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.

Global Boxship Orders Surge Past 9 Million TEU

France’s CMA CGM and Taiwan’s Evergreen are the latest global shipping giants to expand the record-breaking containership orderbook,.

Somali Pirates Resurface, Threatening Merchant Vessels

Shipping companies have been alerted to the resurgence of Somali pirates, who are once again actively seeking targets.

Crude Oil Tanker Koala Runs Aground After Engine Explosions

February 9, a crude oil tanker carrying 130,000 tons of oil ran aground at Ust-Luga Port, Russia, following three explosions in its engine room.

U.S. Expands Sanctions Targeting Iranian Oil Shipments

Trump acts on pledge to increase pressure on Iran by imposing sanctions on those accused of facilitating the transport of Iranian oil to China.

Carnival Sunshine Returns After Drydock, Prepares for USA

Carnival Sunshine is currently making its way back to North America after completing maintenance at France's Chantier Naval de Marseille shipyard

Cruise Passenger Sets Up Personal Starlink, Raising Concerns

Elon Musk’s Starlink has transformed maritime connectivity, providing high-speed internet access for passengers and crew alike.

Maersk Reports Strong 2024, Red Sea Uncertainty Looms

In 2024, Maersk, Denmark’s largest shipping company, marked its third-best financial year in its entire 121-year history.

American Cruise Lines Launches Mississippi Season with Football

American Cruise Lines is starting its 2025 Mississippi River season with a football-themed event in New Orleans this week.

CMA CGM Acquires Four Ice-Class Container Ships for $120M

CMA CGM has finalized the acquisition of four ice-class wide beam container ships, originally built between 2016 and 2017, from Delphis.

Ocean Network Express and LX Pantos Form Joint Venture

Japanese shipping company Ocean Network Express (ONE) has partnered with Korean logistics firm LX Pantos to launch Boxlinks in the United States.

Ocean Freight Rates Expected to Drop Further in February

Ocean container freight rates are set to decline further in February, influenced by the Middle East ceasefire and Lunar New Year slowdown.

LNG Carrier Rates Plummet to Record Lows in the Atlantic

The difficult start to the year for LNG carriers reaches new lows, with some ship types now experiencing negative earnings in the Atlantic basin.

Royal Caribbean Boosts Bookings with AI & Digital Upgrades

Royal Caribbean has enhanced its digital and artificial intelligence capabilities, driving increased bookings, according to CEO Jason Liberty.

Moroccan Navy Rescues Two Stranded Ships in Urgent Mission

January 28, the Moroccan Navy carried out two separate rescue operations after receiving distress signals from the vessels Linden and Tai Hua Wan

Swiss Shipping Surge: How One Family Transformed an Industry

In a remarkable move, a single family has propelled a landlocked European nation into the ranks of the world’s top shipowning countries.

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