Maritime news & intelligence
Independent maritime reporting across shipping markets, ports, regulation, technology, environment and seafarers.
Jones Act Waiver Opens US Coastal Trade Opportunities for International Tankers
A temporary Jones Act waiver is altering US coastal tanker flows by allowing foreign-flagged vessels to carry domestic cargoes when qualified US tonnage is unavailable, according to Intermodal. Product tankers are expected to benefit most, while longer West Coast voyages could generate additional ton-mile demand.
28 Aug 2026
Strait of Hormuz Shipping Traffic Edges Higher but Remains Below Recent Average
Visible commodity vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz increased to 10 on Wednesday from eight a day earlier, according to Kpler data, but remained below the 10-day moving average of about 15 vessels.
28 Aug 2026
Container rates rise as carriers tighten transpacific capacity
Drewry’s World Container Index increased for a second consecutive week as capacity cuts lifted transpacific rates, offsetting declines on Asia-Europe routes. Xeneta said prolonged Middle East disruption is also feeding into long-term freight contracts.
28 Aug 2026
Drewry Warns Cost Optimisation Is Deepening Container Port Congestion
Container shipping’s focus on cost efficiency has reduced the spare terminal capacity needed to absorb disruption, Drewry says. Global vessel waiting times have nearly doubled since 2019, while more than 4.3m teu of containership capacity is currently waiting to berth worldwide.
28 Aug 2026
Iran and Oman Discuss Temporary Shipping Corridor Through Strait of Hormuz
Iran and Oman are discussing a temporary navigational corridor through the Strait of Hormuz and have agreed to clear mines from the proposed route, as prolonged blockades and attacks continue to restrict shipping through the strategic waterway.
27 Aug 2026
Ningbo Marine Plans Five-Vessel Bulker Expansion
Ningbo Marine has approved plans for five bulk carrier newbuildings in China, potentially adding 342,000 dwt to its fleet renewal programme. Together with four ultramaxes already lined up, the company’s prospective dry bulk orderbook could reach nine vessels and 598,000 dwt.
27 Aug 2026
Search Continues for 22 Seafarers After Ocean Winner Sinks in Bay of Bengal
The Indian Coast Guard and merchant vessels are searching for 22 missing crew members from the Panama-flagged bulk carrier Ocean Winner. Two seafarers were rescued from life rafts after the ship sank southeast of Paradip.
27 Aug 2026
OFAC Updates Sanctions Guidance on Iranian Demands in Strait of Hormuz
OFAC has issued additional guidance warning maritime stakeholders about sanctions risks linked to Iranian demands for tolls, information, insurance or other services associated with safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
27 Aug 2026
Singapore completes first CNSL co-processed bio-bunkering trial
Vitol Bunkers and Olam Agri have completed Singapore’s first bunkering trial using VLSFO co-processed with cashew nutshell liquid. The fuel was supplied to MV Scion Mathilda and consumed during a voyage without reported operational issues or additional onboard treatment.
27 Aug 2026
Paratus CEO Says Middle East Shipping Risk Has Been Permanently Repriced
Paratus founder and CEO Gus Majed says the Hormuz crisis has permanently changed shipping’s assessment of Middle East risk, affecting war-risk premiums, charter clauses, crew terms and investment in alternative export routes.
27 Aug 2026
Freight Buyers Face Higher Complexity if IMO Net-Zero Vote Fails
Baxter Freight’s Tom Isler argues that freight buyers, rather than only shipowners, have a direct stake in the IMO Net-Zero Framework vote, as failure could accelerate a patchwork of regional carbon schemes and less transparent surcharges.
27 Aug 2026
Container Shipping Schedule Reliability Falls to 17-Month Low
Global container shipping schedule reliability fell to 56.4% in July 2026, its lowest level since February 2025, according to Sea-Intelligence. Late vessel arrivals averaged 6.06 days behind schedule, while none of the 13 leading carriers tracked achieved a month-on-month improvement.
27 Aug 2026IMO expands Port State Control data exchange with Black Sea and Caribbean agreements
IMO has signed updated data-exchange agreements with the Black Sea and Caribbean Port State Control regimes, advancing plans for a global database designed to improve inspection-data sharing, transparency and risk-based planning.
26 Aug 2026
Russian Urals Crude Freight Rates Surge on Security Risks and Tight Vessel Supply
Tanker freight costs for Russian Urals crude shipments to India rose sharply in August as security concerns, route disruptions and strong vessel demand tightened tonnage availability.
26 Aug 2026
Commodity Vessel Transits Through Strait of Hormuz Fall to Three-Month Low
Only two tankers passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, marking the lowest daily commodity-vessel count since early May, according to shipping data. The tally was well below the 10-day average of 14 transits.
26 Aug 2026
Vancouver port upgrades halve inbound truck transit times
Road and rail improvements at the Fraser Surrey Port Lands have reduced average inbound container truck transit times from more than 30 minutes to around 14 minutes, according to the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority.
26 Aug 2026
Bahri Vessel Involved in Red Sea Incident Off Yanbu
Bahri said its vessel Amzan was involved in a maritime incident in the Red Sea, with all crew reported safe. The statement followed a Houthi claim of an attack and a UKMTO report that a tanker had been struck west of Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port.
25 Aug 2026
Windward: False-Flagged Vessel Fleet Expands Amid Iran and Russia Sanctions
The IMO database lists 580 vessels carrying fraudulent flags, according to Windward, while false-flag activity remains closely linked to sanctioned tanker trades involving Iran and Russia.
25 Aug 2026
One Seafarer Missing After Drone Attack on RMS Team in Black Sea
Eleven crew members were rescued and one remained missing after the container ship RMS Team was attacked by a drone while sailing to Novorossiysk on August 21. Fires affected the accommodation, engine room and containers on deck.
25 Aug 2026
Crowley Launches Weekly Houston-Central America Container Service
Crowley is introducing a weekly container service linking Port Houston with Santo Tomás de Castilla in Guatemala and Puerto Cortés in Honduras. The Gulf-Central America Express Service will handle dry and refrigerated cargo, including fresh produce, apparel and industrial goods.
25 Aug 2026
IMO urges action as piracy resurges in Gulf of Aden
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has called for the immediate and unconditional release of more than 90 seafarers held captive, warning that piracy and armed robbery are making the Gulf of Aden and surrounding waters increasingly dangerous.
25 Aug 2026
UGS calls for realistic global framework on shipping decarbonisation
Union of Greek Shipowners President Melina Travlos has urged IMO Member States to pursue a practical and globally supported approach to maritime decarbonisation, highlighting fuel availability, affordability and vessel energy efficiency ahead of ISWG-GHG 22 and MEPC 85.
25 Aug 2026
Iran Lists 46 Ships as Non-Compliant with Strait of Hormuz Transit Arrangements
Iran has identified 46 vessels that it says breached its Strait of Hormuz transit arrangements, warning of possible fines, detention, seizure or confiscation during future passages. Shipowners and charterers were advised to screen vessels before fixing Gulf voyages.
25 Aug 2026
Vessel-tracking data challenges US estimate of Middle East oil exports
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright says oil flows from the Middle East have recovered to about 15 million barrels per day, including almost 9 million bpd through the Strait of Hormuz. However, figures from Kpler and LSEG Oil Research indicate substantially lower export volumes.
25 Aug 2026