UAE officials closed beaches and confirmed strong odors from an oil spill likely coming from a VLCC struck earlier in the month 24 OCT 2026 The UAE confirmed earlier reports of a large and spreading oil spill along the Persian Gulf side of the Khor Al Beidah peninsula while Iran …
Read More »GREEK TANKER SAILS FOR THE U.S. WITH FIRST RUSSIAN DIESEL CARGO
First Russia diesel export cargo has departed bound for the US 23 OCT 2026 The first Russian cargo of diesel fuel exported to the United States got underway on Friday, October 23, according to the Kremlin and independent sources. It appears to be the first of at least three cargoes …
Read More »MARITIME PROCUREMENT: WHERE THE COST IS REALLY SET
22 OCT 2026 When a vessel needs a spare part, someone ashore owns the problem. They have to find a supplier, compare quotes, check lead time, make sure the documentation is in place, and get the part to the vessel. If anything goes wrong, they are the one chasing the …
Read More »PANAMA CANAL SETS RECORD FOR ANNUAL TONNAGE DRIVEN BY SHIFTS IN TRADE
Panama Canal citied growth in large vessel transits and strong demand as global trade patterns shifted 21 0CT 2026 Despite the challenges the Panama Canal has faced due to the drought and effects of El Niño, it completed a strong fiscal year, emphasizing its role in global trade. The canal …
Read More »UKRAINE TALKS WITH TURKEY, INDIA, EGYPT OVER GRAIN CORRIDOR
Palau-flagged bulk carrier Aroyat arrives to the sea port of Chornomorsk for loading with grain, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, near Odesa 20 OCT 2026 Ukraine is in talks with Turkey, Egypt and India on the possibility of opening up Black Sea civil navigation, particularly for agriculture exports, Ukraine’s President …
Read More »THE PRICE IS RIGHT: SECONDHAND TANKER PRICES SOAR ALONGSIDE DAY RATES
Oceanis, purchased secondhand this year and renamed Senegal Prosperity, has engaged in the lucrative Hormuz trade 19 OCT 2026 In the United States, there is a long-running popular television game show called “The Price Is Right.” Contestants compete in a variety of games to determine the prices of products that …
Read More »MARITIME PIRACY IN 2026 FELL TO 1992 LEVELS DESPITE SOMALIA-YEMEN SURGE
Piracy has fallen to levels last seen in 1992 (USN) 18 OCT 2026 The waters off the Horn of Africa are now the most dangerous for the merchant shipping industry owing to the resurgence of Somali piracy, a development that comes as global piracy and armed robbery incidents have plunged …
Read More »NAVIGATING NAUTICAL CONFUSION: IN PURSUIT OF A COMMON MARITIME LEXICON
17 OCT 2026 From “chokepoints” to “freedom of navigation,” the world’s headlines have been replete with maritime terms in recent years, and navigating that terminology has become a challenge for policymakers and maritime professionals alike, not to mention the general public. The maritime world is niche, with many archaic terms …
Read More »CREW WELFARE AND CONTENT: MORALE, WELLBEING, AND RETENTION
16 OCT 2026 Crew wellbeing is becoming increasingly important, as many shipping companies realize that crew morale directly impacts safety, efficiency, workload, and retention. One issue that directly affects morale is crew interaction and isolation. Research such as the Seafarers Happiness Index from The Mission to Seafarers reports that the …
Read More »BULK CARRIER SINKS WEEKS AFTER DEADLY STRAIT OF HORMUZ STRIKE
15 OCT 2026 A container ship and a dry bulk carrier have both sunk near the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours after being hit by projectiles in separate incidents, maritime officials said on Wednesday. Attacks around the waterway have surged over the past 10 days, with Iran …
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