Maritime News

May 21 ------ Three supertankers were crossing the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday carrying oil bound for Asian markets, after waiting in the Gulf for more than two months with 6 million barrels of Middle East crude on board, while another was entering, shipping data on LSEG and Kpler showed. The ships are among a handful of supertankers exiting the Gulf this month via a transit route that Iran has ordered ships to use. The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran which began on February 28 ha

May 21 ------ UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, the IMO, and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) have released a revised Rescue Guide, a tool to help all partners uphold the humanitarian and legal duties to rescue refugees and migrants in distress at sea and bring them to safety. The revised edition of Rescue at Sea: A guide to principles and practice in the context of refugee and migrant movements comes as tragic shipwrecks continue to highlight the urgent need for stron

May 21 ------ The authorities in Bangladesh are dealing with an apparent murder after two crewmembers got into what is being described as a “serious onboard altercation.” The local shipping agency appointed to handle the ship’s arrival reports the police and local authorities are coordinating to handle the case. The Thai-owned product tanker K.P.P. 01 (3,400 dwt) had departed Phuket, Thailand, for its final voyage heading to the scrap yards at Chattogram, Bangladesh. The vess

May 21 ------ Over the past week, 12-18 May, one incident of piracy or armed robbery against ships in Asia was reported to the ReCAAP ISC. One CAT 3 incident of armed robbery against ships in Asia was reported to ReCAAP ISC. The incident occurred onboard a bulk carrier while sailing in the Straits of Malacca & Singapore on 13 May 2026. The perpetrator, armed with a knife, attempted to threaten the engine room watchkeeping staff, who ran away and secured himself in the engine

May 20 ------ Iranian state television reported that several European countries were in discussions with Tehran regarding ship transit through the Strait of Hormuz. According to the report, negotiations with the navy of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards began after vessels from East Asian nations including China, Japan and Pakistan were granted passage through the strategic waterway. However, the broadcaster did not identify the European countries involved. Iran has largely restric

May 20 ------ The United States has charged seven Chinese executives and four of the world's largest shipping container companies with conspiring to restrict supply, raising the price of containers during the COVID pandemic, Department of Justice officials said. The companies together manufacture about 95% of the world's standard dry shipping containers and conspired to restrict output and fix prices between November 2019 and January 2024, the DOJ said. Prosecutors allege the

May 20 ------ The IMO and World Maritime University (WMU) have released a new Handbook on Gender Mainstreaming in the Maritime Sector, calling for action to address persistent gender inequality across the global maritime industry. The handbook, authored by WMU Professor Momoko Kitada, was launched on the International Day for Women in Maritime on May 18. Kitada is also the recipient of the 2026 IMO Gender Equality Award. The publication is the first of its kind, aimed at clos

May 20 ------ The Ghana Navy responded to a call for assistance from a Bocimar tanker sailing off the coast of Africa, only to find that seven stowaways were hiding in the steering gear room above the rudder. The individuals have been removed from the tanker, and an investigation is underway to determine their nationalities and how they got aboard the tanker. The Belgian-flagged tanker Cap Fexlis (158,765 dwt) was approximately 200 nautical miles out to sea when the call for