Founder and Editor, The Maritime Gazette
Maritime journalist, PR and communications specialist
Luke Smout is a maritime journalist, PR and communications specialist, and the Founder and Editor of The Maritime Gazette. He leads the publication’s editorial direction across shipping, ports, vessels, maritime business and public policy, translating complex maritime developments into clear reporting and useful reference coverage for readers in the United Kingdom and internationally.
Luke Smout leads The Maritime Gazette’s editorial standards, reporting development and public-facing maritime communications. The publication uses verifiable factual records, writes in its own editorial voice and corrects material errors transparently.
Luke’s professional focus combines maritime journalism with PR and communications work, with an emphasis on clear public information, sector context and responsible editorial practice.
A The report says the disruption to Black Sea wheat exports from July through August drove destination buyers to seek Australian supplies, lifting price assessments.
Follow Luke Smout’s latest Gazette reporting alongside the connected archive of maritime coverage below.
Read this reportThe board of Kalmar Corporation has authorised planning for a reorganisation that will combine its Terminal Tractors and Horizontal Transportation divisions, a move the company says is intended to speed growth, strengthen customer focus and improve efficiency.
SMM figures reported show a modest fall in iron ore stocks across 35 Chinese ports to 143.91 million mt on 4 September, while daily port pick-up rose to 3.145 million mt.
The Singapore-listed group sold its loss-making shipyard in May 2017 and completed the purchase of Cogent Holdings in March 2018, moves that provided warehouses and operational capacity to accelerate its push into Southeast Asian logistics.
Wirana Shipping has cautioned that Indian recyclers are bidding at levels that could cause substantial losses due to fierce competition for a smaller pool of end-of-life vessels, sources indicated on 6 September 2026.
A reports summary of Windward’s Q2 2026 monitoring records thousands of prolonged dark activity events and more than 171,000 vessels affected by GPS jamming, highlighting the distinction between area-based anomaly counts and vessel-level identification.
A The report dated 6 September 2026 says Germany’s maritime cluster continues to shape international decisions and that local expertise remains essential even as the sector globalises and digitalises.
reports, summarising the Wall Street Journal on 6 September 2026, says US steps to maintain Gulf crude exports have weakened Iran’s ability to pressure energy markets via the Strait of Hormuz, and that Tehran faces mounting economic strain six months into the conflict.
Sources indicated on 6 September 2026 that Rotterdam’s B30‑VLSFO price was unchanged over the week while B30‑LSMGO and conventional fuels registered notable gains.
Sources indicated on 6 September 2026 that the United States and Iran traded retaliatory attacks on ships on Saturday, with the US military saying it had disabled two Iran‑linked tankers and destroyed a third.
Star Bulk Carriers Corp. has notified markets of plans for a parallel listing on Euronext Athens and a Greek equity offering capped at €112.2 million, the company said in a notice reported on 6 September 2026.
Sources indicated on 6 September 2026 that VLCC freight indexes showed selective increases while some routes held near recent levels.
A The report says the IMO’s 22nd Intersessional Working Group ended with a significant majority of speakers in favour of a centralised fund financed by a GHG price (RU price) to reward early adopters and aid a just transition.
Sources indicated on 6 September 2026 that container freight from east Asia and China to the United States was mostly higher this week while liquid chemical tanker rates ex‑US Gulf were mostly softer, amid worsening congestion at Asia ports and falling schedule reliability.
reports summarises a Gibson weekly report noting that a US–Venezuela agreement on 65 billion barrels could lead to increased export flows from west to east over coming years.
A reports briefing on 6 September 2026 projects robust Chinese trade in August, exports +24.1% and imports +32.4%, and a moderate rebound in inflation, with likely knock-on effects for maritime flows.
Following Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s visit to India, Port of Antwerp‑Bruges convened Belgian and Indian policymakers and business leaders in Mumbai on 4 September to discuss opportunities from the India–EU Free Trade Agreement, part of the port’s ambition to develop trade links with India.
Eastern Pacific Shipping has taken delivery of three LNG dual-fuel bulk carriers, Mount Victoria, Mount Yulong and Mount Wuyi, from Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding, reports reports.
Port Otago has contracted Konecranes to supply ten hybrid Noell straddle carriers fitted with twin‑lift spreaders and the complete Noell Fleet Management System; the order was booked in June 2026 with delivery by the end of August 2027.
Sources indicated on 3 September 2026 that Ukrainian drones struck the Russian oil export port of Ust-Luga and started a large fire, with the Leningrad Region governor saying more than 52 aerial threats were shot down on 2 September 2026.
The International Bunker Industry Association will gather leaders from the marine energy and shipping communities in New York from 10–12 November 2026 to consider regulation, fuel quality and related issues, sources indicated on 3 September 2026.
Near‑continuous attacks disrupting Black Sea shipments have driven global wheat prices to record highs and prompted increased demand for Australian and North American supplies, sources indicated on 3 September 2026.
Sources indicated on 3 September 2026 that Equinor has received its first liquefied natural gas cargo loaded at Cheniere’s Sabine Pass export terminal in Louisiana, destined for Europe, with further deliveries scheduled for Asian customers.
Sources indicated on 3 September 2026 that eCap Marine will provide its integrated hydrogen energy power systems, eCap H2EPS, for two additional hydrogen-powered bulk carriers being delivered to GMI.
Alfa Laval has added a skid-mounted variant to its PureBallast 3 Ultra range, offering a prefabricated package designed to reduce space requirements and shorten installation schedules.
Scorpio Tankers has published an update to its third quarter 2026 average daily Time Charter Equivalent rates and confirmed time charter‑out agreements for three product tankers, a company notice reported on 3 September 2026.
Hanwha Ocean announced two new contracts in early September 2026, including an order from Yang Ming for six liquefied natural gas dual-fuel containerships and a separate sale of three VLGCs to an Oceania owner, bringing combined value to just over 2 trillion won.
A Joint Development Project between a classification society, a liner operator and a design institute will evaluate the feasibility of an assisted containership concept that augments onboard decision making.
Energy Information Administration figures published via reports show US residual fuel oil production rose 13% in August versus July, with production at 343,000 b/d while supply and imports declined.
reports on 4 September 2026: Iraq’s exports increased in August while ICE Brent traded above US$95 per barrel amid renewed US–Iran hostilities and missile activity in the Gulf, with the market’s next moves hinging on Hormuz shipments.
Copper futures traded around $6.57 per pound on 4 September 2026, supported by a cluster of supply‑side challenges including an export ban from Congo, weaker production in Chile and Peru and weather disruptions tied to El Nino.
Futures moved toward CNY 730 per ton and were on track for a second straight weekly gain as shipping disruptions, higher fuel costs and pre-holiday restocking in China supported prices, a The report said on 4 September 2026.
Mwani Qatar reported on X on 3 September 2026 that Hamad, Ruwais and Doha ports handled about 120,000 tonnes of bulk cargo in August 2026, a 168% increase on July, with livestock throughput also up, sources indicated on 4 September 2026.
HHLA’s Executive Board has revised the group’s expectations for the 2026 financial year after reviewing recent business performance and updated estimates, pointing to extensive automation and infrastructure works at Hamburg container terminals. Report dated 4 September 2026.
A 40,000 dwt MR1 product oil tanker concept from Deltamarin has secured an Approval in Principle from Bureau Veritas, a development presented at SMM in Hamburg and reported on 4 September 2026.
Gard has warned Members and clients about the dangers of bulk cargo liquefaction after a fatal incident in the Bay of Bengal, drawing attention to some iron ore fines shipments from India’s east coast.
bound4blue has completed the fitting of four 22‑metre eSAIL® suction sails to Marflet Marine’s Santiago I, with preparatory work in Zhoushan and final installation at EDR Antwerp Shipyard.
Sources indicated that Yang Ming and Hanwha Ocean have concluded a shipbuilding contract for six 13,000 TEU class LNG dual‑fuel container vessels, signed by the companies’ chief executives.
Everllence has confirmed R&D testing and verification of an ethanol-capable B&W G80 engine at HD Hyundai in Korea; the engine is earmarked for the third ship in a ten-vessel very large ore carrier order placed by Shandong Shipping.
Klaveness Dry Bulk loaded clinker in Cam Pha, Vietnam in August 2026 and discharged in Ivory Coast, its first such cargo in several years and a sign of shifting clinker supply patterns to West Africa.