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Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Maritime Blogs North Asia

Zelenskiy: Asia is interested in Ukraine's expertise on maritime defense

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 7, 2026

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the President of Ukraine, said that Ukraine is taking part in consultations on the Strait o f 'Hormuz. He also added that Ukraine has maritime expertise which could be useful in Asia. Kyiv sent a group of specialists to…

Ukraine's drone attack fleet is facing a shortage of mini jet engines

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 7, 2026

Specialized mini-jet engine manufacturers across Europe are increasing production and investing to avoid a supply shortage which threatens to halt?Ukraine?s rapid deep strike drone programme, at a crucial stage of the war against Russia. Mini…

TASS reports that a Russian grain ship thought to have been sunk by a Ukrainian drone attack has been found and towed back to shore.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 6, 2026

MOSCOW, 6 April - The state news agency TASS reported on Monday that a Russian ship carrying grain believed to?have sunk after a Ukrainian drone strike has been located?and towed?to?shore. Meanwhile, the death?toll has risen to?three, the report said.

Officials in Russia claim that Ukrainian drones killed one person when they attacked a cargo vessel which sank.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on April 5, 2026

One person was killed and two others were missing after a cargo ship, carrying wheat, sank on the Sea of Azov, according to a 'Russian-installed' official. Vladimir Saldo is the leader installed by Moscow in the Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine's Kherson Region.

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…

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.

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…

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.

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…

Japan's oil refiners are looking to North America as a crude supply source

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 23, 2026

Japan Petroleum Association President Shunichi Kito said on Monday that North America was a potential source of alternative crude oil for Japanese refiners. Ecuador, Colombia, and Mexico were also considered as options. Oil buyers around the…

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.

Operator says that the Greek tanker, which was hit by an unidentified object, suffered minor damage.

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 14, 2026

The manager of Maran Tankers, said that a Greek-flagged vessel, the Maran Homer was struck by an unidentified object on 'Saturday as it waited for orders to enter Caspian Pipeline Consortium Terminal (CPC) at Novorossiysk. The vessel was struck…

Italy weighs up options after damaged Russian LNG tanker drifts into the Mediterranean

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 13, 2026

Sources said that Italian authorities are considering how to handle a Russian "liquefied gas tanker" left adrift in the Mediterranean following what Moscow "described" as a Ukrainian drone strike, according to sources. The Russian transport ministry reported that Ukrainian drones…

US eases sanctions on Russia to calm price spike, angering European allies

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 13, 2026

The United States granted a 30-day waiver to countries that want to purchase Russian oil or?petroleum stranded on the sea. This drew criticism from Germany and its allies in Europe, but was welcomed by Moscow. The U.S. Treasury secretary Scott?Bessent…

US allows countries to purchase Russian oil that has been stranded on the sea for 30 Days

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 12, 2026

The United States has issued a license to countries for a period of 30 days to purchase stranded Russian oil and petroleum products. This was done to help stabilize the global energy markets, which have been shook by the war against Iran. In…

Source in India says Iran will allow tankers with Indian flags to pass through Strait of Hormuz

Posted to Maritime Reporter on March 12, 2026

An?Indian source? said that Iran would?allow India flagged tankers to pass through the Strait of?Hormuz. Through this route, 40% of India's crude oil imports go, a?source? based in India denied the agreement. The Indian foreign ministry and…