Two product tankers, MT SAFESEA VISHNU and MT ZEFYROS, caught fire during an STS operation off Umm Qasr, raising fresh concern over tanker security in Iraqi waters.
Three merchant vessels including MAYUREE NAREE, One Majesty, and Star Gwyneth were reportedly damaged on 11 March near the Strait of Hormuz, raising renewed concern over maritime security and crew safety in one of the world’s most critical shipping corridors.
COSCO Shipping said it will stop calling at Panama’s Port of Balboa, according to a notice shared with La Prensa, following Panama’s move to retake control of key canal ports.
The United States introduced a $20 billion maritime reinsurance programme for eligible vessels in the Gulf, aiming to support trade flows and war-risk cover through the Strait of Hormuz.
CMA CGM Group completed its first biomethanol bunkering by supplying 3,643 tonnes to CMA CGM Osmium at Yangshan Port, setting a new record for a single operation at a Chinese port.
Singapore is developing a maritime master plan for release in 2027 to strengthen hub port competitiveness, expand innovation and technology, and build a skilled workforce.
Fairplay Towage has joined Tug Network Team, extending the independent towage alliance into Europe with coverage across 113 ports in 13 countries and a combined fleet of more than 200 tugs.
The IMO has urged shipping companies to put crew safety first after attacks on merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz caused seafarer casualties. The agency also warned operators to use only confirmed information when making navigational decisions in the high-risk corridor.
Seafarers on IBF-covered ships can now refuse voyages through the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Middle East Gulf after the threat level reached its highest category. The new arrangement includes repatriation rights, two months of basic wage compensation, higher pay in the zone, and doubled compensation in death or disability cases.
