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Friday, April 17, 2026

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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.

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…

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.

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…

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.

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…

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…

NTV reports that a drone hit a Turkish crude oil tanker near the Bosphorus Strait.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 26, 2026

NTV reported that a Turkish crude oil tanker named the "Altura" was struck by a drone about '15 nautical miles (28 km) from Istanbul in the Bosphorus Strait. Its 27 crew members were unharmed. According to data from ship tracking, the vessel…

Libyan coast guard tows Russian LNG tanker damaged away from its shores

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 25, 2026

The Government of National Unity in Tripoli (GNU) announced that the Libyan coast guard had 'begun towing' a damaged LNG?tanker, which several Mediterranean countries had warned was a risk to the environment after it drifted?unmanned? for weeks.

Iranian man released following alleged attempt to enter UK sub base

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 23, 2026

A man arrested in Scotland last week on suspicion of trying to enter Britain's nuclear sub base has been released pending further investigations, Scottish prosecutors announced Monday. A 34-year old man and a 31 year-old Romanian woman were…

UK looks at expanding its regulatory powers to combat energy price gouging and profiteering

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 23, 2026

Keir Starmer, Britain's Prime Minister, said on Monday that his government may re-examine the powers of the Competition Regulator to combat price gouging in the energy market. Starmer, a member of a parliamentary committee, said: "We are looking at ways to combat 'profiteering.

Starmer: UK must prepare for a prolonged Middle East conflict

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 23, 2026

Keir Starmer, British Prime Minister, said on Monday that Britain must prepare for the possibility that a war with Iran could last for some time. He added that there were no "meaningful" concerns about energy supply. Starmer said that the emergency…

As ships reroute to the Cape, African bunkering hubs benefit

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 23, 2026

The number of ships diverting around the Cape of Good Hope is increasing, as the Middle East war has reshaped global shipping routes. This boosts the role of Africa as a hub for bunkering. Since late 2023 when Houthi attacks against Red?Sea?shipping?began…

Sources: Primorsk remains closed after drone attacks despite Ust-Luga restarting oil exports

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 23, 2026

Three sources familiar with this matter claim that the oil loadings at Russia's Baltic Sea Port?of Ust-Luga recommenced?on Monday after an alert for drone attacks was lifted. Primorsk, however, remained closed following aerial strikes. According to two industry sources…

Treasury's Bessent: US has "plenty" of funds to wage war on Iran

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 23, 2026

The?U.S. The?U.S. Bessent also ruled out any calls for tax increases in the "Meet the Press'" program on NBC News. Congress is sceptical about the U.S. government's request to spend $200 billion more on the Iran war after spending large amounts of money for defense last year.