Jones Act waiver gets another 90-day lifeline
Intended as a short-term response to Iran war energy disruptions, the pause has now stretched past 230 days John Gallagher,US Correspondent November 15, 2026 Credit: Barry Parker The dispute over whether a temporary Jones Act waiver is good or bad for the US economy and the US maritime sector will continue for at least three…
White House to Extend Jones Act Shipping Waiver
November 12, 2026 © Adobe Stock/Vacclav President Donald Trump’s administration is set to extend a waiver to a US law in coming days allowing some foreign-flagged ships to transport oil and other commodities between US ports, four industry sources said on Thursday. The extension will require individual voyages to undergo case-by-case review rather than allowing foreign ships to…
Bangladesh moves to unlock its port potential
Published on 2026-11-12 at 02:01 The Port of Chattogram has long suffered from congested terminals. / Archive Shutterstock Bangladesh is accelerating the modernisation of its ports, bringing global operators into a sector traditionally dominated by state-owned facilities and domestic companies. New concessions, private investment and government-backed infrastructure projects are intended to expand capacity, improve cargo…
DP World shifts 1m teu through alternative corridors amid Hormuz closure
Calls at flagship Jebel Ali port to take one to three months to recover after Hormuz re-opening, says Ahmad Yousef Al-Hassan CEO of DP World GCC. Gary Howard,Middle East correspondent November 10, 2026 Image: DP World DP World has moved more than 1 million teu through alternative land corridors since the first week of March,…
G7 Launches Global Port Security Network to Combat Drug Trafficking
Port of Antwerp. File Photo: Alexandre Tziripouloff/Shutterstock Mike Schuler November 9, 2026 France on Monday laurched a new G7-backed network linking major seaports, customs authorities and international organizations in an effort to crack down on drug trafficking through global maritime supply chains. The G7+ Ports Network to Combat Drug Trafficking, announced during the G7 foreign…
Japan Imposes Anti-Dumping Duties on Chinese Steel Products
Japan has officially announced anti-dumping duties on nickel-based stainless steel cold-rolled strip and plate from mainland China and the Taiwan region. Effective October 31, 2026, these duties range from 27.7% to 42.1% for Chinese products and 3.6% to 20.1% for Taiwanese products. This decision follows Japan’s multi-year investigation, which began in July 2025, and reflects…
How will the ‘blue tsunami’ impact Trump administration policies?
Shipping and energy analysts assess the impact of the US midterm election results going forward on the war in Iran, sanctions, and energy related policies Barry Parker,Nick Savvides November 5, 2026 Credit: The White House How much will the US administration really change course after the midterm elections results saw Democrats emphatically regain control of…
Greenland’s scrubber ban sparks calls for wider Arctic crackdown
Sam ChambersNovember 4, 2026 Greenland is moving to ban scrubber wastewater discharges throughout its territorial waters, prompting environmental groups to call for similar restrictions across the Arctic and ultimately a global prohibition. The country’s parliament, Inatsisartut, voted unanimously last month to direct the government to introduce a phased ban covering ports, internal waters and territorial…
EU approves €30m in German state aid for EUREGIO terminal
Published on 2026-11-03 at 08:03 Aachen is located on the border with Belgium and the Netherlands Shutterstock The European Commission has approved €29.3m in German state aid for a new rail-road terminal near Aachen. The EUREGIO terminal is scheduled to begin operations in 2035. The aid will take the form of a direct grant to…
U.S. Coast Guard Detains MSC Cruise Ship in Miami
Photo: Pjotr Mahhonin/CC BY-SA 3.0 Mike Schuler November 3, 2026 The U.S. Coast Guard has detained the cruise ship MSC Poesia at PortMiami, forcing MSC Cruises to cancel an 11-night Caribbean voyage after the vessel remained in port for two days. The Panama-flagged cruise ship was detained Sunday, November 1, during what the Coast Guard…
Port Authority of Bilbao analyzes OPS regulations
Port Authority of Bilbao analyzes OPS regulations Nov 2, 2026 at 11:31 AM Europe Shipping & Ports The Port Authority of Bilbao has led a working group that focuses on analyzing the provisions for the onshore power supply for ships in the port (OPS) according to the FuelEU Maritime Regulation. The report developed by this…
Thailand launches anti-dumping investigation into Chinese prestressed steel strand
According to currently disclosed information, Thailand’s Department of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Commerce has published a notice in the Royal Gazette initiating an anti-dumping investigation into prestressed concrete steel strand originating in China, in response to an application from a domestic Thai company. The applicant alleges a dumping margin of 7.83% of CIF…
Grimaldi Warns U.S. Port Fees Could Force Ships Out of American Trades
Photo: Grimaldi Group Mike Schuler October 30, 2026 Italian shipping giant Grimaldi Group is warning that reinstating U.S. port fees on foreign-built vehicle carriers could force it to redeploy vessels away from American trades, potentially disrupting shipping services for U.S. exporters and automakers. In an October 30 filing with the Office of the United States…
The morning after: what December’s IMO vote means for a fixture
SplashOctober 30, 2026 Jack Hall / PA Media Assignments Whatever the IMO decides in December, a broker will price a dry bulk trip the next morning. The vote changes which line of that fixture carries the carbon, and how much. Argyris Zafeiropoulos from Resilience & Compliance Advisory explains. Take a trip reported in the Baltic…
US tightens entry rules for ships calling at Somali ports
Adis AjdinOctober 29, 2026 Mogadishu Port The US Coast Guard has imposed additional security conditions on commercial vessels arriving in American waters after calling at Somali ports, adding the East African country to its list of jurisdictions considered to have inadequate port security measures. The restrictions took effect this week, following a determination that Somalia…
Trump Administration Awards $498 Million for U.S. Port Upgrades, Below Recent Funding Levels
An aerial view of container operations at the Port of Savannah’s Garden City Terminal, where Georgia Ports Authority is expanding capacity amid softer cargo volumes and long-term growth plans. Photo courtesy Georgia Ports Mike Schuler October 27, 2026 The Trump administration announced $498 million in federal grants Tuesday to modernize U.S. ports, funding 35 projects…
The 100% duty on Chinese cranes now moves with the US-China truce, two months at a time
USTR proposes to suspend the Section 301 maritime action, including the 100% duty on Chinese ship-to-shore cranes and chassis, from 10 November 2026 to 9 January 2027, the same two months Treasury added to the Busan truce in September. The 25% four-year-review duty stays in force, the April 2027 grandfather entry date does not move,…
How Trump’s Energy Dominance Turned Into Hubris
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump attends an event to sign executive orders in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 6, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Reuters October 26, 2026 By Ron Bousso LONDON, Oct 24 (Reuters) – When Donald Trump returned to the White House in 2025, “energy dominance” was the bedrock of…
EmissionLink calls for EU funding for CO2 capture
Oct 26, 2026 at 10:49 AM The specialist in maritime emissions, EmissionLink, has advocated for the targeted use of revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). These funds are to be invested in testing technologies for CO2 capture on board ships as well as in supporting port infrastructure, as the company reports.…
US formalises two-month suspension of Chinese vessel fees
Relief extended through 9 January 2027 on port fees, crane duties, and intermodal tariffs John Gallagher,US Correspondent October 26, 2026 Credit: Port of Long Beach The US Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on Monday will officially initiate the process to suspend Section 301 actions targeting China’s maritime and shipbuilding sectors for an…
FMC easing restrictions on industry engagement
Proposed changes would allow direct, informal dialogue between regulators, ocean carriers, and shippers John Gallagher,US Correspondent October 23, 2026 Laura DiBella Chair of the FMCCredit: Adam and Reese A US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) rule designed to modernise how the regulatory agency engages with commercial shipping interests and drafts its regulations is under final review…
Trump Administration Unveils Seafood Strategy to Boost U.S. Fishing Fleet and Domestic Production
Image credit: NOAA Fisheries Mike Schuler October 23, 2026 The Trump administration on Friday unveiled its America First Seafood Strategy, outlining plans to strengthen the U.S. commercial fishing industry through regulatory reform, investment in fishing vessels and shoreside infrastructure, and tougher enforcement against unfair foreign competition. The strategy, announced October 23, builds on President Donald…
Aker BP and Höegh Evi secure EU funding for North Sea CO2 storage project
Bojan LepicOctober 21, 2026 Aker BP Norwegian offshore producer Aker BP and maritime infrastructure specialist Höegh Evi have secured €223m ($260m) from the European Union Innovation Fund for their Atlas carbon transport and storage project in the North Sea. The project aims to establish a large-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) network that links industrial…
Interferry Concerned Over EU Emission Reg Delays
October 20, 2026 © Interferry Interferry, the global trade association representing the ferry shipping industry, is raising concerns over the current state of EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) negotiations and the persistent regulatory imbalance unfairly penalizing maritime transport. As member states push to further delay the EU ETS2 framework for road transport, ferry operators face…
European shipowners demand bigger share of EU carbon revenues
Adis AjdinOctober 19, 2026 ECSA European shipowners are calling for a threefold increase in the carbon allowances earmarked to support shipping’s energy transition, arguing that the sector contributes almost twice its share of emissions to the EU Emissions Trading System’s auction revenues. A study published by European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) estimates that the proposed…
Listed by Brussels or priced by London, a UK first call would lose its ETS saving
The European Commission has proposed listing non-EU ports within 150 nautical miles of the EU on their infrastructure alone, a test Felixstowe, London Gateway and Southampton would meet. Ports in countries that apply equivalent carbon pricing would be exempt, and the UK plans to price international voyages from 2028. 15 Oct 2026Kate Wilson A carrier…
Germany puts $448m behind 47-point green shipping plan
Sam ChambersOctober 15, 2026 Port of Kiel Germany has approved a national shipping decarbonisation programme backed by €400m ($448.8m) in funding, including proposals for greener shipping corridors, alternative fuel infrastructure and financial incentives for vessel renewal. The federal cabinet adopted the National Action Plan for Climate-Friendly Shipping yesterday, establishing 47 measures aimed at accelerating the…
FMC Proposes Remedies to Counteract Unfavorable Spanish Shipping Conditions
October 14, 2026 © Adobe Stock/Zerophoto After investigating reports of restrictive port practices by the Government of Spain, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has determined that Spain has created unfavorable shipping conditions against U.S.-flagged vessels. As a result, the FMC is proposing remedies to counteract those unfavorable conditions, including charging fees for all Spanish-flagged vessels…
U.S. Customs Proposes New Rules for Low-Value Goods
U.S. Customs and Border Protection has published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register targeting low-value goods, applicable to eligible shipments from all countries of origin. CBP is proposing adjustments to the informal entry process for goods valued at $2,500 or less, addressing declaration timelines, data transparency, and bond obligations – while also…
ABS, U.S. Energy Department Team Up on Nuclear-Powered Ships
Photo caption (L to R): Ted Garrish, United States Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, and John McDonald, ABS Chairman and CEO Mike Schuler October 12, 2026 The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have signed an agreement to advance the use of nuclear power in commercial shipping, including nuclear-powered…
Europe’s shore power deadline is racing ahead of the grid
SplashOctober 13, 2026 Port of Seattle Two EU regulations will require ports to provide shore power and ships to use it from 2030. But with grid upgrades taking up to a decade, the infrastructure needed to meet the deadline is struggling to keep pace. Alex Byelyavtsev reports. By 2030 two EU rules meet at the…
German government definitively blocks COSCO takeover of Zippel
Published on 2026-10-08 at 07:11 Illustration / Archive Shutterstock The German government has blocked the planned acquisition of an 80% stake in logistics company Konrad Zippel by Chinese state-owned shipping company COSCO. Berlin fears the deal would increase Germany’s strategic dependence on China. The decision comes as no surprise. Reports emerged last week that COSCO…
Container battery fire risks prompt US labeling legislation
Bill targets import ocean containers moving inland, echoing recent safety pushes at the IMO John Gallagher,US Correspondent October 7, 2026 Credit: USCG Regulatory pressure is mounting on both the US domestic and international fronts to end the era of “invisible” battery cargoes and their associated fire hazards. Weeks after an International Maritime Organization (IMO) subcommittee…
Republican Senator Says Trump’s Russian Diesel Deal May Be Illegal
The Soho Square, a crude oil tanker sailing under the flag of Liberia, is at anchor in the Galveston Bay as it makes it’s way to the Port of Houston shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 60-day waiver of the Jones Act shipping law, in Texas City, Texas, U.S. March 18, 2026. REUTERS/Antranik…
Baltic states push for EU-wide ban on Russian grain transit
Adis AjdinOctober 12, 2026 Port of Riga Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have called for an EU-wide ban on Russian grain transit, seeking to block Moscow from redirecting agricultural exports through European transport networks as disruption in the Black Sea reshapes regional grain flows. The three countries have submitted a joint letter to European Council president…
Germany to block COSCO’s planned acquisition of Zippel, report says
Published on 2026-09-30 at 09:41 Zippel operates a fleet of around 200 trucks Konrad Zippel Spediteur GmbH / LinkedIn The German government intends to block COSCO’s planned acquisition of an 80% stake in Hamburg-based logistics company Zippel over national security concerns, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing German newspaper The Chinese state-owned shipping group plans to…
Cabinet rejects cap on foreign ownership of Dutch terminals
Published on 2026-09-29 at 06:58 ECT and Delta II terminals at Maasvlakte, port of Rotterdam / Archive Shutterstock The Cabinet does not intend to introduce foreign ownership limits on Dutch container terminals, Infrastructure and Water Management Minister Vincent Karremans has informed the House of Representatives. The Cabinet has investigated the possibility of setting a maximum…
Brazil puts container demurrage rules under review
Adis AjdinSeptember 28, 2026 TGS Brazil has opened a formal review of its container demurrage rules, putting one of the country’s more contentious liner charging issues back on the regulatory agenda. Waterway regulator ANTAQ has launched a public call for evidence covering container demurrage under Resolution 62/2021. The exercise is based on a preliminary regulatory…
Shipping urges Chinese vessel port fee delay as Trump-Xi summit
Over 200 trade groups call on USTR to extend Section 301 tariff suspension before November deadline John Gallagher,US Correspondent September 25, 2026 Credit: The White House A massive coalition of American business and maritime shipping organizations have called on the US to extend the suspension of Section 301 tariffs and fees on Chinese-built vessels as…
Canada moves to limit port and rail strikes
Published on 2026-09-23 at 17:44 Teamsters picketing outside CN’s headquarters in Monteral TCRC via X The ILWU Canada is calling a new Federal Government bill that makes changes to the Canada Labour Code “an attack on our members fundamental rights”. The Canadian Federal Government has introduced “Bill C-39 | Building Canada Strong Act”, legislation that…
Trump Takes Aim at Shipping’s Net-Zero Plan at UN
US President Donald Trump addresses the 81st United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York City, US, September 22, 2026. REUTERS/MIKE SEGAR Mike Schuler September 23, 2026 President Donald Trump used his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday to renew his attack on the International Maritime Organization’s Net-Zero Framework, accusing…
Coast Guard Awards $315 Million Kodiak Pier Contract to Support Arctic Fleet Expansion
Crewmembers from the Coast Guard Cutter Storis (WAGB 21) conduct helicopter operations with an MH60-Jayhawk helicopter air crew from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, Alaska, while underway in the Gulf of Alaska, Aug. 20, 2025. U.S. Coast Guard Photo Mike Schuler September 23, 2026 The U.S. Coast Guard has awarded a $315 million contract to Tutor…
FMC Change Could Revive Older Detention and Demurrage Claims
The Pier 300 channel at the Port of Los Angeles. Photo courtesy Port of Los Angeles The Loadstar September 22, 2026 By Alexander Whiteman (The Loadstar) – A potentially significant change at the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has gone largely under the radar, after the regulator confirmed there is no three-year statute of limitations on…
New York Leads Lawsuits Challenging $1.4 Billion Offshore Wind Buyouts
The first offshore wind turbine is installed at the South Fork Wind project offshore New York. Photo courtesy New York State Mike Schuler September 22, 2026 New York is leading a coalition of states in two new lawsuits challenging Trump administration agreements that would cancel offshore wind leases and redirect roughly $1.4 billion toward liquefied…
Spain introduces fuel law for ports – PortXchange warns
Sep 22, 2026 at 2:35 PM Nine months after the introduction of a binding decarbonization obligation for fuel suppliers in the Netherlands, Spain has followed suit with Royal Decree 611/2026. This law requires fuel suppliers to reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of the bunker fuel sold in Spain. According to PortXchange, a specialist in…
More Jones Act Waiver Voyages Went Unreported Than Previously Known
Oil tanker, Gas tanker operation at oil and gas terminal, View from above.; Shutterstock Mike Schuler September 21, 2026 The number of foreign-vessel voyages missing from federal Jones Act waiver records appears to be larger than previously known, with new analysis identifying at least 15 movements that never showed up in the U.S. Maritime Administration’s…
NTSB urges fleet audits as preventable casualties mount
The US safety board’s latest annual investigations report calls on operators to re-examine procedures against recurring operational hazards John Gallagher,US Correspondent September 17, 2026 Fire-fighter response to Grande Costa D’Avorio in 2023Credit: USCG America’s top transportation safety agency is urging maritime operators to re-examine their daily operations against recent real-world casualties as familiar hazards continue…