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Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Maritime Blogs Asia

Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, discussed the Strait of Hormuz (the Strait of Hormuz) with Iran's Foreign Minister

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 2, 2026

The Russian foreign ministry reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed safety of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz with Iran's Foreign minister Abbas Araghchi by telephone on Thursday. The statement posted on the website…

Damaged Russian LNG Tanker Breaks Free from Tow Off Libya

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 2, 2026

The Libyan Ports and Maritime Transport Authority reported that a Russian liquefied gas (LNG), tanker allegedly damaged in a suspected 'Ukrainian attack on the Mediterranean, sprang free in a storm while being towed by a Libyan tugboat. According to the Tripoli-based authority…

Italy recovers 19 bodies of migrants from boat; survivors are taken to Lampedusa

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 1, 2026

Rescue officials and migrants rescue charities reported that the Italian coast?guard had recovered the bodies and rescued 58 surviving migrants from a boat which broke down while trying to 'cross -to Europe? from Libya. A spokesperson for MSF…

Italy recovers 19 bodies of migrants from boat; survivors are taken to Lampedusa

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 1, 2026

Rescue?officials, and migrant rescue charities said that the Italian coast guard recovered 19 bodies and rescued 58 survivors after a boat broke down while trying to reach Europe from Libya. A spokesperson for MSF and the International Organization for Migration said that some of the victims…

French Navy chief: China needs to be more involved in Strait of Hormuz discussions

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 1, 2026

France's Navy Chief said that China may 'at some point' have to take a more direct role in re-establishing?traffic flows? through the Strait of Hormuz, because its number of ships is probably insufficient. "We have not seen the Chinese navy intervene to reopen this strait.

The US Gulf Coast tanker markets tighten as Asia replaces lost supply

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 1, 2026

Shipping analysts and traders reported that the number of oil tankers available along the U.S. Gulf Coast had dropped sharply over the past few weeks as Asian and European refiners, cut off from Middle Eastern supplies, have purchased vessels to import fuel and oil from the United States.

Saudi Aramco, Sonatrach and other LPG suppliers raise LPG prices by 38% to 80% in April.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 1, 2026

Due to a limited global supply, Saudi Arabia's Saudi Aramco and Algeria's Sonatrach raised their official'selling prices' for liquefied petrol gas by between 38% and 80% in April. The Middle East war has caused the biggest energy crisis in decades. Global prices have risen to record highs.

Kenyan tea exports affected by Iran conflict, as stocks accumulate

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 1, 2026

The disruption of shipping routes due to the Iran War has caused a halt to tea exports and farmers' incomes. George Omuga said that since March 1, losses have been accumulating at a rate of $8 million per a week. Omuga said that the conflict in the Middle East had a negative effect on this auction.

At least 18 people dead after boat sinks in the Aegean Sea off Turkey

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 1, 2026

The coastguard reported that at least 18 people were killed after an inflatable boat carrying migrants sank near the western province of Mugla in Turkey on Wednesday. It added that search and recovery efforts continue in the area. The coastguard…

Interfax reports that a Russian oil tanker arrived in Cuba.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 30, 2026

Interfax News Agency reported that the Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin arrived in Cuba on Monday, carrying a humanitarian shipment of about '100,000 tons of crude oil. The ship is expected to unload its cargo in the port of Matanzas. LSEG ship…

South Korea purchased approximately 11,110 tons of US rice as part of a tender aiming for 74,382 tonnes

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 30, 2026

Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corporation, a?state-owned company in South Korea. European traders reported that on Monday, they had purchased 11,110 metric tons of 'rice' 'expected to be sourced from United States. The other volumes sought in the international tender were not purchased, they said.

Gulf markets fall amid Middle East conflict escalation; Saudi edge higher

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 30, 2026

The Gulf stock markets fell in early trading on Monday after Yemen's Houthis attacked Israel?overnight, further escalating U.S. and Israel conflict with Iran -and its proxies - in the Middle East. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, said that…

Data shows two LPG tankers bound for India crossing Strait of Hormuz and out of Gulf

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 28, 2026

According to LSEG 'and Kpler' ship tracking data, two liquefied petrol gas?tankers BW Elm & BW Tyr are currently crossing the Strait of Hormuz on their way to India. Iran announced this week that non-hostile vessels could transit the waterway if coordinated with?Iranian officials.

Maersk suspends operations in Oman's Salalah Port due to security incident

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 28, 2026

Maersk, a Danish container shipping company, has temporarily suspended?its operations?at the Port of Salalah in Oman. This was due to a security incident which occurred on Saturday morning. The shipping giant released a statement saying that all Maersk crew were safe and accounted.

Yemen's Houthis declare that they have their "fingers on trigger" as the US-Israeli attack on Iran expands

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 27, 2026

Houthis, who are Iran-aligned in Yemen, said they were "ready" to intervene militarily on Friday if other countries join the United States and Israel's war against Iran or if the Red Sea is used to launch attacks against the Islamic Republic.

Asda in Britain is hit by fuel shortages due to the Iran war.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 27, 2026

Asda's boss said that the U.S. and Israeli 'war on Iran' has caused a spike in demand for fuel, resulting in temporary?shortages? at some of their forecourts. Fears of higher prices and supply disruptions from the conflict are driving motorists to fill up more often.

Norway increases its long-term defense plan by $12 billion

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 27, 2026

The government announced on Friday that Norway will increase its defence expenditures by 115 billion crowns (about 11.87 billion dollars) between now and 2036 to compensate for the rising costs of military equipment. According to the government…

China stations jets-turned-drones at bases near Taiwan Strait, report says

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 27, 2026

According to a recent report from the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, China has deployed obsolete supersonic aircraft converted into attack drones at six air bases near the Taiwan Strait. Satellite images of these airfields, taken from "China Airpower Tracker" in February…

Ferretti, the Italian yacht manufacturer, is offered a sweetened offer by KKCG Maritime for a stake increase.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 26, 2026

KKCG Maritime, a Czech 'investment firm', raised on 'Friday its voluntary offer - to increase its % stake in Italian yacht maker Ferretti up to 203.35 million euros (234.55 millions). The revised offer, which is 3.90 euros per share, values Ferretti at 1,32 billion euros.

US drone boats are unmanned and deployed in conflict with Iran

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 26, 2026

Pentagon: The United States deployed drone speedboats without crews to patrol as part of its operations against Iran. This is the first time Washington confirmed the use of such vessels in a conflict. It was not previously known that the drone speedboats…