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Saturday, April 4, 2026

Maritime Blogs Middle East

China's payment firms rush to yuan denominated Hormuz Toll Report

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 3, 2026

The shares of some Chinese companies that deal with cross-border payments increased?on Friday after the?commerce ministry announced?that ships were using the Chinese Yuan to pay for tolls as they passed through the Strait of Hormuz. * CNPC Capital Co. ended 7.9% higher Friday.

Zelenskiy offers Ukraine maritime expertise in Strait of Hormuz

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 2, 2026

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, President of Ukraine, offered on Thursday to share Ukraine's?expertise regarding freedom of navigation?inthe Black Sea with countries that are considering ways to?keep?the Strait?of Hormuz?open amid?conflict?inthe Middle East.

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…

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…

US oil is headed to Greece for the first time in 4 years as refiners seek alternatives to Middle East crude

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 31, 2026

Ship tracking data on Kpler showed that a cargo of WTI 'Middleland Crude' was headed for Greece, the first time since a little over four years. The U.S.-Israeli war against Iran, and the reduced traffic through Strait of Hormuz, have disrupted trade and reduced output in the region.

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.

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…

French Navy chief held recent talks with foreign counterparts about Middle East

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 26, 2026

Admiral Nicolas Vaujour said that he has recently held talks with various naval counterparts, including those from Britain, Germany Italy, India, and Japan, about the current situation in Middle East. He wrote in a letter to X on Friday that…

Iranian official: US war proposal is 'one-sided.' Diplomacy remains open.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 26, 2026

A senior Iranian official said that Iran's initial reaction to the U.S. proposal, which was emailed to Pakistan,?was a characterization of it as "unfair and one-sided". He added that there might be a way forward if Washington acted with realism.

Drone strikes tanker with Russian oil in Black Sea near Turkey

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 26, 2026

The Turkish transportation minister confirmed that a drone had struck a crude oil tanker from Turkey, which was leaving Russia. This caused an explosion near the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul's Black Sea. Abdulkadir Uraloglu, the minister of transportation…