Russian Military Cargo Ship Continues Mysterious Maneuvers

Report: Israeli Regulator and Union Threaten Sale of Zim to Hapag

Published Feb 19, 2026 8:12 PM by The Maritime Executive

Reports from Israel continue to cite pockets of opposition to the agreement to sell Zim to Hapag-Lloyd in a deal valued at $4.2 billion and then split it into domestic and international operations. Zim has long held a unique position, viewed as a national asset, and many believe it is critical to the security of the Israeli state. Zim dates back to the formation of Israel, and in its 80-year history, it has been a means of transporting cargo for...

A small group of Chagos Islanders comes ashore, Ile de Coin, February 17 (Guido Fawkes / X)

Chagos Islanders Return Home as UK Weighs Their Fate

Published Feb 19, 2026 7:35 PM by The Maritime Executive

As the UK debates the fate of the Chagos Archipelago deal which transfers sovereignty of the Chagos Archipelago to Mauritius, a party of Chagos Islanders has returned to their homeland and re-established residence on the Île de Coin. Diego Garcia, the home of the US Naval Support Facility, lies approximately 117 nautical miles south of the Île de Coin, at a distance which cannot feasibly interrupt or threaten activities on the joint US-UK base. Nonetheless, under the terms of the...

A dated photo of Chinese destroyer CNS Urumqi, top - a warship which has not seen in the region in two years - was used in Iranian coverage of recent drills (Mehr News)

Iranian and Russian Navies Carry Out Anti-Piracy Drills, Without China

Published Feb 19, 2026 6:03 PM by The Maritime Executive

The Russian Navy, the regular Iranian Navy (Nedsa) and the IRGC Navy (Nedsa) have completed a morning’s anti-piracy exercise in the Gulf of Oman. The exercise involved receipt of a distress message from a merchantman by the Bandar Abbas Maritime Rescue Coordination Center and aerial identification of the seized ship. Coordinated - according to Iranian reports - by IRINS Alvand (F71), a mixed party of ten commandos from the Stroisky, the Nedsa and the Nedaja were then landed aboard the...

Shipbreaking yards at Alang (NASA file image)

Op-Ed: IMO Guidelines Are Quietly Weakening the Basel Convention

Published Feb 19, 2026 6:03 PM by Prof. Dr. Ishtiaque Ahmed

International law depends on a basic understanding that obligations accepted by states cannot be set aside by administrative preference. Treaties are binding because states have consented to be bound, and that consent cannot be diluted through voluntary guidance adopted by a different institution. Yet in the regulation of ship recycling, this principle is being tested in a way that should concern anyone who takes treaty law seriously. The issue arises from the growing reliance on non-binding instruments adopted within the...

Shipping

Russian Military Cargo Ship Continues Mysterious Maneuvers

After having spent five days east of Sardinia, the Russian-flagged military cargo ship Sparta IV is again drawing attention, now maneuvering west of Portugal. The ship is drawing focus from the NATO allies for its unexplained behavior, which is also leading to broad speculation online. The Sparta IV was well-known as a participant in the so-called “Syrian Express” and was used to remove military equipment after the fall of the Asad government. With its history of transporting military equipment, the...

Tugs & Salvage

Firefighters Put Out Scrap Metal Fire Aboard Bulker at Port of Vancouver

A fire broke out aboard a bulker at the port of Vancouver on Tuesday, prompting a region-wide response call-out for marine firefighters. At about 2100 hours on Tuesday night, the Vancouver Fire Department received an alert about a cargo hold fire aboard a bulker at the port. The ship was loading scrap metal, and a pile of material had caught fire. Because of the potential severity of shipboard fires, and the technical skills required to address them, the department reached...

Government

Turkish seismic vessel Oruc Reis (TPAO file image)

Turkey's State Oil Company Joins Shell in Black Sea E&P Venture

Turkish energy company TPAO has signed up with Shell for the exploration of the Khan Tervel field, a promising formation off the coast of Bulgaria. The location has strong synergies for TPAO, and it aligns with Turkey's interest in securing its own energy resources at home and abroad. The initial stage of the collaboration includes carrying out a 3D seismic survey of the formation, covering about 1,500 square miles of seabed. The firms have a five-year lease on the site...

Corporate News

Kongsberg Discovery Pushes Electromagnetic Sensing Envelope

[By: Kongsberg Discovery] Kongsberg Discovery has upgraded its innovative Kongsberg Listen electromagnetic sensor system, setting new standards for inspections, surveys and knowledge acquisition in complex underwater environments. Formerly known as Argeo Listen, the system has undergone comprehensive hardware and software enhancements, delivering much-improved data processing and visualization capabilities. The platform agnostic technology is now available for a huge range of applications across the ocean science, defense, energy and minerals sectors, amongst others. Accelerating Innovation Kongsberg Discovery acquired Argeo’s electromagnetic sensing...

Cruise Ships

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Adds Three Ships Extending Orders to 2037

Norwegian Cruise Line Holding and Fincantieri announced that they have added three more orders to an already large cruise ship orderbook, extending deliveries to 2037. It follows a trend in the industry to lock in the limited building slots at the major yards as the major cruise lines plan long-term capacity additions and fleet modernization. The new order adds three sister ships to already planned classes of cruise ships, with one ship each for Norwegian Cruise Line, Regent Seven Seas...

Ports

Port of Los Angeles Expects Continued Weakness After January Decline

The Port of Los Angeles foresees continued weakness in container volumes for the first quarter of 2026 after a 12 percent decline in January. However, while highlighting that it does not expect increased certainty for U.S. trade policies, it believes the rate of decline is stabilizing and is not expected to “drop off a cliff” as the U.S. moves forward in 2026. As the largest container port in the Americas, the Port of Los Angeles is viewed as a key...

Shipping

Russian Military Cargo Ship Continues Mysterious Maneuvers

Tugs & Salvage

Firefighters Put Out Scrap Metal Fire Aboard Bulker at Port of Vancouver

Government

Turkey's State Oil Company Joins Shell in Black Sea E&P Venture

Corporate News

Kongsberg Discovery Pushes Electromagnetic Sensing Envelope

Cruise Ships

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Adds Three Ships Extending Orders to 2037

Ports

Port of Los Angeles Expects Continued Weakness After January Decline

Offshore

DOJ Files Appeal on Court Blocking Trump’s Moratorium on Wind Energy

The U.S. Department of Justice’s Environment & Natural Resources Division filed notice with the district court in Massachusetts for an appeal on the court ruling blocking Donald Trump’s Executive Order from January 2025 establishing a moratorium on permitting, leasing, and other authorizations for wind energy projects. It is the latest step in the Trump administration's continuing battle against renewable wind energy. The filing came 45 days after District Judge Patti B. Saris had ruled in December 2025, calling the Executive...

Shipbuilding

Austal USA Appoints its Fourth President in Five Years

Naval shipbuilder Austal USA announced Thursday that president Michelle Kruger has stepped down from running day-to-day operations and assumed an advisory role, to be followed by retirement in June. The company's COO has taken over management as interim president, effective immediately. "Austal USA is deeply grateful for Michelle Kruger’s vision, commitment, and the lasting impact that she has made on our organization as company president over the last two years," the firm said in a statement. "Congratulations on this momentous...

Environment

Navigating the Deadlock: Accelleron’s Daniel Bischofberger on Green Fuels

Accelleron, a leading provider of turbocharging, fuel injection, and digital solutions for marine engines and ships, recently released a study on the multifaceted, multi-industry challenges slowing shipping's transition to carbon-neutral fuels. TME recently spoke with CEO Daniel Bischofberger about the current state of marine decarbonization, regional developments in Asia-Pacific, and the path forward for the industry. Can you describe the current state of shipping's transition to carbon-neutral fuels? The ships are ready, but the fuel is not. The technology exists...

Business

Report: Israeli Regulator and Union Threaten Sale of Zim to Hapag

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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Russian Military Cargo Ship Continues Mysterious Maneuvers

Report: Israeli Regulator and Union Threaten Sale of Zim to Hapag

Chagos Islanders Return Home as UK Weighs Their Fate

Iranian and Russian Navies Carry Out Anti-Piracy Drills, Without China

Op-Ed: IMO Guidelines Are Quietly Weakening the Basel Convention

Russian Military Cargo Ship Continues Mysterious Maneuvers

Firefighters Put Out Scrap Metal Fire Aboard Bulker at Port of Vancouver

Turkey's State Oil Company Joins Shell in Black Sea E&P Venture

Kongsberg Discovery Pushes Electromagnetic Sensing Envelope

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Adds Three Ships Extending Orders to 2037

Port of Los Angeles Expects Continued Weakness After January Decline

Environmental Remediation at Aging Ports

Beyond Sanctions Lists: Navigating Fragmented Enforcement in Maritime Trade

The Modular Pivot: Repurposing Containers as Strategic Infrastructure

Russian Military Cargo Ship Continues Mysterious Maneuvers

Firefighters Put Out Scrap Metal Fire Aboard Bulker at Port of Vancouver

Turkey's State Oil Company Joins Shell in Black Sea E&P Venture

Kongsberg Discovery Pushes Electromagnetic Sensing Envelope

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Adds Three Ships Extending Orders to 2037

Port of Los Angeles Expects Continued Weakness After January Decline

DOJ Files Appeal on Court Blocking Trump’s Moratorium on Wind Energy

Austal USA Appoints its Fourth President in Five Years

Navigating the Deadlock: Accelleron’s Daniel Bischofberger on Green Fuels

Report: Israeli Regulator and Union Threaten Sale of Zim to Hapag

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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