China and Europe Call for Cooperation in Shipbuilding
Sep 4, 2026 at 3:53 PM Chinese shipbuilders and European shipowners have called for closer cooperation in the areas of ship design, alternative fuels, and digitalization during the first China-Europe Maritime Summit, which took place as part of SMM 2026. The event was jointly organized by the China Association of the National Shipbuilding Industry…
COSCO brands US spying claims ‘totally unfounded’
Sam ChambersSeptember 4, 2026 Cosco COSCO, the world’s largest shipowner by fleet size, has strongly rejected allegations that its commercial vessels are being used to collect military intelligence for Beijing. The Chinese state-controlled group issued a statement after Reuters reported that two senior US administration officials believe COSCO ships carry concealed signals-intelligence equipment capable of…
US customs seeks 'heightened' import data from ocean carriers
CBP proposal could force earlier loading deadlines and raise port demurrage risks shipping companies John Gallagher,US Correspondent September 3, 2026 Rodney Scott, CBPCredit: CBP Photo by Glenn Fawcett US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is launching a broad effort to modernise trade data collection and close enforcement gaps across international supply chains with potential updated…
U.S. Lawmakers Push Tax Break for Merchant Mariners Working Overseas
Passakorn Umpornmaha/Shutterstock Mike Schuler September 2, 2026 A bipartisan group of House lawmakers has introduced legislation that would give U.S. merchant mariners working in international trade a tax break similar to the one available to other Americans working overseas, part of a broader effort to address persistent mariner recruitment and retention challenges. The American Mariner…
New Zealand, US to Fund Cook Islands Port Upgrade
August 31, 2026 © Peter Hermes Furian / Adobe Stock New Zealand and the U.S. will jointly fund a major upgrade of a World War Two port on a Cook Islands’ atoll, the three governments said on Tuesday, in a fresh sign of Western efforts to reinforce ties in a Pacific region that is increasingly…
Seafarer dock work battle heads towards EU court
Photo of Grant Rowles Grant RowlesAugust 28, 20261 1,076 1 minute read A European legal battle over whether ships’ crews can be required to undertake cargo handling work in port has widened after the European Trade Union Confederation was allowed to intervene in an appeal before the Court of Appeal of The Hague. The case…
Malacca Strait littoral states stand firm on freedom of navigation
Conflict in the Middle East and closure of the Strait of Hormuz have put the even busier Straits of Malacca and Singapore under spotlight Marcus Hand,Editor August 25, 2026 Credit: Marcus Hand Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia have publicly reaffirmed their commitment to freedom of navigation in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. The issue…
U.S. Takes Next Step Toward Nuclear-Powered Commercial Ships
FILE PHOTO: By Mr Nai / Shutterstock Mike Schuler August 24, 2026 The U.S. Maritime Administration has signed an agreement with nuclear technology developer CORE POWER to explore a pathway toward U.S.-flagged nuclear-powered commercial ships, expanding the Trump administration’s push to bring small modular reactors into the maritime sector. MARAD and CORE POWER (US) Inc.…
US Will Impose ‘Toughest Sanctions in History’ on Iran, Bessent Says
FILE PHOTO: U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks to the media after two days of meetings with a Chinese delegation, in Paris, France March 16, 2026. REUTERS/Abdul Saboor/File Photo Reuters August 20, 2026 By Kanishka Singh and Jana Choukeir WASHINGTON/DUBAI, Aug 20 (Reuters) – The U.S. will impose “the toughest sanctions in history” on Iran, Treasury Secretary…
Trump delays higher tariffs for Canada as negotiations continue
Published on 2026-08-19 at 21:41 President Trump and Prime Minister Carney Shutterstock Two hours before his self-imposed deadline, President Trump has announced “a deal” with Canada and an agreement to postpone new 50% tariffs on a range of Canadian goods for a further three days. Whether there is a new trade deal between the US…
Hapag Lloyd’s Zim deal scrutinised by Brazilian anti-trust
Brazil has launched a full review of Hapag-Lloyd’s acquisition of Zim due to overlapping operations on key services, potentially delaying the closure of the deal Nick Savvides,Europe correspondent August 19, 2026 Credit: Mr YC Chou via Zim During Hapag-Lloyd’s recent Q2 results announcement, CEO Rolf Habben Jansen said he had no reason to believe the…
Trump Signs Executive Order Imposing 10% to 100% Tariffs on Imported Drones - Effective September 3
The White House has issued a formal proclamation confirming that President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing ad valorem tariffs ranging from 10% to 100% on imported drones and drone components. Citing national security concerns and invoking Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, the administration has directed that the new…
U.S. Lifts Decade-Old Security Restrictions on Ships Arriving From Nigeria
Stock Photo: Igor Grochev /Shutterstock Reuters August 18, 2026 By Chijioke Ohuocha ABUJA, Aug 18 (Reuters) – The United States has lifted security restrictions imposed on vessels arriving from Nigeria after more than a decade, the Marine and Blue economy Minister Adegboyega Oyetola said on Tuesday, in a move expected to cut shipping costs and…
Trump’s Plan for Foreign-Built Navy Ships Runs Into Resistance
The USS Nantucket (LCS 27) is christened and launched at Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette, WI., on August 7, 2021. Photo By Lockheed Martin Mike Schuler August 18, 2026 President Donald Trump’s push to open U.S. Navy shipbuilding to foreign yards is running into resistance from American shipbuilders and lawmakers who argue the policy risks…
The White House will let foreigners build America's warships. It sent America's shipyards US$780,000 each.
Four maritime documents came out of Washington on 13 August. Read in sequence, they say something the speeches do not: the fastest route back to an American shipbuilding industry runs through somebody else’s shipyard. 17 Aug 2026 The conditions are the interesting part, because each one names something the United States cannot presently do for…
Shell Loses Lengthy Legal Fight With South African Activists
Protesters march during a demonstration in support of Wild Coast communities’ legal battle against Shell’s offshore oil and gas exploration, at the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg, South Africa, September 16, 2025. REUTERS/Alet Pretorius Bloomberg August 16, 2026 By Paul Burkhardt Aug 16, 2026 (Bloomberg) –Shell Plc lost the latest round of a five-year legal fight with…
Europe urged to build 1,000 shallow-water ships
Adis AjdinAugust 13, 2026 HGK German inland shipping heavyweight HGK is calling for a government-backed programme to mobilise up to €12.5bn ($14.4bn) of investment in 1,000 new shallow-water-capable vessels across Europe by 2035. The Cologne-based group has urged Berlin to take the lead in setting up a long-term funding framework as exceptionally low water levels…
Revised Jones Act Waiver Takes Effect August 17
August 13, 2026 © Parilov / Adobe Stock U.S. Customs and Border Protection said on Thursday the Department of Homeland Security has approved a second 90-day extension of a Jones Act waiver first issued on March 17, 2026, allowing certain covered cargoes to continue moving on foreign-flagged vessels between U.S. ports under specified conditions. The…
Tariff Anticipation Fuels Import Surge at Los Angeles and Long Beach Ports
As new tariff measures loomed, U.S. retailers and manufacturers accelerated shipments to beat the implementation deadline, driving a sharp rise in West Coast import volumes. According to Sea-Intelligence, major West Coast ports processed 3.7 million TEUs in Q2 2026, reflecting a 7.1% year-on-year increase. However, this growth stems from front-loading inventory rather than underlying demand…
IRS Rules Out Key Tax Exemption for Foreign Ships Using Jones Act Waiver
Stock Photo: Faraways/Shutterstock Mike Schuler August 12, 2026 The Internal Revenue Service has issued new guidance clarifying that foreign shipping companies operating between U.S. ports under the Jones Act waiver cannot claim a longstanding tax exemption normally available to international shipping income, potentially adding a significant cost to waiver voyages. The IRS said income earned…
MSC fined $6m over Charleston runaway probe
WBCD News 2 MSC Shipmanagement has been fined $6m and placed on four years’ probation after admitting to concealing a hazardous engine-control problem aboard the MSC Michigan VII and obstructing the subsequent US investigation. The Cyprus-based vessel operator pleaded guilty to failing to report the hazardous condition to the US Coast Guard and obstructing an…
EU Abolishes EUR150 Duty-Free Threshold, Reshaping Cross-Border E-Commerce Logistics
Importers and e-commerce businesses shipping into the European Union face new customs charges and rising demand for local fulfillment following a landmark reform on1 July 2026. The European Union has abolished its long-standing EUR150 duty-free threshold for low-value consignments, a change that took effect on 1 July 2026 and stands as one of the most…
Jones Act Waiver Extension Deepens Divide Over U.S. Maritime Policy
Stock Photo: Igor Karasi / Shutterstock Mike Schuler August 10, 2026 The Trump administration’s decision to extend its Jones Act waiver for another 90 days is drawing sharply divided reactions, with U.S. maritime and shipbuilding groups welcoming new restrictions on foreign vessels while warning that continued exemptions could undermine efforts to rebuild the domestic maritime…
Federal Minister of Transport invites to low water summit in Bonn
Aug 10, 2026 at 7:20 AM Germany’s new Minister of Transport, Steffen Bilger (left), invited to a summit at the Federal Ministry of Transport in Bonn on August 6 to discuss the challenges of shipping and the economy during low water periods. The background is the historically low water levels in rivers such as…
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…