Stay on top of port closures, security incidents, congestion events and freight rate movements impacting global shipping. Updated continuously from verified industry sources.
The Strait of Hormuz closure (from March 2026) caused a 95% drop in transits through this critical chokepoint, severely disrupting global energy shipping before partially recovering following a US-Iran deal in late June 2026. Compounding disruptions include continued Red Sea rerouting, Panama Canal delays, and roughly 1,000 ships trapped in the Gulf, driving charter rates and freight rates to record highs across tanker, LPG, LNG, and container sectors.
China's seaborne coal imports declined by 14.0% year-on-year to 126.2 million tonnes in Jan-May 2026, with notable drops from key suppliers including Russia (-18.3%), Australia (-17.1%), Canada (-38.1%), and the USA (-70.4%), signaling a sustained reduction in dry bulk shipping demand on major coal trade routes. Key Chinese discharge ports such as Machong, Qinzhou, Fangcheng, and Gaolan are experiencing significantly reduced coal import volumes, reflecting potential slowdowns in dry bulk vessel activity across these terminals.
Asia-US transpacific container rates have surged dramatically due to frontloading ahead of tariff deadlines, with West Coast rates up nearly 3.5x since late February and tight capacity reflected by eight blank sailings announced. Congestion at US ports and compressed peak season volumes are expected to sustain elevated rates and potential delays through at least end of July 2026.
A dredging plan for Searsport Harbor is under consideration, which could lead to temporary disruptions in port operations and vessel traffic during the dredging period. Details on the scope and timeline of the project remain limited based on available content.
The 'FortiBleed' cybersecurity incident has exposed administrator credentials from over 250 maritime firms across 194 countries, including shipowners, port authorities, offshore contractors, and freight companies, threatening potential unauthorized access to operational networks. While no direct port closures or route disruptions have been confirmed yet, the risk of ransomware attacks or operational system compromises poses a significant latent threat to global maritime operations.
Somali pirates continue to hold the crews of three vessels — MT HONOUR 25, SWARD, and MV EUREKA — in the Western Indian Ocean/Gulf of Aden region, with deteriorating humanitarian conditions prompting international calls for intervention. The DCoC/JA warns that piracy in the area remains an active threat, urging all maritime stakeholders to maintain strict vigilance and adhere to Best Management Practices.
EU Operation IRINI is actively intercepting, boarding, and detaining Russian shadow fleet tankers falsely flying Cameroon's flag in the Mediterranean, with 9 ships intercepted since early 2026 and a new sanctions package planned for mid-July 2026. This enforcement action is causing disruptions to shadow fleet vessel movements, particularly near Sicily and across Mediterranean shipping lanes, with further expansion of sanctioned vessel criteria expected.
Oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz have partially recovered to approximately 10 million barrels per day (plus 5 million via alternative routes) following a U.S.-Iran interim peace agreement, though the waterway remains under geopolitical tension with Iran recently attacking ships and rejecting U.S. conditions for unrestricted passage. A 60-day toll-free transit window is in place, but future arrangements remain uncertain, posing ongoing risks of disruption to one of the world's most critical maritime chokepoints.
The Indian Navy successfully repelled a piracy attempt on bulk carrier MV Golden Arsenal in the Gulf of Aden on July 1, 2026, deploying INS Trikand and a P-8I aircraft to secure the vessel and its 21 crew members. The vessel sustained damage to its bridge superstructure but resumed its voyage after being cleared, highlighting ongoing piracy threats in the Gulf of Aden and Western Indian Ocean region.
Turkish authorities have banned the Virgin Voyages cruise ship Scarlet Lady, chartered by Atlantis Events for an LGBTQ+ cruise, from docking at Kuşadası (July 7) and Istanbul, forcing a rerouting to Cairo, Egypt, and Crete, Greece. The itinerary change affects approximately 1,900 passengers on a 10-day Athens-to-Venice voyage departing July 5.
France has released the sanctioned Russian shadow fleet oil tanker Tagor after its owner paid a €1 million fine, following over a month of detention off the French coast after interception in the Atlantic on May 31. The vessel is expected to depart French waters soon, heading to Istanbul, while France continues legal proceedings against another detained shadow fleet tanker, Discover.
Iran has threatened an 'immediate and forceful response' against ships using unapproved navigation routes in the Strait of Hormuz, amid an ongoing conflict that has already seen at least 49 attacks on commercial vessels since February 28. Ship traffic through the strait remains well below pre-conflict levels (~45 vs ~130 vessels/day), with continued risk of disruption, rerouting, and vessel attacks for non-compliant ships.
A Norwegian Cruise Line vessel docked at the Port of Kerkyra (Corfu, Greece) was forced away from the quay by strong winds on June 30, causing a passenger to fall from the gangway into the harbour. The ship was allowed to continue its voyage after the incident, but the captain faced questioning by Greek authorities and the ship experienced minor changes to its scheduled port call times.
The Durban Multi-Purpose Terminals (Maydon Wharf and Point MPT) have published their daily ship movement update as of 2 July 2026, showing active berth occupancy, a busy schedule of vessel arrivals through August 2026, and a significant number of ships at the outer anchorage. The high volume of vessels in port and at anchorage may indicate congestion or delays at Durban's multipurpose terminals.
Iran has issued a warning of an immediate and decisive armed response against ships transiting outside its designated route in the Strait of Hormuz, significantly raising security risks for maritime traffic. This threatens major disruptions to vessel schedules and shipping routes passing through one of the world's most critical chokepoints.
The bulk carrier Mayuree Naree, owned by Precious Shipping, was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz on 11 March 2026, resulting in three crew fatalities out of 23 on board. This incident highlights ongoing security risks in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint, potentially causing rerouting or heightened caution among vessels transiting the area.
Norden has upgraded its profit forecast as its chartered vessels exit the Strait of Hormuz, signaling continued disruption and rerouting of dry bulk shipping traffic through this strategic waterway. The company has also sold vessels and purchase options to capitalize on high asset prices amid the ongoing tensions in the region.
Oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz are continuing to normalise following earlier disruptions, with the ICE Brent curve moving into contango as the prompt market becomes increasingly oversupplied. Separately, Emirates Global Aluminium has restarted around 7% of production pots at its Al Taweelah smelter, signalling a gradual easing of Gulf supply and shipping disruptions that had previously impacted the region.
Hannibal (Contship Group) has launched a new intermodal rail service between Melzo (Rail Hub Milano) and Europoort Rotterdam, operational since 8 July, with 6 trains per week and a ~24-hour transit time. This expands the Group's multimodal coverage at the Port of Rotterdam, enhancing connectivity for containerised and conventional freight bound for Northern Europe, including the UK and Scandinavia.
Sweden's largest-ever dredging project, Malmporten, is set to begin in summer 2027 at the Port of Luleå, involving the dredging of approximately 40 km of fairway and the harbour basin through August 2030. The project will temporarily affect maritime operations at Luleå but aims to accommodate larger vessels to support northern Sweden's growing industrial and mining sectors.
DP World has commenced a US$800 million modernisation programme at the Port of Tartous, Syria, with the first of three new Mobile Harbour Cranes arriving on 29 June 2026, expected to increase cargo-handling capacity by 40%. The upgrades will enable the port to accommodate larger vessels, reduce turnaround times, and handle higher volumes of containers, bulk and breakbulk cargo.
The UK Government announced a new sanctions package on 16 June 2026 targeting Russia's shadow fleet, designating over 20 vessels involved in Russian oil and LNG transport, along with ship insurers and maritime service providers. These measures are expected to disrupt seaborne Russian energy exports, particularly those linked to the Arctic LNG 2 project and crude oil circumvention networks.
Multiple ports across the Americas are experiencing minor bunker fuel disruptions, including tight HSFO availability in Panama, potential offshore bunkering delays off Trinidad due to high winds and rough seas until 5 July, a temporary VLSFO/MGO sales suspension at Petrobras's Itaqui terminal in Brazil, and possible bunkering suspensions at Argentina's Zona Comun anchorage due to high wind gusts. Moderate visibility periods and high wind gusts are also forecast across several US Gulf and East Coast ports, potentially requiring standby tugs during bunkering operations in New York.
OFAC has issued a warning (effective 1 May 2026) that sanctions risk for Strait of Hormuz transits begins before any payment, covering vessel clearance coordination, information sharing with Iranian authorities, and escort acceptance linked to IRGC-designated entities. Operators transiting or waiting near the Strait face compounding sanctions, insurance, and charterparty exposure, with war-risk premiums volatile following military incidents and a naval cordon in place since 12 April 2026.