U.S. Boards Sanctioned, Stateless Tanker in the Indian Ocean

Two Venezuela-Linked Tankers Detained in Dutch Caribbean Islands

Published Feb 8, 2026 10:52 PM by The Maritime Executive

With the resumption of Venezuela's oil trade under U.S. management, shipments from state oil company PDVSA have resumed, including some shipments aboard the same shadow fleet tankers that have carried Venezuelan cargoes for years. Under new orders, some of these vessels are now visiting ports with more stringent PSC inspection regimes, and at least two aging tankers have been detained in Caribbean jurisdictions. The Caribbean MOU on Port State Control (CMOU) reports that the small tankers Morning Sun and Regina...

China's Belt and Road Initiative Boomed in 2025

Published Feb 8, 2026 10:32 PM by The Maritime Executive

[By Tom Baxter] Last year, Chinese companies’ “engagement” in 150 countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) reached its highest level since the BRI was launched 12 years ago. The value of construction deals involving Chinese companies reached USD 128 billion, up 81% on 2024. While investments totalled USD 85 billion, up 62%. The unprecedented boom has been revealed by annual data from the Griffith Asia Institute, an Australian think-tank, and the Green Finance and Development Center, a...

A lone tanker at As Salif, Yemen, 2026 (Airbus, Maxar, Data SIO, Google)

Op-Ed: In Shipping, Unenforced Sanctions Are Too Easily Ignored

Published Feb 8, 2026 8:38 PM by The Maritime Executive

The recent movements of the sanctioned chemical/oil products tanker Silver (IMO 9309576) are a rich illustration of how the attractions of profit so easily overcome political loyalties, and how sanctions are ignored by the unscrupulous without consequences. The Silver is false-flagged in landlocked Mali, and is subject to secondary sanctions by the EU, UK (OFSI) and United States’ OFAC, for transporting Russian crude oil and petroleum products. The ship has been previously known as the NS Silver and the Sapphire....

U.S. Will Stick With the IMO, But Aims to Defeat the Net Zero Framework

Published Feb 8, 2026 7:38 PM by The Maritime Executive

The United States appears committed to staying with the International Maritime Organization and attempting to win arguments on the inside, in contrast to its decision to withdraw entirely from some other international organizations - such as the World Health Organization - that it considers lost causes. This was apparent from the attendance last week of Marco Sylvester, the US Deputy Assistant Secretary for Transportation Affairs, at the 16th Annual Capital Link Greek Shipping Forum held in Athens, and his participation...

Shipping

Russian Military Cargo Ship Draws Attention Lingering for Days off Sardinia

A Russian-flagged cargo ship, well-known for its military support operations, was lingering off the coast of Sardinia for nearly a week. While the ship has not violated any regulations, its unusual pattern of behavior has drawn attention, including it appears from the Italian Navy. The Sparta IV (8,870 dwt) is one of a series of Russian cargo ships frequently linked to the movement of military equipment. The ship was spotted making numerous trips to Syria and, along with other ships...

Tugs & Salvage

Thai Navy Rescues Crew from Sinking Regional Boxship

The Royal Thai Navy rescued the 16 crewmembers from Bangladesh on a small containership that issued a distress signal on Saturday, February 7. They are reporting that the crew was rescued uninjured, and Thai officials are now organizing an emergency response after the vessel sank about three miles offshore from the southern coast of the Phuket region. The ship named Sealloyd Arc (6,500 dwt) issued a distress call at approximately 3:20 p.m. local time, reporting it was taking on water....

Government

French Navy Seizes Large Cocaine Shipment from Fishing Vessel

The French Navy is reporting the seizure of a large shipment of cocaine in the Atlantic Ocean region. It was unusual because the smugglers were using a fishing vessel. According to the report, the seizure was made under the authority of the public prosecutor in Brest. The French Customs Intelligence and Investigations unit and the Office of Anti-Narcotics requested the intervention based on intelligence gathered in a joint operation. The British National Crime Agency and the U.S.’s Drug Enforcement Administration...

Corporate News

KR, Korean Government & Industry Partner to Set International Standards

[By: Korean Register] As the maritime industry accelerates its transition to zero-carbon fuels in line with the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s 2050 net-zero target, ammonia-fueled ships are emerging as a promising next-generation solution. While the IMO has established interim guidelines to facilitate the use of ammonia as a marine fuel, international standards governing the safe treatment and discharge of toxic ammonia effluent generated during vessel operations have yet to be developed. During the operation of ammonia-fueled ships, effluent containing toxic...

Cruise Ships

Strength of Cruise Market Spurs New Niche Startups

The continuing strong demand for cruise vacations and the positive outlook are once again attracting new players into the market and driving the formation of niche offerings. The COVID-19 pandemic and the economics of operating cruise ships largely drove small players from the market, but the strength of the industry is once again creating interest for new companies. Much of the focus on 2026 will be on the entry of the luxury hotel brands into the market. Ritz-Carlton started the...

Ports

Executive Interview: John Bressler, VP of Government Relations at AAPA

Hailed as "the preeminent voice of the seaport industry in the Americas" and representing more than 130 public port authorities, the AAPA is a vocal advocate of issues vital to U.S. seaports. We talked to its head of government relations to find out what some of those issues are. Welcome, John! Tell our readers about the AAPA – its history and purpose. The organization was originally founded in 1912 at a New York City conference of public port officials from...

Shipping

Russian Military Cargo Ship Draws Attention Lingering for Days off Sardinia

Tugs & Salvage

Thai Navy Rescues Crew from Sinking Regional Boxship

Government

French Navy Seizes Large Cocaine Shipment from Fishing Vessel

Corporate News

KR, Korean Government & Industry Partner to Set International Standards

Cruise Ships

Strength of Cruise Market Spurs New Niche Startups

Ports

Executive Interview: John Bressler, VP of Government Relations at AAPA

Offshore

Massachusetts Looks to Nova Scotia to Supply Offshore Wind Energy

Faced with the need for more electrical power and a desire to expand renewable energy, Massachusetts is looking toward the import of renewable energy from neighboring Nova Scotia. The first-of-its-kind agreement would present a novel solution to meeting the needs while also addressing the opposition of the Trump administration to the development of offshore wind energy generation. Massachusetts is a strong supporter of the offshore wind energy industry, with some of the first large projects in the United States. It...

Shipbuilding

French Private Equity Firm Buys Vigor Industrial

French private equity firm Antin Infrastructure Partners has reached an agreement to buy the American shipyard company Vigor Marine Group, bringing new foreign ownership to a key ship repair partner for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. Vigor, previously owned by Lone Star Funds, has expanded through serial acquisitions in recent years. It now includes five yards on the West and East Coasts near key fleet concentration areas: Seattle, Portland and Vancouver, within reach of the constellation of bases in...

Environment

Northern Lights has Deals With Shipping Lines to Double CO2 Transport Fleet

The Norwegian CO2 storage initiative, which became the first commercial operation for carbon capture and storage, announced a new deal that will double the company’s fleet by 2029. This comes just months after the company completed its first injection of liquid CO2 for permanent storage. Northern Lights, which is a joint venture between Equinor, TotalEnergies, and Shell, reports it has struck a new charter deal with major shipping companies, including existing partner Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (“K” Line), while adding MISC...

Business

China's Belt and Road Initiative Boomed in 2025

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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U.S. Boards Sanctioned, Stateless Tanker in the Indian Ocean

Two Venezuela-Linked Tankers Detained in Dutch Caribbean Islands

China's Belt and Road Initiative Boomed in 2025

Op-Ed: In Shipping, Unenforced Sanctions Are Too Easily Ignored

U.S. Will Stick With the IMO, But Aims to Defeat the Net Zero Framework

Russian Military Cargo Ship Draws Attention Lingering for Days off Sardinia

Thai Navy Rescues Crew from Sinking Regional Boxship

French Navy Seizes Large Cocaine Shipment from Fishing Vessel

KR, Korean Government & Industry Partner to Set International Standards

Strength of Cruise Market Spurs New Niche Startups

Executive Interview: John Bressler, VP of Government Relations at AAPA

Beyond Sanctions Lists: Navigating Fragmented Enforcement in Maritime Trade

The Modular Pivot: Repurposing Containers as Strategic Infrastructure

Navigating Port Funding Uncertainty: Adaptation Unlocks Opportunities

Russian Military Cargo Ship Draws Attention Lingering for Days off Sardinia

Thai Navy Rescues Crew from Sinking Regional Boxship

French Navy Seizes Large Cocaine Shipment from Fishing Vessel

KR, Korean Government & Industry Partner to Set International Standards

Strength of Cruise Market Spurs New Niche Startups

Executive Interview: John Bressler, VP of Government Relations at AAPA

Massachusetts Looks to Nova Scotia to Supply Offshore Wind Energy

French Private Equity Firm Buys Vigor Industrial

Northern Lights has Deals With Shipping Lines to Double CO2 Transport Fleet

China's Belt and Road Initiative Boomed in 2025

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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