American Ocean Minerals and Odyssey Marine Exploration in $1BN merger With ocean critical minerals high on the Trump Administration agenda, American Ocean Minerals Corporation (AOMC) and Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. (NASDAQ: OMEX) report that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement
Panama Ports Company escalates dispute with Maersk, Panama Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison said that its subsidiary, Panama Ports Company S.A. (PPC), has initiated arbitration proceedings against Danish shipping group A.P. Moller-Maersk while also expanding its claims against the Republic of
Metal Shark delivers patrol vessel to Massachusetts State Police Louisiana-based boatbuilder Metal Shark has announced the delivery of a new 55 Defiant NXT patrol vessel to the Massachusetts State Police Marine Unit. Designed in-house by Metal Shark and built at the
Ocean Alliance launches direct container service with Jacksonville The Ocean Alliance is now offering direct container service connecting the Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) with key markets in Asia. Operated on a weekly basis, the Chesapeake Bay Express (CBX) container service
Strait of Hormuz: How long until trapped ships can evacuate conflict zone? The announcement of a ceasefire in the U.S.-Israeli conflict with the Iranian regime has raised hopes of the Strait of Hormuz reopening and normalcy returning to world shipping routes. Those hopes look
VIDEO: Advanced new D.E.E.P. propeller blade enters production phase In a 3D printing breakthrough, a U.K.-based consortium led by Enki Marine Ltd has completed an 815-millimeter, 45 kilogram, section of a next-generation nickel aluminum bronze marine propeller blade using the process
ONEX Group revives Greek shipbuilding The ONEX Group has officially marked a new era for the Greek maritime industry with a symbolic keel-laying ceremony at Elefsis Shipyards . This milestone activates a state-of-the-art production line dedicated to high-specification tugs, representing the first major step in restoring Greece's domestic shipbuilding capabilities. Strategic partnership and production plan The project centers on the R
USA port push: Strategic tool or tactical patch? The Port Infrastructure Development Program is being reframed as a pillar of US maritime revival but whether it can carry that weight depends on decisions still unmade
Trump's Hormuz maneuver: From military ultimatum to ceasefire U.S. President Donald Trump has successfully pivoted from the brink of total war to a strategic diplomatic opening, securing a two-week ceasefire with Iran tied to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The global shipping industry, which held its breath as oil prices surged past $105 per barrel, is now watching closely as the "maximum pressure" tactic shifts toward the negotiating table in Islam
ONE announces update to East Coast South America service SX2 Ocean Network Express has announced the commencement details and terminal information for its enhanced East Coast South America (SX2) service, following a previous update issued in February. The revised SX2 service will connect major ports across Asia and South America, strengthening trade links and improving schedule reliability for customers operating in these regions. The updated rotation for
Freightos Weekly Update: Freight rates elevated, but mostly level, as war stretches on We are approaching six weeks since Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, and only a few vessels per day are being allowed through. Ships that are transiting are doing so via coordination with Iran and possibly payments ahead of time, which this week included a CMA CGM container vessel, the first from one of the major European carriers. Besides containers moving to or from the Gulf states, ocean opera
Trump announces two-week ceasefire with Iran tied to Hormuz reopening U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a two-week ceasefire agreement with Iran, linking the deal to the immediate and secure reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The announcement came shortly before the expiration of a critical deadline, following diplomatic contacts involving Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, who urged a pause in planned military
CMA CGM updates PSS and RRI for key trade lanes CMA CGM has announced new pricing adjustments affecting trade lanes from China to West Africa and from Canada to Europe and North Africa. These updates come as part of the carrier's ongoing efforts to maintain reliable and efficient services amid fluctuating market conditions. Peak Season Surcharge: China to West Africa Effective April 16, 2026 , CMA CGM will implement a Peak Season Surcharge (PS
Xiamen Feihongshun upsizes boxship fleet with newbuild pair in China Chinese non-operating owner Xiamen Feihongshun Shipping has placed orders for two containership newbuildings at domestic yards, stepping up its presence in the feeder and mid-size segments. The company has contracted Jiangsu Zhiyuan Shipbuilding to build a 4,350 teu vessel, marking its largest ship to date, while Ningbo Boda Shipbuilding will construct a smaller 3,300 teu ...
Markets cheer truce, ships hesitate at chokepoint Vessel tracking services show that last night's news of the Middle East détente has yet to translate into a significant resumption in marine traffic along one of the world's key energy chokepoints. In a dramatic eleventh-hour reprieve, a tentative two-week ceasefire has been agreed between the United States and Iran, narrowly averting a catastrophic escalation. ...
US investor takes control of container specialist CS Leasing Global container lessor CS Leasing has changed hands, with New York-based ITE Management acquiring the business in a deal that shifts ownership of one of the sector's larger specialist fleets. The transaction, completed through ITE-managed funds for an undisclosed price, sees the US investor take control of a platform focused on ISO tank containers and ...
Baker Hughes lands Argentina FLNG-linked equipment order Oilfield services giant Baker Hughes has secured a strategic order for equipment linked to two FLNG projects in Argentina. The San Matias Pipeline Company ordered three gas compression units for a major natural gas pipeline project in Argentina. The order consists of three gas turbines equipped with three centrifugal compressors, along with commissioning services, spare ...
Geneva Dry Dialogues: VTS Shipping Istanbul-based marine surveyor and bunker specialist VTS Shipping is heading into Geneva Dry 2026 with a focus on what works in practice, as new technology beds in and market pressure builds across segments. Managing partner Captain Ali Ihtiyaroglu says some of the long-discussed technologies are now delivering measurable results at sea. "Wind-assisted propulsion has crossed ...
Bumi Armada CEO Gary Neal Christenson steps down early The chief executive of Malaysian floater and vessel contractor Bumi Armada, Gary Neal Christenson, has stepped down from his role. Christenson's term as CEO was supposed to expire on May 15, 2026, but he requested an early release. He has also stepped down from the board of directors and from his roles in the company's ...
Infamous shadow tanker readies for demolition in Pakistan The 300,000 dwt VLCC Mali, a 2001-built vintage tanker with a colourful past, is now lying idle at anchor off Karachi under the Aruba flag after being reported sold for scrap. Previously known as Ceres I and subject to sanctions, the vessel displays clear dark fleet characteristics. As Ceres I, the tanker was involved in a ...
Nam Cheong strengthens backlog with $25m charter wins Malaysia-based offshore marine group Nam Cheong has secured OSV charter contracts of up to RM102.5m ($25.8m). The contracts comprise one anchor-handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel and one maintenance work vessel, to be chartered for a firm period of up to two years, commencing in 2026, with options for an additional one-year extension. The AHTS vessel ...
Eastern Pacific adds fresh suezmax pair in China push Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) has booked a pair of suezmax newbuildings in China as it works to bolster its crude tanker fleet. Shipbuilding sources say the Idan Ofer-led company has contracted CSSC-controlled Guangzhou Shipyard International (GSI) for two 157,000 dwt crude carriers, with delivery expected around 2028. The Singapore-based owner has been reshaping its tanker ...
Petronas inks Suriname subsea alliance with Subsea7 and SLB OneSubsea The Suriname arm of Malaysian giant Petronas has signed a strategic collaboration agreement with Subsea Integration Alliance, which comprises Subsea7 and SLB OneSubsea. The agreement creates a long-term framework for close collaboration on field development projects in Suriname. Through early engagement and integrated execution, the collaboration aims to simplify complex procurement processes, re
Hutchison takes Maersk to court over Panamanian fallout Panama Ports Company (PPC), a subsidiary of Hong Kong's CK Hutchison, has filed arbitration against Maersk, accusing the Danish group of seeking to replace its operations in the Panama Canal. The legal proceedings go alongside an existing case Hutchison has launched against the Panamanian government over the decision earlier this year to scrap its concessions ...
In-demand cable-layers get the supersize treatment Many sectors in commercial shipping have welcomed new size records in recent years. So too, cable-layers, a segment suddenly in much demand with undersea infrastructure coming under multiple attacks across the world, especially in the Baltic and in Taiwan. Jan De Nul has just celebrated the launch of the William Thomson, one of two giant ...
What war reveals about energy security Should the energy transition be reframed as a trade resilience strategy, asks Mariam Tzannatos, decarbonisation analyst and Maritime Strategies International. The conflict in the Middle East has once again exposed a structural feature of the global energy system: concentration risk. Roughly one-fifth of global oil trade transits the Strait of Hormuz. LNG flows from Qatar ...
Black Sea oil hubs in crosshairs after drone strikes Ukraine has stepped up its campaign against Russian energy infrastructure, with drone strikes hitting key export facilities around the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. Russia said attacks damaged the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal, including a single point mooring (SPM), loading infrastructure and four large storage tanks. The CPC terminal, located southwest of Novorossiysk, is ...
With no improvement at Hormuz, rate pressure builds in crowded Atlantic The crude freight market on the day after the ceasefire announcement was the same as it was the day before...
Shipping seeks clarity over Tehran toll booth requirements for Hormuz safe passage Iran's approval regime for Hormuz transits remains intact despite a tentative ceasefire, with non-US/Israel affiliated vessels facing a slow, opaque...
Hormuz ceasefire spurs cautious optimism but no rush for the exit Shipping companies have met news of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran with cautious optimism, but no rush...
International Group to foot $350m recovery from Dali bridge insurer Liability could eventually run to billions of dollars
Ukraine continues investigation into master of arrested vessel Ukraine's security service said the master entered Kerch on a sanctioned tanker in 2024 and exported grain through occupied Crimea...
CK Hutchison's Panama unit slaps arbitration against Maersk over port control CK Hutchison is now fighting on two fronts, pursuing separate arbitrations against both Panama and Maersk over the seizure of...
IMO's flag fraud debate moves from awareness to action The IMO knows it has a fake flag problem, and needs a coordinated global response to it. What that response...
Greeks pile up tanker orders despite Iran crisis Venergy Maritime takes tanker orderbook to 24 with further suezmax and LR2 contracts as confidence in tanker trade appears undented
Middle East port update: Wednesday, April 8 Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continues to be disrupted
The Daily View: Who goes there? Seaborne trade is being divided down geopolitical lines
Shipowners and charterers prepare to move after US and Iran agree ceasefire A temporary US-Iran ceasefire has prompted shipowners to prepare rapid departures from the Middle East Gulf, where more than 800...
Daily Briefing Iranian activity drives increase in Strait of Hormuz traffic | Hormuz crisis spurs surge in Panama Canal tanker transits |...
CMA CGM taps Jaxport as newest call for Asia express service Jacksonville will have its third direct service from the Far East starting in June as the port looks to fill its upgraded Blount Island container terminal.
FedEx Freight plans diversification as spin-off date approaches The largest US LTL carrier looks to add new business in the healthcare, food, and energy sectors and among small businesses to grow volume and improve profitability.
Evergreen adds to order book with deal for six 24,000-TEU vessels The carrier said the ships, with a combined value of up to $1.8 billion, will be deployed on Asia-Europe services as part of a strategic plan to increase the size of vessels serving that trade by 2030.
Ocean carriers wait for clarity on safe Hormuz passage after US-Iran ceasefire As part of the deal, Iran said it would allow shipping to resume through the strait with vessel passages coordinated by the Iranian military, but it has not yet issued any technical details.
End to Iran war would support bulker markets but ceasefire brings 'mixed bag', say analysts Ceasefire is a hopeful sign, but analysts say much is left to play out for bulker markets.
Iran says it has halted tanker transits in Hormuz over Israeli attacks All eyes turn back to US government as statement emerges only hours after ceasefire agreement
Trump's Federal Maritime chair sets sights on boosting US-flag shipping Chairman Laura DiBella says agency will work with MARAD to use regulatory powers to induce cargo onto US-flag ships
Futures fears: FFA experts brace for disputes as Hormuz closure clouds VLCC rate assessments The closure has taken the benchmark Middle East tanker route out of action, leaving traders in the dark
Scorpio Tankers selling upsized $325m bond issue as it plots share buyback New York-listed tanker giant adding to cash pile with private offering
'Tehran tollbooth' could be worth $500bn as Strait of Hormuz fees hold key to peace talks An illegal system of transit payments could be formalised in peace deal
Strait of Hormuz chaos 'unresolved and unpredictable' after last-minute ceasefire Shipowners and insurers are drilling down into the details of the 11th-hour reprieve
Sanctioned tanker resumes crude loadings from key Russian terminal after two weeks Baltic port of Ust-Luga had been damaged in Ukrainian drone attacks
Evalend bulker among 10 ships seizing olive branch to escape Strait of Hormuz Ship trackers also log Iranian vessels continuing to move out oil
Arriva Shipping signs long-term charters as Norwegian owner renews fleet Chief executive sees continued cost inflation impacting profit
Marine insurance giants digest ceasefire 'rollercoaster' as heightened risk remains in Gulf Questions remain over Iranian toll proposals, reparations and other key issues amid two-week pause
US regulators reject all container carriers' bids to impose snap rate increases for Hormuz crisis Maersk, CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd among lines rejected in FMC consumer protection push
'Tehran tollbooth' could be worth $500bn as Strait of Hormuz fees hold key to peace talks An illegal system of transit payments could be formalised in peace deal
Shipowning newcomer sells on two former Hafnia tankers at firm price Brokers say Paragon Mobility has offloaded LR1s acquired in 2023
Pistiolis tanker outfit goes for second share reduction this year as stock drops Athens-based owner will carry out one-for-10 split
Greek shipowner John Dragnis inks VLGC brace as part of major energy push Newbuilding deal extends strategic expansion across multiple segments
HPH Trust profit climbs as refinancing risks loom Port operator warns of rising costs despite stronger earnings
Israeli army warns ships to avoid Lebanese coast after attack claim Alert comes as a result of recent Hezbollah activity
Two weeks 'too short' to resolve Strait of Hormuz tanker tangle, Arctic says Analyst expects VLCC 'disequilibrium' outside the Middle East will last
New Marinakis tanker firm set for $90m-plus profit this year, tips Fearnley Securities Oslo-listed tanker owner's newbuilding options are already in the money, Norwegian bank says
Tankers could have priority as owners eye Gulf exodus Fearnley Securities says other ships may have to wait as much-needed crude and product cargoes are shipped out
Nearly 100 VLCCs turn away from Middle East just as Iran reopens Strait of Hormuz Empty tankers gathered off India had given up on ceasefire, BRS believes
Shipping stocks fall sharply after US-Iran ceasefire Deal to pause the fighting was already priced in, DNB Carnegie says
Dozens of VLCCs turned away from Middle East just as Iran re-opens Strait of Hormuz Empty tankers gathered off India had given up on ceasefire, BRS believes
Himalaya Shipping earns premium for newcastlemax bulkers in March Owner reveals average TCE earnings of $32,000 per day
First vessels seek to exit Strait of Hormuz after ceasefire Owners and insurers scrutinise agreement that will bring two-week pause in fighting
Trump and Iran strike 'fragile' and 'fluid' ceasefire deal that opens Strait of Hormuz Tehran confirmation sets stage for fragile truce and tanker market rebound
How sanctioned tanker owners are sullying the flag of the landlocked African nation of Botswana Lobby group says false flags have shifted from a niche evasion tactic to a systemic vulnerability in maritime governance
Ports operator launches arbitration proceedings against Maersk over Panama terminal dispute Panama Ports Co alleges contract breach tied to government-backed takeover
Iran accepts ceasefire after Trump pushes back ultimatum Tehran confirmation sets stage for fragile truce and tanker market rebound
FAA approves 1st Boeing 777-200 passenger-to-freighter conversion The Federal Aviation Administration has certified Mammoth Freighters LLC, a startup aerospace firm backed by Fortress Investment Group, to convert Boeing 777-200 Long-Range passenger aircraft into dedicated cargo jets capable of carrying containers on the main deck, the company announced on Wednesday. It is the first time that a 777-200 converted freighter has been built. Meanwhile, Ethiopian Air
SONAR Launches Bulk Trucking Contract Rate Benchmarks via API, Bringing Pricing Transparency to One of Freight's Most Opaque Segments First standardized, accessible bulk freight rate data delivers outbound state-based pricing and round trip rates to shippers, carriers, and logistics operators CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - April 8 2026 - SONAR today announced the launch of Bulk Rates within the SONAR API, delivering the first standardized contract rate benchmarks for bulk trucking - a segment of the freight market that has historically o
SONAR Expands Coverage Guide with Enhanced Scoring, Richer API Data, and Direct Load Integration via Coverage Guide Connect Three updates to SONAR's load prioritization and coverage strategy tool give carrier sales teams deeper lane intelligence, more actionable guidance, and a live connection between internal freight systems and the market . CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - April 8, 2026- SONAR today announced a significant expansion of Coverage Guide, SONAR's load prioritization and coverage strategy tool, with three updates th
FedEx Freight sets goalposts for standalone business The nation's largest less-than-truckload carrier FedEx Freight provided a framework for operations ahead of its June 1 spinoff from parent FedEx Corp. The separation will allow the carrier to approach the market with a narrowed commercial focus while unlocking shareholder value for both entities. FedEx Freight's management team outlined "medium-term" financial expectations at an investor day in N
Grain, crude lead rail freight surge Weekly commodity rail freight finished higher year-to-date on U.S. railroads even as weaker intermodal offset volume improvements. Total U.S. rail traffic was 501,328 carloads and intermodal units for the week ending April 4, up just 0.1% from the same week a year ago, according to data from the Association of American Railroads. Carloads totaled 229,243 units, up 1% y/y, while intermodal volume
Norfolk Southern awarded control of disputed eastern port rail line The Surface Transportation Board has granted Norfolk Southern's formal request to control the Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line, a terminal switching railroad that serves the Port of Virginia. CSX (NASDAQ: CSX ) and NS (NYSE: NSC ) have been locked in a legal dispute over the NPBL for seven years. NS has controlled the 36-mile NPBL since 1982 by virtue of its 57% ownership stake; CSX owns the other
Kriska snaps up cold-chain carrier Sharp in cross-border play Kriska Transportation Group has acquired Sharp Transportation Systems , a Canada-based carrier specializing in temperature-controlled freight and cross-border logistics, the companies announced. Sharp Transportation, headquartered in Cambridge, Ontario, operates a fleet of about 29 trucks and drivers and focuses on hauling sensitive freight such as pharmaceuticals and refrigerated goods across Ca
New tolls could add $1 a barrel to Hormuz oil While plans to toll vessels could add as much as $1 per barrel to the price of crude oil transiting the Strait of Hormuz, container ships in the Persian Gulf remain trapped despite a ceasefire between the United States and Iran. "Commercial shipping remains tightly constrained relative to pre-conflict levels and skews heavily toward outbound exits," wrote Destine Ozuygur, senior market analyst fo
Trucking company owners sentenced in Postal Service kickback scheme Four defendants in a bribery scheme involving U.S. Postal Service trucking contractors were sentenced to a combined 99 months in federal prison, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas announced Tuesday. According to court documents, a former senior network analyst for the Postal Service, Zechariah Yi of Aurora, Colorado, and a second USPS employee, Tai Ryoung Rho, also of Aurora, pl
California drayage carrier enters bankruptcy amid mounting debts A Southern California-based trucking company focused on port and intermodal freight has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, citing mounting debts tied to leases, vendor obligations and contract disputes. National Road Logistics LLC filed for bankruptcy on Monday in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, according to court documents. The Signal Hill, California-b
Texas cargo theft: how $470k in vehicles almost escaped Authorities in Texas recently intercepted two semi-trucks carrying approximately $470,000 worth of stolen vehicles, believed to be en route to Honduras. While details remain limited, the situation highlights a pattern that continues to surface across cargo theft and freight fraud cases. At a glance, this looks like a straightforward recovery. Law enforcement stepped in, identified stolen freight,
International, PlusAI and Ryder launch autonomous trial on Texas lane International, PlusAI and Ryder have moved autonomous trucking from the test track to live freight operations, running real shipper cargo on the Temple-to-Laredo corridor - one of Texas' more challenging routes and another clear signal that the technology is moving closer to commercial readiness. The trial, which launched in November 2025, puts International LT series trucks powered by PlusAI's S
Kodiak expands driverless trucking beyond Sun Belt to Ohio and Indiana Kodiak AI has completed its first autonomous trucking program outside the Sun Belt, partnering with DriveOhio to test driverless technology on Interstate 70-one of North America's busiest freight corridors. The program brought together the Ohio Department of Transportation and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to show how autonomous trucks can handle critical northern freight route
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