Iran’s IRGC Retaliates by Seizing Two Boxships Linked to MSC

Tanks burn at the Tuapse refinery and terminal, April 2026 (Russian social media)

Report: Russian Oil Output Falls After Ukrainian Drone Strikes

Published Apr 21, 2026 11:09 PM by The Maritime Executive

In a sign of the mounting effects of Ukrainian drone strikes on the Russian energy economy, Russia's oil producers appear to have cut back output this month by as much as 400,000 barrels per day, according to Reuters. The downshift signals success for Ukraine, as the Russian military budget depends in no small part on oil revenue, and soaring crude prices have provided Moscow with a much-needed economic windfall. Compared to last year, Russia has fewer reliably safe ways to...

Two Ships Report Iranian Attacks in Strait of Hormuz

Published Apr 21, 2026 11:09 PM by The Maritime Executive

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...

A weapons elevator aboard USS Ford (USN)

Future Ford-Class Carrier Orders May Be at Risk

Published Apr 21, 2026 10:20 PM by The Maritime Executive

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...

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

Published Apr 21, 2026 7:59 PM by The Maritime Executive

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...

Shipping

Body Recovered from Capsized Cargo Ship as USCG Looks for Missing Raft

The US Coast Guard reported that the search efforts are intensifying after the loss of the U.S.-flagged cargo ship Mariana as Super Typhoon Sinlaku overtook the Northern Mariana Islands. Teams were able to recover the body of one seafarer from the capsized vessel while efforts continue at the wreck as well as across the region. The wreck of the 145-foot offshore support vessel, which had been outfitted for cargo operations, was located on Saturday, April 18. The ship had reported...

Tugs & Salvage

Two Ships Report Iranian Attacks in Strait of Hormuz

Government

Iran’s IRGC Retaliates by Seizing Two Boxships Linked to MSC

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is claiming to have taken control of two containerships linked to MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company that were attempting to exit the Persian Gulf. The seizures came after reports that the vessels had been attacked earlier on Wednesday, April 22. After U.S. forces disabled an Iranian containership on Sunday and boarded a shadow fleet crude oil tanker on Monday that was linked to the Iranian trade, the IRGC threatened a retaliatory action. Others in the fractured...

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

Body Recovered from Capsized Cargo Ship as USCG Looks for Missing Raft

Tugs & Salvage

Two Ships Report Iranian Attacks in Strait of Hormuz

Government

Iran’s IRGC Retaliates by Seizing Two Boxships Linked to MSC

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

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...

Shipbuilding

Future Ford-Class Carrier Orders May Be at Risk

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...

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Iran’s IRGC Retaliates by Seizing Two Boxships Linked to MSC

Report: Russian Oil Output Falls After Ukrainian Drone Strikes

Two Ships Report Iranian Attacks in Strait of Hormuz

Future Ford-Class Carrier Orders May Be at Risk

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

Body Recovered from Capsized Cargo Ship as USCG Looks for Missing Raft

Two Ships Report Iranian Attacks in Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s IRGC Retaliates by Seizing Two Boxships Linked to MSC

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

From Local to Global: Genoa Maritime Forum to Bring the Industry Together

Estonian Solutions Support Cruise Industry’s Green Transition

Cyber Risk in Shipping: From Technical Threat to Business Reality

Body Recovered from Capsized Cargo Ship as USCG Looks for Missing Raft

Two Ships Report Iranian Attacks in Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s IRGC Retaliates by Seizing Two Boxships Linked to MSC

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

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