One Year Ago Today: U.S. Maritime Industry Delivers in Wake of FSK Bridge Collapse

We are at the one-year since the Francis Scott Key (FSK) Bridge collapsed over the Patapsco River’s Fort McHenry Channel in Baltimore, Maryland. Nearly 100 percent of the wreckage and debris removal was conducted by the Jones Act private sector U.S. maritime industry. The FSK collapsed at about 1:28 a.m. local time on March 26, 2025 after the container ship MV DALI lost power and collided with one of bridge’s support piers. Six construction workers died in the collapse, while two other workers survived the fall into the freezing water.
Trump, Musk to Turn Focus on DoD, Navy Shipbuilding

President Donald Trump said that Elon Musk will lead an audit of the Pentagon, aiming to uncover what he claims could be "hundreds of billions of dollars" in fraud and abuse.During a Super Bowl interview with Fox News' Bret Baier, Trump revealed his plans to instruct Musk to broaden his oversight beyond the Department of Education to include the Department of Defense. “We're going to find billions, hundreds of billions of dollars of fraud and abuse,” Trump asserted, referring to the Pentagon…
Preliminary Design Review Completed for UK Fleet Support Ships

In 2023, the Ministry of Defence of the UK awarded Team Resolute (Navantia UK, Harland & Wolff and BMT) the contract to deliver three Fleet Solid Support (FSS) ships to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary. The first major project milestone, the preliminary design review, has now been completed. The review confirmed the robustness and maturity of the vessel design and leads on to the detailed design. Construction is expected to commence next year.The main task of the advanced FSS ships will be the underway replenishment of dry stores for Royal Navy vessels.
Containership That Took Down Baltimore Bridge Refloated & Towed from Channel

Recovery teams refloated a large containership impeding shipping in the Port of Baltimore early on Monday and began pulling it free of the main channel, two months after the vessel crashed into the Francis Scott Key bridge and caused the span to collapse.Tugboats were leading the Dali to a local marine terminal after a successful effort to make the container ship buoyant at about 6:40 a.m. EDT (1040 GMT), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said on social media platform X.The removal…
US Conducts Cyberattack on Suspected Iranian Spy Ship - Report

The United States conducted a cyberattack recently against an Iranian military ship in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden that had been collecting intelligence on cargo vessels, NBC News reported on Thursday, citing three U.S. officials.The cyberattack took place a week ago as part of a government response to a drone attack by Iranian-backed militias in Iraq that killed three U.S. service members in Jordan late last month and wounded dozens of others, the report said.NBC reported…
Titanic Sub Search: Debris Field Found, Oxygen Feared to Have Run Out

The desperate search for a missing submersible near the wreck of the Titanic entered a critical juncture on Thursday when air was expected to run out for the five people aboard, but officials vowed to continue scouring the remote North Atlantic.A remotely operated vehicle deployed from a Canadian vessel to the ocean floor discovered a "debris field" near the Titanic, the U.S. Coast Guard said on Thursday morning on Twitter, adding that experts were "evaluating the information."Another…
Titanic Tourist Sub Still Missing as Rescuers Race Against Time

Rescuers were in a race against time to find a missing submersible on Tuesday, two days after it lost communication while taking wealthy tourists to see the wreckage of the Titanic in deep waters off Canada's coast.One pilot and four passengers were on board the submersible that disappeared on Sunday. The operating company said it had the capacity to stay underwater for up to 96 hours - giving those aboard until early on Thursday before air ran out.U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral…
Two Cruise Ships Dock in Florida After Coronavirus Ordeal

An ocean liner forced by a deadly onboard coronavirus outbreak to languish at sea since mid-March pulled into a South Florida port on Thursday, after authorities settled plans for the vessel and its sister ship to dock and most passengers to come ashore.The Holland America Line cruise ship MS Zaandam and its twin, the MS Rotterdam, docked late in the afternoon at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where medical personnel immediately began off-loading 13 severely ill…
Cruise Passengers Await Florida Deal Allowing Them to Disembark

The U.S. government and Florida were working on a plan on Wednesday to allow thousands of cruise ship passengers exposed to an onboard coronavirus outbreak to disembark, a day after President Donald Trump urged the governor to drop his opposition to their docking.Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said he was not opposed to them docking in his city. But he said a clear protocol was needed to protect residents of his South Florida city from infection.“There can be no missteps in this process…
Fire burns out of control at Philadelphia refinery
A fire was burning out of control at an oil refinery in Pennsylvania on Friday morning, a Philadelphia fire department official said, as local media reported a series of explosions on site.NBC Philadelphia said the "massive" blaze at the 335,000 barrels per day Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery was visible from miles away and triggered explosions that were felt as far away as South Jersey.The crude section at the Girard Point portion of the refinery was shut down due to the fire, intelligence provider Genscape said.There were no immediate reports of casualties at the complex, which the NBC affiliate said employs around 1,000 people.A company spokeswoman was not immediately available for comment.Three fire stations and a hazardous materials response crew were mobilised, the fire depart
Scientology Cruise Ship Gets Measles Vaccine
Health officials for the Caribbean island of St. Lucia furnished 100 free doses of measles vaccine to a Church of Scientology cruise ship placed under quarantine in port after the highly contagious disease was diagnosed on board, the island's chief medical officer said on Thursday.St. Lucia health officials have confirmed one case of measles aboard the ship that has been docked in a port near the island nation's capital Castries since Tuesday, Dr. Merlene Frederick-James said in a video statement."The confirmed case as well as other crew members are presently stable but remain under surveillance by the ship's doctor," Frederick-James said, noting the incubation period of measles is 10 to 12 days before symptoms appear.The St.
Update: 17 Dead after Missouri Tourist Boat Sinks in Storm
Divers on Friday pulled the last four bodies from the wreckage of a "duck boat" that sank in a storm in a Missouri lake, killing 17 people in one of the deadliest U.S. tourist incidents in recent years.The World War Two-style amphibious vehicle was filled with 31 passengers including children when a microburst storm hit Table Rock Lake outside the tourist city of Branson, Missouri, on Thursday. A video of the incident showed it battered by waves.Wendy Doucey, an office manager at the Stone County sheriff's office, said that divers had recovered the four bodies from the sunken duck boat. The vehicle was 80 feet (24 m) under water."It's important that we find out for sure what events did occur," Governor Michael Parson said at a Friday morning news conference.
Naval Design: The Human Role

Many navy new building projects face a double challenge; the variety and complexity of operations are increasing, while at the same time, a reduction in manning is a prerequisite in order to lower building and operational costs. Therefore, it is important to identify the required number and type of crew and the supporting systems in the concept phase. For a long time the use of weapons and platform systems have relied on a high degree of integrated, multi-sensor data processing and decision support systems.
Mexico Set to 'Mirror' Policy on Any US Trade Tax Change
Mexico's economy minister said his country was ready to renegotiate trade rules with the United States and that any change in U.S. tax policy that affected imports would have to be countered with a "mirror action" in Mexico. U.S. President Donald Trump told a meeting with U.S. executives on Monday that companies would face a "major border tax" if they shifted jobs outside the United States. Such a measure could affect Mexico's exports to the United States, its top trading partner. "If there is any action that punishes imports to the North American market and encourages U.S. exports, you have to reflect it in a mirror action to counteract the change of incentives that this would make for activity and investment in Mexico…
Carnival to Sponsor ‘The New Celebrity Apprentice’

Carnival Corporation & plc announced it will sponsor the two-part finale of the upcoming season of NBC’s “The New Celebrity Apprentice” airing next year on February 6 and 13. The sponsorship also features Carnival Corporation launching the Celebrity Apprentice Charity Challenge, supporting the charities chosen by the celebrity contestants while driving consumer engagement with the show. “The New Celebrity Apprentice” premieres on January 2 at 8 p.m. EST on NBC. With “The New Celebrity Apprentice” featuring a component that brings attention to worthwhile charities…
Why Maritime Museums Matter

Maritime museums, such as GulfQuest National Maritime Museum of the Gulf of Mexico, are here to introduce to some (and reinforce to others) the continued importance of maritime history and the cultural and economic impact the industry has on a global scale. By doing so, more and more millennials are discovering jobs outside of Silicon Valley, ones that do not require sitting behind a desk all day; jobs that enable you to travel the globe, experience other cultures and have a significant and visible impact on the global economy.
Iran Denies Rocket Launch Near U.S. Warships
Iran denied on Thursday that its Revolutionary Guards launched rockets near the U.S. aircraft-carrier Harry S. Truman and other warships as they were entering the Gulf on Saturday. "The naval forces of the Guards have not had any exercises in the Strait of Hormuz during the past week and the period claimed by the Americans for them to have launched missiles and rockets," the Revolutionary Guards website quoted Ramezan Sharif, the Guard's spokesman, as saying. "The publication of such false news under the present circumstances is akin to psychological warfare," Sharif said. NBC News, citing unnamed U.S. military officials, said the Guards were conducting a live-fire exercise and the Truman came within about 1,500 yards (metres) of a rocket.
Hunt for Missing El Faro Ship Enters 4th day, Hopes Fade

Search and rescue teams resumed scouring the seas on Monday for the missing cargo ship El Faro and it mostly American crew, after it was caught in the eye of Hurricane Joaquin four days ago, the U.S. Coast Guard said. More than 70,000 square nautical miles have been searched so far, the Coast Guard said. On Sunday, aircrews found a debris field in the vicinity of the ship's last known position, including styrofoam, wood, cargo and other items. There was no confirmation that the debris belonged to the El Faro…
Tactical Response Vessel Delivered to NYPD

Gladding-Hearn shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation has delivered a second 70-foot tactical response vessel to New York City’s Harbor Patrol Unit. The two sister-ships were part of a five-boat order from the New York City Police Department (NYPD). Measuring 68.8 feet on deck, with a 19-foot beam and 3.8-foot draft, the new high-speed, Tactical Response Vessel features C. Raymond Hunt’s deep-V hull and a “squared-off” bow, with fendering and knees installed above the main deck to facilitate bow landings.
Coast Guard Foundation to Honor HII’s Petters

The Coast Guard Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to the education and welfare of all Coast Guard members and their families, announced that its 35th Annual Salute to the U.S. Coast Guard will honor Mike Petters of Huntington Ingalls Industries for his long time support of the Foundation and its mission. Keynote speakers will include Captain “Sully” Sullenberger, captain of ‘Miracle on the Hudson’ US Airlines flight 1549 and Admiral Paul Zukunft, commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. The Master of Ceremonies will be Gus Rosendale, news anchor with NBC 4 New York.
Tactical Response Vessel Delivered to NYPD

Having delivered its third 61 ft. patrol/rescue boat for the New York City Police Department (NYPD) last year, Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding, Duclos Corporation, announced it has delivered the first of two 70 ft. Tactical Response vessels for the department’s Harbor Patrol Unit. Measuring 68.8 feet on deck, with a 19-foot beam and 3.8-foot draft, the new high-speed, Tactical Response Vessel features C. Raymond Hunt’s deep-V hull and a “squared-off” bow, with fendering and knees installed above the main deck to facilitate bow landings.
Coast Guard Foundation Chosen Charity on Celebrity Apprentice
The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education and welfare of Coast Guard members and their families, announced today that this season, Sig Hansen, captain of the F/V Northwestern and star of Discovery’s Deadliest Catch, has selected the Foundation to be his designated charity on NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice. The next season of the show, which begins airing this January, includes sixteen celebrity contestants who try to raise money and awareness for their chosen charities. Every week, the celebrity contestants work in teams to compete in business-driven tasks to win challenges. The winner will deliver a $250,000 check to his or her designated charity.
Oil Tanker Explodes off Japan; Captain Missing
An explosion on oil tanker Shoko Maru off the coast of Japan set the vessel ablaze, severely injuring four crew while the captain remains missing, several sources reported. The blast occurred this morning while the 998-ton tanker was anchored roughly 3 miles off western Japan's port of Himeji, the Japanese coast guard said. Seven of the vessel’s eight crewmembers have been recovered and taken to the nearby hospitals, but the ship’s captain remains missing. Ships and aircraft were commissioned to fight the fire, which created a large hole in the vessel’s port side, causing it to tilt. Shoko Maru unloaded its fuel oil last Friday, government spokesman Yoshihide Suga told Reuters, minimizing fears of major environmental impacts. The vessel is owned by Shoho Shopping Co.