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 may lose charter value by the 2040s. The analysis shows banks’ senior loan positions protect them, but equity holders could suffer losses if refinancing becomes scarce, potentially triggering fire‑sales. It urges the maritime finance sector to embed ESG considerations and support the industry’s decarbonisation drive.
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...
ABB Picks Corvus Energy Battery Systems for New US Ferries
ABB Marine & Ports, acting as the propulsion single‑source vendor for Washington State Ferries, has selected Corvus Energy’s Dolphin NxtGen battery systems for two new hybrid ferries. The 1,500‑passenger vessels, built by Eastern Shipbuilding and slated for delivery in 2030‑31,...
Gemini Shines as Container Line Punctuality Plummets in 2026
The Gemini alliance of Hapag‑Lloyd and Maersk has lifted its on‑time delivery rates well above industry averages, though it still falls short of its 90% target for most services. Xeneta data shows global carrier punctuality plunged to 30% in January,...
Lithium Battery Fires Put the Heat on P&I Clubs
P&I clubs have recorded a ten‑year peak in marine liability claims, resulting in a $98 million underwriting loss over the past three years. The surge is driven primarily by lithium‑ion battery fires on vessels carrying electric vehicles and other battery‑powered cargo,...
Trump’s Maritime Golden Age Could Prove Costly for Shipping
The Trump administration unveiled its Maritime Action Plan, introducing a universal port fee on all foreign‑built vessels that would be calculated on import cargo weight rather than net tonnage. Revenue projections range from $66 billion to $1.5 trillion over ten years, while...
IMO NZF Would Send Stable Demand Signal for Zero-Emission Fuels
A new UCL Shipping and Oceans Research Group report evaluates three IMO Net Zero Framework (NZF) scenarios and finds that only the framework "as‑is" delivers a credible, stable demand signal for scalable zero‑emission fuels. The analysis warns that removing the...
AD Ports Joins Cameroon’s Douala New Dry Bulk Terminal Concession
UAE‑based AD Ports Group has entered a 30‑year concession with Africa Ports Development to design, build and operate a new dry‑bulk terminal at Cameroon’s Port of Douala. The partnership gives AD Ports an effective 51% economic stake and commits roughly...
Energy Transition Underpins Dry Bulk Sector
Electric‑vehicle sales have surged nearly 700% this decade, driving a rapid rise in spodumene shipments from Australia to China and doubling bulk volumes since 2023. Panamax vessels now carry almost half of the 7 million tonnes of dry bulk moved last...
ZEPA Launches Battery-Electric Container Handling Standards, Load Tool
The Zero Emission Port Alliance (ZEPA) introduced a load‑profile explorer, transition guide, and updated voluntary standards to accelerate battery‑electric container‑handling equipment adoption. The standards aim to reduce design fragmentation and improve interoperability, while total‑cost‑of‑ownership data shows electric gear remains pricier...
Seatrade Maritime Club Roundtable to Address Critical Industry Challenges at CMA Shipping 2026
The Seatrade Maritime Club will host an exclusive, closed‑door roundtable at CMA Shipping 2026, gathering senior maritime executives for candid discussions under the Chatham House Rule. The three sessions will address geopolitical trade disruptions, electronic navigation threats such as GPS spoofing,...
Hapag-Lloyd in ‘Advanced Negotiations’ to Acquire Zim
German carrier Hapag‑Lloyd announced it is in advanced negotiations to acquire Israel‑based Zim Integrated Shipping Services. The talks focus on transferring Zim’s special rights in Israel and are part of a multi‑billion‑dollar merger strategy. A successful deal would significantly expand...
Dodgy Owners Start Sending Sanctioned Tankers to the Subcontinent
Three tankers with opaque ownership structures have arrived at Alang, India’s largest ship‑breaking yard, raising alarms about the growing dark fleet. The vessels are suspected of being linked to sanctioned oil flows, allowing owners to evade international restrictions. Their arrival...
APM Terminals and Eurogate to Invest $1.2bn in Bremerhaven Modernisation
Container terminal partners look to reach net zero emissions and boost capacity by 1m teu.
MSC’s TIL Acquires Terminal in Peru
Terminal Investment Limited is reported to be paying $200 million for Terminal Portuario de Paracas
Indian Container Line Takes Shape with MoU Signing
India’s government-backed Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL) was formally created after six public‑sector entities signed a Memorandum of Understanding, allocating stakes ranging from 5% to 30%. The new carrier will order 15 domestically built container ships and aim to operate...