Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Media Kit
US Marines looking at tanker

Video: U.S. Forces Board and Redirect Iranian Product Tanker

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Saudi Route 10, the world's longest continuously straight road (Slayym / CC BY SA 4.0)

Iran War Prompts GCC Countries to Reduce Regional Trade Barriers

Published May 20, 2026 4:02 PM by The Maritime Executive

Faced with the urgent demands of their customers, logistics operators are not waiting for a political settlement to the war in the Gulf to solve their problems and the interruption of supply through the Strait of Hormuz. Customs procedures within the GCC have always been an impediment to truck movements, but the lack of external, direct shipments into the Gulf has forced traffic onto the roads linking markets with the ports where there is still free access. These customs delays...

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very large crude oil tanker

Chinese and Korean VLCCs Clear Hormuz as Iran Claims to Increase Traffic

Published May 20, 2026 1:31 PM by The Maritime Executive

Iran continues to control the flow of tankers through the Strait of Hormuz for political and propaganda gains as the war of words continues over the peace negotiations. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy is claiming to have increased the flow with Chinese tankers and the first South Korean tanker permitted to make the transit, while many other vessels continue to wait. Iran is highlighting the latest transits as Donald Trump again made statements that time was running out...

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Water Spirit 2 Med-moored in the channel, upper left (Google / Maxar)

Med-Mooring Dispute Interrupts Cargo Deliveries to U.S. Virgin Islands

Published May 19, 2026 10:38 PM by The Maritime Executive

Med-mooring is standard practice in some parts of the world (notably the Greek ferry sector), but the U.S. Coast Guard has banned two vessels from using this system on a narrow waterway in San Juan - potentially disrupting freight deliveries to the U.S. Virgin Islands. The small cargo vessels Water Spirit 2 and Admiral Pride operate regular cargo routes from the regional transshipment hub of San Juan to neighboring islands, including Tortola, St. Croix, St. Thomas, Anguilla and St. Martin....

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An image of the missing grating where rig worker Jason Thomas is believed to have disappeared (UK HSE)

Valaris Fined for Rig Worker's Fatal Fall Through Hole in Deck Grating

Published May 19, 2026 9:46 PM by The Maritime Executive

A court in Aberdeen, Scotland has fined rig operator Valaris a total of $385,000 for the death of a worker who fell through a hole left by a missing deck grating. On January 22, 2023, the rig Valaris 121 was under tow towards Dundee, Scotland in worsening weather and 15-foot waves. Jason Thomas, 50, was the deck supervisor during the day shift. At about 1430 hours he was seen in the staff lounge on break, departing about half an hour...

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Offshore

An image of the missing grating where rig worker Jason Thomas is believed to have disappeared (UK HSE)

Valaris Fined for Rig Worker's Fatal Fall Through Hole in Deck Grating

A court in Aberdeen, Scotland has fined rig operator Valaris a total of $385,000 for the death of a worker who fell through a hole left by a missing deck grating. On January 22, 2023, the rig Valaris 121 was under tow towards Dundee, Scotland in worsening weather and 15-foot waves. Jason Thomas, 50, was the deck supervisor during the day shift. At about 1430 hours he was seen in the staff lounge on break, departing about half an hour...

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Shipbuilding

USS Cleveland

U.S. Navy Commissions its Very Last Littoral Combat Ship

After 18 years, the U.S. Navy has commissioned the last Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship, a lightweight, high-speed surface combatant designed by a prominent aerospace contractor during the Global War on Terror. In discussing the twin LCS classes, Navy officials have focused not on their capabilities or problems, but on celebrating the tireless efforts of crewmembers to make their ships as effective as possible. That emphasis was present at Cleveland's commissioning ceremony as well. "Today we celebrate the sailors who breathe...

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Environment

offshore vessel charging

EU Funds Pilot to Demonstrate Offshore Power Zones to Charge Vessels

The European Union’s flagship Horizon Europe research and innovation program is providing a €5 million ($5.8 million) grant to an international consortium led by Stillstrom, a Maersk company, to develop and demonstrate offshore charging infrastructure for stationary vessels at anchor with their engines running. The project is due to kick off next month, June, and is expected to run for 36 months, demonstrating the concept and also assessing commercial viability and regulatory pathways to support wider adoption of offshore charging....

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Business

Coal

Indonesia Imposes Commodity Export Controls to Fight Tax Evasion

Indonesia's government is making an unusual move to centralize control over the export of commodity products, notably palm oil to coal. The decision has significant implications for regional trade, as Indonesia is the largest exporter of thermal coal in the world, and coal demand is running high due to the war-related disruption in Mideast LNG supplies. The government's objective is to combat tax evasion, which is facilitated by the widespread practice of falsifying the invoices presented to customs officials, estimated...

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