Iran Strikes Saudi’s Critical Pipeline Serving Yanbu
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps struck the East‑West (Petroline) pipeline that feeds the Red Sea port of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia’s primary crude export route after the Strait of Hormuz was blocked. The line has been moving up to seven million barrels per day, with roughly five million barrels exported daily, supporting 15‑20 VLCCs each week. Analysts warn that any significant damage could push oil prices higher and deepen the current global energy crunch. The attack follows similar strikes on energy assets in Kuwait and the UAE, suggesting a broader regional escalation.
Rise in Container Ship Non-Operating Owner Orderbook
Orders from non‑operating owners (NOOs) for container ships between 700 and 9,000 TEU have tripled in the year to March 2026, reaching 116 vessels and 435,000 TEU. The surge, driven by Asian and Greek owners, also includes 90 larger ships (5,300‑9,000...
Marine Insurers Say Heightened Risks Remain in the Gulf
Marine insurers welcomed the cease‑fire announced by President Donald Trump and Iran, but warned that normal shipping through the Gulf will not resume immediately. Lloyd’s Market Association’s Neil Roberts said underlying tensions remain, keeping the Strait of Hormuz at heightened...
Safe Evacuation of Ships, Seafarers From the Gulf a Priority
The International Maritime Organization and the International Chamber of Shipping welcomed a 14‑day U.S.–Iran cease‑fire, aiming to evacuate roughly 1,000 vessels and 20,000 seafarers trapped in the Gulf after the Strait of Hormuz was closed in late February. IMO Secretary‑General...
Legal Battle for Costs of ‘Game Changer’ Baltimore Bridge Replacement
A civil trial set for June will determine liability for Grace Ocean and Synergy of the Dali, the vessel that struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March 2024. The owners are invoking an 1851 statute to limit exposure to...
China and Russia Veto UN Resolution on Strait of Hormuz
The United Nations Security Council failed to adopt a draft resolution on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz after China and Russia exercised their vetoes on 7 April 2026. The text, championed by Bahrain and Gulf Cooperation Council members,...
Is the Iran War Creating a Crewing Crisis?
Columbia Group CEO Mark O’Neil warns that the Iran‑related Gulf conflict is spawning a hidden crewing crisis, as rising repatriation costs and flight shortages hinder crew changes. The International Maritime Organization has called on 40 foreign ministers to help free...
Sky-High Fuel Prices Will Drive Ship Efficiency Retrofits
U.S. efforts to block the IMO’s Net Zero Framework are unintentionally accelerating maritime sustainability as Middle‑East attacks drive bunker fuel prices to historic highs. The surge in marine fuel costs dramatically shortens the payback horizon for efficiency retrofits, making measures...
Tanker Shipping Market Very Tight Due to Dislocation of Tonnage
A New York panel convened by NYMAR and YSPNY warned that tanker markets have become exceptionally tight after the onset of Operation Epic Fury, which displaced VLCCs and forced Suezmaxes and Aframaxes onto Asian routes. Panelists highlighted Asia’s heightened dependence on Middle‑East crude...
Maritime AI Developments to Be Showcased at Posidonia 2026
Posidonia 2026, held June 1‑5 in Athens, will spotlight a wave of maritime AI products and services as the sector moves from theory to operational pilots. More than 40 exhibitors are demonstrating AI‑driven predictive maintenance, fuel‑optimisation, routing and compliance tools,...
ICS and ITF Press Gulf States on Seafarer Welfare
The International Chamber of Shipping and the International Transport Workers’ Federation met Gulf State officials to address the plight of roughly 20,000 seafarers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz due to regional conflict. They discussed an IMO‑backed reporting system for...
Handover of Training Ship State of Maine an Important Waypoint for US Maritime
The U.S. Maritime Administration handed over the training ship State of Maine to Maine Maritime Academy, completing the third National Security Multi‑Mission Vessel (NSMV) built at Hanwha Philly Shipyard. Delivered on time and on budget, the 720‑bed vessel can expand...
Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation Reports 2% Profit Increase
Cosco Shipping Energy Transportation posted a modest profit rise in 2025, with total operating revenue reaching RMB 23.89 billion ($3.45 billion), up 2.7% year‑on‑year, and net profit climbing 2.1% to RMB 5.36 billion (about $774 million). The company highlighted the cyclical flexibility of international oil transport...
DP World Jeddah Boosts Red Sea Capacity with New Cranes
DP World has installed three semi‑automated quay cranes at its Jeddah Islamic Port terminal, part of an $800 million modernization program that doubles capacity from 1.8 million to 4 million TEU, with a long‑term goal of 5 million TEU. The ZPMC cranes, each lifting...
Shipowners Who Ignore Climate Change Do so at Their Peril
The UCL Energy Institute and Strider Carbon report warns that shipowners who dismiss climate change face significant stranded‑asset risks. Supply‑side pressures from tightening emissions regulations could render carbon‑intensive vessels uncompetitive, while demand‑side trends suggest new tanker and LNG carrier orders...
Maersk Shareholder Call to Halt Israeli Arms Related Shipments Rejected
At its March 25 AGM, Maersk shareholders voted down a proposal to stop shipments linked to Israel’s military operations. Activist group Ekõ highlighted alleged transport of dual‑use and weapons components, citing a Palestinian Youth Movement report of roughly 2,110 shipments...
CK Hutchison’s Damages Claims Against Panama Expand to over $2bn
CK Hutchison’s Panama Ports Company has expanded its International Chamber of Commerce arbitration claim against the Republic of Panama to over $2 billion following a Supreme Court ruling that declared its container‑terminal concessions in Balboa and Cristóbal unconstitutional. The Panamanian government...
German Shipowners Seek to Make Seafaring Part of National Service
German shipowners, led by VDR President Gaby Bornheim, urged the inclusion of merchant shipping in Germany's national service framework as a civilian maritime reserve. The call follows the stranding of roughly 20,000 seafarers and 50 German vessels in the Gulf...
NorthStandard Backs Crew Nudges to Cut Ship Emissions
NorthStandard has teamed with Signol to roll out a behavioural‑science‑driven nudging platform that encourages seafarers to adopt fuel‑saving actions. The insurer will subsidise Signol’s SaaS subscription for its members, while Signol covers onboarding costs. By delivering weekly, personalised prompts and...
APM Terminals Lazaro Cardenas Starts Phase III Expansion
APM Terminals Lazaro Cardenas has commissioned its $140 million Phase II expansion, boosting the terminal’s operational area to 65 hectares and capacity to roughly 2 million TEU. The company immediately began Phase III construction, part of a $350 million investment program, to add 450 metres of quay...
The Invisible Warriors: Seafarers in the Line of Fire
Seafarers navigating the Strait of Hormuz amid the Middle‑East conflict are largely invisible in media coverage, despite their critical role in global trade. Thousands remain trapped in a war zone, delivering goods that keep supply chains moving while public outrage...
Genco Rejects Star Bulk-Backed Diana Shipping Bid
Genco Shipping & Trading rejected Diana Shipping’s improved takeover offer of $23.50 per share, valuing the dry‑bulker at roughly $860 million. The board said the proposal undervalues Genco, lacks a sufficient premium, and carries execution risks. Diana, backed by Star Bulk,...
Eastern Pacific Completes Second Bound4blue Wind Power Install
Eastern Pacific Shipping and bound4blue have finished their second eSails installation, fitting three 22‑metre wind‑propulsion sails on the new‑build MR tanker Pacific Sunstone in China. The first project, a retrofit on Pacific Sentinel, showed an 8% net power reduction and...
EcoNavis Launches Tool to Gauge Savings From Propeller Boss Caps
EcoNavis has launched an online savings calculator that estimates fuel savings from retrofitting ships with its Eco Boss Cap. The tool requires only basic vessel data and projects annual savings across varying bunker price scenarios. With bunker costs up more than 150 %...
Panama Canal Administrator Outlines Vision 2035 Infrastructure Plan at CMA Shipping Conference 2026
At the CMA Shipping Conference 2026, Panama Canal Administrator Dr. Ricaurte Vásquez Morales detailed the Vision 2035 plan, which includes capacity‑boosting projects, a new container terminal, and the Río Indio Lake water‑reservoir to improve reliability. He highlighted a 8‑10% revenue increase in...
Liberian Registry to Introduce Electronic Seafarer Documents
The Liberian Registry, the world’s largest ship registry, announced the rollout of electronic seafarer documents. The new system, featuring QR‑coded digital certificates and the SEA360 mobile app, will complement existing hard‑copy paperwork while enabling faster, secure verification. Integrated into the...
Indexes’ Uncertain Response in a Volatile Container Market
The Iran‑related conflict in the Arabian Gulf is creating sharp uncertainty in container markets, with analysts reporting divergent rate trends. Drewry’s spot‑rate data shows double‑digit increases on Asia‑North America and Asia‑Europe lanes, while Xeneta’s regional data points to stagnant or...
Iran Vows to Keep Blocking the Strait of Hormuz
Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, still recovering from a U.S. strike, declared that Iran will keep the Strait of Hormuz closed, leaving roughly 1,000 vessels stranded in the Gulf. While the closure is driven by political retaliation, insurers have confirmed that...
DP World Profits up 32% to $1.96 Billion in 2025
DP World reported a record 2025 with revenue climbing 22% to $24.4 billion and adjusted EBITDA up 18% to $6.4 billion. Net profit surged 32.2% to $1.96 billion, driven by higher port volumes and improved yields. Total TEU throughput rose 5.8% to 93.4 million...
Search for Three Missing Crew From Mayuree Naree Continues
Precious Shipping reports that three crew members remain missing after the Thai‑flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree was struck by two projectiles while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on 11 March. The vessel, carrying 23 crew, evacuated 20 sailors who were taken ashore...
MOL Acquiring 25% Stake in V.Ships France
Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has acquired a 25 % equity stake in V.Ships France through its subsidiary MOL Euro Energie SAS, while deepening a long‑standing partnership on LNG vessels. Under the deal V.Ships France will assume full technical management of two new‑build LNG carriers slated...
Explosions After Two Tankers Struck Off Iraq
Two tankers, the Malta‑flagged Zefyros and the Marshall Islands‑registered Safesea Vishnu, were struck while conducting a ship‑to‑ship transfer 5 nm south of Al Basrah, igniting a fire and killing one crew member. Thirty‑eight crew were rescued and all Iraqi oil terminals were...
Struck Star Bulk Ship to Sail for Repair Under Own Power
Star Gwyneth was struck by an unidentified projectile while anchored after off‑loading grain in the Arabian Gulf, sustaining only a superficial hull breach above the waterline. The vessel remains seaworthy and will sail under its own power to a repair...
War in Iran – Congestion, Rerouting of Trade and Higher Fuel Prices
The war in Iran is already causing shipping congestion, trade rerouting and higher fuel prices, prompting urgent discussion at the Capital Link International Shipping Forum. Panelists warned that liner freight rates could stay elevated longer than anticipated, and that if...
Turkish Court Upholds 30-Year Sentences on Phoenician M Seafarers
Turkey's Supreme Court voted 3‑2 to uphold 30‑year negligence sentences for two crew members of the bulk carrier Phoenician‑M. While the captain was released in August 2025 under unclear circumstances, chief mate Ali Albokhari remains imprisoned. Albokhari's Finnish wife has...
Any Attack on Innocent Seafarers Unacceptable: IMO Secretary-General
International Maritime Organization Secretary‑General Arsenio Domínguez condemned a series of attacks on merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, noting at least seven seafarer deaths and multiple injuries. He highlighted the missile strike on the tug Mussafah 2, which killed four...
Advancing the Conversation on Seafarer Fatigue at the IMO
At the IMO’s Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW) Subcommittee meeting in London, delegates conducted a comprehensive review of the STCW Convention and examined emerging training needs for alternative‑fuel vessels. The most contentious agenda item was a scoping exercise on...
Star Bulk Joins Diana and Genco Takeover Battle
Diana Shipping has raised its bid for Genco Maritime to $23.50 per share, valuing the deal at roughly $860 million. The revised offer is backed by $1.43 billion of financing and a conditional agreement with Star Bulk to purchase 16 vessels for...
India Demand and Panama Pipeline Positive for VLGCs, Says Dorian LPG
U.S. LPG exports are hitting record levels while a 76‑km Panama pipeline, slated for post‑2031 operation, promises 2 million barrels per day capacity. Dorian LPG’s chief information officer says the pipeline will likely add loading and discharge points rather than divert cargoes,...
Strait of Hormuz Crisis Impacts 4% of Global Dry Bulk Trade
BIMCO analysis shows bulk‑carrier transits through the Strait of Hormuz fell about 70% week‑over‑week, affecting roughly 4% of global dry‑bulk volumes. Arrow Shipbroking data indicate 1.9% of Capesize, 5.6% of Panamax and 5.7% of Supramax/Handymax demand passed the strait in...
UECC Orders Multi-Fuel Battery Hybrid PCTC Pair
European shipowner UECC ordered two 3,000‑ceu multi‑fuel battery hybrid PCTCs from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard. The vessels combine LNG engines, battery storage, and an aerodynamically optimised hull to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, and include shore‑power and real‑time emissions monitoring....
Ports at the Forefront of Economic War in the Gulf
The ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is choking maritime freight into the Arabian Gulf, threatening the region’s $570 billion oil and gas export flow. With the Gulf’s ports serving as the sole gateway, disruptions also jeopardize imports that account...
AI Expertise Transfer Platform Aims to Solve the Shipping Talent Crisis
Dolgo has launched an AI‑enabled expertise transfer platform to help maritime firms retain critical know‑how as an aging workforce retires. The system captures formal SOPs and informal troubleshooting dialogues, then delivers just‑in‑time guidance while rewarding the original knowledge contributors. Early...
The Potential of Nuclear-Powered Ships Moves to the Forefront at Posidonia 2026
At Posidonia 2026, CORE POWER will host a high‑level executive briefing on civil maritime nuclear propulsion, signaling a shift from theoretical debate to concrete industry engagement. Leaders from shipping, finance, ports and energy will discuss fourth‑generation molten‑salt reactors that could...
NatPower Raises Alarm on UK Shore Power Policy
NatPower Marine warns that the UK’s flagship shore‑power projects in Aberdeen and Portsmouth are faltering because soaring industrial electricity prices and a punitive pricing framework make diesel generators cheaper than grid‑connected power. The company attributes the delays to structural policy...
Yangzijiang Shipbuilding Achieves a Record Performance in 2025
Yangzijiang Shipbuilding posted a record FY 2025, with revenue climbing 7.4% to RMB 28.5 billion and gross profit jumping 28.3% to RMB 9.8 billion. The core shipbuilding division generated RMB 26.8 billion, up 6.4%, while the orderbook swelled to $22.4 billion for 245 vessels. Shipping‑related revenue slipped 8.1%...
VLCC Rates – How High and for How Long?
The crude tanker market is experiencing a sharp surge, with VLCC spot hires topping $200,000 per day and one‑year time‑charter equivalents reaching $135,000. Baltic Exchange data show composite VLCC rates near $169,000 daily, while International Seaways (INSW) reported Q4 2025...
Routing Software Wins LNG Carriers on Crew-First Approach
Knutsen LNG France has selected Syroco Live, an AI‑driven routing platform, for fleet‑wide deployment after a successful 2024 trial on four vessels. The system promises to boost navigation safety, cut fuel consumption by roughly 10% and lower greenhouse‑gas emissions while...
Brazilian and Malaysian Ports Ink MoUs
Brazil’s Suape Industrial Port Complex signed two MoUs with Malaysia’s Westports and Northport at Port Klang, establishing a permanent communication channel between the two port groups. The agreements aim to launch new long‑distance maritime routes and expand logistics links, potentially...
Spike in Cyberattacks Demand Persistent Tracking at Sea
Cyber attacks on the maritime sector are accelerating, with the cost of a single incident rising to an average of $550,000 between 2022 and 2023. Marinelink’s security operations centre recorded 9 billion security events and more than 10,000 malware detections across...
