March 31, 2025 (Ep 121): Update: Solong, Stena Immaculate & MSC Baltic III; US Tariffs and Trade Representative Section 301 Port Fees | Oil and Russia Dark Fleet | CK Hutchinson and Panama | Icebreakers
In this episode, Sal Mercogliano — a maritime historian at Campbell University (@campbelledu) and former merchant mariner — discusses the top 5 Maritime Stories as of March 31, 2025.
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00:00 Introduction
00:38 1. UPDATES: Solong, Stena Immaculate & MSC Baltic III
Crashed cargo ship Solong arrives in Aberdeen
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9wp9k875r8o
02:41 2. Tariffs & Port Fees
Trump Port Levies On Chinese Ships Could Mean Billion-Dollar ‘Trade Apocalypse’ Industry Executives Say
https://gcaptain.com/trump-port-levies-on-chinese-ships-could-mean-billion-dollar-trade-apocalypse-industry-executives-say/
US Fossil Fuel, Farm Groups Rail Against Trump Port Fee Plan at Hearing
https://gcaptain.com/us-fossil-fuel-farm-groups-rail-against-trump-port-fee-plan-at-hearing/
Japan, Korea Would Struggle to fill US Demand for Non-China Shipbuilding, NYK Line Exec Says
https://gcaptain.com/japan-korea-would-struggle-to-fill-us-demand-for-non-china-shipbuilding-nyk-line-exec-says/
Alaska Governor to Brief Trump on Asia Gas Push as Tariffs Bite
https://gcaptain.com/alaska-governor-to-brief-trump-on-asia-gas-push-as-tariffs-bite/
Shipowners Are Adjusting Contracts for US Tax on China Vessels
https://gcaptain.com/shipowners-are-adjusting-contracts-for-us-tax-on-china-vessels/
Plan to tax Chinese ships turned maritime malaise into ‘brainstorming session’
https://www.joc.com/article/plan-to-tax-chinese-ships-turned-maritime-malaise-into-brainstorming-session-5971753
15:50 3. Oil Sector and Russian Shipping
Global Shipping Insurance May Shift If Russia Sanctions End, Bimco Says
https://gcaptain.com/global-shipping-insurance-may-shift-if-russia-sanctions-end-bimco-says/
Russian Crude Flows Hit Five-Month High While Peace Talks Drag
https://gcaptain.com/russian-crude-flows-hit-five-month-high-while-peace-talks-drag/
EU Transshipment Ban on Russian LNG Takes Effect, Forcing Shift to Ship-to-Ship Transfers
https://gcaptain.com/eu-transshipment-ban-on-russian-lng-takes-effect-forcing-shift-to-ship-to-ship-transfers/
Russian Oil Freight Rates From Baltic Ports to India Ease as More Western Shipowners Return
https://gcaptain.com/russian-oil-freight-rates-from-baltic-ports-to-india-ease-as-more-western-shipowners-return/
Russia’s First Domestically Constructed LNG Carrier Faces Delays as Sea Trials Drag On
https://gcaptain.com/russias-first-domestically-constructed-lng-carrier-faces-delays-as-sea-trials-drag-on/
Iran Oil-Filled Tankers Build Up Off Malaysia as Sanctions Mount
https://gcaptain.com/iran-oil-filled-tankers-build-up-off-malaysia-as-sanctions-mount/
US Delegation Aims For Maritime Ceasefire In The Black Sea
https://gcaptain.com/us-delegation-aims-for-maritime-ceasefire-in-the-black-sea/
US Says Russia and Ukraine Agree to Ceasefire in the Black Sea
https://gcaptain.com/us-says-russia-and-ukraine-agree-to-ceasefire-in-the-black-sea/
Oil Loading Slows at Venezuela’s Ports Amid US Tariffs, License Termination, Data Shows
https://gcaptain.com/oil-loading-slows-at-venezuelas-ports-amid-us-tariffs-license-termination-data-shows/
22:20 4. CK Hutchinson Port Sale
China Halts Panama Port Sale to BlackRock
https://gcaptain.com/china-halts-panama-port-sale-to-blackrock/
China State Media Blasts CK Hutchison’s Panama Port Deal In Soon-Deleted Post
https://gcaptain.com/china-state-media-blasts-ck-hutchisons-panama-port-deal-in-soon-deleted-post/
25:25 5. Icebreakers
Icebreaker Diplomacy: Finnish President Stubb Makes Surprise Visit To Meet With Trump
https://gcaptain.com/icebreaker-diplomacy-finnish-president-stubb-makes-surprise-visit-to-meet-with-trump/
South Korea Bolsters Polar Capabilities Moving Ahead With Next-Generation Icebreaker
https://gcaptain.com/south-korea-bolsters-polar-capabilities-moving-ahead-with-next-generation-icebreaker/
Bollinger Shipyards Awarded Nearly $1B to Cover Cost Overruns of Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter Program
https://gcaptain.com/bollinger-shipyards-awarded-nearly-1b-to-cover-cost-overruns-of-coast-guard-polar-security-cutter-program/
Coast Guard Icebreaker ‘Storis’ To Achieve Initial Operating Readiness by August 2025
https://gcaptain.com/coast-guard-icebreaker-storis-to-achieve-initial-operating-readiness-by-august-2025/
Chinese NewNew Shipping Line To Expand Arctic Container Service After Profitable 2024 Operation
https://gcaptain.com/chinese-newnew-shipping-line-to-expand-arctic-container-service-after-profitable-2024-operation/