Iran weighs ban on US and Israeli ships in Hormuz
Sam ChambersAugust 7, 2026 Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Iran is considering banning US- and Israeli-linked vessels from transiting the Strait of Hormuz as Tehran and Oman move closer to agreeing a new system for managing traffic through the waterway. A draft bill before Iran’s parliament would prohibit vessels belonging to the US, Israel and…
Iran, Oman signal agreement on Strait of Hormuz route
Published on 2026-08-06 at 09:40 Map of the Strait of Hormuz Shutterstock Iran and Oman have reached a preliminary understanding over the coordinates of a proposed shipping route through the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran seeks a greater role in managing vessel movements through one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints. Iranian Foreign Ministry…
Sweden clears Caffa transfer to Ukraine in landmark ruling
Sam ChambersAugust 6, 2026 NATO Sweden’s Supreme Court has cleared the way for the cargo vessel Caffa to be transferred to Ukraine, establishing a potentially significant precedent for ships accused of trading stolen commodities from Russian-occupied territory. The court refused the owner permission to appeal, leaving earlier decisions by the Ystad District Court and the…
The tariff refunds are landing. On 10 November, a 100% duty on Chinese cranes comes back.
A 100% duty on Chinese-origin ship-to-shore cranes and intermodal chassis returns on 10 November 2026, with the contract exemption closing in April 2027 and a proposed 150% list covering most of the yard behind it. The IEEPA refunds now landing across the equipment sector do not touch any of it — Deere put its unchanged…
Beijing condemns US move to add 40 Chinese firms to UFLPA list
China has blasted the United States for adding more than 40 Chinese entities to the Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act entity list, saying the move undermines the rights of Chinese companies and disrupts global supply chains, reports China Daily. The Ministry of Commerce said the US action was groundless and another attempt to impose unilateral…
Energy Secretary Signals Trump Likely to Extend Jones Act Waiver Again
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright applauds next to U.S. President Donald Trump at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 23, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst Mike Schuler August 4, 2026 U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the Trump administration is likely to extend its temporary emergency waiver of the Jones Act again,…
EU ETS costs shift transhipment flows from Algeciras to Tangier Med
Published on 2026-08-03 at 13:29 APM Terminals Algeciras The introduction of the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) for shipping is beginning to leave a visible mark on container network planning, with carriers starting to shift calls towards non-EU hubs to reduce regulatory exposure. The Port of Algeciras has recorded a decline in transhipment…
EU faces uphill battle for China concessions
With an October deadline looming, Brussels is unlikely to secure major trade concessions from Beijing as structural imbalances and limited leverage weigh on talks, reported Lyons’ Euronews. The EU’s trade deficit with China doubled in five years to EUR360 billion (US$415 billion) in 2025, equal to EUR1 billion a day. European leaders have called the…
Australian watchdog clears Hapag-Lloyd-ZIM deal
Published on 2026-07-30 at 08:30 ZIM container ship Shutterstock Australia’s competition regulator has approved Hapag-Lloyd’s proposed acquisition of Israeli container shipping line ZIM Integrated Shipping Services, concluding the deal is unlikely to substantially lessen competition on container shipping routes between Asia and Australia. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said it had determined under…
The At Berth rule goes to Congress. The ships are already committed elsewhere
Washington has sent the federal authorisation behind California’s At Berth regulation to Congress for disapproval. The cable on a shore-power-fitted ship is safe, because Brussels will require the same connection fourteen months after California’s final deadline. The exposure sits elsewhere — with the ships that complied another way, with transpacific-dedicated tonnage, and with the terminals…
Konecranes, Kalmar secure refunds on US tariff payments
Published on 2026-07-28 at 07:16 Konecranes ASCs at Port of Virginia aerial view Konecranes Crane manufacturers Konecranes and Kalmar have confirmed they applied for and received refunds on US tariffs paid last year after the duties were repealed. The refunds follow a US Supreme Court ruling that found earlier this year that the IEEPA tariffs…
China unveils five-year port modernisation plan
Published on 2026-07-28 at 10:54 Yantian Port Shutterstock China has outlined a five-year programme to modernise its ports, with smart technologies, automation, digital connectivity and greener operations at the centre of its strategy to 2030. The Port Modernisation “15th Five-Year Plan”, issued by China’s General Administration of Customs (GAC) and the National Development and Reform…
US urged to create public container carrier
Sam ChambersJuly 28, 2026 Port of Oakland The United States should consider establishing a publicly backed container shipping line to reduce its dependence on foreign carriers, according to a new report from the Open Markets Institute. The Washington-based antimonopoly group claims six overseas-owned liner companies control nearly 80% of global container capacity and more than…
Trump tariffs return after record import rush
Published on 2026-07-27 at 08:27 Shutterstock U.S. President Donald Trump has announced new tariffs on imports from 60 trading partners as part of a broad Section 301 action targeting what the administration says is their failure to prohibit or effectively prevent imports made with forced labour. The new tariffs are being introduced as the 10%…
US Senate backs China car ban
The US Senate Commerce Committee has approved legislation to strengthen a government ban on Chinese automakers entering the American market, reported Reuters. Senator Ted Cruz, chair of the committee, warned that without changes the bill’s provision banning companies with more than 15 per cent Chinese ownership could block Mercedes-Benz from selling vehicles in the United…
Trump tariff reset clouds liners’ post-peak season
Sam ChambersJuly 24, 2026 White House Donald Trump has imposed a fresh round of double-digit tariffs on 60 trading partners just as this year’s unusually early US container peak season begins to fade. The duties, introduced under Section 301 of the Trade Act, replace temporary worldwide tariffs that expired on Friday. Imports from 18 economies,…
EU moves to approve first Indian ship recycling yards
Sam ChambersJuly 24, 2026 GMS The European Commission has proposed adding two Indian facilities to its approved ship recycling list, potentially ending a decade-long exclusion of South Asian yards from the European regime. The move would mark the first time that recycling facilities in India have been admitted to the European List of Ship Recycling…
POLB, MARAD sign agreement on maritime nuclear energy
Published on 2026-07-23 at 07:51 The agreement was signed on 22 July Port of Long Beach The Port of Long Beach (POLB) has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the US Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) to support the development of small modular reactor (SMR) technology for commercial vessels, ports and other maritime assets.…
EU ETS revamp sparks mixed response from maritime sector
Published on 2026-07-21 at 08:19 European Commission Shutterstock The European Commission has proposed extending the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to smaller vessels, bringing ships between 400 and 5,000 gross tonnage into the bloc’s carbon market as part of a wider overhaul of its climate policy. The proposal also seeks to address the risk…
US steps up Iran sanctions pressure on SeaLead Shipping
Sanctions action against SeaLead have seen it plunge from the 13th largest container line to 80th in the space of a year Marcus Hand,Editor July 22, 2026 Credit: Marcus Hand The US has sanctioned the main operating companies of Sealead Shipping and much of the container line’s remaining fleet. Last week the US Treasury’s Office…
Coast Guard Cuts Merchant Mariner Credential Wait Times to Four Months
FILE PHOTO: A Port State Control inspection in Nine Mile Anchorage on the lower Mississippi River. U.S. Coast Guard Photo Mike Schuler July 21, 2026 The U.S. Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center (NMC) has significantly reduced processing times for merchant mariner credential applications, cutting the expected wait for complete applications to four months as recovery…
EU enact China trade risk task force
The European Commission is creating an emergency task force to prepare for potential crises including a renewed trade conflict with China, a move that reflects Brussels’ growing strategic anxiety, reports Beijing’s Global Times. The task force will be staffed by officials from industry, trade, finance, aid and economic departments, as well as the central unit…
India orders seamen off Hormuz voyages
India has directed shipowners, managers and recruiters not to deploy its seafarers on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz amid renewed fighting in the region, reported Reuters. The Directorate General of Shipping issued the order late Wednesday, citing heightened risks to crews and commercial ships. India is the world’s third-largest supplier of seafarers, with more…
Trump weighs Jones Act waivers
The White House is considering another extension of waivers allowing foreign ships to carry goods between US ports as renewed conflict with Iran raises concerns over energy prices and supply disruptions, reported Reuters. Officials are weighing geographic restrictions on the waivers to limit where foreign-flagged vessels can operate, sources said. The administration argues the measure…
EU Softens Carbon Market to Ease Pressure on Industry
FILE PHOTO: A cargo ship full of containers is seen at the port of Oakland as trade tensions escalate over U.S. tariffs, in Oakland, California, U.S., February 3, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo Reuters July 17, 2026 BRUSSELS, July 17 (Reuters) – The European Commission proposed an overhaul of the EU’s Emissions Trading System on Friday, allowing industries to emit…
Trump Administration Advances First Offshore Critical Minerals Lease Sale Under New Marine Minerals Agency
Polymetallic nodules, such as those shown here, can occur on the ocean floor and are of interest for the critical minerals they contain. Credit: NOAA. Mike Schuler July 16, 2026 The Trump administration has taken another step toward launching a U.S. offshore critical minerals industry, with the newly created Marine Minerals Administration (MMA) releasing a…
Logistics as a driver of the Western Cape export strategy 2035
Jul 16, 2026 at 8:41 AM The government of the South African province of Western Cape has presented its Export Strategy 2035, which focuses on logistics and transport infrastructure to increase exports and enhance the region’s global competitiveness. The strategy identifies inefficient ports, bottlenecks in rail transport, limited air freight capacities, and high logistics costs…
Former logistics reporter set to become Britain’s latest prime minister
Sam ChambersJuly 16, 2026 Andy Burnham website A former logistics journalist who once covered tank containers and bulk-liquid transport is set to become Britain’s next prime minister, completing one of the more unusual career journeys to Downing Street. Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester and newly elected MP for Makerfield, will succeed Sir…
Investigating box production numbers as manufacturers face charges
Published on 2026-07-15 at 07:37 Newly completed containers for PIL at Xiamen Pacific Container Manufacturing Company, a subsidiary of Singamas Group. SINGAMAS Four of the world’s leading manufacturers of maritime containers and seven of their Chinese executives face heavy fines and even lengthy prison sentences following a US Department of Justice (DoJ) investigation into capacity…
EU warns diversification needs funds
The European Union is developing a “solidarity instrument”to help companies diversify critical supplies away from China, but officials warn the plan will require significant funding, reported Bloomberg News. The tool is designed to cushion firms against possible retaliation from Beijing in the event of a trade conflict. Its cost remains unclear, depending on the scale…
Trump pulls U-turn on 20% Hormuz tariff
US blockade of Iran comes back into force as second death from latest VLCC attacks confirmed. Gary Howard,Middle East correspondent July 14, 2026 Image: US Central Command US president Donald Trump has walked back his threat to place a 20% tariff on goods transiting the Strait of Hormuz, less than 24 hours after announcing the…
U.S. Intensifies Sanctions on Iranian Shipping Network as Naval Blockade Resumes
A U.S. Navy carrier strike group steams in formation during operations in the Middle East. U.S. Central Command said more than 20 U.S. Navy warships and hundreds of military aircraft are supporting the renewed maritime blockade of vessels traveling to and from Iranian ports. (U.S. Central Command photo) Mike Schuler July 14, 2026 The Trump…
Thailand moves on transhipment rules at Laem Chabang as relay share slips to 0.7%
Thailand is moving to transform Laem Chabang into a regional transhipment hub by overhauling regulations that have long discouraged relay cargo. With the port’s Phase 3 expansion set to increase capacity to 18m teu, the government is replacing cumbersome approval processes with a more streamlined framework, while a one-year customs “sandbox” is already testing simplified…
Evergreen offices searched in alleged insider trading probe
Published on 2026-07-08 at 10:31 Evergreen said that the investigation has not affected its operations or financial position / Illustration / Archive Shutterstock Taiwanese authorities have launched an investigation into alleged insider trading involving directors and executives of container shipping company Evergreen Marine Corporation. Prosecutors and investigators searched the company’s offices and several private residences…
Panama flag detentions put Chinese carriers in US crosshairs
Adis AjdinJuly 8, 2026 Panama Maritime Authority A US maritime regulator has renewed warnings over China’s detention of Panama-flagged ships, raising the prospect of action against Chinese-controlled carriers in US trades. Laura DiBella, commissioner with the Federal Maritime Commission, said China’s port state control inspections against Panama-flagged vessels had continued “with no sign of abatement”.…
FMC Decision Upheld That Detention Fees During Port Closure Are Unfair
July 8, 2026 © FMC The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit recently issued a decision upholding the Federal Maritime Commission’s (FMC) determination that detention fees levied on a trucker by an ocean common carrier during a three-day port closure were unreasonable. The federal appeals court unanimously denied all aspects of the petition filed…
Netanyahu and Katz urge ZIM sale be scrapped
Sam ChambersJuly 7, 2026 ZIM The proposed sale of ZIM Integrated Shipping Services to Hapag-Lloyd and Israeli private equity firm FIMI is facing its most serious political challenge yet after prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and defence minister Israel Katz came out against the deal. According to Israeli media, the two have urged that the transaction…
Evergreen raided in insider trading probe
Sam ChambersJuly 7, 2026 Evergreen Taiwanese prosecutors have raided the premises of Evergreen Marine as part of an insider trading investigation linked to one of the world’s largest containerlines. The Taipei District Prosecutors Office said investigators searched Evergreen Marine’s offices, the homes of nine suspects and 10 other locations on Monday. Nine people were summoned…
China, EU forge complex trade ties
China and Europe have stepped up high-level meetings and consultations, with observers saying the intensive dialogue signals pragmatism and willingness to resolve differences, reports Beijing’s Global Times. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Danish King Frederik X and Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen in Copenhagen, saying China is ready to strengthen cooperation in green economy,…
EU trade chief sets October deadline
EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic said he expects tangible progress from talks with China by October, following a meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Brussels, reports Reuters. Mr Sefcovic described discussions as “intensive, focused and constructive” and said delegations would continue talks into the evening. He confirmed he had accepted an invitation to travel…
EU, China seek to ease tensions
The European Union and China pledged to address growing trade frictions through dialogue after senior officials met in Brussels, reports Agence France-Presse. EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic said the current imbalance was unsustainable, with Chinese exports to Europe rising while European market share in China shrinks. He stressed “the status quo is not an option”…
US Jones Act controversy intensifies over foreign-flag vessel charters
Arguments over the US Jones Act waiver have deepened with questions over charters of foreign-flagged vessels that have no relation to its stated rationale. Barry Parker,New York Correspondent July 2, 2026 CREDIT: BARRY PARKER The fervour regarding the Jones Act waivers has intensified, putting the traditional media-shy maritime business into the spotlight. The Trump administration…
Coast Guard Issues Notice on Unmanned Vessels
July 1, 2026 Copyright MarineLin.com | gt The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) identified multiple unmanned maritime system (UMS) operations occurring within and near major West Coast port approaches without prior coordination with cognizant Captains of the Port (COTP). The lack of advance notification reduces maritime domain awareness and limits the USCG’s ability to effectively assess operational…
Report Challenges National Security Case for Extended Jones Act Waiver
Oil tanker lines up to sail under Califronia’s Golden Gate Bridge. Photo by Andy Randy Shutterstock Mike Schuler June 30, 2026 A new analysis from maritime consulting firm Navigistics Consulting argues the Trump administration’s emergency Jones Act waiver has failed to deliver its stated objectives, finding no evidence of military necessity or meaningful gasoline price…
China crackdown boosts HK role
China’s campaign against illegal cross-border securities trading could reinforce Hong Kong’s position as a financial hub, economists said at the World Economic Forum’s “Summer Davos” meeting, reports Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post. Diana Choyleva, founder and chief economist at Enodo Economics, told delegates that Beijing’s measures were designed to curb unlawful capital outflows while…
Carbon pricing is becoming a compliance maze
EPS EU ETS, FuelEU Maritime and the IMO’s emerging framework all operate differently. Unless policymakers simplify how they interact, shipowners risk duplicated reporting, higher costs and growing administrative burdens. Philippos Ioulianou from EmissionLink reports. The European Commission’s commitment to prevent shipping companies from being charged twice for the same emissions has been welcomed across the…
EU to tariff Chinese hybrid cars
The European Commission is planning to impose countervailing duties on Chinese plug-in hybrid vehicles once a majority of EU member states approve, reports Dusseldorf’s Handelsblatt daily. Three people involved in the discussions told the newspaper that preparations have been made for the Commission to move ahead with the tariffs. Handelsblatt said the measures would target…
Geopolitical Instability Remains Shipping’s Top Concern for Fourth Straight Year
An EUNAVFOR warship escorts a CMA CGM containership in the Red Sea as part of the EU’s Operation ASPIDES. Photo courtesy EUNAVFOR Mike Schuler June 23, 2026 The global shipping industry continues to view geopolitical instability as its greatest business risk, according to the International Chamber of Shipping’s latest Maritime Barometer, with industry leaders warning…
Experts like soft over hard line tools
Chinese analysts said deep economic interdependence between China and Europe makes cooperation more sustainable than protectionism, after reports the EU delayed a trade confrontation with Beijing, reports Beijing’s Global Times. The Financial Times said EU leaders opted for dialogue at a two-day summit in Brussels, instructing Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to engage constructively…
Berlin backs EU's hard China line
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has urged Plaza Accord-style negotiations on the yuan, saying China’s currency is undervalued by 30 per cent and fuelling industrial overcapacity, reports Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post. Speaking after a European Council summit in Brussels, Mr Merz said China was flooding markets with subsidised goods and an undervalued currency,…
Competing great powers, sanctions and the dark fleet
Geopolitical expert Jacob Shapiro highlights shift to a multi-polar world could have a profound impact on energy trade flows and shipping Barry Parker,New York Correspondent June 22, 2026 Mats Saether, CEO of Nordisk Defense ClubCREDIT: BARRY PARKER Giving a keynote presentation at Marine Money in New York Jacob Shapiro from the Bespoke Group detailed a…
Heavy lift sector welcomes confirmed EU-US tariff deal
Published on 2026-06-18 at 10:01 Transformers have been a staple cargo for the North American heavy-duty railfreight sector. Fracht The European Parliament has rubber-stamped the tariff provisions of last summer’s EU-US trade agreement, a move that should provide greater certainty for transatlantic heavy freight supply chains. MEPs voted today in favour of the legislation following…
What Sanctions are There on Iran and Will They be Lifted?
A drone view shows vessels anchored at the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, May 30, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY Reuters June 18, 2026 LONDON, June 18 (Reuters) – The interim deal to end the Iran war will include a waiver on sanctioned oil sales but the country still faces a complex web of…
U.S. Downplays Possibility of Hormuz Tolls as Negotiations Restart
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Vice President JD Vance speaks with the media as he arrives at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., May 28, 2026. Matt Rourke/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Bloomberg June 18, 2026 By Jennifer A. Dlouhy, Omar Tamo and Eltaf Najafizada (Bloomberg) — The US-Iran interim peace deal took effect and shipping started returning to the…
Interferry calls on EU to take action
Jun 18, 2026 at 7:26 AM Interferry, the international association of the ferry industry, has urged the authorities of the European Union and its member states to take measures to implement the new Entry/Exit System (EES) regulations. In light of the traffic jams during the May holidays, the association warns in a statement that…
EU set to miss carbon storage target by at least 17.5m tonnes per year
Bojan LepicJune 18, 2026 Wood Mackenzie The EU is on course to fall short of its legally mandated carbon capture and storage target by at least 17.5m tonnes per year, even if every project in advanced development proceeds as planned. The analysis from Wood Mackenzie was done as an independent study commissioned by ExxonMobil, OMV…
US firms sue container makers over alleged price-fixing scheme
Sam ChambersJune 18, 2026 Two US companies have filed class-action lawsuits against a group of container manufacturers accused by American prosecutors of conspiring to restrict output and fix prices in the global dry container market. The lawsuits, filed separately by manufacturer CA Spalding Company and shipping company Daybreak Express earlier this month, seek monetary damages…
China cuts university degrees 30pc
China’s universities have eliminated nearly a third of degree programmes since 2021, replacing them with technology and AI-focused majors, reported Hong Kong’s China Economic Review. Ministry of Education data show that between 2021 and 2025, institutions revoked or suspended 12,200 undergraduate courses while introducing 10,200 new ones. The reshuffle means more than 30 per cent…
China defends free trade in G7 call
Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing urged the Group of Seven nations to uphold openness and cooperation during a video call chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron, reports Manila’s Business Times. Mr Zhang told the meeting that countries should foster a free and facilitative trading environment and practice true multilateralism, according to Xinhua. The session also included…
Emmanuel Macron urges G7 to tackle China
French President Emmanuel Macron is pressing the G7 summit in Evian to address subsidised Chinese exports disrupting global markets, but Beijing has dismissed the initiative and divisions remain among Western allies, reported Arlington, Virginia’s Politico. Mr Macron chaired a video conference billed as a “World Convergence for Growth Summit” with limited G7 participation and Chinese…
First civil case against China’s container manufacturers filed
Published on 2026-06-12 at 16:15 US District Courts The first in what could turn out to be a number of individual and private class actions against China’s largest container manufacturers has been filed in the US. On 2 June, Nogales (Arizona)-based CA Spalding which has factories in the US and Mexico and is a supplier…
Pacific nations launch regional shipping body to modernise island fleets
Sam ChambersJune 12, 2026 Wikipedia Seven Pacific island nations have signed the charter establishing the Pacific Blue Shipping Partnership (PBSP), a new international organisation aimed at transforming domestic shipping across Oceania through investment in cleaner vessels, maritime infrastructure and workforce development. Ministers from Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Naoero, the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu…
Hong Kong unveils new tax breaks to lure commodity traders and shipping firms
Sam ChambersJune 11, 2026 Hong Kong is set to introduce fresh tax incentives for shipping-related businesses and commodity traders as it seeks to strengthen its position as a global maritime and commodities hub. A key feature of the new legislation is a half-rate profits tax concession for physical commodity trading. Eligible traders will pay profits…
US Sanctions Cuban State Oil Company
June 11, 2026 © ismel leal / Adobe Stock The United States issued sanctions against Cuban state oil company Union Cuba Petroleo (CUPET), the Treasury Department website showed on Thursday, adding more obstacles for the island’s government to import much-needed fuel. Washington has imposed sanctions on an array of Cuban entities and people, including the…