Marine Link
Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Maritime Blogs East Asia South-East Asia

Clear
East Asia
South-East Asia

Blogs

Tags

China conducts naval and air patrols near Scarborough Shoal while the Philippines and US stage drills

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 30, 2026

China's military announced on Thursday that its?naval forces and air force held combat readiness?"patrols" near the Scarborough Shoal, in the disputed South China Sea. The patrols are a response to the 'annual' regional drills, which will take…

Taiwan Minister visits second island in South China Sea

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 28, 2026

She said that the Taiwanese Coast Guard Minister visited a second islet controlled by Taiwan deep in the South China Sea. She added that Vietnam's complaints about her visit?wouldn't cause any tensions in the region. Taiwan and China claim sovereignty over a majority of the South China Sea.

US legal advisor says Iran war justified because of Tehran's "aggression" over decades

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 24, 2026

State Department lawyer Reed Rubinstein argued in a statement released days before the deadline of May 1 for the Trump administration to obtain approval from Congress under the 1973 War Powers Act or move to end the war. Reed Rubinstein, State Department's Legal Adviser…

China conducts live-fire drills near Luzon while the US and Philippines stage wargames

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 24, 2026

China has conducted military exercises, including live-fire drills, in waters east the Philippines' Luzon Island, the country said on Friday. This comes as Manila and Washington conduct yearly drills that include disputed areas in the South China Sea. This week, over 17,000 U.S.

Heavy sweet oil is being chased by refiners and marine fuel blenders amid the Iran war disruptions

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 21, 2026

Sources in the industry said that marine?fuel suppliers are facing a shortage of high-density low-sulphur crude, also known as heavy sweet oil, to blend because of the competition between refiners. The Iran war has disrupted Middle?East imports.

India and South Korea to push for $50 billion in trade with new agreements

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 20, 2026

India and South Korea announced on Monday they will expand their economic ties through a?expansion of cooperation in energy and critical minerals as well as shipbuilding, semiconductors and steel. They aim to double their trade by 2030. New…

South Korea's Lee will seek a big boost in economic relations in a summit with India's Modi

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 19, 2026

On Monday, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at New Delhi, to discuss a boost in economic co-operation, especially in shipbuilding. This is the first visit of a South Korean president to India in 8 years.

Images show China blocking the entrance to a disputed South China Sea Shoal

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 15, 2026

Satellite imagery obtained by "shows" that China has deployed ships and a barricade to tighten the control at the entrance of the Scarborough Shoal, a disputed feature in the South China Sea. This is despite the rising tensions with the Philippines.

As US-Iran negotiations begin, tankers leave the Gulf via Strait of Hormuz.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 11, 2026

Three supertankers sailed through the Strait of Hormuz Saturday, according to shipping data. These vessels were 'apparently' the?first vessels?to leave the Gulf after the U.S. Iran ceasefire agreement and just as the peace talks in Pakistan began.

Ferretti's boss signals appetite for M&A amid annual core profit growth

Posted to Maritime Reporter on February 24, 2026

Italian yacht manufacturer Ferretti announced a 6.7% increase in its core profit for the full year, as well as a 47% jump in orders of made-to measure?yachts. Last year, adjusted?earnings prior to interest, taxes and depreciation (EBITDA), a measure of earnings before interest…

After ceasefire, Glencore and Taiwan refiners book tankers to fill Middle East oil

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 9, 2026

?Commodities traders Glencore and Taiwan’s state refiner CPC chartered a vessel each to load Middle Eastern oil for Asia.?Vessels in the Gulf prepare?to leave via the Strait of Hormuz a day...after the 'ceasefire' in the U.S.Iran war. The two…

CORRECTED - Southeast Asian refineries reduce output due to tightened crude supplies

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 10, 2026

Sources say that a growing number of refineries in Southeast Asia, who are dependent on Middle East oil for their production, have reduced output due to the U.S./Israeli war against Iran. Sources say that the conflict has halted all shipments across the Strait of Hormuz.

Asian airline shares drop as US-Iran conflict disrupts traveling and raises oil prices

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 1, 2026

Airline shares fell on Monday. Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific and Australia's Qantas Airlines, as well as Singapore Airlines, Japan Airlines, and Singapore Airlines all dropped more than 5%. This was after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes against?Iran over the weekend…

China describes the Panama court's ruling on CK Hutchison Port contracts as'shameful and pathetic'

Posted to Maritime Reporter on February 4, 2026

China has called the Panama court's decision to annul CK Hutchison’s contracts to operate a pair of Panama Canal ports as "absurd, shameful and pathetic" and vowed that it would defend Chinese interests. Panama's Supreme Court annulled last…

China conducts air and naval patrols near disputed South China Sea Shoal

Posted to Maritime Reporter on January 31, 2026

China Southern Theater Command? has confirmed that on Saturday a?naval patrol and an?air raid was conducted around the Scarborough Shoal, in the South China Sea. The shoal lies in the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines, but China claims it as its own territory.

Last year, tensions erupted and the China Coast Guard patrolled Japan's islands almost every day.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on January 31, 2026

China's coastguard patrolled Japan administered islands in the East China Sea almost daily last summer, the country said. It was to ensure its sovereignty over the remote, rocky island and deter Taiwan from taking a step toward independence.

Singapore's RoRo terminal joint venture will be formed by Japan's Mitsui O.S.K. and PSA Singapore

Posted to Maritime Reporter on January 29, 2026

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Japan’s second largest shipping?company said on Thursday that it had agreed with PSA Singapore to form a joint venture for the development of a RoRo terminal in Singapore. The joint venture agreement will allow 'Mitsui to…

Japan warns fishermen not to fish near flashpoint islands in fear of a China-Japan clash

Posted to Maritime Reporter on January 27, 2026

Hitoshi Nakama, 76 years old, is a frontline defender for Japan's claim to the disputed islands of the East China Sea. He regularly avoids Chinese coast guard vessels to harvest the rich waters. Since late last year, Japanese officials have discreetly asked Nakama…

Sources: Former Sinopec veteran executive will lead Singapore firm's crude trading

Posted to Maritime Reporter on January 23, 2026

Two industry sources familiar with the hiring said that a former Sinopec trading executive has joined Singapore commodities firm Sino Crown International to help build and lead its crude oil trading. Simon Chen or Chen Bo who was the president…

Sources say that Trafigura and Vitol offer Venezuelan crude oil to Indian and Chinese refiners in March for delivery.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on January 12, 2026

Sources from the trade said that Vitol, Trafigura and refiners in India or China have begun discussions about Venezuelan crude oil sales for cargoes due to arrive in March. On 'Friday, global commodities traders confirmed that they had reached agreements with the U.S.

Subscribe for
Maritime Reporter E-News

Maritime Reporter E-News is the maritime industry's largest circulation and most authoritative ENews Service, delivered to your Email five times per week