Iran’s Hormuz Strait Watchdog Defies US Sanctions as Peace Deal Remains Elusive
Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) announced it will keep operating despite being placed on a U.S. blacklist. The agency says it will continue reviewing and granting passage permits to non‑hostile vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz. Washington added PGSA to its sanctions list to pressure Tehran over regional security concerns. The move underscores the ongoing tension between U.S. enforcement actions and Iran’s claim to control a key global shipping chokepoint.
Cosco and Argentina’s PTP Commit to Invest €116m in Spanish Port
China Cosco Shipping and Argentina’s PTP Group have secured a 50‑year concession to build a new multipurpose terminal at Spain’s Tarragona port, committing €116 million (about $135 million). The project will develop a 510,000‑square‑metre site that includes a wharf and rail connections,...
US Navy Warns Shipping of ‘Dangerous Military Activities’ Planned for Strait of Hormuz
On May 29, 2026, the U.S. Navy issued a warning to commercial vessels about planned “dangerous military activities” in the Strait of Hormuz. The advisory, while vague on specifics, references upcoming mine‑clearance operations north of Oman’s Musandam Peninsula. The Strait,...
Tensions on Middle East Maritime Routes Threaten Global Trade, Vietnam Leader Warns
Vietnam President To Lam warned at the Shangri‑La Dialogue that rising tensions on key Middle East maritime routes could disrupt global trade and energy supplies. He emphasized that a single flashpoint—such as the Bab al‑Mandab or Strait of Hormuz—can reverberate through...
Qingdao Port Seeks Broad Financing and Share Buyback Powers
Hong Kong‑listed Qingdao Port International is asking shareholders to approve a sweeping set of capital‑market measures, including debt issuance, equity financing and a share‑buyback programme. The proposals would give the company the right to issue new shares or convertible bonds,...
‘I Disagree with Bigger Is Better,’ Argues Stamatis Tsantanis
Stamatis Tsantanis, chief executive of Seanergy Maritime Holdings, argues that consolidation in the dry‑bulk shipping sector reduces market visibility rather than delivering meaningful scale benefits. He contends that fewer operators attract less attention from analysts, banks, and investors, limiting industry...
Sanctioned Sovcomflot-Linked Tanker Pulls Out of Cuba Trip
A Sovcomflot‑linked product tanker, the 51,000‑dwt Universal, diverted from a scheduled fuel delivery to Cuba, according to LSEG AIS data. The vessel, loaded in Russia with roughly 300,000 barrels of fuel, is subject to EU and UK sanctions. Earlier this...
Seanergy’s Stamatis Tsantanis Opens up on Newbuildings, Charters, and How Trump Upended Oslo Bond Run
Seanergy Maritime, a specialist in capesize and Newcastlemax vessels, has accelerated its newbuilding program, securing six orders since it began ordering in October 2025. The company now boasts a $460 million orderbook, aimed at replacing its roughly 20‑ship on‑water fleet. Chairman...
A Card, a Club, a Quiver: International Seaways’ Jeff Pribor Gives a Lesson in ATM 101
International Seaways' CFO Jeff Pribor outlined the firm’s contemplation of an at‑the‑market (ATM) equity offering, a tool that lets companies sell shares directly into the open market. He highlighted the tanker sector’s strong cash flow and the strategic value of maintaining...
Safe Bulkers Makes a Splash at Athens Stock Exchange with Dual Listing
Safe Bulkers, the US‑listed bulker owner led by Polys Hajioannou, announced a dual listing on the Athens Stock Exchange. The move follows the exchange’s recent integration into Euronext and MSCI’s upgrade of Greece to a developed market. By adding a...
Be Wary of ‘Scrapping Will Save Us’ Thesis, Evercore Warns Tanker Investors
Evercore analyst Jonathan Chappell cautioned that the recent surge in tanker freight rates, driven by the Iran war, does not guarantee a permanent uplift. He noted that while owners downplay the large orderbook—now over 24% of the global fleet—scrapping activity...
Investor Launches New Cleantech Fund to Accelerate Fleet Improvement Start-Ups
Singapore‑based investor MarineFifty announced plans to launch a dedicated cleantech fund aimed at maritime‑technology firms that improve energy efficiency on existing ships. The fund will focus on suppliers of retrofit solutions, offering investors exposure to early‑stage trials and technical guidance...
Shipowners Can Cancel Fixtures over Sanctions Fears, Court Rules
The London Court of Appeal ruled that Eastern Pacific Shipping could lawfully cancel the charter of its 16,600‑dwt vessel Catalan Sea because of suspected ties to sanctioned Russian billionaire Mikhail Gutseriev. The decision overturns a lower‑court order that had required the...
MISC Holds Steady Course in Geopolitical Storm
MISC Berhad reported a resilient first‑quarter despite a geopolitical storm, posting revenue of MYR 2.89 bn (≈$710 m), up 2.67% year‑on‑year, and net profit of MYR 750.8 m (≈$170 m), a 5.5% increase. The company credits its diversified portfolio for the steady performance and reaffirmed its...
Greek Digitalisation Firm Wants Ships to Use AI to Make Speed Changes
Deepsea Technologies, a Greek digitalisation firm, says shipowners are under‑utilising existing voyage optimisation software by making manual speed decisions. The company proposes an AI system that automatically generates real‑time speed‑change recommendations based on weather, port schedules and charter‑party constraints. By...