USCG Resumes Monitoring of Chinese Research Vessels Entering the Arctic

rendering of proposed Fiumicino Waterfront port and marina Italy

Approval for Rome Cruise Terminal Cancelled by Italian Court

Published Jul 20, 2026 8:56 AM by The Maritime Executive

The efforts to develop a new cruise terminal that would be located closer to Rome and provide growth capacity were set back by an Italian court that rejected a key government approval. The project, which involves Royal Caribbean Group, is the latest example of the efforts by the cruise industry to expand port capacity and create modern terminals able to handle the mega cruise ships. Known as the Fiumicino Waterfront Project, the plan is billed as a redevelopment of a...

Low Water Levels Challenge European River Cruising

Published Jul 20, 2026 8:41 AM by The Maritime Executive

As Europe has suffered through record high temperatures and a drought, it has raised concerns over the impact on residents. In addition, it is also presenting issues for commercial shipping, including river cruising. This summer has become extremely dangerous, with reports such as a doubling of France’s mortality rate. Experts are saying that as many as 10,000 additional people may have died so far this summer over normal mortality levels due to the heat. While the worst of the heatwave...

AIDA Runs Unusual Cruise to Rotterdam Dry Dock for Passengers

Published Jul 20, 2026 8:38 AM by The Maritime Executive

Passengers aboard the AIDA cruise ship AIDAmar experienced an unusual cruise destination on a July cruise. The ship needed to complete a certificate inspection that reportedly had been delayed by weather, so the July 3 cruise proceeded to Damen Shiprepair Rotterdam’s Botlek location instead of a scheduled cruise to Scandinavia. The 71,300 gross ton ship, which was built by Meyer Werft, entered service in June 2012. It has a passenger capacity of 2,194 people plus a crew of more than...

Geopolitical Disruption Reduces Cargo Volume at Port of Antwerp

Published Jul 20, 2026 4:30 AM by The Maritime Executive

The Port of Antwerp-Bruges is feeling the impact of a myriad of domestic and global challenges after cargo throughput plunged during the first half of the year. In an indication of how international logistics chains remain vulnerable to disruption, Europe's second-busiest port saw throughput decline by 2.4 percent. Over the six-month period, a total of 9,773 cargo ships and 77 cruise ships called at Antwerp-Bruges, representing declines in vessel calls of 4.4 percent and 8.3 percent respectively. Antwerp-Bruges's first-half figures...

Shipping

The MASS Code

[By Priyatham Sanjeeva Reddy, Ramidi] On 1 July 2026, the International Code of Safety for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) enters its first operational phase. That date will not suddenly empty bridges or dispatch uncrewed container ships across every ocean. It does, however, mark a decisive change in the autonomous-shipping debate. The industry is moving from asking whether autonomy is technically possible to asking whether it can be governed safely at scale. The International Maritime Organization adopted the non-mandatory MASS...

Tugs & Salvage

Report: Greek Tanker May Be On Fire in Strait of Hormuz

Despite active hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz and the ongoing threat of Iranian attacks, merchant ships continue to transit the waterway in small numbers - and some are still getting hit. On Monday morning, UKMTO reported a vessel on fire in the strait, about eight nautical miles due north of the Musandam Peninsula in Omani waters. Early reports indicate that the vessel may be the recently-built product tanker Kavomaleas, operated by Dynacom - a Greek tanker firm well-known for...

Government

Geopolitical Disruption Reduces Cargo Volume at Port of Antwerp

Corporate News

Carnival Corporation Expands Surplus Meal Donation Program to The Bahamas

One year after celebrating the grand opening of Celebration Key on Grand Bahama Island, Carnival Corporation (NYSE: CCL), the world's largest cruise company, has another reason to celebrate, today launching its surplus meal donation program in The Bahamas. The expansion into The Bahamas marks another step in the company's ongoing efforts to redirect surplus food through partnerships that create meaningful community impact around the world. As part of Carnival Corporation's Less Left Over food waste reduction strategy, the program's first...

Cruise Ships

Battle of the Beaches for the Cruise Lines

Cruise lines are intensifying their focus on their private ports. While the beach destinations have long been popular with passengers, the lines are increasing their investments not only to expand their offerings but also to differentiate their islands as they seek to grow their earning potential. The concept of the private islands got its start in the 1970s. Then marketing executive at Norwegian Cruise Line, Bruce Nierenberg, recalls the origins as coming from a popular beach party excursion the line...

Ports

Approval for Rome Cruise Terminal Cancelled by Italian Court

Shipping

The MASS Code

Tugs & Salvage

Report: Greek Tanker May Be On Fire in Strait of Hormuz

Government

Geopolitical Disruption Reduces Cargo Volume at Port of Antwerp

Corporate News

Carnival Corporation Expands Surplus Meal Donation Program to The Bahamas

Cruise Ships

Battle of the Beaches for the Cruise Lines

Ports

Approval for Rome Cruise Terminal Cancelled by Italian Court

Offshore

Sweden Permits Two Offshore Wind Farms, Denies 11 Due to Defense Concerns

While saying that Sweden needs to develop new power sources and critically green power to remain competitive, the government had nonetheless decided to deny 11 pending applications. It was the latest move by the government, which also denied 13 applications in 2024, citing defense concerns. “The government assesses that the applied for activities would, among other things, have an unacceptable impact on our defense capabilities,” said the Ministry of Climate and Enterprise. “However, the decisions do not mean that the...

Shipbuilding

Interview: Joey D'Isernia, CEO & Chairman, Eastern Shipbuilding Group

Welcome, Joey, and congratulations on 50 years of shipbuilding excellence! Are there celebrations planned? Oh yes, a whole year's worth! We've built it into all our various employee and community engagement events – company picnic, charity fishing tournament, employee appreciation lunches, end-of-summer celebration where we rent out an entire waterpark for our employees and their families. We like to stay close to our employees and engage with them, and we're highlighting our 50th anniversary in that manner and it's kind...

Environment

Proving Phase

For years, ammonia has held a strange place in shipping's transition – promising, commercially uncertain, operationally uncomfortable. It carries no carbon atoms, can be made from renewable hydrogen and nitrogen, and may eventually serve deep-sea trade routes that batteries cannot reach. But it's also toxic, corrosive, and unforgiving. "Ammonia slip," where unburned ammonia escapes through combustion or exhaust, is a real concern when injection timing and combustion pressure are poorly controlled. The question is no longer whether ammonia can work....

Business

JPMorganChase Provides $24M to Strengthen Philadelphia’s Naval Shipbuilding

Leading U.S. investment firm JPMorganChase will provide $24 million to help strengthen Philadelphia’s shipbuilding and maritime manufacturing sector. The combination of loans, investments, and philanthropic grants comes as the Trump administration continues to struggle with its plan to revitalize the American merchant marine and naval shipbuilding capacity. The program was announced by well-known CEO Jamie Dimon, reporting that the company will make $18 million in investments and loans, and provide $6 million in philanthropic grants. He said the focus is...

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USCG Resumes Monitoring of Chinese Research Vessels Entering the Arctic

Approval for Rome Cruise Terminal Cancelled by Italian Court

Low Water Levels Challenge European River Cruising

AIDA Runs Unusual Cruise to Rotterdam Dry Dock for Passengers

Geopolitical Disruption Reduces Cargo Volume at Port of Antwerp

The MASS Code

Report: Greek Tanker May Be On Fire in Strait of Hormuz

Geopolitical Disruption Reduces Cargo Volume at Port of Antwerp

Carnival Corporation Expands Surplus Meal Donation Program to The Bahamas

Battle of the Beaches for the Cruise Lines

Approval for Rome Cruise Terminal Cancelled by Italian Court

The Hidden Operational Value in Your Emissions Data

New Reality of Tanker Ops: Why Onboard Blending and Cargo Control Matter

New Digital Platform Connects Shipowners Directly With Seafarers

The MASS Code

Report: Greek Tanker May Be On Fire in Strait of Hormuz

Geopolitical Disruption Reduces Cargo Volume at Port of Antwerp

Carnival Corporation Expands Surplus Meal Donation Program to The Bahamas

Battle of the Beaches for the Cruise Lines

Approval for Rome Cruise Terminal Cancelled by Italian Court

Sweden Permits Two Offshore Wind Farms, Denies 11 Due to Defense Concerns

Interview: Joey D'Isernia, CEO & Chairman, Eastern Shipbuilding Group

Proving Phase

JPMorganChase Provides $24M to Strengthen Philadelphia’s Naval Shipbuilding

Maritime Industry Conferences and Events

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Maritime Industry Conferences and Events