President Donald Trump said on Sunday the U.S. Navy would start blockading the Strait of Hormuz, raising the stakes after marathon talks with Iran failed to reach a deal to end the war, jeopardizing a fragile two-week ceasefire.The U.S. Central Command said U.S. forces would begin implementing the blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports at 10 a.m. ET (1400 GMT) on Monday.It would be "enforced impartially against vessels of all nations entering or departing Iranian ports and coastal areas, including all Iranian ports on the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman
Port Tampa Bay welcomed a container vessel Thursday that set a new record for carrying capacity at the port. The ZIM Canada docked with 11,900 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), nearly 2,000 more than any vessel previously handled at the port. The arrival underscores the port’s growing role in handling larger, high-capacity container ships and highlights the importance of ongoing infrastructure investments.The ship, stretching 1,083 feet and measuring 158 feet wide, carries enough containers that, if lined up end to end, would stretch more than 40 miles
President Donald Trump's administration is likely to extend as soon as Friday a waiver allowing countries to buy some sanctioned Russian oil and petroleum products, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.The U.S. Treasury Department has allowed purchases of Russian oil and products at sea since mid-March through the 30-day waiver that expires on April 11, part of efforts to control global energy prices during the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
Pakistan said its navy had rescued and evacuated 18 crew members of a merchant vessel operating in the North Arabian sea after a distress call.The rescued crew members of the vessel, GOLD AUTUMN, who included nationals of China, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam and Indonesia, were safely transported to Karachi for medical care and repatriation, a statement from Pakistan's military said.(Reuters)
Master Boat Builders launched Saturn, the first vessel in the new H500 series of Rapport 3000 escort tugs built for Suderman & Young Towing Company, marking Master Boat’s entry into a new class of high-performance escort tug design. The Saturn (H500) marks the first of four vessels in the H500 series, with H501 through H503 currently under construction.The Saturn represents a significant step forward in escort tug capability.
The IWH Group has launched Blue Future, a new service designed to help marine and offshore organizations assess their digital preparedness, define a realistic target operating model, and build a roadmap from legacy, manual ways of working to more resilient, scalable digital operations. The offer is aimed at organizations including ship owners, ship operators, charterers, port agents, ship management companies, marine insurers and offshore support businesses.Blue Future has been developed in response to a growing challenge across the maritime sector.
Brazilian mining firm Vale has signed an agreement with China's Shandong Shipping Corporation to build the world’s first ocean-going vessels powered primarily by ethanol, as part of efforts to cut emissions in maritime transport.The agreement covers the construction of two Guaibamax bulk carriers under 25-year contracts, with delivery scheduled from 2029 and options for additional vessels.The ships will be capable of running on ethanol, methanol and conventional bunker fuel, with design provisions allowing future conversion to liquefied natural gas or ammonia.
The single most consequential development of Week 15 came out of Washington, not the recycling yards, reports cash buyer GMS. President Trump’s decision to delay planned strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure by five days, alongside comments describing talks with Iran as “productive,” triggered the sharpest oil reversal since the conflict began.The Baltic Dry Index rose to 2,139 by April 8, continuing a recovery that began from the March trough and extending to its highest level since early March.
The European Commission has published the verified EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) emissions data for 2025 showing a -1.3% reduction in ETS emissions, compared to 2024 levels.This reduction continues the steady downward trend of emissions. Since the ETS was launched in 2005, the system has halved emissions in the sectors it covers. It remains on track to achieve the 2030 target of a 62% reduction.For maritime, the reported data so far shows that emissions from the sector fell by around 3%.
A fire involving containers on board the London-registered container vessel Ever Lenient at Singapore’s PSA Pasir Panjang Terminal was extinguished on April 11.Firefighting efforts continued through the night, led by the Singapore Civil Defence Force, with Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore deploying patrol craft to conduct seaward cordon duties and drones to provide aerial surveillance in support of the firefighting operations.PSA Singapore is assisting with the safe discharge of the affected containers as part of follow-up operations. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
A second flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza was due to set sail on Sunday from the Spanish port of Barcelona, aiming to try to break the Israeli blockade.Thirty-nine boats were due to leave the Mediterranean port city, a spokesperson for the flotilla said, and more vessels also laden with medical aid and other supplies are expected to join along the route towards Palestine.Rough seas mean the flotilla will sail to another port then head out to international waters later in the week, Thiago Avila, a member of the flotilla's organising committee
Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Harvey C. Barnum, Jr. (DDG 124) will be commissioned on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 10 a.m. EST in Norfolk.DDG 124 is the latest destroyer built in the Flight IIA configuration.The commissioning ceremony will live stream on the Defense Video Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) at www.dvidshub.net/webcast/37421. The live stream will begin at 9:50 a.m. EST, and the ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. EST on April 11. The media are encouraged to use this public-domain livestream footage in their coverage.