World

06 AUG 2019 Economic warfare is being fought with an intensity not seen since the period leading up to World War II as countries deploy tariffs, embargoes and economic sanctions to force policy changes or punish their adversaries. Free trade is coming off second best, and global trade has stalled. …

05 AUG 2019 The Swedish tanker operator Stena Bulk protested the continued detention of the UK-flagged Stena Impero by Iranian authorities, describing the action as “unacceptable and unjustifiable.” The vessel has been in Iranian custody for 19 days. “We are maintaining limited communication with the crew onboard and although they remain in …

04 AUG 2019 The sharp escalation in the US/China trade war could see some short-term front-loading gains for transpacific carriers on the headhaul route, but it spells trouble longer-term, particularly on the backhaul. Hitting back at President Trump’s Twitter announcement last week of a 10% tariff on a further $300bn …

02 AUG 2019 A Spanish charity rescue boat sought safe port on Friday after Italy rejected its request to disembark 124 people saved from two migrant rafts in the Mediterranean, the organization said. Non-governmental organization (NGO) rescue boats have largely disappeared from the Mediterranean over the last year as governments …

01 AUG 2019 Royal Dutch Shell is not taking any British-flagged tankers through the Strait of Hormuz amid heightened tensions with Iran in the vital chokepoint for oil shipments. “There are Shell-managed vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and that will probably continue to be the case. Currently, though, there …

31 JULY 2019 Germany will not participate in a U.S.-led naval mission in the Strait of Hormuz as it wants to ease tensions with Iran, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said on Wednesday. The United States had asked Germany to join France and Britain in a mission to secure shipping through …

28 JULY 2019 A joint operation between Sea Shepherd and the Gabonese government has resulted in the arrest of the Haixin 27.  Armed Gabonese marines boarded the Chinese-flagged Haixin 27 as she crossed into Gabonese waters from neighboring Republic of Congo. Gabonese fisheries enforcement officers uncovered that the fish hold was full …

A British Royal Navy patrol vessel guards the oil supertanker Grace 1, suspected of carrying Iranian crude oil to Syria, as it sits anchored in waters of the British overseas territory of Gibraltar, July 4, 2019. 26 JULY 2019 Confronting the first crisis of his premiership, Boris Johnson must decide …

25 JULY 2019 The most perplexing question following Iran’s capture of the MV Stena Impero on Friday is why the British were unable to foresee this action as a natural response to Britain’s earlier seizure of the Iranian-flagged tanker Grace 1 in Gibraltar and make appropriate preparations. The Grace 1 was impounded earlier this month as …

24 july 2019 Swedish shipowner Stena Bulk reported Wednesday that it has established direct communications with the crew of the product tanker Stena Impero, which was seized by Iranian forces on July 19. The crew is safe and well, and is cooperating with Iranian personnel, Stena said. “We do of course appreciate …