Travis Richardson Appointed as Phoenix International Holdings Hawai’i Manager
Phoenix International Holdings, Inc., announced the appointment of Travis Richardson as Hawai’i Area Manager.Richardson returns to Phoenix after his previous tenure from 2014 to 2019, where he led commercial diving operations, underwater ship repair projects, and regional business activities throughout the Pacific. His return brings nearly three decades of experience in diving, salvage, underwater construction…
Gulf Hypoxic Zone Found to Be Smaller Than Expected
NOAA-supported scientists announced that this year’s Gulf of America hypoxic zone is approximately 1,332 square miles, making it the 2nd smallest zone on record in 40 years of measurement. Hypoxic areas, also called “dead zones,” are areas with little to no oxygen in the water, which can negatively impact fish, shellfish, corals and aquatic plants by making critical habitat unavailable to bottom species.
Shipping Companies Release Joint Letter Regarding Strait of Hormuz Fees
An international group of shipping trade associations has sent a letter to UN Secretary General, António Guterres and IMO Secretary General, Arsenio Dominguez, calling for no compulsory tolls or charges to be introduced in the Strait of Hormuz and beyond. The letter is as follows:Dear Secretaries General,We are writing to you to reiterate our concerns regarding the potential imposition of tolls or…
Gulf Oil Exports Stabilize in July
Gulf countries' crude oil and condensate exports were largely steady in July and remained about 40% below pre-war levels, shipping data showed, with signs of a slowdown emerging in the second half of the month as fighting in the region intensified again.The relatively stable export levels have helped ease concerns about a sharper supply disruption and offset a drawdown in global oil inventories.However…
OPA '90 and Deepwater Horizon: A Law That Worked Better than Anyone Could Have Imagined
A few months ago, I authored an article for Marine News focused on just one of the many successful features of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (“OPA 90,” Pub. L. No. 101-380 (1990)) — Alaska’s regional citizen advisory councils (RCACs). The Prince William Sound and Cook Inlet RCACs were established under OPA 90 to work with oil and gas industry interests on behalf of the surrounding communities to ensure safe operations and community buy-in.
The Potential Benefits of a Regional Citizens’ Advisory Council for Our Gulf Coast Energy Industry
When the EXXON VALDEZ ran aground in Prince William Sound on March 24, 1989, it was an action-forcing event that led to what was the most substantial overhaul of our federal oil spill prevention, preparedness, and response regime in the Nation’s history. But the event that really got policymakers and experts started thinking about such a sweeping re-rack of federal law actually occurred a decade earlier…
Iran, Oman Agree on Coordinates of Hormuz Route
Iran and Oman have reached an understanding on the geographic coordinates for a shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, and a joint announcement is being finalised, provided certain third parties did not interfere, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Wednesday.Baghaei added that any such agreement between Iran and Oman would not, by itself, guarantee security in the strategic…
Black Sea Attacks Strain Global Commodity Flows
A surge in attacks on ships, ports and export terminals in the Black Sea is disrupting global supplies of grain and oil, turning the region into the latest strategic trade chokepoint to be hit by escalating conflict.The Black Sea is a vital route for shipments of grain, crude oil and refined products. Its waters are shared by Russia and Ukraine as well as Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania and Turkey.Russia…
US’ First National Coast Guard Museum Set to Open in One Year
One year from today, Americans will have the opportunity to experience the National Coast Guard Museum, the first national museum dedicated to preserving and sharing the history, heritage, and missions of the Coast Guard. The museum will open to the public during the week of Aug. 2, 2027, culminating with the Coast Guard’s birthday on Aug. 4.Currently under construction along the Thames River waterfront in New London…
Tymor Marine Conducts Digital Survey Aboard Global Mercy
Scottish maritime technology company Tymor Marine has completed a lightweight survey and inclining test aboard the Global Mercy using Tymor’s own digital survey technologies.With 7,000 square meters of medical facilities, six operating theatres and 200 hospital beds, the Global Mercy is the world's largest purpose-built civilian hospital ship. The work took place during the vessel's annual maintenance period at the Port of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, ahead of its next healthcare service in Ghana.
CNOOC's LNG Vessel Named Greenergy River
Yesterday HUAJING LNG TRANSPORT PTE. LTD. (HLT), a joint venture company in which NYK participates, held a naming ceremony for a new liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier for the CNOOC Group, a Chinese state-owned energy company.The ceremony took place at Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd. in China, where the vessel is being built, and the ship was named “GREENERGY RIVER.” The ceremony was…
July Great Lakes Iron Ore Trade Increases Slightly
Shipments of iron ore on the Great Lakes totaled 5.1 million tons in July, an increase of less than one percent compared to 2025. Shipments were below the month’s 5-year average by 7.2 percent. Year-to-date, the iron ore trade stands at 22.5 million tons, an increase of 3.3 percent compared to a year ago. Iron ore shipments were 5.2 percent below their 5-year average for the first seven months of the year.
July 2026 Trade of U.S. Great Lakes Limestone Increases
U.S. shipments of limestone on the Great Lakes increased to 3.1 million tons in July, an 8.7 percent increase compared to last year. The trade was also above the month’s 5-year average by 3.2 percent.Year-to-date, the Lakes limestone trade stands at 10.1 million tons, a decrease of 3 percent compared to 2025 and 4.2 percent below the month’s 5-year average. GREAT LAKES LIMESTONE TRADE: JULY 2021-2026 AND LONG-TERM AVERAGE (NET TONS) 202120222023202420252026Average2021-2025U.S.
Grit City Workboats: Animated Series Aims to Attract Maritime's 'Next Generation'
The children’s series introduces young audiences to real workboats, maritime careers, environmental stewardship and life on the working waterfront.Silverback Marine launched Grit City Workboats, an animated entertainment brand that aims to bring the world of working boats and maritime adventure to children and families. Inspired by the real vessels, people and experiences found throughout the maritime industry…
Dirty Tanker Vessel Loadings Drop 62%
"During the last two weeks of July, dirty tanker loadings from Russian Black Sea and Sea of Azov ports fell 62% compared to the previous four weeks’ average. Exports averaged 0.98 million barrels per day (mbpd) compared to 2.59 mbpd in the previous four weeks,” says Niels Rasmussen, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.On July 6, 2026, Ukraine launched Operation MoLoChKa, a large-scale maritime drone campaign initially focused on Russia-linked shipping in the Sea of Azov.
Dajin Heavy Delivers Second KING-Class Offshore Wind Logistics Vessel
China-based offshore wind foundations manufacturer Dajin Heavy Industry has delivered KING TWO, the second 40,000 DWT heavy deck carrier in its self-developed and self-built KING series.The delivery represents a step in expanding the company's offshore vessel-building capabilities, marking the transition of the vessel class into standardized batch construction following the commercial deployment of KING ONE.KING TWO has an overall length of 239.8 meters…
Houthis Claim Missile Attack on Saudi Oil Tanker in Red Sea
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said on Wednesday they had launched a missile attack on a Saudi oil tanker off the coast of the kingdom's Red Sea port city of Yanbu.Saudi officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The Houthis' military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, did not say when the attack took place.(Reuters - Reporting by Nayera Abdallah and Tala Ramadan; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
Blue Water Autonomy Selected for Naval Autonomous Survey Work
Blue Water Autonomy, a Boston-based technology and shipbuilding company, has been selected for a multiple-award contract with the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) to provide high-resolution ocean floor mapping using long-endurance uncrewed surface vessels.Deep open-ocean survey is among the most demanding work at sea, and its value reaches well beyond a map of the seafloor. Surveys like these characterize the operating environment itself such as the terrain…
OpenTug BargeOS Platform Enterprised by LeBeouf Bros. Towing
OpenTug, the AI-native platform purpose-built for inland and coastal barge logistics, announced the successful enterprise deployment of its BargeOS platform at LeBeouf Bros. Towing (LBT), marking a milestone in the companies' partnership and the continued digital transformation of inland marine operations.Following a phased implementation, LeBeouf Bros. Towing has completed deployment of BargeOS across its commercial voyage and dispatch operations…
MARTAC Delivers Strongest H1 Results in Company History
Maritime Tactical Systems, Inc. (MARTAC), a U.S.-based, leading provider of fully autonomous unmanned surface vessels (USVs), announced the strongest first-half results in the company’s 15-year history.MARTAC concluded record results for the six months ending June 30, 2026 across orders, funded backlog, revenue, profitability and cash flow. The company also made several notable investments to scale its operational footprint, resulting in a 25-fold increase in production capacity.
