GLOBALIZATION 

DP World Targets U.S. Container Market Through Deal with Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi would diversify into containers as DP World returns to the US for the first time in 20 years (Port of Corpus Christi)

Published Jun 17, 2026 5:15 PM by The Maritime Executive

Global ports operator and logistics giant DP World is pursuing a deal to enter the lucrative U.S. container and ports business after an absence of 20 years. The company reports it is in exclusive negotiations to develop and operate a container terminal at the Port of Corpus Christi in Texas.

The deal would be significant for Corpus Christi, which today functions as a gateway for energy, agriculture, and industrial exports. It completed an expansion project of its ship channel in June 2025 to achieve a 54-foot (Mean Lower Low Water)-deep and would diversify its operations with the addition of containers. Corpus Christi, located about 300 miles south of Houston, has a strategic location that also places it close to the Mexican border.

Under the proposed development, DP World would design, build, and operate a new container terminal. In 2025, Corpus Christi moved 203.4 million tons of cargo that was mainly liquefied natural gas, crude oil, dry bulk, and agricultural goods. 

DP World, which has managed to build a network of operating more than 60 ports and terminals worldwide, handling around 10 percent of global container traffic annually, has no container terminal operations in the U.S. Its operations in the world’s biggest economy are mainly concentrated in logistics, warehousing, and freight forwarding services, with its North America port operations in Vancouver, Canada.

The Dubai-based conglomerate was chased from the U.S. market 20 years ago by political opposition and negative sentiment in the wake of the 9-11 attacks in America. DP World acquired P&O’s ports and logistics operations, which had six ports in the United States. Opposition to the deal by the U.S. Congress led to DP World divesting of the American ports.

It now hopes that if all goes according to plan, it will finally enter the containerized business in the U.S., a lucrative market that recorded in excess of 28 million TEU containerized import volumes in 2025. Under the proposed development, DP World would design, build, and operate a new container terminal, expanding capacity and strengthening supply chain connectivity across the Gulf Coast.

The company reports that the exclusive negotiation period will focus on terminal design, capacity planning, and investment structure for the operations in Texas.

The Port of Corpus Christi reported its strongest first?quarter performance in the port’s history, moving 54.5 million tons of commodities through the Corpus Christi Ship Channel in the first quarter of 2026. It represented a six percent increase year-over-year and was 500,000 tons above the port's record achieved in Q4 2024.

Why Cargo, Not Ships, Will Decide the Future of Logistics Digitalization

iStock

Published Jun 22, 2026 7:27 PM by Mikael Lind et al.

[by Mikael Lind, Wolfgang Lehmacher, Sandra Haraldson, Morten Brühl, Matilda Gustafsson, David Hallgren, Mikaela Kenne, Krister Rosendahl, Mårten Sondell, Daniel Storm, Hans Thijs, Emil Thodal, and Pernilla Åström]

Digital tools are now ubiquitous in logistics, but true end-to-end integration remains elusive. The constraint is not a lack of data or platforms, but how the industry chooses to coordinate and organize itself. After decades of asset- and platform-centric operations, logistics is approaching a turning point: the next phase will hinge on aligning cargo owners’ needs with the operational capabilities of a fragmented global logistics ecosystem, not simply building bigger and more performant control towers.

From assets to cargo flows

Assets, platforms, and cargo now define the digitalization of logistics. Historically, logistics optimized ships, trucks, trains, and terminals as the primary units of analysis. The goal has been to move these assets efficiently through ports, roads, and networks. This logic has delivered gains in utilization and productivity. But it is not fully aligned with what logistics is about, moving goods reliably across complex, fragmented, and disrupted multimodal chains. Organizing digitalization around asset fragments misses what matters most to cargo owners: the end-to-end journey of their shipments.

The shift is simple but significant. When coordination shifts from transport assets to cargo flows, and the organizing logic shifts from proprietary platforms to shipper-activated communities, logistics digitalization becomes systemic rather than siloed. This is not simply a technical adjustment; it redefines how the global logistics ecosystem coordinates. Investment in digital tools continues to accelerate. Ports roll out port-call optimization. Shipping lines test Just-in-Time arrivals. Governments and alliances continue to explore green and digital corridor initiatives, though many remain in their early stages. Yet, despite these efforts, integration remains fragmented. The missing piece is not more data; the solution requires a different alignment logic.

Digital coordination that follows the shipment

A genuinely multimodal system assumes the shipment is the natural unit of focus and coordination. Goods may, for example, move from inland transport to terminals, across maritime routes, and into distribution networks. For cargo owners, these are not separate domains but links in a single chain. When each domain improves its own assets, improvements stay local: ports squeeze port calls, carriers squeeze schedules, rail operators squeeze utilization, and trucking companies squeeze vehicle usage. Yet shippers define reliability by the entire chain, not a single segment. What matters is whether cargo arrives in a predictable window, with timely, trustworthy information, and a means to respond to disruptions.

This disconnect points to a clear solution: digital coordination must follow the shipment rather than the asset. Information and decisions must move with the cargo, not remain locked within isolated systems. This creates a new model of visibility and collaboration.

Virtual Watch Towers in practice

An emerging expression of this logic is the Virtual Watch Tower. Rather than centralizing logistics data in a single platform, the VWT enables distributed data sharing for shipments. Cargo owners provide basic shipment information, grant limited mandates where needed, and include data-sharing terms in transport agreements. These steps let carriers, terminal operators, and providers request and exchange operational information as needed. They also keep control over their own data. In this model, the shipment triggers coordination. Visibility comes not from a single control tower, but from cooperation among those moving the same cargo.

Supply chain visibility depends less on centralization and more on trusted, shipment-specific data exchange.

The practical impact of this approach becomes clear in disruption-prone, multimodal environments. Take an industrial manufacturer running just-in-time production with inbound components moving through several ports and carriers. Instead of tracking each ship or terminal in isolation, the manufacturer and its logistics partners connect via a shared VWT-type network. This network combines private operational data with relevant public information. When weather or port congestion threatens multiple inbound shipments, the community around those cargo flows can see, in one place, which containers are at risk. They can also see which alternative routings are viable and how these choices will affect the factory’s production plan. Ideally, this occurs within the various towers that serve users connected to the network. Together, the shipper, carriers, terminals, and hinterland operators can assess possible responses, such as prioritizing critical containers, evaluating alternative routings where feasible, or adjusting downstream plans to mitigate operational impacts. These actions protect and maintain production continuity. The actors remain independent, but for those shipments, the chain works as a coordinated system, with decisions organized around cargo rather than individual assets.

This reflects a basic reality of logistics: no single company runs the system. It is a community of actors organized around cargo. Global logistics is not the operation of a single company. It is an ecosystem in which cargo owners, shipping lines, terminal operators, freight forwarders, logistics providers, ports, infrastructure managers, and digital service providers facilitate the movement of goods. The system is decentralized; no single actor can impose system-wide coordination. Port call optimization coordinates actions between ships and ports. Proprietary visibility platforms often remain constrained to carrier-centric views. Digital initiatives in one segment rarely create shared capabilities across the ecosystem.

Shippers as community activators

Community-based approaches flip this perspective. Rather than building isolated digital solutions, they create shared mechanisms that enable ecosystem actors to contribute to and benefit from common capabilities without losing autonomy. Within this ecosystem, transport buyers have a distinctive role. They generate demand, work with multiple carriers and providers, and often oversee multimodal chains beyond any single operator's control. As a result, shippers can express system-level expectations that would otherwise remain fragmented.

When shippers demand supply chain visibility, emissions transparency, or coordinated disruption management, they signal to transport producers that they should agree on common rules and data practices. This does not mean that cargo owners own the system. It means they can foster collaboration within the logistics community by inviting partners into shared data environments and joint initiatives. This is the logic underpinning infrastructures such as VWTnet, VWT’s network-based architecture created to support distributed coordination across logistics communities and ecosystems. The network is not a single operator’s platform, but a joint infrastructure that gains value as more actors participate.

For such community-based infrastructures to work, participation must go beyond a small group of early adopters. Their value rises as more cargo owners, logistics partners, and ecosystem actors actively engage. Now is the time for shippers and logistics partners to actively participate in the communities that enable shipment-centered coordination. By participating in shipment-centered communities, they are not simply adopting digital tools; they are shaping how global logistics will coordinate and evolve. Acting today means helping define how coordination works across the logistics ecosystem.

Mikael Lind is the world’s first (adjunct) Professor of Maritime Informatics at Chalmers University of Technology and Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE). He is a widely published expert in international trade press, co-editor of the first two books on Maritime Informatics and Maritime Decarbonization. His work has directly shaped community-based digital collaboration initiatives, including the Virtual Watch Tower (VWT).

Wolfgang Lehmacher is a global supply chain logistics expert. The former director at the World Economic Forum and CEO Emeritus of GeoPost Intercontinental is an advisory board member of The Logistics and Supply Chain Management Society, an ambassador for F&L and an advisor to RISE. He is a co-initiator of VWT, a data-sharing initiative. He contributes to the knowledge base of Maritime Informatics and is co-editor of the book Maritime Decarbonization.

Sandra Haraldson is Senior Researcher at Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE) and has driven several initiatives on digital collaboration, multi-business innovation, and sustainable transport hubs, such as the concept of Collaborative Decision Making (e.g. e2eCDM (being the conceptual foundation for VWT), PortCDM, RailwayCDM, RRTCDM) enabling parties in transport ecosystems to become coordinated and synchronized by digital data sharing.

Morten Brühl is Vice President Global Shipping at Elof Hansson Trade. With extensive experience in international shipping, logistics, and supply chain management, he works to strengthen resilience and sustainability across global trade flows. He advocates collaborative approaches that improve visibility, predictability, and performance in complex logistics networks.

Matilda Gustafsson is Change Manager & Sustainability Advocate at Bertling Sweden, where she works at the intersection of supply chain transformation, organizational change, and sustainable logistics.

David Hallgren is General Manager of Energy & Charging Infrastructure at Einride. He brings extensive experience spanning freight transformation, energy systems, and international business development, representing a company active both as a transport buyer and provider of transport solutions in the transition towards more sustainable freight systems.

Mikaela Kenne is Innovation Lead at H&M Group, where she works to identify and scale innovations that strengthen supply chain performance and sustainability. She is passionate about cross-functional collaboration and exploring new approaches that enhance resilience, transparency, and adaptability across global value chains.

Krister Rosendahl is Head of Purchase & Logistics at Olofsfors AB, leading strategic procurement, production planning, and transport logistics. With extensive experience from major industrial companies such as Volvo Trucks, Komatsu Forest, and BAE Systems Hägglunds, he combines technical insight with project management expertise to optimize manufacturing and supply chain efficiency.

Mårten Sondell is Logistics Innovation manager at H&M Group, driving initiatives that strengthen adaptability and innovation across global logistics networks. With extensive experience in supply chain transformation, he explores collaborative approaches that enhance resilience, sustainability, and responsiveness in rapidly evolving logistics ecosystems.

Daniel Storm is Distribution Center Manager at Alleima. With extensive experience in industrial supply chains and logistics development, he works to strengthen transparency, resilience, and efficiency across global transport networks. He actively explores collaborative approaches that connect operational needs with digital innovation.

Hans Thijs is Director Transport & Distribution Structure at Scania Parts Logistics. With extensive experience in global transport networks and multimodal logistics, he focuses on developing resilient and sustainable distribution structures that balance operational efficiency, customer service, and long-term supply chain performance.

Emil Thodal is Senior Manager Logistics at Billerud, where he is responsible for developing and managing logistics flows across international supply chains. With extensive experience in transport and supply chain management, he is committed to advancing collaborative approaches that improve resilience, predictability, and sustainability in freight transportation.

Pernilla Åström is Logistics Developer and Deputy GM Logistics at Komatsu Forest AB. She works with logistics development in the forest machinery industry, focusing on transport. With long-standing experience in transport requirements, she supports the development of sustainable and efficient logistics solutions.

The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Maritime Executive.

 

Plans for Spanish Cruise Line Delayed by Uncertain Market

Chinese cruise ship Piano Land was set to launch a new Spanish cruise line but has been laid up in Hong Kong (Sihanoukville Autonomous Port - PAS Cambodia)

Published Jun 3, 2026 5:20 PM by The Maritime Executive

Plans to launch a niche cruise line dedicated to the Spanish-speaking market have been delayed, with the new firm, called Corazul, reporting it has canceled its summer season in the Mediterranean due to launch in July. The new company says that it is continuing to move forward, but it will focus on a launch in the Brazilian market during the 2026-2027 season.

Corazul announced in early 2026 its plans to relaunch a dedicated Spanish cruise operation. The market had been served by another tour operator, Pullmantur, which was, for a time, owned by Royal Caribbean Group, but ceased operations during the 2020 pandemic. Its ships were sold for scrapping. Carnival Corporation had also been a partner in another Spanish brand, Iberocruceros, which operated until 2014.

The concept was to adapt the cruise operation to Spanish preferences, including later dining options and a greater focus on families and large social gatherings. Corazul told The Maritime Executive that its review of the market showed that only 10 percent of the customers of the former operations had stayed with cruising versus other forms of vacations after the two cruise lines ended operations. Its goal was to recapture those customers.

Plans called for launching the operation in early July with a ship they were calling Buneavista, but the company says after an in-depth review of the market situation, it has decided not to go ahead with the cruise program that was to have operated from Barcelona until October. It then planned to do a trans-Atlantic crossing from Portugal to Recife, Brazil, for cruises in 2026-2027 before returning to Spain in March 2027.

 

Corazul's rendering of the Buneavista (Corazul)

 

The company reports it was not an easy decision and not something that it considered lightly. It says it will focus on the launch from Brazil, where it reports it has received stronger initial demand. Corazul’s website had been showing 30 percent discounts for cruises from Spain in July and August and 50 percent discounts in September and October.

The details of the company’s first ship were never officially confirmed, but it was using an image of the 1995-built cruise ship Oriana (69,840 gross tons), which sailed for the UK’s P&O Cruises as its first modern cruise ship in the British market. Carnival Corporation sold the ship in 2018 to a Chinese group, which renamed it Piano Land. It started service in 2019 and was given a major refit in 2020 to make the ship reflect Chinese styles, but it was unable to return to operations until July 2024 due to Chinese restrictions on cruising after the pandemic.

Built as one of the first modern cruise ships from Meyer Werft in Germany, the Oriana measured 260 meters (853 feet). It has 939 cabins with a maximum passenger capacity of 2,140. Although it has been operating in China, its registry has been maintained in Bermuda.

The ship’s future is uncertain. It completed its last cruise in Hong Kong on May 31, and the crew reported they were packing up the ship. It has been moved to an anchorage. The ship’s operations earlier this year had been merged under China’s Adora Cruises in an effort to streamline the Chinese industry. Adora still lists the ship, which it calls Gulangyu, although now that it has reached 30 years of age, Chinese regulations bar the cruise ship from sailing from the mainland. The ship had operated for a time under charter, sailing from Malaysia, and was recently cruising from Hong Kong.

Unconfirmed reports from China said the operators, Astro Cruises, have begun advertising for a replacement crew. The ship is reported to be on a brief break, with cruising expected to resume shortly. After rumors that Corazul had not completed financing for the cruise ship, it has not commented on its future ship plans.

 

MSC Acquires Majority Stake in Ukrainian Terminal Operator

MSC is reported to have acquired a majority position in TIS, the operator Ukraine's Pivdennyi port near Odesa (TIS)

Published Jun 2, 2026 4:10 PM by The Maritime Executive

 

Media reports from Ukraine indicate that MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company has acquired a controlling stake (51 percent) in Ukrainian terminal operator TIS Group. Local industry executives are excited by the prospect of MSC’s investment, noting it would be the first time a major carrier has invested in Ukraine and that it will help to raise the operating standards in the country.

MSC Group is reported to have purchased the shares of TIS Group, replacing an earlier 51 percent investment by DP World. The Dubai-based company had, in March, sold its shares to the founders of TIS Group and exited Ukraine. The speculation was that the move was prompted by a deal between DP World and Russia’s Rosatom to develop shipping along Russia’s Northern Sea Route with FESCO. As part of the deal, TIS also regained control of the towing business, which had been operated as P&O Maritime Ukraine.

TIS (Transinvetservice) is reported to be the largest private terminal operator in Ukraine. It was founded in 1994, and before the war, the TIS terminal operation at Pivdennyi, the southern port in the Greater Odesa complex, handled over 30 million tons of cargo annually. It is reported to have accounted for 20 percent of the total cargo volume in Ukraine and to be the second-largest terminal in the Black Sea.

The port was purpose-built and is reported to have the deepest container terminal in Ukraine. It has specialized facilities for grain, bulk, and project cargo alongside containers and direct road and rail connections linking it to inland centers.

The acquisition of the shares by MSC would be subject to regulatory approval, as MSC also holds a large position in Germany’s HHLA, which owns a container terminal in Odesa. Experts note that, in addition to linking the two terminals, the deal also provides access to MSC’s network, including terminals in Treiste and Tallinn.

The move is the latest by MSC as it works to build out its terminal and logistics operations. Last year, it acquired a 50 percent interest in an intermodal logistics operator in Ukraine and a 25 percent interest in a cross-border terminal. Elsewhere in Europe, it has also been making terminal acquisitions, and it, of course, is the bidder behind the stalled deal to acquire CK Hutchison’s global network of terminals.

 

"Energy Dominance" In Action

Middle East crisis has made the U.S. the marginal supplier

A VLCC in ballast arrives at Port of Corpus Christi (file image courtesy Port of Corpus Christi)

Published Apr 17, 2026 7:38 PM by Erik Broekhuizen / Poten & Partners

 

The crisis in the Middle East and in particular the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has upended global oil markets. Both crude oil and refined products are now in short supply. Refiners around the world are desperate to get their hands on alternative sources of crude oil, almost at any price. However, the options are limited and dwindling. The volume of Russian and Iranian oil in floating storage is shrinking fast since the U.S. has lifted some of its restrictions, allowing countries to buy these previously sanctioned barrels. Several countries have tapped into their strategic petroleum reserves, but most of this oil is being allocated to domestic refiners and not traded internationally. So, the focus has shifted to the Atlantic Basin, where several producers (Venezuela, Canada, Brazil) have some capability to ramp up production and exports. However, in this Weekly Tanker Opinion we want to highlight the United States.

The United States is by far the largest oil producer in the world. In 2018 it surpassed Russia and Saudi Arabia due to advancements in hydraulic fracturing (fracking) and horizontal drilling. U.S. crude oil exports, which (re)started in earnest after the crude export ban was lifted about 10 years ago, quickly ramped up from 500,000 barrels per day in early 2016 to average more than 4.0 Mb/d in 2023 and 2024. According to data released by the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Wednesday, exports climbed to 5.2 million bpd, the highest in seven months. This was due to record demand from Asian and European buyers, who are scrambling to replace barrels from the Middle East that are trapped inside the Persian Gulf because of the war.

U.S. crude oil exporters are expanding their reach. Greece has bought U.S. crude for the first time ever, while Turkey bought a cargo for the first time in a year. The one limitation that could cap the U.S. export potential is the specifications of the U.S. crude. West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the main U.S. export, is a light sweet crude, while the refiners are trying to replace medium sour barrels from the Middle East. Mars crude is a medium sour grade produced in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico, but its production volumes are limited.

At the same time as exports surged, U.S. crude imports took a dive. Imports from Canada were at their lowest level for this year. Flows from Saudi Arabia and Iraq were down significantly as well, for obvious reasons. As a result, net imports of crude oil (the difference between imports and exports), narrowed to 66,000 barrels per day last week, the lowest on record in weekly data that goes back to 2001. This means that the U.S. nearly turned into a net crude exporter last week for the first time since World War II. Exports are expected to increase significantly in the coming weeks and this switch to a net exporter could become reality.

However, as a result of this ramp up in flows, the U.S. is approaching its export capacity. The U.S. is capable to export up to 6.0 Mb/d, according to estimates from industry experts. Pipeline capacity and export infrastructure are the limiting factors. U.S. exporters have become very adept at maximizing exports with a combination of direct loadings in U.S. Gulf ports and reverse lightering in designated areas offshore. However, outside of Corpus Christi, which can partially load a VLCC (only one reverse lightering needed), the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port (LOOP) is the only U.S. facility in the U.S. Gulf that can fully load a VLCC. More deepwater terminals are being planned, but none are available during this crisis.

U.S. refiners have also ramped up production and exports, motivated by strong refining margins and high crack spreads. In recent weeks, we have seen seaborne clean product exports (excluding LPG, lubes and chemicals) exceed 3.5 Mb/d driven by increased flows to Asia. These volumes represent record-highs.

The booming crude oil and refined product exports from the U.S. have benefited all tanker segments. The desire to get access to barrels (and get them quickly) has motivated certain Asian charterers to import crude from the U.S. Gulf on Aframaxes, routing it via the Panama Canal. These are not trades you would expect to see in normal circumstances, but these are not normal circumstances. When the conflict ends, vessels will reposition and eventually normal trade patterns will resume. Until that time, we do expect increased volatility and higher freight rates for most tanker segments to continue.

This research note appears courtesy of Poten & Partners.

The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Maritime Executive.

Riding the LNG Wave

File image courtesy Venture Global LNG

Published Apr 17, 2026 11:42 PM by Sean Hogue

(Article originally published in Jan/Feb 2026 edition.)

 

The age of global LNG is upon us.

In the latter half of 2025, the global supply increased nearly seven percent. This came largely from North America, which frankly has LNG down to a science. It's abundant here. We know how to extract it in an environmentally conscious manner, and we have the infrastructure to process, store and move it.

New U.S. LNG projects reaching final investment decisions in 2025 included Louisiana LNG, Corpus Christi Trains 8 & 9, CP2 phase 1, Rio Grande LNG Train 4 and Port Arthur Phase 2. This new wave further solidifies the U.S.'s position as the world's largest LNG supplier with global market share expected to increase from about 25 percent last year to 33 percent by the end of the decade.

The rise in supply is expected to drive increased global demand in 2026, primarily from Asia, but also from other global markets as they invest in infrastructure to effectively import this clean, abundant energy source.

And as LNG produces 30 percent less CO? than heavy fuel oil and nearly zero sulfur oxides, it's the cleanest of fossil fuels and an ideal choice for meeting emissions targets over the next decade.

Although achieving that goal is not without its challenges.

Class guidance

In ABS's 2025 Sustainability Outlook, "Vision Meets Reality," the authors rightly note that "from a total cost of ownership perspective, clean fuels currently present a weak economic case due to their high costs and limited availability." And while clean fuels such as ammonia may play a role in the energy transition, they're unlikely to achieve significant decarbonization by 2040.

Conversely, LNG offers lower base costs and an established supply chain, contributing to its being specified in over 70 percent of alternative-fuel newbuild orders.

The cruise, ro/ro, car-carrying and container industries have widely adopted alternative fuels over conventional ones. As ABS has become the largest classification society by gross tonnage in service as of 2025 while maintaining a strong presence in the tanker, gas carrier and containership sectors, it stands perfectly positioned to guide shipowners in their transition journey.

Lloyds Register (LR) is another source of expert advice to vessel operators in their energy transition journey.

The energy transition challenge is really a risk management problem. What fuel to choose? What equipment to purchase? Which ones will be readily available long term with the global infrastructure to support them?

LR's approach is not prescriptive – it remains firmly fuel agnostic. The company has invested significantly in the study of all alternative fuels including its involvement in the Methane Abatement in Maritime Innovation Initiative. This collaboration, led by Safetytech Accelerator, unites industry leaders, tech innovators and maritime stakeholders working together toward the goal of significantly reducing methane emissions from LNG use as a marine fuel.

"Methane slip," as it's known, is the release of unburned methane into the atmosphere from engines using natural gas or liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel. It occurs when combustion isn't 100 percent efficient. Because methane is a potent greenhouse gas (over 25 times stronger than CO? over 100 years), minimizing slip is crucial for climate change mitigation.

A significant milestone for LR is the recent renewal surveys and drydocks for P&O Cruises' Iona and Carnival Cruise Line's Mardi Gras – the first major LNG drydocks for large passenger vessels in Europe. The work represented the execution of a highly sophisticated technical program, the culmination of more than a year of detailed collaboration, planning and risk management.

Drydocking a LNG-fueled cruise ship is a fundamentally different exercise from a conventional refit. With vessels spending only a brief period out of service, LNG system maintenance windows are correspondingly narrow.

"Starting 18 months in advance," explains Andrew Bennett, Machinery Survey Policy Manager in LR's Technical Directorate, "we worked closely with the client to understand their specific operation, maintenance and drydocking challenges and helped them develop detailed schedules with optimized surveys agreed in advance and aligned to meet their requirements."

Bunkering Expertise

Running on LNG requires a bunkering infrastructure to support the operation.

Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, TOTE Services is playing a critical role in bringing LNG fuel to the maritime sector through their design and construction of the bunker barges Clean Jacksonville and Clean Everglades, operated by Seaside LNG.

The Clean Jacksonville was the first membrane LNG barge in the world. Membrane technology provides a better space-to-weight ratio and replaces the older, pressure vessel technology used previously for storage and transport. TOTE has completed over 400 bunkering operations with the Clean Jacksonville since it was first launched.

Another newbuild support vessel entering the market in 2025 was the Soaring Eagle, an inland tug operated by Colonial Towing, a subsidiary of the Colonial Group. It will operate as part of an articulated tug-and-barge unit transporting up to 32,000 barrels of fuel products between Charleston, South Carolina and Jacksonville, Florida. Soaring Eagle is the fourth vessel to join the current active fleet of Colonial Towing.

Also in Florida, Glander International Bunkering is making moves with a recent change of leadership. Michael Cammarata replaced long-time Managing Director Larry Messina, who retired after 34 years of service. Cammarata has spent his entire career in bunkering, having joined the company back in 1988.

As such, he brings decades of experience and deep market insight into his role. He also brings strong relationships across the industry. His appointment ensures continuity for the Florida office. It also supports future growth and long-term success.

Global FIDs

We've looked at the U.S.-based projects. But what about the rest of the world?

Chevron's Gorgon LNG project received a $2 billion final investment decision at the end of 2025 to develop Stage 3 off Australia's northwest coast. The development will be used as backfill for the existing LNG export operation and will link the offshore Geryon and Eurytion natural gas fields to Gorgon's existing infrastructure on Barrow Island.

In Gorgon Stage 3, six wells will be drilled across two fields, part of a series of planned subsea tiebacks.

Shell's plans for drilling at the Crux field, also offshore northern Australia, were accepted around the same time. Crux's gas will be sent as backfill to the Prelude floating LNG vessel, the world's largest.

In southern Australia, U.S. oil company ConocoPhillips has just finished its first exploration well in the region and will now move to a nearby location for a second well.

Chevron also made a final investment decision early in January to expand Israel's Leviathan natural gas field, a move that will significantly boost gas production in the eastern Mediterranean. The decision comes weeks after Israel finalized what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as the largest energy deal in the country's history – a long-term gas export agreement with Egypt valued at about 112 billion shekels, roughly $35 billion.

The Leviathan expansion provides the upstream capacity needed to support those larger export commitments over time. Chevron operates Leviathan alongside Israeli partners. When the expanded project comes online later this decade, it will further help entrench Israel's role as a regional gas supplier.

A strong outlook

With new projects sanctioned, infrastructure expanding, and class, operators and bunkering providers aligned around practical risk management, the LNG market enters 2026 with strong momentum.

Growth will be in delivered capacity, proven technology and real-world operating experience. As demand accelerates and standards continue to evolve, LNG is positioned to remain the cornerstone of global marine and energy growth through the next decade.

The opinions expressed herein are the author's and not necessarily those of The Maritime Executive.

THE GLOBAL EPSTEIN CLASS

 

‘Get the files out’: Hillary Clinton slams Trump's Epstein cover-up

Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton accused President Donald Trump of staging a "cover-up" over files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Days before her scheduled deposition before a Congressional committee, Clinton said the Republicans probing her are trying to deflect attention away from President Donald Trump, whose name is also mentioned in the files.


Issued on: 17/02/2026
By: FRANCE 24

Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton speaks at "The World Forum 2026" in Berlin on February 16, 2026. © Carsten Koall, AP

Former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton has accused President Donald Trump of orchestrating a "cover-up" over files related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, according to an interview with the BBC published Monday.

"Get the files out. They are slow-walking it," Clinton, who is due to testify before a Congressional committee on the issue, told the British broadcaster in an interview in Berlin.

The Justice Department last month released the latest cache of so-called Epstein files – more than three million documents, photos and videos related to its investigation into sex criminal Epstein, who died from what was determined to be suicide while in custody in 2019.

Clinton's husband, former president Bill Clinton, features regularly in the files, but no evidence has come to light implicating either Clinton in criminal activity.

The couple has been ordered to give closed-door depositions before the House Oversight Committee, which is probing the deceased financier's connections to powerful figures and how information about his crimes was handled.

"We will show up but we think it would be better to have it in public," Hillary Clinton told the BBC.

"I just want it to be fair," she said. "I want everybody treated the same way."

The former secretary of state said she and her husband "have nothing to hide. We have called for the full release of these files repeatedly."

The Department of Justice has said it has no more files to release, though lawmakers have criticised it for not publishing internal government memos, notes and emails on Epstein.

Clinton said the Republicans probing her are trying to deflect attention away from Trump, whose name is also mentioned in the files many times.

"Look at this shiny object. We're going to have the Clintons, even Hillary Clinton, who never met the guy," she said.

Trump denies any wrongdoing. Mere mention in the files is not proof of having committed a crime.

Former president Clinton has acknowledged flying on Epstein's plane in the early 2000s for Clinton Foundation-related humanitarian work, but said he never visited Epstein's private island.

Hillary Clinton, who ran against Trump for president in 2016, has said she had no meaningful interactions with Epstein, never flew on his plane and never visited his island.

In the interview with the BBC, she said she had met Ghislaine Maxwell, an Epstein associate who was convicted of conspiring with him to sexually abuse minors, "on a few occasions".

Responding to Clinton's comment that the congressional testimony was a bid to create a distraction, Trump denied it, telling reporters Monday evening he had been "totally exonerated".

Hillary Clinton will appear for her deposition on February 26, while Bill Clinton will appear on February 27.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

INTERVIEW

Epstein files: ‘Releasing documents in their raw state can be counterproductive’

The release by the US administration of more than 3 million documents linked to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein has put dozens of high-profile figures under scrutiny over their correspondence with him. RFI spoke to Frédérique Sandretto, a professor of American civilisation at Sciences Po university, who says while this move was meant to dispel doubts, it has instead enabled conspiracy theorists.

Issued on: 14/02/2026 

A press conference to discuss the Epstein Files Transparency bill on Capitol Hill, Washington DC, 3 September, 2025. 

REUTERS - Jonathan Ernst

The United States Justice Department on 30 January published nearly 3 million government documents related to Epstein, who was convicted in 2008 for soliciting a minor and died by suicide in custody in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.

The mention of a name in the files does not, in itself, imply wrongdoing by that individual. However, the material has shown how Epstein embedded himself in elite international circles – through introductions, group emails and investment activity.

While some of the public figures named have stepped down from their positions, others have downplayed or denied ties to Epstein.

For Frédérique Sandretto, a professor of American civilisation at Sciences Po university in Paris, the release of such a large number of documents could do more harm than good without proper analysis.

RFI: How has the publication of these documents by the US administration been received by the public?

Frédérique Sandretto: It was eagerly awaited. It was something [US President Donald] Trump had announced, but he had always backed down, fuelling conspiracy theories that there was something to hide. Finally, the Transparency Act was passed in 2025, with unprecedented consensus between Republicans and Democrats. When you see the documents, there are more than 3 million of them. And you don't know where to start. You feel like you have access to declassified data, which is true. So the gesture is good, but the question is: what do we do with this material?

RFI: How has their publication reignited conspiracy theories surrounding the Epstein case?

FS: It's very visible on social media. We are seeing a resurgence of old conspiracy theories, such as "Pizzagate", which claimed that the campaign manager of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton had organised child sex trafficking in a pizzeria.

On platforms such as Reddit, if you type in the word "pizza" you'll see all sorts of conspiracy theories pop up based on the idea of a network of elites working together against the people and a paedophile ring.

Why? Because in the files leaked in recent days, the word "pizza" appears 911 times. It is indeed strange. Some see it as a code word. And that's enough to revive “pizzagate”, a conspiracy theory that emerged nearly 10 years ago, leading some to say, ‘we told you so, that's what it was'.

RFI: What are the particulars of the Epstein case that fuel such conspiracy theories?

FS: Conspiracy theories surrounding Epstein really began after his death. Many people said to themselves: this man knew too much, he could have blown up the planet, he couldn't have committed suicide, it must have been a disguised suicide...

Added to this are his connections with powerful figures in Silicon Valley, Bill Gates, [the former] Prince Andrew and politicians in Europe. This fuels the idea of a transnational conspiracy, led by powerful elites against the people – especially since the victims were often young girls from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Here we see classic conspiracy theory patterns: the idea of a deep state, a radical opposition between elites and the people, and an anti-Semitic narrative superimposed on top of it all. This has led to theories claiming that Epstein was a Mossad agent.

Finally, the mass declassification of documents gives the impression of a vast web of connections, with new names emerging every day, further fuelling the conspiracy sphere.

RFI: Has the release of the documents, without full context, fuelled conspiracy theories, even if it was intended as a move towards transparency?

FS: There is a very strong desire for transparency, with the declassification of 3 million documents, which is a first in the United States. But what we are seeing is that releasing documents like this, in their raw state, can be counterproductive. It has also reignited all the conspiracy theories.

At the same time, everyone wanted these files and it is very good that the US Department of Justice has published them. They should have been sorted through. Now, anyone can log on and do a search. There are photos that may be shocking, and people whose names are mentioned who are not necessarily connected to Epstein. This can create an association between the name referenced and Epstein. And that can quickly turn into a witch hunt.

The fact that certain passages have been redacted also fuels the conspiracy theory: we are being given information, but not all of it. So we are really on the borderline between the US Congress's desire for transparency and the conspiracy theorists who say, ‘see, these documents prove we were right'. It's all very well to have a right to information, but we also have a right to be cautious. The question remains: what do we do with all this?

RFI: Is it still possible to dispel the climate of suspicion surrounding the Epstein case?

FS: Trump said that now that he has given everything he had, he hoped we could turn the page. I don't think that's the case.

On the contrary, I think this is the beginning of something much bigger. Everyone wants to find out, to tell themselves that it's not possible that all this has been published without there being something to discover.

I just think that what we're seeing is the tip of the iceberg, and that there will be many more names that will be [thrown about], much more evidence that will come out. It's just a matter of time. All these documents need to be analysed.

This article was adapted from the original version in French by Aurore Lartigue.

Former French culture minister's offices raided in Epstein files fallout

French investigators raided the offices of former Culture Minister Jack Lang, 86, on Monday, as prosecutors step up efforts to examine potential links between French nationals and the crimes of US financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.


Issued on: 16/02/2026 - RFI

Former French Culture minister Jack Lang in Paris on 26 March, 2024

. AFP - STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN

The national financial prosecutor’s office said it had opened a preliminary investigation into alleged aggravated tax fraud and money laundering involving Jack Lang and his daughter Caroline Lang.

Lang resigned earlier this month as president of the Arab World Institute, a position he had held for over a decade, after it was revealed that he had corresponded numerous times with the sexual predator.

Lang had previously requested favours from Jeffrey Epstein, including use of the financier’s car or private plane for himself or family members.The former minister's name also appeared in the statutes of an offshore company founded by Epstein in 2016.

Lang has denied any wrongdoing, saying he was “shocked” to learn of the news. The former minister has insisted that he had known nothing of Epstein’s 2008 conviction of "procuring a girl below the age of 18 for prostitution".

In a recent interview with a French newspaper, he described himself as “white as snow” and denounced what he called a “tsunami of lies.”

Journalists work in front of the Arab World Institute (Institut du Monde Arabe - IMA) as a search is being carried out by French police in connection with an investigation into its former head, ex French Culture Minister Jack Lang, and his ties with the late financier Jeffery Epstein, in Paris, France, 16 February, 2026. © Stephane Mahe / Reuters

Special team of judges

Monday's office raid comes as Paris prosecutors confirmed over the weekend that they are establishing a special team of judges to study material released by US authorities concerning Jeffrey Epstein’s network.

The Paris prosecutor’s office said the new team will work closely with the police and with prosecutors from the national financial crimes unit to determine whether any French citizens had committed crimes.

The aim, according to prosecutors, is to extract any piece of evidence from the Epstein files that could be reused in new investigations.

Members of France's political and cultural elite named in Epstein files

French prosecutors have also announced that they will revisit the case of Jean-Luc Brunel, a former modelling agency executive and close Epstein associate who died in custody in Paris in 2022 after being charged with raping minors. The case against him was dropped in 2023 in the wake of his death.

Prosecutors said Brunel had offered modelling jobs to young girls from disadvantaged backgrounds and had engaged in sexual acts with underage girls in multiple locations including the United States, the US Virgin Islands and France.

Ten women have brought accusations against him, including being subjected to forced sexual penetration.

Jeffrey Epstein died in a US prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. US authorities ruled his death a suicide.

(with newswires)

DP World Changes Leadership Responding to Pressure Over Epstein Scandal

DP World replaced its Chairman and CEO as news of the ties to Jeffrey Esptein grew (DP World)

Published Feb 13, 2026 12:01 PM by The Maritime Executive

Port and logistics powerhouse DP World reported on Friday, February 13, that it is changing its management leadership as pressure grew from the investment community over its long-time chairman and CEO’s ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The company named one of the leaders of the Dubai financial community as its new chairman while elevating its Group Deputy CEO and Chief Financial Officer to the role of CEO.

The company simply stated that the long-time head of the company, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, had “resigned from the company, effective immediately.” He had been in the leadership role first as Chairman since 2007 and Chairman and CEO since 2016.

He is one of the most prominent executives and political leaders to lose his position as the ties to Jeffrey Epstein emerged in the released documents from the U.S. Department of Justice. CNN reports bin Sulayem’s name appeared “thousands of times” in the most recent batch of documents, and he was referred to as a “best and trusted friend.” There were business discussions between him and Epstein, but much of it appears to be sexually explicit material. 

As more documents became public, it was revealed that the relationship between the two men had lasted well over a decade. Further, bin Sulayem continued the contact after Epstein’s 2009 conviction and until shortly before his death while in jail in New York.

Investors had increased pressure on the company to address “the situation and take the necessary actions.” The UK’s British International Investment said earlier this week that it was suspending its investment activity with DP World. Long-time partner and investor Canada’s La Caisse, operators of Quebec’s pension and the largest pension fund in Canada, also said it would pause additional capital deployment until the company responded.

Both investors reportedly told Reuters today that they welcomed the company’s actions. BII said it looked forward to continuing its partnership, and Caisse said it would work with the new leadership of the company.

One of the prominent leaders of the Dubai financial community, Essa Kazim, was named Chairman of DP World. Since 2014, he has served as Governor of the Dubai International Finance Center, which oversees the country’s business environment and closely interacts with all the companies in the emirate. He also serves as Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Legislation Committee in Dubai.

Long-time executive Yuvraj Narayan was elevated to the role of CEO. He has been with the company since 2004 and has been in the role of Group CFO since 2005. As such, he was working closely with bin Sulayem as DP World grew rapidly from the operator of the Jebel Ali port to one of the leaders in the industry.

DP World rose in prominence in 2006 when it acquired the venerable British shipping company P&O for $6.8 billion. The company also made investments, including Imperial Logistics and Syncreon, and recently announced it would be unifying its operations under the DP World brand.

The company’s profile says that it contributes more than 36 percent to the GDP of Dubai and about 12 percent to the GDP of the UAE. It operates in more than 80 countries. Last year, it reported nearly $20 billion in revenues.

French prosecutors announce special team to analyse Epstein files

The Paris prosecutor's office on Saturday announced it was setting up a special team to analyse files relating to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and investigate suspected crimes involving French nationals. As part of that initiative, they will be reopening their files on the late Jean-Luc Brunel, a former French modelling agency executive.


15/02/2026 
By: FRANCE 24

A photo of Epstein on a inmate report that was included in the US Department of Justice release of the Jeffrey Epstein files, photographed Tuesday, February 10, 2026. © Jon Elswick, AP

The Paris prosecutor's office on Saturday announced it was setting up a special team of magistrates to analyse evidence that could implicate French nationals in the crimes of the convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

With Epstein's known circle now extending to prominent French figures after the release of documents by the US authorities, the prosecutor's office said it would also thoroughly re-examine the case of a former French modelling agency executive Jean-Luc Brunel, a close associate of the American financier, who died in custody in 2022.

The new team will work closely with prosecutors from the national financial crimes unit and police with a view to opening investigations into any suspected crimes involving French nationals, the Paris prosecutor's office told AFP.

The aim is "to be able to extract any piece that could be usefully reused in a new investigative framework", it said.

Brunel was found dead in his cell in a Paris prison in 2022 after having been charged with raping minors. The case against him was dropped in 2023 in the wake of his death, with no other person charged.

Prosecutors said an investigation had showed Brunel was "a close friend of Jeffrey Epstein" who had offered modelling jobs to young girls from poor backgrounds.

He had engaged in sexual acts with underage girls in the United States, the US Virgin Islands, Paris and the south of France, they said.

Ten women had made accusations against Brunel, several describing how they had been led to drink alcohol and had been subjected to forced sexual penetration, according to the prosecutor's office.

New cases

Several French public figures feature in the latest US Department of Justice release of material from the Epstein files, though being mentioned there does not in itself mean any offence has been committed.

The prosecutor's office said it had been asked to look into three new specific cases involving a French diplomat, a modelling agent and a musician.

At the request of the French foreign ministry it was looking into the reported appearance of senior diplomat Fabrice Aidan in the cache of Epstein-related documents published by the US authorities.

"An investigation is underway to gather various pieces of evidence that could substantiate this report," the prosecutor's office stated.

© France 24
01:25

The prosecutor's office has also received a complaint filed by a Swedish woman against Daniel Siad, a model recruiter with close ties to Epstein. She accused him of "sexual acts that she describes as rape and that may have been committed in France in 1990".

The office has also received a complaint filed against French conductor Frédéric Chaslin alleging acts of sexual harassment allegedly committed in 2016, it said.

The latest release of Epstein files has led to French former minister Jack Lang resigning from his position as the head of a top cultural body, the Arab World Institute.

Lang has however denied any wrongdoing, saying he was "shocked" that his name appeared in the statutes of an offshore company Epstein founded in 2016.

The office of the national financial prosecutor said it had opened a preliminary investigation for "aggravated tax fraud and money laundering" against Lang and his daughter Caroline Lang.

Following this announcement, Lang resigned from the presidency of the Arab World Institute.

Epstein died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial for trafficking children, in what the US authorities ruled was a suicide.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

French police raid Paris's Arab World Institute in Epstein-linked probe into Jack Lang


⁠French police ​on Monday searched ​the Arab World Institute in Paris ​in ‌connection ⁠with an investigation into ‌its former head, France's ex-culture minister Jack Lang, and his alleged ​ties with the ‌late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.


Issued on: 16/02/2026
By: FRANCE 24

Video by:James ANDRE/

File photo of France's former culture minister Jack Lang taken outside the Arab World Institute in Paris on January 28, 2013. © Martin Bureau, AFP
02:47

French police conducted raids at various locations, including the Arab World Institute (IMA) in Paris, on Monday as part of the investigation into the institution's former head Jack Lang for his alleged financial ties to Jeffrey Epstein, Pascal Prache, head of the national financial prosecutor's office, said in a statement.

Lang, a former French culture minister under ​socialist president François Mitterrand, resigned earlier this month from ​the organisation which he ​had led since 2013.

WATCH MORE  Former French minister Jack Lang resigns over Epstein-linked tax fraud probe

The Arab World Institute is a ​Paris-based cultural and research institution under the supervision of France's foreign ministry that promotes understanding of the Arab world.

Lang, who corresponded ⁠with Epstein from 2012 and 2019, has denied any wrongdoing, saying he was "shocked" that his name appeared in the statutes of an offshore company Epstein founded in 2016.

Lang's daughter Caroline, who allegedly owned half the shares in the company, has resigned from two positions.

The raid, announced by the national financial prosecutor's office, occurred as he said goodbye to former colleagues in a ceremony at the institute after more than a decade as its president.

"I'm pleased to see the financial judiciary is at work," he said during his speech.

"I'm delighted because I have nothing to hide."
French prosecutors announce special team for Epstein files

The raids came after French prosecutors opened ‌a preliminary investigation ​into alleged tax fraud against Lang and his ​daughter following the ​release of documents ​by the US ​Department of Justice.

The Paris prosecutor's office on Saturday announced that it was setting up a special team of magistrates to analyse evidence that could implicate French nationals in the crimes of the convicted sex offender Epstein.

With Epstein's known circle now extending to prominent French figures after the release of documents by the US authorities, the prosecutor's office said it would also thoroughly re-examine the case of a former French modelling agency executive, Jean-Luc Brunel, a close associate of the American financier who died in custody in 2022.

The new team will work closely with prosecutors from the national financial crimes unit and police with a view to opening investigations into any suspected crimes involving French nationals, the Paris prosecutor's office told AFP.

The aim is "to be able to extract any piece that could be usefully reused in a new investigative framework", it said.

Brunel was found dead in his cell in a Paris prison in 2022 after having been charged with raping minors. The case against him was dropped in 2023 in the wake of his death, with no other person charged.

Prosecutors said an investigation had shown Brunel was "a close friend of Jeffrey Epstein" who had offered modelling jobs to young girls from poor backgrounds.

Brunel had engaged in sexual acts with underage girls in the United States, the US Virgin Islands, Paris and the south of France, they said.

Ten women had made accusations against Brunel, several describing how they had been led to drink alcohol and had been subjected to forced sexual penetration, according to the prosecutor's office.
Senior diplomat under scrutiny

Several French public figures feature in the latest US Department of Justice release of material from the Epstein files, though being mentioned there does not in itself mean any offence has been committed.

The prosecutor's office said it had been asked to look into three new specific cases involving a French diplomat, a modelling agent and a musician.

At the request of the French foreign ministry it was looking into the reported appearance of senior diplomat Fabrice Aidan in the cache of Epstein-related documents published by the US authorities.

READ MOREFrance demands investigation into diplomat cited in Epstein files

"An investigation is underway to gather various pieces of evidence that could substantiate this report," the prosecutor's office stated.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)