Sam Hamilton

Sam is part of the team at Maritime Bell and he works hard to bring you the latest, most up-to-date maritime industry news, including on topics such as commercial shipping, cruise ships, offshore oil and gas, regional shipping industry news, corporate maritime news and more.

Margaritaville at Sea Signs Long-Term Wärtsilä Deal

Margaritaville at Sea has entered into a 10-year agreement with Wärtsilä covering lifecycle planning, maintenance support, and technical services.

Australia Bans Bulk Carrier Over Crew Welfare Violations

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority announced on April 9 that the bulk carrier BBG Wuzhou has been barred from entering Australian waters.

France Plans Tougher Penalties for Shadow Tankers

France is to strengthen enforcement against illicit tanker operations, with proposals to increase penalties for vessels sailing without valid flags.

Áak’w Juneau Landing Project Advances With Lease Agreement

Huna Totem Corporation, an Alaska Native village corporation, and Juneau completed a tidelands lease agreement for the Áak’w Landing development.

Norwegian Sun Heads to Singapore for Scheduled Drydock

Norwegian Sun has arrived at a Singapore shipyard for drydock maintenance after completing a winter deployment in Southeast Asia and the Far East.

Carnival Drops Tracy Arm Fjord From Alaska Cruises

Carnival Cruise Line has announced it will no longer be including Tracy Arm Fjord in its Alaska itineraries for the upcoming summer season.

Oceania Launches Floating Pastry Academy for Chefs

Oceania Cruises introduces a training initiative for its pastry chefs in collaboration with The Butter Book, a digital culinary training platform.

Royal Caribbean Launches New Rewards Credit Cards

Royal Caribbean Group and Bank of America have unveiled two new credit cards, the Royal ONE Visa Signature and Royal ONE Plus Visa Signature.

San Diego Port Lockdown Briefly Disrupts Cruise Ops

A bomb threat led to a temporary lockdown at the Port of San Diego on the morning of March 30, 2026, briefly interrupting cruise operations.

2027 Arctic Photography Expedition Unveiled by Aurora

Aurora Expeditions introduces a new Arctic photography voyage for 2027, following demand for its previously sold-out Antarctica photography trip.

Carnival Donates Towels to Support Swim Lessons in Vanuatu

Carnival Cruise Line has donated over 1,000 towels to support children who are learning to swim in Vanuatu, according to a company statement.

Bahrain Imposes Night Maritime Curfew Amid Security Concerns

The Kingdom of Bahrain has introduced a maritime curfew for sailors and seafarers, restricting movement between 6:00 pm and 4:00 am local time.

Coast Guard Ready for Great Lakes Ice Despite Vessel Shortage

The U.S. Coast Guard remains ready to support navigation through icy conditions on the Great Lakes, despite a shortage of available icebreakers.

PhilaPort Cruise Terminal Delayed Ahead of 2026 Launch

Construction of the new PhilaPort Cruise Terminal in Philadelphia, USA is experiencing notable delays, according to a report by 6 ABC Action News.

Fred Olsen Hosts Hospice Malta Team for Wellbeing Day

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines welcomed healthcare professionals from Hospice Malta onboard Bolette for a wellbeing day while the vessel was in Valletta.

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