Stay on top of port closures, security incidents, congestion events and freight rate movements impacting global shipping. Updated continuously from verified industry sources.
The heavy-lift semi-submersible MV Black Marlin is scheduled to arrive in Hobart (River Derwent, Australia) by mid-July 2026 to load the world's largest battery-powered vessel, China Zorrilla, for delivery to South America. The loading operation, which involves partial submersion drawing 23 m of water and tugboat assistance, is expected to temporarily affect vessel traffic in the River Derwent, particularly near Taroona.
The Strait of Hormuz has been closed for 3 months due to the Iran-U.S. standoff, with no sanctions relief offered by the U.S. in exchange for reopening, pushing oil prices above $100/barrel. Negotiations are ongoing but slow, with a potential resolution hinted at "by next weekend" (around 2025-06-07), though no agreement has been reached yet.
China may have installed a new structure at Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea, a key flashpoint, with a floating barrier previously restricting lagoon access in April 2026; ongoing tensions and joint US-Philippine patrols signal heightened maritime security risks in the area. This could lead to restricted access, rerouting, or slowdowns for fishing and commercial vessels transiting near Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea.
The Strait of Hormuz remains closed following a US/Israel-Iran war that erupted in late February 2026, with Iran having deployed mines and launched missile/UAV attacks against commercial shipping; a multinational coalition led by France and the UK is preparing a mine-countermeasures security mission to reopen the waterway once conditions allow. Commercial vessel transits through the Strait are currently halted, with the US Navy additionally blockading Iranian ports in the Gulf.
Ukrainian UAV strikes on June 3rd, 2026 targeted the Russian corvette RFS Boiky at the Veleshchynsjy dockyard in Kronstadt (near Saint Petersburg), as well as oil terminals at Ust Luga and Primorsk, disrupting naval and energy export infrastructure. The ongoing UAV campaign against Baltic Fleet assets and oil terminals in the Saint Petersburg region poses a sustained threat to port operations, vessel movements, and oil export logistics in the eastern Baltic Sea.
The Durban Multi-Purpose Terminals (Maydon Wharf and Point MPT) are actively operational with numerous vessels in port, at berth, and awaiting entry at the outer anchorage as of 3 June 2026. A significant number of ships (approximately 20) are queuing at the Durban Outer Anchorage, indicating potential congestion and berthing delays at the terminal.
The Durban Multi-Purpose Terminals (Maydon Wharf and Point MPT) are showing active vessel traffic with multiple ships in port and a significant number at the outer anchorage, suggesting potential congestion at the port of Durban. As of 3 June 2026, approximately 20 vessels are waiting at the outer anchorage, indicating possible delays in berthing operations.
Multiple maritime disruptions are reported across Africa and the Middle East, including a vessel stranded for over 5 months at Dar es Salaam, a piracy incident near Garacad (Somalia) with the Egyptian vessel Sward still under pirate control, the MSC Sariska V struck by projectiles at Um-Qasr (Iraq), a livestock carrier lost off Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz closure causing a 7.5–10.1% reduction in global crude oil supply. Additional developments include infrastructure upgrades at Saldanha Iron Ore Terminal and new terminal/LNG agreements at Port of Ngqura.
Greek Maritime Minister Vasilis Kikilias warned at the Capital Link conference that the ongoing Iran war in the Middle East poses a significant danger to global societies and shipping. This geopolitical conflict raises concerns about potential disruptions to maritime traffic in the Middle East region, including key shipping lanes such as the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters.
An MSC container ship was struck by a large explosion approximately 40 nautical miles from Umm Qasr, Iraq, in the Gulf, raising serious security concerns for maritime traffic in the area. This incident is likely to cause disruptions including rerouting, slowdowns, and heightened security checks for vessels transiting the northern Arabian Gulf and approaching Iraqi ports.
Iran has claimed responsibility for a strike on the MSC Sariska V, a Panama-flagged container ship, off the coast of Iraq, signaling a renewed escalation of attacks on commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf/Arabian Sea region. This incident is likely to trigger rerouting, heightened security measures, and potential slowdowns for maritime traffic transiting the area near Iraq and the broader Gulf waterway.
A US Hellfire missile strike has disabled a VLCC en route to Kharg Island, Iran's main crude oil loading terminal, by targeting its engine room. This incident is likely to cause significant disruptions to tanker traffic and crude oil loading operations at Kharg Island, with potential rerouting or avoidance of the area by other vessels.
Iran claims to have targeted a second MSC vessel (MSC Panaya) in retaliation for the US disabling a tanker bound for Kharg Island, escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf/Strait of Hormuz region. This represents a significant security threat to commercial shipping in the area, potentially forcing rerouting and causing disruptions to vessels transiting the Gulf and calling at regional ports.
US blockade of Iran has caused Iranian oil exports via the Gulf to plunge over 90%, with only four tankers carrying petrochemicals departing in May 2026. This represents a major disruption to tanker traffic in the Persian Gulf region, severely curtailing Iranian maritime oil export routes.
Middle East conflict disruptions have cut off approximately 20% of global LNG production since late February 2026, reducing EU LNG imports by 8% year-over-year in May and intensifying competition for cargoes between Europe and Asia. Additionally, EU aluminum imports hit a decade low in March 2026, while Brazil's diesel import flows are heavily reliant on Russian supply with 10 tankers currently in transit for June delivery to Santos, Manaus, and Itaqui.
The Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, with Iran selectively allowing passage and suspected mining of the waterway, disrupting approximately 20% of global oil and LNG supplies. The EU is proposing to expand its Aspides naval mission to conduct mine-clearing operations, but no timeline for reopening has been established as hostilities and diplomatic stalemate continue.
Disruptions to oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing Middle East conflict are reshaping global crude supply routes, prompting India to rapidly increase Venezuelan crude imports — with 9.5 million barrels scheduled for discharge at Indian ports in June 2026. This shift is driving a surge in VLCC traffic toward Indian ports, particularly Sikka, with potential congestion implications as heavy-crude processing capacity remains limited.
The Strait of Hormuz is experiencing unprecedented IRGCN military pressure, with over 200 small craft massed near Larak Island, dark vessels being harassed or boarded, and commercial ships using cargo as armor against kinetic threats. Kharg Island's crude loading infrastructure has been offline for 12+ consecutive days across both terminals, causing tanker queues to dissolve and Iran to reroute logistics through small-craft networks, while a parallel enforcement crackdown on shadow fleet tankers (including the French/UK boarding of the Aframax TAGOR off Brest) is compounding disruptions across both the Gulf and European waters.
The Strait of Hormuz has been blockaded following an outbreak of war in the Middle East (late February 2026), causing a 22% drop in VLGC LPG exports from the region and driving major rerouting via the Cape of Good Hope. The Panama Canal is experiencing near-full capacity and sharply elevated transit auction fees (up to USD 4M per transit), further reducing VLGC availability and causing congestion-driven disruptions on key LPG trade routes.
Nigeria's Dangote refinery is expanding its African distribution network, including a new four-berth marine jetty at its Nigerian refinery capable of loading LR2 tankers and smaller vessels, alongside a 240-million-barrel tank farm at Namibia's Walvis Bay port. These infrastructure developments signal increased maritime cargo activity at both Dangote's Nigerian refinery terminal and the port of Walvis Bay, potentially boosting tanker traffic across West and Southern African routes.
Iran's seizure of the Strait of Hormuz following its war with Israel and the US (starting Feb. 28, 2026) has reduced maritime traffic through the choke point by 90%, causing major disruptions to tanker and bulk shipping routes and stranding vessels in the Persian Gulf. This has triggered significant freight rate surges across dirty tankers, dry bulk, and container segments, with shippers rerouting cargo via longer alternative routes.
The Delfin FLNG 1 project, the first and largest FLNG facility in the US, has reached a final investment decision offshore Louisiana, involving MOL, Delfin Midstream, and Vitol. This development will introduce significant new LNG export infrastructure and increased maritime traffic (LNG tankers) in the Gulf of Mexico offshore Louisiana area over the coming years.
Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Qatar and other Gulf oil-producing neighbors following U.S.-Israeli strikes, disrupting regional energy output and triggering an armed conflict in the Persian Gulf region since February 28, 2026. This military escalation poses significant risks to maritime traffic through the Persian Gulf, including key Qatari LNG export terminals and major regional shipping lanes.
The U.S. Secretary of State confirmed no sanctions relief has been offered to Iran in exchange for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which remains closed amid an ongoing U.S.-Iran war that began on February 28, 2026. This prolonged closure of one of the world's most critical oil shipping chokepoints poses a major ongoing disruption to global maritime trade and tanker routes through the Persian Gulf.