COSCO has reopened Gulf container bookings, but Hormuz controls, stranded ships and weaker freight rates show pressure remains across the regional shipping market.
Shell executive Karrie Trauth has been elected president of the UK Chamber of Shipping, succeeding JB Rae Smith as the industry keeps competitiveness, collaboration and skills in focus.
German shipowners want a civilian sea service programme to build a trained maritime reserve, protect supply lines in crises, and strengthen the country’s domestic shipping workforce.
The International Maritime Pilots’ Association said deregulation and competition in maritime pilotage increase costs, weaken safety and efficiency, and create avoidable risks for the public and the shipping industry.
HOKUREN MARU No.2 completed autonomous navigation trials and passed Japan’s statutory inspection as an autonomous vessel, marking the first such case for a RORO vessel in Japan.
China called for de-escalation in the Middle East as tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz dropped sharply, Chinese-linked shipping slowed, and concerns grew over energy imports and export demand.
Wattlab said its Solar FlatRack system can cut auxiliary fuel use by 2–5% after vessel pilots and full-scale installation, with development now moving toward larger bulk carriers.
Port of Aberdeen has selected Boskalis Westminster Ltd for a 2026-2028 maintenance dredging program covering North Harbor and South Harbor, with Freeway and MTS Valour assigned to the 2026 campaign.
Mexico is stepping up Gulf coast cleanup efforts while authorities work to identify the tanker suspected of causing the oil discharge, with shoreline recovery continuing across Tabasco and Veracruz.
