Government & Military News

Oil producer Chevron's U.S. license to operate in Venezuela will expire on May 27 as planned, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a post on his personal X account.Rubio's post contradicted U.S. special envoy Richard Grenell's contention on Tuesday following a meeting with a Venezuelan top official that a 60-day extension of the license would be granted. Rubio's brief post did not mention the talks."The pro-Maduro Biden oil license in #Venezuela will expire as scheduled next Tuesday May 27," Rubio said in his post late on Wednesday.The U.S.

Egypt is in talks with energy firms and trading houses to buy 40-60 cargoes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) amid a worsening energy crunch ahead of peak summer demand, three sources aware of the matter told Reuters.The country faces spending up to $3 billion at current prices to secure the LNG, squeezing government coffers already under strain to keep the lights on amid falling gas production and a cost of living crisis.President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday directed the government to "preemptively take whatever needs necessary to ensure stable electricity flow…

China and the Philippines traded accusations on Thursday following a confrontation between two of their vessels in contested waters of the South China Sea, the latest incident in a long-running maritime standoff in the strategic waterway.The Philippines' fisheries bureau said the lives of a civilian crew were put at risk when the Chinese Coast Guard fired water cannons and sideswiped a vessel as it conducted marine research around a disputed South China Sea reef.The Bureau of…

Poland is looking into whether any explosive devices were planted where a ship from Russia's "shadow fleet" was seen moving suspiciously near a power cable linking Poland with Sweden on Wednesday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.NATO has beefed up security in the Baltic following a string of incidents in which power cables, telecom links and gas pipelines were damaged in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022."Shadow fleet" refers to vessels used by Russia to ship oil…

Italian shipbuilding group Fincantieri and Malaysia’s Enra Energy Solutions (EES) have signed a technical collaboration agreement aimed at supporting the Royal Malaysian Navy’s fleet renewal program.The agreement supports Malaysia’s a long-term strategy to modernize and streamline the Navy's fleet.The partnership is designed to enhance Malaysia’s local shipbuilding capabilities and stimulate the growth of its maritime defense industry. It focuses on the joint development, supply…

A serious accident occurred on Wednesday during the launch of a new North Korean warship while leader Kim Jong Un was attending the event, with him calling it a "criminal act" that could not be tolerated, state media KCNA reported.Kim, who witnessed the failed launch of the 5,000-ton destroyer, excoriated the accident as caused by "carelessness" that tarnished the country's dignity, and ordered the ship to be restored before a key ruling party meeting in June, KCNA said on Thursday.The report did not mention whether there were any casualties.KCNA said the incident at the eastern port of Chongj

The Panama Canal welcomed a visit from the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Panama on May 21.Kevin Marino Cabrera visited as part of an institutional outreach tour focused on providing first-hand knowledge of the canal’s operations.The U.S. delegation, which included Defense Attaché Daniel Bethancourt and Economic Attaché April Cohen, was initially received at the Miraflores Locks by Vice President of Operations for the Panama Canal Boris Moreno.The tour continued at the Cocolí Locks where Ambassador Cabrera was welcomed by Canal Administrator Ricaurte Vásquez Morales.

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U.S. oil producer Continental Resources estimates there is a shale oil reserve of 6.1 billion barrels in Turkey's southeastern Diyarbakir Basin, the Turkish energy minister said.If confirmed, such reserves would place Turkey above some OPEC members such as Congo or Gabon, and other major producers such as the UK.Continental Resources and Turkish national oil company TPAO signed a joint venture agreement in March to develop shale fields in the basin."Turkey's current annual (crude) oil import amounts to 365 million barrels.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has charged the Coast Guard to “revolutionize how it functions and operate,” speaking at the Coast Guard Academy Commencement ceremony. “The Coast Guard must not simply evolve. It must revolutionize how it functions and operates to ensure decisive advantage over adversaries. This requires a fundamental change. Force Design 2028 (FD28) is the bold blueprint needed to drive urgent action and win.”The Secretary also announced President Trump’s nomination of ADM Kevin Lunday to serve as the 28th Commandant of the Coast Guard.

Poland's military intervened after a ship from the Russian "shadow fleet" was seen performing suspicious manoeuvres near a power cable connecting Poland with Sweden, the Polish Prime Minister said on Wednesday.NATO has stepped up security in the Baltic following a string of incidents in which power cables, telecom links and gas pipelines have been damaged in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022."A Russian ship from the 'shadow fleet' covered by sanctions performed suspicious maneuvers near the power cable connecting Poland with Sweden…

The Kremlin said on Wednesday that Russia would defend its ships using the Baltic Sea with all means available and that a failed Estonian attempt to seize a tanker there recently showed that Moscow could respond with tough actionif it had to.Estonia said on Thursday last week that Moscow had briefly sent a fighter jet into NATO airspace over the Baltic Sea during an Estonian attempt to stop a Russian-bound oil tanker thought to be part of a "shadow fleet" defying Western sanctions on Moscow.Russia, the world's second-largest oil exporter after Saudi Arabia, on Sunday then detained a Greek-owne

The Federal Maritime Commission is conducting a nonadjudicatory investigation to examine whether the vessel flagging laws, regulations, or practices of certain foreign governments create unfavorable shipping conditions in the foreign trade of the United States. The investigation commences with a 90-day public comment period. The Commission is seeking examples of unfavorable flagging laws, regulations, and practices that endanger the efficiency and reliability of the ocean shipping supply chain.

Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) testified this week in support of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," spotlighting a major investment in the U.S. Coast Guard as a cornerstone of the legislation."For more than 20 years, the Coast Guard has received less than half of the capital investment necessary to successfully carry out its critical missions," Graves said during his prepared remarks. "To support the Coast Guard, we provide more than $21 billion to recapitalize Coast Guard assets."The funding package includes acquisition of new cutters…

The National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA) issued the following statement from President Erik Milito in response to the release of the revised Gulf of America Biological Opinion by the Trump administration:“We appreciate the Trump administration’s timely efforts to improve a Biological Opinion that was originally developed through a flawed, opaque process. Their willingness to revisit and revise the document reflects a strong commitment to restoring scientific rigor and regulatory balance.“As we continue reviewing the new opinion…

Coast Guard vessels of the Philippines and the United States have taken part for the first time in joint maritime exercises with naval and air force units in the contested South China Sea, Manila's armed forces said on Wednesday.The exercises, held on Tuesday in waters off Palawan and Occidental Mindoro, involved the Philippine Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard, alongside the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton and a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.The "maritime cooperative activity…

The EU and Britain announced new sanctions against Russia on Tuesday without waiting for Washington to join them, a day after President Donald Trump's phone call with Vladimir Putin brought about neither a ceasefire in Ukraine nor fresh U.S. sanctions.London and Brussels said their new measures would zero in on Moscow's "shadow fleet" of oil tankers and financial firms that have helped it avoid the impact of other sanctions imposed over the war."Sanctions matter, and I am grateful to everyone who makes them more tangible for the perpetrators of the war…

The European Commission has announced the selection of 15 renewable hydrogen production projects for public funding, including three related to providing fuel for ships.The projects, located across five countries, are expected to produce nearly 2.2 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen over 10 years, avoiding more than 15 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions. The hydrogen will be produced in sectors such as transportation, the chemical industry or the production of methanol and ammonia.They will receive a total of €992 million ($1.1 billion) in EU funding…

Sudan said the United Arab Emirates was responsible for an attack on Port Sudan this month, accusing the Gulf state for the first time of direct military intervention in a war between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces.The UAE denied the allegations in a statement and said it condemned the attack."It is deeply regrettable that the Port Sudan authorities continue to perpetrate violence against their own citizens, yet seek to deflect blame from their own responsibility for Sudan's internal conflict by making unfounded allegations against others…

A major naval operation concluded in the Baltic Sea on Monday, with warships, divers and underwater drone operators detonating unexploded mines left over from the two World Wars - and taking the chance to check on underwater power cables in the area.Twelve warships and 19 teams of mine clearance divers and underwater drone operators from 13 NATO countries took part in the mission to locate and neutralize unexploded mines and ordnance from both World War I and World War II.But…

The Mexican ship which crashed into New York's Brooklyn Bridge over the weekend did not make distress calls before ramming into the bridge, the head of Mexico's navy said on Tuesday, but rather called for support.Navy chief Raymundo Morales, speaking at Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum's morning press conference, said that the port pilot maneuvering the ship did not have much time to try and stop the ship, as there was a short distance from where it had been docked to the bridge."We cannot speculate at this time whether the port pilot used properly all measures available…

Ukraine wants the Group of Seven advanced economies to reduce its price cap on Russian seaborne oil to $30 per barrel, Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said on Tuesday.The current G7 price cap, imposed over Russia's war in Ukraine, is $60 per barrel."The oil price cap, from our point of view, our position (is the) reasonable price cap (is) 30 dollars," Sybiha told reporters in English during a visit to Brussels.The European Union and Britain announced new sanctions on Russia on…

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis announced on Monday what they called a "maritime blockade" on Israel's Haifa port in response to Israel's ongoing conflict in Gaza."All companies with ships present in or heading to this port are hereby notified that, as of the time of this announcement, the aforementioned port has been included in the list of targets," the group's spokesperson Yahya Saree said in a televised address.The Houthis have continued to fire missiles at Israel including on Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza…

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, has received more than $218 million in funding for numerous infrastructure improvement, dredging and environmental projects benefiting Maryland, Pennsylvania, southern New York, and the District of Columbia.The financing includes $62 million towards Baltimore Harbor operations and maintenance and $71.9 million for the Mid-Chesapeake Bay Island project.This funding is through the fiscal year 2025 Work Plan for the Army Civil Works Program, which is Congressionally authorized funding specifically for USACE.

The investigation into why a Mexican Navy training ship struck the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, shearing the top of its masts, will look into a possible engine failure and the role of a tug boat that assisted it in backing out of its pier, officials said on Monday.The ship's engine was the key focus for the National Transportation Safety Board, said Brian Young, who is leading the agency's investigation."We will look at the status of the engine, we will look for any failures, we will look for engine inspections and we'll talk to the crew on what may have possibly happened with the engine…

EU ministers signed the Szczecin Declaration on the EU maritime industrial strategy during the 11th International Maritime Congress in Poland last week.European Shipowners have welcomed the move, saying that at a time of rising protectionism across the world, the Declaration sends a strong signal that Europe does not need protectionist measures, but investments to bridge the innovation gap and to make the maritime industrial cluster more competitive.European shipowners strongly support the Declaration’s recognition of the strategic role of European shipping for the continent’s energy…

The US Coast Guard Sector San Juan marine investigators and vessel inspection teams are investigating two separate and unrelated vessel fires in Puerto Rico.Both vessel fires were successfully extinguished, and there are currently no reports of marine pollution or reported injuries in either case.The most recent vessel fire occurred Saturday morning aboard the M/T Scot Stuttgart, a Marshall Islands flagged 383-foot chemical tank ship, while the vessel was moored at Puerto Nuevo Channel’s N Wharf.At 3:43 a.m.…

Russia detained a Greek-owned oil tanker on Sunday after it left an Estonian Baltic Sea port, the Estonian Foreign Ministry said, adding it had alerted NATO allies to the incident.The Liberia-flagged ship Green Admire was leaving Sillamae port using a designated navigation channel that crosses Russian territorial waters, the ministry said in a statement."This is definitely connected to the fact that we have started to harass Russia's shadow fleet," Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told Estonian broadcaster ERR.

Woodside Energy's decision last month to proceed with its Louisiana LNG export facility was the first of over 90 million tonnes of new LNG shipping capacity U.S. companies plan to approve this year despite uncertainty about President Donald Trump's trade war, according to company statements and analysts.The U.S., already the world's largest exporter of the superchilled gas with 91.3 million tonnes of annual capacity, should triple that before 2030 thanks to projects awaiting final investment decisions.

A new Lloyd's Register report outlines the upcoming changes to mandatory statutory regulations and instruments. A comprehensive suite of new International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Labour Organization (ILO) regulations come into force over the next few months, reshaping environmental standards, safety protocols, and seafarer welfare. The changes outlined in Lloyd’s Register’s “Future IMO and ILO Legislation – Spring 2025” report highlight upcoming updates to mandatory statutory regulations and instruments, with effective dates on or after May 1, 2025.

As the FuelEU Maritime regulation enters into force, the shipping industry may be looking at a surprising upside. Instead of acting solely as a cost driver, the regulation could create a net financial gain, potentially around USD$279 million (€250 million), according to a recent analysis by maritime data and compliance firm OceanScore.OceanScore’s analysis focuses on the balance of GHG intensity compliance under FuelEU. The initial compliance deficit across vessels exceeding the regulation’s threshold is estimated at around 2.1 million metric tons (MT) of CO₂e…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has issued formal recommendations to three government agencies and a salvage operator with the release of its final report into the near stranding of the bulk carrier Portland Bay near Sydney in July 2022.“The stranding on pristine national park coastline of a 170-metre ship carrying 950 tonnes of heavy fuel oil would have had internationally significant environmental and economic consequences, and as such this was one of the ATSB’s most comprehensive marine occurrence investigations in nearly two decades…

The Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) has announced a 12% rise in employment contracts for Panamanian seafarers during the first four months of 2025, a promising result attributed to the strategic efforts led by the Seafarer Recruitment Committee.During the closing session of the Committee’s 17th meeting, Felipe Arias, Acting Director General of Seafarers (DGGM), reaffirmed the PMA’s steadfast commitment to generating quality employment within the maritime, logistics, and port sectors.

American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that opens the door for joint development projects to develop international naval ships.With the goal of achieving approval in principle, ABS will apply its goal-based and prescriptive requirements to three different types of naval ship designs from HHI, including HDA-24000: Auxiliary Logistic Support Ship, HDF-3200: Frigate, and HDP-2200: Offshore Patrol Vessel.“With extensive experience supporting government ships worldwide…

The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on more than 20 companies in a network that it said has long sent Iranian oil to China, days after negotiators from Iran and the United States concluded a fourth round of nuclear talks.The network facilitated the shipment of oil worth billions of dollars to China on behalf of Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff and its front company, Sepehr Energy, Treasury said. Washington designated Sepehr in 2023.The U.S. sanctioned companies including CCIC Singapore PTE…

Vestdavit has bolstered its position as a supplier of boat-handling systems to navies worldwide after landing an order to deliver multiple davits and painter booms for a series of Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) contracted by the French Navy at domestic yards.The davit deal covers delivery and commissioning of a total of 14 PLR-5004-type davits, as well as 14 PBH-2500 painter booms, for the seven OPV newbuilds–two davits per vessel—that are being built as part of the French Ocean Patrol Vessel Program…

The US Coast Guard has streamlined the process for foreign ships to be certificated under the American Registry by consolidating the process under a single program based on international standards.The move is not expected to impact safety, and it will reduce the pre-inspection plan review and the national equivalency process, avoid schedule delays, minimize modification costs for closing regulatory gaps, expedite the Ready Reserve Force recapitalization with foreign-built vessels.To assist vessel owners and operators…

On May 12, at the 14th meeting of the Arctic Council, representatives from the eight Arctic States and six Permanent Participant organizations met virtually to conclude Norway’s two-year chairship and mark the beginning of Denmark’s chairship.During the meeting, the Arctic States and Permanent Participants issued a joint statement (the Romssa-Tromsø Statement) reaffirming their commitment to maintaining peace, stability and cooperation in the Arctic, and acknowledged the role…

The U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) is involved in a proposal that aims to create a US international ship registry domiciled in the U.S. territory, the island's governor said.President Donald Trump's administration is considering the proposal as part of efforts to enlarge the tiny commercial shipping fleet flying the American flag, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters last week.Using the USVI could be the most efficient way to "strengthen American maritime posture" because…

Traders have rebranded more than $1 billion of Venezuelan oil shipments to China as Brazilian crude over the past year, according to two tanker tracking firms, company documents and four traders, helping buyers to cut logistics costs and circumvent U.S. sanctions.Independent refiners in China are the main buyers of seaborne oil shipments from countries sanctioned by the United States, with offshore Malaysia serving as a key trans-shipment hub for Venezuelan and Iranian crude.Since July 2024, however, traders have also rebranded Venezuelan oil as from Brazil.

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German container shipping firm Hapag-Lloyd on Monday welcomed an agreement between the United States and China to temporarily slash reciprocal tariffs, saying it expected to be buoyed by a resulting increase in bookings from China to the U.S.The United States will cut extra tariffs it imposed on Chinese imports in April to 30% from 145% and Chinese duties on U.S. imports will fall to 10% from 125% for the next 90 days, the two sides said on Monday.Trade between the world's two largest economies plummeted in the midst of the trade standoff…

Maritime defense and oceanographic survey company Saildrone has appointed Vice Admiral John Mustin as its President, who will focus on growing the defense business.In his role, Mustin will work alongside Richard Jenkins, Saildrone founder and CEO.Mustin joins Saildrone following a distinguished 34-year career in the U.S. Navy. He most recently served as the 15th Chief of Navy Reserve and Commander, Navy Reserve Force, where he led approximately 60,000 Reserve Component personnel supporting Navy…

U.S. federal regulators recommended in a final environmental report that Venture Global's proposed CP2 liquefied natural gas export project in Louisiana get the go-ahead, according to a government document filed on Friday.If constructed, CP2 will be the single largest LNG export facility in the U.S. and help the country remain the world's largest exporter of the superchilled gas.Venture Global already obtained approval to construct the 28 million tonnes per annum plant, but was…

President Donald Trump's administration is considering a proposal to create an international shipping registry in the U.S. Virgin Islands as part of efforts to enlarge the tiny commercial shipping fleet flying the American flag, according to four sources familiar with the matter.Increasing the number of U.S.-flagged vessels is important for Trump's administration because it would enhance the ability of the U.S. commercial shipping fleet to provide logistical support for the military in time of war…

Some 200 seafarers aboard more than 15 ships stuck for weeks off Yemen's port of Ras Isa are preparing to offload cargoes and leave thanks to a ceasefire deal between Houthi militia and the U.S., maritime and labour union sources said on Thursday.Still, threat levels for shipping remained high given the Houthis' confirmation that Israeli-related assets remained open to attack and the attendant risks to broader shipping, maritime officials said. Ships with no connection to Israel had been targeted in the past with no certainty of safe passage.President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday the U.S.

A ceasefire deal between Yemen's Houthis and the U.S. does not include sparing Israel, the group said on Wednesday, suggesting its shipping attacks that have disrupted global trade and challenged world powers will not come to a complete halt.President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday the U.S. would stop bombing the Iran-aligned Houthis in Yemen, saying that the group had agreed to stop attacking U.S. ships.After Trump made the announcement, Oman said it had mediated the ceasefire deal to halt attacks on U.S.

The United States said on Wednesday it plans to call for U.N. sanctions against vessels identified as taking part in circumvention of United Nations resolutions to combat North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.The British-based Open Source Center issued a report on Wednesday saying that in the past year it had tracked a number of non-Korean flagged vessels transporting North Korean coal and iron ore to ports in China, in violation of U.N. sanctions.Speaking at a meeting of the U.N.

State-run Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) said on Wednesday it signed a deal to sell its BlueWhale autonomous submarine system to the Greek Navy.IAI did not disclose financial details.BlueWhale is a large uncrewed underwater vehicle weighing 5.5 tons and can perform a wide range of covert maritime missions, including intelligence-gathering above the sea surface, submarine and underwater target detection, acoustic intelligence collection and searching for and detecting naval mines on the seabed, IAI said.It said that the autonomous submarine can perform a significant portion of a crewed subma

Vietnam's imports from China and exports to the United States both reached a post-pandemic record in April, amid talks with Washington to reduce Hanoi's trade surplus and a crackdown on Chinese goods being shipped to the U.S. via its territory.The Southeast Asian nation faces the risk of 46% duties on its exports to the U.S. if the White House confirms this rate at the end of a global tariff pause in July. This could undermine Vietnam's growth model and hit multinationals exporting from the country…

The EU will end its dependency on Russian energy by stopping the import of Russian gas and oil and phasing out Russian nuclear energy, while ensuring stable energy supplies and prices across the Union with a new REPowerEU Roadmap.Despite the significant progress achieved under the REPowerEU Plan and via sanctions since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in 2024 the EU saw a rebound in Russian gas imports. More coordinated actions are therefore needed, as the EU's overdependency on…

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday the U.S. will stop bombing the Houthis in Yemen, saying that the Iran-aligned group had agreed to stop interrupting important shipping lanes in the Middle East.After Trump made the announcement, Oman said it had mediated the ceasefire deal, marking a major shift in Houthi policy since the start of Israel's war in Gaza in October 2023.Under the agreement, neither the U.S. nor the Houthis would target the other, including U.S. vessels in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait…

British maritime security firm Ambrey reported on Tuesday that the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) had launched a drone attack on facilities at Port Sudan, targeting the container terminal and escalating a two-year-long conflict.Ambrey said it had obtained video footage showing damage to the terminal and civilian infrastructure, reportedly leaving the city without power.No damage to merchant vessels was reported, but Ambrey noted significant GPS disruptions in the area.Explosions and fires rocked Sudan's main port city and wartime capital Port Sudan on Tuesday…

President Donald Trump's import tariffs will ultimately result in higher electricity prices for U.S. consumers, wind turbine maker Vestas warned on Tuesday, adding it could not absorb the extra costs.Wind turbines include components and materials sourced globally, making the sector vulnerable to potential impacts from international trade tariffs."Ultimately, the tariffs will go in and be part of an increased cost to the projects and therefore it will lead to an increased price in electricity…

XMAR, a digital bunker platform, has entered a strategic partnership with BluePass, the UAE's leading maritime digital initiative supported by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MOEI). This collaboration represents a step forward in transforming how stakeholders connect, transact, and manage fuel procurement across the Gulf region and beyond.This partnership positions XMAR as the technical engine behind the newly launched bunkering service from BluePass. Under this agreement…

The Israeli military said it carried out airstrikes against Yemen's Hodeidah Port on Monday, a day after the Iran-aligned Houthis fired a missile that struck near Israel's main airport.The military said in a statement that it attacked what it called Houthi terrorist targets in Hodeidah and its vicinity.The strikes killed at least one person and injured at least 35 people, the Houthi-run Saba news agency said citing the health ministry.The Houthis shut down the area around the port and cement factory following the strikes…

The US Coast Guard’s Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance has released the U.S. Port State Control Annual Report for 2024 noting a decrease in detention rate due to fire safety issues.The annual detention rate decreased from 1.22 to 0.94%.Fire Safety: For the fourth straight year fire safety deficiencies lead all deficiency categories. Oil accumulation in the engine room once again led the deficiency total, 18 deficiencies. However, this was a significant reduction from last year’s total of 31 deficiencies.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday ordered a 20% reduction in the number of four-star officers, deepening cuts at the Pentagon that have shaken the Department of Defense at the start of President Donald Trump's second term in office.Hegseth has long been vocal about how he views the senior-most ranks of the military as too big.The former Fox News host has moved with stunning speed to reshape the department, firing top generals and admirals as he seeks to implement Trump's national security agenda and root out diversity initiatives he calls discriminatory.In a memo…

At least three people died and nine others, including two children, were missing after a small boat capsized in choppy seas off the California coast in an apparent migrant smuggling attempt north of San Diego, U.S. officials said on Monday.Four other people rescued after the "panga"-style open fishing vessel washed ashore near Torrey Pines State Beach were transported to hospital, according to U.S. Coast Guard officials.A Coast Guard cutter, an emergency response boat and a helicopter were involved in an ongoing search for the nine people who remained unaccounted for…

The Philippines has deployed a coast guard vessel and an aircraft to challenge and escort a Chinese research ship it said was conducting illegal marine scientific research activities within the country's exclusive economic zone.The Chinese Research Vessel (CRV) Tan Suo 3 was detected entering the country's EEZ on May 1, 2025, around 92 nautical miles off the Philippines' northern Ilocos coast, the PCG said in a statement on Monday."Their irregular movements were deemed inconsistent with the freedom of navigation and indicative of marine scientific research activities, which violate the soverei

South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean aims to boost its revenue from overseas military vessels to around 4 trillion won ($2.91 billion) by 2030 and hopes to pick up more repair orders from the U.S. Navy, a senior executive told Reuters.The Asian country is a major global shipbuilder and trade talks with the U.S. on tariffs brought up possible cooperation in the sector after U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to restore U.S. shipbuilding.Hanwha Ocean, formerly Daewoo Shipbuilding…

Ten Indonesian nationals pleaded guilty to illegally fishing in Australian waters in separate cases at Darwin Local Court on April 29 and 30, 2025. The first case arose from an incident on April 3, 2025, when Australian authorities identified, intercepted and apprehended an Indonesian vessel fishing illegally near Parry Harbor, Western Australia. Authorities seized 420 kg of sea cucumber, 300 kg of salt used to process and preserve catch, and fishing equipment including a 50-meter line with hooks and a trawling device.

A Gaza-bound ship carrying humanitarian aid and activists was, according to its organizers, bombed by drones in international waters early on Friday morning.Organizers, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, have alleged that Israel is to blame.This video, verified by Reuters and filmed by those on board as well as from the ship’s CCTV, purports to show the moment the Conscience was struck off the Maltese coast.The Israeli foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for…

The UK's National Oceanography Centre (NOC) has renewed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Royal Navy, reinforcing a long-standing partnership in marine science and technology. The MOU, which includes collaboration with the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), the Ministry of Defense (MOD)’s science and technology organization, underscores a shared commitment to fostering innovation and advances in autonomous and robotic underwater systems.With expertise from NOC Innovations…

The Department of Homeland Security approved full production of the first U.S. Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter (PSC), April 30, 2025. The Service also received approval for low-rate initial production of the the Waterways Commerce Cutter (WCC). This is a milestone for the Nation, as it brings the Coast Guard closer to renewing and enhancing operational capabilities in both the American heartland and the polar regions.Approval for full production enables the Coast Guard and U.S.

Indonesia's parliament is set to agree next week to ratify an agreement made with Vietnam that sets the boundaries of their exclusive economic zones in the contested South China Sea, a lawmaker said on Thursday.The South China Sea is a strategic waterway that has been a source of tension between China and its Southeast Asian neighbours, disrupting fishing and energy exploration in the area.Nico Siahaan, a lawmaker in the parliamentary commission overseeing the agreement, told Reuters the parliament and the government would formally agree to ratify it on Monday…

Ang Wee Keong, currently the Assistant Chief Executive (International) of the Info-Communications Media Development Authority (IMDA), will take on the role of Chief Executive of the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) effective June 16.In his current role, Ang has made significant contributions in advancing Singapore’s digital interests and thought leadership in the international arena. He strengthened Singapore’s network of digital economy partnerships, and expanded collaboration through platforms like the ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting…

Ukraine's navy said it retrieved and defused a Russian FAB-500 aviation bomb at the shores of Odesa on Tuesday (April 29).Reuters was not able to verify the location or date of the Navy's footage from underwater and from the controlled explosion, however, a Reuters correspondent filmed the Navy retrieving the bomb from the sea.Demining experts retrieved the bomb from a depth of 20 meters, transported it to the shore and detonated it, the Navy said.Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk said until 2023, Russia dropped bombs from aircrafts in Ukrainian territorial waters used by ships to export grain.

The Philippines and New Zealand strengthened defence ties with the signing of a landmark troop pact on Wednesday, opening the way for expanded military cooperation amid shared security concerns in the Indo-Pacific region.The Status of Visiting Forces Agreement, signed in Manila by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro and NZ Defence Minister Judith Collins, allows the two nations to deploy troops on each other's soil, making it easier for their militaries to work together.New Zealand took part in joint maritime exercises with the Philippines, United States, Australia, and Japan for the

Coast Guard Sector New York personnel conducted three warehouse spot checks at the Port of New York and New Jersey this week, uncovering a 60% deficiency rate in hazardous material compliance. The targeted inspections, driven by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) container screening data, are part of an expanded effort to detect undeclared hazardous cargo before it can pose a threat to port safety or vessel crews. The recent inspections highlight the Coast Guard’s growing collaboration with CBP, which has improved over the past year.

The tariff increases by the US and China in effect as of April 25 are estimated to directly affect 4% of dry bulk ton mile demand. They are expected to impact the growth of minor bulk cargo volumes, as shipments to the US may stagnate or decrease. On the other hand, China is expected to increase purchases of dry bulk cargoes from other countries, leading the US to seek alternative markets.“We expect that the dry bulk market’s supply/demand balance will weaken in both 2025 and 2026.

Brazilian state-run energy giant Petrobras seeks to attract fresh Chinese investments to Brazil's oil and gas sector, especially in the naval sector, it said on Tuesday, as Chief Executive Magda Chambriard visits the Asian country.Chambriard and President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's chief of staff, Rui Costa, had a meeting with Chinese business people and government officials in Beijing on Monday, the company said in a statement.They presented an overview of Petrobras' activities, according to the firm, highlighting the potential to expand shipyards in Latin America's largest country."We are h

Tunisia's coast guard on Monday recovered the bodies of eight African migrants after their boat sank off the country's coast as it sailed towards Europe, a security official told Reuters, adding that 29 other people were rescued.The boat sank in waters off the city of Abwabed near Sfax, a departure point often used by African migrants.Search operations were underway for possible missing persons, said Houssem Eddine Jebabli, an official in the national guard.Tunisia is grappling with an unprecedented migration crisis and has replaced Libya as a major departure point for both Tunisians and other

U.S. liquefied natural gas supplies to Europe will continue to rise, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright told Reuters on Monday during a visit to the Polish capital Warsaw.The United States is the world's largest exporter of LNG and has played a major role in supplying Europe since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 significantly reduced the amount of Russian gas piped to Europe.However, now that U.S. President Donald Trump has rocked relations with Europe and turned to energy as a bargaining chip in trade negotiations, businesses are wary that reliance on the U.S. has become another vulnerability."The U.S. supply will continue to grow in a meaningful way. There's a lot of dialogue about contracts," Wright told Reuters on the sidelines of a conference.

The U.S. imposed sanctions on Monday on three vessels and their owners for delivering oil and gas products to Yemen's Houthis, as Washington piled pressure on the Iran-backed rebels over their attacks on Red Sea shipping.The sanctions targeted Marshall Islands-registered Zaas Shipping & Trading Co and Great Success Shipping Co, and Mauritius-registered Bagsak Shipping Co and the cargo vessels they used to deliver oil and gas products to the Houthi-controlled port of Ras Isa, the U.S.

The CMA CGM Group welcomed the arrival of the first Indian flagged containership registered by a major foreign carrier, CMA CGM Vitoria, at Nhava Sheva Free port Terminal on April 28, 2025, in the presence of Honourable Minister of State for Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of India, Shri Shantanu Thakur.Mr. Atit Mahajan, General Manager, CMA CGM India, hosted the welcoming ceremony, which was attended by key dignitaries from India’s Ministry of states for Ports, Shipping and Waterways…

Recent discussions on tariffs have largely overlooked the potential implementation of the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR)’s port fees on Chinese-built vessels. This fee, which could reach up to $3.5 million per port call, varies based on the vessel’s origin and the owner’s fleet composition. Given that typical US port calls cost a maximum of $80,000, this fee could significantly impact import and export volumes.According to VesselsValue trade data, there were 3,150 dry bulk port calls in the US in Q1 2025, involving 1,609 dry bulk carriers.

The Philippines said on Monday there was no truth to news reports that Beijing has seized control of a disputed reef in the South China Sea, after its personnel landed on the unoccupied sandbars and found no Chinese presence there.Chinese state broadcaster CCTV on Friday said its coast guard had landed on Sandy Cay as part of maritime control operations to exercise its sovereignty. It did not say China was occupying the feature.CCTV showed pictures of four coast guard personnel…

Estonia has released the oil tanker Kiwala, which is on an EU sanctions list, having detained it for sailing without a valid country flag.The Estonian navy detained and boarded the Russia-bound tanker on April 11.

Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. is pleased to see the issuance of a new Executive Order titled Unleashing America’s Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources. In addition, the company confirms that it currently has no specific plans to issue any securities under its universal shelf registration statement on Form S-3, which has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and provides Odyssey with the flexibility to access the capital markets in a timely manner.

The US Coast Guard, operator Spectrum OpCo and the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office (LOSCO) have established a Unified Command in response to an oil and gas mixture release in a marsh environment near the Garden Island Bay Production Facility company's well in Plaquemines Parish, southeast of New Orleans, Louisiana.An overflight by an LOSCO aircrew on Saturday confirmed the presence of crude oil. The operator is implementing its federal and state approved emergency oil…

KERSHIP has launched the construction of the first of two OPV 60M offshore patrol vessels for the Montenegrin Navy at its Lorient shipyard in France.The vessels will be named Petar I and Petar II in respect for the sovereign of Montenegro.The OPV 60M, the result of an optimized design, will enable the Montenegrin Navy to carry out a wide range of missions: protection of strategic infrastructure, border control, anti-piracy, sea rescue operations, pollution response, and humanitarian aid.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended a ceremony for the launch of a "new multi-purpose destroyer", state media KCNA reported on Saturday.The 5,000-tonne warship was equipped with the "most powerful weapons" and built "within 400-odd days perfectly with our own strength and technology", the report said, quoting Jo Chun Ryong, a secretary in the ruling Workers' Party.Kim, in a speech from the launch reported by KCNA, said the warship would be handed over to the navy and go into…

China's top market regulator said on Sunday it was paying close attention to CK Hutchison's planned sale of most of its port operations to a BlackRock-led consortium and parties to the deal should not try to avoid an antitrust review.The sale by the Hong Kong conglomerate, which contains two ports along the strategically important Panama Canal, has become highly politicised amid intensifying U.S.-Sino trade tensions."No concentration of undertakings shall be implemented without approval…

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) recently hosted the 83rd meeting with the Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC 83), resulting in a new fuel intensity target, which is set to come into force no later than March 2027.This new regulation is similar to the Fuel EU regulation enforced this year, but with global fleet coverage. The major effect of this new IMO GHG regulation will be to enforce a financial penalty for using cheaper, carbon intensive fuels like Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO)…

U.S. President Donald Trump's energy security council plans to host a summit in Alaska in early June, when it hopes Japan and South Korea will announce commitments to the Alaska LNG project, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.Trump has touted the $44 billion Alaska liquefied natural gas project, which would deliver gas from the state's North Slope fields via an 800-mile (1,300-km) pipeline for domestic use and also ship it to customers in Asia as LNG, bypassing the Panama Canal.While the project has been talked about for years…

Operators of hulking car carriers are seeking relief from the U.S. Trade Representative's surprise plan to levy port fees on all foreign-built ships in that segment, including 20 vessels that guarantee transport for the U.S. military during a war or national emergency, three sources told Reuters.USTR announced the fees on April 17 as part of an ongoing effort to hit certain China-linked ships calling at U.S. ports with fees that would fund a domestic shipbuilding revival and counter China's dominance on the high seas.The fees sent a shockwave through the vehicle carrier industry…

President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at boosting the deep-sea mining industry, marking his latest attempt to boost U.S. access to nickel, copper and other critical minerals used widely across the economy.The order, which Trump signed in private, seeks to jumpstart the mining of both U.S. and international waters as part of a push to offset China's sweeping control of the critical minerals industry.Parts of the Pacific Ocean and elsewhere are estimated to contain…

Maritime consultancy Drewry said on Thursday that it expects global container port volume to fall 1% as a direct result of U.S. trade policies.That would be the third drop in global container shipping demand since London-based Drewry began recording that data in 1979. Container volumes fell 8.4% during the global financial crisis in 2009 and 0.9% in 2020 when the COVID pandemic was declared.The Trump administration's new policy includes blanket tariffs of 10% on goods from most countries and 145% ones on products from China. China and other countries have hit back with tariffs on U.S.

The U.S. Interior Department said on Thursday it has implemented new guidelines for allowable pressure differences in a certain type of oil drilling in part of the Gulf of Mexico, changes it expects can boost U.S. oil output.President Donald Trump's new Energy Dominance Council led by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum is looking for ways to cut costs for oil and gas producers, cut regulations and boost oil output, which reached record levels under former President Joe Biden.Under the new rules…

The Philippine Navy said a Chinese aircraft carrier battle group had passed near its northern maritime boundaries in the run-up to a six-day maritime exercise with the U.S. that began on Thursday as part of their annual Balikatan military drills.The coordinated naval drills, focused on enhancing interoperability, maritime domain awareness, and regional security, would be carried out within Philippine waters, spanning from the vicinity of Subic Bay up to the Northern Luzon, the Philippine military said.Japan and other regional partners are increasingly taking part in Balikatan, which means "shoulder-to-shoulder," amid tensions with China over its activities in the South China Sea and around Taiwan.

China's Foreign Ministry said on Thursday (April 24) that its structure in disputed waters is a legitimate fishery breeding facility and compliant with both domestic and international law.The South Korean government had earlier expressed "deep concern" over China erecting a sea structure off the west coast of the Korean Peninsula, Seoul's foreign ministry said on Thursday.“China is willing to work with South Korea to continue to strengthen dialogue and communication and properly handle relevant issues,” said Guo Jiakun, China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson during a briefing in China.The structure in a disputed area of the Yellow Sea, known in South Korea as the West Sea, has raised alarm bells in Seoul over concerns China could be seeking to stake claims in the Provisional Maritime Zone,

China's military said on Thursday that it had dispatched naval and air forces to monitor and warn a U.S. guided missile destroyer that sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait.The U.S. Navy, occasionally accompanied by ships from allied countries, transits the strait about once a month. China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, says the strategic waterway belongs to it.China held its latest round of war games around Taiwan earlier this month, drawing condemnation from…

The International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO) welcomes the recent decision at the International Labour Organization (ILO) to officially recognize seafarers as key workers under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC).This outcome represents a significant step in ensuring fair treatment, safeguarding seafarers' rights, and strengthening their access to medical care, mobility, and legal protections.“This recognition of seafarers as key workers by the ILO is both…

South Korea will raise China's construction of sea structures off the west coast of the Korean Peninsula in a dialogue with Beijing on Wednesday, Seoul's Foreign Minister said.China has built structures in a disputed area of the Yellow Sea, known in Seoul as the West Sea, causing South Korea to set up a "reciprocal" platform, Seoul has previously said.Beijing has said its structures are fish-farming equipment, but they have raised alarm bells in Seoul over concerns China could be seeking to stake claims in the Provisional Maritime Zone, where the countries' exclusive economic zones overlap.For

On April 17, 2025, the Office of the US Trade Representative (“USTR”) published a notice of action (the “USTR Notice”) implementing its port fee proposal, first announced on February 21, 2025. The rules differ substantially from the February proposal (summarized here). The calculation of the fees has changed to a net tonnage-based fee (or for certain vessels, based on containers discharged or Car Equivalent Units). Several points have been clarified. Specialized rules apply to LNG transportation and vehicle carriers, including fees and restrictions on non-Chinese vessels.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (“USTR”) issued a detailed notice on April 17, 2025, regarding actions and proposed actions in response to China's alleged targeting of the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors for dominance. The measures, USTR argues, will “disincentivize the use of Chinese shipping and Chinese-built ships, thereby providing leverage on China to change its acts, policies, and practices, and send a critically needed demand signal for U.S.-built ships.” Below, we break down the key elements of the notice and their potential impacts.

Denmark will spend about 4 billion crowns ($614 million) on building and procuring 26 navy vessels for patrolling, oil spill response and surveillance of undersea cables, Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said on Tuesday.Countries bordering the Baltic Sea are on high alert after a number of outages of power cables, telecom links and gas pipelines since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, including sabotage of the Nord Stream gas pipelines. Russia has denied it was behind the outages.The NATO military alliance has boosted its presence with frigates, aircraft and naval drones.

NAG Marine, LLC, a provider of shipboard automation and ruggedized computer systems for maritime applications, has been awarded a $28,591,735 firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract by the U.S. Navy for the design, production, and delivery of advanced human-machine interfaces (HMIs). These interfaces will support propulsion auxiliary control, damage control, ballast control, and various other machinery systems across multiple U.S. and allied fleets.Under this five-year contract…

More than 14,000 Filipino and American soldiers kicked off annual military exercises on Monday for a "full battle test" between the two defense treaty allies in the face of regional security concerns, including tensions in the South China Sea.The annual "Balikatan" (shoulder-to-shoulder) exercises will run for three weeks until May 9, showcasing an array of U.S. weapons that include the NMESIS anti-ship missile system and HIMARS rocket launchers.The Philippines will test its own modern missiles in live-fire exercises with American counterparts…

The total funded program of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport reached $2 billion in 2024, according to the recently released economic impact report.Of its total operating budget, $776 million was spent by Division Newport in civilian payroll and labor, materials, operational expenditures, property maintenance and repair, and military payroll, while $1.2 billion funded contracts.One of two divisions of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Division Newport has a workforce comprised of 51% government civilian employees…

The maritime and inland waterway sector is at a turning point in the transition towards zero-emission waterborne transport. To accelerate this transformation, the MarLEN (Maritime Low Emission Network) project has been officially launched under the HorizonEurope program. Coordinated by Forschungszentrum Jülich, this 54-month Horizon Coordination andSupport Action (CSA) brings together 14 ministries, research and funding organizations from 10 European countries, collectively accounting…

An Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation interim report outlines the sequence of events leading up to the collision of a container ship with the berthed tall ship STS Leeuwin II in Fremantle last August.The 333m, Singapore-flagged container ship Maersk Shekou was being piloted towards its assigned berth in Fremantle’s inner harbor when it collided with and substantially damaged STS Leeuwin II alongside Victoria Quay on the morning of August 30, 2024.The container ship had arrived off Fremantle eight days prior to the accident.The vessel and its crew waited a week offshore…