The Japanese southern islands worrying China (Google Earth/CJRC)

Japanese Naval Strengthening Steals Limelight at U.S.-China Talks

New Zealand Conducts UN Patrol Targeting North Korean Sanctions Avoidance

Published Sep 27, 2026 11:00 AM by The Maritime Executive

The Royal New Zealand Navy recently completed a three-month deployment designed to bolster enforcement of United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea. It was the first time the Anzac-class frigate HMNZS Te Mana was deployed in support of the sanctions monitoring program and expanded on New Zealand’s air and sea patrols conducted since 2018. New Zealand launched a task force consisting of the 3,600-ton displacement frigate and the sustainment vessel HMNZS Aotearoa. The frigate, which was commissioned in 1999,...

From Compliance to Capability in Environmental Performance

Published Sep 27, 2026 10:11 AM by Julia Anastasiou

Shipping is no stranger to regulation. New requirements come into force, procedures are updated, training is arranged and vessels adapt. It is a cycle our industry knows very well. But the scale and pace of the environmental transition we are now facing means that responding to each new requirement as it arrives is no longer enough. That makes this year’s World Maritime Day, taking place on 24 September, particularly relevant. The International Maritime Organization has chosen “From Policy to Practice:...

New Zealand Invests $20 Million in New Offshore Gas Projects

Published Sep 27, 2026 10:05 AM by The Maritime Executive

New Zealand has made further progress in restarting domestic gas production with a new round of funding targeting offshore exploration projects. Resources Minister Shane Jones and Associate Finance Minister Chris Bishop this week announced $21 million financing for two offshore gas projects. The financing will be made through the Gas Security Fund (GSF), a $113 million state-owned investment facility to ramp up gas production in New Zealand. One of the projects considered for funding in this round is EnZed Energy’s...

South Korea Increases Budget to Expand Coast Guard Operations

Published Sep 27, 2026 10:00 AM by The Maritime Executive

South Korea’s Ministry of Planning and Budget detailed increases to the government’s budget dedicated to expanding the capabilities of the Coast Guard. It plans the addition of new patrol boats and enforcement vessels as part of increased enforcement efforts against illegal fishing and overall maritime safety. Officials toured the West Sea operations, reviewing the status of responses to illegal foreign fishing vessels, especially near the border, which they call the Northern Limit Line. They also reviewed overall maritime security operations...

Shipping

Big Three

The ship registry industry is undergoing a sea change. As business booms with the global fleet reaching approximately 112,500 vessels and 2.44 billion deadweight tons in 2025, growth is consolidating around the most trusted and capable flags. These have evolved into sophisticated, round-the-clock regulatory service organizations built on compliance, predictable pricing and White List performance. Nearly 50 percent of registered tonnage is now held by the three largest flags: Liberia with 17.4 percent, Panama with 15.2 percent and the Marshall...

Tugs & Salvage

Video: Greek Cargo RoRo Abandoned After Fire Breaks Out Off Mykonos

The crew and one truck driver aboard the Greek RoRo cargo ferry Blue Carrier 2 have been safely evacuated after a fire broke out on the ship Friday morning, September 25, north of Mykonos. Firefighting efforts are still underway, although it appears they have been able to place a towline on the 9,655-dwt RoRo. The fire appears to have started on the deck of the ferry, possibly in one of the garages. The vessel was carrying 166 trucks and 29...

Government

Fire-damaged, false-flagged LNG carrier Arctic Metagaz (NOC Libya)

CREA: Europe is Getting Results With Crackdown on False-Flagged Ships

Europe’s decision to intensify its crackdown and detentions of the shadow fleet transporting Russia’s crude is achieving results following a drastic decline in the number of vessels flying false flags and a growing number of sanctioned vessels seeking refuge in the Russian flag registry. A report by nonprofit think tank Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) shows that due to detentions, the number of shadow vessels flying false flags has declined from a peak of 101 in...

Corporate News

Port Canaveral and GT USA Sign Lease Agreement to Expand Cargo Operations

[By Canaveral Port Authority] Port Canaveral announced today that it has executed an agreement with longtime Canaveral Cargo Terminal operator GT USA for a new lease of up to 25 years for an additional 10 acres of land adjacent to their existing 20-acre operation at the Port’s North Cargo Berth 6. “Today’s announcement strengthens our position as a global gateway for commerce to ensure supply chain stability for a range of materials essential to our growing region,” said Capt. John...

Cruise Ships

MSC Cruises Jumps into River Cruising with Explora Journeys

MSC Cruises’ ultra-luxury brand Explora Journeys confirmed that it is entering the European river cruise market. Today’s statement put to rest months of rumors in the market and continues the rapid expansion of the sector. Explora Journeys confirmed it has signed a Letter of Intent with Dutch shipbuilder Dan Breejeen Shipyard for the construction of “its first luxury river ships, marking the brand’s planned entry into river cruising.” It said details regarding the ship design, delivery schedule, and itineraries would...

Ports

Chinese Ports Had Busiest Week Ever for Containers, Says Bloomberg

Export levels from China, especially to the United States, have been defying all the predictions, and now comes news of a further boom. Citing data from China’s Ministry of Transport, Bloomberg reports that Chinese ports had their busiest week in history. The data shows a record 7.3 million containers passed through Chinese terminals in the seven days through September 20, reports Bloomberg. It says this represents a nine percent increase in volume versus the same period of 2025. The gains...

Shipping

Big Three

Tugs & Salvage

Video: Greek Cargo RoRo Abandoned After Fire Breaks Out Off Mykonos

Government

CREA: Europe is Getting Results With Crackdown on False-Flagged Ships

Corporate News

Port Canaveral and GT USA Sign Lease Agreement to Expand Cargo Operations

Cruise Ships

MSC Cruises Jumps into River Cruising with Explora Journeys

Ports

Chinese Ports Had Busiest Week Ever for Containers, Says Bloomberg

Offshore

New Zealand Invests $20 Million in New Offshore Gas Projects

Shipbuilding

The parent hull design for Birdon's MUSV program (Birdon)

Birdon and C&C Begin Building MUSVs for U.S. Navy Competition

Australian-owned marine engineering firm Birdon has begun building its first "tranche" of Medium Unmanned Surface Vessels for the long-awaited U.S. Navy MUSV program, and at a fast pace of one vessel every two months. After several iterations of its MUSV acquisition strategy, the U.S. Navy has picked out seven different companies to compete for the Medium Unmanned Surface Vessel program, including Sea Machines; Leidos; Saronic Technologies; Galliano Marine Services; PacMar Technologies; Birdon; and Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), many in partnership...

Environment

Executive Interview: Carleen Lyden Walker, Co-Founder & CEO, NAMEPA

Carleen Lyden Walker is one of the best-known figures in maritime – founder of her own marketing business, co-founder of NAMEPA, former IMO Maritime Ambassador, Chief Evolution Officer of SHIPPINGInsight and a fierce advocate for all things maritime. She's a frequent speaker and participant at maritime conferences around the world, advocating for seafarers' rights, environmental stewardship and the role of women in maritime while raising the profile of an industry that touches every aspect of human life. Welcome, Carleen, we're...

Business

From Compliance to Capability in Environmental Performance

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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Japanese Naval Strengthening Steals Limelight at U.S.-China Talks

New Zealand Conducts UN Patrol Targeting North Korean Sanctions Avoidance

From Compliance to Capability in Environmental Performance

New Zealand Invests $20 Million in New Offshore Gas Projects

South Korea Increases Budget to Expand Coast Guard Operations

Big Three

Video: Greek Cargo RoRo Abandoned After Fire Breaks Out Off Mykonos

CREA: Europe is Getting Results With Crackdown on False-Flagged Ships

Port Canaveral and GT USA Sign Lease Agreement to Expand Cargo Operations

MSC Cruises Jumps into River Cruising with Explora Journeys

Chinese Ports Had Busiest Week Ever for Containers, Says Bloomberg

Global Industry Leaders to Take the Stage at IBIA Annual Convention 2026

Beyond Web-Based SaaS: The Cloud-Native Advantage

A Mediterranean Residence Worth Pursuing for American Families

Big Three

Video: Greek Cargo RoRo Abandoned After Fire Breaks Out Off Mykonos

CREA: Europe is Getting Results With Crackdown on False-Flagged Ships

Port Canaveral and GT USA Sign Lease Agreement to Expand Cargo Operations

MSC Cruises Jumps into River Cruising with Explora Journeys

Chinese Ports Had Busiest Week Ever for Containers, Says Bloomberg

New Zealand Invests $20 Million in New Offshore Gas Projects

Birdon and C&C Begin Building MUSVs for U.S. Navy Competition

Executive Interview: Carleen Lyden Walker, Co-Founder & CEO, NAMEPA

From Compliance to Capability in Environmental Performance

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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Maritime Industry Conferences and Events