Stay on top of port closures, security incidents, congestion events and freight rate movements impacting global shipping. Updated continuously from verified industry sources.
Ongoing attacks in the Persian Gulf are blocking oil and LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz, with no imminent resumption in sight; US-Iran negotiations show mixed progress while inventories continue to tighten. Even once the strait reopens, Kuwait Petroleum estimates it will take 6-8 weeks to restore output to 70% of normal levels, with full recovery taking an additional month, signaling prolonged disruption to energy shipping through this critical chokepoint.
Anticipation of US tariffs on copper imports is prompting a surge in pre-emptive shipments into US ports, which could generate congestion or increased traffic volumes. Additionally, the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to prolonged Middle East conflict poses a significant rerouting risk for vessels transiting that critical chokepoint.
The Strait of Hormuz has remained disrupted for a third consecutive month following US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, 2026, severely curtailing crude oil shipments through this critical chokepoint and forcing major rerouting via the Fujairah and Yanbu bypass pipelines. India has lost roughly 50% of its usual energy supply route through Hormuz (~2.5–2.7 million bpd), triggering significant shifts in tanker traffic patterns toward alternative ports and diversified supplier origins.
Bunker fuel availability is significantly constrained across multiple European and African ports, driven by tightened blending component supplies linked to Hormuz disruptions and historically low ARA fuel oil stocks (44% below February levels). Extended lead times of 5–14 days are required across key bunkering hubs, with additional weather-related operational closures at Las Palmas and Walvis Bay.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz (SoH) is causing major disruptions to offshore vessel operations in the Middle East Gulf, with up to 15 OSVs having contracts terminated in the UAE, widespread suspensions in Qatar, and newbuild vessels stranded in the Gulf of Oman awaiting access. Insurance costs have surged up to 10x, EPC construction projects are stalling due to inability to import equipment from Asia, and no OSVs are currently able to transit in or out of the Middle East Gulf.
Major dredging works have begun on the River Hull, which may cause temporary disruptions to vessel navigation along this waterway. Depending on the scope and duration of the works, river traffic could experience slowdowns or restricted passage in the affected sections.
A contract has been awarded for the construction of a surge protection breakwater at Geraldton Port, Australia. This construction project may cause temporary disruptions or slowdowns in port operations during the works period.
The dredging project at Rock Hall Harbor has been delayed, which may temporarily affect vessel access and navigation depths at the harbor. Shallow water conditions resulting from the postponed dredging could cause restrictions or slowdowns for vessels using the port.
Cook Inlet LNG is planning a new FSRU (Floating Storage and Regasification Unit)-based LNG import project in Alaska's Cook Inlet, aimed at providing an energy supply lifeline for the region. This development could affect maritime traffic in Cook Inlet with new LNG vessel calls and FSRU mooring operations in Alaskan waters.
The Panama Canal is introducing modifications to its Transit Reservation (Booking) System, allowing HML D Neopanamax vessels to request 1A booking slots for transit dates starting July 1, 2026. This change may affect vessel scheduling and transit planning for Neopanamax traffic through the canal.
Reinstatement works at the Aster Single Buoy Mooring (SBM) in Singapore are ongoing until November 30, 2026, with the scope including associated diving operations. This may cause operational disruptions or restrictions at the affected SBM berth, potentially impacting vessel scheduling and tanker mooring operations in the area.
The Russian government has postponed the commissioning of the nuclear-powered icebreaker Chukotka (Project 22220) to 2027, delaying a key asset intended to support Arctic shipping along the Northern Sea Route. This delay may reduce icebreaking capacity on the NSR, potentially causing slowdowns or scheduling disruptions for vessels transiting Arctic waters managed by Rosatom.
The USS Nimitz (CVN-68), the U.S. Navy's oldest nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, is making a five-day port call at Kingston, Jamaica, as part of its final overseas tour before decommissioning. The visit may cause localized port activity and minor disruptions at Kingston, while the carrier's inability to transit the Panama Canal (requiring a route around South America) and potential extended Caribbean presence amid rising U.S.-Cuba tensions could affect regional maritime traffic patterns.
Shipping executives at the Posidonia/Capital Link conference in Athens are urging that any US-Iran peace deal include clear rules for commercial vessel transit through the Strait of Hormuz, warning that ongoing geopolitical uncertainty is disrupting normal shipping operations in the Gulf. At least one vessel has been stranded inside the Gulf for approximately three months, with high-risk insurance conditions and no clear operational framework for safe transit currently in place.
The MV Hondius, an expedition cruise ship, was detained in Rotterdam following a hantavirus outbreak that killed 3 passengers, undergoing quarantine and extensive cleaning since May 18, 2026. The vessel has now been cleared by Dutch health authorities and is expected to resume scheduled cruises departing Rotterdam from June 13, 2026.
Iran has threatened to completely block the Strait of Hormuz and activate disruptions around the Bab El Mandeb Strait in response to Israeli military operations in Lebanon and Gaza, suspending indirect nuclear talks with the US. If enacted, these measures would severely disrupt global energy and shipping flows through two of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints.
The MSC SARISKA V container vessel was struck by two projectiles claimed by the IRGC while departing Iraq's Port of Umm Qasr on June 1, 2026, causing direct disruption to the Umm Qasr shuttle service and heightening security risks across the Arabian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz. The attack signals an elevated threat environment for commercial shipping in the Persian Gulf region, likely prompting rerouting considerations, enhanced vigilance, and potential slowdowns in vessel traffic through the area.
Iran is imposing or considering transit toll fees on commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, with some Greek shipping companies already reportedly paying fees in Chinese yuan. This development raises the risk of disruptions, rerouting, or increased costs for vessels transiting the strait, which handles a significant share of global oil and LNG shipments.
The U.S. military has enforced a naval blockade of Iranian ports since April 13, 2026, intercepting and redirecting ships headed to Iran, including a Hellfire missile strike on a tanker en route to Kharg Island on June 2, 2026. This blockade has already redirected at least 122 vessels and poses severe disruption to maritime traffic in the Arabian Gulf, particularly to and from Iran's major oil export terminal at Kharg Island.
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.