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…
South Korea to spend US$3 billion on expansion
South Korea will invest US$3 billion to expand its overseas terminals and logistics network under a government plan aimed at strengthening supply chains and boosting trade competitiveness, reports New York’s Journal of Commerce. The Ocean and Fisheries Ministry said the three-point plan will raise the number of publicly supported logistics facilities abroad from nine to…
Panama President Mulino says crisis with the US is over
Nearly a year on from threats by US President Trump to take back control of the Panama Canal the Latin American country says issues have been resolved Michele Labrut, Americas Correspondent January 5, 2026 Secretary Marco Rubio meets with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino in Panama City, Panama, 2 February, 2025. CREDIT: US STATE DEPARTMENT…
Paint Job Politics: How One Tanker Turned a Sanctions Chase Into a US-Russia Showdown
FILE PHOTO: An oil tanker is seen on Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela’s western state of Zulia March 1, 2008. REUTERS/Jorge Silva/File Photo Paul Morgan January 2, 2026 A rusting oil tanker and a can of paint have just sparked the most surreal maritime standoff of the decade. Paul Morgan (gCaptain) – For nearly two weeks,…
Dutch Cabinet identifies preferred site for military cargo terminal at Maasvlakte II
Published on 02-01-2026 at 07:30 The location of the future military cargo terminal Port of Rotterdam The Dutch Ministry of Defence plans to build a military cargo terminal at Maasvlakte II, boosting defence logistics. In the northwest corner of Maasvlakte II in the port of Rotterdam, a 15-hectare terminal for the Dutch Ministry of Defence…
Norway grants US$120m to hydrogen, ammonia ships
Norway has awarded more than US$120 million in grants to support seven pioneering bulk carriers and the country’s first ammonia bunkering stations, reported Fort Lauderdale’s Maritime Executive. The funding is channelled through Enova, a state enterprise under the Ministry of Climate and Environment, as part of efforts to cut emissions and build new industry. The…
Venezuela Passes 20-Year Prison Law Targeting ‘Piracy’ and ‘Blockades’ After Tanker Seizures
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 Reuters December 24, 2025 Dec 23 (Reuters)…
Coast Guard Pursuing Defiant ‘Bella 1’ Tanker as U.S. Blockade of Venezuela Runs Into Reality
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 Reuters December 23, 2025 By Idrees Ali,…
US Pursuing Third Oil Tanker Near Venezuela, Officials Say
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 Reuters December 21, 2025 By Idrees Ali,…
US seizes second tanker off Venezuela
Video shows the Panama-flagged VLCC Centuries being boarding by the US Coast Guard Marcus Hand, Editor December 21, 2025 CREDIT: SCREENSHOT – US DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY The US has seized a VLCC named Centuries offshore Venezuela, its second such operation in recent weeks. US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Neom posted a seven-minute video on…
U.S. Seizes Second Tanker Near Venezuela, Reuters Reports
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 Reuters December 20, 2025 By Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart Dec 20 (Reuters) – The United States is interdicting and seizing a vessel off…
U.S. Maritime Regulator Weighs Severe Penalties in Escalating Spain Port Probe
Credit: Gestur Gislason/Shutterstock Mike Schuler December 19, 2025 The Federal Maritime Commission says Spain’s port access restrictions on Israel-linked cargoes may violate U.S. shipping laws, prompting consideration of fines, port bans, and other penalties. The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has escalated its investigation into Spain’s port access restrictions, confirming that Spanish authorities continue to…
Federal Maritime Commission Recognizes National Shipper Advisory Committee Members
December 18, 2025 © Federal Maritime Commission The Federal Maritime Commission acknowledges the service of the members of the National Shipper Advisory Committee (NSAC). Since October 2021, NSAC’s members have provided information and perspectives on conditions in the ocean freight delivery system. NSAC’s meetings and recommendations have assisted the Commission on a range of matters…
Venezuela rolls out naval escorts as tanker standoff with US intensifies
Sam ChambersDecember 18, 2025 US Department of Justice US Department of Justice Venezuela has begun deploying naval escorts for vessels carrying oil byproducts as they depart its ports, underscoring a rapid escalation in maritime tensions following US president Donald Trump’s threat of a “total and complete” blockade of sanctioned oil tankers trading to and from…
Now Britain fines car carrier cartel
Published on 17-12-2025 at 07:18 Car carrier Cerulean Ace in the livery of MOL. Corporate image from MOL Japanese shipping companies MOL and NYK have reached an agreement in Britain to pay a total settlement of £54 million (€61.5 million). The sum is in lieu of their participation in an international car carrier cartel between…
Trump moves to choke Venezuelan oil shipping with ‘total and complete’ tanker blockade
Sam ChambersDecember 17, 2025 The White House The White House In a major escalation of maritime pressure on Caracas, US president Donald Trump has ordered “a total and complete blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers going into, and out of, Venezuela,” intensifying efforts to squeeze president Nicolás Maduro’s lifeline crude exports. The dramatic declaration, posted…
European Commission approves €251m for 24 port schemes
Published on 15-12-2025 at 09:28 MVII and RWG will receive large grants towards the cost of installing shore power. Shutterstock The European Commission has approved €601m for 70 projects under the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF), with 24 ports among the beneficiaries. Announced on 17 November 2025, the funding round targets the deployment of onshore…
PEMA reviews new EU Machinery Regulation
Published on 15-12-2025 at 20:18 Bureau Veritas The Port Equipment Manufacturers’ Association’s (PEMA) latest Information Paper reviews the new EU Machinery Regulation EU 2023/1230. PEMA has published its 32nd Information Paper, which is entitled “Review of Machinery Regulation EU 2023/1230”. This regulation that comes into effect on January 20, 2027, and will replace the older…