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Red Sea and Suez Canal Traffic Increases But Carriers Still Avoid Transits
June 5 marked a historic day for the Suez Canal as it is 50 years since it reopened after the Arab-Israeli War of June 1967 closed the canal for eight years. Egypt marked the occasion as it again attempts to rebuild traffic in the canal following the attacks of the...
New Zealand Calls for Banning Substandard Vessels Based on 2023 Incident
Maritime investigators in New Zealand are calling for the banning of substandard ships from the country’s water to avoid potential disasters. In the wake of the release of the final report on the near catastrophic incidents involving container ship Shiling, which...
Australia Releases Report Confirming Finding Cook’s HMB Endeavour Wreck
The Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) released its final report detailing its conclusion that a wreck lying on the seabed in Newport Harbor, Rhode Island, is the famed HM Bark Endeavour, which carried Capt. James Cook and his crew on their voyage of...
It’s Time for Shipping to Properly Regulate Plastic Pollution
In the vast expanses of the world's oceans, a silent yet pervasive threat is taking shape: nurdles. These tiny, pre-production plastic pellets, measuring between 2 to 5 millimeters in diameter, are fundamental to the plastics industry, serving as the building blocks...
Vessel and Crew Abandonment Surge in 2025 on Course for Worst Year
The abandonment of vessels and their crews is running significantly ahead of the rate in 2024 and is on track to a new record warns the International Transport Workers’ Federation. The association of transport unions is reiterating its long-standing call for more...
Research Confirms Digital Port Queuing System Also Cuts Shipping Emissions
Researchers based in California studied the electronic reservation system established for containerships and have now concluded that the digital port queuing system is low-hanging fruit that can help drastically cut shipping emissions. They are the latest to endorse...
Sitka, a Small Town in Alaska, Resoundingly Rejects Cruise Ship Limits
There has been a growing focus in many destinations around the world on the challenges as cruise ships get larger and efforts to limit or even ban large cruise ships grow. A small town in southern Alaska, Sitka (population 8,300) however bucked the trend by rejecting...
Dismantling Contract Awarded for Nuclear Aircraft Carrier USS Enterprise
The U.S. Department of Defense confirmed on Friday, May 30, that the dismantling contract for ex-USS Enterprise has been awarded. It marks the official end to the process that began several years ago after the first U.S. Navy nuclear aircraft carrier was...
Coast Guard Cutter Delivers 13 Tonnes of Cocaine to Port Everglades
The crew of the Coast Guard cutter USCGC Thetis have offloaded nearly 30,000 pounds of cocaine onto the dock at Port Everglades, Florida, the product of four different interdictions in the Eastern Pacific. Unusually, the majority of the drugs were found...
Port of Tilbury Proposes Second Expansion as Part of Thames Freeport
Forth Ports operator of the Port of Tilbury located near London in the UK, released plans for a large expansion, which they are calling T3. It would represent a nearly 10 percent increase in the land area for the port which is reported to be the largest multi-modal...
Panama Registry Cracks Down on STS Actions to Stop Shadow Fleet
The Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) is taking further actions to crack down on suspicious tankers by establishing new rules for ship-to-ship oil transfers for vessels in its registry. It is the latest in a series of steps responding to international pressure to stop...
Groundbreaking Electric Tour Vessel Evacuates All Passengers Over Smoke
The world's first all-electric, zero-emissions passenger vessel conducted an emergency evacuation of hundreds of passengers on Tuesday after smoke was spotted coming from a battery compartment. No one was injured, and the operator believes that it has identified the...
Fire on Offshore Oil Platform at Vietnam’s First Decommissioning Project
Vietnamese officials confirmed that there was a devastating fire at the Song Doc offshore oil platform on Wednesday. The platform is the country’s first decommissioning project. An unconfirmed report in the Viet Nam News and appearing in the other local outlets...
Western Sanctions Take Big Bite Out of Sovcomflot’s Results
Russia’s tanker operator PAO Sovcomflot is citing the impact of the Western sanctions on the company’s results. It reported a significant drop in revenues and a loss for the first quarter of 2025 along with recording a non-cash impairment related to the fleet. The...
More Delays and Cost Overruns for Troubled Scottish Ferry Glen Rosa
The deeply troubled construction project to deliver two LNG-fueled ferries for Scotland’s CalMac continued to experience problems. Shipbuilder Ferguson Marine confirmed that the delivery of the second of the ferries, Glen Rosa will yet again be delayed by up...
Indian Port on Security Alert After Tanker Arrives with Pakistani Crew
The latest demonstration of the uneasy standoff between India and Pakistan is playing out in the Indian port of Paradip on India’s east coast far away from Pakistan. Port officials are confirming that the port was placed on a security alert after a tanker arrived with...
Port of Tilbury Proposes Second Expansion as Part of Thames Freeport
Forth Ports operator of the Port of Tilbury located near London in the UK, released plans for a large expansion, which they are calling T3. It would represent a nearly 10 percent increase in the land area for the port which is reported to be the largest multi-modal...
Major Cargo Fire Breaks Out on Bulker in Amsterdam
On Thursday, a large fire broke out in the hold of a bulker in Amsterdam's western port district, sending noxious smoke over a large area of the city and prompting an air-quality alert. Firefighting efforts continued into Friday morning. At about 1700 hours...
Israel Bombs Two Houthi-Controlled Ports and Warns of More Actions
The Israel Defense Force late on Friday, May 16, launched two powerful attacks on the Houthi-controlled ports of Hodeidah and Al-Salif saying that they believed the ports would be out of commission for months. The Israelis also warned of more attacks if the Houthis...
Cruise Ship Gets in Hot Water, Fined for Scenic Sail By That Got Too Close
The passengers were marveling recently at the wonderful views from the deck of the luxury cruise ship Silver Ray as the captain maneuvered the ship to view the coastal treasures of Italy. While everyone thought it was a spectacular scene as the vessel...
Vessel Allocation as on 17th May 2025
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How Freight Forwarders Can Contribute to Maritime Decarbonization
A freight forwarder is an organization that helps other companies manage freight transportation across transport modes and geographies. As freight moves from one location, like a factory in China, to another destination, like a distribution centre in Kansas, it will...
Top Admiral Says India Was Prepared to Strike Port of Karachi
On Saturday, just at the point when the conflict between India and Pakistan was threatening to escalate out of control, the United States brokered an immediate ceasefire between the two nuclear armed countries. The agreement was still holding as of midday Sunday,...
Mexico Agrees to Phased-in Rollout of Lowered Cruise Passenger Head Tax
After pressure from the cruise industry and concerns raised by local government in the states where cruises contribute to the economy, Mexico’s federal government has reportedly agreed to a lower amount and phased-in rollout to the hefty head tax planned for...
Morocco’s Tanger Med Wins Contract to Upgrade Liberia’s Ports
Morocco is further expanding its footprint in the African port sector with a new deal to modernize Liberia’s major ports. Last week, the Liberian National Port Authority (NPA) signed a modernization agreement with Tanger Med Engineering, a subsidiary of Tanger...
Mooring Lines in Poor Condition Caused Cargo RoRo Endurance to Break Free
Worn-out mooring lines that were not replaced on time are being called the reason a US-flagged cargo RoRo broke free from its dock and out-of-control hit a pier and dry dock at the Port of Bremerhaven in Germany. Germany's Federal Bureau of Maritime Casualty...
Port of Los Angles Foresees “Precipitous Drop” in Next Week’s Cargo Volumes
Speaking on CNBC’s Squawk Box program this morning (April 29), the Port of Los Angeles’ Executive Director Gene Seroka forecasted a “precipitous drop” in volumes coming to the port as the impact of the Trump tariffs begins to materialize. Seroka was the latest in a...
Report: Houthis are Detaining and Threatening Vessels in Ras Isa Port
Multiple reports are coming from Yemen that the Houthis have been denying permission for vessels to depart the Ras Isa port complex in the two weeks since U.S. forces attacked the oil terminal facilities. The UK Maritime Trade Operations which monitor the region said...
New Alliances Begin to Impact Containership Schedule Reliability
The first monthly data has appeared since the major container carrier alliances began to shift, and it is showing a positive impact on schedule reliability. The analysts at Sea-Intelligence highlight that the sector remains in transition with the move to the new...
Port Operations in Bandar Abbas, Iran Remain Heavily Disrupted
Iran’s clerical leaders are attempting to suppress discussion in Iran on the causes of the explosion in Bandar Abbas port on April 26. The official narrative pushes the idea that the explosion was caused by a safety breach in handling hazardous material. Officials are...
Iranian Arms Ship Makes Northbound Transit Through the Suez Canal
A sanctioned Iranian cargo vessel, which in the past is likely to have been involved with shipping arms to Syria, has just completed a northerly passage up the Red Sea. The Iranian-owned cargo vessel Elyana (IMO: 9165827) was located on May 3, underway...
Trump Order Puts Deep Sea Mining on Path to Commercialization
On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed a much-anticipated executive order that will set up an American permitting process for deep sea mining in international waters, beyond the U.S. outer continental shelf. The order directs the Commerce Department to...
Massive Container Explosion Was Caused By Self-Heating Chemical Cargo
The dramatic container explosion aboard the boxship YM Mobility at Ningbo last year was caused by thermal runaway in a cargo of organic peroxides, according to China's Maritime Safety Administration (CMSA). It is the latest in a long string of container...
RWE is Latest to Stop U.S. Offshore Wind Activities
German renewable energy giant RWE is set to announce that it has stopped its offshore activities in the United States and setting higher requirements for future investments because of the “political developments.” The company follows TotalEnergies, Shell, and BP which...
Chinese EV Manufacturer BYD Takes Delivery of Largest Capacity Car Carrier
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD and shipbuilder China Merchants are highlighting the delivery of the world’s largest capacity car carrier. The naming ceremony took place for BYD Shenzhen on April 22 in Yizheng, China as the new vessel prepares for...
US Donates Decommissioned Cutters to Tunisia to Bolster Regional Security
The U.S. government is continuing its support to strengthen the capabilities of the Tunisian armed forces to enable them to respond effectively to a fragile security situation and a worsening immigrant crisis in the northern Africa region. According to U.S. officials...
USCG Polar Star Starts Final Phase of Life Extension Program
The Coast Guard has initiated the final of five planned phases of the service life extension program (SLEP) for Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star, the service’s sole operational heavy icebreaker. Polar Star arrived at Mare Island Dry Dock in Vallejo,...
Shipping Industry Joins with China Calling for U.S. to Reconsider Port Fees
While recognizing the Trump administration softened the financial impact of its port fees on Chinese-built shipping for many carriers, the shipping industry was quick to respond raising serious concerns after the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office released the...
Port of Rotterdam Hosts Pilot to Test Steps for Ammonia Bunkering
The first test steps were undertaken at the Port of Rotterdam to test the port’s capabilities for future ammonia bunkering operations. Rotterdam is the world’s second-largest bunker port and expects that ammonia-fueled vessels requiring bunkering will begin in 2026 or...
Hamburg Proceeds with Shore Power at All Terminals for Large Containerships
Less than a year after becoming the first port in Europe to offer shore power for large containerships, Hamburg, Germany is on track to complete the installation of shore power capabilities at all its terminals for large containerships. Testing commenced last week at...
Study: Majority of Scotland’s Coastal Vessels Untracked Operate Without AIS
Scotland is largely operating blind in the management of its marine resources according to new research published this week as part of a project designed to create a better understanding of the exposure of whales, dolphins, and seals to coastal shipping. It emerged...
Container Volume Rebounds in Black Sea, Driven By Ukrainian Ports
The Black Sea container terminals of Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine handled 1,313,392 TEU in 2024, including empty containers and transshipment. This review examines the laden container volumes of these countries imported and exported by sea only, since...
White House Seeks Deep Cuts at NOAA
Internal budget documents leaked to the media Friday suggest that the Trump White House wants to cut funding for NOAA's National Ocean Service in half, move the National Marine Fisheries Service to the Department of the Interior, end the Sea Grant program for...
Aging Shadow Tanker Uses STS to Second Shadow Tanker to Skirt Indian Ban
The shipper of a cargo of Russian crude oil loaded aboard a sanctioned shadow tanker has found a creative way around Indian regulations that were barring the ship from offloading. A second tanker, also sanctioned in the west and operating in the shadow fleet moving...
Op-Ed: We Need New Cross-Industry Collaboration to Reach Net Zero
Coming from Switzerland, the International Year of Glacier Preservation and World Water Day’s glacier theme strike a chord with me. I have witnessed the alarming retreat of Swiss glaciers firsthand—a 65% ice loss since 1850, with 10% gone in just 2022-2023. Maritime...
Iran Probes for New Maritime Routes Into Lebanon
Reports from Israel suggest that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force is making progress in its search for new routes into Lebanon, following the destruction of the traditional smuggling routes into Lebanon by Israel in recent months. A primary...
Ports and Businesses Brace for Impact From Heavy Tariffs
Markets reacted negatively on Monday after President Donald Trump's announcement of sweeping tariffs on major trading partners, including an additional 34 percent tariff on China. The Dow fell four percent, the S&P 500 dropped five percent, the Nasdaq was...
Stena Presents Futuro Concept RoRo that Would Reduce Energy Usage 20%
Stena Line, one of Europe's leading ferry companies and a pioneer with advanced designs, presented its latest thinking for Stena Futuro, a RoRo that would reduce energy usage by 20 percent or more. The company’s goal is an overall 30 percent reduction in its CO2...
Project Outlines Process for Converting Standard Bulk Carrier to Methanol
A new project led by the Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping addressed the challenges and processes required to convert one of the largest segments of the current global shipping fleet, the Kamsarmax bulk carrier, for dual-fuel methanol operations....
Nationwide Strike Paralyzes Belgium’s Ports, Airports, and Services
Upset by Belgium’s new collation government’s plans for budget cutting, public and private workers walked on their jobs on Monday, March 31, for a 24-hour strike that stopped many parts of Belgium for the day. Officials for the Port of Antwerp-Bruges said the...
Local News
Malaysia, China to unlock services sector’s potential in digital, green tech
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia aims to fully unlock the potential of its services sectors through enhanced collaborations with China, particularly in the areas of digital economy, green technology, and connectivity. Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry’s (MITI) Services...
Service tax exemption on ship and aircraft leasing clarified by MOF
The exemption aims to maintain the competitiveness of Malaysia’s local industries. Without the exemption, local ship and aircraft owners might register their assets abroad, reducing economic activity in Malaysia. The MOF stated that taxation could drive owners to...
Sepanggar welcomes Singapore shipping route
Kota Kinabalu: Sapangar Bay Container Port (SBCP) welcomed the maiden call of the Ji Yun 16, operated by Warisan Shipping Line under its newly launched Singapore Express Service. The service connects Muara – Sapangar – Singapore – Muara on a regular schedule,...
Johor leads Malaysia in growth for the first time, charting a new economic era
MALAYSIA: Johor has emerged as Malaysia’s fastest-growing state in 2024, recording an economic growth rate of 6.4% compared to the national average of 5.1%, according to the Department of Statistics Malaysia’s July 2025 report. In a Facebook post on Tuesday (Aug 13),...
Finance Ministry defends exemption, says to stop ship, plane owners from registering abroad as Malaysia’s neighbours don’t tax leases
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 16 — The service tax exemption on ship and aircraft leasing was not done discreetly, with the exemption aimed at maintaining local industry competitiveness, says the Ministry of Finance (MOF). The MOF emphasised that the imposition of such a tax...
Finance Minister II : Budget 2026 will address cost of living
PUTRAJAYA: The government’s upcoming 2026 Budget will focus on safeguarding public welfare while addressing structural economic challenges, said Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan. Speaking at the opening of the Budget 2026 consultation sessions here...
Focus On US Tariff Impact On Asia
After US President Trump’s 1 August tariff deadline came to an end and as investors watch what will happen in the US-China trade talks, Swiss private bank Julius Baer shares its insights on the impact on Asia’s asset allocation and economies. After the market...
Top global leaders to attend Asean Summit
CYBERJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced the attendance of an unprecedented gathering of global leaders at the Asean Summit, including US President Donald Trump, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, South African President Cyril...
Vietnam eyes expanded exports to Halal markets via Malaysia gateway
Vietnam is seeking to boost exports to Halal markets through Malaysia, which is viewed as a strategic gateway to the global market, heard a business forum in Ho Chi Minh City on August 7. Vietnam – Malaysia trade reached 14.2 billion USD in 2024. In the first half of...
Westports posts stronger earnings in 2Q, sees resilient demand ahead
KUALA LUMPUR: Westports Holdings Bhd sees resilient global trade and regional shipping trends driving future demand, according to executive chairman Datuk Ruben Emir Gnanalingam. “The US economy remained resilient despite trade tariffs, whereas the region’s...
Malaysia SME Association presses Putrajaya for urgent SST review in wake of US tariffs
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 — The SME Association of Malaysia has urged the government to urgently review the Sales and Services Tax (SST) framework in response to a new 19 per cent tariff on Malaysian exports to the United States. The association said the tariff, which...
Malaysia’s data centre boom set to create over 30,000 jobs by 2030
[KUALA LUMPUR] Malaysia’s data centre boom is becoming a powerful engine for employment, with projections indicating significant job growth by the end of the decade. According to the Asia-Pacific Data Centre Association (APDCA), the sector is set to create 30,900 jobs...
Malaysian manufacturers optimistic as sector nears stabilisation, demand improves
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 — Malaysia's manufacturing sector moved closer to stabilisation in July as business conditions showed the softest deterioration in five months, according to the latest S&P Global PMI data. The seasonally adjusted Malaysia Manufacturing PMI rose...
‘Malaysia moving at own pace’
COUNTRIES like Singapore and South Korea have integrated artificial intelligence-enabled surveillance, predictive logistics and cyber command structures into their militaries. How does Malaysia’s cyber and AI modernisation trajectory compare with regional peers and...
People-centric initiatives boost MSME sector in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: Recent government measures aimed at easing financial burdens on Malaysians are expected to provide significant relief to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcements include continued fuel...
Malaysia: how proactive enforcement measures and harsh penalties are shaping a culture of compliance
In summary This article provides an overview of what is considered engaging in cartel behaviour in Malaysia with reference to recent decisions made by the Malaysian Competition Commission (MyCC). Discussion points What amounts to cartel behaviour What are the...
Johor drives transport upgrades, Singapore links
Johor government is doubling down on efforts to upgrade its public transport systems, especially at key cross-border checkpoints, in a move to boost connectivity with Singapore ahead of Visit Johor 2026. With over 60,000 daily commuters crossing between Johor and...
Malaysia’s export-oriented businesses fret as deadline for US tariff deal draws near
KUALA LUMPUR – As Malaysian trade negotiators race against the clock to seal a deal that could reduce the Trump administration’s 25 per cent tariff rate before the Aug 1 deadline, the business community continues to grapple with the uncertainty. Given the...
China-Malaysia visa-free agreement: A golden gateway for tourism and logistics
In a world where travel often feels like a maze of forms and border checks, the recent extension of the mutual visa-free agreement between Malaysia and China is nothing short of a breath of fresh air. For five more years, citizens of both countries can now move across...
Malaysia’s export-oriented businesses fret as deadline for US tariff deal draws near
BANTING: The government is actively exploring ways to expand biodiesel usage nationwide as part of its push for cleaner and more sustainable fuel alternatives, said Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani. He noted that while Malaysia’s...



































































