Karnakis law firm sanctioned, Norway holds Arctic LNG 2 ship, slick hits Umm Al Quwain
Briefing for 22 to 25 October 2026: US sanctions a law firm behind Iran's shadow fleet, Norway detains an Arctic LNG 2 heavy-lift ship, an oil slick reaches Umm Al Quwain and old VLCCs outprice new ones.
Rescuer lost at sea, ST3 hit, US eases shadow fleet
A rescuer is lost after all 28 crew of the Espirito Santo Express are saved, the VLCC ST3 is hit off Al Jubail, and Washington opens a route back for sanctioned tankers.
Maritime cyber leak deadline, Carnival exits, Emden base
The n0n Group's leak deadline for 38 ports and carriers falls today, Carnival halves its Australian fleet from 2028, and Germany plans a naval station at Emden.
North Korea Commissions the Kang Kon, Second of Its Largest Destroyers
North Korea has commissioned the destroyer Kang Kon at Wonsan, the second ship of a class that is the largest and most heavily armed the state has built.
Dutch Frigate Evertsen Replaces De Ruyter on Hormuz Standby
The air defence frigate De Ruyter and minehunter Willemstad are returning to the Netherlands, with the frigate Evertsen departing at short notice to take over the Middle East task.
Maritime Briefing of 5 October 2026
Kazimah III struck in Hormuz, Russia detains Västerbotten, the UK sanctions three Arc7 LNG carriers, LNG Canada Phase 2 is approved and Contships orders up to 30 feeders.
Maritime Briefing of 29 September 2026
The MAIB's Argos Georgia report, the shadow fleet's move to the Russian flag, Global Car Carriers' 20-ship orderbook, Dunkirk's pick of TiL and a 60,000-tonne lift for Statfjord A.
Maritime Briefing of 4 October 2026
Four tankers struck around Hormuz, five seafarers killed on Honour 25, Israel closes the ZIM review, Damen's €4.7bn claim, CMES's Simandou deal and a deeper Panama Canal.
Maritime Briefing of 28 September 2026
Fire forces the crew off Blue Carrier 2 north of Mykonos, three blockaded VLCCs head for the US with Iranian crude, Puntland frees Sibu 1 and Iran plans to sell seized ships.
Maritime Briefing of 27 September 2026
Hapag-Lloyd and FIMI revise the Zim Israel plan, the capesize Cape Falcon is refloated off Gladstone, the Netherlands dates its scrubber ban and MSC's Medlog enters Kazakhstan.
MARAD orders training ship Empire State to sail for Norfolk on 30 September
The Maritime Administration has issued a sailing order for SUNY Maritime College's training ship Empire State, which leaves the Bronx on 30 September for Norfolk and follow-on operations supporting the US Navy.
Maritime Briefing of 26 September 2026
A seafarer killed on the Cape Dao in Hormuz, salvage begins on the Caroline Bezengi, Onex's five VLCCs, Navios at HJ Shipbuilding, and Ima gas for Nigeria LNG.
Maritime Briefing of 23 September 2026
Transpetrol enters the LR1 segment, Taiwan gets a home-based cable layer, LS Marine books a record cable contract, and the European List of recycling yards becomes a fight.
Maritime Briefing of 20 September 2026
A drone kills a master in the Black Sea while Turkey circulates a truce text, the Dali becomes the largest single loss in P&I history, and Asian port congestion passes its pandemic peak.
Maritime Briefing of 17 September 2026
A disabled tanker off Oman with two crew missing, general average on the fire-hit CMA CGM Petra, a detention at Brake on a pilot's word, and the first consolidated container inspection data since 2024.
Maritime Briefing of 16 September 2026
The TD3C benchmark passes $1m a day and ten-year-old VLCCs outprice newbuildings, Oman cancels its Salalah conference, and Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd return four more services to the Red Sea.
Maritime Briefing of 15 September 2026
Gulf crude exports pass 10m barrels a day on facilitated Hormuz transits, Somali pirates release the Sward after a ransom, and a ro-ro ferry sinks in the Java Sea with 243 aboard.
Maritime Briefing of 14 September 2026
German dock workers decide on indefinite strikes, a Qatari LNG carrier transits Hormuz for the first time since July, and liner carriers ask the IMO to cap undeclared batteries.
Maritime Briefing of 12 September 2026
Houthi forces reached the Bab el-Mandeb, a dry dock fire at Qingdao killed 25 workers, MSC kept buying secondhand tonnage and the container fleet closed on 34 million TEU.
Houthis Seize Mokha, Closing on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait
Houthi forces have taken the Red Sea port of Mokha, putting them roughly 80 km from the Bab el-Mandeb and in reach of the strait's Yemeni shoreline.
Sweden Signs for Four French-Built Frigates in a Lulea Class Configuration
Sweden has finalised the contract for four frigates based on the French FDI design, in a configuration the country says will triple its current air defence capability.
US Navy plans carrier deployments beyond seven months as Iran conflict runs on
The US Navy expects carrier strike group deployments to run beyond seven months while the conflict with Iran continues, with a supplemental funding request of $6bn to $8bn outstanding.
Philippine Coast Guard Accepts Two Ex-US Patrol Boats Named for Spratly Islands
The Philippine Coast Guard has formally accepted two ex-US Coast Guard Marine Protector-class patrol boats, to be recommissioned under the names of two Philippine-occupied Spratly islands.
More Than 200 Chinese Vessels Mass Near Philippine-Held Shoal
More than 200 Chinese vessels have gathered around Mischief Reef in the South China Sea, raising concerns over pressure on the Philippine-controlled Second Thomas Shoal 25 miles away.
Tanker Call at Ushuaia Draws Provincial Protest Over Falklands Law
The governor of Tierra del Fuego has condemned the arrival of the tanker VS Promise at Ushuaia as British, in a dispute over federal control of the port rather than the ship's registry.
US Military Strikes Alleged Drug Vessel in the Eastern Pacific
US Southern Command has struck an alleged drug-trafficking vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing two people, in an operation that has now claimed more than 200 lives since last September.
USS Abraham Lincoln Leaves the Middle East After Record Time at Sea
The USS Abraham Lincoln has left the Middle East after almost seven months, heading for a port visit in eastern Thailand following more than 270 days at sea without a declared call.
Philippines-Japan Military Logistics Pact Enters Into Force
A defence pact allowing Japan and the Philippines to exchange military supplies and services has come into force, deepening a security partnership shaped by China's regional activity.
Hydrophone Study Records One Fishing Blast an Hour off Sulawesi
A single hydrophone in the Spermonde Archipelago recorded an average of 23 blasts every 24 hours, suggesting bomb fishing is far more common in hotspot areas than previously believed.
Indonesia Begins Building Its First French Designed Submarines
Construction has begun in Surabaya on Indonesia's first two submarines built to a French design, under a technology transfer arrangement with a state shipyard.
Russia Covers Pacific Submarines With Anti-Drone Netting
Satellite imagery from early August shows Russian submarines covered with anti-drone netting at a Pacific base more than seven thousand kilometres from Ukraine.
Report urges US to create a publicly backed container shipping line
A new report from the Open Markets Institute argues the US should consider a publicly backed container shipping line to cut reliance on foreign carriers.
Methamphetamine Found In Vehicle Transmission Shipped From Germany To Australia
Australian officers found thirteen kilograms of methamphetamine inside a vehicle transmission shipped from Germany, and made two arrests after a controlled delivery in western Sydney.
Philippines files extended continental shelf claim in West Philippine Sea
The Philippines has formally presented its partial submission for an extended continental shelf in the West Philippine Sea to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.
Idle fleet in the Gulf raises invasive species risk
More than 1,500 ships lying idle in the Persian Gulf could spread invasive marine species worldwide once traffic through Hormuz resumes.
Stena Line reports growing share of UK car ferry crossings
Stena Line says its share of passenger car crossings between the UK and mainland Europe has grown as the ferry operator competes on some of the busiest short-sea routes.
Marine insurers move to ban payments to Iran for Hormuz transits
Underwriters at Lloyd's Market Association have introduced a new clause allowing insurers to cancel cover for ships found to have made payments to Iran for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.
Taiwan commissions new Tuo Chiang-class corvette Dan Chiang
Taiwan has commissioned its newest Tuo Chiang-class corvette, Dan Chiang, as part of a domestic shipbuilding programme intended to strengthen the island's naval defences.
Panama says fewer ships detained in Chinese ports after agreement
Panama says the number of its flagged vessels detained for inspection in Chinese ports has fallen sharply following talks between the two governments, easing tensions that followed a canal ports dispute.
EmissionLink warns cheap FuelEU compliance could weaken fuel transition
A maritime emissions advisory firm has warned that falling FuelEU Maritime surplus prices could make compliance cheaper for shipowners while weakening the regulation's ability to drive genuine uptake of lower-carbon fuels.
IMO chief condemns renewed attacks on shipping in Red Sea
The head of the International Maritime Organization has condemned renewed attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, warning of risks to seafarers, trade routes and the marine environment.
India and Panama strengthen maritime partnership
India and Panama have agreed to expand maritime cooperation across shipping, logistics, port development and digital innovation as both countries look to strengthen trade links.
Seamec to provide diving support on ONGC's ageing DSV fleet
Indian offshore vessel operator Seamec has agreed to provide subsea diving services on two diving support vessels working for state energy producer ONGC.
South Korea to extend offshore wind price contracts to 25 years
South Korea is preparing to extend fixed-price offshore wind contracts from 20 to 25 years, aiming to reduce bid prices and improve the economics of new projects.
UK Supreme Court strengthens shipbuyers' rights over delayed deliveries
Britain's Supreme Court has ruled that shipbuyers can recover loss-of-bargain damages over seller-caused delivery delays under standard sale terms, even without a repudiatory breach.
EU moves to approve first Indian ship recycling yards
The European Commission has proposed admitting two Indian ship recycling facilities to its approved list for the first time, after years of exclusion for South Asian yards.
Tara Polar Station sets off on first long-term Arctic drift
France's Tara Polar Station has begun its first long-term Arctic drift, a multinational scientific mission expected to see the vessel trapped in pack ice for as long as 500 days.
Oil tops $100 as Red Sea attacks compound Hormuz supply crisis
Crude prices broke back above $100 a barrel after Houthi attacks on Saudi tankers added a second Gulf flashpoint to the already-paralysed Strait of Hormuz, with traders bracing for further escalation.
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