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Monday, April 20, 2026

Sea Coast News

26 Mar 2026

Houthis Stand Ready to Join Iran War, Additional Shipping Risk

© Robert - stock.adobe.com

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement, whose attacks on the Red Sea caused international shipping and trade chaos during the Gaza war, stands ready to strike the key waterway again in solidarity with Tehran, one Houthi leader told Reuters, a move that would deepen a global oil and economic crisis brought on by the Middle East war.If the Houthis open a new front in the conflict, one obvious target would be the Bab al-Mandab Strait off the coast of Yemen, a key shipping chokepoint…

18 Mar 2026

From the Lakes, on the Lakes & for the Lakes: Captain Paul C. LaMarre III

Capt. Paul C. LaMarre III, Director Port of Monroe and President of the American Great Lakes Ports Association (AGLPA). Image courtesy AGPLA

For Capt. Paul C. LaMarre III, the maritime industry isn’t a career choice as much as it is a family inheritance — and, in his words, “all I’ve known my entire life.” In a recent interview with Maritime Reporter TV, Captain LaMarre gives unique insights on the operating efficiently, effectively and safely on the Great Lakes system – the United States’ ‘Fourth Sea’ – and with passion, intellect and purpose advocates for a strong U.S. maritime industry.A third-generation Great Lakes mariner…

13 Mar 2026

Breaking the Ice: How a Space-Based Initiative is Solving a Maritime Challenge

The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw (WLBB 30), a 240-foot icebreaker, directly assists the 650-foot motor vessel Algoma Intrepid near Beaver Island on Lake Michigan, Jan. 25, 2026.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. j.g. William Erekson

This winter, ice on the Great Lakes is expected to impact a maritime economy valued at $35 billion. The wealth of data provided by space-based assets offers a potential lifeline for navigating these frozen waters. However, data alone is not a solution. Without the means to translate raw satellite feeds into actionable intelligence, it remains an untapped resource, a digital haystack without a needle.In response, and in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), Michigan recently turned to an unexpected source of innovation: a generation of digital natives.

11 Mar 2026

Coast Guard Interdicts Suspected Drug Smugglers in Eastern Pacific Sea

Source: USCG

Coast Guard Cutter Forward (WMEC 911) intercepted a self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) vessel during a routine patrol on February 24 in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.A maritime patrol aircraft detected the vessel and reported the location to Forward watchstanders. Forward’s crew rapidly deployed its over-the-horizon cutter pursuit boat and an embarked MH-65 aircraft from the Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) to intercept the suspicious vessel.Despite repeated verbal commands issued by the boarding team, the SPSS failed to comply or stop their vessel.

15 Jan 2026

Greece Warns Shipping Fleet of Risks after Black Sea Drone Attacks

© Adobe Stock/skyNext

Greece has warned its shipping fleet to review their security measures when sailing to Russian Black Sea ports after drone attacks on two Greek-operated tankers this week, according to shipping ministry advisories.Drones struck two oil tankers on Tuesday, including one chartered by U.S.

23 Dec 2025

Oil Prices Rise as US Continues Tanker Interceptions Offshore Venezuela

© Adobe Stock/zimmytws

Oil prices settled higher on Monday after the U.S. Coast Guard tried to intercept an oil tanker in international waters near Venezuela a day earlier, and Ukraine damaged two vessels and piers in Russia, raising the risk of oil supply disruptions.Brent crude futures gained $1.60, or 2.7%, to settle at $62.07 a barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures rose $1.49, or 2.6%, to settle at $58.01 a barrel.The U.S. Coast Guard tried to intercept an oil tanker on Sunday that U.S. officials said is part of Venezuela's illegal sanctions evasion, the third such operation this month.

11 Dec 2025

DEME Set for Monopiles, Cables Installation Job at Polish Offshore Wind Farm

DEME has secured three contracts for the installation of monopile foundations, inter-array cables, and the export cable at the BC-Wind offshore wind farm in Poland.The combined contracts are valued between $174 million and $350 million (€150 million and 300 million).BC-Wind, developed by offshore wind firm Ocean Winds, a 50-50 joint venture between EDP Renewables and ENGIE, is located approximately 23 km off the Polish Baltic Sea coast.With a planned capacity of up to 390 MW, the wind farm will generate clean electricity for around 500…

05 Dec 2025

Dajin Forms Offshore Wind Alliance with German Port Terminal Operator

(Credit: Dajin Heavy Industry)

Dajin Heavy Industry and Germany’s Briese Schiffahrt have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop offshore wind marshalling services at a new terminal in the Port of Cuxhaven in Germany.The agreement, signed on November 26, aims to establish an international offshore wind industry hub on more than 20 hectares of newly built port area in Cuxhaven.The initiative will use Dajin’s fleet of deck carrier vessels and Briese’s global shipping network to support the handling and…

01 Dec 2025

Turkish President Condemns Attacks on Black Sea Commercial Vessels

© Adobe Stock/olinchuk

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that attacks on commercial ships in the Black Sea were unacceptable, issuing a warning to "all related sides" after an unmanned vessel reportedly struck a tanker off Turkey's northern coast.“The war between Russia and Ukraine has clearly begun to threaten navigational safety in the Black Sea. The targeting of vessels in our Exclusive Economic Zone on Friday signals a worrying escalation," Erdogan told reporters."We cannot justify these attacks in any way.

17 Nov 2025

Russia Ships Less Wheat to Mexico in 2025 at 58,000 Tons

© Adobe Stock/Eugene

Russia, the world's largest wheat exporter, has shipped 58,000 metric tons of food-grade wheat to Mexico from its western port of Kaliningrad this year, the local agricultural safety watchdog said on Monday, a significant slowdown from 2023 and 2024.Russia is aiming to diversify its grain exports beyond its traditional Middle East markets, targeting new ones in Latin America, Asia and Africa through its expanding grain terminals in the Baltic Sea.The Kaliningrad food safety watchdog said it inspected the wheat destined for Mexico between January 1 and November 5…

11 Nov 2025

Palfinger to Deliver First Fully Electric Offshore Cranes for Polish Wind Farms

(Credit: Palfinger Marine)

Austria’s Palfinger Marine has signed a contract to supply the world’s first fully electric offshore jib cranes for the Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 wind farms off Poland, marking an industry milestone in the electrification of offshore wind operations.The cranes, to be installed on the substations of the two projects, will be built at Palfinger’s facility in Gdynia, Poland, enhancing local content in the construction of the wind farms, which are being developed jointly by Equinor and Polenergia.Palfinger will equip the substations with two DKJ500e cranes…

01 Sep 2025

Houthis Claim Responsibility for Attack on Israeli-Linked Tanker

file photo: © Faraways / Adobe Stock

Yemen's Houthis said on Monday they launched a missile towards the Israeli-owned tanker Scarlet Ray near Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port city of Yanbu in a rare attack off the Saudi coast.The Liberia-flagged vessel's Singapore-based manager, Eastern Pacific Shipping, owned by Israeli magnate Idan Ofer, said the chemical tanker was undamaged and under the command of its captain."We are aware of security reports alleging that our managed vessel Scarlet Ray was the target of a suspected Houthi attack…

31 Aug 2025

Israeli-Owned Tanker Reports Nearby Explosion

© lesniewski / Adobe Stock

British maritime security firm Ambrey said on Sunday that a Liberia-flagged Israeli-owned tanker reported an explosion nearby, southwest of Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port city of Yanbu.A vessel reported "a splash in close proximity from an unknown projectile and heard a loud bang", the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said, adding that the vessel's crew were all safe and it was continuing to its next voyage.In a later update, Ambrey said it assessed the vessel to be "aligned with" the targets of Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis' profile given that it was publicly Israeli-owned.Since 2

22 Aug 2025

U.S. Representative Lisa McClain Recognized as a Great Lakes Champion

© Great Lakes Maritime Task Force

On Monday, August 18, 2025, the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force (GLMTF) recognized Michigan Congresswoman Lisa McClain for her efforts advocating for the Great Lakes Navigation System and those who live and work on or near the Fourth Sea Coast."It is an incredible honor to be recognized as Legislator of the Year by the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force. The Great Lakes are not only a vital economic engine for our region, but a national treasure that demands strong, informed policy,” Chairwoman McClain said.

24 Jul 2025

Shots Fired at Livestock Carrier in Red Sea Near Yemen

Illustration © STOCKSTUDIO / Adobe Stock

People in a wooden boat opened fire on a Comoros-flagged livestock carrier in the Red Sea near Yemen on Thursday, and the vessel was detained by the Yemeni Coast Guard, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).A maritime security official in the Yemeni government told Reuters the vessel was released after being held on suspicion, with naval forces concerned because its AIS tracking system was turned off and it was sailing north from the Horn of Africa.British security firm Ambrey said the vessel…

21 May 2025

Philippines, U.S. Hold Joint Coast Guard Drills in South China Sea

Source: Armed Forces of the Philippines

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…

19 May 2025

Egypt Declares Seven People Dead From Capsized Tourist Boat in November

© Adobe Stock/Peter Hermes Furian

Egypt has officially declared seven missing people, including five foreigners, dead after a tourist boat capsized off Egypt’s Red Sea coast in November.A decree published in the official gazette on Sunday by the country's prime minister deemed two British and two Polish tourists, along with a German person and two Egyptians dead.The boat, the Sea Story, capsized in November near the Sataya Reef while carrying 31 tourists and 13 crew on a multi-day diving trip. It was struck by high waves and sank in five to seven minutes.

16 May 2025

Israel Attacks Yemeni Ports, Says Houthi-Run TV Outlet

© Adobe Stock/Peter Hermes Furian

Israel attacked Yemen's ports of Hodeidah and Salif along the country's Red Sea coast on Friday, the Houthi-run Al Masirah TV said, in an apparent response to the militant group's missile launches against Israel.Al Masirah did not provide further details, but two residents in Hodeidah said they heard four loud booms. There was no immediate comment on the attack from Israel.The Houthis have continued to fire missiles at Israel in what they say is solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, although they have agreed to halt attacks on U.S.

17 Apr 2025

Russian 'Shadow Fleet' Tanker Moved to "Safer" Anchorpoint

The Panama-flagged vessel, the Eventin, was moved on Thursday (April 17) to the Nordperd anchorpoint, about 3 nautical miles from its previous position. According to official sources it is now at an anchorage where ships carrying dangerous goods can safely moor without affecting harbour operations or the surrounding area. The operation was carried out by tugs commissioned and monitored by German customs.The Eventin was found drifting out of control off Germany's Baltic Sea coast in January.

15 Apr 2025

Bulgaria, Shell Sign Contract for Black Sea Gas and Oil Exploration

Shell signed a contract with Bulgaria's government giving the oil and gas multinational major rights to explore for oil and gas in the Black Sea. Credit: Adobe Stock/Peter Hermes Furian

Shell signed a contract with Bulgaria's government on Tuesday (April 15) giving the oil and gas multinational major rights to explore for oil and gas in the Black Sea."With this contract, we are taking a significant step toward uncovering the deep Black Sea’s potential for future gas supplies," Bulgaria's Energy Minister Zhecho Stankov said.The contract will allow Shell to explore 4,000 square metres in the Block 1-26 Khan Tervel field.European Union member Bulgaria, which had been totally dependent on Russian gas until 2022, has been seeking to diversify its gas supplies and find cheaper sour

14 Apr 2025

German Court to Review Seizure of Russian "Shadow Fleet" Tanker

A German court will weigh a request to release a seized oil tanker that is believed to be part of a so-called shadow fleet used by Russia to circumvent oil sanctions, Germany's finance ministry said on Monday.The Panama-flagged vessel, the Eventin, was found drifting out of control off Germany's Baltic Sea coast in January.

27 Mar 2025

Tourist Submarine Sinks Off Egypt Killing Six

Illustration (Credit: Sinbad Submarines)

Six foreigners were killed on Thursday when a tourist submarine sank off Egypt's Red Sea resort city of Hurghada, the local governor's office told Reuters, without confirming the nationalities of the victims.The Russian consulate in Hurghada said the submarine, named "SINDBAD", had 45 Russian tourists on board in addition to crew members.The consulate said four people had died, but did not specify if they were Russian."According to initial data, most of those on board were rescued and taken to their hotels and hospitals in Hurghada," the consulate said.The fate of several tourists was still be

11 Mar 2025

All 23 Crew from Stena Immaculate Safe with No Reported Injuries, Crowley Says

(Credit: Video Screenshot/X.com)

Crowley, the manager of oil tanker Stena Immaculate that was struck on its port side by the container ship Solong, causing a blaze, has reported that all 23 members of the ship’s crew are safe and without reported injuries, as it launches spill containment response efforts.On March 10, 2025, while stationary and anchored off the North Sea coast near Hull in the United Kingdom, the Crowley-managed tanker Stena Immaculate was struck on its port side by the container ship Solong.Crowley…