Marine Link
Friday, October 16, 2026

Maritime Blogs Middle East

Somali pirates kill five crew members before tanker recovery, say state authorities

Posted to Maritime Reporter on October 4, 2026

Puntland, a?semiautonomous'state? in Somalia, said that Somali pirates had killed five crewmembers of the MT Honour 25 petroleum product tanker before it was rescued by security forces. The death aboard the Palau flagged ship appears to be the…

Russell challenges the old guard of fuel trading:

Posted to Maritime Reporter on October 2, 2026

Iran's conflict has brought the murky world of refined fuel trading to the forefront as the world struggles with a limited supply and record high prices. AI may be the key to bringing the world of fuel trading out of the dark. Although crude oil trading has been a popular practice for many years…

Oil tanker Sibu 1 is rescued by Somali pirates

Posted to Maritime Reporter on September 30, 2026

The maritime police force in the semi-autonomous Puntland region of Somalia said that a?US sanctioned oil tanker named Sibu 1 was 'liberated' after it was hijacked by Somali pirates back in August. Our forces have been engaged in a counter-piracy campaign since two days ago. It's still ongoing.

Macron: France will send military to Saudi Arabia to protect the Red Sea oil route

Posted to Maritime Reporter on September 29, 2026

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that France would send troops and defense systems to Saudi Arabia in order to help 'protect the Red Sea Port City of YANBU, which is crucial for energy transportation. Macron said that a US diesel export ban…

US official: 60 ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz Wednesday.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on September 29, 2026

A US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that 60 commercial ships transited the Strait of Hormuz Wednesday, carrying the 'highest daily volume' of crude oil since earliest July. The US official said that about 40 of these vessels…

Erdogan, the Turkish leader, tells Zelenskiy of Ukraine that Black Sea attacks cannot be explained

Posted to Maritime Reporter on September 28, 2026

According to a Thursday'readout' from Erdogan’s office, the Turkish president told his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy that Russian?and Ukrainian attacks on commercial ships in the Black Sea are?inexplicable. Steps must be taken to prevent these.

Data shows that shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is lower than the 10-day average.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on September 28, 2026

Preliminary data on Thursday showed that 10 commodity ships transited through the Strait of?Hormuz, up from 7 a day before and below the 10-day moving?average of 17 vessels. Nine vessels entered the Strait, including Supramax ship carrying metals and grain, as well an empty very large Gas carrier.

Data shows that Russia is buying less wheat as the Black Sea trade stagnates.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on September 28, 2026

Data from the Russian Grain Union lobby group showed that fewer countries were buying Russian wheat since July due to a 'blockade of a major export route by Russia and Ukraine on 'the Black Sea. In September, only eight countries purchased wheat from Russia…

Data shows that shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is below the 10-day average

Posted to Maritime Reporter on September 23, 2026

According to preliminary data released on Wednesday, three commodity ships transited the Strait of Hormuz in the past day. This is down from four vessels a day before and well below the 10-day moving average of about 15. Some ships turn off their transponders while on voyage…

Diplomats report that France is considering a new UN Security Council Resolution on Hormuz.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on September 22, 2026

Diplomats confirmed on Tuesday that France had begun drafting a resolution for the UN Security Council in coordination with United States?to establish an international mission in order to restore movement through?the Strait of Hormuz. Paris had?unsuccessfully?

Saudi crude oil exports reached a four-month high during July, according to data

Posted to Maritime Reporter on September 22, 2026

The Joint Organizations Data Initiative (JODI), which released data on Tuesday, showed that Saudi Arabian crude exports rose by 3.3% in July from June to 4.125 million barrels a day. This is the highest level since March. The production of crude…

Kremlin: Russia is finding alternative routes to transport its grain in the face of attacks on Black Sea

Posted to Maritime Reporter on September 22, 2026

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that there were 'further diplomatic contacts' about a proposal from Turkey for the safe transit of grain through the Black Sea. Russia was also 'finding alternate routes to export its grain in the interim. In recent months…

Data shows that the number of vessels using Hormuz has dropped to just two.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on September 22, 2026

Preliminary shipping data on Tuesday showed that the number of commodity vessels traversing the Strait of Hormuz dropped to just two on Monday, down from 10?a day before. The figures exclude any vessels who may have crossed the Strait with their…

Kallas, EU's Kallas, says Red Sea mission requires more than 10 warships

Posted to Maritime Reporter on September 22, 2026

On Monday, the EU's chief of foreign policy said that the mission to protect shipping in Red Sea will need to?increase its number from 10 warships to at least 20. He added?that there are not a lot in the area right now. Aspides, the EU's mission…

As the Middle East conflict continues, vessels continue to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on September 22, 2026

Shipping?data? showed on Monday that 17 cargo vessels had transited the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, compared to 37 a week before, as tensions in the Gulf continued, with the US and Iran at loggerheads. The visible traffic in the Strait of Hormuz…

As tensions in the Middle East persist, vessels continue to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on September 21, 2026

Shipping data showed that a dozen commodity vessels passed through the 'Strait of Hormuz' on the weekend. This is down from 35 the previous 'weekend. Visible traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, which was the conduit for a fifth (or more) of the world's oil…

Saudi civil defence sends all-clear after danger warning for capital Riyadh

Posted to Maritime Reporter on September 19, 2026

Saudi civil defense?sent a?all-clear? early on?Saturday?after issuing an alert for potential dangers in Riyadh, and the city Al-Kharj to the east of?capital. This was in response to an increase in attacks from the Iran-aligned Houthis against the Gulf -country.

Five charts of the week's financial news: AI, oil and global rates reset

Posted to Maritime Reporter on September 18, 2026

Open Interest (ROI), every Friday, distills the previous five days' financial data into five charts that highlight the most important trends, surprises and missed?moves. ANNA SZYMANSKI is the Editor-in Charge of ROI. The Federal Reserve increased…

Data shows that shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is below the 10-day average

Posted to Maritime Reporter on September 18, 2026

Preliminary shipping data showed that four commodity ships transited the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday. This is down from six vessels a day before and well below the?10-day?average of?about 16?, according to the?data. These figures may change…

Iran imports Russian grain via Caspian Sea as Black Sea shipments are stalling

Posted to Maritime Reporter on September 17, 2026

Analysts said that Iran has begun to reroute its imports of Russian wheat to the Caspian Sea, as shipments via the Black Sea are halted due to?Ukrainian drone attacks and the 'Strait of Hormuz' is 'closed. Iran is the largest buyer of Russian wheat.

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