Rate Spike and Route Shake-Up Hit Container Shipping
Container shipping is navigating a volatile new chapter, as soaring freight rates, inland congestion, and shifting trade lanes reshape global logistics. With post-pandemic demand surges giving way to geopolitical rifts, tariff realignments, and unpredictable...
Tanker Sector Responds to Explosions, Route Shifts, and Surging Demand Across Global Waters
Engine room explosions, rerouted cargoes, record LNG freight rates, and enhanced regulatory oversight in European corridors, these are just some of the major developments shaping the global tanker industry this week. While challenges persist,...
Tide Turning for Seafarers as Global Labor Pressures Mount
From record-high crew abandonment cases to rising suicides and a generational shift in work expectations, seafarers are facing one of the most challenging labor environments in modern shipping history. Despite international conventions and company...
Key Strategies to Cut Crew Costs Without Cutting Corners
Crew costs remain one of the largest and most complex expenses for shipowners and fleet managers. But slashing headcount or cutting corners isn’t always the answer. It’s also increasingly risky in today’s regulatory and...
LNG Momentum Builds Across the Globe With New Routes Deals and Capacity
From Canada’s first direct Pacific export to the Arctic-ready tankers preparing for deployment, the LNG shipping sector is rapidly evolving. New infrastructure, expanded capacity, and shifting trade flows are all playing a part in...
Piracy Watch Rises Across Global Shipping Routes
Maritime piracy and vessel attacks are reentering the global spotlight, as this past week saw a string of new incidents in some of the world’s most vital shipping lanes. From the Gulf of Guinea...
Summer Drought Causes Severe Rhine Freight Disruptions
A heat wave in Western Europe has drastically reduced water levels on Germany’s Rhine River, especially at key chokepoints such as Kaub, Cologne, and Duisburg. River freight vessels are now forced to sail with...
Emerging Maritime Supply Chain Disruptions in 2025-2026
Global shipping is once again entering turbulent waters, not from storms alone, but from a growing web of evolving risks that threaten to reshape maritime supply chains in 2025 and beyond. From Red Sea...
Container Losses Drop Long-Term Despite 2024 Bump
The World Shipping Council (WSC) has released its annual Containers Lost at Sea Report, revealing that 576 containers were lost overboard in 2024. Although this marks a notable increase from the record‑low 221 containers...
Freight Markets Cool as Tankers Heat Up
Global shipping trends are taking distinct turns this week across container, tanker, and LNG freight sectors. Container rates are pulling back from recent highs as risk-fuelled demand begins to stabilize. Meanwhile, energy freight routes,...
Ship Demand 2025: Global Outlook by Vessel Type
In 2025, global ship demand reflects a complex and completive environment where not all vessel types are sharing the same momentum. While offshore support vessels are thriving amid rising energy investments, container ships are...
Waves of Investment in Maritime Infrastructure
Maritime investment is gaining momentum across multiple fronts, from groundbreaking financing structures to green port upgrades, cross-border expansion, and futuristic technologies. Over the past few weeks, the sector has witnessed a surge in strategic...
New Era Rising for Global Ship Recycling
Ship recycling is stepping into a new chapter. With a blend of international regulation, expanding infrastructure, and rising end-of-life vessel volumes, the sector is undergoing one of its most significant transformations in decades. The...
Ports Face Pressure as Volume, Security, and Capacity Trends Emerge
Global ports are navigating a complex set of challenges, seasonal volume spikes, geopolitical pressures, and shifting trade routes, all contributing to uneven capacity and emerging pinch points. (view news summary) Rising Congestion Signals Structural...
15 Major Shipping Incidents in H1 2025
From blazing vehicle carriers in the Pacific to oil tanker collisions in geopolitically tense waters, the first half of 2025 has tested the global shipping industry’s resilience. As maritime trade volumes continue to surge,...
Back-to-Back Ship Sinkings Spark Industry Review
In a troubling sequence for maritime safety, two major commercial vessels sank within weeks of each other prompting swift industry action on emergency response, environmental protection, and regulatory review. The incidents of the Morning...
Seafarers Honored with New Harassment‑Free Campaign
Today marks the International Day of the Seafarer, and this year’s campaign, My Harassment‑Free Ship is turning the spotlight toward creating safer and more respectful workplaces at sea. Launched by the IMO, this initiative is the...
ShipLog Story: Shadow in the Bab el-Mandeb (Part 2)
This is entry is a continuation from Shadow: In the El-Mandeb Part 1 Ship Universe Note This post is part of our Wednesday ShipLog Stories series at Ship Universe We spotlight the human side...
Arctic Shipping Gains Momentum as Ice Access Expands
Rising ambitions on the Northern Sea Route (NSR) are reshaping Arctic navigation. Over the past week, major developments have emerged in both icebreaker operations and vessel activity, signaling growing momentum in year-round polar shipping....
Maritime Calms Amid Middle East Ceasefire
A tentative ceasefire between Iran and Israel has brought a welcome sense of relief to maritime operations. Recent developments have eased immediate risks around the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, leading to...
Record-Breaking LNG Freight Rate Surge
Spot LNG shipping rates have reached their highest point in eight months, reflecting a combination of growing demand, geopolitical instability, and a tightening pool of available vessels. Daily rates in the Atlantic region have...
Used Ships vs. Newbuilds: What Are Shipowners Really Choosing in 2025?
The maritime landscape sits at a pivotal crossroads. Used-ship prices are soaring, driven by intense demand from owners needing immediate tonnage and limited newbuild slots. Meanwhile, newbuilding costs remain at record highs, about $90 million...
Electric Car Carriers Face Looming Safety Tests Amid Growing EV Fire Risk
A spate of fires aboard vehicle carriers carrying electric vehicles (EVs) has spotlighted the rising dangers posed by lithium-ion batteries at sea. With each region-wide surge in EV exports, shipping industry leaders are racing...
Decision Point Looms at Strait of Hormuz Amid Ongoing Tensions
Iran is considering the temporary closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, but the power to enact such a move lies not with parliament alone, but with the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) and, ultimately,...
Completive Push Fuels Maritime Autonomous Expansion
Maritime autonomy is accelerating worldwide. From saildrones patrolling critical infrastructure to next-gen naval USVs entering trials, the industry is moving from experimental deployments toward operational readiness. Across defense, oceanography, and commercial sectors, these platforms...
Oil Prices Poised to Surge Amid Chokepoint Pressure
Markets remain on edge as energy traders price in risk around the Strait of Hormuz. While no disruption has occurred, signals out of the Gulf and shifts in vessel traffic have driven crude oil...
If the Strait of Hormuz Closes, Who Wins?
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz would be a completive and destabilizing blow to global trade. The maritime shipping industry, in particular, relies on this narrow passage to move nearly a fifth of...
Tankers Hold Course as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Escalate
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continues under close surveillance as regional tensions intensify following airstrikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure. While legislative steps inside Iran signal the strong possibility of a temporary closure...
Shipping Prices Cool as Global Routes Adjust to New Demand Patterns
Container shipping prices dipped this week after a month-long surge, signaling a possible stabilization phase across major trade lanes. Drewry’s World Container Index (WCI) fell 7.45% to $3,279 per 40-foot equivalent unit (FEU), reflecting...
Maritime Shipping Myths Costing Owners Millions
In an industry where margins are tight and risks are global, many shipowners still operate under assumptions that no longer hold water. Outdated beliefs about vessel performance, compliance, maintenance, and financing can quietly drain...