Maritime news & intelligence
Independent maritime reporting across shipping markets, ports, regulation, technology, environment and seafarers.
European CSOV Rates Stay Elevated as Project and Newbuild Delays Tighten Supply
European CSOV availability remained tight through the summer, with several spot fixtures exceeding €60,000 per day. Delayed offshore wind projects and postponed vessel deliveries supported demand, although record fleet growth and weaker activity in Asia-Pacific could reshape the market.
31 Aug 2026
MacGregor Advances Offshore Gangway and LCO2 Transfer Systems
MacGregor has secured DNV certification for floating-to-floating personnel transfers using its Horizon gangway and is progressing qualification of a bow transfer system for direct offshore LCO2 delivery.
31 Aug 2026
Hormuz vessel traffic falls as tanker attacks heighten security concerns
Visible commodity vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz fell to five per day over the weekend as operators responded cautiously to continued attacks. The IMO renewed calls for unhindered navigation, saying up to 400 ships and around 6,000 seafarers have been unable to leave the Persian Gulf safely.
31 Aug 2026
Port congestion temporarily shields container shipping from capacity shock
Port delays are keeping 2.3m teu of containership capacity out of service, cushioning the market as newbuildings and a gradual return to Suez threaten to release substantial vessel supply.
31 Aug 2026
Panama Canal Eases Neopanamax Booking Rules as Water Constraints Tighten Capacity
The Panama Canal Authority will temporarily allow customers to hold multiple Neopanamax reservations for the same booking date and secure slots on consecutive dates, offering greater flexibility as reduced rainfall and strong vessel demand put pressure on transit capacity.
31 Aug 2026
US-Iran Strikes Renew Security Concerns Around Strait of Hormuz
The US and Iran exchanged attacks for the first time in about a month, renewing concerns over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and pushing Brent crude above $90 a barrel.
31 Aug 2026
Congestion Deepens at Shanghai, Ningbo and Singapore Container Hubs
Schedule reliability weakened across Asia’s 14 busiest container ports in July as typhoons added pressure to stretched terminal operations. Shanghai’s reliability fell to 21%, while global delays absorbed an estimated 6.6% of containership capacity.
31 Aug 2026
Iran Sets Conditions for Restoring Shipping Through Strait of Hormuz
Iran is preparing conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including an end to the regional war, sanctions relief and compensation. Tehran and Oman are also discussing a designated shipping corridor spanning their respective waters.
31 Aug 2026
Kpler: Oil shipping adapts as Hormuz restrictions persist after MoU expiry
Oil markets are adjusting to restricted and increasingly opaque shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after the 60-day US-Iran Islamabad MoU expired without an agreement or extension, according to Kpler.
31 Aug 2026
Panama Canal Restrictions Raise Container Capacity Concerns
CMA CGM has delayed the introduction of a $150 per TEU low-water surcharge as tighter Panama Canal draught limits and fewer daily transits threaten to reduce effective container shipping capacity.
31 Aug 2026
MSC Suspends Novorossiysk Cargo Bookings After Drone Attack
MSC has halted new cargo bookings to and from Novorossiysk after the container ship MSC ULSAN III was attacked by a drone while heading toward the Russian Black Sea port. The carrier said services could resume when security conditions permit.
31 Aug 2026
Hormuz vessel transits fall as tanker attacks heighten security concerns
Visible commodity vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell to five ships per day over the weekend amid continued attacks, while the IMO renewed calls for unhindered navigation and warned that around 6,000 seafarers remain unable to leave the Persian Gulf safely.
31 Aug 2026
Tanker Struck in Strait of Hormuz as Navigation Risks Persist
The tanker AL SALAM II was hit by an unknown projectile near Khasab, Oman, while sailing eastbound through the Strait of Hormuz. Its crew extinguished a resulting fire and no injuries or environmental impact were reported, as mine-clearance work and regional talks on safer navigation continue.
31 Aug 2026
Tanker Catches Fire After Projectile Strike Off Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu
A tanker was hit by an unidentified projectile 63 nautical miles west of Yanbu, causing a fire on its main deck, according to UKMTO. All crew members were reported safe, with no environmental impact identified.
30 Aug 2026
VLCC Buying Drives 53% Surge in Tanker S&P Activity
Global tanker sale and purchase transactions rose 53% year on year to 365 vessels between January and July 2026, according to Xclusiv Shipbrokers. VLCC and ULCC deals led the market, while demand remained strong for both modern ships and older tonnage.
30 Aug 2026
Arc7 LNG Carrier Alexey Kosygin Lingers Off China Amid Repair Speculation
The recently delivered Russian Arc7 LNG carrier Alexey Kosygin has remained off China’s eastern coast after carrying an Arctic LNG 2 cargo through the Northern Sea Route, prompting unconfirmed speculation that the vessel may require attention at a Chinese repair yard.
30 Aug 2026
Four Owners Order VINGA Product Tankers for 2028-2029 Delivery
FureBear, O.H. Meling and Älvtank have ordered four 17,999-dwt VINGA product tankers from China Merchants Jinling Shipyard. The Swedish-flagged vessels will join the Gothia Tanker Alliance following delivery in 2028 and 2029.
30 Aug 2026
La Spezia Container Terminal orders €90m crane package for Ravano expansion
La Spezia Container Terminal has signed €90m in equipment contracts for four ship-to-shore cranes and 18 yard cranes as part of a wider €350m modernisation programme centred on the new Ravano terminal.
30 Aug 2026
Panama Canal Congestion Pushes LPG Tankers to Alternative Routes
Delays and cargo restrictions at the Panama Canal are prompting LPG tanker operators to consider ship-to-ship transfers and longer voyages around South America as they seek to maintain flows between the US Gulf Coast and Asia.
30 Aug 2026
Russian Strikes Target Ukrainian Ports and Logistics Infrastructure
Ukrainian officials said a large-scale Russian missile and drone attack targeted ports, grain storage, distribution centres, energy facilities and industrial sites across the country, including three ports in the Odesa region.
29 Aug 2026
Gulf States Accelerate Port and Pipeline Investment Amid Hormuz Disruption
Gulf governments are directing capital towards ports, pipelines and alternative transport corridors as disruption in the Strait of Hormuz exposes the region’s dependence on the strategic waterway.
29 Aug 2026
Iran Blacklists 45 Tankers Over Strait of Hormuz Transit Rules
Iran has placed 45 tankers on a non-compliance list for allegedly breaching its rules governing Strait of Hormuz transits, warning that the vessels could face fines, detention and cargo confiscation. Ships conducting transfers with the listed tankers may also be blacklisted.
29 Aug 2026
SFL commits $363m to four LNG dual-fuel car carriers
SFL has ordered four 7,000 ceu LNG dual-fuel car carriers for delivery in 2029. Two vessels have secured five-year charters to an Asia-based vehicle manufacturer, while the remaining pair are still open.
29 Aug 2026
Strait of Hormuz commodity vessel traffic remains below 10-day average
Preliminary Kpler tracking data showed five commodity vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, compared with a 10-day average of 15. Bab el-Mandeb cargo traffic remained broadly stable and close to its recent average.
29 Aug 2026