Sal Mercogliano — a maritime historian at Campbell University (@campbelledu) and former merchant mariner — discusses the top Five Maritime Stories as of December 16, 2025…
US Intercepting Venezuelan Tankers
China and the Philippines’ confrontation in the West Philippine Sea
Piracy in the Red Sea
Cambodia and Thailand
Bananas Wash Ashore in England
Updates on MSC Baltic III and ONE Henry Hudson
The Black Sea Blows Up, AGAIN
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:02 Maritime Story 1 - Venezuela | Iran
Venezuela - Tankers U-Turn After U.S. Seizure of Venezuelan Oil Cargo [link]
Ghost Oil Ships Dock In Venezuela, Showing Challenge For US [link]
U.S. Treasury Targets Maduro’s Inner Circle and Six Shipping Companies with Sweeping Sanctions [link]
Venezuelan Oil Stored at Sea Shields China as US Pressure Rises [link]
Opinion: U.S. Squeeze on Venezuela Oil Won’t Create Global Crunch [link]
Tehran Revives Disputes in the Gulf to Boost Patriotic Support at Home [link]
Iran Stops Stateless Tanker in Continuing Crackdown on Fuel Smuggling [link]
07:46 Maritime Story 2 - China
China Injured Filipino Fishermen in Contested Sea, Manila Says [link]
11:13 Maritime Story 3 - Yemen | Suez Canal | Cambodia | Thailand
Merchant Vessel Repels Armed Attack Off Yemen Coast as Red Sea Transit Risks Persist [link]
Royal Thai Navy Shells Cambodian Positions [link]
Thailand Considers Blocking Fuel Exports To Cambodia As Border Conflict Escalates [link]
16:08 Maritime Story 4 - Cargo overboard!
Bananas Ahoy as Overboard Containers Wash Ashore [link]
ONE Boxship Loses Containers Overboard off Gran Canaria [link]
Grounded MSC Baltic III’s Hull Further Compromised After Winter Storms [link]
General Average Declared Following Multi-Day Fire on ONE Henry Hudson [link]
21:25 Maritime Story 5 - Black Sea (Russia and Ukraine)
Ukraine Says Underwater Drones Hit Submarine, but Moscow Denies Damage [link]
Russia Attacks Two Ukrainian Ports, Damaging Three Turkish-Owned Vessels [link]
Video: Russian Drone Hits Product Tanker in Black Sea [link]
Tanker Operator Quits Russian Trade After Suspected Ukrainian Strike [link]
Stricken sanctioned tanker arrives in Bulgarian anchorage, but what next? [link]
EU Blacklists More Shadow Fleet Operators Moving Russian Oil [link]
28:57 Conclusion
