As Suez Traffic Cautiously Returns, Houthis Make New Threats

Cargo ship loading for Antarctica resupply mission

U.S. Antarctic Resupply Mission Underway with Chartered Dutch Ship

Published Jan 15, 2026 7:48 PM by The Maritime Executive

Each year, the U.S. Military Sealift Command, in coordination with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Navy, undertakes a grueling, more than 8,000 nautical mile mission to resupply McMurdo Station in Antarctica. The USCG polar icebreaker Polar Star has already arrived in Antarctica and now the cargo operation has begun, but this year the U.S. is using a chartered Dutch heavy lift vessel. The Polar Star has begun its first ice breaking for Operation Deep Freeze 2026. The USCG vessel...

Adm. Kevin Lunday Takes Oath of Office as Next Coast Guard Commandant

Published Jan 15, 2026 7:11 PM by The Maritime Executive

Adm. Kevin Lunday has taken the oath of office as the 28th commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, formalizing a role he has held in an acting capacity since early this year. "With almost 40 years in the Coast Guard, and with command experience that has ranged from the Indo-Pacific to the Persian Gulf to cyberspace, Kevin Lunday was the man for the job. Congratulations, Admiral Lunday!" said Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem in a statement. Adm. Lunday is...

Maersk Resumes First Route Through Suez Canal–Red Sea After Two Years

Published Jan 15, 2026 6:49 PM by The Maritime Executive

Maersk is drawing a lot of attention with its announcement today that it has restarted its first service on its normal routing through the Red Sea and Suez Canal. Long seen as a bellwether for the industry, Maersk's move to fulfill its commitments to the Suez Canal Authority for a return is seen as a pivotal moment for the industry following a similar move this month by CMA CGM. In an announcement from Maersk, it called the move the “next...

10 Senators Ask NOAA to Protect U.S. Red Snapper Fishery From Poachers

Published Jan 15, 2026 6:47 PM by The Maritime Executive

Senators from all of the U.S. Gulf Coast states have called for more support from the federal government to deter Mexican illegal fishing operators, who routinely cross the maritime boundary to poach fish in U.S. waters. The catch is often sold across the border into U.S. markets, and 10 senators have called for more enforcement targeting these imports in order to remove the market incentive for illegal fishing. Sen. John Kennedy, Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and eight other senators are...

Shipping

Have U.S. Tariffs Failed To Bite?

[By Jiao Wang] The numbers are in, and they paint a picture that defies the conventional wisdom of Washington’s trade hawks. In 2025, China’s trade surplus surged to a record high of US$1.2 trillion (£900 billion). In December alone, the surplus reached US$114 billion, driven by a higher-than-expected 6.6% growth in exports and 5.7% growth in imports. The trade surplus refers to the amount by which Chinese exports outnumber its imports. And far from being strangled by external pressure –...

Tugs & Salvage

Ukrainian drone boats attack a shadow fleet tanker in the Black Sea, December 2025 (Courtesy Security Service of Ukraine)

Russian and Ukrainian Strikes Are Raising War Risk Insurance Costs

War risk insurance is one of the biggest factors affecting whether shipowners will trade in a conflict zone, and high insurance rates are an effective means of deterring vessel traffic. When excessive, it adds hundreds of thousands of dollars in cost for every week spent in the coverage area. The recent intensification of conflict in the Black Sea has raised the stakes for insurers, and the costs are getting passed on to shipowners: costs are now as high as one...

Government

As Suez Traffic Cautiously Returns, Houthis Make New Threats

Shipping lines have been exploring a reopening of their container line services through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea. CMA CGM has led the way. After having maintained some transits using naval protection during the conflict with the Houthis, the French carrier has returned two regular container line services starting this month. It follows the passage through the Red Sea by their French-flagged CMA CGM Jacques Saade and Marshall Island-flagged CMA CGM Adonis, both of whom have both made...

Corporate News

Birdon Awarded US Coast Guard Contract for Response Boat–Small Demonstrator

[By: Birdon America, Inc.] Birdon America, Inc. has been awarded a firm fixed price contract to build a Response Boat-Small (RB-S) Demonstrator for the United States Coast Guard (USCG). This award underscores Birdon’s commitment to providing its customers with innovative, reliable solutions that ensure mission success in maritime operations. The RB-S Demonstrator program is a critical initiative by the USCG to evaluate advanced capabilities for key missions such as Search and Rescue (SAR); Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security (PWCS); Drug...

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

Shanghai Exceeds 55 Million TEU in Container Throughput for 2025

The Shanghai International Port Group is highlighting that its port operation has remained the world’s busiest container port for the 16th consecutive year. They also report completion of the 14th Five-Year Plan as it looks toward the future by taking more steps to build its role as a global container transshipment hub. Releasing its final tally for 2025, SIPG says the Shanghai port overall handled 55.06 million TEU, which was a 6.9 percent increase in throughput. Over volume, however, lagged...

Shipping

Have U.S. Tariffs Failed To Bite?

Tugs & Salvage

Russian and Ukrainian Strikes Are Raising War Risk Insurance Costs

Government

As Suez Traffic Cautiously Returns, Houthis Make New Threats

Corporate News

Birdon Awarded US Coast Guard Contract for Response Boat–Small Demonstrator

Cruise Ships

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

Ports

Shanghai Exceeds 55 Million TEU in Container Throughput for 2025

Offshore

Empire Wind Gets Court-Ordered Injunction Against U.S. to Resume Work

A U.S. District Court Judge on Thursday, January 15, found for Equinor and its Empire Wind offshore project issuing a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration’s December stop-work order on the construction of offshore wind farms. It was the second court this week to issue a preliminary injunction, with others expected to rule in the coming days, while today the judge said the court would expedite a decision on the underlying case. The injunction issued for Empire Wind came one...

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

Dry Bulk Takeover Battle Heats Up Between Diana and Genco

Two of the leaders in the dry bulk space, Genco Shipping & Trading and Diana Shipping, are trading public jabs in the brewing takeover battle that calls for consolidating the dry bulk sector. Both companies issued public statements six weeks after Diana first went public with its rumored efforts to buy Genco. Both companies emphasize the opportunities they see emerging in the dry bulk sector. Combined, they would have a fleet of approximately 80 vessels with approximately 9 million dwt....

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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As Suez Traffic Cautiously Returns, Houthis Make New Threats

U.S. Antarctic Resupply Mission Underway with Chartered Dutch Ship

Adm. Kevin Lunday Takes Oath of Office as Next Coast Guard Commandant

Maersk Resumes First Route Through Suez Canal–Red Sea After Two Years

10 Senators Ask NOAA to Protect U.S. Red Snapper Fishery From Poachers

Have U.S. Tariffs Failed To Bite?

Russian and Ukrainian Strikes Are Raising War Risk Insurance Costs

As Suez Traffic Cautiously Returns, Houthis Make New Threats

Birdon Awarded US Coast Guard Contract for Response Boat–Small Demonstrator

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

Shanghai Exceeds 55 Million TEU in Container Throughput for 2025

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

Have U.S. Tariffs Failed To Bite?

Russian and Ukrainian Strikes Are Raising War Risk Insurance Costs

As Suez Traffic Cautiously Returns, Houthis Make New Threats

Birdon Awarded US Coast Guard Contract for Response Boat–Small Demonstrator

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

Shanghai Exceeds 55 Million TEU in Container Throughput for 2025

Empire Wind Gets Court-Ordered Injunction Against U.S. to Resume Work

Report: India Wants to Ramp Up its Warship Exports

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

Dry Bulk Takeover Battle Heats Up Between Diana and Genco

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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Maritime Industry Conferences and Events