15 APR 2026 While everyone agrees that, geographically speaking, it is a strait – a narrow sea passage connecting two places that ships want to go – its political and legal status is rather more complicated. The United States and Iran both eye the strait – a choke point through …
Read More »U.S. NAVY DESTROYER TURNS BACK TWO IRAN-LINKED TANKERS
14 APR 2026 The U.S. blockade of Iranian shipping is unfolding successfully so far, according to U.S. Central Command, including enforcement along the Gulf of Oman coastline. Two tankers that attempted to leave Chabahar were interdicted by a U.S. Navy destroyer and instructed to turn around, officials told Reuters late …
Read More »SHIPPING FACES TOUGH CHOICES ON WHETHER TO PAY FOR ACCESS TO HORMUZ
12 APR 2026 Iran is demanding a fee for passage through the Strait of Hormuz, hoping to raise funds and to normalize its control over the world’s most important choke point for energy shipping. The question for shipowners is simple: is it a good idea to pay, and if so, …
Read More »IRAN PUBLISHES REDRAWN TRAFFIC SCHEME FOR STRAIT OF HORMUZ
11 APR 2026 Iran’s maritime authority has issued a redrawn traffic separation scheme for the Strait of Hormuz to “avoid possible collisions with naval mines.” Intelligence sources have suggested that Iran laid up to a dozen mines in the waterway last month, but the claim has not been verified and …
Read More »SHIPPING WAITS AND WATCHES STRAIT OF HORMUZ IN FIRST HOURS OF CEASEFIRE
10 APR 2026 While welcoming the news of the announced two-week ceasefire, the shipping industry is remaining cautious and seeking more clarity before ships rush to the Strait of Hormuz. Analysts, however, also caution that they do not expect a mass exodus and further that it is unlikely to see …
Read More »IRAN CONFIRMS TWO-WEEK CEASEFIRE AND A LIMITED OPENING OF STRAIT OF HORMUZ
09 APR 2026 Iran has confirmed that it plans to allow marine traffic to pass through the Strait of Hormuz during a two-week ceasefire with the Trump administration – subject to conditions. Following last-minute negotiations mediated by the government of Pakistan, Trump agreed to further talks based on the framework …
Read More »CONTAINER VESSEL REPORTS BEING HIT OFF IRAN
08 APR 2026 Attacks on container ships in the Persian Gulf continued with a new report of a vessel being struck off Iran. It is the fourth containership reportedly targeted by Iran in the past three days. Few details were released while the investigations were ongoing. The UK Maritime Trade …
Read More »RUSSIA ACCUSES UKRAINE OF SINKING SHIP CARRYING GRAIN KILLING THREE CREW
06 APR 2026 The Russian-installed governor of the Kherson region is accusing Ukraine of using a drone to set a grain ship on fire, leaving three crewmembers dead. Ukraine has not acknowledged the attack but has accused Russia of using the Soviet-era river-sea ships to steal grain from Crimea. The …
Read More »SWEDEN RELEASES SHADOW TANKER DETAINED ON SUSPICION OF OIL POLLUTION
05 APR 2026 The Swedish Coast Guard released the detained shadow fleet product tanker Flora 1, saying the environmental violations related to an oil spill in the Swedish EEZ could not be proven. The Coast Guard remained critical of the lack of clarity around the ship’s flag but said there …
Read More »SOMALIA REGISTERS FIRST SHIP IN 30 YEARS WITH INTERNATIONAL REGISTRY LAUNCH
04 APR 2026 Somalia officially registered its first ocean-going ship in more than 30 years on Wednesday as part of what the government calls a revitalization of its maritime industry. The registry is being run by a Turkish company, with the government saying it hopes to encourage more ships to …
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