EU Ports Strategy unveiled
Published on 2026-03-05 at 09:02 Port of Hamburg Shutterstock On 4 March, the European Commission adopted the EU Ports Strategy, a comprehensive framework aimed at strengthening the competitiveness, resilience, security and sustainability of Europe’s ports. According to the Commission, reinforcing EU ports will help safeguard Europe’s strategic autonomy and critical supply chains, accelerate the clean…
Trump Fires DHS Secretary Kristi Noem After Turbulent Maritime Tenure
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem attends a House Judiciary Committee hearing on “Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security” to testify, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 4, 2026. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz Mike Schuler March 5, 2026 President Donald Trump has removed Kristi Noem as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, ending a tenure…
Trade Court Ruling Opens Door to Tariff Refunds for U.S. Importers
Photo courtesy Port of Los Angeles Mike Schuler March 4, 2026 The U.S. Court of International Trade has ordered U.S. Customs and Border Protection to begin unwinding tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), directing the agency to liquidate or reliquidate affected imports without the duties following a landmark Supreme Court decision…
EU Unveils Ports Strategy
March 4, 2026 © Alexander / Adobe Stock The European Commission has adopted the EU Ports Strategy, a comprehensive framework to step up the competitiveness, resilience, security and sustainability of Europe’s ports. Ports are a cornerstone of the EU economy, handling around 74% of external trade, 3.4 billion tonnes of goods and nearly 395 million…
791 Points Offline: How Jebel Ali’s Shutdown Reshapes Global Liner Shipping
With the Strait of Hormuz closed, the Middle East’s most connected container hub — Jebel Ali — is severed from global trade, exposing structural concentration risk across Gulf liner networks. March 3, 2026 in Breaking News CM article: 791 Points Offline: How Jebel Ali’s Shutdown Reshapes Global Liner Shipping When the Strait of Hormuz closed,…
America’s Maritime Action Plan Creates Opportunity for St. Louis Region
Op-Ed: Susan Taylor, Dennis Wilmsmeyer, Cyndi Buchheit-Courtway and Brent Donovan March 2, 2026 Source: St. Louis Port Authority The advancement of the recently announced America’s Maritime Action Plan (MAP) is embraced by the ports in the bi-state St. Louis region as a unique opportunity to play a role in this comprehensive federal framework. The MAP…
Planning ease for freight development in Britain
Published on 2026-02-28 at 07:26 Centre in the field of view, East Midlands Gateway, a typical modern intermodal hub in the UK, has become the logistics lynchpin of the Freeport it serves. SEGRO Britain’s planning system has long been criticised by logistics developers as slow, uncertain and vulnerable to local objection. Now, proposed reforms to…
Shipping security risk increases dramatically in Persian Gulf
Over 750 commercial vessels reported to be inside the Strait of Hormuz as the US and Israel attack Iran Marcus Hand,Editor February 28, 2026 Shipping traffic in Strait of Hormuz on 28 Feb at time of publicationCREDIT: SCREENSHOT FROM POLESTAR GLOBAL PURPLETRAC With reports of strikes on UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain following the joint Israeli…
Houthis vow to resume attacks following Iranian strikes
Sam ChambersFebruary 28, 2026 X.com With the US and Israel attacking Iran on Saturday, Iranian allies, the Houthis from Yemen, have vowed to resume attacks on commercial shipping in and around the Red Sea, bringing to a close a four-month cessation of violence at sea. Shipping organisation BIMCO suggested ships with business connections to US…
Moody’s: Port Import Gains From Supreme Court Tariff Ruling May Prove Fleeting
The Pier 300 channel at the Port of Los Angeles. Photo courtesy Port of Los Angeles Mike Schuler February 25, 2026 The Supreme Court’s decision striking down sweeping tariffs imposed under emergency powers may provide a temporary lift to U.S. port volumes—but the bump could fade quickly as trade policy uncertainty persists, according to a…
Trump tariff turmoil – damage already done to supply chain
Uncertainty continues to reign for US import tariffs with those struck down by the Supreme Court replaced almost immediately Nick Savvides,Europe correspondent February 24, 2026 CREDIT: THE WHITE HOUSE Politically the Supreme Court’s striking down of wide-ranging US tariffs may well be a challenge to the president’s authority, but it changes little for the shippers navigating…
Britain Unleashes Historic Sanctions Blitz on Russia’s Oil Empire Four Years Into Ukraine War
Photo: Shutterstock Mike Schuler February 24, 2026 Four years to the day after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the United Kingdom has delivered what officials are calling their most comprehensive sanctions package since the early months of the war—a coordinated assault on the financial arteries sustaining Moscow’s military campaign that targets nearly 300 new entities…
EU extends Red Sea naval mission
French Armed Forces French Armed Forces The European Council has decided to extend the European Union’s maritime security operation, EUNAVFOR ASPIDES, to safeguard freedom of navigation in relation to the Red Sea crisis until February 28 next year, albeit on a smaller annual budget. “The decision reflects the EU’s continued commitment to maritime security, regional…
FEPORT: Europe’s transport sector joins forces in an open letter to the EU Member States: A competitive and resilient Europe requires a stronger EU transport budget
Brussels, 24 February 2026 A total of 45 European transport organisations are joining forces and collectively urge national governments to strengthen European funding for transport under the future EU budget and particularly to increase the budget of the future Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) to at least €100 billion. A robust European transport network is of…
EU seeks clarity on trade deal with US after Trump imposes 15% tariff
Published on 2026-02-23 at 08:11 Shutterstock The Commission wants assurances that recent tariff changes will not breach the commitments made under the recent trade deal. The European Union is seeking clarification on how the United States will proceed after the recent Supreme Court ruling on the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which has effectively…
Trump Warns of Higher Tariffs for Countries That ‘Play Games’ After Court Ruling
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a roundtable at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 8, 2025. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Reuters February 23, 2026 By Doina Chiacu, Susan Heavey and David Lawder WASHINGTON, Feb 23 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday warned countries against backing away from recently negotiated trade deals with the…
Trump tariff turmoil clouds transpacific contracting season
Sam ChambersFebruary 23, 2026 White House White House Tariffs are back at the top of the shipping news agenda once again, creating confusion just as the transpacific contracting season gets underway. On Friday, the US Supreme Court ruled that president Donald Trump violated federal law by using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to…
US Supreme Court tariffs verdict – does it change anything?
Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs have been struck down but the President responded with a 15% global tariff what does this mean for shipping and trade? Punit Oza,Founder & Director, Maritime NXT February 22, 2026 President Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs were struck down by the Supreme CourtCREDIT: THE WHITE HOUSE One thought one was “liberated” but…
US Revokes Visas For Chile Officials Over China Cable Plan
A current map of submarine cables around the world provided by Submarine Cable Map. Bloomberg Total Views: 0 February 21, 2026 By Antonia Mufarech and Carolina Gonzalez (Bloomberg) – The US government is barring a Chilean cabinet minister and two other officials from being able to enter the country, part of a diplomatic rebuke over…
US Supreme Court Voids IEEPA Tariffs, Igniting Fresh Trade Turbulence for Container Lines
Ruling overturns Trump-era emergency tariffs, but rapid Section 122 replacement keeps importers, ports and carriers navigating uncertainty February 21, 2026 in News CM article: US Supreme Court Voids IEEPA Tariffs, Igniting Fresh Trade Turbulence for Container Lines The US Supreme Court has invalidated the tariffs President Donald Trump imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers…
Trump’s Maritime Golden Age could prove costly for shipping
The release of the US Maritime Action Plan floated port fees that would impact virtually international shipping calling America Marcus Hand,Editor February 20, 2026 CREDIT: THE WHITE HOUSE With the USTR fees on Chinese built and owned vessels calling US ports on the backburner until at least November international shipping now faces the possibility of…
Trump Slaps 10% Global Tariff Using New Trade Law After Supreme Court Defeat
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump holds a signed executive order on tariffs, in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 2, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo Reuters February 20, 2026 WASHINGTON, Feb 20 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that he would impose a 10% global tariff for 150 days to replace…
Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump’s Global Tariffs in 6–3 Ruling
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump holds a chart next to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick as Trump delivers remarks on tariffs in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 2, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo Reuters February 20, 2026 By Andrew Chung WASHINGTON, Feb 20 (Reuters) – The U.S.…
Supply Chains Brace for Renewed Turbulence as Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump Tariffs
Photo courtesy Port of Los Angeles Mike Schuler February 20, 2026 The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a landmark 6-3 ruling on Friday striking down President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), setting off a wave of reactions across the maritime industry as ports, carriers, and logistics providers prepare…
Geopolitical risks to shipping set to escalate
Geopolitical disruption is becoming the norm in global shipping, with shadow fleets, sanctions and security concerns poised to intensify, reports London’s Lloyd’s List. Speakers at the HACC-NACC conference in New York warned that shipping is increasingly being used as a geopolitical lever. Brian Green of International Registries said threats have evolved dramatically, while naval analyst…
New Zealand Slaps Sanctions on 100 Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Vessels
An aerial view shows the oil tanker named Boracay (also called Pushpa), a vessel being investigated by French authorities and suspected of belonging to the so-called “shadow fleet” involved in the Russian oil trade, off the coast of the western France port of Saint-Nazaire, France, October 2, 2025. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe Mike Schuler February 19, 2026…
US Supreme Court tariff challenge could bring 'chaos'
As tariffs bite into the Port of LA’s throughput, a Supreme Court ruling on tariff validity could bring “a whole lot of chaos”, according to one economist. Barry Parker,New York Correspondent February 18, 2026 IMAGE: PORT OF LA The Port of Los Angeles (POLA) began its seventh year of monthly media briefings, hosted by its…
Shipping lobby warns US against port fee plan that could spark reprisal
Sam ChambersFebruary 17, 2026 Whitehouse.org Whitehouse.org The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the industry’s top lobby group, has cautioned Washington over its plans to revitalise domestic shipbuilding by charging foreign-built vessels higher port fees. The Trump administration’s long‑awaited Maritime Action Plan (MAP) has resurrected a controversial proposal to charge foreign‑built ships a per‑kilogram fee on…
How Donroe is hardening the Americas
SplashFebruary 17, 2026 Wolfgang Lehmacher discusses Panama’s port shock. CK Hutchison operates two container terminals at either end of the Panama Canal under a concession that Panama’s Supreme Court has now declared unconstitutional, prompting the Hong Kong group to launch arbitration proceedings against the state. This is a test case for how emerging doctrines are…
Explainer: The US Maritime Action Plan and What It Means for Shipping Lines
U.S. President Donald Trump delivers an address to the nation alongside U.S. Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S. June 21, 2025, following U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/Pool The Loadstar February 16, 2026 By The Loadstar…
Trump’s Maritime Action Plan revives threat of port fees
Sam ChambersFebruary 16, 2026 The White House The White House The Trump administration’s long‑awaited Maritime Action Plan (MAP) has resurrected a controversial proposal to charge foreign‑built ships a per‑kilogram fee on imported cargo, reviving a levy threat that could reshape global trade economics if enacted. The 36‑page plan, released after months of delay, set out…
US Coast Guard issues advisory on falling boxes
Published on 2026-02-13 at 16:22 Shipping containers cover an emissions capture control barge still moored to a cargo ship after falling overboard in the Port of Long Beach, California, September 12, 2025 ( Petty Officer 3rd Class Richard B. Uranga) USCG The 95 containers that toppled from the cargo ship Mississippi at the Port of Long…
Trump Unveils White House Maritime Action Plan to Restore U.S. Seapower
U.S. President Donald Trump delivers an address to the nation alongside U.S. Vice President JD Vance, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S. June 21, 2025, following U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/Pool John Konrad February 13, 2026 America builds…
Cameroon clamps down on shadow fleet as flag purge begins
Sam ChambersFebruary 13, 2026 Indonesia Coast Guard Indonesia Coast Guard Following pressure from the European Union and Ukraine, Cameroon’s government is finally clamping down on shadow ships using its register. Cameroon’s flag has grown by 126% over the past 12 months and is now Africa’s third-largest, according to data from Clarksons Research, largely thanks to…
UK lays out intermodal ambitions
Published on 2026-02-12 at 07:09 The Manchester Ship Canal could emerge as an important intermodal corridor Peel Ports The UK’s push toward decarbonising freight moves on relentlessly. However, if modal shift is to truly play a larger part, it needs more support at the policy level. While the road truck remains pre-eminent, there is constant…
CDPQ pauses further investment with DP World over Epstein files
Published on 2026-02-11 at 15:13 DP World Group Chairman and CEO – Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem DP World Quebec Pension fund announces it is pausing further investments with DP World pending an explanation and “necessary actions” following revelations about DP World Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem in the Epstein files. The process around…
Laura DiBella appointed Chair of the FMC
Feb 10, 2026 at 10:54 AM On January 28, 2026, U.S. President Donald J. Trump appointed Laura DiBella as Chair of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC). DiBella was sworn in as a commissioner on January 6, 2026, after being nominated by Trump on September 3, 2025, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 18,…
UK shipping warns ETS extension risks backfiring Adis AjdinFebruary 12, 2026
UK Government UK Government The UK shipping industry has stepped up its criticism of government plans to extend the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS) to domestic maritime from July 1, 2026, warning that the policy could raise costs, hit island communities and undermine competitiveness without delivering meaningful emissions cuts. The Draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions…
U.S. Warns Peru is ‘Losing Sovereignty’ Over Chinese-Owned Chancay Port
Bloomberg February 11, 2026 By Marcelo Rochabrun (Bloomberg) — The Trump administration warned that Peru is losing sovereignty over a Chinese-owned port near its capital city, after a local judge ruled that the port is exempt from some regulatory oversight. “Concerned about latest reports that Peru could be powerless to oversee Chancay, one of its largest ports,…
Dubai Ports Giant DP World Loses Major Investors Over Epstein Files Link
Reuters February 11, 2026 By Nazih Osseiran and Sam Tabahriti Feb 11 (Reuters) – The UK development finance agency and Canada’s second-largest pension fund have suspended new investment with globalports operator DP World over alleged ties between its chief executive and the late disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, raising pressure on the Dubai-based firm. Members of the U.S.…
Shadow Fleet Standoff Off Scotland Signals New Era of Sanctions Enforcement at Sea
FILE PHOTO: People look at the oil tanker Marinera, previously known as Bella 1, which was seized by the U.S. Coast Guard last week, as it is moored in the Moray Firth, off the coast of Scotland, Britain, January 14, 2026. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne/File Photo Paul Morgan January 28, 2026 The seizure of the oil tanker…
FMC Slaps MSC With $22.67 Million Penalty Over Multi-Year Billing Violations
MSC ships at the Port of Long Beach. Photo courtesy Port of Long Beach Mike Schuler January 28, 2026 The Federal Maritime Commission has hit MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company with $22.67 million in civil penalties after a multi-year enforcement case found the world’s largest container carrier engaged in widespread billing violations affecting customs brokers and…
Western Balkans truckers block border crossings over EU stay rules
Published on 27-01-2026 at 08:36 Ministry of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina Truck drivers across the Western Balkans halted cargo flows into the EU, warning that current stay rules are putting the region’s transport network at risk. Hundreds of trucks came to a standstill across the Western Balkans on January 26, as drivers…
Bill to empower Trump to blacklist ports
A new enforcement bill gives President Trump authority to designate foreign ports and terminals as prohibited if they involve expropriated US property, reports American Shipper. The measure is a streamlined version of the Defending American Property Abroad Act, first introduced in July 2025 by Texas Republican Congressman August Pfluger and Alabama Congresswoman Terri Sewell. The…
Europe Signals New Phase in Shadow Fleet Enforcement
An aerial view shows the oil tanker named Boracay (also called Pushpa), a vessel being investigated by French authorities and suspected of belonging to the so-called “shadow fleet” involved in the Russian oil trade, off the coast of the western France port of Saint-Nazaire, France, October 2, 2025. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe Mike Schuler January 27, 2026…
Denmark Renews Green Maritime Tech and Shipbuilding Pact With China
Maersk ship entering the Port of Rotterdam. Photo: Shutterstock Reuters January 27, 2026 BEIJING, Jan 27 (Reuters) – China and Denmark have renewed an agreement on cooperating in green maritime technology and shipbuilding, China’s industry ministry said on Tuesday, reaffirming a long-term partnership in the sector. The renewal comes amid heightened tensions between Denmark and U.S. President Donald Trump,…
EU backs shunting operations in Italian ports
Published on 26-01-2026 at 06:54 Wagons ready for shunting at the Italian port of Genoa Shutetrstock The European Commission has authorised a financial aid scheme to subsidise shunting operations in Italian ports. The measure, welcomed by Italian sector association Fermerci, will allocate €30m over the next five years. Fermerci managing director Giuseppe Rizzi described the…
ICTSI chairman Razon sues congressman
Billionaire Enrique Razon Jr has filed a cyber libel complaint against suspended Cavite Representative Francisco “Kiko” Barzaga over Facebook posts linking him to bribery and corruption, reports UK’s Seatrade Maritime News. The complaint was lodged on January 14 with the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office. Razon, chairman of International Container Terminal Services Inc and casino operator…
Vitol and Trafigura: Traders at the Heart of Trump’s Venezuela Oil Grab
A U.S. military helicopter flies over the Panama-flagged Centuries, which was intercepted by the U.S. Coast Guard, days after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a “blockade” of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, east of Barbados in the Caribbean Sea December 20, 2025. DHS/Handout via REUTERS Bloomberg January 26, 2026 (Bloomberg) — President…
FMC Launches Investigation Into Ocean Carriers’ Grip on U.S. Chassis Market
Trucks arrive to pick up containers at the Port of Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California, U.S. November 22, 2021. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo Mike Schuler January 26, 2026 The Federal Maritime Commission has opened a formal investigation into whether ocean carriers are unlawfully restricting truckers and shippers from choosing their own chassis providers, focusing on…
Greek owners: Shipping not a battlefield
The President of the Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) has condemned the targeting of commercial vessels and seafarers amid rising geopolitical tensions, reported Athens’ Safety4Sea. Melina Travlou said shipping and seafarers are being unjustly placed at the centre of military and hybrid attacks, posing risks to human life, the environment and international navigation. She stressed…
Understanding IMO NZF concerns key to moving forward says Dominguez
Can the IMO resurrect the Net Zero Framework or has US intervention already killed the deal and led the world into fragmented, regional regulation Nick Savvides, Europe correspondent January 26, 2026 Arsenio Dominguez speaking to the pressCREDIT: IMO IMO Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez called for member states to find a compromise deal that will allow…
Trump Threatens Canada With 100% Tariff Over Pending Trade Deal With China
The Port of Vancouver waterfront is shrouded in a thick layer of fog as a ridge of high pressure creates a coastal temperature inversion in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada January 20, 2026. REUTERS/Chris Helgren Reuters January 24, 2026 By Bo Erickson and Katharine Jackson WASHINGTON, Jan 24 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump said…
U.S. Sanctions Iran’s Shadow Fleet Over Brutal Crackdown on Protesters
FILE PHOTO: People attend the funeral of the security forces who were killed in the protests that erupted over the collapse of the currency’s value in Tehran, Iran, January 14, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS Mike Schuler January 23, 2026 The U.S. Department of the Treasury on Thursday escalated economic pressure…
US Harbor Maintenance Tax Loophole Closure Targets Canadian Port Advantage
New enforcement rules threaten the cost edge of Canadian gateways, but transit speed and rail connectivity may limit traffic shifts January 23, 2026 in News CM article: US Harbor Maintenance Tax Loophole Closure Targets Canadian Port Advantage The Trump administration’s move to close the decades-old Harbor Maintenance Tax loophole threatens to reshape the competitive dynamics…
STB sends Union Pacific & Norfolk Southern merger application back
Published on 22-01-2026 at 20:34 Union Pacific The US Surface Transportation Board has rejected the Union Pacific and North Southern merger application as incomplete, referring it back to the railroads to provide more market share analysis and merger documents. The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has resolved unanimously that the major merger application filed by Union…
New Trade Map Takes Shape in Davos as World Adjusts to Trump Tariffs
U.S. President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, Nickolay Mladenov and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff take part in a charter announcement for U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace initiative aimed at resolving global conflicts, alongside the 56th annual World Economic Forum (WEF), in Davos, Switzerland, January 22, 2026. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse Reuters January 22, 2026…
FMC Commissioners Confirm Trump Administration Is Closing Longstanding Harbor Maintenance Tax Loophole
A cargo ship full of shipping containers is seen at the port of Oakland, California, U.S., August 4, 2025. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo Mike Schuler January 22, 2026 Two Federal Maritime Commission commissioners confirmed Thursday that the Trump administration has begun implementing enforcement measures to close a decades-old tax loophole that allowed cargo routed through Canadian…
Niger and Orano dispute nuclear freight
A convoy carrying radioactive uranium concentrate is at the centre of a dispute between Niger’s military junta and French state-owned Orano, reports American Journal of Transportation. Niger’s army seized power in 2023 and nationalised Orano’s uranium mines the following year. Orano has launched arbitration to overturn the move and warned that trucking more than 1,000…
Sweden, Finland push for full Russia ban
The foreign ministers of Sweden and Finland have urged the European Union to impose a full maritime services ban on ships transporting Russian energy resources in its forthcoming 20th sanctions package, reports Athens’ Safety4Sea. In a joint letter to EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard and Finnish Foreign Minister Elina…
EU Freezes US Trade Deal Approval Over Trump’s Greenland Threats
FILE PHOTO: A man walks as Danish flag flutters next to Hans Egede Statue ahead of a March 11 general election in Nuuk, Greenland, March 9, 2025. REUTERS/Marko Djurica Bloomberg January 21, 2026 By Jorge Valero (Bloomberg) — A trade deal between the US and European Union is on hold after the European Parliament decided to…
New Federal Definition of Maritime Harassment Leaves Psychological Abuse in Legal Gray Zone, Critics Warn
Passakorn Umpornmaha/Shutterstock Mike Schuler January 21, 2026 The 2026 National Defense Authorization Act has introduced the first statutory definition of “harassment” under the Safer Seas Act, but maritime advocates argue the narrow focus on discrimination-based conduct excludes widespread forms of psychological abuse that research shows are endemic to shipboard environments. The amendment to 46 U.S.C.…
U.S. Forces Seize Sanctioned Tanker ‘Sagitta’ in Caribbean, Marking Seventh Vessel Captured
A screenshot from video showing the MT Sagitta underway. Photo courtesy U.S. Southern Command Mike Schuler January 20, 2026 U.S. military forces apprehended the sanctioned motor vessel Sagitta without incident this morning in the Caribbean, marking the seventh tanker seizure in recent weeks as Washington intensifies its crackdown on sanctioned vessels linked to illicit oil…
Federal Judge Upholds Jones Act, Tossing Hawaii Rum Maker’s Challenge
Editorial credit: Sheila Fitzgerald / Shutterstock.com Mike Schuler January 20, 2026 A federal judge has dismissed a high-profile constitutional challenge to the Jones Act, delivering a major win for the U.S. maritime industry and the Trump Administration’s defense of America’s cabotage laws. In a 46-page opinion, Chief Judge James E. Boasberg of the U.S. District…
Greenland control and tariffs threaten to destabilise transatlantic shipping
Sam ChambersJanuary 20, 2026 White House White House Donald Trump has reiterated his vow to “100%” place tariffs on European countries that oppose his demand to take control of Greenland, with liners on the north Atlantic trades already coming under pressure. Westbound rates on the transatlantic container tradesfrom Europe to the US are already down…
Interferry Demands Pause on EU ETS Implementation at 70% Coverage
January 20, 2026 Mike Corrigan, CEO of Interferry. © Interferry Interferry is calling for an immediate halt on the further implementation of the EU ETS for the ferry sector, maintaining the surrendering obligation for maritime emissions frozen at the 70% level scheduled for 2025, and halting the planned increase to 100% in 2026. The demand…
TKMS CFO Says Greenland Crisis Could Help Deal For Canada Subs
FILE PHOTO: A large gantry crane stands at the shipyard of Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (TKMS), Thyssenkrupp’s warship division on the day of the brand launch in Kiel, Germany, June 4, 2025. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo Bloomberg January 19, 2026 By Laura Alviž Jan 19, 2026 (Bloomberg) –TKMS AG& Co KGaA Chief Financial Officer Paul Glaser said the crisis…
Italy seizes sanctions-busting bulk carrier
Hans ThaulowJanuary 19, 2026 Italian authorities have detained a 27-year-old handysize bulk carrier in the port of Brindisi on suspicion of breaching EU sanctions against Russia, following irregularities linked to a shipment of about 33,000 tonnes of ferrous metals. The detention was carried out by the Guardia di Finanza in cooperation with customs officials, after…
Trump Is Winning the Fight Against Offshore Wind Despite Court Losses
A drone view shows rotor blades and other parts for the ongoing construction of the Revolution Wind offshore wind turbine farm, staged on the State Pier in New London, Connecticut, U.S., September 23, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder Bloomberg January 18, 2026 By Mark Chediak Jan 18, 2026 (Bloomberg) –President Donald Trump’s campaign against offshore wind power in the…
U.S. Says South Africa is Cozying Up to Iran With Naval Drills
A Russian vessel arrives at the Simon’s Town Naval base ahead of the BRICS Plus countries which include China, Russia and Iran for a joint naval exercises in South Africa’s, in Cape Town, South Africa, January 9, 2026. REUTERS/Esa Alexander Bloomberg January 16, 2026 By Rene Vollgraaff (Bloomberg) — The US criticized South Africa for allowing…
U.S. Approves $1.5B Plan to Build Peru Naval Base Near Chinese-Run Port
A man walks at China’s state-owned Cosco Shipping Chancay port inaugurated during the APEC Summit, in Chancay, Peru, November 14, 2024. APEC Peru/Handout via REUTERS Bloomberg January 16, 2026 By Marcelo Rochabrun (Bloomberg) — The US State Department has approved a potential foreign military sale to design and build infrastructure for Peru’s main naval base, which…
US forces seize sixth tanker linked to Venezuelan trades
Sam ChambersJanuary 16, 2026 Source: Screenshot X Source: Screenshot X US Southern Command has apprehended the 2003-built Veronica aframax during a pre-dawn operation yesterday, the sixth tanker with Venezuelan links to be taken by American forces in recent weeks. The Veronica, previously known as Pegas and Lana, has a troubled history; it was seized by…
Battleships and Auxiliaries, An Interview with the Top US Naval Admiral
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle take questions from Sailors and Marines during an All Hands Call at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Jan. 6, 2026. U.S. Navy Photo John Konrad January 15, 2026 At SNA, the CNO Talked Ships, Lasers — and Finally Answered the Merchant Marine Question By John Konrad (gCaptain) …
Shipping awaits outcome of Iran-Trump standoff
Sam ChambersJanuary 15, 2026 Bakamla Bakamla US president Donald Trump has signalled a potential de-escalation of military strike intentions against Iran, while simultaneously acknowledging ongoing tensions that have prompted precautionary measures from both US and UK personnel in the region. The president noted yesterday reports that Iran had halted executions of detained protesters, stating, “the…
US Shadow Fleet Seizures: Implications for Container Shipping and Compliance
Why Container Operators Should Care: AIS, Ownership, and Flag Risk January 14, 2026 in News CM article: US Shadow Fleet Seizures: Implications for Container Shipping and Compliance US Seizes Marinera and Sophia in Shadow Fleet Escalation The United States seized two oil tankers on 7 January in coordinated operations, marking a strategic shift from cargo…
US targets ‘dozens’ of Venezuela‑linked tankers in shadow fleet squeeze
Sam ChambersJanuary 14, 2026 Source: Screenshot X Source: Screenshot X The United States is gearing up to grab a lot more Venezuela‑linked tonnage, with scores of seizure warrants now in play as Washington tightens its grip on the country’s oil exports and the shadow fleet that moves them. According to sources quoted by Reuters, the…
The Battle Over Who Runs the Panama Canal Ports Is About to Be Decided
Panama’s Supreme Court is winding up deliberations in a lawsuit that could void a Chinese company’s license to operate the ports and hand President Trump a win By Santiago Pérez Jan. 13, 2026 at 5:30 am ET President Trump has threatened to ‘take back’ the Panama Canal, saying Panama is violating a decades-old treaty that…
Iran draws shipping into widening confrontation with US
Sam ChambersJanuary 12, 2026 IRGC IRGC Iran has said that commercial shipping and maritime infrastructure could become legitimate targets if the United States launches a military attack against Tehran. Speaking during a parliamentary session on Sunday, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said Israel, US military assets and “shipping centres” would be targeted in the…
Somalia Ends Port Deals, Security Cooperation with UAE
January 12, 2026 © Adobe Stock/Peter Hermes Furian Somalia’s government said on Monday it is annulling all agreements with the United Arab Emirates, including port deals and defence and security cooperation, accusing the UAE of undermining its national sovereignty. “This decision is based on credible reports and compelling evidence concerning hostile actions undermining national sovereignty, territorial unity,…
Port Houston budgets US$29m for tariffs on Chinese-made STS cranes
Published on 12-01-2026 at 07:00 Port Houston gets new STS cranes Port Houston While recent trade agreements have reduced some US–China trade frictions, tariffs on Chinese-made goods remain in place and continue to affect port investment, with Port Houston setting aside tens of millions of dollars in its latest budget to cover levies on new…
Nordics Reject Trump’s Claim Of Chinese And Russian Ships Around Greenland
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen talks with the head of the Arctic Command Soeren Andersen, aboard the Defense’s inspection vessel Vaedderen in the waters around Nuuk, Greenland, April 3, 2025. REUTERS/Tom Little Reuters Total Views: 0 January 11, 2026 Jan 11 (Reuters) – Nordic diplomats rejected U.S. President Donald Trump‘s claims of Russian and Chinese vessels operating…
Cuba Defiant After Trump Says No More Venezuelan Oil Or Money
Cuban-flagged tanker Alicia anchors near the Matanzas terminal as Cubans brace for worsening fuel shortages after the United States seized Venezuela-linked tankers, cutting a vital energy lifeline just days after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s capture, in Matanzas, Cuba, January 7, 2026. REUTERS/Norlys Perez Reuters January 11, 2026 By Dave Sherwood and Marianna Parraga HAVANA/HOUSTON, Jan…
UK, Germany Discuss NATO Forces In Greenland To Calm US Threat
Donald Trump Jr. visits Nuuk, Greenland, on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. Emil Stach/Ritzau Scanpix/via REUTERS Bloomberg January 11, 2026 By Alberto Nardelli, Alex Wickham and Michael Nienaber Jan 11, 2026 (Bloomberg) –A group of European countries, led by the UK and Germany, is discussing plans for a military presence in Greenland to show US President Donald…
Companies Scramble to Secure Ships to Transfer Venezuelan oil
January 11, 2026 © Nightman1965 / Adobe Stock Oil companies aiming to participate in new exports of Venezuelan crude to the U.S. following the ouster of President Nicolas Maduro are in hasty discussions to find tankers and put together operations to transfer the crude safely from vessels and dilapidated Venezuelan ports, four sources familiar with…
Trump Presses Big Oil to Pour $100 Billion Into Venezuela—Executives Signal Caution
FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum attend a meeting with oil industry executives, at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., January 9, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo Bloomberg January 9, 2026 By Jennifer A. Dlouhy (Bloomberg) — Major US…
New York Sues Trump Administration Over Pause Of Offshore Wind Projects
A drone view shows rotor blades and other parts for the ongoing construction of the Revolution Wind offshore wind turbine farm, staged on the State Pier in New London, Connecticut, U.S., September 23, 2025. REUTERS/Brian Snyder Reuters January 10, 2026 By Nichola Groom and Nate Raymond Jan 9 (Reuters) – New York’s attorney general sued…
Maritime Unions Push for U.S.-Flag Mandate on Venezuelan Oil to Rebuild American Shipping Fleet
Chevron-chartered oil tanker Ionic Anax is seen near the Bajo Grande port in Venezuela’s lake Maracaibo after loading for export, in San Francisco, Zulia State, Venezuela December 13, 2025. REUTERS/Isaac Urrutia Mike Schuler January 9, 2026 America’s largest maritime labor unions are urging the Trump administration and Congress to require that any Venezuelan crude imported…
How a Quiet Regulatory Power Shift Could Supercharge U.S. Energy Exports
Stock Photo: tcly / Shutterstock Paul Morgan January 9, 2026 A new policy hands MARAD the lead role in approving offshore ports, a move officials say will streamline environmental reviews and unlock billions in stalled energy export projects. Paul Morgan (gCaptain) – In a move that could reshape how the United States approves some of…
US tightens naval grip on Venezuelan oil exports with new tanker seizure
Bojan LepicJanuary 9, 2026 MarineTraffic / Bob Bunton (Olina under a previous name) MarineTraffic / Bob Bunton (Olina under a previous name) US forces are continuing the pressure on Venezuela with the seizure of a third tanker in just two days. Maritime security specialist Vanguard said that the falsely flagged Timor-Leste tanker Olina had been…
Russia Accuses U.S. of ‘Gross Violation’ of Maritime Law in High-Seas Tanker Seizure
USCGC Munro shadows MT Marinera in the North Atlantic, January 7, 2026. Photo courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Mike Schuler January 8, 2026 Russia’s Foreign Ministry has condemned the January 7 seizure of the oil tanker Marinera in international waters of the North Atlantic by U.S. forces, calling it an “illegal use of force” that threatens to escalate…
Washington opens the oil tap even as Venezuela tankers are hunted down
Sam ChambersJanuary 8, 2026 Source: Screenshot X Source: Screenshot X The US Energy Department signalled yesterday it will begin selectively removing sanctions to allow Venezuelan oil to be shipped and sold into global markets. In a policy outline published on Wednesday, the department said the Trump administration aims to reintroduce Venezuelan crude under controlled conditions,…
France formalises decision that could affect the reefer shipping sector
Published on 08-01-2026 at 09:31 The decision is expected to create headwinds for the reefer shipping sector / Illustration Shutterstock The French government has formally enacted a decree suspending the import and sale of food products containing residues of several pesticides and herbicides prohibited within the EU. Published in the Journal Officiel on 7 January,…
US withdraws from UNCTAD, RECAAP amid wider pullback from global initiatives
Published on 08-01-2026 at 12:12 US President Donald J. Trump The White House The US has ordered withdrawal from UNCTAD, RECAAP, UN Oceans, and other international bodies, continuing its step back from global maritime and environmental commitments. The Trump administration has directed US federal agencies to begin withdrawing from a wide range of international organisations,…
U.S. Shipyard Key to Trump’s American Revival Is Already Too Busy
‘More space’ needed at Korean-owned Philadelphia site, with talks under way to potentially make U.S. naval vessels By Timothy W. Martin Jan. 8, 2026 at 6:00 am ET Philly Shipyard owner Hanwha is in talks with officials to expand its footprint in the Philadelphia area.RACHEL WISNIEWSKI FOR WSJ SEOUL—The new South Korean owner of the…
Shifting geopolitical blocs to reshape supply chains
Attack on Venezuela seen as a response to the rise of China’s influence across the globe, which has fragmented the global economy and created blocs of regional influence. Nick Savvides, Europe correspondent January 7, 2026 IMAGE: PORT OF LA Fundamental changes to global supply chains are expected to be driven by further geopolitical tremors as…
High seas drama with US dark fleet tanker seizures – what’s next?
US ramps up enforcement against sanctioned tankers and cargoes as it maps out Venezuela oil plans Barry Parker, New York Correspondent January 8, 2026 CREDIT: US STATE DEPARTMENT X-FEED All eyes in the tanker markets have been focused on Venezuela, and vessel movements related to the South American oil producer. Indeed, in the middle of…
US seizes renamed Venezuela-linked VLCC after weeks-long chase
Bojan LepicJanuary 8, 2026 MarineTraffic / Hakon Rimmereid MarineTraffic / Hakon Rimmereid The US forces have seized two Venezuela-linked tankers, one after a two-week chase, a name change, and reports of a Russian submarine nearby. One of the tankers seized by US authorities is the 2002-built VLCC Marinera, formerly known as the Bella 1. While…
Container lines continue operating Venezuela services
CMA CGM and Maersk say services are unaffected by US military action in Venezuela and the capture of President Maduro. Marcus Hand, Editor January 7, 2026 CREDIT: POLE STAR GLOBAL SCREENSHOT FROM PURPLETRAC Container line CMA CGM says its services are operating normally in Venezuela, while Maersk said its office is closed but services continue.…
DiBella Sworn In As Federal Maritime Commissioner
Ms. Laura DiBella of Florida is sworn in as a Commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission, January 6, 2026. Photo courtesy FMC Mike Schuler January 6, 2026 Laura DiBella, Florida’s first female Secretary of Commerce, was sworn in today as a Commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission, marking the culmination of a four-month confirmation process…
Nordic Alliance Confronts Trump’s Greenland Ambitions as Arctic Security Tensions Escalate
FILE PHOTO: Donald Trump Jr. visits Nuuk, Greenland, on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. Emil Stach/Ritzau Scanpix/via REUTERS Mike Schuler January 6, 2026 Five Nordic nations have issued a unified rebuke to renewed American territorial ambitions in the Arctic, asserting that decisions about Greenland rest solely with Denmark and Greenland as President Trump escalates rhetoric about…
Trump Says Venezuela Will Turn Over 30–50 Million Barrels of Oil to the U.S.
Oil tanker Kerala, chartered by Chevron, is loaded in the Bajo Grande oil terminal at Maracaibo Lake, in the municipality of San Francisco, Venezuela, January 5, 2023. REUTERS/Isaac Urrutia Mike Schuler January 6, 2026 President Donald Trump announced late Tuesday that Venezuela’s interim authorities have agreed to hand over between 30 and 50 million barrels…
Bulgaria secures EU funding for intermodal terminal in Ruse
Published on 06-01-2026 at 07:54 Aerial view of part of Ruse’s port complex Pristanishen kompleks – Ruse EAD The European Union is funding the construction of a new intermodal terminal in the Bulgarian city of Ruse. Located on the Danube River on the border with Romania, the terminal is expected to strengthen multimodal transport operations…
Panama President says canal sovereignty secure as US tensions ease
Published on 06-01-2026 at 08:10 His Excellency José Raúl Mulino, President of the Republic of Panama National Government of Panama Panama underscores its sovereignty over the Panama Canal, saying strengthened diplomatic ties with the US have helped secure stability and international confidence in the waterway. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said tensions triggered at the…
French ban on produce with banned chemical residues threatens reefer trade
Published on 05-01-2026 at 14:43 Seatrade The French Prime Minister and the Minister of Agriculture announced on 5 January the imminent suspension of imports from South America of food products containing residues of several substances banned in Europe. “A decree will be issued in the coming days, at the initiative of the Minister of Agriculture…