Norway grants US$120m to hydrogen, ammonia ships
Norway has awarded more than US$120 million in grants to support seven pioneering bulk carriers and the country’s first ammonia bunkering stations, reported Fort Lauderdale’s Maritime Executive. The funding is channelled through Enova, a state enterprise under the Ministry of Climate and Environment, as part of efforts to cut emissions and build new industry. The…
Venezuela Passes 20-Year Prison Law Targeting ‘Piracy’ and ‘Blockades’ After Tanker Seizures
A U.S. military helicopter flies over the Panama-flagged Centuries, which was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard, days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a “blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, east of Barbados in the Caribbean Sea December 20, 2025. DHS/Handout via REUTERS Reuters December 24, 2025 Dec 23 (Reuters)…
Coast Guard Pursuing Defiant ‘Bella 1’ Tanker as U.S. Blockade of Venezuela Runs Into Reality
A U.S. military helicopter flies over the Panama-flagged Centuries, which was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard, days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a “blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, east of Barbados in the Caribbean Sea December 20, 2025. DHS/Handout via REUTERS Reuters December 23, 2025 By Idrees Ali,…
US Pursuing Third Oil Tanker Near Venezuela, Officials Say
A U.S. military helicopter flies over the Panama-flagged Centuries, which was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard, days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a “blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, east of Barbados in the Caribbean Sea December 20, 2025. DHS/Handout via REUTERS Reuters December 21, 2025 By Idrees Ali,…
US seizes second tanker off Venezuela
Video shows the Panama-flagged VLCC Centuries being boarding by the US Coast Guard Marcus Hand, Editor December 21, 2025 CREDIT: SCREENSHOT – US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY The US has seized a VLCC named Centuries offshore Venezuela, its second such operation in recent weeks. US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Neom posted a seven-minute video on…
U.S. Seizes Second Tanker Near Venezuela, Reuters Reports
Chevron-chartered oil tanker Ionic Anax is seen near the Bajo Grande port in Venezuela’s lake Maracaibo after loading for export, in San Francisco, Zulia State, Venezuela December 13, 2025. REUTERS/Isaac Urrutia Reuters December 20, 2025 By Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart Dec 20 (Reuters) – The United States is interdicting and seizing a vessel off…
U.S. Maritime Regulator Weighs Severe Penalties in Escalating Spain Port Probe
Credit: Gestur Gislason/Shutterstock Mike Schuler December 19, 2025 The Federal Maritime Commission says Spain’s port access restrictions on Israel-linked cargoes may violate U.S. shipping laws, prompting consideration of fines, port bans, and other penalties. The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has escalated its investigation into Spain’s port access restrictions, confirming that Spanish authorities continue to…
Federal Maritime Commission Recognizes National Shipper Advisory Committee Members
December 18, 2025 © Federal Maritime Commission The Federal Maritime Commission acknowledges the service of the members of the National Shipper Advisory Committee (NSAC). Since October 2021, NSAC’s members have provided information and perspectives on conditions in the ocean freight delivery system. NSAC’s meetings and recommendations have assisted the Commission on a range of matters…
Venezuela rolls out naval escorts as tanker standoff with US intensifies
Sam ChambersDecember 18, 2025 US Department of Justice US Department of Justice Venezuela has begun deploying naval escorts for vessels carrying oil byproducts as they depart its ports, underscoring a rapid escalation in maritime tensions following US president Donald Trump’s threat of a “total and complete” blockade of sanctioned oil tankers trading to and from…
Now Britain fines car carrier cartel
Published on 17-12-2025 at 07:18 Car carrier Cerulean Ace in the livery of MOL. Corporate image from MOL Japanese shipping companies MOL and NYK have reached an agreement in Britain to pay a total settlement of £54 million (€61.5 million). The sum is in lieu of their participation in an international car carrier cartel between…
Trump moves to choke Venezuelan oil shipping with ‘total and complete’ tanker blockade
Sam ChambersDecember 17, 2025 The White House The White House In a major escalation of maritime pressure on Caracas, US president Donald Trump has ordered “a total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going into, and out of, Venezuela,” intensifying efforts to squeeze president Nicolás Maduro’s lifeline crude exports. The dramatic declaration, posted…
European Commission approves €251m for 24 port schemes
Published on 15-12-2025 at 09:28 MVII and RWG will receive large grants towards the cost of installing shore power. Shutterstock The European Commission has approved €601m for 70 projects under the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF), with 24 ports among the beneficiaries. Announced on 17 November 2025, the funding round targets the deployment of onshore…
PEMA reviews new EU Machinery Regulation
Published on 15-12-2025 at 20:18 Bureau Veritas The Port Equipment Manufacturers’ Association’s (PEMA) latest Information Paper reviews the new EU Machinery Regulation EU 2023/1230. PEMA has published its 32nd Information Paper, which is entitled “Review of Machinery Regulation EU 2023/1230”. This regulation that comes into effect on January 20, 2027, and will replace the older…
Trump Administration Weighs Offshore Minerals Leasing Off Virginia
Greenpeace activists from New Zealand and Mexico confront the deep sea mining vessel Hidden Gem, commissioned by Canadian miner The Metals Company, as it returned to port from eight weeks of test mining in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone between Mexico and Hawaii, off the coast of Manzanillo, Mexico November 16, 2022. REUTERS/Gustavo Graf Mike Schuler December…
Brussels flags competition concerns over TIL’s Tercat bid
Published on 12-12-2025 at 09:24 Hutchison Ports BEST Brussels warned that TIL’s joint takeover of BEST with Hutchison Ports may lead to preferential treatment for MSC and limit options for rival carriers. MSC’s terminal business, Terminal Investment Limited Holding (TiL), is facing an “in-depth” European Commission antitrust investigation into the proposed acquisition of 50% stake…
Six ships targeted in new US sanctions on Venezuela
OFAC targets the Venezuelan oil sector and six tankers linked to ‘deceptive and unsafe shipping practices’. Gary Howard, Middle East correspondent December 12, 2025 IMAGE: THE WHITE HOUSE The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced a salvo of new sanctions against Venezuela, including blacklisting six tankers allegedly involved in “deceptive and unsafe shipping practices”.…
After Skipper Seizure, U.S. Prepares Wider Crackdown on Venezuelan Oil Tankers
A U.S. military helicopter flies near an oil tanker during a raid described by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi as its seizure by the United States off the coast of Venezuela, December 10, 2025, in a still image from video. U.S. Attorney General/Handout via REUTERS. Reuters December 11, 2025 By Jonathan Saul, Marianna Parraga and…
A Week In The Pentagon – Chaos, Complexity and Hope
John Konrad December 11, 2025 Editor’s Note: This is the longest piece gCaptain has ever published. 13,000 words. It’s messy in places, uneven in tone, and intentionally uncompressed—because that’s what a week inside today’s Pentagon felt like. Read it as a field report, not a polished magazine feature: imperfect, human, and written close to the moment.…
EU backs Belgian port decarbonisation drive
Published on 11-12-2025 at 09:16 Belgian ports are also part of a cross-border alternative fuel project coordinated from Luxembourg Port of Antwerp-Bruges AFIF awards will channel approximately €16m into Belgian port decarbonisation, supporting OPS, zero-emission equipment and ammonia bunkering. The European Commission has approved €601m for 70 projects under the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF),…
Tariff Threat Forces U.S. Ports to Rethink Upgrade Plans
Operators shy from buying Chinese ship-to-shore cranes despite one-year pause to Trump’s 100% import duty By Paul Berger Dec. 5, 2025 at 9:00 am ET The Trump administration is threatening 100% tariffs on Chinese cranes such as these machines at the Port of Los Angeles. TIM RUE/BLOOMBERG NEWS The threat of steep tariffs on Chinese…
EU Launches Full Antitrust Probe Into MSC–BlackRock Bid for Barcelona Container Terminal
Port of Barcelona. Photo: steve bridge/Shutterstock Mike Schuler December 10, 2025 The European Commission has launched an in-depth investigation into the proposed acquisition of joint control over Terminal Catalunya (TERCAT) by Terminal Investment Limited Holding (TIL) and Hutchison Ports, citing preliminary concerns that the transaction could lead to higher prices and reduced service quality at…
ks new IMO initiative to support Africa's eco transition
The International Maritime Organisation and the European Union have launched the “Future-Ready Shipping in Africa” project with a EUR5 million (US$5.8 million) pledge from the EU, reported Saint Petersburg’s PortNews. The programme aims to have Africa move toward decarbonization, digitizational and gender balance. It will strengthen maritime governance by aligning national policies with MARPOL Annex…
South Africa excluded from African Growth Opportunity Act
United States Senator John Kennedy has introduced the African Growth and Opportunity Act Extension and Bilateral Engagement Act, known as Agoa 2.0, to renew the trade programme for two years. South Africa has been singled out for exclusion due to its ties with US adversaries, reported Johannesburg’s Freight News. The Bill was tabled in the…
China Fighter Jet Locks Radar At Japan Planes In Row Over Taiwan
Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning sails through the Miyako Strait near Okinawa on its way to the Pacific in this handout photo taken by Japan Self-Defense Forces and released by the Joint Staff Office of the Defense Ministry of Japan on April 4, 2021. Joint Staff Office of the Defense Ministry of Japan/HANDOUT via REUTERS Bloomberg…
Giorgia Meloni Signes Shipyard Agreement In Bahrain
gCaptain December 6, 2025 Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard (ASRY) has signed two major agreements with Italian shipbuilding powerhouse Fincantieri and additive-manufacturing specialist Roboze, positioning Bahrain to become a far more significant player in Gulf naval construction, maritime repair, and high-tech industrial production. The signing ceremony included Bahrain’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Salman bin…
NASSCO Teams with Samsung Heavy Industries and DSEC to Boost U.S. Shipbuilding Capabilities
USNS Lucy Stone (T-AO 209) Christening & Launch. Photo courtesy NASSCO Mike Schuler December 4, 2025 General Dynamics NASSCO has joined forces with South Korean shipbuilding leaders Samsung Heavy Industries and longtime partner DSEC Co., Ltd. in a strategic tri-party alliance aimed at advancing ship design and manufacturing automation in the U.S. market. The partnership,…
Pentagon seeks to add Alibaba, Baidu, BYD to entities list
The Pentagon has concluded that Alibaba Group Holding, Baidu and BYD should be added to a list of companies that support the Chinese military, reports Reuters. Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg informed lawmakers of the conclusion in a letter dated October 7, three weeks before Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping agreed to a broad…
South Africa Hits Global Shipping Giants With Price-Fixing Case
Credit: Gestur Gislason/Shutterstock Mike Schuler December 2, 2025 By Ana Monteiro (Bloomberg) — South Africa’s antitrust body referred a price-fixing complaint against the local units of some of the world’s top shipping companies including A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S and CMA CGM SA to a tribunal for prosecution. The companies allegedly fixed the general rate increase charged to…
Europe Is Nearing Deal to End Russian Fossil Fuels Imports
Pipes at the landfall facilities of the ‘Nord Stream 1’ gas pipeline are pictured in Lubmin, Germany, March 8, 2022. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke/File Photo Bloomberg December 2, 2025 By Ewa Krukowska Dec 2, 2025 (Bloomberg) –The European Union is closing in on a deal to phase out Russian fossil fuels, a move that will embed into law…
South Africa Hits Global Shipping Giants With Price-Fixing Case
Credit: Gestur Gislason/Shutterstock Mike Schuler December 2, 2025 By Ana Monteiro (Bloomberg) — South Africa’s antitrust body referred a price-fixing complaint against the local units of some of the world’s top shipping companies including A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S and CMA CGM SA to a tribunal for prosecution. The companies allegedly fixed the general rate increase charged to…
Canada looks new gateways to decouple from US
Canada’s government has announced plans to spend C$5 billion (US$3.55 billion) over seven years on ports and infrastructure to reduce trade dependency on the US, reports London’s S&P Global. Transport Minister Steven MacKinnon said the funding will come through the Trade Diversification Corridors Fund. Prime Minister Mark Carney first outlined the plan in March after…
Russia mounts comeback bid for IMO’s top table
Sam ChambersNovember 28, 2025 IMO IMO Russia will find out today whether it has secured a return to shipping’s regulatory inner circle — or whether the political freeze is set to continue. Russia is attempting to claw its way back into the International Maritime Organization’s top decision-making body, setting up one of the most politically…
EU investigates BlackRock–MSC bid for CK Hutchison’s ports
Published on 28-11-2025 at 10:16 MSC’s Terminal Investment Limited Holding (TiL) and BlackRock would jointly take control of the Hutchison Ports BEST terminal in Barcelona Hutchison Ports BEST BlackRock and MSC’s plan to buy most of CK Hutchison’s global port assets is under review in Europe, with EU antitrust officials expected to examine the…
UK Strikes at Heart of Russia’s Arctic Energy Empire
The Christophe de Margerie, an ice-class tanker fitted out to transport liquefied natural gas, is docked at the Yamal LNG facility in Arctic port of Sabetta, Yamalo-Nenets district, Russia March 30, 2017. REUTERS/Olesya Astakhova Paul Morgan November 26, 2025 New maritime services ban threatens to sever lifeline for Yamal LNG exports By Paul Morgan (gCaptain)…
Chinese Cruise Ships Look To Steer Clear Of Japan
The cruise ship Diamond Princess is docked at the port of Yokohama, south of Tokyo, in this photo taken by Kyodo February 7, 2020. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS Reuters November 22, 2025 By Ju-min Park, Hyunjoo Jin and Heekyong Yang SEOUL Nov 21 (Reuters) – Chinese cruise operators are scrambling to avoid Japanese ports as Beijing and…
Moody’s: U.S. Ports Face Decline as Tariffs and Policy Uncertainty Cloud 2026 Outlook
An OOCL containership at the Port of Long Beach. Photo: Richard H Grant / Shutterstock.com Mike Schuler November 20, 2025 The US ports sector is bracing for a challenging year ahead as tariffs, policy unpredictability, and weakening consumer demand threaten to reverse recent growth trends, according to a new outlook from Moody’s Ratings. “The 2026…
Port Esbjerg Strengthens its Port Control with EU Support
November 20, 2025 © Port Esbjerg With support from the Interreg North Sea Program, an EU-funded cooperation aimed at driving ideas and solutions across the North Sea, Port Esbjerg has strengthened and modernized its Port Control. Featuring a new control room, integrated IT systems, and consolidated professional competencies, Port Control can now more efficiently monitor,…
U.S. Court of Appeals Issues Decision in Case on Demurrage, Detention Billing Practices
November 20, 2025 © Adobe Stock/EvrenKalinbacak On February 23, 2024, the FMC issued its Final Rule on Detention and Demurrage Billing Practices, as required by Congress under the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022. The rule went into effect on May 28, 2024. After the Final Rule was issued, the World Shipping Council, a trade…
UK committee urges stronger ports policy to safeguard long-term trade resilience
Published on 19-11-2025 at 07:16 The Port of Greenock is just one of around 170 commercial ports in the UK. Port of Greenock – Peel Ports The UK House of Commons Transport Select Committee has called for significant changes to the Government’s draft National Policy Statement for Ports (Ports NPS). The Transport Committee, an all-party…
Chinese firms say EU business climate worsens again
Chinese companies operating in the European Union report that business conditions have deteriorated for the sixth year in a row, citing rising labour costs and political challenges, according to a survey, Reuters reports. The survey, conducted for the China Chamber of Commerce to the EU, covered 200 Chinese firms and organisations. Respondents pointed to weaknesses…
FMC Collects $1,350,000 in Penalty Payments
November 18, 2025 Credit: Adobe Stock/moofushi The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC or Commission) investigates and negotiates settlements and informal compromises of civil penalties in relation to potential violations of the Shipping Act and Commission regulations. Recently, the Commission completed two compromise agreements recovering a total of $1,350,000 in civil penalties. The agreements were reached with…
Fortescue’s Forrest says ‘thugs’ and ‘gangsters’ delayed IMO NZF
COP30: The delay in implementing the IMO’s Net Zero Framework is exposing the divisions that exist within shipping and society Nick Savvides, Europe correspondent November 17, 2025 Credit: IMO Fresh from rubbishing LNG at Nor-Shipping in June, speaking at COP30 Fortescue Chairman Andrew Forrest called for the maritime sector to “expose the thugs” that used…
EU Funds 70 Clean Energy Projects
November 17, 2025 Source: European Commission The European Commission has selected 70 projects to help decarbonize transport and strengthen the competitiveness of EU industries by installing the infrastructure needed for recharging or refueling. The projects will receive over €600 million ($696 million) in funding from the Connecting Europe Facility to stimulate sustainable investments in urban…
Shipbuilding said key to growth of American seaports
US lawmakers and industry leaders are pushing for a revival of domestic shipbuilding to strengthen port efficiency and national security, reported New York’s Marine Link. A Senate hearing on October 28 highlighted the need to modernize commercial shipbuilding as foreign rivals, particularly China, dominate global capacity. Senator Dan Sullivan said the nation faces a strategic…
Matson stands to benefit from US tariff regime
Matson, the largest US ocean container carrier, saw its shares rise more than nine per cent as improved prospects for China shipping outweighed weaker quarterly earnings, reports New York’s FreightWaves. The Honolulu company posted net income of US$134.7 million, or $4.24 per diluted share, for the quarter ended September 30, down from US$199.1 million, or…
Trade war disruptions less than feared: Port of Long Beach
West Coast port hopeful of a pragmatic solution between the US and China, certainty for the supply chain November 10, 2025 CREDIT: SCREENSHOT PORT OF LONG BEACH BRIEFING Port of Long Beach Chief Executive Mario Cordero’s view was that the impacts of tariffs and “trade-war” type disruptions have been far less than had been feared initially. …
EU Launches €2.9B Plan to Kickstart Green Transport Fuels, But Industry Warns Speed Is Critical
A tanker ship is seen in the English Channel at sunrise, near Dover, Britain, August 4, 2021. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls/File Photo November 10, 2025 The European Commission launched its Sustainable Transport Investment Plan last week, setting an ambitious roadmap to transform the aviation and waterborne transport sectors through renewable and low-carbon fuels. The plan seeks to…
Trade war disruptions less than feared: Port of Long Beach
West Coast port hopeful of a pragmatic solution between the US and China, certainty for the supply chain November 10, 2025 3 Min Read CREDIT: SCREENSHOT PORT OF LONG BEACH BRIEFING Port of Long Beach Chief Executive Mario Cordero’s view was that the impacts of tariffs and “trade-war” type disruptions have been far less than had…
Unions Slam Trump For Giving China A Pass On Shipbuilding
A cargo ship full of shipping containers is seen at the port of Oakland, California, U.S., August 4, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo Bloomberg November 8, 2025 By Joe Deaux and Laura Curtis Nov 8, 2025 (Bloomberg) –A group of labor unions led by the United Steelworkers slammed the Trump administration for suspending port fees on Chinese…
US – China trade deal - a zero-sum game for shipping?
Can the trade deal agreed by China and the US calm the global markets and by extension supply chains and the container shipping industry? Nick Savvides, Europe correspondent November 7, 2025 CREDIT: THE WHITEHOUSE The pandemic proved that disruption and chaos can benefit container shipping lines, tariffs are beneficial for some too, with the surge…
USTR proposes suspension of STS crane tariffs from China
Published on 07-11-2025 at 12:44 ZPMC vessel with three STS cranes for Port Houston. Photo: ZPMC A one-year suspension of tariffs on Chinese STS cranes brings relief to US ports as the US and China resume trade negotiations. After what has been described as a “historic trade and economic deal” reached between US President Donald…
USTR Moves to Suspend Port Fees Targeting China
Photo courtesy Port of Long Beach Mike Schuler November 6, 2025 The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has opened a one-day public comment period and provided more clarity on the proposed one-year suspension of port entry fees and tariffs imposed under the Section 301 investigation targeting China’s dominance in maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors.…
China Resumes U.S. Wheat Purchases After Trump–Xi Meeting
File Image: A shipment of American-grown wheat on the US-flagged Liberty Glory in the Port of Longview, Washington. Photo courtesy American Maritime Congress Reuters November 6, 2025 SINGAPORE/BEIJING, Nov 6 (Reuters) – China has booked two cargoes of U.S. wheat following last week’s meeting between the countries’ leaders, traders said on Thursday, the first such purchases since October…
Trump Administration Seeks to Negotiate with China on Shipping
November 6, 2025 © eyewave / Adobe Stock The Trump administration said on Thursday it would pursue negotiations with China over its dominance of shipbuilding and ocean logistics as it formalized plans for a one-year pause on U.S. port fees on China-linked vessels as part of a broader deal to reduce trade tensions. The U.S.…
Supreme Court Seems Skeptical of Trump’s Global Tariffs
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump holds a chart next to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick as Trump delivers remarks on tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 2, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo Bloomberg November 5, 2025 By Greg Stohr (Bloomberg) — The US Supreme Court appeared skeptical…
Global shipping giants reflag vessels to India
A growing number of international shipping companies are reflagging vessels under the Indian flag, signaling a strategic shift in global maritime operations, reports Mumbai’s reported Republic Business. India’s mix of economic incentives, regulatory reforms and infrastructure expansion is attracting major players to its ports.. The Indian government is offering Indian-flagged ships priority access to government…
Matson Paid $6.4 million in Port Fees to China
November 4, 2025 © sheilaf2002 / Adobe Stock U.S. ocean shipping company Matson MATX.N has paid $6.4 million in port fees to China since they were implemented on October 14, CEO Matt Cox said on Tuesday. President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping last week agreed to put those tit-for-tat levies on pause for 12…
Supply chain damage already done, says Xeneta
Outlook for 2026 looking rosier for shippers as over-capacity and market uncertainty will limit freight rates. Nick Savvides, Europe correspondent November 3, 2025 IMAGE: PORT OF LA China and the US’ trade war truce, suspending port fees and lowering tariffs will not see an upsurge of demand as the damage to supply chains has already happened…
Coast Guard Grants Temporary Relief to Mariners as Shutdown Paralyzes Credentialing
Photo courtesy American Maritime Partnership Mike Schuler November 3, 2025 National Maritime Center remains closed as government shutdown approaches record length The U.S. Coast Guard has extended merchant mariner credentials and medical certificates through January 31, 2026, as the federal government shutdown approaches its fifth week with no resolution in sight. The National Maritime…
Port fees truce to begin next Monday as China pledges massive soybean buys
Sam ChambersNovember 3, 2025 A year-long suspension of tit-for-tat port fees between the United States and China will take effect next Monday, according to a release from the White House, marking a major breakthrough in global trade flows and offering a potential boost to bulk shipping markets. The truce forms part of a sweeping trade…