European Maritime

by hellenicshippingnews… on 27 March 2026 at 10:00 pm

The existing situation in the tanker markets could be leading towards a long-term disruption with unknown variables. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Xclusiv said that “the past week has confirmed that the disruption in the Arabian Gulf is no longer just a supply shock but a market distortion that is beginning to erode demand …

by hellenicshippingnews… on 27 March 2026 at 10:00 pm

The Middle East conflict has delivered an immediate shock to the offshore market. Saudi Aramco, QatarEnergy, Kuwait Petroleum and ADNOC have all reduced, suspended or declared force majeure on production, with Gulf oil exports falling over 60% to around 9.7 million barrels per day for the week ending March 15. The closure of key offshore …

by hellenicshippingnews… on 27 March 2026 at 10:00 pm

The global trading system looks set to be defined by a tug-of-war between high-tech acceleration and geopolitical disruption through to 2027. According to the latest Global Trade Outlook and Statistics report released by the World Trade Organization (WTO), world trade is projected to slow in 2026 following a 2025 performance that defied many expert predictions. …

by hellenicshippingnews… on 26 March 2026 at 10:00 pm

The ship recycling market remains trapped in an adverse environment. In its latest weekly report, Best Oasis (www.best-oasis.com), a leading cash buyer of ships, said that “the Indian ship recycling market remained at a standstill this week, with sentiment coming under pressure from the extraordinary increase in the USD/INR index and the lack of corresponding …

by hellenicshippingnews… on 26 March 2026 at 10:00 pm

“Following the start of attacks on Iran on 28 February, transits through the Strait of Hormuz have effectively stopped, severing Persian Gulf ports from global container services. As a result, around 130 container ships, totalling about 1.5% of the global fleet’s capacity, are stranded in the gulf. The war has added uncertainty to an outlook …

by hellenicshippingnews… on 26 March 2026 at 10:00 pm

Shipping companies are entering a more complex and capital-intensive phase as decarbonisation regulations begin to translate emissions targets into direct operating costs and long-term investment pressure. This is according to a new global survey of senior maritime executives commissioned by technology group Wärtsilä. The study, based on responses from 225 maritime leaders, found that more …

by hellenicshippingnews… on 24 March 2026 at 10:00 pm

The main focus of owners active in the S&P market over the past week have been bulkers and suezmaxes. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Xclusiv said that in the dry bulk market, “activity this week was spread across the Kamsarmax down to Handysize segments, with a notable presence of modern and resale candidates. On …

by hellenicshippingnews… on 24 March 2026 at 10:00 pm

Damaged Qatari infrastructure and a near-collapse in Hormuz transit are shifting the LNG market from a supply shock to a flow-constrained crisis. The global LNG market remains under significant stress following Iranian attacks on Qatari energy infrastructure, which have removed approximately 17% of Qatar’s LNG export capacity, equivalent to roughly 3% of global LNG supply. …

by hellenicshippingnews… on 24 March 2026 at 10:00 pm

“Global iron ore shipments have risen 5% y/y during the first 12 weeks of 2026, supported by stronger Chinese import demand. However, this increase has not been matched by Chinese steel production which fell 4% y/y during the first two months of the year. As a result, the additional supply has boosted portside inventories, which …

by hellenicshippingnews… on 23 March 2026 at 10:00 pm

Recent freight rises have began putting pressure on the bauxite trade. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Intermodal said that “recent developments in the Guinea bauxite trade are introducing a more complex outlook for the Capesize segment, as the interaction between freight costs, commodity pricing and government policy begins to influence trade flows on one …

by hellenicshippingnews… on 23 March 2026 at 10:00 pm

Three 20-year-old liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers were recently sold to a newly formed company in Türkiye, with two subsequently reflagged to Sierra Leone, a ship registry favored by Russia’s dark fleet. Two of the vessels are currently sailing around the Cape of Good Hope in ballast and are expected to bunker at Port Elizabeth …

by hellenicshippingnews… on 23 March 2026 at 10:00 pm

BIMCO will establish a Task Force on Biofouling Management to strengthen industry input into the upcoming work at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on the development of a legally binding framework for the control and management of ships’ biofouling. The task force, meeting virtually, aims to gather structured, experience based insights from BIMCO members on …

by hellenicshippingnews… on 22 March 2026 at 10:00 pm

With the war in the Middle East entering its fourth week, questions regarding oil production capacity are beginning to arise. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Gibson said that “the past few days have seen the conflict extend beyond chokepoint disruption into direct strikes on production and refining infrastructure across the Gulf. Following Israel’s attack …

by hellenicshippingnews… on 22 March 2026 at 10:00 pm

Capesize It was a week of mixed route performance in the Capesize market. Following a positive close on Friday, the Capesize Timecharter Average (C5TC 182) ultimately rose by $817 week-on-week. The C3 Brazil to China route edged above $30, a level last seen in July 2024 with the current laycans across both the first and …

by hellenicshippingnews… on 22 March 2026 at 10:00 pm

Global shipping has entered a precarious and unstable era. Rising geopolitical tensions in key maritime corridors, including threats from Iran to target vessels transiting strategic waterways and the disruption of energy and export routes, are reminding the industry that the seas carrying the world’s trade are not always predictable. Alongside these developments, operational and commercial …

by hellenicshippingnews… on 20 March 2026 at 10:00 pm

The turmoil in the global tanker and energy markets from the current crisis in the Middle East could soon lead to a global issue, with 40% of total seaborne crude oil exports affected. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Banchero Costa said that “in Jan-Dec 2025, global crude oil loadings went up by +2.0% y-o-y …

by hellenicshippingnews… on 20 March 2026 at 10:00 pm

Email is still the spine of maritime operations. Chartering instructions, spares orders, crew changes, port documentation, vendor payments to name a few. Most of it moves through inboxes, even as ships add new digital tools. But the way shipping markets treat email risk is far from uniform. In my work across Greece, Cyprus, Turkey, the …

by hellenicshippingnews… on 19 March 2026 at 10:00 pm

Despite the latest market disruptions due to the war in the Middle East, newbuilding ordering activity has been moving forward. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Intermodal said that “newbuilding activity progressed on a healthy pace last week, with 10 orders for 35 firm plus 4 optional orders, across he dry bulk, tanker, containership and …

by hellenicshippingnews… on 19 March 2026 at 10:00 pm

Describing the situation in the Strait of Hormuz as an “incredibly dynamic environment”, Jos Standerwick, head of membership at the Baltic Exchange, yesterday sought to clarify a landscape that has “trapped 1,000+ vessels” and threatens the safety of thousands of seafarers. Moderating a webinar co-hosted with Maritime London, Standerwick first introduced Saleem Khan, chief data …