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Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Shipping News

19 Aug 2026

IDEA Logistics Transports Yankee Dryer From Sweden to Türkiye

© IDEA Logistics

IDEA Logistics has arranged the sea transportation of a 136.5-ton Yankee Dryer from Karlstad, Sweden to Iskenderun, Türkiye.The main unit measures approximately 9.02 m x 5.62 m x 5.72 m and weighs 136.5 tons. The shipment also includes additional equipment, bringing the total cargo weight to approximately 146 tons.The Yankee Dryer will be used in paper production as part of an industrial investment in Türkiye. Due to the navigational and draft restrictions around Karlstad and the lake system, not every vessel is suitable for calling the loading location.

19 Aug 2026

ZIM Q2 Profit Jumps as Transpacific Strength, Higher Rates Lift Results

Copyright Daniel/AdobeStock

ZIM Integrated Shipping Services reported stronger second-quarter 2026 results, as its exposure to the Transpacific trades, higher freight rates and increased container volumes helped drive revenue and profit higher, while the carrier continues a significant fleet renewal program ahead of its pending acquisition by Hapag-Lloyd.ZIM posted second-quarter revenue of $1.78 billion, up 9% year-on-year, while net income jumped to $64 million from $24 million. Adjusted EBITDA increased 4% to $491 million, and adjusted net income reached $77 million.

17 Aug 2026

Griffin Tapped to Lead CMA CGM North America

Natasha Griffin was named CEO of CMA CGM North America, a group that operates throughout the U.S. and Canada, employing more than 10,000 people, transporting more than 5 million TEUs to and from the region each year. Image courtesy CMA CGM

The CMA CGM Group appointed Natasha Griffin as Chief Executive Officer of CMA CGM North America.Based in Norfolk, VA, Griffin will lead CMA CGM's operations and strategic development across North America, overseeing the Group's shipping, logistics, intermodal, and supply chain activities. She will be responsible for driving the Group's strategy in a key growth market, strengthening customer partnerships, accelerating business development, and supporting continued investment in America's maritime transportation and logistics infrastructure.The Group operates throughout the U.S.

13 Aug 2026

Hafnia Wins Danish Shipping’s Diversity Award Again

Source: Danish Shipping

The theme of Danish Shipping’s 2026 Diversity Award is “Small Changes, Big Impact,” and with the jury naming Hafnia this year’s winner, the company has now received Danish Shipping’s Diversity Award three times since it was first presented in 2022.In reaching its decision, the jury chose to recognize Hafnia’s Seafarer Advisory Board, which draws on seafarers’ own experiences of inclusion and company culture.“It means an incredible amount to us, because it’s something we invest a great deal of time and energy in, and it’s an ongoing project. So it’s a huge recognition.

12 Aug 2026

OpenTug, Blessey Marine Services to Implement BargeOS Invoice Solution

© OpenTug

OpenTug announced a strategic collaboration with Blessey Marine Services, Inc., a provider of inland marine transportation solutions, to modernize voyage invoicing through BargeOS. By implementing BargeOS Invoice Intelligence, Blessey will connect operational and financial workflows to automate invoice processing, improve billing visibility, and enhance financial transparency across its customer network.Through the implementation, Blessey Marine will process voyage costs in near real time, incorporating vendor expenses, operational data, and voyage activity into a unified billing workflow.

12 Aug 2026

MSC, Jotun Sign Hull Cleaning Agreement

© Jotun

Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Jotun have entered into an agreement for the installation and operation of Jotun's Hull Skating Solutions (HSS) onboard MSC Daniela.The agreement includes the full HSS package, combining Jotun's SeaQuantum Skate coating with robotic hull inspection and cleaning technology designed to maintain an always clean hull throughout vessel operations.The installation was completed during the vessel's drydocking in China in June 2026. By maintaining a continuously clean hull…

12 Aug 2026

China Insights: Iron Ore Mining Cools, Steel Making Softens

Image courtesy BIMCO

"In the first half of 2026, Chinese iron ore mining fell by 7% y/y due to a 6% y/y increase in iron ore net imports and weaker steel production. The country is increasingly sourcing its iron ore from abroad because it is often of higher grade and competitively priced. Iron ore net imports now account for 57% of China’s iron ore supply compared to 50% in the first half of 2022,” says Filipe Gouveia, Shipping Analysis Manager at BIMCO.While China’s iron ore supply slightly increased in the first half of 2026, demand from steel mills weakened.

11 Aug 2026

Low Water Levels on the Rhine Disrupt German Industry

© Adobe Stock/Patrick

German companies are reporting growing disruption from Rhine water levels that have hit record lows, with chemical producers, utilities, steelmakers and agricultural traders warning of higher costs, transport bottlenecks and curbed production.While Germany has not yet suffered the widespread production outages experienced during previous Rhine crises, traders said on Tuesday that it was no longer possible to book some cargo shipments after weeks of drought and companies are increasingly reporting operational issues.Chemicals company Covestro said the lack of transport capacity could not be off

07 Aug 2026

Oil Climbs as Hormuz Transit Plan Raises Fresh Concerns

© Awais / Adobe Stock

Oil extended gains on Friday amid further concerns around the opening of the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran, working with Oman, suggested banning vessels deemed hostile from the strait and heavily fining those which violated the proposed rules.Brent crude futures LCOc1 were up 85 cents, or 1.03%, at $83.34 a barrel by 0634 GMT. U.S. West Texas Intermediate futures CLc1 rose 52 cents, or 0.67%, to $77.81.Oil futures settled up more than $3 a barrel on Thursday as Iran reviewed a bill to ban U.S.

07 Aug 2026

ADNOC L&S Acquires 11 Vessels in $1.3B Fleet Expansion Deal

(Credit: ADNOC L&S)

ADNOC Logistics & Services (ADNOC L&S) has agreed to acquire 11 tankers for approximately $1.3 billion, expanding its crude oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) shipping capacity to support ADNOC Group's growing production, trading and export activities.The acquisition comprises five very large gas carriers (VLGCs) and six very large crude carriers (VLCCs). Nine vessels - six VLCCs and three VLGCs - were acquired on the secondary market and are scheduled for delivery in the third quarter of 2026…

06 Aug 2026

Shipping Industry Pushes Back Against Proposed Hormuz Passage Deal

© Adobe Stock/Yellow Boat

A proposed deal between Iran and Oman that would give Tehran control over ships entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz is not easily workable due to U.S. sanctions and restrictive insurance clauses on any payments, four industry sources said.Until U.S.-Israeli airstrikes at the end of February unleashed war in Iran, the narrow waterway between the Gulf and the Indian Ocean was the main route for about a fifth of world oil supplies and other vital goods. It was freely open…

05 Aug 2026

Shipping Companies Release Joint Letter Regarding Strait of Hormuz Fees

© ASA, Intertanko, BIMCO, Intercargo, WSC, European Shipowners, ICS, CLINK

An international group of shipping trade associations has sent a letter to UN Secretary General, António Guterres and IMO Secretary General, Arsenio Dominguez, calling for no compulsory tolls or charges to be introduced in the Strait of Hormuz and beyond. The letter is as follows:Dear Secretaries General,We are writing to you to reiterate our concerns regarding the potential imposition of tolls or service fees in the Strait of Hormuz.As the International Maritime Organization has highlighted repeatedly…

05 Aug 2026

Black Sea Attacks Strain Global Commodity Flows

© Adobe Stock/Peter Hermes Furian

A surge in attacks on ships, ports and export terminals in the Black Sea is disrupting global supplies of grain and oil, turning the region into the latest strategic trade chokepoint to be hit by escalating conflict.The Black Sea is a vital route for shipments of grain, crude oil and refined products. Its waters are shared by Russia and Ukraine as well as Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania and Turkey.Russia, the world's largest wheat exporter, and Ukraine, also a major agricultural exporter…

05 Aug 2026

Houthis Claim Missile Attack on Saudi Oil Tanker in Red Sea

© Yaroslav / Adobe Stock

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis said on Wednesday they had launched a missile attack on a Saudi oil tanker off the coast of the kingdom's Red Sea port city of Yanbu.Saudi officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The Houthis' military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, did not say when the attack took place.(Reuters - Reporting by Nayera Abdallah and Tala Ramadan; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

04 Aug 2026

FESCO Pauses Black Sea Orders After Drone Attacks

Credit: Adobe Stock/olinchuk

Last week's Ukrainian drone attack on one of its vessels has forced Russian logistics and shipping group FESCO to suspend accepting new shipment orders via the Black Sea, the company said on Tuesday.The announcement highlights the growing disruption to shipping from a sharp escalation of attacks on each other's vessels by both Russia and Ukraine, which has pushed wheat prices higher on global markets.Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom, which owns 92.5% of FESCO, said earlier that the vessel Yanina, which was transporting goods such as frozen food and construction materials, was damaged

04 Aug 2026

ZeroNorth Launches Agentic AI Solution for Maritime Operations

Credit: ZeroNorth

ZeroNorth introduced Propel by ZeroNorth, a new agentic AI partner for maritime operations. Propel uses AI agents to take action on repetitive manual tasks in operations, freeing operators to focus on decisions that require their judgement.The launch comes as shipping faces growing operational complexity from geopolitical disruption, regulatory change and volatile fuel prices. Operators coordinate decisions across multiple vessels and disconnected systems, and better coordination can compound into meaningful time and fuel savings across a fleet.At the same time…

03 Aug 2026

Saudi Oil Tankers Cross Red Sea as Hormuz Traffic Slows

© Parilov / Adobe Stock

Two tankers laden with Saudi oil crossed the Bab el-Mandeb strait over the weekend, while traffic in the Strait of Hormuz slowed following reports of vessel attacks, shipping data showed on Monday.The number of commodity vessels that passed through the Bab el-Mandeb strait fell to 18 on Sunday, from 27 on Saturday and 28 on Friday, the Kpler data showed.The Iran-aligned Houthis declared a maritime embargo against Saudi ‌Arabia on July 20, opening a new front against the U.S. and…

03 Aug 2026

GasLog LNG Tanker Safe Following Strait of Hormuz Incident

© vladsv / Adobe Stock

A liquefied natural gas vessel controlled by Greek shipping company GasLog was stable after an incident while exiting the Strait of Hormuz, with everyone on board safe and accounted for, the company said.An "incident" had occurred on its Gaslog Shanghai LNG vessel on July 31, said GasLog in a statement. It did not provide details about the incident or whether the ship or its cargo had sustained any damage."GasLog LNG Services immediately activated their emergency plan, notified all relevant authorities…

31 Jul 2026

Two Oil Supertankers Exit Hormuz as Traffic Remains Sparse

© Jose Gil / Adobe Stock

The two very large crude carriers (VLCC) carrying oil loaded from the Gulf exited the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, with traffic through the waterway remaining thin, according to Kpler ship-tracking data.The Spain B vessel is carrying crude oil loaded from the Saudi Arabian port of Ras Tanura on July 12, and is currently anchored off Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. Meanwhile Noble, which loaded Iraqi Basrah crude on July 25, is heading to China.Both VLCCs are carrying about 2 million barrels of crude each.

29 Jul 2026

Sallaum Lines Orders LNG Dual-Fuel PCTC From China

(Credit: Sallaum Lines)

Sallaum Lines has ordered an 8,600-car equivalent unit (CEU) pure car and truck carrier (PCTC) from China Merchants Shipyard, with an option for a second vessel, expanding its newbuilding program as it prepares for long-term growth in the global vehicle carrier market.The LNG dual-fuel, ammonia-ready vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2029 and follows a separate order announced earlier this month for two firm 8,600-CEU PCTCs, with options for two more, at Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry.The latest order increases Sallaum Lines' newbuilding program to nine vessels…

29 Jul 2026

INTERCARGO Calls for Seafarer, Civilian Safety

© INTERCARGO

INTERCARGO has observed a recent increase in attacks on merchant vessels, alongside a noticeable shift towards the direct targeting of commercial shipping. This is deeply concerning to our members and to the wider industry. Seafarers keep global trade moving. They are civilians doing their jobs. They should never be treated as military targets.Merchant vessels not involved in hostilities have long been recognised as deserving protection, and attacks on them put the lives of ordinary working people at risk for reasons that have nothing to do with their jobs.

29 Jul 2026

Iran Rejects Omani Plan for Strait of Hormuz Management

© Yellow Boat / Adobe Stock

Tehran has ruled out Oman's proposal for regional joint management of the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday, scuppering hopes for a resolution to the impasse that has choked off Gulf trade for months.Oman proposed a new regional deal aimed at resolving the conflict over the critical strait, through which about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flowed before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in February.However, Tehran ruled out Oman's proposal for regional joint management of the strait, saying it had no chance of success.The U.S.

28 Jul 2026

Oman Proposes Voluntary Hormuz Transit Fee Plan

© ink drop / Adobe Stock

Oman has presented Iran with a plan backed by Gulf states to manage the Strait of Hormuz, including collecting voluntary fees for using it, a Gulf source and a Western diplomat told Reuters on Tuesday.The plan could serve as a basis to end the disruption to trade through the strait caused by the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.President Donald Trump, who abruptly called off a two-week U.S. bombing campaign over the weekend in his latest strategic U-turn, said there were "good talks" under way with Iran but threatened to restart strikes unless negotiations deliver.