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Sunday, April 5, 2026

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02 Apr 2026

World Fuel, West Coast Clean Fuels Launch US Methanol Bunkering Service

Methanol bunker fuel delivery in South Florida (Credit: World Fuel Services)

World Fuel Services and West Coast Clean Fuels have established a methanol bunkering capability for vessels across U.S. ports, following a pilot fuel delivery in South Florida.The companies said the over-the-water methanol bunkering operation demonstrated a scalable and regulatory-compliant solution that is now ready for wider deployment.The capability includes U.S. Coast Guard-approved procedures, trained personnel and purpose-built equipment, enabling shipowners and operators…

01 Apr 2026

US Gulf Coast Tanker Availability Drops as Asia, Europe Seek to Replace Middle East Supply

© Adobe Stock/moofushi

Oil tanker availability along the U.S. Gulf Coast has dropped sharply in recent weeks, as Asian and European refiners cut off from Middle Eastern supply have been snapping up vessels to import oil and fuel from the United States, shipping analysts and traders said.The Iran war has stalled tanker movements through the Strait of Hormuz, curbing the flow of Middle Eastern oil to Asia and Europe, and prompting refiners there to buy replacement barrels from the United States, Brazil and West Africa.Wider discounts on U.S.

01 Apr 2026

Iran War Reshapes Global LNG Trade

Copyright JEGAS RA/AdobeStock

The U.S. and Israeli war against Iran has changed the global market for liquefied natural gas (LNG), providing a boost to producers outside the Middle East that will likely last long after the current conflict ends.One of the major beneficiaries is Australia, which last year slipped to the third-largest exporter of the super-chilled fuel behind the United States and Qatar.But the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has shut off Qatar's LNG exports, meaning that it will likely lose second place back to Australia this year…

31 Mar 2026

25+ Sanctioned Russian Vessels Pass Through UK Waters Despite Threat to Detain

© Adobe Stock/bennymarty

More than two dozen ships sanctioned for being part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet have passed through UK waters since Prime Minister Keir Starmer last week authorised the military to detain vessels used by Moscow to export oil.The figures based on ship tracking data analysed by Reuters show that oil tankers sanctioned by Britain are continuing to travel along England's southern coast in the same numbers as before the announcement.British officials said almost a week ago that…

31 Mar 2026

Kangnam to Build New Incat Crowther 80m Vessel Design

© INCAT CROWTHER

Incat Crowther was commissioned by South Korean shipbuilder Kangnam Corporation (Kangnam) to design a new 80-m high-speed catamaran RoPax ferry for operation by Korea Express Ferry (KEF). The new vessel will service routes between Incheon Metropolitan City and the Yellow Sea islands of Daecheongdo, Baengnyeongdo and Socheongdo in Ongjin County, Republic of Korea (South Korea).The project renews the successful partnership between Incat Crowther, Kangnam and KEF, with the companies…

30 Mar 2026

Ship Recycling Market Under Strain as Geopolitical Factors Weigh on Economics

Source: Wirana

The global ship recycling market is moving into a more difficult quarter, with rising costs, rising steel prices, possible slowdown in local steel demand, energy shortages and exchange risks. Even within the Indian sub-continent these parameters can have differing impacts. As of today, Bangladesh and Pakistan hold firmer ground in terms of prices offered for recycling candidates, according to vessel cash buyer Wirana Shipping’s latest market report.Wirana’s industry report points to a market that is becoming harder to read and harder to time.

30 Mar 2026

Ammonia, Fertilizer Trade Threatened by Strait of Hormuz Conflict

Credit: Rystad Energy

The trade of global fertilizer and ammonia faces intense pressure due to the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz as diplomatic talks between the US and Iran remain uncertain. Rystad Energy’s 2025 trade mapping shows that the sale of 15% of global ammonia and 21% of urea, which is used as a high-nitrogen fertilizer, are tied to exporters potentially impacted by the closure. This includes leading producers Saudi Arabia and Qatar, followed by Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Iran and Iraq.

30 Mar 2026

UK Grants $85M to Develop Port Talbot Floating Wind Hub

(Credit: ABP)

The U.K. government has committed up to $85 million (£64 million) to support the development of a floating offshore wind port at Port Talbot in Wales, as part of efforts to expand clean energy capacity.The funding will support Associated British Ports (ABP) in completing design and engineering work required to develop infrastructure for floating offshore wind projects in the Celtic Sea.The project is expected to enable at least 4.5 GW of floating offshore wind capacity, enough to power around 6.5 million homes…

26 Mar 2026

Iran War Sends LNG Prices Soaring, Curbing Asia Demand

© Mike Mareen / Adobe Stock

The Iran war is upending the global LNG outlook as soaring prices, damage to major supplier Qatar's export infrastructure and potential delays to new supply raise doubts about previously expected demand from price-sensitive Asian buyers.Before the war, analysts expected global liquefied natural gas supply to rise as much as 10% this year to between 460 million and 484 million metric tons as new capacity, mainly in the U.S. and Qatar, came online, with demand forecast to grow in tandem.Now…

25 Mar 2026

India Buys First Iraian LPG Since US Removes Sanctions

© Adobe Stock/sauloangelo

India has bought its first cargo of Iranian liquefied petroleum gas in years after the U.S. temporarily removed sanctions on Tehran's oil and refined fuels, LSG trade flows and three industry sources said.India had shunned energy purchases from Iran in 2019 under pressure from Western sanctions. The tanker was initially bound for China, according to LSEG data.Sanctioned tanker Aurora carrying Iranian LPG is expected to shortly reach the west coast port of Mangalore, the sources…

24 Mar 2026

China Mapping Ocean Floor Ready for Submarine Warfare

© Grispb / Adobe Stock

China is conducting a vast undersea mapping and monitoring operation across the Pacific, Indian and Arctic oceans, building detailed knowledge of marine conditions that naval experts say would be crucial for waging submarine warfare against the United States and its allies.In one example, the Dong Fang Hong 3, a research vessel operated by Ocean University of China, spent 2024 and 2025 sailing back and forth in the seas near Taiwan and the U.S. stronghold of Guam, and around strategic stretches of the Indian Ocean, ship-tracking data reviewed by Reuters shows.

24 Mar 2026

European Energy Shortages Could Be Felt By April

© Adobe Stock/Ai_Images

Energy shortages could hit Europe by next month, Shell CEO Wael Sawan said on Tuesday, adding that securing adequate energy supply was critical to national security.Countries cannot have national security without energy security, Sawan said, adding that Shell was trying to work with governments to help them address the energy crisis, including with storage and purchasing. The Middle East conflict, now in its fourth week, has already affected supplies of jet fuel, with diesel set to be next…

24 Mar 2026

Despite Low Demand, China Drives 5% Increase in Iron Ore Shipments

© BIMCO

"Global iron ore shipments have risen 5% y/y during the first 12 weeks of 2026, supported by stronger Chinese import demand. However, this increase has not been matched by Chinese steel production which fell 4% y/y during the first two months of the year. As a result, the additional supply has boosted portside inventories, which reached a record high of 179.5m tons on 12 March,” says Filipe Gouveia, Shipping Analysis Manager at BIMCO.Steel production in China has been on a downward trend since 2023, pressured by falling domestic demand.

24 Mar 2026

China Maps Ocean Floor as It Builds Submarine Warfare Capability

© Sono Creative / Adobe Stock

China is conducting a vast undersea mapping and monitoring operation across the Pacific, Indian and Arctic oceans, building detailed knowledge of marine conditions that naval experts say would be crucial for waging submarine warfare against the United States and its allies.In one example, the Dong Fang Hong 3, a research vessel operated by Ocean University of China, spent 2024 and 2025 sailing back and forth in the seas near Taiwan and the U.S. stronghold of Guam, and around strategic stretches of the Indian Ocean, ship-tracking data reviewed by Reuters shows.

23 Mar 2026

African Bunkering Hubs Gain as Ships Reroute Around Cape

© masterskuz55 / Adobe Stock

Ship-refuelling companies along Africa's coast are seeing a surge in business as more vessels divert around the Cape of Good Hope, with war in the Middle East reshaping global shipping routes and boosting the continent's role as a bunkering hub.Carriers have been avoiding the Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait since late 2023, when Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping began. U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have reinforced the shift,…

23 Mar 2026

Bunkering Hubs Along African Coast See Surge as Vessels Reroute

© Adobe Stock/Kalyakan

Ship-refuelling companies along Africa's coast are seeing a surge in business as more vessels divert around the Cape of Good Hope, with war in the Middle East reshaping global shipping routes and boosting the continent's role as a bunkering hub.Carriers have been avoiding the Suez Canal and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait since late 2023, when Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping began. U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have reinforced the shift,…

20 Mar 2026

US to Deploy Amphibious Assault Ship, Marines to Middle East

© Adobe Stock/zapper

The U.S. military is deploying a large amphibious assault ship with thousands of additional Marines and sailors to the Middle East, three U.S. officials told Reuters on Friday, as Iran's new supreme leader hailed Iran's "unity" and "resistance".Reuters had reported that Washington, desperate to reopen the Gulf oil bottleneck of the Strait of Hormuz, shut by Iran since the U.S. and Israel attacked almost three weeks ago, was considering deployments up to and including landings.Oil…

20 Mar 2026

Tanker Bound for Cuba with Fuel Cargo Diverts to Trinidad

© Adobe Stock/Darunrat

A tanker carrying fuel originally bound for Cuba on Friday changed its destination to Trinidad and Tobago, according to LSEG ship-tracking data, a blow for the island amid a severe fuel scarcity that has triggered power blackouts.The Hong Kong-flagged vessel Sea Horse loaded a diesel cargo earlier this year through a ship-to-ship transfer in the Mediterranean before setting sail to the Caribbean.The Russian-origin cargo was bound for Cuba, according to several maritime intelligence firms…

20 Mar 2026

Dorian LPG Takes Delivery of Dual-Fuel 93,000cbm Areion

The Areion - dual-fuel newbuilding VLGC/AC. Image courtesy Dorian LPG Ltd.

Dorian LPG took delivery of its 93,000 cubic meter (cbm) dual-fuel newbuilding named Areion an LPG and ammonia very large gas carrier (VLGC/AC) from Hanwha Ocean Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. at the Okpo Shipyard in South Korea. Areion will commence employment on charter under the Helios LPG Pool, an entity jointly controlled by Dorian LPG Ltd and MOL Energia Pte Ltd., with offices in Copenhagen and Singapore.DID YOU KNOW? “Areion”, in Greek Mythology, is the name given to a black-maned horse known for its extraordinary speed…

19 Mar 2026

US Crude Being Shipped to Asia Via Panama Canal

© moofushi / Adobe Stock

Asian refiners are increasingly sending medium-sized crude cargoes from the U.S. Gulf Coast to Asia through the Panama Canal as the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran disrupts trade flows, raises shipping costs and forces Asian refiners to hunt for alternative supplies.The use of medium-sized tankers that typically cost more per barrel to transport crude, coupled with Asian companies' willingness to pay additional fees to move oil through the Panama Canal, underscores their urgent need…

19 Mar 2026

Energy Prices Jump After Iran Attacks Qatar LNG Plant

© Adobe Stock/Garmon

Energy prices surged on Thursday after Iran struck the world’s largest LNG complex, causing damage that Qatar said could take five years to repair, as the energy sector's worst fears about the war launched by the U.S. and Israel on Iran came true.QatarEnergy CEO Saad al-Kaabi told Reuters the state-owned gas company may have to declare force majeure on long-term contracts to Italy, Belgium, South Korea and China after the attack meant a loss of around 17% of Qatar's liquefied…

19 Mar 2026

China Calls for Gulf Conflict to End, Addressing Southeast Asia Energy Shortages

© Adobe Stock/RoBonc

China called for an end to conflict in the Gulf and said the safety of waterways should not be disturbed on Thursday, adding that it was ready to work with Southeast Asia to address energy shortages as oil markets reel from supply shocks.While the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran has allowed China to cast itself as the more reliable superpower, analysts say it is wary of global energy market uncertainty, not least because it needs the resources it has been stockpiling since the late 2000s…

18 Mar 2026

Iran Fires Missiles at Qatar Energy Hub

© Wollwerth Imagery / Adobe Stock

Iran accused Israel of striking its facilities in the huge South Pars gas field on Wednesday in a major escalation in the U.S.-Israeli war that sent oil prices shooting higher, and retaliated by vowing attacks on oil and gas targets throughout the Gulf, firing missiles at Qatar and Saudi Arabia.Qatar's state oil giant QatarEnergy reported "extensive damage" after the Ras Laffan Industrial City, an energy-industry hub, was hit by Iranian missiles. Saudi Arabia said it had intercepted…