over the coming few months, the masts will be conspicuously absent following their removal as part of efforts to...

Government

HMS Juffair in livelier days: HMS Argyll with HMS Brocklesby and HMS Shoreham at a newly constructed pier in Bahrain, 2020 (Royal Navy)

Royal Navy Pulls Last Ship From Bahrain, Ending 46-Year Gulf Presence

The Daily Telegraph has carried a report that the Royal Navy is intending to withdraw its last ship permanently stationed at HMS Juffair in Bahrain, leaving the naval base with no complement of ships. The report suggested that the Hunt-class minesweeper HMS Middleton (M34) will be withdrawn this year, possibly as early as March. The permanently-deployed Type 23 frigate HMS Lancaster (F229) was decommissioned at HMS Juffair last month. A senior Royal Navy officer will remain in Bahrain, but will...

Corporate News

ABB Chosen to Supply Technology for BC Ferries’ New Major Vessels

[By: ABB] ABB will supply a complete package of power, propulsion and control technology for four new double-ended passenger and car ferries operated by British Columbia Ferry Services (BC Ferries). One of the largest ferry operators in the world, BC Ferries provides year-round vehicle and passenger service on 25 routes to 47 terminals, carrying approximately 9.7 million vehicles and 22.7 million passengers annually. Demand on the ferry system is expected to increase as the province’s population is forecast to grow...

Cruise Ships

Disney’s Ultra-Large Cruise Ship Makes U.S. Stop on Delivery Run to Asia

The ultra-large Disney Adventure (208,108 gross tons) is making a brief appearance in the United States during its delivery run to Asia. The cruise ship pulled into Port Canaveral, Florida, on January 15 for a reported 12-day stopover before she resumes the trip, which will ultimately arrive in Singapore, her year-round homeport. Acquired by Disney in November 2022 from the bankrupt MV Werften shipbuilding, the ship was completed by Meyer Werft and reconfigured for the Disney brand. The company, according...

Ports

Ghana’s Takoradi Port Receives Largest Bulker as Manganese Exports Surge

Shipping

Ship Takes Refuge in Spain After Container Stacks Collapse in Storm

Tugs & Salvage

Masts of Famed Glasgow Tall Ship Removed for Restoration

Government

Royal Navy Pulls Last Ship From Bahrain, Ending 46-Year Gulf Presence

Corporate News

ABB Chosen to Supply Technology for BC Ferries’ New Major Vessels

Cruise Ships

Disney’s Ultra-Large Cruise Ship Makes U.S. Stop on Delivery Run to Asia

Ports

Ghana’s Takoradi Port Receives Largest Bulker as Manganese Exports Surge

Offshore

Vattenfall Finalizes Investment for Germany’s Largest Offshore Wind Project

Offshore wind energy developer Vattenfall confirmed that it is moving forward with the Nordlicht offshore wind cluster. With construction due to start later this year, the two-phase project will become the largest wind project for Germany and a key contributor as the country struggles to accelerate development in the offshore wind energy sector. The permit issued by the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) has become irrevocable, making the final step to move forward with the project. Vattenfall had announced...

Shipbuilding

A new P-17A class frigate, Mahendragiri, at launch at Mazagon Dock (Gov't of India)

Report: India Wants to Ramp Up its Warship Exports

India is reportedly working to expand warship exports as part of the ongoing push to revamp its shipbuilding industry. The Ministry of Defense (MOD) has already issued directives to the state-owned shipyards, instructing the facilities to build their capacities for export orders. According to a report by the defense news site Indian Defense Research Wing, the MOD’s directive covers expansion of docking and manufacturing infrastructure in the shipyards. In addition, the shipyards are expected to customize their blueprints for naval...

Environment

HMM and HD KSOE Start Demonstration and Testing of Wing Sail on Tanker

South Korea’s HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering and HMM are starting a demonstration and test period for Korea’s first domestically developed wing sail for wind-assisted propulsion. The shipbuilder has been developing its version of the technology as part of its efforts to advance value-added, green ship designs and technology. The wing sail was recently installed on the product tanker Oriental Aquamarine (50,000 dwt). The vessel was built in 2020 and has been owned by HMM since 2023. Registered in...

Business

Vietnam is Winning the Trade Wars

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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Iranian Cargo Ship Sailing Near USS Abraham Lincoln in Straits of Malacca

Ghana’s Takoradi Port Receives Largest Bulker as Manganese Exports Surge

Vietnam is Winning the Trade Wars

"Chip Wreck" off Sussex Coast in Second Edible Food Invasion

Chinese Fishing Boats Assembled in Vast Formation Near Taiwan

Ship Takes Refuge in Spain After Container Stacks Collapse in Storm

Masts of Famed Glasgow Tall Ship Removed for Restoration

Royal Navy Pulls Last Ship From Bahrain, Ending 46-Year Gulf Presence

ABB Chosen to Supply Technology for BC Ferries’ New Major Vessels

Disney’s Ultra-Large Cruise Ship Makes U.S. Stop on Delivery Run to Asia

Ghana’s Takoradi Port Receives Largest Bulker as Manganese Exports Surge

Navigating Port Funding Uncertainty: Adaptation Unlocks Opportunities

California Protects Blue Whales and Blue Skies With Historic State Law

One Event. World Of Maritime. This February, Copenhagen is the Place to Be

Ship Takes Refuge in Spain After Container Stacks Collapse in Storm

Masts of Famed Glasgow Tall Ship Removed for Restoration

Royal Navy Pulls Last Ship From Bahrain, Ending 46-Year Gulf Presence

ABB Chosen to Supply Technology for BC Ferries’ New Major Vessels

Disney’s Ultra-Large Cruise Ship Makes U.S. Stop on Delivery Run to Asia

Ghana’s Takoradi Port Receives Largest Bulker as Manganese Exports Surge

Vattenfall Finalizes Investment for Germany’s Largest Offshore Wind Project

Report: India Wants to Ramp Up its Warship Exports

HMM and HD KSOE Start Demonstration and Testing of Wing Sail on Tanker

Vietnam is Winning the Trade Wars

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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Maritime Industry Conferences and Events