Maritime news

Headlines aggregated from the maritime press. Links go straight to the source — Seafarer Index does not reproduce full articles.

• US crude oil inventories drop 3.06 million barrels
  Hellenic Shipping News · 10/22/2026

  US crude oil inventories decreased by 3.06 million barrels to 412.5 million barrels during the week ended October 16, the US Energy Information Administration reported Wednesday. The decline exceeded market expectations. Analysts surveyed had projected a draw of 820,000 barrels. Gasoline inventories fell by 2.95 millio

• India could deepen energy ties with Venezuela beyond crude imports: Rubio
  Hellenic Shipping News · 10/22/2026

  Indian companies could play a larger role in Venezuela’s energy sector as the country’s oil production increases, importing more of its heavy crude for processing while exploring new opportunities to invest in upstream projects, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Oct. 20. Speaking ahead of a meeting with Reliance I

• European Natural Gas Hovers Near Multi-Year Highs
  Hellenic Shipping News · 10/22/2026

  European natural gas prices held above €87/MWh on Thursday, hovering just below their highest levels in nearly four years, as constrained Middle Eastern LNG supplies and low storage levels heightened concerns over winter availability. Continued attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz have raised doubts about how qui

• Asia stocks slide as AI doubts deepen, Korean chips fall
  Hellenic Shipping News · 10/22/2026

  Asian stocks fell on Thursday as mixed earnings from major U.S. technology companies failed to reassure investors about the returns on massive artificial intelligence investments, renewing pressure on semiconductor shares and Chinese equities. Wall Street closed higher overnight. In Asian trade, Nasdaq 100 futures fell

• Viridien sharpens exploration picture beyond Guyana’s Stabroek block
  Splash247 · 10/22/2026

  French geophysical company Viridien has launched the first phase of a major seismic reimaging programme offshore Guyana, targeting more than 10,000 sq km of existing 3D data in and around the country’s emerging shallow-water exploration acreage. The project covers the Kaieteur, Georgetown, Kanuku, and Corentyne legacy

• MISC orders five LNG carriers at Hudong-Zhonghua
  Seatrade Maritime · 10/22/2026

  New contract further gives the Chinese shipyard a 21% share of LNG newbuilds on order

• Seven Yield secures Chinese charter deal for car carrier pair
  Splash247 · 10/22/2026

  Luxembourg-incorporated shipowner Seven Yield has secured five-year time charters for two LNG-powered car carriers with a major Chinese automobile manufacturer, extending employment for the vessels into the next decade. The agreements cover the 2020-built, 7,500 ceu sisterships Siem Confucius and Siem Aristotle, with t

• Maersk Tankers lines up EU backing for four VLAC ammonia conversions
  Splash247 · 10/22/2026

  Danish shipowner Maersk Tankers has moved closer to converting four very large ammonia carriers to run on the cargo they transport after its retrofit proposal was selected for support under the European Union’s Innovation Fund. The project, known as RIPPLE, involves installing dual-fuel, two-stroke ammonia engines on f

• Philippines Exploring Deeper Cooperation with Taiwan to Protect Undersea Cables
  gCaptain · 10/22/2026

  The Philippines is exploring deeper cooperation with Taiwan on protecting undersea cables and addressing "gray-zone" activity, despite Manila's one-China policy, which recognizes Beijing and not Taipei, a Philippine diplomat said on Wednesday.

• Saudi Arabia Seeks Access to Overseas Oil Storage for Aramco
  gCaptain · 10/22/2026

  Saudi Arabia is in talks with foreign governments to give state-owned Aramco access to their strategic oil storage, as the kingdom seeks to make its supplies to customers more resilient during disruptions, Chief Executive Officer Amin Nasser said.

• Global shipbuilding boom moves into overdrive
  Splash247 · 10/22/2026

  The global shipbuilding boom is gathering pace, with orderbooks surpassing their previous 2008 peak, Chinese yards tightening their grip on the market and tanker owners increasingly turning to inexperienced builders to secure delivery slots. New figures from BIMCO put the global orderbook at 203.2m compensated gross to

• China adds new state-owned shipbuilding player in Guangzhou
  Splash247 · 10/22/2026

  Guangzhou has formally launched a new state-owned maritime industrial group as the southern Chinese shipbuilding hub looks to expand its manufacturing capacity and bring more of the industry’s supply chain under local ownership. Guangzhou Marine Equipment Group, established with registered capital of RMB2bn ($300m), ha

• A new world order emerges in LNG shipping
  Splash247 · 10/22/2026

  The world’s LNG trading map is undergoing its biggest upheaval in years, with the near-paralysis of Gulf exports redirecting cargoes across oceans, forcing Asian buyers towards alternative suppliers and pushing European gas prices to their highest levels since 2022. While gas prices approach $30 per million British the

• US sanctions net widens to shipping agents and lawyers
  Splash247 · 10/22/2026 · enforcement

  Washington has widened its crackdown on Iran’s shadow fleet, sanctioning a Greek-Panamanian law firm, shipping agents in Singapore and Dubai, and nine vessels in a move targeting the service providers behind Tehran’s commodity exports. Announcing the measures yesterday, the US Treasury said Karnakis and Karnakis had es

• Iran claims seven vessels hit in new wave of Hormuz attacks
  Splash247 · 10/22/2026

  Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed today that seven vessels had been attacked or struck mines across the Persian Gulf over the past 24 hours, including four conducting ship-to-ship oil transfers. The IRGC Navy said it had tracked four vessels that previously used a route Tehran considers unauthorised, before striking

• Ankeri Solutions Named Maritime Digitalisation Pioneer At Marine Insight Global Awards 2026
  Marine Insight · 10/22/2026

  Ankeri Solutions was honoured with the Maritime Digitalisation Pioneer award at the Marine Insight Global Awards 2026.

• Tufton rides stronger markets with fresh tanker and bulker deals
  Splash247 · 10/22/2026

  London-listed Tufton Assets has secured higher-paying employment across its tanker and dry bulk fleet, with two MR product tankers extended for another year and further charter renewals in the pipeline. The charterer of the 2016-built Catherine Grace and Madelyn Grace exercised options in October to extend both vessels

• Is the Red Sea safe?
  Seatrade Maritime · 10/22/2026

  An accelerating return of container shipping to the Suez Canal, Red Sea and Bab El Mandeb, amid an escalating and widening conflict between Saudi Arabia and Yemen-based Houthis is raising industry concerns. Are crew and cargoes at risk?

• US sanctions law firm, shipping agents linked to Iran’s shadow fleet
  Seatrade Maritime · 10/22/2026 · enforcement

  Washington in further crack down on professional services sustaining Tehran’s trade networks

• DS Tankers cuts VLCC fleet to one
  Splash247 · 10/22/2026

  German outfit DS Tankers has sold the 15-year-old, Dalian-built VLCC DS Vision to undisclosed interests for $96m, well below VesselsValue’s $161m valuation.  In a comparable deal, the older, 2004-built Southern Emperor, also built at Dalian is reported selling for $110m.  The low price tag for DS Vision is explained by

• UK Approves Controversial Jackdaw Gas Project in the North Sea
  The Maritime Executive · 10/22/2026
• U.S. Treasury Sanctions Shipping Law Firm for Alleged Shadow Fleet Services
  The Maritime Executive · 10/22/2026 · enforcement
• UK gives Jackdaw gas project green light after years of legal delays
  Splash247 · 10/22/2026

  The UK government has cleared the long-delayed Jackdaw gas development in the North Sea, allowing operator Adura to bring the £2.1bn ($2.8bn) project onstream as early as the end of October. The North Sea Transition Authority granted fresh development consent after energy secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh agreed the field co

• DOF secures deepwater installation job in Africa
  Splash247 · 10/22/2026

  Norwegian offshore vessel owner DOF has secured a subsea installation contract worth for deepwater field developments offshore Africa. The Skandi Acergy vessel will execute the contract, with operations scheduled to begin early in the first quarter of 2027 and expected to last around 100 days. Under the agreement, DOF

• Archer pulls out of offshore wind projects amid financial troubles
  Splash247 · 10/22/2026

  Norwegian offshore services group Archer is pulling out of offshore wind engineering, procurement, and construction work and considering a partial or full sale of Archer Wind after commercial problems on the Culzean floating wind pilot in the UK North Sea. The company disclosed the decision alongside third-quarter figu

• Eni and Snam secure EU backing for Adriatic CCS project
  Splash247 · 10/22/2026

  Eni and Snam have secured European Commission selection for funding of the second phase of their Ravenna carbon capture and storage (CCS) project, advancing plans for a major offshore CO2 storage hub in Italy’s Adriatic Sea. The development was among the large-scale projects selected under the EU’s 2025 Innovation Fund

• French Navy Reports Drone Incursion During Harbor-Protection Exercises
  The Maritime Executive · 10/22/2026
• Panama Canal sees 4% growth of transits in FY2026
  Seatrade Maritime · 10/22/2026

  Last minute reservation system for the Panamax locks reinstated following improvements in watershed levels

• Crew Connect Global: Day 2 Wrap-Up - AI, training gaps, and the future of seafarer careers
  Seatrade Maritime · 10/22/2026 · training

  Day 2 of Crew Connect Global: AI, regulation, training fairness, and whether a real seafarer shortage exists. Panelists debate connectivity needs, cruise vs cargo HR, and the career pathways shaping maritime's future workforce.

• MARAD Cancels Deployment and Returns Training Ship Empire State to SUNY
  The Maritime Executive · 10/21/2026 · training
• Trump Administration Targets Fourth Offshore Wind Project for Remand
  The Maritime Executive · 10/21/2026
• DOT Awards $200M Rail Grant to Support Port of Coos Bay's Terminal Project
  The Maritime Executive · 10/21/2026
• Panama Canal Sets Record for Annual Tonnage Driven by Shifts in Trade
  The Maritime Executive · 10/21/2026
• Australian Fund Manager Buys Majority Stake in UK’s Largest Port Operator
  The Maritime Executive · 10/21/2026
• US sanctions relief could lift tanker rates in Russia, inject capacity to Gulf shuttles: analysts
  Hellenic Shipping News · 10/21/2026 · enforcement

  US sanctions relief on shadow-fleet tankers could redirect ships from Russian oil trades toward the Middle East, potentially raising Russian freight costs while easing some of the tanker shortages around the Strait of Hormuz, shipping analysts said. In recent public remarks, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the US wi

• Ship Recycling Market Gaining Strength In India
  Hellenic Shipping News · 10/21/2026

  The ship recycling market has gained strength in India over the past week. In its latest weekly report, Best Oasis (www.best-oasis.com), a leading cash buyer of ships said that “the Indian ship recycling market has strengthened over the past week, supported by an appreciation of the Indian rupee against the US dollar f

• New and Established Yards Enter Tanker Market for the First Time
  Hellenic Shipping News · 10/21/2026

  The list of yards building Tankers is widening, with a mix of brand new builders and established builders extending into the sector for the first time. Fifty-one vessels have been ordered for the first time at newbuild yards in 2026, up 34% from 38 in 2025, according to VesselsValue’s newbuild orderbook data. Eighteen

• Baltic Dry Index Up for 3rd Day
  Hellenic Shipping News · 10/21/2026

  The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk freight index, which tracks rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, advanced for a third session on Wednesday, rising by 3.4% to its highest since October 13 at 2,680 points. Strength in the bigger-size segment continued to provide the main support. The capesize index, which typica

• Venezuela’s oil trade reopened. The risk moved to the vessel
  Hellenic Shipping News · 10/21/2026

  Venezuela is not a binary, open-or-closed sanctions story. Trade responds to restrictions, but it also responds to waivers, licences and commercial incentives. For anyone shipping, financing or screening Venezuelan cargoes, the question is no longer only, “Is this vessel on a list?” It is, “What is this vessel doing, a

• FUJAIRAH DATA: Oil product stockpiles rebound as light distillates jump record 72%
  Hellenic Shipping News · 10/21/2026

  Oil product stockpiles at the UAE’s Fujairah rebounded 6.2% in the week ended Oct. 19, led by a record 72% jump in light distillates such as gasoline and naphtha, according to Fujairah Oil Industry Zone data published Oct. 21. Total inventory rose to 7.247 million barrels, marking the first gain in four weeks, the data

• Fearnleys Week 43 2026
  Hellenic Shipping News · 10/21/2026

  VLCC rates have been under pressure in the week gone by, shedding WS 100-150 points depending on the voyages in question. The “weaker”   Source: Fearnleys A.S

• Maersk Tankers: A step closer to ammonia-powered VLACs
  Hellenic Shipping News · 10/21/2026

  Our ambition to power our new fleet of Very Large Ammonia Carriers (VLACs) with ammonia has taken an important step forward. Our retrofit project, RIPPLE, has been selected for EU Innovation Fund funding, pending finalisation of the grant agreement. The project would equip vessels with dual-fuel engines, enabling them

• ENGINE: Europe & Africa Bunker Fuel Availability Outlook
  Hellenic Shipping News · 10/21/2026

  Northwest Europe Prompt supply is tight in the ARA ports, a trader said, and buyers should allow lead times of 5-7 days to get competitive offers from a wide selection of suppliers, a trader told ENGINE. Verde Marine Energy said this week that it has added more barges to Flushing, Ghent and Ternuezen. The ARA’s ...

• EU lawmakers vote to create raw materials agency to cut reliance on China
  Hellenic Shipping News · 10/21/2026

  The European Parliament has voted to strengthen the bloc’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), backing the creation of a dedicated EU agency and a €2 billion fund designed to reduce Europe’s dependence on foreign suppliers of minerals essential to the clean energy, defense and digital transitions. The amendments, adopte

• Statement by the HR/VP on the escalation of Russian strikes in the EU, particularly on Black Sea shipping, threatening human life, regional stability and food security
  Hellenic Shipping News · 10/21/2026

  Russia is not winning on the battlefield in Ukraine. Instead, Putin is blatantly targeting civilians and stepping up hybrid attacks in the rest of Europe. The escalation in attacks in the Black Sea deserve specific attention, so thank you setting up this debate. On Saturday, Romanian F-16 fighter jets shot down two dro

• World’s first commercial ship-to-ship green ammonia bunkering completed in China
  Hellenic Shipping News · 10/21/2026

  A liquefied gas carrier originally designed by FKAB Marine Design has completed what Jiangsu Andefu Energy Development describes as the world’s first commercial ship-to-ship bunkering operation using green ammonia. On 13 October 2026, Shenghang Yongle supplied 1,000 tonnes of green ammonia to Mineral Europa, an ammonia

• BGN builds up LPG-capable gas carrier fleet with four more ships
  Hellenic Shipping News · 10/21/2026

  Energy and commodities trading group BGN has ordered four 93,000-cbm LPG-capable gas carriers from HD Hyundai Heavy Industries for delivery in January 2030. BGN signed the contract for the four very large gas carriers (VLGCs) with South Korean shipbuilder HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HD HHI) in Istanbul. The ships will

• Skuld positions organisation for future growth
  Hellenic Shipping News · 10/21/2026

  Skuld today announces organisational changes to further strengthen the value delivered to members, clients and brokers. Following several years of strong and sustained growth across products, markets and geographies, Skuld is evolving its organisational structure to enhance co-ordination, strengthen resilience and supp

• HarborLab launches DEX, an AI assistant for DA evaluation teams
  Hellenic Shipping News · 10/21/2026

  HarborLab, the AI-powered platform for port cost management, has launched DEX, an AI assistant that checks every port expense on a DA, so analysts can focus on what needs a decision. DA analysts are skilled professionals who know the tariffs, the ports, and the agents they work with. Yet every line of every DA gets ...

• Soya IT Marine Solutions Selects Speedcast to Deliver Connectivity Services Supporting Fleetwide Digital Enablement Project for Wallenius Wilhelmsen
  Hellenic Shipping News · 10/21/2026

  Speedcast, a global communications and IT services provider and Tier 1 Starlink Enterprise Account leader, and Soya IT Marine Solutions have completed the deployment of upgraded digital connectivity solutions on 41 roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) vessels for global shipping and logistics company, Wallenius Wilhelmsen. As part