Stay on top of port closures, security incidents, congestion events and freight rate movements impacting global shipping. Updated continuously from verified industry sources.
AD Ports and EGA have signed a development deal for Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi, which includes dredging works. This development may temporarily affect port operations and vessel traffic in the vicinity of Khalifa Port during construction and dredging activities.
Curtin has been awarded a $12.7 million dredging contract on the Delaware River, which will involve active dredging operations that may cause temporary slowdowns or navigation restrictions for vessel traffic in the affected channel sections.
A beach nourishment project is scheduled for November at Anna Maria Island, Florida, which will involve dredging and marine construction activities in the coastal waters of the area. This may cause temporary disruptions to vessel traffic and navigation near the project zone.
Singapore is set to begin preparatory works for the 'Long Island' land reclamation project from end-2026, a major coastal infrastructure initiative that may affect maritime traffic and port operations in the surrounding waters. Vessels navigating near the affected coastal zones may experience rerouting or navigational restrictions during the construction phase.
Dredging operations are being conducted in the Shing Mun River Channel, Sha Tin, Hong Kong, daily between 0700 and 1900 for approximately five months. Vessels navigating this channel may experience slowdowns or restrictions during the operation period.
The SEA GUARDIAN monthly threat assessment (May 29–June 29, 2026) identifies multiple active maritime security disruptions, including an IMO-suspended ship evacuation operation near the Strait of Hormuz/Gulf of Oman following a vessel attack, a drone strike on civilian cargo ships in the Black Sea killing an Egyptian crew member, Iranian proposals to impose fees on Strait of Hormuz traffic, and Houthi threats targeting Israeli-linked vessels in the Red Sea/Bab al-Mandab area. Despite Hormuz tensions, the Suez Canal is reportedly operating normally with increased traffic.
The Port of Pointe Noire (Republic of Congo) is introducing new payment conditions for port services starting July 1, 2026, requiring full prepayment prior to berth authorization or vessel entry. This may cause delays or disruptions for vessels unprepared for the new financial requirements.
Amid a fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, the Strait of Hormuz faces heightened risk of disruption following reciprocal strikes, including an attack on the vessel Ever Lovely and U.S. airstrikes on Iranian facilities. Mediation talks are ongoing regarding the management of the Strait of Hormuz, but tensions remain elevated with missile strikes reported on U.S. bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.
Russia has armed the Gazprom-operated LNG tanker Marshal Vasilevskiy with heavy machine guns (12.7mm Kord) while operating in the Baltic Sea, marking the first documented case of military-grade weapons on a civilian Russian vessel in the region. This escalation raises significant security concerns for Baltic Sea maritime traffic, particularly regarding vessel inspections, boarding operations, and the broader militarization of commercial shipping routes.
Iran has attacked two commercial vessels (MV Ever Lovely and MV Kiku) in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint carrying nearly one-fifth of global oil shipments, creating significant security risks for commercial shipping transiting the waterway. An IMO-coordinated evacuation plan is underway for approximately 11,000 seafarers, with ships required to follow designated sea lanes, indicating ongoing and serious disruption to normal maritime traffic through the strait.
A Saudi Aramco helicopter crash at the Ras Tanura oil hub killed all 14 on board, occurring just two days after crude oil loading resumed at the terminal following a nearly four-month suspension linked to the US-Israel-Iran conflict. While the crash itself has not directly halted port operations, Ras Tanura's export terminal remains in a fragile recovery phase, with Aramco having already rerouted part of its exports via pipeline to reduce reliance on the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing regional disruptions.
Over 60% of India-bound commercial ships are disabling their AIS transponders while transiting the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing US-Iran tensions, creating significant navigational uncertainty and security risks on one of the world's most critical shipping routes. Ongoing attacks on vessels, disputed navigation corridors, a fragile ceasefire, and IMO's temporary suspension of its evacuation plan are causing major disruptions to maritime traffic through the strait.
A fleet of over 80 vessels, including 40+ tall ships and 32 warships, will gather in New York Harbor for the Sail4th 250 celebration from July 3–8, 2026, marking America's 250th anniversary. The event will involve a major Parade of Sail through New York Harbor and up the Hudson River, likely causing significant slowdowns and restricted navigation in the harbor, East River, and Hudson River during that period.
Canada's collection of tolls on cargo transiting the St. Lawrence Seaway to and from U.S. Great Lakes ports creates an ongoing cost disadvantage for American ports, carriers, and shippers, while the U.S. provides toll-free access through its portion of the system. The article calls for toll parity to be addressed in ongoing U.S.-Canada trade negotiations.
Following an interim U.S.-Iran deal announced on June 15, 2026, fertilizer shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are slowly recovering after a near-closure during the 3.5-month war, but over 500 ships remain stranded in the Gulf with traffic at a fraction of pre-conflict levels. Analysts warn that full recovery to pre-war transit volumes is unlikely before August at the earliest, due to ongoing de-mining needs, vessel backlogs, damaged production facilities, and security concerns after a reported attack paused IMO escort operations.
Four vessels are scheduled to call at the French ports of Rouen and La Pallice to load barley cargoes bound for China, marking the start of the 2026/27 export season, with additional shipments of barley and wheat also expected. This represents a significant grain export activity that will generate notable vessel traffic at both ports in the coming weeks.
CMA CGM and Asyad Group have agreed to develop a $400 million multipurpose logistics terminal at Sohar Port in Oman, reinforcing the port's role as an alternative trade route amid ongoing disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz. While transits through the strait have partially resumed following a preliminary U.S.-Iran peace deal, continued uncertainty and ongoing strikes maintain significant risk of disruption to shipping in the region.
Oman's Asyad Group and France's CMA CGM have signed a framework agreement to develop a $400 million multipurpose logistics terminal at the Port of Sohar, aimed at boosting cargo handling capacity and regional trade connectivity. This long-term infrastructure development is expected to enhance Sohar's role as a global trade hub, with no immediate disruption but significant future expansion of port operations.
The Strait of Hormuz remains only partially navigable following a conflict that began on February 28, with tanker transits still well below pre-crisis levels of 90–110 vessels per day and cargo throughput at roughly half of pre-conflict crude levels. While empty tankers are repositioning into the Gulf in anticipation of resumed exports, persistent security risks, war-risk insurance costs, and a massive vessel backlog are keeping the global tanker market in a fragile, volatile state with significant route disruptions and rate swings.
A CIMSEC editorial series covers the ongoing 'Iran War' and its maritime dimensions, particularly the military contest over the Strait of Hormuz, which has disrupted global trade and shipping routes. The closure or restriction of the Strait of Hormuz is described as having strongly affected the world economy, with significant implications for vessel transits through this critical chokepoint.
The Port of Ngqura (Coega) daily ship movement report dated 29 June 2026 lists multiple vessels at the outer anchorage, including MSC Altair, MSC Sky II, MSC Margarita, MSC Malin II, Berge Nishikawa, Pacific Purity, and Sarika Naree, suggesting potential congestion or waiting times at berth. The container terminal's stack dates, berthing list, and import storage list are updated daily by Transnet.
The Durban Container Terminals (Pier 1 and Durban Gateway Terminal/Pier 2) have published their latest ship movement schedule as of 29 June 2026, showing vessels currently berthed, at outer anchorage, and expected arrivals through mid-July 2026. Multiple container ships including MSC Cassandre and San Francisco are currently at outer anchorage, indicating potential congestion or queuing at the port.
The Durban port complex (RoRo, Tanker, Cruise, Coal, and New Pier terminals) published its daily berthing update as of 29 June 2026, with several vessels at outer anchorage potentially indicating moderate congestion. No major disruptions are reported, but the tanker arrival schedule remains busy through mid-July 2026.
South Africa faces potential logistics disruptions on 30 June 2026 due to anti-illegal immigration demonstrations, with the supply chain sector in contingency mode; a mobile crane fire at Durban Harbour's D Berth on 22 June briefly disrupted port operations. New maritime developments include a PIL/Evergreen direct Asia–South Africa service, construction of Gabon's Kobé-Kobé deepwater port, a new Red Sea Express service, and Cape Town Container Terminal receiving four new hybrid straddle carriers.