Greek Tanker Sails for the U.S. with First Russian Diesel Cargo

UAE Confirms Approaching Oil Spill as Iran Claims Continued Attacks

Published Oct 23, 2026 4:29 PM by The Maritime Executive

The UAE confirmed earlier reports of a large and spreading oil spill along the Persian Gulf side of the Khor Al Beidah peninsula while Iran continues to claim tanker strikes as it enforces rules for the Strait of Hormuz. It comes as there appears to be a continuing escalation, or propaganda effort, which is being linked to the Israeli legislative elections on October 27 and the U.S. midterm election on November 3. The slick had first been spotted earlier in...

Sierra Leone Launches National Shipping Carrier with Chinese Support

Published Oct 23, 2026 3:32 PM by The Maritime Executive

With governments across Africa planning to grow domestic fleets, Sierra Leone has moved ahead by establishing a national shipping company. President Julius Maada Bio presided last week over the launch at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay in the country’s port city and capital, Freetown. The establishment of the national carrier is part of the wider maritime sector reforms being undertaken by the government. The backdrop to the ceremony was the Chinese-owned bulker XH Explorer (176,298 dwt). The vessel, built in...

China concept floating island for marine research

China to Build Self-Propelled Floating Marine Research Island

Published Oct 23, 2026 2:33 PM by The Maritime Executive

The construction order was signed this week in China for what is being called the world’s first floating deep-sea island. Designed for ocean research, it will be a self-propelled vessel, a catamaran designed for long-term residence at sea with the ability to change positions. The ship will be built by Shanghai Waigaoqiao, which highlights that it will leverage its experience building the world’s largest sixth-generation 3,000-meter-deep-water semi-submersible drilling platform. The yard also highlights that China is the first shipbuilding nation...

Romania Blames Russia for Ship Attack Leaving 1 Dead and 3 Missing

Published Oct 23, 2026 12:09 PM by The Maritime Executive

Romania is conducting a search and rescue mission after another small cargo ship was attacked in the Black Sea. At the same time, Romania officials reversed earlier calls for investigations and directly blamed Russia for the latest incidents, while the EU and NATO also vowed to increase their support. The Comoros-flagged OBO carrier (Oil-Bulk-Ore carrier) Khoryv (3,280 dwt) issued a distress call on Friday morning, October 23, while it was approximately 13 nautical miles east of Constanta, Romania. The ship...

Shipping

UAE Confirms Approaching Oil Spill as Iran Claims Continued Attacks

Tugs & Salvage

Salvage Teams Continue to Fight Fires on Two Boxships at Sea

Salvage teams are continuing to work on two different containership fires. Both Seaspan, as the owner of the Espirito Santo Express, and HMM updated on the status of their vessels, highlighting the difficulties the industry faces from fires at sea. A spokesperson for HMM told The Maritime Executive that the firefighting operations aboard the HMM Platinum are “in the final dampening-down stage. Once the fire is fully extinguished, the vessel is scheduled to proceed to a near port to conduct...

Government

The Blockade on Iran is Deepening – But Also Widening

It is generally accepted that the U.S. naval blockade on Iran, targeting both Iranian ships and ports, is nearly 100 percent effective. Iran has not been able to export oil for many weeks, and stocks built up as a contingency reserve before the war are now either exhausted or are nearly run down. The effect is now being felt by the Iranian government, which will be losing approximately 40 percent of the revenues on which its annual budget is based....

Corporate News

Paolo Moretti Appointed Group Chief Executive Officer

[By: RINA] At its meeting today, RINA S.p.A.’s new Board of Directors appointed Paolo Moretti, currently General Manager, as Group Chief Executive Officer. Moretti succeeds Carlo Luzzatto, who had served as Chief Executive Officer since December 2023. The Board of Directors extends its sincere thanks to Luzzatto for his dedication to the Group’s development. Ugo Salerno will continue as Executive Chairman, with responsibility for communications and institutional relations. The leadership transition marks a further step in RINA’s development, in line...

Cruise Ships

Carnival Deals Blow to Australia Ending Deployment of Two Cruise Ships

In the latest blow to Australia’s already struggling cruise industry, Carnival Cruise Line announced it will redeploy permanently to North America two of the four cruise ships it has had in the market. While Australia is the fourth largest overall cruise market, a coalition formed earlier this year highlighted that the market is sagging under rising costs and a lack of regulatory certainty. Carnival Cruise Line announced the Carnival Adventure (108,865 gross tons with accommodations for up to 3,150 passengers)...

Ports

The Russian nuclear power barge Akademik Lomonosov is the best-known working example of a seaport-based nuclear power plant (Elena Dider / CC BY)

LR: Ports Will Benefit From Early Planning for Nuclear Power Systems

In a new white paper, Lloyd's Register and the British Ports Association (BPA) are encouraging port operators to get ready for the arrival of nuclear-powered vessels and microreactor power units, which could both accelerate port decarbonization. Ports are increasingly reliant on wattage-hungry equipment, having invested in electrification as a way to reduce their carbon footprints. The need to feed electric cranes, battery-electric rolling stock, shore power stations and other big consumption sources can outstrip the supply available from the local...

Shipping

UAE Confirms Approaching Oil Spill as Iran Claims Continued Attacks

Tugs & Salvage

Salvage Teams Continue to Fight Fires on Two Boxships at Sea

Government

The Blockade on Iran is Deepening – But Also Widening

Corporate News

Paolo Moretti Appointed Group Chief Executive Officer

Cruise Ships

Carnival Deals Blow to Australia Ending Deployment of Two Cruise Ships

Ports

LR: Ports Will Benefit From Early Planning for Nuclear Power Systems

Offshore

Locals clean Agua Dulce beach in the municipality of Lerdo de Tejada, Veracruz state, Mexico. The state oil company Pemex reported 798 pipeline spills and leaks to its financial regulators during 2014-2025 (Image: Rodrigo Soberanes)

A Year of Offshore Oil Spills Prompts Growing Concern in Mexico

[By Rodrigo Soberanes] In early March, Andrés Palma was watching his children build a sandcastle on the beach in El Bosque, south-east Mexico. The fisher soon noticed that something was not quite right: his children were playing in sand laced with crude oil residue. Palma was witnessing the consequences of a huge oil spill that happened in February, which triggered a 30-day fishing ban and has contaminated fishing grounds along the Gulf coast. Its source was initially disputed but in...

Shipbuilding

HD Hyundai and Kiewit Plan to Develop New Gulf Coast Shipyard

South Korea’s largest shipbuilder, HD Hyundai, is continuing its efforts to expand in the U.S. market, announcing a new joint venture with Texas-based Kiewit Maritime, an affiliate of Kiewit Offshore Services. The companies announced plans to establish HD Kiewit Shipbuilding and envision developing a new, purpose-built shipyard on an existing industrial site along the U.S. Gulf Coast. No details were announced on the yard, but they said the approach would create modern vessel production facilities while making use of an...

Environment

China to Build Self-Propelled Floating Marine Research Island

Business

Defense Arm of US Investment Manager Buys Fraser Industries

A group focused on investments in the U.S. defense sector, recently launched by a Florida-based investment manager, has agreed to acquire the Wisconsin-based Fraser Shipyards as part of a planned move into shipbuilding and defense sector investments. Wildcat Defense, part of Wildcat Equity Partners, reports it plans to make investments in the operations after closing the acquisition of Fraser Industries, while it is also exploring other investments, including an offer it made to acquire Austal’s U.S. operations. The operations of...

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Greek Tanker Sails for the U.S. with First Russian Diesel Cargo

UAE Confirms Approaching Oil Spill as Iran Claims Continued Attacks

Sierra Leone Launches National Shipping Carrier with Chinese Support

China to Build Self-Propelled Floating Marine Research Island

Romania Blames Russia for Ship Attack Leaving 1 Dead and 3 Missing

UAE Confirms Approaching Oil Spill as Iran Claims Continued Attacks

Salvage Teams Continue to Fight Fires on Two Boxships at Sea

The Blockade on Iran is Deepening – But Also Widening

Paolo Moretti Appointed Group Chief Executive Officer

Carnival Deals Blow to Australia Ending Deployment of Two Cruise Ships

LR: Ports Will Benefit From Early Planning for Nuclear Power Systems

Maritime Procurement: Where the Cost is Really Set

How the Maritime Industry Will Unlock the Value of AI

Crew Welfare and Content: Morale, Wellbeing, and Retention

UAE Confirms Approaching Oil Spill as Iran Claims Continued Attacks

Salvage Teams Continue to Fight Fires on Two Boxships at Sea

The Blockade on Iran is Deepening – But Also Widening

Paolo Moretti Appointed Group Chief Executive Officer

Carnival Deals Blow to Australia Ending Deployment of Two Cruise Ships

LR: Ports Will Benefit From Early Planning for Nuclear Power Systems

A Year of Offshore Oil Spills Prompts Growing Concern in Mexico

HD Hyundai and Kiewit Plan to Develop New Gulf Coast Shipyard

China to Build Self-Propelled Floating Marine Research Island

Defense Arm of US Investment Manager Buys Fraser Industries

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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Maritime Industry Conferences and Events