Philippine News

April 10 ------ The U.S. President Donald J. Trump has made a deal with Iran to suspend further attacks for two weeks on the Middle Eastern country in exchange for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which handles 15% of global oil and 20% of global liquefied natural gas (LNG) supply flows. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz followed the U.S. and Israel’s attack on Iran, which started on February 28, 2026. Iran warned ships away and insurers withdrew coverage, halting tan

April 10 ------ While there is little agreement on just how many vessels have been able to make the transit through the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the ceasefire, it remains clear that traffic continued at a trickle as the agreement went into its second day. The White House asserts the Strait is open while Iran continues to move to consolidate its control over the vital shipping lane. The hastily arranged ceasefire left open questions of control, Iran’s assertions of

April 10 ------ In this week’s “Shipping Number of the Week” from BIMCO, Shipping Analysis Manager, Filipe Gouveia, examined the global shipping order book which has climbed to its highest level in almost two decades. As explained by Filipe Gouveia, by the end of the first quarter of 2026, the global shipping order book hit a 17-year high, reaching 191m Compensated Gross Tons (CGT). This is equivalent to 17% of the global fleet, the highest ratio since 2011. "The order book h

April 10 ------ The Australian Maritime Safety Authority, well-known for its strict enforcement actions, announced it has issued a six-month ban against a Chinese-owned bulker for unpaid crew wages and other violations. It is the second ban the authority has issued in a little over a month, with it saying it should serve as a reminder to employers of their obligations under the Maritime Labor Convention. The Liberia-flagged bulker BBG Wuzhou (81,895 dwt) recently arrived in t

April 9 ------ The Houthis' leaders have made their position clear. They stand alongside Iran and the Palestinians, and have demonstrated the Houthi ideological position by launching two drone and four missile attacks against Israel up until April 4, all successfully intercepted without causing any damage. The Houthis appear set on continuing these nuisance attacks designed to express solidarity, which in all likelihood will continue until the war against Iran comes to a conc

April 9 ------ Over 95% of large ocean-going vessels moving in U.S. waterways are under the direction and control of a pilot that is a member of the American Pilots’ Association (APA). The enormous increase in vessel sizes – as much as five times bigger than just twenty years ago – without corresponding expansions of waterways has made the already difficult work of these pilots even more challenging. APA-member pilots are generally the only U.S. citizen aboard foreign ships m

April 8 ------ Five weeks into the conflict, the maritime system is no longer defined by simple restriction—it is being actively managed, Windward analysis highlights. Transit through the Strait of Hormuz increased over the past week, continuing under a permission-based model. This system now incorporates both the IRGC-controlled northern corridor and an emerging southern route along the Omani coastline. At the same time, new visibility into Bandar Abbas offers a clearer pict

April 8 ------ Russia and China vetoed a proposed UN Security Council resolution that would have endorsed defenses against Iranian attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, even though the language had been substantially watered down from the original text. Iran's delegation expressed its "appreciation to China and Russia for their responsible conduct" in exercising their veto powers. Bahrain (currently holding the UNSC presidency) and other Gulf states have been advocating for a UN a

April 8 ------ The Liberian Registry has called on maritime stakeholders, including shipowners, managers, crewing agencies, and operators, to review and strengthen their seafarer compliance frameworks amid evolving regulatory demands. In response to global developments, the Liberian Registry’s Seafarer Certification and Documentation Department is advancing enhanced compliance measures through next-generation digital systems. These initiatives include the integration of syste

April 8 ------ Florida-headquartered Sawgrass LNG & Power, a provider of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and turnkey gas-to-power solutions across the Southeastern United States and Caribbean, has wrapped up LNG shore-to-ship bunkering operation at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Described as the “first-ever” shore-to-ship LNG bunkering operation at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, the activity was completed on March 26, 2026, fueling the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collec

April 7 ------ The United Arab Emirates has backed Bahrain’s call for the United Nations Security Council to act on the worsening situation in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that it is no longer just a regional issue but a threat to global stability. Bahrain has proposed a UN resolution aimed at restoring safe navigation through the strait. However, the draft has been repeatedly revised and delayed due to opposition from veto powers including China, Russia, and France. The pro

April 7 ------ EUNAVFOR Atalanta is reporting that its forces confirmed that the suspected Somali pirates abandoned the Iranian-flagged dhow Al Waseemi after having held the vessel and its crew for nearly two weeks. Assets deployed to the EUNAVFOR operation had been tracking the vessel and pressuring the pirates while not moving in because of concerns for the safety of the hostage crew. EUNAVFOR Atalanta currently has deployed the Italian frigate Emilio Bianchi and the Spanis

April 7 ------ Iran has announced that Iraqi vessels can pass freely through the Strait of Hormuz, signaling a relaxation of its tight control over the vital global energy route. According to a statement from Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Iraq will be exempt from all restrictions, which will instead apply only to what Tehran describes as enemy countries. The statement emphasized Iran’s respect for Iraq’s sovereignty and praised its resistance to the United Sta

April 7 ------ A Russian ship carrying wheat that was believed to have sunk in the Sea of Azov after a Ukrainian drone attack has been found and towed to shore, while the death toll from the attack has risen to three, state news agency TASS said. Analysts said the April 5 attack on the ship added to risks to global food security and agricultural trade stemming from the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war against Iran. Russian media said the vessel was carrying wheat from the Port of Azo

April 6 ------ The Philippines has received an assurance from Iran that it will allow the safe passage of Philippine-flagged vessels, fuel and Filipino seafarers through the Strait of Hormuz, Manila's foreign ministry said.   The assurance came after Philippine foreign minister Ma. Theresa Lazaro spoke with her Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi, with the two top diplomats tackling energy supply security and the safety of Filipino seafarers. "During the call, the Iranian Forei

April 6 ------ Windward looks at rising Strait of Hormuz transits, highlighting increased use of Iran’s IRGC-controlled Larak Island corridor by sanctioned and falsely flagged vessels alongside Omani ships reverting to the normal channel, as regional crude flows shift with Iraqi exports also plunging.   Strait of Hormuz transits rise According to Windward, three of the four bulk carriers that exited on April 1 were Greece-owned and one China-owned. This signals that EU as wel

April 6 ------ The containership Safeen Prestige has succumbed to the fire that engulfed the vessel following an attack by Iranian forces on 4 March. Nearly a month after the initial strike, NAVEREA IX issued a maritime warning confirming the sinking, making Safeen Prestige the first ship reported to have been lost as a result of the hostilities involving Iran.   According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the vessel was hit on 4 March by an unknown projectile just

April 6 ------ A Chinese bulker briefly disrupted traffic for the southbound convoy of the Suez Canal on April 2 after the vessel experienced a reported “technical failure.” While the incident only lasted four hours, it came just past the fifth anniversary of the Ever Given grounding, which blocked the canal for six days, and as analysts have emphasized the importance of the Suez Canal, with the Strait of Hormuz mostly closed.   The bulker Xin Tai Yuan (75,413 dwt) was travel

April 5 ------ Hapag-Lloyd became the first of the major carriers to offer a glimpse into the impact the industry faces as the war with Iran continues. The company finalized its strong results for 2025 and, while maintaining its outlook, issued a dire forecast for 2026. Speaking during a press briefing, CEO Rolf Habben Jansen said the company and the industry are “grappling with a big challenge,” as the war disrupts shipping in the Middle East. Hapag reports it has six vessel

April 5 ------ The Strait of Hormuz shutdown has focused the world's attention on the flow of commodities out of the Arabian Gulf, including 20 percent of the world's oil and 30 percent of its fertilizer. But just as importantly, cargo shipments are not getting in, and the region is dependent upon imports for most of its food. Most of the world's leading container lines have suspended cargo bookings into the Gulf market because they cannot get past the Strait. Alternatives ex