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The SS United States, a retired American ocean liner, that was built during 1950 and 1951 for United States Lines, is towed out to sea on the Delaware River beneath the Walt Whitman Bridge, on her way to Alabama where she is intended to be sunk to create an artificial reef, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., February 19, 2025. REUTERS/Matthew Hatcher
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Ship Photo of The Week
The SS United States, a retired American ocean liner, that was built during 1950 and 1951 for United States Lines, is towed out to sea on the Delaware River beneath the Walt Whitman Bridge, on her way to Alabama where she is intended to be sunk to create an artificial reef, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., February 19, 2025. REUTERS/Matthew Hatcher
Top Stories
Mysterious Explosions
Four oil tankers have mysteriously exploded in recent weeks, all of them having visited Russian ports beforehand. Coincidence? Maybe. But shipping security experts aren’t so sure.
The latest incident saw Greek-operated Seajewel suffer two explosions while anchored off Italy’s Savona-Vado port, triggering an anti-terror probe. A month earlier, sister tanker Seacharm took a hit near Turkey. Meanwhile, the Grace Ferrum was damaged off Libya, and the Koala had an explosive encounter right in Russia’s Ust-Luga port.
No one’s claimed responsibility, but the incidents coincide with rising tensions over Russian oil shipments. Moscow has responded by ordering divers to inspect ships for explosives and deploying the navy to guard against drone threats.
For now, shipping officials are keeping theories in dry dock, warning against premature blame. But with tankers turning into floating fire-crackers, maritime risk insurers are surely sweating more than usual.
‘America First’ Energy in Motion
President Trump is turbocharging his “America First” energy agenda, greenlighting fossil fuel projects at home while using U.S. energy as a geopolitical bargaining chip abroad.
In a flurry of approvals, Trump’s administration lifted the Biden-era freeze on new LNG export approvals, granting Commonwealth LNG the long-awaited green light to build a Louisiana terminal. Meanwhile, the U.S. Maritime Administration signed off on Texas GulfLink, a deepwater supertanker port set to supercharge crude exports.
But the real sales pitch is happening overseas. In a meeting with Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Trump pushed the Alaska LNG project, framing it as a way for Tokyo to reduce reliance on Middle Eastern energy. Japan played along, but skeptics question the project’s feasibility. Meanwhile, South Korea, Taiwan, and India are also eyeing more U.S. gas imports, tying energy security to deeper diplomatic ties.
With pipelines, ports, and LNG deals on the menu, Trump is betting that energy dominance means economic clout and strategic leverage. Whether it delivers the intended boom remains to be seen.
Another Day, Another Baltic Cable Mystery
The Baltic Sea is once again the scene of an undersea whodunit. Swedish and Finnish police are once again investigating suspected sabotage of the C-Lion1 telecom cable, which links Finland and Germany. While data traffic is still flowing, this marks the third time in recent months the cable has been damaged—adding to a growing list of maritime mishaps.
Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the Baltic has seen an unsettling trend of power, telecom, and gas pipeline failures, often blamed on civilian ships dragging their anchors. Some cases, like the Latvia-Sweden cable damage in January, have been ruled accidents. Others, like the Nord Stream pipeline explosions, remain murky.
The European Commission is now pushing for increased undersea surveillance and a dedicated fleet for emergency cable repairs—a €1 billion effort to prevent the next mystery break. Meanwhile, NATO has boosted patrols, deploying frigates, aircraft, and naval drones to the region.
Whether these incidents are accidents, carelessness, or something more deliberate, one thing is clear: the Baltic’s undersea infrastructure is increasingly a battleground—only not in the traditional sense.
India: Full Steam Ahead
India is making waves in the global shipping industry, securing billion-dollar investments from MSC, Maersk, and CMA CGM as part of its push to become a top-five maritime nation by 2047.
The country has launched a $2.9 billion maritime development fund to boost shipbuilding and repair, with 49% government backing and the rest coming from ports and private investors. Leading the charge, Maersk has signed an agreement with Cochin Shipyard to develop ship repair facilities, with the first Maersk vessel expected in drydock by 2025. CMA CGM is set to follow suit, while MSC’s CEO Soren Toft recently met with Indian officials to discuss investments in inland terminals, shipbuilding, container manufacturing, and policy reforms.
The push to modernize India’s maritime sector is long overdue, given the country’s surging trade and reliance on foreign carriers. With tax incentives, infrastructure upgrades, and industry partnerships, Modi’s government is betting big on shipping—and global carriers lining up to get onboard.
Final Voyage
The SS United States, a retired American ocean liner, that was built during 1950 and 1951 for United States Lines, is towed out to sea on the Delaware River, on her way to Alabama where she is intended to be sunk to create an artificial reef, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., February 19, 2025. REUTERS/Matthew Hatcher
After nearly three decades in Philadelphia, the legendary SS United States has embarked on its final journey—not to a scrapyard, but to become the world’s largest artificial reef off the coast of Florida.
Escorted by tugs, the transatlantic speed record-holder is under tow to Mobile, Alabama, where it will undergo a 12-month environmental cleanup before its planned sinking near Destin-Fort Walton Beach. The $10.1 million project aims to boost marine life, tourism, and diving opportunities, with plans for a land-based museum to honor the vessel’s storied past.
Built in 1951, the Cold War-era liner once carried presidents, celebrities, and immigrants while doubling as a potential high-speed troop carrier. Now, instead of ferrying passengers, it will provide a habitat for sea life. While not everyone is on on board with the plan, its previous owners argued that preserving the ship as an artificial reef offered a “more dignified option” than scrapping following a prolonged legal battle with the ship’s former landlord.
Diverging Approaches on Russia
The U.S. and European Union are playing a delicate game of sanctions chess with Russia—one tightening restrictions, the other hinting at relief.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signaled that sanctions relief could be on the table if Russia engages in serious peace talks over Ukraine, coming as Trump pressures Kyiv to accept a deal, calling Zelenskiy a “dictator”.
Meanwhile, the EU is doubling down, announcing a 16th sanctions package targeting 73 additional shadow fleet vessels, further squeezing Russia’s ability to bypass the G7 oil price cap that U.S. is officially still . The package, expected to be finalized Monday, also includes bans on aluminum imports, gaming consoles, and critical chemicals.
As Washington entertains diplomatic off-ramps, Brussels is slamming shut any escape routes for Putin’s war economy—setting up a geopolitical tug-of-war over how to end the war in Ukraine with shipping emerging as a pivotal factor.
As always, we’d love to hear your feedback. Email [email protected] with any questions, comments, tips, or concerns. Don’t forget to check out the Club Discord and gCaptain.com for the latest maritime news.
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The Baltic Sea region is on high alert after a string of power cable, telecom link and gas pipeline outages since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, and the NATO military alliance has boosted its presence with frigates, aircraft and naval drones.
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