10 MAR 2026 At least four seafarers have reportedly been killed in an attack on a tug operating near the Strait of Hormuz, prompting a warning from the head of the International Maritime Organization that civilian mariners are increasingly being caught in the crossfire of the escalating Middle East conflict. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said …
Read More »IRAN WAR AND GLOBAL TRADE: WILL THE CAPE ROUTE BECOME THE NEW NORMAL?
10 MAR 2026 Events in the Middle East during February and March 2026 again disrupted the flows of shipping trade to the eastern and western spheres of the international system. Given that the global economy is maritime based and rests on secure and predictable flows of goods by sea, the …
Read More »INDUSTRY WEIGHS RISK TO SEAFARERS, BALANCE SHEETS IN HORMUZ TRANSITS
09 MAR 2026 As the security situation in the Gulf region remains dangerous for vessel transits, industry voices differ on the question of whether vessels should stay out of the Strait of Hormuz for reasons of seafarer safety. Transits of the strait are under direct threat from Iran, which has demonstrated …
Read More »IRANIAN SHADOW FLEET AND GREEK AFFILIATED SHIPS LEAD STRAIT OF HORMUZ TRANSITS
08 MARCH 2026 Recent vessel tracking data details the continued movements of Iranian dark vessels as well as other ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz. Lloyd’s List Intelligence reports in addition to the Iranian shadow fleet moving post war, Greek affiliated ships are outnumbering the number of vessels traversing …
Read More »POSITIONING OF UNLADEN TANKERS SIGNALS SHIPPING’S RISK-REWARD CALCULATIONS
08 MAR 2026 Shipowners and managers, and ultimately ship masters, have the ultimate responsibility for assessing risk to their vessels and their cargoes. Governments may be keen to persuade operators that the coast is clear, in support of attaining political objectives, but captains always need to be the final arbiter, …
Read More »INDIA QUIETLY PROVIDES REFUGE FOR AN IRANIAN LANDING SHIP
08 MAR 2026 Reports broke in the Indian media late on Friday, March 6, that the country has quietly been harboring an Iranian vessel this week after it made an urgent request to enter an Indian port. Off-the-record comments from a government spokesperson assert that the request was made just …
Read More »RUSSIA ACCUSES UKRAINE OF ATTACK AS GAS CARRIER SINKS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
07 MAR 2026 Russia’s Ministry of Transportation issued a statement condemning Ukraine and calling the attack on the gas carrier Arctic Metgas on Tuesday, March 3, terrorism. Its statement came as the Libyan Ports and Maritime Transport Authority reported the vessel had sunk overnight. Officials in Malta had confirmed the …
Read More »BELGIUM FINES SANCTIONED TANKER €10M AND DETAINS IT FOR SAFETY VIOLATIONS
07 MAR 2026 Belgium announced during a press briefing on Tuesday, March 3, that it has completed its inspection of the tanker Ethera, which it detained overnight on Saturday as it was sailing along the coast and brought into port. They confirmed that the vessel was sailing under a false …
Read More »FRANCE ARRESTS GREENPEACE PROTESTORS BLOCKING ARRIVAL OF CARGO SHIP
06 MAR 2026 Activists from the group Greenpeace France took to kayaks and Zodiacs on Monday morning, March 2, while others chained themselves to a lock gate in Dunkirk to block the arrival of a cargo ship, they said was carrying uranium. French police ended the protest and took four …
Read More »IRAN THREATENS TO SET SHIPS “ON FIRE” IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ
05 MAR 2026 Iran’s senior leadership has announced a full shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz and threatened to “set on fire” any vessels passing the blockade. Multiple leading P&I clubs have announced that they are suspending war risk insurance for transits of the strait effectively making the risk exposure too …
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