Taiwan Fines and Deports Fishing Boat Captain Who Damaged Subsea Cables

Maersk Offshore Wind’s Installation Vessel Completes Sea Trials

Published Jan 9, 2026 3:38 PM by The Maritime Executive

Maersk Offshore Wind and Seatrium reported that their under-construction massive offshore wind installation vessel has completed sea trials. The vessel’s delivery, however, is approaching as the future of the U.S. offshore wind industry for which it was designed remains uncertain. Seatrium reports that the vessel, which is approximately 475 feet (145 meters) in length, successfully completed its trials in the South China Sea. Both Maersk Offshore Wind and the vessel’s classification society participated in the trials. They are continuing to...

Seafarers Killed and Injured as Russia Strikes Two Ships Near Ukraine

Published Jan 9, 2026 2:03 PM by The Maritime Executive

Russian forces struck two cargo ships on Friday, January 9, killing one seafarer and injuring a second crewmember, according to Ukrainian officials. It comes as Ukraine continues to accuse Russia of “deliberately targeting civilian facilities, international shipping, and food logistics.” The attack on civilian shipping came after an overnight barrage, which was one of the largest in the four-year war, and only the second time Russia has used its Oreshnik hypersonic missiles. The hypersonic missile was first deployed in November...

U.S. Seizes Fifth “Ghost Fleet” Tanker in the Caribbean

Published Jan 9, 2026 11:59 AM by The Maritime Executive

In what they are describing as a “re-dawn action,” U.S. forces boarded another shadow fleet tanker and took control of the vessel, which was in the Caribbean. It is the fifth tanker associated with the Venezuela oil trade that the Trump administration has seized, while reports said several other vessels are currently being tracked. The U.S. Marines, along with sailors from Joint Task Force Southern Spear, launched the seizure supporting the U.S. Coast Guard, which is reported to be in...

Iranian Navy Frigates Leave Bandar Abbas as Protests in Iran Intensify

Published Jan 9, 2026 9:08 AM by The Maritime Executive

While much of Western media has focused in recent days on the situation in Venezuela and connected maritime activity, protests, and sometimes violent demonstrations, which started at the end of December, have continued in Iran. Protests have affected almost all provinces, but with an emphasis on rural areas, Tehran, and the western provinces of Ilam and Lorestan bordering Iraq. As of the morning of January 8, an estimated 45 persons have been killed by security forces in these protests. While...

Shipping

Severe Winter Storm Hits UK Shipping, Sends Containers Overboard

The UK’s Maritime & Coastguard Agency is reporting a busy night and efforts on Friday, January 9, to track containers after a severe winter storm crossed the region around the English Channel overnight. Warnings were posted for shipping as containers went overboard near the Isle of Wight. In meteorological terms, the storm became what is known as a bomb cyclone, where the storm rapidly intensifies. It, however, left local areas surprised by the ferocity. There were reports of wind gusts...

Tugs & Salvage

Dead Whale on Boxship's Bow Prompts Investigation

A small container ship arrived in Camden, New Jersey last week with a dead fin whale on the bulbous bow, and an investigation into the cause of death is under way. Late Sunday night, Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay reported a deceased whale on the bow of a reefer boxship at the north end of the Gloucester City Marine Terminal, next to the Walt Whitman Bridge. NOAA and the nonprofit Marine Mammal Stranding Center (MMSC) were alerted, and MMSC tentatively...

Government

U.S. Seizes Fifth “Ghost Fleet” Tanker in the Caribbean

Corporate News

IMO: Raft Of Shipping Rules in Force From January 1, 2026

[By: IMO] A set of amendments to key IMO treaties and Codes have entered into force on 1 January 2026. They include the following: Preventing and responding to bullying, harassment and sexual assault Amendments to the Seafarers' Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Code (STCW Code) aim to prevent and respond to violence and harassment in the maritime sector, including sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault. The amendments are included in table A-VI/1-4 (Specification of minimum standard of competence in personal safety...

Cruise Ships

Appeals Court Suspends Hawaii’s “Green Fee” for Cruise Ships Pending Appeal

Hawaii’s hotly contested and closely followed “Green Fee,” a new tax on hotels, short-stay rentals, and cruises, suffered a setback just hours before it was due to go into effect. It is the first tax of its kind imposed on tourists to contribute to the state’s costs of addressing environmental issues. Two judges on the U.S. 9th Circuit Court granted on New Year’s Eve (December 31) a last-minute request for an injunction in a suit brought by the cruise industry...

Ports

Container Imports to U.S. Expected to Remain Down Till Spring Says Retailer

The National Retail Federation issued its first outlook for 2026 imports, saying that it believes retailers are assessing what is ahead for 2026 and, as such, import levels are expected to remain down year-over-year until at least spring. While they expect a slight increase this month due to the change in timing of the Lunar New Year holiday in Asia, the retail trade group expects overall import levels will be down five percent year-over-year for the first five months of...

Shipping

Severe Winter Storm Hits UK Shipping, Sends Containers Overboard

Tugs & Salvage

Dead Whale on Boxship's Bow Prompts Investigation

Government

U.S. Seizes Fifth “Ghost Fleet” Tanker in the Caribbean

Corporate News

IMO: Raft Of Shipping Rules in Force From January 1, 2026

Cruise Ships

Appeals Court Suspends Hawaii’s “Green Fee” for Cruise Ships Pending Appeal

Ports

Container Imports to U.S. Expected to Remain Down Till Spring Says Retailer

Offshore

Maersk Offshore Wind’s Installation Vessel Completes Sea Trials

Shipbuilding

Hanwha Defense and HavocAI Team Up on Midsize Unmanned Vessels

Korean industrial conglomerate Hanwha has been expanding its portfolio of projects in the U.S. naval and defense space, and on Thursday it announced a new agreement with an American autonomous-vessel company to compete in the medium-sized unmanned warship space. The deal pairs Hanwha Defense USA and Hanwha Systems with HavocAI, a two-year-old startup run by two Navy veterans. Jointly, the firms will explore building a 200-foot-long autonomous surface vessel, and Hanwha Philly Shipyard is under consideration as the place of...

Environment

Researchers Say the Oceans Have Passed a Milestone for Acidification

[By Anna Napolitano] The past 12 months have been worrying for researchers who study the chemistry of the ocean. More and more evidence has been published showing that human activities are fundamentally altering this chemistry in an acidic direction. At the end of 2025, it seems clear ocean acidification is pushing the largest habitat on Earth into a risky zone. Ocean acidification is part of the global carbon cycle. When carbon dioxide dissolves in water, it forms carbonic acid. This...

Business

Hanwha Philly Shipbuilding drydock construction

Report: Hanwha Ocean Looks to Expand in US with Possible Second Shipbuilder

During an exclusive interview with The Wall Street Journal, an executive for Hanwha Defense said the company continues to actively discuss options to expand the Philly Shipyard operation, as well as possibly purchasing a second shipyard in the United States. The South Korean company, the exclusive report said, looks to increase capacity to realize the strong opportunities coming from the Trump administration. The article reports that Hanwha is already in “active conversation” with the Pentagon for potential deals. It cites...

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Taiwan Fines and Deports Fishing Boat Captain Who Damaged Subsea Cables

Maersk Offshore Wind’s Installation Vessel Completes Sea Trials

Seafarers Killed and Injured as Russia Strikes Two Ships Near Ukraine

U.S. Seizes Fifth “Ghost Fleet” Tanker in the Caribbean

Iranian Navy Frigates Leave Bandar Abbas as Protests in Iran Intensify

Severe Winter Storm Hits UK Shipping, Sends Containers Overboard

Dead Whale on Boxship's Bow Prompts Investigation

U.S. Seizes Fifth “Ghost Fleet” Tanker in the Caribbean

IMO: Raft Of Shipping Rules in Force From January 1, 2026

Appeals Court Suspends Hawaii’s “Green Fee” for Cruise Ships Pending Appeal

Container Imports to U.S. Expected to Remain Down Till Spring Says Retailer

California Protects Blue Whales and Blue Skies With Historic State Law

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

Drew Marine Insights Tour: Connecting Expertise with Shipboard Challenges

Severe Winter Storm Hits UK Shipping, Sends Containers Overboard

Dead Whale on Boxship's Bow Prompts Investigation

U.S. Seizes Fifth “Ghost Fleet” Tanker in the Caribbean

IMO: Raft Of Shipping Rules in Force From January 1, 2026

Appeals Court Suspends Hawaii’s “Green Fee” for Cruise Ships Pending Appeal

Container Imports to U.S. Expected to Remain Down Till Spring Says Retailer

Maersk Offshore Wind’s Installation Vessel Completes Sea Trials

Hanwha Defense and HavocAI Team Up on Midsize Unmanned Vessels

Researchers Say the Oceans Have Passed a Milestone for Acidification

Report: Hanwha Ocean Looks to Expand in US with Possible Second Shipbuilder

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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Maritime Industry Conferences and Events