Tensions escalate in Strait of Hormuz after claims of attacks and strikes
Sources indicated on 7 September 2026 that a weekend sequence of strikes and counterclaims between the United States and Iran has deepened disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.
Maritime reporting archive
Every published Maritime Gazette report remains available here, organised in reverse chronological order across shipping, ports, vessels, trade, policy, safety and the wider maritime industry.
Published reporting
Reporting archive
Net‑Zero Framework retains broad backing as IMO meeting closes
The Clean Shipping Coalition said member states broadly backed the Net‑Zero Framework as the IMO meeting on shipping and climate closed on 7 September 2026, while a minority of delegations continued to contest the compromise.
Korea's Big 3: merchant orders exceed targets as builders pursue eco-friendly, high-value ships
A report by reports on 7 September 2026 says South Korea's principal shipbuilders have already beaten their merchant vessel order targets for the year by selectively pursuing eco-conscious, higher-margin projects.
Shipbuilding rebound sparks intense rush for entry-level roles as Hanwha Ocean sees 82-to-1 competition
A The report on 7 September 2026 found Hanwha Ocean’s entry-level production intake in the first half of 2026 was oversubscribed at 82-to-1, with more than 3,500 applicants reported on 3 September.
Report links US–Venezuela agreement to possible west‑to‑east rise in tanker flows
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.
Asia–US box rates rise while US Gulf tanker freight softens as Asia port congestion worsens
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.
Majority of intervening states back centralised revenues and RU price at IMO working group
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.
VLCC assessments show modest gains as some routes remain steady
Sources indicated on 6 September 2026 that VLCC freight indexes showed selective increases while some routes held near recent levels.
Star Bulk to seek parallel listing on Euronext Athens and raise up to €112.2m in Greece
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.
US and Iran exchange strikes on oil tankers as maritime tensions resume
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.
Rotterdam biofuel snapshot: B30‑VLSFO steady as conventional VLSFO gains
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.
US efforts blunt Iran’s oil-blockade leverage as Gulf crude keeps flowing
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.
Report highlights local knowledge as central to Germany’s maritime standing
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.
Windward data shows thousands of prolonged dark events and widespread GPS jamming in Q2 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.
Wirana warns Indian recyclers are placing speculative, loss-making bids as tonnage tightens
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.
Cosco Shipping International pivots from shipbuilding to logistics after targeted acquisitions
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.
China iron ore stocks at 143.91m mt as daily port pick-up rises to 3.145m mt
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.
Kalmar to merge terminal tractor and horizontal transportation units as board orders operating-model review
The 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.
Australian wheat prices hit three-year high in August as Black Sea export disruption continues
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.
EPS receives three LNG dual-fuel bulk carriers from Qingdao Beihai
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 of Antwerp‑Bruges pursues India ties after De Wever visit
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.
Forecasts point to strong Chinese trade in August with modest CPI rebound
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.
China’s LNG import patterns shift as cargo sources reconfigure global trade
A weekly shipbroker note highlights how geopolitical shifts have changed where LNG cargoes originate, altering volumes and voyage patterns into China.
Xeneta: spot rates into US East Coast near Covid‑19 peak as reliability slips
reports on 4 September 2026 summarises Xeneta’s weekly market update, which reports spot rates into the US East Coast close to pandemic peaks while schedule reliability deteriorates, according to Xeneta chief analyst Peter Sand.
DNV forecast says flexibility will define shipping’s fuel transition
DNV’s Maritime Forecast to 2050, summarised by reports on 4 September 2026, argues that flexibility across multiple fuels will determine the resilience of shipping’s net zero transition.
Industry leaders call for closer China–Europe ties on vessels, fuels and digitalisation
At SMM 2026, the first China'Europe Maritime Summit brought Chinese shipbuilders and European shipowners together to press for closer cooperation on vessel design, alternative fuels and digitalisation, organisers said.
Baltic Dry Index climbs to highest point since October 2021, reaching 3,628
The Baltic Exchange’s dry bulk freight index rose 4% to 3,628 on 4 September 2026, marking the third consecutive session of gains and the highest level since October 2021, a report said.
IMO GHG working group reconvenes in London amid sharp policy divides over net-zero framework
The IMO's 22nd Intersessional Working Group on GHGs met in London from 1–4 September 2026 to advance the Net-Zero Framework, but divisions over ambition, costs and preferred fuel routes remained unresolved, sources indicated on 4 September.
Renewed strikes push Hormuz traffic below pre-conflict levels and refocus recycling risks
A report from reports on 4 September 2026 says recent US strikes and Iranian retaliation have halted a lull in hostilities, leaving commercial traffic through Hormuz below pre-conflict levels and moving the primary risk for Gulf recycling candidates from sanctions paperwork to passage, insurance and security.
UK and EU gasoline routed to Russia through Moroccan blending hub as imports surge
Analysts say Russian imports of gasoline and diesel climbed sharply in mid‑2026, routed through a Moroccan blending hub as domestic refining was hit by Ukrainian strikes.
Drewry’s World Container Index rises 5% in weekly update
Drewry’s weekly assessment, reported, recorded a 5% rise in the World Container Index for the week ending 3 September 2026 and reiterated the index’s role as the industry benchmark across eight trade lanes.
VLCC market reported to have firmed in week to 4 September 2026, Affinity Research cited
A market note published on 4 September 2026 and attributed to Affinity Research LLP observed a significant firming in the VLCC sector this week, though the supplied summary contains no quantitative data.
Weekly note: Best Oasis reports India’s recycling market "quite buoyant" for the week to 4 September 2026
A Best Oasis weekly bulletin published by reports on 4 September 2026 described India’s recycling market as "quite buoyant" during that reporting week, citing a substantial improvement in local conditions.
China’s eastern ports face prolonged congestion as typhoons and US–Iran war bite
A The report dated 4 September 2026 says major container hubs on China’s east coast have seen vessel waiting times as long as ten days as the July typhoon season and the US–Iran war combine to sustain severe congestion.
Navios Maritime Partners commits Capesize Navios Pollux, weekly bulletin reports
Sources published Advanced Shipping & Trading's week 36, 2026 market note on 4 September, recording that Navios Maritime Partners have committed the Capesize Navios Pollux with scheduled dates and a scrubber fitted.
reports publishes Gibson tanker report entitled 'The 65 Billion Barrel Deal'
Sources published a Gibson tanker report on 4 September 2026 that quotes an announcement attributed to President Trump and credits Gibson Shipbrokers Ltd with the claim about '65 billion barrels'.
SMM 2026: Security rises to the top of maritime agenda
At SMM 2026 delegates from shipping, shipbuilding, technology and defence singled out security and supply‑chain resilience as immediate priorities, alongside AI and new propulsion technologies.
VHBS New ConTex reads 1,635 as September opens, reports reports
Sources published a short report dated 4 September 2026, citing VHBS data that put the New ConTex container ship time charter assessment at 1,635 points and described the market as showing resilience at the start of September.
ClassNK grants AiP to OceanWings’ RF and RT wingsail designs
ClassNK has issued an Approval in Principle to OceanWings for its Rigid Fixed and Rigid Tiltable wingsails, a decision presented at SMM in Hamburg on 2 September 2026 and reported on 4 September 2026.
LR grants AiP to CSSC Huangpu Wenchong for 12,500 m³ LNG bunker design
Lloyd's Register has granted an Approval in Principle to CSSC Huangpu Wenchong for a new 12,500 m³ LNG bunkering vessel design, a move highlighted at SMM 2026 in Hamburg and reported on 4 September 2026.
Techcross renews Smart Platform to strengthen vessel data analytics
Techcross has completed a full renewal of its Smart Platform, a web-based service for shipowners that now emphasises improved information structure and analytics to make BWMS data more actionable.
Hutchison Ports BEST unveils two larger quay cranes at Port of Barcelona
Two new, larger ship-to-shore quay cranes have arrived at Hutchison Ports BEST’s terminal in the Port of Barcelona, an upgrade the operator says will boost capacity to meet customer growth.
Kalmar opens industry-first fully automated Test Centre in Ljungby
Kalmar has inaugurated a fully automated Test Centre in Ljungby, Sweden, which the company says will accelerate its electric and autonomous product development while improving reliability and shortening time-to-market.
US nonfarm payrolls rise 162,000, far above forecasts
A report published on 4 September 2026 records a 162,000 increase in US nonfarm payrolls, well above the consensus forecast of 55,000, signalling stronger-than-expected job growth.
Wärtsilä renews five-year lifecycle agreement with Mercy Ships for Global Mercy
MarineLink reported on 4 September 2026 that Wärtsilä has agreed a five-year renewal with Mercy Ships International to continue lifecycle support for the Global Mercy.
MCA publishes Guidance MIN 738 (M+F) under Section 8(4) on EU/EEA registrations
The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency has issued Guidance: MIN 738 (M+F), a Direction under Section 8(4) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995 dated 4 September 2026, addressing registrations previously granted under the EU/EEA free movement eligibility category.
Korean Register issues Statement of Fact for ShipWatch performance methodology
The Korean Register has issued a Statement of Fact concerning a vessel performance calculation methodology created by ShipWatch, an affiliate of Navig8 and ADNOC L&S, MarineLink reported on 4 September 2026.
Techcross renews Smart Platform with emphasis on data structure and analytics
Techcross has overhauled its web-based Smart Platform for shipowners, with the redesign prioritising data structure and expanded analytics so ballast water management system outputs can be used more effectively.