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Wednesday, April 15, 2026

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15 Apr 2026

US Import Prices Increase by Less Than Expected in March, Rise Anticipated Due to War

© Adobe Stock/Kalyakan

U.S. import prices increased less than expected in March, though the trend still pointed to firming imported inflationary pressures as the Middle East conflict boosts oil prices and snarls supply chains.Economists shrugged off the report from the Labor Department on Wednesday and said they expected the oil price surge from the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran to show in April's import price data."The less-than-expected increase in import prices most likely reflects timing differences between when the oil that entered U.S.

15 Apr 2026

Fincantieri Wins $30m US Navy Contract for Four Vessels

© Timon - stock.adobe.com

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri said on Wednesday its Fincantieri Marine Group unit has won a $30 million contract with the U.S.

15 Apr 2026

US-Sanctioned Russian LNG Makes Its Way to India

© Adobe Stock/hamara

A cargo of liquefied natural gas from Russia's Portovaya plant on the Baltic Sea that is under U.S. sanctions is on its way to India, LSEG shipping data showed on Wednesday.If it reaches its destination, it would be the first such delivery to India since U.S. President Donald Trump last year said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had assured him India would stop buying Russian energy.India has never publicly confirmed any such pledge and has said its buying decisions are guided by price, supply security and consumer interests.

15 Apr 2026

Iran Can Withstand Up to Two Months Without Oil Exports Before Curbing Production

© Adobe Stock/chernikovatv

Iran can withstand a complete halt in oil exports of up to two months before being forced to curb production, analysts said, after the U.S. began blocking shipping in and out of the country's ports on April 13.The blockade could prevent roughly 2 million barrels per day (bpd) of Iranian crude from reaching its main buyer China.Any Iranian production shutdowns would add to more than 12 million bpd of supply already disrupted by the regional war, tightening markets further and lifting oil prices.With its exports blocked, Iran faces having to divert crude into onshore storage tanks.

15 Apr 2026

Fincantieri Wins First U.S. Navy LSM Contract, Advances 35-Ship Program

U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Thomas Anderson, (far left) Program Executive Officer Ships, U.S. Marine Corps. Brig. Gen. Robert Brodie, (left) Director of Expeditionary Warfare, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, U.S. Marine Corps Col. Raymond Feltham, (right) Program Manager, Medium Landing Ship and U.S. Navy Command Master Chief James Timmerman, Program Executive Office, Ships, salute during an establishment ceremony for the Medium Landing Ship (LSM) Program Office at the Humphrey's Building on Wa

Fincantieri has secured its first contract under the U.S. Navy’s Medium Landing Ship (LSM) program, marking an early step in what could become a 35-vessel procurement central to future expeditionary operations.The $30 million award to Fincantieri Marine Group covers long-lead materials procurement and engineering work for the first four vessels. The contract enables the yard to begin early-stage industrial preparation, with construction expected to start in the fourth quarter of 2026.The LSM program is designed to support distributed maritime operations…

15 Apr 2026

Sanctioned China-Linked Tanker Turns Back to Hormuz after Gulf Exit

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The U.S.-sanctioned tanker Rich Starry made its way back to the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday after exiting the Gulf the day before, shipping data showed, failing to break through a U.S. blockade on vessels calling at Iranian ports.U.S. President Donald Trump announced the blockade on Sunday after weekend peace talks in Islamabad between the U.S. and Iran failed to reach a deal."During the first 24 hours, no ships made it past the U.S. blockade," the U.S. Central Command saidon X, adding that six vessels complied with directions from U.S.

15 Apr 2026

Gazprom Delivers Second Post-Sanctions LNG Cargo to China

© moofushi / Adobe Stock

Russian energy giant Gazprom has delivered a second post-sanctions LNG cargo from the Baltic Sea's Portovaya plant to China, LSEG data showed on Wednesday.The small-scale Portovaya plant, which has a production capacity of 1.5 million tons of LNG per year, started operations in September 2022.Exports from the plant have been interrupted by additional U.S. sanctions over the Ukraine war that were imposed in January 2025 to disrupt Russia's ability to produce and export LNG and reduce its revenue from the trade.Gas carrier Valera…

15 Apr 2026

Eni Ships Venezuelan Crude to Europe After Two-Year Gap

© teamjackson / Adobe Stock

Oil and gas producer Eni this week finished loading a 1-million-barrel cargo of Venezuelan heavy crude bound for Spain, the first the Italian company receives in almost two years following the issuance of U.S.

14 Apr 2026

Report: Over 20 Commercial Ships Transit Hormuz

Three F/A-18E Super Hornets, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 14, fly over Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) during Operation Epic Fury, April 2, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo)

More than 20 commercial ships have passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the past 24 hours, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing U.S. officials.Reuters could not immediately verify the report.Earlier on Tuesday, the U.S. military's Central Command said no ships have made it past a U.S. naval blockade of Iran's ports and coastal areas, and six merchant ships have followed orders to turn back.U.S. President Donald Trump announced the blockade on Sunday after weekend peace talks in Islamabad between the U.S.

14 Apr 2026

US Will Not Renew Sanctions Waiver on Iranian Oil

© Adobe Stock/Sunshine Seeds

The U.S. will not renew a 30-day waiver of sanctions on Iranian oil at sea that expires this week, and quietly let a similar waiver on sanctions on Russian oil expire over the weekend, two administration officials told Reuters on Tuesday, as the U.S. imposes a blockade on shipments from Iranian ports.Tuesday's move signals that "Treasury is going full force on Economic Fury" on Iran, an apparent reference to Operation Epic Fury, the U.S.-led military campaign against the country…

14 Apr 2026

Oil Prices Fall, Wall Street Indexes Edge Up on Hopes of US-Iran Resolution

© Adobe Stock/chakisatelier

Wall Street stock indexes edged up, oil prices tumbled and the dollar's safe haven appeal waned on Tuesday as investors looked past a U.S. blockade on Iran's ports to the prospect of an eventual resolution to the conflict.Negotiating teams from the U.S. and Iran could return to Islamabad this week, four sources said, days after talks - held at the highest level between the two sides since the 1979 Islamic Revolution - ended in the Pakistani capital without a breakthrough.U.S.

14 Apr 2026

Six Ships Follow US Orders to Turn Back in Strait of Hormuz Blockade

© Adobe Stock/DiBook design

No ships have made it past a U.S. naval blockade of Iran's ports and coastal areas, and six merchant ships have followed orders to turn back, the U.S. military said on Tuesday, providing the first details on a day-old effort ordered by President Donald Trump after peace talks between the U.S. and Iran broke down.The U.S. military has said that the blockade, which started on Monday, would only apply to ships going to or from Iran, including all Iranian ports on the Gulf and Gulf of Oman."During the first 24 hours, no ships made it past the U.S.

14 Apr 2026

Zelim’s ZOE Man-Overboard Detection System Becomes First Fully Certified Solution

© Zelim

Zelim has announced that its AI-enabled ZOE man-overboard detection (MOB) system has received official ISO 21195:2020 certification from independent classification body Lloyd’s Register, following successful completion of testing.This follows sea trials on board the Ambition vessel, managed by Ambassador Cruise Line—the first time the ISO testing has been completed on a cruise vessel. The performance of ZOE was monitored whilst the cruise ship was underway for a continuous period of 90 days…

14 Apr 2026

BIMCO: Global Seaborne Crude Shipments Drop 16% Since Start of the Iran War

© BIMCO

"Since the beginning of the Iran war, global seaborne crude oil shipments have fallen 16% compared to the first nine weeks of 2026, according to Signal Ocean data. This represents a reduction of 7.6 million barrels per day (mbdp) to 38.4 mbpd. Coincidentally, shipments during the past six weeks have likewise been 16% lower than during the same period last year,” says Niels Rasmussen, Chief Shipping Analyst at BIMCO.Before the Iran war, the U.S. Energy Information Administration had estimated global 2026 oil production to be 79.9 mbpd.

14 Apr 2026

Tankers Transit Hormuz on First Day of US Blockade

© Kalyakan / Adobe Stock

A third Iran-linked tanker was entering the Gulf via the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday on the first full day of the U.S. blockade on vessels calling at Iranian ports, shipping data showed.U.S. President Donald Trump announced the blockade on Sunday after weekend peace talks in Islamabad between the U.S. and Iran failed to reach a deal.As the three vessels transiting the strait were not heading to Iranian ports, they are not covered by the blockade.Panama-flagged Peace Gulf, a medium-range tanker…

14 Apr 2026

Philippines Seeks US Extension to Buy Russian Oil

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The Philippines' Secretary of Energy Sharon Garin on Tuesday said the country has asked the United States to extend a waiver to purchase Russian oil and petroleum products.Garin said the government is optimistic about extending the waiver which expired on April 11, but is preparing alternative supply arrangements in case the request is declined."We are awaiting their response, but we are very positive on getting this other window," Garin said at a news briefing.The Philippines is diversifying its energy sources and supply options are not limited to Russia…

14 Apr 2026

Destroyer USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. Commissioned

Source: US Navy

The Navy’s newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124) was commissioned in Norfolk, Virginia, April 11, 2026.Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. (DDG 124) was commissioned before a crowd of approximately 1,800 guests, including senior military leaders, Sailors, Marines, veterans and family members.“This is the first vessel to bear the name of a Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipient, and Col Barnum’s actions…

13 Apr 2026

US Clarifies Details of Hormuz Blockade

An E-2D Hawkeye, attached to Airborne Command & Control Squadron (VAW) 117, launches from the flight deck of Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) during Operation Epic Fury, March 31, 2026. (U.S. Navy photo)

The U.S. military on Monday detailed the boundaries of its Strait of Hormuz blockade, saying it would extend east to the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea, while ship-tracking data showed two ships turned around in the strait as the blockade went into effect.In a note to seafarers about the blockade that seeks to take control of the strait away from Iran, the U.S. Central Command said: "Any vessel entering or departing the blockaded area without authorization is subject to interception…

13 Apr 2026

Iran-Linked Tankers Sail Through Hormuz Before US Blockade

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Two oil tankers linked to Iran exited the Gulf on Monday via the Strait of Hormuz ahead of a planned U.S. blockade on Iranian ports and coastal areas, shipping data from Kpler and LSEG showed.The tanker Auroura is laden with Iranian oil products while the New Future tanker is carrying diesel loaded from the Hamriyah port in the United Arab Emirates, Kpler data showed.(Reuters - Reporting by Florence Tan in Singapore and Jonathan Saul in London; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)

13 Apr 2026

Germany Plans For $1.9 billion of Fuel Price Relief Amidst Global Energy Crisis

Germany's coalition government has agreed fuel price relief for consumers and businesses worth 1.6 billion euros ($1.9 billion), ending a dispute over how to respond to an oil price surge triggered by the Iran war.The energy tax on diesel and petrol will be cut by about 0.17 euros per litre for two months, the conservative CDU party and its centre-left SPD coalition partners said on Monday.The Iran war has caused the biggest disruption to global energy supplies on record, with plans for a U.S.

13 Apr 2026

Vineyard Wind Sues GE Vernova to Block Offshore Wind Project Exit

A GE Haliade-X Turbine Stands in the Vineyard Wind 1 Project Area (Credit: Worldview Films / Vineyard Wind)

Vineyard Wind has filed a lawsuit seeking to block a wind turbine-supplying unit of GE Vernova  from terminating agreements and abandoning work on a $4.5 billion offshore wind farm in Massachusetts on the eve of completion.Vineyard Wind, a joint venture between Spain's Iberdrola IBE.MC and Denmark's Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, filed a lawsuit this week in a state court in Boston accusing the GE Vernova subsidiary of wrongly trying to terminate their contract at the wind…

13 Apr 2026

Amtech Issues RFP for Microcontainer Feeder Vessels

Image courtesy Amtech

Alternative Marine Technologies has issued a RFP to three major U.S. Shipbuilding companies for a 2+2 series build of a 230 TEU Microcontainer Feeder. The project is based upon the Conoship CIP230TEU design currently operating in Europe. The design is complete through production drawings, 3D modeled and available with the availability of a virtual “walkthrough” of the vessel. Short sea operator Vega Reederei has joined the project team handling commercial operations. The vessels in Europe operate successfully with a 9-man crew, similar to U.S. ATB manning.

13 Apr 2026

Trump Threatens to Destroy Iranian Attack Ships That Approach US Blockade

Adobe Stock/MdWasim

U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Monday that any Iranian "fast-attack" ships that go near a U.S. maritime blockade on Iran would be eliminated.Trump made the threat shortly after the U.S. blockade on vessels entering and departing Iran had been due to come into effect at 1400 GMT on Monday.Describing Iran's navy as "completely obliterated" during the six-week-long war between the U.S. and Iran, Trump posted on Truth Social: "What we have not hit are their small number of…