VIDEO: U.S. disables two Iranian tankers Whatever else is happening in the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports remains in place and is being enforced. Today U.S. forces disabled two Iranian-flagged unladen oil tankers, M/T
Union Maritime takes delivery of its third WindWings tanker The LR2 tanker Monza, fitted with two 37.5-meter BAR Technologies WindWings has been delivered to U.K.-based Union Maritime, marking the third vessel in the company's newbuild series to adopt wind-assisted propulsion. Together,
Vane Brothers announces new leadership lineup Captain Rick Iuliucci, vice president of operations at Baltimore-based Vane Brothers, is retiring effective July 1, and, in a related move, the company has announced a new leadership lineup, effective June 1.
Chouest orders HD Hyundai Robotics welding systems for four yards HD Hyundai Robotics reports that it has secured an order for its ArcLift GO robotic welding solution that will see it supply robotic welding systems for three Chouest Group shipyards in North
ABS and HD KSOE partner on digital shipbuilding and autonomous vessel technologies ABS and HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on digital technologies aimed at improving safety, cybersecurity, and vessel performance in shipbuilding. The agreement focuses on developing Digital Threads, enabling secure and integrated data flows across the entire vessel lifecycle. Areas of cooperation include digital enginee
Port of Grangemouth marks diamond anniversary with investment commitment The Port of Grangemouth is celebrating the diamond anniversary of the first container vessel to call at a UK port, marking six decades since the Sea-Land freight service arrived at Grangemouth on May 7, 1966 as part of a Europe and America shipping rotation. The port is commemorating the milestone with an £8 million investment in infrastructure and equipment, reaffirming its commitment to Scotlan
Hapag-Lloyd expands West Africa footprint Hapag-Lloyd has announced a strategic expansion in West Africa with the official opening of a new office in Cotonou, Benin. Scheduled to begin operations on May 20, the new facility allows the shipping company to provide direct support and dedicated local services to its growing customer base in the region. The decision to establish a physical presence comes as Benin emerges as an increasingly vi
Port of Riga secures investors for wind technology production hub The Freeport of Riga has attracted three international investors to develop wind technology production facilities at Kundzinsala, committing a combined investment exceeding EUR 700 million in production infrastructure to be built in phases through 2034. The investments are being developed within the framework of the EU co-financed project for the creation of port and logistics infrastructure for
Non-tariff measures as an architecture of strategic exclusion Non-tariff measures were designed as technical instruments for protecting public health and safety. In the current geopolitical environment, they have become something else: the invisible architecture of strategic exclusion
MSC updates emergency fuel surcharge for Red Sea and East Africa trades MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company has announced updated Emergency Fuel Surcharges (EFS) for cargo moving from Northern Europe, including the UK and Scanbaltic region, to the Red Sea and East Africa. The company said recent developments in the Middle East have caused major disruption in global fuel markets, resulting in higher marine fuel prices and reduced bunker fuel availability at traditional
HMM's arrival to inject US$7 billion into Busan HMM's labour union has dropped its opposition to President Lee Jae-myung's plan to relocate South Korea's flagship container line from Seoul to the port city of Busan. The direct economic benefits Busan can expect over the next five years include KRW10.7 trillion (US$7.4 billion) in production and value-add, as well as the creation of around 16,000 jobs
Lufthansa Cargo launches GlobeCross for cross-border logistics Lufthansa Cargo has launched GlobeCross GmbH, a new subsidiary focused on cross-border logistics and customs services for eCommerce shipments. The company was created through the merger of heyworld GmbH and CB Customs Broker GmbH, officially completed on 6 May 2026. GlobeCross combines digital eCommerce logistics solutions with customs expertise to support faster and more predictable internationa
DP World's Thailand play and the eastward extension of Emirati port doctrine Read against the architecture of Abu Dhabi's global port strategy, it reveals something more deliberate: a pivot into Southeast Asia's manufacturing surge, timed to intercept the decade's most consequential supply chain migration
DP World launches end-to-end cargo war risk insurance DP World has introduced a cargo war risk insurance solution designed to provide continuous coverage across the entire supply chain for businesses trading in or through the Middle East, addressing critical gaps left by conventional insurance products that typically cover only a single leg of a cargo journey. The solution is described as the first of its kind in the market and is available to all c
Trumps says Hormuz ceasefire holds despite fresh US-Iran clashes US and Iranian forces exchanged fire in and around the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, raising fresh concerns over the stability of a month-old ceasefire and the future of ongoing peace negotiations. According to Donald Trump , three US Navy destroyers came under attack while transiting the strategic waterway, though he said the vessels completed their passage without damage. "Three World Class Ame
OOCL names its first methanol dual-fuel container vessel Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) has held the naming ceremony of OOCL Wisdom, the company's first methanol dual-fuel container vessel and the first in a series of seven ships of the same class. The ceremony took place at the shipyard of Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co., Ltd. (NACKS) in China. Ms. Cao Yanping, director of Fujian Yaohua Industrial Village Development Co., Ltd., performed
CMA CGM to apply peak season surcharges from China CMA CGM has announced the introduction of peak season surcharges (PSS) on cargo moving from China to several destinations in East Africa, effective from mid-May 2026. The move is part of the carrier's ongoing commitment to maintaining reliable and efficient services across its network. The surcharges will apply to all cargo originating from North, Central and South China, with rates varying by or
Piraeus Port Authority presents record 2025 results Piraeus Port Authority presented its fiscal year 2025 financial results to the Hellenic Fund and Asset Management Association at Euronext Athens, with the presentation led by Deputy CEO Angelos Karakostas and followed by a discussion with institutional investors and analysts on the port's business performance and outlook. The company recorded its highest-ever revenue and EBITDA figures for the se
Behind the core logic of Iran's strategy on Hormuz Iran's strategy to govern the Strait of Hormuz was architecturally sound until Washington refused to play by asymmetric rules
US container imports slip 3.2% in April as China volumes hit new lows US container imports eased in April 2026, totalling 2.28 million TEU, down 3.2% from March and 5.5% below April 2025, according to Descartes Systems Group's May Global Shipping Report. Despite the pullback, volumes remained 18.7% above April 2019 pre-pandemic levels. Year-to-date imports trail 2025 by 5%. Source: Descartes Datamyne China-origin imports continued their decline, falling 4.3% month-
Port of Hueneme wins $11.25M federal grant for infrastructure upgrades Port of Hueneme secured $11.25 million in federal funding through the U.S. Maritime Administration's Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) to expand capacity and modernize port infrastructure. The funding will support wharf and berth upgrades aimed at improving cargo efficiency, safety, and operational capacity at the California port. Port officials said the project will help the port ha
Maersk Supply Services brand disappears in Brazil as Navvik launches A new offshore vessel operator has emerged in Brazil following the sale and rebranding of the former Maersk Supply Service business in the country. The operation, previously known as Maersk Supply Service Brazil, will now operate under the name Navvik after being acquired by a consortium formed by ASM Texas Corp and FV Star One. ...
BW Offshore secures firmer timeline for UK North Sea FPSO Floater specialist BW Offshore has revised the contract structure for the FPSO BW Catcher in the UK North Sea, securing firmer cash flow visibility through the end of the decade while opening the door for future redeployment opportunities for the vessel. The Oslo-listed company said it had agreed amendments with the Catcher field partners that ...
Zodiac targets ammonia shipping with Hanwha deal London-based Zodiac Maritime is making a major move into the gas carrier sector, ordering a series of very large ammonia carriers in South Korea as the company expands beyond its recent tanker and containership buying spree. The Eyal Ofer-controlled diversified owner has contracted Hanwha Ocean for three firm VLACs, with options that could lift the ...
Decisions by many, responsibility by one Why authority and accountability no longer align in modern shipping. By Sunil Kapoor. A 20-year-old ship is often judged by her age. In reality, age matters far less than how a vessel has been maintained and operated. After more than forty years in shipping, at sea and ashore, I have learned that paperwork rarely tells ...
Splash Wrap: Trump's Hormuz escort mission lasted less than a Netflix free trial Monday saw the Trump administration launch the short-lived Project Freedom, an operation to get stranded vessels out of Hormuz. It was ditched the following day with the security situation in the Middle East deteriorating, ships hit, and Iran issuing fresh navigation guidelines claiming control over a widened section of the strait. This week's Contributions pick ...
Trump administration launches nuclear-powered shipping initiative The Trump administration has launched a formal initiative to develop small modular reactors (SMRs) for commercial shipping, instructing the Maritime Administration to canvass industry and innovators on how nuclear propulsion could be deployed across American fleets at scale. Transportation secretary Sean Duffy announced the initiative on Thursday. MARAD has issued a request for information seekin
Crew welfare data map launched The Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI) has released the first integrated, industry-wide mapping of crew welfare, wellbeing and safety data in shipping, funded by the Lloyd's Register Foundation. Published as a standalone resource for the sector, the library is a reference point for owners, operators, insurers, charterers, financiers and seafarer organisations seeking to understand and act ...
DP World moves into shipping war risk insurance With the Hormuz crisis into its third month, terminal operator DP World has launched a first-of-its-kind cargo war risk insurance solution to help businesses navigate disruption across Middle East trade routes. The solution provides continuous coverage across the entire supply chain, from ocean or air transit through port storage and inland delivery. The solution covers ...
Small inefficiencies still costing dry bulk millions: Geneva Dry Technology, trust and the limits of automation dominated debate at the opening session of day two at last week's Geneva Dry 2026, where owners, charterers, traders and technology providers gathered to discuss how digital tools are reshaping dry bulk shipping's supply chain. The Digital Efficiency Drivers Across The Dry Bulk Supply Chain panel focused on ...
Crisis-driven tanker demand propels Panama Canal to multiyear high The Panama Canal has emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries of the Strait of Hormuz crisis. The canal's numbers...
US disables two Iranian tankers violating blockade; Iran seizes shadow fleet tanker The US has fired at and disabled two Iranian tankers for violating the blockade after disabling another Iran-flagged tanker earlier...
The BDI has crossed the 3,000-point threshold - and owners are bullish for more Dry bulk has flown under the radar amid huge tanker rallies, but the sector is putting together a successful start...
Engine room fires look stubbornly high, Cefor reveals Incidents no longer rising but still number 30 or more each year
Skuld hails 'second-strongest result' in its history Claims development back at 'more normalised level'
Middle East port update: Friday, May 8 Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain report all ports fully operational
DP World gets Laem Chabang extension Thailand's largest deepwater container port continues to play a more important role as inter-Asian trade increases
Beijing confirms Chinese crew on vessel attacked near Strait of Hormuz Chinese foreign ministry expresses 'deep concern' over stranded vessels as it confirms Chinese crew on attacked tanker
Strong demand for modern bulk carriers pushes up secondhand prices across most segments Constraints on bulk carrier shipbuilding capacity have shifted buyer interest toward the secondhand market
China's green fuel push: 'Do our things and do them well' China's 'systemic advantage' will prove pivotal in driving the country's green fuel development, says CY Leung, an adviser to the...
The Daily View: Don't mistake a ceasefire for a supply surge
Wind tower giant Dajin Heavy eyes Hong Kong listing as it sails into merchant shipbuilding The company is riding an order boom that has seen contracts spill over to non-traditional yards
Daily Briefing Iran accuses US of 'destabilising' maritime safety and security | Don't expect shipping to snap back to normalcy with a...
Weak consumer confidence, rising inflation dim peak season hopes The war with Iran, now in its third month, is the prime mover behind the economic uncertainty, the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates indicated in their latest Global Port Tracker.
US DOT readies new trucker registration system to help fight fraud FMCSA set a May 14 deadline for carriers and brokers to update their registration information before switching to "Motus," a system that includes ID verification tools.
Disrupted Middle East-India shipments restart as choked supply chains ease Khor Fakkan and Fujairah in the UAE and Sohar in Oman had kept carriers restricted to imports since the war began due to severe yard space and cargo evacuation constraints.
Annual 'Roadcheck' likely to tighten US trucking capacity, boost rates One analyst says it is almost certain that rates in some parts of the country will climb because of the missing capacity next week, especially in warmer agriculture-dominant states now producing their first crop of the season.
Maersk mulls potential Red Sea return as hopes rise over US-Iran deal But CEO Vincent Clerc said while the carrier assesses the situation with the view of eventually restarting some services through the region, Maersk would be taking a cautious approach, with the safety of seafarers the "first priority."
First quarter VLCC and suezmax ordering sets records even as values surge If the first three months of 2026 were taken as a full year, both segments would have multi-year high ordering activity
US hits Iranian tankers as Gulf enemies try to enforce naval blockades Washington has opened fire on three Iranian tankers trying to make it home this week
Greek owner SteelShips doubles product tanker orderbook in South Korea Nicholas Notias-led company confirms contract for more MR clean carriers for delivery in 2028
Fatigue the hidden factor in shipping casualties, warn researchers Sustainable Shipping Initiative says there are gaps in data about the human role in maritime accidents
Wavelength podcast: Not shooting Strait, confusion in the Gulf Plus, how America's shipbuilding programme can succeed and why the US FMC chair went to the IMO
Secondhand aframax values surge as Singapore player divests 'most expensive aframax ever sold' Nissen Kaiun-affiliated Puaska Laut cashes in, unlike other shipowners in the sector
Engine room fire risk growing with ageing fleet, says insurer group Norwegian insurance association Cefor says passenger vessels are most at risk from engine room fires
Scorpio Tankers stacks more cash in upsized $200m bond sale Cash-rich owner strikes again to sell convertible notes due in 2031
CMB.Tech tanker makes rare trip from Mexico to boost Asian fuel supply First such voyage in nine months to bunkering hub of Singapore
Maersk would use US-backed Strait of Hormuz convoy again, says CEO Danish container liner still has six vessels inside the Gulf
Reborn Chinese shipyard secures debut order from domestic start-up Clarksons reports two vessels contracted by Chishan Group's Shandong Fuerdon plant
Iran seizes China-linked ship sanctioned by the US Tehran accuses product tanker of operating in way detrimental to 'interests of Iranian nation'
Wilh Wilhelmsen profit hit by weaker results from car carrier investments Share of earnings from Wallenius Wilhelmsen and Hyundai Glovis falls in first quarter
Di Mottola eyes final ageing tanker sale as DIS renews fleet Italian owner's CEO also expects to see fewer LR ships switching into dirty oil trades
Thoresen Thai closes new $37.2m loan Bulker owner will use proceeds to repay existing debentures due on 11 May 2026
QatarEnergy LNG tankers discharge in Dubai amid Hormuz lockdown Sohar LNG emerges as second LNG carrier to escape Gulf bottleneck
'Wrong direction': IMO warned of dangers of cutting sea time for trainees UK's Maritime Professional Council says weakened provisions are a 'serious step in the wrong direction'
Dark transits up 600% as owners move into 'new phase' of Hormuz operations Windward says visibility of vessel movements has sharply deteriorated
'Wrong direction': IMO warned of dangers of chopping sea time for trainees UK's Maritime Professional Council says weakened provisions are a 'serious step in the wrong direction'
How the UAE is helping shipowners to keep Strait of Hormuz oil flowing Shipping data shows Adnoc calculating risk to keep at least some exports flowing
Skuld reports bumper profit despite North Sea collision Oslo-based insurer boosted by its underwriting business and bumper investment results
Chinese counter against US sanctions to boost dark fleet, say analysts Latest US sanctions against Hengli Petrochem refinery have minimal effect as imports of Saudi crude plunge 75%, says Vortexa
Fire on UK offshore ship caused by 'non-genuine' engine parts Previous owner had failed to properly oversee sourcing of components
Owner and producer Proman seals $2bn financing for 'world-scale' methanol plant UAE facility is a joint venture with Adnoc company
Hoegh Autoliners' profit falls as shipowner counts cost of Iran war Car carrier owner books $30m impact from disruption for the second quarter
Athens probes Ukraine link to mystery sea drone found in Greek island cave Fishermen make unusual catch at a shore in the Ionian Sea
Chinese bulker up for grabs on online auction platform Vessel marketed while under bareboat export arrangement
BW Offshore lines up long-term employment for FPSO operating in North Sea BW Catcher has $490m income secured until the end of 2030 after amendment of contract with Harbour Energy
New Chinese owner emerges as buyer of Greek aframax Tanker purchased just two days after company registration
'Just a love tap': US hits Iranian ports after destroyers face sustained Hormuz attack Trump insists ceasefire remains despite strikes on Bandar Abbas and Qeshm
Secondhand aframax values surge as Singapore player sells 'most expensive aframax ever sold' Nissen Kaiun-affiliated Puaska Laut cashes in, unlike other shipowners in the sector
'Fighting' back: Diana suggests Genco Shipping is a paper tiger on governance front
Mercuria bunkering arm wins licence to expand in West Africa Minerva Bunkering says it will begin supplying fuel in Mauritania
Awilco LNG switches out CEO Jon Skule Storheill as company enters new phase Former BW LPG chief executive Anders Onarheim proposed as new chairman
SONAR Sitrep: Fleet safety behind the curb post-freight recession Nearly one in five commercial trucks currently on U.S. roads fails to meet basic roadworthiness standards - a metric that stands as the #1 predictor of fatal accidents. As the freight cycle recovers and utilization rises, the industry is confronting a massive accumulation of deferred maintenance from the prolonged freight recession of 2022-2026. During that time, a squeeze on carrier margins forc
More federal funding for Oregon container port - and it's not in Portland While Oregon's lone container terminal has struggled to keep the doors open, the Maritime Administration has awarded a grant for a proposed box hub at a competing port. The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay announced that the Pacific Coast Intermodal Port (PCIP) project has been awarded an $11.25 million grant through the Marad's Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP). Calling it a "s
Tariff uncertainty deepens for shippers after new court ruling against Trump A second federal court ruling against President Donald Trump's tariff strategy is creating fresh uncertainty for importers, manufacturers and freight markets, while the administration simultaneously escalates trade pressure on Europe and faces growing calls from automakers to preserve the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement. On Thursday, the U.S. Court of International Trade struck down a second round o
April trucking jobs report shows a big increase in hiring Truck transportation jobs in April rose by an amount that has not been seen for a long time. The jobs total of 1,496,600 jobs was 4,300 more than in March. To find a one-month gain of more than 4,300 jobs in truck transportation, you need to go back to September 2023, when the BLS reported a jobs gain in that sector of 6,000 jobs. But that number carried something of an asterisk: it came after a
Trump wants shipping to go nuclear Aircraft carriers and submarines have been using it for years, so why not fuel merchant ships with nuclear power? The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Maritime Administration has launched an initiative to develop Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) for commercial shipping. The Maritime Administration (Marad)'s Request for Information (RFI) seeks to develop a practicable SMR as part of
Forward Air flags customer loss, stock plummets Shares of Forward Air were off over 40% in early trading on Friday after the company said it was potentially losing a large customer. It also said a strategic review concluded with "no actionable proposals" being received and that it will now look to only sell parts of the enterprise. Forward ( NASDAQ: FWRD ) reported a $34 million net loss ("attributable to Forward Air"), or $1.09 per share, for
Greenlane brings high-power charging to Texas I-45 corridor Fleets electrifying along North America's busiest freight routes will soon have high-power charging options deep in the heart of Texas. Greenlane Infrastructure is entering the Texas market with new megawatt-charging sites planned in Dallas and Houston along the Interstate 45 corridor. The move targets one of the most important freight regions in the country. The Dallas-Houston corridor sits at t
Truck Parking Club appoints Victor Westerlund as CFO Truck Parking Club announced Thursday the appointment of Victor Westerlund as its chief financial officer. The move comes as the company continues to scale its national network of reservable truck parking locations. Westerlund brings more than a decade of experience scaling high-growth companies, most recently serving as vice president of finance at Stax Payments. During his tenure, he helped bui
The Suez Canal Authority has announced that it will introduce surcharges on transit tariffs through the Egyptian canal for most major cargo vessels, effective July 15.
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