Philippine News

July 13 ------ Transits through the Strait of Hormuz have not stopped this week after the renewed attacks, but have slowed dramatically, and especially along the so-called Southern Corridor hugging the Omani coast. Despite Iran’s assertions of control, U.S. Central Command continues to say the Strait is open and vessels are moving through. The exact number of transits is difficult to establish, in part because more vessels are going dark. Maritime software and data intelligen

July 13 ------ The IMO is advancing its Red Sea Project to improve security and the coordination of maritime situational awareness in the Horn of Africa and the waters off Yemen. Under the project, the IMO supported a four-day workshop for the internationally-recognized Republic of Yemen government from June 22 to 25, 2026, alongside the European Union-funded Crisis Response Project for the Red Sea and the Western Indian Ocean. The workshop brought together representatives of

July 13 ------ The Maritime Technologies Forum (MTF) announced the publication of new guidelines to support companies in developing new Safety Management Systems (SMS) and strengthening existing SMS for ships using methanol as fuel. As the maritime industry accelerates its decarbonization efforts, low-carbon methanol has emerged as one of the most scalable alternative fuel options. Its liquid state under ambient conditions, compatibility with existing fuel infrastructure, and

July 13 ------ Three decades after helping redefine the modern cruise industry together, Fincantieri and Carnival Corporation have launched the next chapter in their long-running partnership. At Fincantieri's Monfalcone shipyard, executives from both companies gathered to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their relationship while officially marking the first steel cut for Carnival Destiny, the first of three next-generation Ace-class cruise ships being built for Carnival Crui

July 12 ------ According to BIMCO’s Shipping Number of the Week, crude tanker newbuilding contracting has reached a record 60 million DWT so far in 2026. As explained by Filipe Gouveia, Shipping Analysis Manager at BIMCO, so far this year, crude tanker newbuilding contracting has reached 60m deadweight tons (DWT) across 234 ships, driven by a surge in orders for Very Large Crude Tankers (VLCCs). This already makes 2026 the year with the highest crude tanker contracting on rec

July 12 ------ The Nautical Institute draws lessons learned from an incident where a fatigued officer of the watch became distracted by administrative tasks during a busy traffic transit, resulting in a collision with an anchored tanker that had been detected but not effectively monitored. The incident According to the Nautical Institute, as edited from TSIB (Singapore) report TIB/MAI/CAS.173, tanker A was underway in a traffic separation scheme (TSS) in good weather and wit

July 11 ------ The industry trade group INTERCARGO released a new report on vessel casualties and lives lost in the bulker community, highlighting an overall decline over the past decade. It, however, emphasizes the continued need for enforcement and training, noting that liquefaction and flooding remained the biggest dangers and resulted in the most lives lost. Over the decade from 2016 to 2026, it reports there were 17 bulker casualties among vessels 10,000 dwt or larger. I

July 11 ------ Some war risk underwriters have advised shipping companies to suspend voyages through the Strait of Hormuz, while others are reviewing policy terms after renewed attacks on commercial vessels raised fears of a wider conflict between Iran and the United States. According to Reuters, the reassessment follows the attacks on 7 July on three tankers transiting the strategic waterway, prompting Washington to revoke a license that had allowed Iran to sell oil and to c

July 10 ------ At least four oil and gas tankers have turned back from attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz after renewed attacks on vessels heightened security concerns. The diversions followed damage to a Qatari LNG tanker and a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker near the strait on 6 June, amid reports that Iran fired missiles at ships in the waterway. The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) has since raised the threat level for vessels transiting the strait to “seve

July 10 ------ The Gulf states are some of the world's most prolific exporters of raw sulfur, the core ingredient for sulfuric acid, the world's most-produced industrial chemical. The region's energy industry enables the trade by putting out an abundance of raw sulfur: when sulfurous Mideast gas and oil are processed, large quantities of the substance are dumped out as a byproduct, then loaded onto bulkers and shipped to industrial end-users. But there is a hitch, according t

July 10 ------ According to Intermodal, Japan’s energy sector is undergoing a short-term fuel adjustment as high LNG prices drive greater coal utilization, reshaping regional energy flows and creating mixed implications for LNG and dry bulk shipping markets. Energy mix shifts as utilities favor coal over LNG Japan’s recent power-generation data point to a notable adjustment in the country’s energy mix, with utilities reducing LNG-based generation and increasing coal burn. In

July 10 ------ Collecting environmental data is often seen as a box to be checked, a mandatory chore. However, some waterfront organizations are beginning to shift their thinking. Of course, environmental data is necessary for compliance. But that very same data contains hidden operational insights that waterfront executives depend upon. It's about much more than energy efficiency or environmental impact; it's about operational efficiency and business impact too. The question

July 9 ------ The International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) has published its annual report on its 24-hour helpline SeafarerHelp, revealing insights on the increasingly complex challenges affecting seafarers and their families. Based on thousands of helpline conversations, the report identifies emerging welfare concerns and highlights the need for continued action across the maritime sector to protect seafarers’ wellbeing, safety and dignity. While the n

July 9 ------ At least four oil and gas tankers have turned back from attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, ship-tracking data showed, as renewed attacks on vessels in the critical waterway heightened safety and security concerns. The diversions come after a Qatari liquefied natural gas tanker and a Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker were damaged near the strait on Tuesday following reports that Iran fired missiles at ships in the waterway, prompting maritime authorities to

July 9 ------ The U.S. Coast Guard Cyber Command’s (CGCYBER) fifth annual Cyber Trends and Insights in the Marine Environment report highlights a maritime cyber landscape where threats are becoming more sophisticated, yet many successful attacks continue to rely on familiar weaknesses. Drawing on 2025 operational data and industry engagements, the report finds that reported maritime cyber incidents rose by 17% year-on-year, with phishing remaining a primary entry point, while

July 9 ------ The recent disruption in the Strait of Hormuz has offered a reminder that maritime risk is rarely confined to what happens on the water. Since conflict involving Iran escalated earlier this year, much attention has focused on vessel movements, war risk premiums, sanctions exposure and the potential impact on global trade. Yet behind every routing decision, delayed transit and operational contingency plan are people tasked with making difficult judgements in an e

July 8 ------ The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued an immediate change to the general license it had issued for the sale of Iranian oil, revoking and suspending all sales. Hours later, U.S. Central Command also reported that Donald Trump ordered retaliatory strikes. The moves came as retaliation for Iran’s attacks on three tankers in the past 24 hours and repeated threats to all shipping not gaining permission and using its shipping lane. Hours earlier, the Joint Mariti

July 8 ------ A fleet of 10 Japan-linked vessels was exiting the Strait of Hormuz while a supertanker carrying Saudi crude for South Korea left over the weekend, shipping data on LSEG showed, after the ships were stranded in the Gulf for months because of the Iran war. The Japan-linked ships include six very large crude carriers loaded with 12 million barrels of Middle Eastern crude, two chemical tankers, a vehicle carrier and a container ship, the data showed. The tankers ar

July 8 ------ Over the past week, 30 June – 6 July two incidents of piracy or armed robbery against ships in Asia was reported to the ReCAAP ISC. Two CAT 2 incidents of armed robbery against ships in Asia were reported to ReCAAP ISC. Both incidents occurred onboard container ships while at anchor in Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) Anchorage, Philippines, on 4 June and 12 June 2026. Perpetrators were armed with guns in both incidents. The crew members were not

July 8 ------ The IRGC’s attacks on multiple ships in the Strait of Hormuz are a stark reminder that the IRGC hardliners are in charge in Iran at the moment, and that presently Iran is demonstrating no inclination to compromise over transits through the Strait, either in the 60-day negotiating period or thereafter. The two vessels hit on Monday have now been identified by multiple sources. The Marshall Island-flagged Al Rekayyat (IMO 9397339) was struck by a drone off Limah o