krogragg

Category: Operations

  • VLCC day rates rocket above half‑million dollars

    VLCC day rates rocket above half‑million dollars Amid soaring tanker rates, a US‑led naval coalition has warned shipping that stationary vessels and ships on predictable routes are “credible” targets for sabotage across the Middle East, after a tanker linked to the Stena‑Sonangol suezmax pool was struck off the Iraqi coast. The Combined Maritime Forces’ Joint…

  • US grants 30‑day waiver to let Russian crude already at sea be delivered to India

    US grants 30‑day waiver to let Russian crude already at sea be delivered to India The US Treasury has issued a narrowly targeted, 30‑day sanctions waiver allowing Indian refiners to accept Russian‑origin crude and petroleum cargoes already loaded aboard tankers by way of helping fill the gap left by the ongoing war between Iran and…

  • Speak up for our sector

    Speak up for our sector Maritime leaders must use a single voice to challenge roadblocks and spotlight opportunities in an operating landscape that is fraught with turmoil, writes Intent Communications CEO Namrata Nadkarni. The maritime industry is no stranger to volatility, but the start of 2026 has brought a convergence of crises that would test…

  • GMS pushes EU to recognise India’s ship recycling capacity

    GMS pushes EU to recognise India’s ship recycling capacity GMS, the world’s largest cash buyer of ships for recycling, has called on the European Commission to approve qualified Indian ship recycling yards for inclusion on the European List under the EU Ship Recycling Regulation (EU SRR). Over 110 Indian yards already hold Hong Kong Convention…

  • Wallenius Wilhelmsen seals $190m contract renewal

    Wallenius Wilhelmsen seals $190m contract renewal Oslo-listed roro and logistics group Wallenius Wilhelmsen has renewed a shipping contract with a global automotive distributor, locking in an estimated net freight value of about $190m. The deal runs for two years firm and includes a one-year mutual extension option. It also features a fixed surcharge covering multi-fuel…

  • United European Car Carriers lifts newbuild tally to four

    United European Car Carriers lifts newbuild tally to four Oslo-based United European Car Carriers (UECC) is expanding its fleet with an order for two more eco-friendly car carriers in China. The shortsea roro operator, jointly owned by Wallenius Lines and Nippon Yusen Kaisha, has signed for a pair of 3,000 ceu vessels at China Merchants…

  • 3,200 ships caught up in Hormuz paralysis

    3,200 ships caught up in Hormuz paralysis VLCC freight surged to extraordinary theoretical levels on Monday as the war between Iran and the US‑Israel coalition roiled shipping in the Persian Gulf, with some 3,200 vessels stuck in the region. The benchmark TD3C from the Middle East to China was quoted at $423,700 a day, up…

  • Houthis vow to resume attacks following Iranian strikes

    Houthis vow to resume attacks following Iranian strikes With the US and Israel attacking Iran on Saturday, Iranian allies, the Houthis from Yemen, have vowed to resume attacks on commercial shipping in and around the Red Sea, bringing to a close a four-month cessation of violence at sea.  Shipping organisation BIMCO suggested ships with business…

  • Splash Wrap: The world of shipping condensed

    Splash Wrap: The world of shipping condensed Tariffs are back at the top of the shipping news agenda once again, creating confusion just as the transpacific contracting season gets underway.  Last Friday, the US Supreme Court ruled that president Donald Trump violated federal law by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to unilaterally…

  • Waiting for the next cycle could sink your shipping strategy

    Waiting for the next cycle could sink your shipping strategy As geopolitics reshapes trade routes and volatility becomes structural rather than cyclical, shipping’s traditional reliance on market recoveries is no longer enough. Eman Abdalla, managing partner of SeaThrew Marine, a maritime investment and advisory platform, argues that discipline, flexibility and risk positioning – not scale…

  • McQuilling buys Spanish broker

    McQuilling buys Spanish broker New York tanker broker McQuilling has bought Madrid-based Medco Shipbrokers for an undisclosed sum, the latest in a period of significant consolidation for the shipbroking sector. “This integration enhances our combined market presence, broadens our service capabilities, and strengthens the value we deliver to clients and counterparties worldwide. By aligning our…

  • Ernst Russ bolsters MPP fleet

    Ernst Russ bolsters MPP fleet Frankfurt-listed Ernst Russ is expanding its presence in the multipurpose segment with the acquisition of two modern heavylift vessels fixed on long-term charters. The Hamburg-based owner has bought the 12,500 dwt MPPs Ronnie and Charlie, both of which will be chartered to dship Carriers for seven years. The ships are…

  • Lloyd’s Agency Network moves to Lloyd’s List Intelligence

    Lloyd’s Agency Network moves to Lloyd’s List Intelligence Commercial insurance market Lloyd’s will transfer management of the Lloyd’s Agency Network to Lloyd’s List Intelligence (LLI) from April, bringing one of shipping’s longest-running portside information networks under the control of the maritime data provider. The move will see LLI take responsibility for the administration of the…

  • Jeremy Nixon hands reins of ONE to Till Ole Barrelet after eight‑year run

    Jeremy Nixon hands reins of ONE to Till Ole Barrelet after eight‑year run One of the best-known names in container shipping is stepping back from his frontline role. Jeremy Nixon, who has been CEO of Japanese liner Ocean Network Express (ONE) since it was founded in 2018, will move aside at the start of July,…

  • US naval forces board sanctioned Iran-linked tanker in Indian Ocean

    US naval forces board sanctioned Iran-linked tanker in Indian Ocean US naval forces have boarded the Cook Islands-flagged tanker Bertha within the US Indo-Pacific Command Area of Responsibility in the Indian Ocean. The US Department of War stated that forces conducted a “right-of-visit maritime interdiction and boarding” overnight without incident. The Department said on X…

  • UK hits shadow fleet and LNG trades in fresh Russia sanctions push

    UK hits shadow fleet and LNG trades in fresh Russia sanctions push The UK has rolled out its largest sanctions package against Russia since the early months of the war in Ukraine, with oil tankers and LNG shipping among the main targets as London looks to squeeze Moscow’s energy revenues. Nearly 300 entities have been…

  • SplashTech launches to chart the future of shipping

    SplashTech launches to chart the future of shipping Today sees the launch of SplashTech, a one-stop-shop for all your shipping technology business news well as tech-related updates, giving readers all their shipping technology news in one source. With dedicated social media channels, and a weekly digest, SplashTech delivers all the key news shaping the future…

  • Trump tariff turmoil clouds transpacific contracting season

    Trump tariff turmoil clouds transpacific contracting season Tariffs are back at the top of the shipping news agenda once again, creating confusion just as the transpacific contracting season gets underway.  On Friday, the US Supreme Court ruled that president Donald Trump violated federal law by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to unilaterally…

  • Splash Wrap: ZIM sale tops the agenda

    Splash Wrap: ZIM sale tops the agenda A planned $4.2bn sale of ZIM to Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd sparked protests and a strike in Israel this week. Under the structure outlined, Hapag-Lloyd will acquire ZIM and then carve out its Israeli operations into a separate entity to be controlled by FIMI. The new company, to be known…

  • Denmark detains sanctioned boxship

    Denmark detains sanctioned boxship Denmark’s maritime authority on Thursday detained an Iran-flagged container vessel anchored in Danish waters after determining it was not properly registered. LSEG data identify the ship as Nora, which was initially sailing under a Comoros flag. The Danish authority said Comoros had informed it the vessel was not found in the…

  • IMO counts 529 vessels flying false flags

    IMO counts 529 vessels flying false flags The International Maritime Organization (IMO) secretariat has counted 529 vessels flying false flags, a sprawling fraud problem that will headline the agenda at next month’s legal sub-committee meeting and exposes systemic weaknesses in global ship registration. In a note circulated ahead of LEG 113, the secretariat said the…

  • Finnish roro player Godby books up to four newbuilds in China

    Finnish roro player Godby books up to four newbuilds in China Finland’s Godby Shipping has ordered two roro vessels at CIMC Raffles in China, with options for two more units. The privately owned Åland-based operator, established in 1972, said the order supports its plan to renew the fleet and meet tightening environmental requirements while continuing…

  • Fire claims two lives aboard Singapore-flagged bulker

    Fire claims two lives aboard Singapore-flagged bulker An engine room fire on the Singapore-flagged bulk carrier Mandy has claimed two lives, with a third crewman airlifted to a hospital. The 2010-built bulker, en route from Singapore since February 8, was hit by the blaze at 7:35 pm Singapore time on February 17, just shy of…

  • CLdN takes over Samskip’s UK and Ireland business

    CLdN takes over Samskip’s UK and Ireland business Luxembourg-based shortsea operator CLdN has agreed to acquire the UK and Ireland quay-to-quay and door-to-door freight business of multimodal group Samskip. The deal covers Samskip’s container shipping services linking Rotterdam with the UK ports of Belfast, Blyth, Grangemouth, Hull and Tilbury, as well as the Irish ports…

  • Elderly capesize heads for Bangladesh recycling

    Elderly capesize heads for Bangladesh recycling A 2002-built capesize bulker has been reported sold for demolition in Bangladesh, marking the first cape recycling deal of the year. The 176,000 dwt Beihai, a CSBC Kaohsiung-built unit now sailing under the flag of St Kitts & Nevis and managed by Green Ocean Ship Management, has surfaced as…

  • Sanctioned LR1 tanker heads for scrap at Alang

    Sanctioned LR1 tanker heads for scrap at Alang A 2004-built, Jamaica-flagged LR1 tanker tied to high-risk trading patterns has been reported sold for recycling, according to market sources.  The 72,700 dwt unit, named Diana, which was sanctioned by the US Treasury’s OFAC in December, has now been tracked as anchored in the demolition zone at Alang…

  • UK shipping warns ETS extension risks backfiring

    UK shipping warns ETS extension risks backfiring The UK shipping industry has stepped up its criticism of government plans to extend the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) to domestic maritime from July 1, 2026, warning that the policy could raise costs, hit island communities and undermine competitiveness without delivering meaningful emissions cuts. The Draft…

  • Splash Wrap: Ports in a storm

    Splash Wrap: Ports in a storm The deepening dispute between Panama and China over two key ports at the Panama Canal was a constant source of headlines following a landmark Supreme Court ruling that invalidated CK Hutchison’s long-held concession contracts. A trade pact between the US and India that cuts American tariffs and ties New…

  • Explosion knocks out MSC boxship near St Petersburg

    Explosion knocks out MSC boxship near St Petersburg An explosion and subsequent fire have hit the MSC-operated container ship MSC Giada III while the vessel was approaching St Petersburg in Russia’s Neva Bay, according to vessel tracking data and regional response activity. The 2,732 teu, Liberia-flagged ship was en route from Belgium to St Petersburg…

  • Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd to route one Gemini service through Red Sea

    Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd to route one Gemini service through Red Sea Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are set to resume Red Sea transits on one of their shared Gemini Cooperation services, marking a cautious step back into the corridor after months of widespread diversions around the Cape of Good Hope. The Danish and German carriers said the…

  • Red flags raised over growing cargo theft and freight fraud

    Red flags raised over growing cargo theft and freight fraud Cargo theft and freight fraud are climbing sharply across global supply chains, prompting a joint warning from the International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) and the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA). The two organisations said incidents are rising across Europe, the Americas and Africa, with…

  • Trump taps Laura DiBella to lead US shipping watchdog

    Trump taps Laura DiBella to lead US shipping watchdog President Donald Trump has named Laura DiBella as the new chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission, filling a leadership gap at the US maritime regulator as it takes on a more assertive role in global shipping oversight. DiBella, a former Florida secretary of commerce, was designated…

  • PSA and MOL step up Singapore car carrier push

    PSA and MOL step up Singapore car carrier push PSA Singapore and Japanese shipping major Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) have agreed to form a joint venture to run a dedicated roro terminal in the Lion City, tightening their grip on one of Asia’s busiest automotive transhipment hubs. The terminal, subject to regulatory approval, is expected…

  • Signal Ocean snaps up AXSMarine

    Signal Ocean snaps up AXSMarine Signal Ocean has made a move to tighten its grip on shipping data and software, announcing the acquisition of French-based SaaS specialist AXSMarine. The deal brings together two well-known names in freight, market and commodities tracking, and underlines Signal Ocean’s plan to speed up product development and deepen its role…

  • Singapore’s Wealth Holdings books up to eight MPPs with Norden charter cover

    Singapore’s Wealth Holdings books up to eight MPPs with Norden charter cover Singapore-based Wealth Holdings is stepping into the multipurpose vessel space with a sizeable, charter-backed newbuilding programme, lining up to eight 17,400-dwt MPPs with Danish operator DS Norden providing time-charter cover. The deal covers four firm vessels with two plus two options, with Wealth…

  • Meriaura books new deck carrier in China

    Meriaura books new deck carrier in China Finnish shortsea specialist Meriaura has moved ahead with its fleet renewal, signing a shipbuilding contract for a new open deck carrier at Jiangsu Zhenjiang Shipyard in China. The 6,800 dwt vessel is due for delivery in early 2028 and will measure 120 m in length and be built…

  • Houthis tease new strikes amid US carrier build‑up in the Gulf

    Houthis tease new strikes amid US carrier build‑up in the Gulf As a US carrier strike group makes its way to the Gulf, a familiar foe to commercial shipping has reared its head for the first time in months.  A video titled ‘Soon’ published overnight by the Houthis, carried below, suggests the Iranian-backed Yemeni military…

  • French navy boards false-flagged Russian aframax

    French navy boards false-flagged Russian aframax French naval forces boarded and diverted the aframax tanker Grinch in the western Mediterranean yesterday after president Emmanuel Macron ordered an interception of what he described as a “false‑flagged” sanctioned vessel carrying Russian crude. In a post on X, Macron stated the operation was conducted on the high seas…

  • Nearly 300 tankers flying false flags

    Nearly 300 tankers flying false flags Nearly 300 tankers are flying false flags according to data from Israeli maritime analysts firm Windward despite an increasing crackdown on the practice in recent weeks.  As 2025 drew to a close, approximately 285 internationally trading tankers were broadcasting via AIS under the flag of a fraudulent or unknown…

  • Two dead, four missing after bulker sinks in South China Sea

    Two dead, four missing after bulker sinks in South China Sea Search and rescue operations are continuing in the South China Sea after the Singapore-registered bulk carrier Devon Bay capsized and sank while en route to China. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said it was informed on January 23 that the 2013-built…

  • When shipping corridors become battlefields

    When shipping corridors become battlefields Wolfgang Lehmacher discusses the so-called weaponised interdependence at sea. Corridors have become battlefields as much as shortcuts. Eternity C (pictured) proved that in July 2025, when Houthi attacks in the southern Red Sea sent the Greek-operated, Liberian-flagged bulk carrier to the bottom, with crew dead, missing, and rescued from the…

  • Inaugural Splash Singapore targets top spot in Asian shipping calendar

    Inaugural Splash Singapore targets top spot in Asian shipping calendar The speaker lineup for the inaugural Splash Singapore, scheduled for September 24, is making good on earlier promises to make the event Asia’s leading shipping conference. Among recent speaker signups are Martin Fruergaard, the CEO of Pacific Basin Shipping, Jeremy Sutton, the CEO of Swire…

  • IACS announces next chair

    IACS announces next chair Alex Gregg-Smith, president, marine and offshore at Bureau Veritas, will become the next chair of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) from July 1 through to the end of 2027. Gregg-Smith commented, “The maritime industry is at a crucial stage in its technical, digital and environmental evolution. The role of…

  • ZeroNorth hands CEO role to Andersen as founder Meyer steps aside

    ZeroNorth hands CEO role to Andersen as founder Meyer steps aside Maritime digital optimisation firm ZeroNorth is changing leadership as it moves into its next phase of growth, appointing Soren Andersen as chief executive. Andersen will take over from founder CEO Soren Meyer, who is stepping down after leading the Danish company from start-up to…

  • Western Bulk launches lumber and project cargo unit in Bergen

    Western Bulk launches lumber and project cargo unit in Bergen Norwegian dry bulk operator Western Bulk has created a new lumber and projects team based in Bergen. The company said that it marked an important step in the expansion of its commercial platform and the focus on developing strong niche capabilities alongside its core bulk…

  • Greenland control and tariffs threaten to destabilise transatlantic shipping

    Greenland control and tariffs threaten to destabilise transatlantic shipping Donald Trump has reiterated his vow to “100%” place tariffs on European countries that oppose his demand to take control of Greenland, with liners on the north Atlantic trades already coming under pressure. Westbound rates on the transatlantic container tradesfrom Europe to the US are already…

  • CMA CGM signals caution by rerouting services away from Suez Canal

    CMA CGM signals caution by rerouting services away from Suez Canal CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest liner, has provided a counter-narrative to the many analysts expecting liners to flock back to the Suez Canal following the Houthis’ three-month-long ceasefire on merchant shipping.  Citing the “complex and uncertain international context”, the French liner today announced that…

  • Splash Wrap: Global seaborne trading map redrawn

    Splash Wrap: Global seaborne trading map redrawn The US said it will target ‘dozens’ of Venezuela‑linked tankers in a serious shadow fleet squeeze. Thursday saw a sixth tanker apprehended by US forces, while Vitol and Trafigura became the first international companies to start shipping oil out of Venezuela since the January 3 ousting of Nicolas…

  • What Maersk’s return to the Red Sea means for carrier profits in 2026

    What Maersk’s return to the Red Sea means for carrier profits in 2026 News yesterday that Danish carrier Maersk is taking its first structural step back into the Red Sea has analysts voicing caution that this could mark the start of big shift from the Cape of Good Hope through the Suez with a significant…

  • Damage reported following Russian strike on Chornomorsk

    Damage reported following Russian strike on Chornomorsk Russian forces have conducted a ballistic missile strike on the port of Chornomorsk in Ukraine, impacting a Malta-flagged vessel preparing to load containers. The strike has left at least one crewmember injured and caused damage to the unidentified vessel. Ukrainian authorities have reported that yesterday’s strike not only…

  • Maersk heads back to the Red Sea

    Maersk heads back to the Red Sea Danish carrier Maersk, the world’s second largest liner, has taken its first structural step back into the Red Sea, deciding to reroute its MECL service, connecting the Middle East and India with the US east coast, through the Suez Canal after months of Cape of Good Hope diversions.…

  • SRC Group: Containerised energy modules to the fore

    SRC Group: Containerised energy modules to the fore Containerised energy modules could be a common sight onboard the global merchant fleet of the future, says a leading name in retrofitting in this week’s big Maritime CEO interview. According to Hannes Lilp, CEO of the repair and retrofit company SRC Group, the interest in alternative fuels…

  • Nordic Hamburg orders up to five MPPs in China

    Nordic Hamburg orders up to five MPPs in China German owner Nordic Hamburg has moved to grow its heavylift fleet, placing an order for three 13,300 dwt multipurpose vessels at China’s Wuhu Shipyard, with options for two more units. The contract, with an undisclosed value, covers a new series of MPP/heavylift ships designed to handle…

  • US targets ‘dozens’ of Venezuela‑linked tankers in shadow fleet squeeze

    US targets ‘dozens’ of Venezuela‑linked tankers in shadow fleet squeeze The United States is gearing up to grab a lot more Venezuela‑linked tonnage, with scores of seizure warrants now in play as Washington tightens its grip on the country’s oil exports and the shadow fleet that moves them. According to sources quoted by Reuters, the…

  • Former UK MP takes on maritime nuclear role

    Former UK MP takes on maritime nuclear role Virginia Crosbie has been appointed managing director of the Nuclear Energy Maritime Organization (NEMO), a membership-led body promoting the safe, secure and sustainable use of nuclear technologies in the maritime sector. Crosbie, who is chair of Supporters of Nuclear Energy (SONE), takes up the role at a…

  • Nova Marine Carriers JV doubles down on Amsterdam logistics

    Nova Marine Carriers JV doubles down on Amsterdam logistics Italian-Swiss dry bulk group Nova Marine Carriers has tightened its grip on the Port of Amsterdam after completing the acquisition of the Waterland Terminal in a joint venture with Germany’s Aug. Bolten and Spain’s Ership. The deal was executed through Dutch subsidiary Maja Stuwadoors Groep, which…

  • US tightens naval grip on Venezuelan oil exports with new tanker seizure

    US tightens naval grip on Venezuelan oil exports with new tanker seizure US forces are continuing the pressure on Venezuela with the seizure of a third tanker in just two days. Maritime security specialist Vanguard said that the falsely flagged Timor-Leste tanker Olina had been seized by US forces in the Caribbean after breaking away…

  • Splash Wrap: US incursion into Venezuela dominates coverage

    Splash Wrap: US incursion into Venezuela dominates coverage The tanker market grappled with fresh uncertainty all week after the arrest of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro in a dramatic US military operation over the weekend, an event that has effectively frozen the country’s oil exports and reinforced Washington’s hardline approach to maritime enforcement. The Trump administration…

  • Suez traffic still 60% down 100 days after last Houthi attack

    Suez traffic still 60% down 100 days after last Houthi attack Suez Canal traffic remains sharply lower more than three months after the last reported Houthi attack, underlining how slow ship operators have been to return to the Red Sea route. According to BIMCO, it has now been 100 days since the last vessel was…

  • JR Shipping brings in Seatrade as strategic partner

    JR Shipping brings in Seatrade as strategic partner Dutch owner JR Shipping has brought in reefer specialist Seatrade as a strategic shareholder, marking a new phase for the Harlingen-based owner and manager while keeping its independent course. Under the deal, Seatrade takes a strategic participation in JR Shipping Group and becomes a long-term partner. Founders…

  • US seizes renamed Venezuela-linked VLCC after weeks-long chase

    US seizes renamed Venezuela-linked VLCC after weeks-long chase The US forces have seized two Venezuela-linked tankers, one after a two-week chase, a name change, and reports of a Russian submarine nearby. One of the tankers seized by US authorities is the 2002-built VLCC Marinera, formerly known as the Bella 1. While still under its previous…

  • Baltic cable probe widens as Latvia finds no link to inspected ship

    Baltic cable probe widens as Latvia finds no link to inspected ship Latvia is pressing ahead with its investigation into the latest subsea cable cutting incident in the region, even after police said they have found no evidence linking a ship inspected in Liepaja to the damage. Latvian authorities said on Monday that an underwater…

  • Korean Register taps veteran insider as new chairman

    Korean Register taps veteran insider as new chairman Classification society Korean Register (KR) has appointed Lee Yongsok as its 26th chairman and chief executive. Lee, who took the helm following an election at an extraordinary general assembly held on December 23, is a long-serving KR executive, having joined the society in 1995. Over the past…

  • COSCO grows heavylift fleet with Chengxi order

    COSCO grows heavylift fleet with Chengxi order Cosco Shipping Specialised Carriers has moved to grow its heavylift fleet, placing an order for four multipurpose vessels at CSSC’s Chengxi Shipyard as demand from the wind power sector continues to build. In a stock exchange filing, the Shanghai-listed owner said it will invest about $213m in the…

  • Barriers to entry, barriers to exit and disintermediation

    Barriers to entry, barriers to exit and disintermediation Pierre Aury writes for Splash that in shipping, low barriers to entry are being offset by digital barriers to exit quietly built by IT vendors. The dry bulk and tanker markets are classic examples of commoditized, low-differentiation industries with hardly any barriers to entry. Vessels are more…

  • Second tanker seized as US tightens Venezuela oil net

    Second tanker seized as US tightens Venezuela oil net US authorities have intercepted and boarded an oil tanker carrying Venezuelan crude east of Barbados, marking the second seizure of a vessel linked to Venezuela’s oil trade and the first since President Donald Trump ordered a blockade on sanctioned tankers moving to and from the country.…

  • Sanctions enforcement intensifies as US seizes third Venezuela-linked tanker

    Sanctions enforcement intensifies as US seizes third Venezuela-linked tanker US authorities have seized a third oil tanker linked to Venezuela after a pursuit in the Caribbean Sea. This is also the second tanker seized by US forces in less than 24 hours. The US Coast Guard tried to intercept the 2002-built VLCC Bella 1 late…

  • Maersk carries out first Red Sea transit in almost two years

    Maersk carries out first Red Sea transit in almost two years In the early morning on December 19, the 2007-built Singapore-flagged boxship Maersk Sebarok completed a transit through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and into the Red Sea. This marks the first time a Maersk vessel transited the strait in almost two years. The company stated…

  • Kyiv takes drone war to Mediterranean shipping lanes

    Kyiv takes drone war to Mediterranean shipping lanes Ukraine has carried out a long-range drone strike against a tanker linked to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, marking its first confirmed attack this far from the Black Sea. The target was the Oman-flagged aframax tanker Qendil, which was hit in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea, more…

  • The year of the caveat

    The year of the caveat Splash’s editor gives readers his take on the world of shipping in the year 2025. At financial newswire Bloomberg, the official style guide has always shied away from using words such as but or if in sentences. “Clauses that start with although, but, despite or however often confuse more than…

  • SIPG picks new chairman

    SIPG picks new chairman Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) has appointed ex-Shanghai transport commission head Yu Fulin as its chairman. According to the company, Yu Fulin was elected by the SIPG’s board via a unanimous vote. He will also serve as the chairman of the strategy committee. Fulin is a senior engineer, born in March…

  • Finnish shipping executive Mikki Koskinen to lead ECSA from 2026

    Finnish shipping executive Mikki Koskinen to lead ECSA from 2026 Finland’s Mikki Koskinen has been named as the new president of the European Community Shipowners’ Associations, effective January 1, 2026. Koskinen has been the managing director of ESL Shipping Oy, part of Aspo Group, since 2013, and is a member of Aspo’s Executive Board. Before…

  • Shipping industry veteran Heinrich Schulte passes away

    Shipping industry veteran Heinrich Schulte passes away Heinrich Schulte, the long-standing chairman of the Schulte Group, has passed away, aged 90. Heinrich Schulte was born in Hamburg, but with family roots in Papenburg and Emden. He joined his father’s shipping company, Bernhard Schulte, in 1963. He expanded the company into a diversified global maritime group.…

  • Why the path towards decarbonisation in 2026 will shift from targets to trade-offs

    Why the path towards decarbonisation in 2026 will shift from targets to trade-offs Philippos Ioulianou, managing director of  EmissionLink, writes for Splash today. If 2025 was meant to be the year shipping sprinted towards a clean-fuel future, it never quite got off the starting blocks. We are ending the year with a familiar scenario: ambitious…

  • 2026 must be the year we put people first

    2026 must be the year we put people first Henrik Jensen, the CEO of Danica Crewing Specialists, has some New Year’s resolution suggestions to improve life at sea. For years, our industry has swung between calm periods and sudden crises. When operations run smoothly, support for seafarers can slip down the list; when a problem…

  • Swedish navy flags armed guards aboard Russian shadow tankers

    Swedish navy flags armed guards aboard Russian shadow tankers Sweden’s navy has confirmed that Russia is mounting a military-style operation in the Baltic Sea to protect its sanctioned shadow fleet, with uniformed and potentially armed personnel observed aboard some oil tankers used to evade Western sanctions on Russian crude exports.  According to Sweden’s naval operations…

  • Navios Partners rolls out new leadership structure

    Navios Partners rolls out new leadership structure Navios Maritime Partners has announced a series of senior leadership changes as the New York-listed diversified owner reshapes its top management structure under chairwoman and chief executive Angeliki Frangou. At the centre of the move is the creation of an office of the chairwoman, designed to bring senior…

  • SSY buys Grieg Shipbrokers

    SSY buys Grieg Shipbrokers UK shipbroking group SSY has struck a deal to acquire Grieg Shipbrokers, adding one of Scandinavia’s longest-standing brokerage houses to its expanding global platform. The deal is set to take effect in January 2026, subject to customary conditions. Founded in 1884, Grieg Shipbrokers has built a strong position across gas, dry…

  • Black Sea shipping carnage deepens as Turkish vessels hit in Russian retaliation

    Black Sea shipping carnage deepens as Turkish vessels hit in Russian retaliation The risks facing commercial shipping in the Black Sea escalated sharply over the weekend after two Turkish-controlled vessels were struck amid a wave of Russian attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure, following Kyiv’s recent strikes on Russian-linked shipping and energy assets. On Friday, Cenk…

  • Splash Wrap: Raids, record orders and rewired trade

    Splash Wrap: Raids, record orders and rewired trade US forces seized the VLCC Skipper off Venezuela as the battle between Washington and Caracas intensified with the Trump administration suggesting other vessels could be hijacked, too.  China’s state-run shipping COSCO, the world’s largest shipowner, placed a massive order for 87 newbuildings worth more than $7bn with…

  • New anti-corruption campaign rolls out across Asian and European hubs

    New anti-corruption campaign rolls out across Asian and European hubs The Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) has launched a three-year initiative aimed at tightening integrity standards across maritime supply chains in Indonesia, Malaysia and Germany. The programme—“Transparent Trade Routes: Strengthening Integrity in Maritime Supply Chains”—is backed by funding from the Siemens Integrity Initiative. MACN said the…

  • BIMCO rolls out new FuelEU and ETS clauses for ship sale deals

    BIMCO rolls out new FuelEU and ETS clauses for ship sale deals BIMCO has taken another step in helping owners and buyers navigate Europe’s tightening climate regulations by adopting new FuelEU Maritime and EU ETS clauses for inclusion in sale-and-purchase memoranda of agreement (MoAs). The world’s largest shipping association said the clauses are designed to…

  • Mintra moves deeper into Greek maritime market with SQLearn acquisition

    Mintra moves deeper into Greek maritime market with SQLearn acquisition Norway’s Mintra has strengthened its position in maritime e-learning with the acquisition of Greek digital training specialist SQLearn, marking another step in its push to support the sector’s ongoing shift toward digital learning and competency management. Mintra said the deal adds scale and depth to…

  • FSB clearance and underwater checks slow Russian port calls

    FSB clearance and underwater checks slow Russian port calls To add to the complications brought about by Ukraine’s renewed maritime attack campaign in and around the Black Sea, shipowners and charterers planning to call at Russian ports should brace for delays and heavy regulatory friction after Moscow introduced sweeping new entry rules for foreign vessels,…

  • Wallenius Wilhelmsen locks in nearly $500m in contract extensions

    Wallenius Wilhelmsen locks in nearly $500m in contract extensions Wallenius Wilhelmsen has extended two major shipping contracts that together carry an estimated added value close to $500m. Chief customer officer Pia Synnerman said the renewals underscore “long and strong standing partnerships with shared commitment towards zero emissions and developing integrated supply chains”. The first agreement,…

  • Containers fall overboard in English Channel

    Containers fall overboard in English Channel Emergency response services were put on alert in the English Channel after 18 containers fell overboard from Seatrade’s reefer containership Baltic Klipper during heavy weather on Saturday. Images of containers and plenty of bananas washing up on English shorelines were carried by UK media across the weekend.  An investigation…

  • Kremlin threatens wider retaliation as Black Sea security deteriorates

    Kremlin threatens wider retaliation as Black Sea security deteriorates Security in the Black Sea and surrounding waters has taken an ominous turn following a spike in attacks on Russian-linked shipping and fresh threats from the Kremlin, raising alarm and insurance rates. Vladimir Putin has warned that Moscow may expand military action against commercial tonnage if…

  • Seafarers kidnapped from LPG carrier off Equatorial Guinea

    Seafarers kidnapped from LPG carrier off Equatorial Guinea A Portugal-flagged LPG carrier has been attacked by pirates off Equatorial Guinea, with at least nine seafarers reportedly kidnapped. Security firm Vanguard said the CGas Saturn was boarded around 50 nautical miles west of Mbini early Monday. The 2003-built gas tanker, owned by Denmark’s Christiania Gas, was…

  • Gunvor hits reset button with leadership buyout and governance overhaul

    Gunvor hits reset button with leadership buyout and governance overhaul Gunvor has entered a new chapter after its management team agreed to buy out the company’s existing ownership, ending Torbjörn Törnqvist’s long run as majority shareholder. The Swiss-based commodity trading giant will now be fully owned by a group of senior employees, with no outside…

  • Taiwan tightens noose on high-risk tonnage

    Taiwan tightens noose on high-risk tonnage Taiwan is amending its Law of Ships regulations with a view to fining ship operators up to NT$10m ($318,000) for vessels failing to maintain accurate identification.  Ships entering Taiwanese waters must keep their automatic identification system (AIS) on and transmit correct data, or face a fine.  Similarly, all vessels…

  • Top Ships lines up $200m Dubai property grab from CEO

    Top Ships lines up $200m Dubai property grab from CEO Greece’s Top Ships is preparing to diversify again with a move into Dubai real estate through a deal tied to its chief executive and major shareholder, Evangelos Pistiolis. The New York-listed tanker owner has signed a letter of intent to acquire all or part of…

  • Black Sea blasts set sanctioned tankers ablaze off Turkish coast

    Black Sea blasts set sanctioned tankers ablaze off Turkish coast Two tankers linked to Russia’s shadow fleet were hit by blasts and caught fire in the Black Sea on Friday, prompting a major rescue response from Turkish authorities. All crewmembers from both ships are reported safe. The 150,000 dwt 2002-built suezmax Kairos was the first…

  • Splash Wrap: All eyes on the Suez Canal

    Splash Wrap: All eyes on the Suez Canal The Suez Canal Authority was in bullish form this week, suggesting that many shipping companies are readying to ditch the Cape of Good Hope and return to Red Sea transits, something that will have an enormous impact on freight rates.  Diana Shipping made its move on New…

  • Zero-emission trade routes expand as China, India and Brazil step in

    Zero-emission trade routes expand as China, India and Brazil step in The global push to develop green shipping corridors gathered momentum in 2025, with 25 new zero-emission trade routes launched this year and major emerging economies stepping more firmly into the effort, according to the latest Annual Progress Report on Green Shipping Corridors from the…

  • Maersk holds off on date for Suez return

    Maersk holds off on date for Suez return A Maersk spokesperson says the company has not set a firm date for resuming Suez Canal sailings, despite the Suez Canal Authority announcing an early-December comeback for the Danish carrier. In a statement, Maersk said it intends to restore navigation on the East–West corridor “as soon as…

  • Macquarie tables $7.5bn bid for logistics giant Qube

    Macquarie tables $7.5bn bid for logistics giant Qube Australia’s Macquarie Asset Management has submitted a non-binding proposal to acquire compatriot logistics major Qube at an enterprise value of AUD11.6bn ($7.5bn). Qube and Macquarie entered into a process and exclusivity deed in relation to the proposed acquisition. The price of AUD5.20 ($3.36) in cash per share…

  • Seafarers push to shape the ships they sail

    Seafarers push to shape the ships they sail From ergonomics on the bridge to social spaces below deck, seafarers are urging shipowners and yards to listen to their lived experience — and rethink what makes a well-designed vessel. The final chapter in our bumper Seafarers magazine. It remains one of the most common rants among…

  • Hong Kong flag slumps 12.6% as Singapore surges ahead amid trade turmoil

    Hong Kong flag slumps 12.6% as Singapore surges ahead amid trade turmoil The latest World Fleet Monitor published by Clarksons Research confirms a switch in the leaderboard of shipping registers, with Donald Trump’s trade war with China seeing Singapore leapfrog Hong Kong into fourth spot.  After a very tough year, having been caught in the…

  • Splash Wrap: Bridges, bombs, bottlenecks

    Splash Wrap: Bridges, bombs, bottlenecks The Black Sea entered one of its most volatile phases as Ukraine and Russia escalated long-range strikes on each other’s critical energy and port infrastructure, leaving commercial shipping exposed to huge levels of risk. Latest shipping traffic data points toward a rise in Suez Canal transits, with authorities in Egypt…

  • Black Sea threat level red

    Black Sea threat level red The Black Sea has entered one of its most volatile phases as Ukraine and Russia escalate long-range strikes on each other’s critical energy and port infrastructure, leaving commercial shipping exposed to huge levels of risk. Over the weekend, Ukraine claimed fresh hits on Rosneft’s Ryazan refinery — one of Russia’s…