COSCO Shipping Lines has suspended new bookings to several Middle East destinations after a security risk review, joining major carriers avoiding the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions.
Sanctioned LNG carrier Arctic Metagaz was reported on fire off Malta on Tuesday after explosions were reported. Monitoring groups cited a possible drone strike, while the cause and crew status remained unconfirmed.
The Suez Canal Authority reports normal two-way traffic, citing 56 daily transits and recent tonnage totals, even as some major carriers temporarily pause passages due to regional security concerns.
Saudi Aramco told buyers of its light crude to load some cargoes at Yanbu on the Red Sea as the Strait of Hormuz became dangerous, using the East-West pipeline to reroute flows.
An Indian seafarer has died after tanker MKD Vyom was struck by a projectile in the Gulf of Oman. The incident occurred amid rising security tensions affecting tanker routes near the Strait of Hormuz.
MSC has suspended all cargo bookings to the Middle East and instructed vessels in the Gulf region and those en route to proceed to designated shelter locations amid rising security risks near Hormuz and Bab el-Mandeb.
Trump ordered U.S. Development Finance Corporation to offer political risk insurance and guarantees for Gulf shipping after war-risk cover was withdrawn, and raised the option of tanker escorts.
Iran’s IRGC warned that the Hormuz route is closed and vessels attempting passage would be attacked, raising fresh operational and insurance risk for tanker trades.
Crowley said the U.S.-flagged tanker Stena Imperative was hit while docked in Bahrain, killing one shipyard worker. The ship suffered “aerial impacts,” and an onboard fire was quickly extinguished.
