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Saturday, March 7, 2026

Maritime Blogs Middle East

Officials say that India allowed an Iranian warship to dock on the same day as US forces sank a second US vessel off Sri Lanka.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 7, 2026

Subrahmanyam Jishankar, India's Foreign Minister, said that India allowed an Iranian warship docking as a 'humanitarian gesture' on Saturday, following the U.S. sinking of another Iranian navy ship off neighbouring Sri Lanka. An Indian government…

Iran's Guards challenge Trump to have US Navy accompany oil tankers through Strait of Hormuz

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 6, 2026

Iranian state media reported that a spokesperson for Iran's revolutionary?guards challenged U.S. president Donald Trump to dispatch U.S. naval?vessels in order to escort oil tanks through the Strait of Hormuz. Trump stated on Tuesday that the U.S.

US files complaint over $15.3 million allegedly related to Iranian oil network

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 6, 2026

In a statement, the Justice Department announced that on Friday, United States?filed civil forfeiture cases for more than $15.3?million. This money was allegedly used to fund an illegal Iranian oil distribution system. The 'Justice Department'…

US agency to insure maritime losses up to $20 billion in Gulf

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 6, 2026

?The ?U.S. The U.S. The President Donald Trump ordered on?Tuesday the DFC to provide financial and political guarantees for maritime trade within the Gulf, after the transit of oil and liquefied gas tankers?had halted in the Straight?of Hormuz…

US memo: Sri Lanka is not allowed to return Iranian crew members and survivors of sunken ship

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 6, 2026

According to a State Department internal cable seen on Friday, the United States has urged Sri Lanka's government to not repatriate survivors of the Iranian warship they sank earlier this week. The U.S. sub sank IRIS Dena, a warship of the Iranian Navy in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday.

Sources say that Shell-CNOOC China's joint venture will close its steam cracker because of disruption in feedstock.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 6, 2026

Shell's petrochemical complex in south China, a joint venture with China's CNOOC plans to shut down a steam breaker "soon". It has also informed domestic customers that it is unable to provide certain products. CNOOC & Shell 'Petrochemicals Company Ltd…

Reliance jet fuel and diesel are now being shipped to Asia, not Europe.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 6, 2026

According to shiptracking and two trade sources, two tankers with fuel loaded from Reliance Industries, India, that were heading?to Europe have now made a u-turn and are bound for Asia. The refiner is taking advantage of the firm margins in Asia as the Iran War is squeezing the supply.

As Asian buyers search for cargo, more LNG tankers are diverted.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 6, 2026

As buyers scramble to find replacement cargoes, more tankers are diverting their shipments towards Asia. The Middle East conflict has halted?tanker?traffic through the Strait of?Hormuz. It also disrupted the supplies of Qatar, which is the world's?second largest?seller of fuel.

Sources say that Asia is struggling to find fuel oil, as Middle East exports are plummeting.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 6, 2026

Fuel oil traders in Asia struggle to find alternative supplies as the Iran War curtails shipments through the Strait of Hormuz from Middle Eastern suppliers. This has prompted them to look for cargoes in the West. In the coming weeks, a'shortage' of Middle Eastern fuel oil will dent supply…

Dubai's Al Khaleej Sugar Refinery is still open for imports and exports

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 5, 2026

Jamal Al-Ghurair told the media on Thursday that Al 'Khaleej sugar, operator of the largest port-based sugar refinery in the world, is 'operating normally' and still open for exports and imports. Al-Ghurair stated that the company could use…

European countries move to protect Cyprus and secure Red Sea Navigation

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 5, 2026

European powers announced on Thursday that they will 'work together to safeguard the shipping in Red Sea, and send naval assets and other resources to protect Cyprus. The conflict has spread beyond Gulf States to the Mediterranean and even as far as Asia…

Greek seafarers strike for crews trapped in the Gulf after Iran war

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 5, 2026

Greek seafarers started a 24-hour-long strike on Thursday. They halted local ferry services as they protested about vessel crews stuck in the Gulf during the Middle East conflict. The 'Iran - conflict' threatens Gulf ports, and has already disrupted the global trade via the Strait of Hormuz.

Analysts say that after Iraq, Kuwait and UAE could be the next countries to reduce oil production due to the Iran crisis.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 5, 2026

According to traders, analysts and sources, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates will reduce their output next if they can't export crude through the Strait of Hormuz because of the "Iran Crisis" as storage tanks fill. After six Iranian attacks on vessels…

Kremlin: Iran hasn't requested Russian weapons supplies

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 5, 2026

The Kremlin confirmed on Thursday that Iran has not approached Moscow to request?arms supplies. Russia condemned U.S. - Israeli strikes and demanded an immediate ceasefire. Iran signed a strategic partnership agreement with Moscow last year.

Bunge explores alternative shipping routes in the Middle East Conflict

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 5, 2026

A spokesperson for Bunge, the global grains 'trader', said that they are exploring alternative shipments routes to reduce disruptions due to conflict in the Middle East. After the?U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, shipping through the Strait?of Hormuz has been disrupted…

Sri Lanka warns US about second Iranian frigate after it sinks, Iran says.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 5, 2026

Sri Lanka claimed that it was "trying to safeguard?lives?" on a second Iranian vessel?offshore its coast, on Thursday. This comes a day after the U.S. launched a submarine attack on an Iranian warship, which Iran described as an "attack" the U.S. "bitterly regretted".

Sources say that China has asked refiners to stop fuel exports due to the conflict in the Middle East.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 5, 2026

China has asked firms to stop signing new contracts for the export of refined fuel and to cancel any shipments that have already been made, due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East. People said that the call did not cover jet fuel for international flights or bunkering in bonded containers…

Authorities say that Iranian sailors are recovering in Sri Lankan hospitals after US submarine attack.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 5, 2026

Authorities?said? on Thursday that Iranian sailors who survived the U.S. sub strike in the Indian Ocean are recovering in a hospital located in the port city of Galle in?Sri Lanka. At least 87 people were killed during the attack. The National Hospital in Galle…

Iran conflict's effect on energy is temporary and a "small price," says US energy secretary

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 4, 2026

Chris Wright, U.S. Energy secretary, told Fox News that the impact of 'the Iran conflict' on energy markets will be temporary. It is a'small price to pay for U.S. Military goals. The U.S., Israeli and Iranian strikes on Iran have escalated regional tensions.

Putin says Russia could cut off gas supplies to European markets immediately

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 4, 2026

On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia could halt gas supplies to European markets and?move on to other more lucrative markets. According to EU officials and a document seen, the European Commission will present a proposal on April 15 to ban Russian oil imports permanently.

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