Topic
shipping
Logistics Veritas Shipmanagement books fresh ultramax pair at COSCO yard, Splash247 reports
Veritas Shipmanagement has ordered two 64,000 dwt ultramax bulk carriers at COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry in Zhoushan, with delivery scheduled for 2030. The order extends a relationship that began in 2023 with four 63,600 dwt vessels. No contract price has been disclosed; Xclusiv assesses standard Chinese-built ultramax newbuildings at around $36m each.
Logistics Seanergy linked to fresh newcastlemax at Hengli as dry bulk orderbook grows
Seanergy Maritime has been linked to a 211,000 dwt newcastlemax newbuilding at Hengli Heavy Industries for delivery in 2029, according to Splash247. The order, if confirmed, would expand Seanergy's dry bulk newbuilding programme from seven to eight vessels, with the broader fleet renewal slate reaching nine ships. Seanergy has already secured charters for three 2027-dated capesizes at floor rates averaging about $23,100 per day.
Logistics SFL Makes Fresh $363m Car Carrier Play With Four LNG Dual-Fuel Newbuilds
John Fredriksen-backed SFL is spending $363m on four LNG dual-fuel car carriers, with delivery scheduled for 2029. Two vessels are already fixed on five-year charters to a major Asia-based carmaker, while two remain open. The order comes as shipyard capacity stays tight into 2030.
Logistics Iran Blacklist Threatens Hormuz Shuttle Tanker Lifeline for Gulf Crude
Iran's blacklisting of 12 VLCCs at the core of the Hormuz shuttle trade threatens a workaround moving roughly one-third of Middle East Gulf crude exports. Three Indian refiners and a global energy major plan to stop using the vessels, and Braemar warns remaining Hormuz tonnage will command higher premiums.
Logistics Keyfield International Enters Dredging Market with $24.7m Vessel Acquisition
Keyfield International has acquired the 2016-built trailing suction hopper dredger Inai Kenanga for $24.7m, about 61% below its $63.7m fair-market value, according to Splash247. The vessel, bought from receiver-managed Inai Rimba, will be held in an SPV with Star Naval 1 and is slated for reactivation in 2027 for dredging and land reclamation projects in Malaysia and Singapore.
Logistics Container shipping urged to move fire prevention upstream, new report says
A new Thetius and Tigris Systems report urges container shipping to screen dangerous goods at the booking stage rather than after loading. Vessel fires hit 250 in 2024, the highest in a decade, and TT Club estimates a major containership fire roughly every 60 days. The report calls for automated document screening, connected data and specialist oversight.
Logistics KNOT Offshore Partners acquires modern shuttle tanker Hedda Knutsen from parent in $113m deal
KNOT Offshore Partners is acquiring the 2024-built shuttle tanker Hedda Knutsen from parent Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers in a $113m deal, taking its fleet to 20 vessels. The DP2 suezmax is under firm charter to Petrobras in Brazil until 2034, with an option to 2039. The partnership also completed a $225m refinancing with DNB Bank to replace debt due in September.
Logistics DNV: Build fleets that can survive the wrong fuel call
DNV's 10th Maritime Forecast to 2050 urges shipowners to stop betting on a single decarbonisation pathway and instead build fleets that can survive multiple regulatory, fuel and technology outcomes. The report highlights energy efficiency as an immediate strategic hedge while low-GHG fuel markets struggle to emerge. Shippers and operators should expect cost structures to vary by trade lane as regulatory divergence persists.
Logistics IAEA launches global push to bring nuclear power back to sea
The IAEA launched the ATLAS initiative in Washington with 600 participants from over 50 countries to create a regulatory and safety framework for nuclear-powered civilian shipping. Twenty-five countries backed the initiative, and experts expect some nuclear maritime concepts to be ready for deployment in the 2030s, according to Splash247.
Logistics Shippers Face Higher Costs If IMO Net-Zero Framework Vote Fails, Baxter Freight Warns
Tom Isler of Baxter Freight argues freight buyers should hope the IMO's Net-Zero Framework passes in October. A failed vote would not end carbon pricing but would fragment it into multiple surcharges, making costs harder to read, forecast and challenge. The price lands on freight bills either way.
Logistics Strait of Hormuz shipping traffic slightly rises amid Iran-Oman talks
Visible commodity vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz rose to 10 on Wednesday from eight on Tuesday, according to Kpler data reported by Reuters, but remained below the 10-day average of about 15 vessels. Iran and Oman are still working on agreement details, while traffic at the Bab el-Mandeb strait slowed for a second day to 19 vessels.
Commodities Brent crude remains above $90 per barrel as Hormuz operations remain disrupted
Brent crude held above $90 per barrel in early Thursday trade, up 0.41% to $92, while WTI rose 0.32% to $84.66, as the US-Iran war and Strait of Hormuz disruption kept the risk premium intact. Conflicting US and Iranian statements on the strait's status slowed shipping, while the UAE suspended financial transactions with Iran. Meanwhile, US crude inventories climbed 4.4 million barrels, topping expectations for a 600,000-barrel draw.
Logistics Middle East risk permanently repriced, Paratus CEO tells Splash Singapore
Paratus founder and group CEO Gus Majed told Splash247 that Middle East risk has been permanently repriced, with war-risk premiums, crew terms, charter clauses and alternative routes through Fujairah and Sohar now embedded in the market. Singapore's bunker sales rose to 28.2m tonnes in H1 2026 despite Hormuz disruption. Majed will chair the tanker session at Splash Singapore in September.
Logistics Port Houston container volumes fall 6% in July as import surge cools
Port Houston handled 369,899 TEUs in July, down 6% year over year, as container growth moderated after frontloading earlier in 2026. Loaded imports fell 3% but remain up 5% YTD, with East Asia driving a 10% gain. General cargo surged 42% while steel imports dropped 36%.
Logistics Port of Oakland reports steady laden volumes in July as imports fall
Port of Oakland saw July total container volume fall 11.4% year over year, but loaded cargo activity remained broadly stable through the first seven months of 2026. The port also welcomed Hapag-Lloyd's resumed WC5 service with the Missouri Express.
Logistics Amazon Moves Parcels by Shinkansen Bullet Train, Launches E-Bike Delivery in Los Angeles
Amazon contracted with three Japan Railway companies to move parcels on Shinkansen bullet trains, enabling same-day delivery from Tokyo to central and northern Japan. The company also launched its first U.S. West Coast e-cargo bike operation in Culver City, California, with Burbank to follow. The moves add rail and bike capacity to Amazon's middle- and last-mile networks.
Logistics BW LPG India sells another aged VLGC in $64m disposal run
BW LPG India has agreed to sell the 2007-built VLGC BW Birch for about $64m in net cash, adding to a disposal run at the 52%-owned subsidiary of BW LPG. The sale follows the $64m disposal of sistership BW Elm and precedes a $940m newbuild programme of eight panamax VLGCs at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.
Logistics Höegh Autoliners orders six more Aurora car carriers, raises NOK1.42bn
Höegh Autoliners has ordered six LNG dual-fuel car carriers from China Merchants Heavy Industry and raised NOK1.42bn ($152m) via an oversubscribed share placement to fund the expansion. The firm Aurora programme rises to 18 vessels, with options and reserved slots that could take the series to 26 ships and add almost 237,000 ceu of capacity, according to Splash247.
Logistics Shanghai-listed Ningbo Marine approves five-ship bulker newbuilding programme
Ningbo Marine has approved five bulk carrier newbuildings in China, adding 342,000 dwt to its orderbook. The programme spans four 65,000 dwt domestic-market ships and one 82,000 dwt kamsarmax for international trades. The expansion builds on a 2024 order for four ultramaxes and lifts the company's newbuild pipeline to nine vessels and 598,000 dwt.
Logistics Medcare Linked to Five-Ship MR1 Tanker Order at China's Anhui Zhongrun Heavy Industry
Greek tanker owner Medcare Shipping has been linked to an order for up to five MR1 product and chemical tankers at China's Anhui Zhongrun Heavy Industry, according to Splash247. The Wuhu-based yard confirmed a contract with an unnamed Greek owner for two firm 41,000 dwt ships and three options. No contract price was disclosed, but market indications value the firm pair at about $96m.
Logistics Euroseas Secures Two-Year Charter Extension for 1,740 TEU Jonathan P at $26,000 per Day
Euroseas extended the charter of its 1,740 teu containership Jonathan P for two years at $26,000 per day, up from $25,000. The deal generates about $12.7m in EBITDA and covers 97% of available days for the rest of 2026, 86% for 2027 and 50% for 2028, according to Splash247.
Logistics Diana Shipping Sells 1.2M Genco Shares for $32M After Abandoning Takeover
According to Splash247, Diana Shipping sold 1.2 million Genco shares for about $32 million after aborting its nine-month takeover attempt. The sale reduces Diana's stake from 14.4% to 11.62%, with the remaining holding worth roughly $135 million. Genco now owns 44 bulkers, while Diana operates 36 bulkers and has two methanol dual-fuel newbuildings on order.
Logistics Ningbo-Zhoushan Overtakes Singapore as World’s Number Two Boxport
Ningbo-Zhoushan handled 22.9m teu in H1 2026, up 8.8% year-on-year, edging past Singapore's 22.7m teu to become the world's second-busiest container port, according to Alphaliner data reported by Splash247. Shanghai leads with 28.7m teu, while Jebel Ali plunged to 32nd place after Hormuz disruption cut first-half throughput from 7.77m to 3.14m teu.
Logistics Yangzijiang Maritime Moves Into Stainless Chemical Tankers With Taihua
Singapore-listed Yangzijiang Maritime Development has been linked to a 4+2 order for 28,000 dwt duplex stainless-steel chemical tankers at Zhoushan Ningxing Shipbuilding, alongside Taihua Ship Management. Market indications value the firm quartet at roughly $184m and the full six-ship package at about $276m, according to Splash247.
Logistics Container shipping tipped to normalise through Red Sea by year-end
Analyst Lars Jensen says Red Sea container shipping could normalise by end-2026 as MSC restores four Suez services and Maersk accelerates returns. Canal traffic is at its highest since January 2024 but remains 41% below pre-crisis levels, with Houthi attacks and war-risk insurance costs still elevated.
Logistics ADNOC L&S Exercises Options for Two LNG Carriers, Lifting Newbuild Programme to 20 Ships
ADNOC Logistics & Services has exercised options for two 175,000 cu m LNG carriers at Jiangnan Shipyard, adding $444m to its newbuild bill and lifting its LNG newbuild programme to 20 ships. The company has committed around $2.7bn to vessel acquisitions and newbuildings in 2026, including a $1.3bn deal for six VLCCs and five VLGCs.
Logistics Solstad Offshore Wins $62m Petrobras CSV Contract Offshore Brazil
Solstad Offshore has won a two-year, $62m contract from Petrobras for the construction support vessel Normand Valiant, starting in Q4 2026. The vessel will provide accommodation services on the Brazilian continental shelf. The Normand Valiant is owned by Solstad Maritime and chartered to Solstad Offshore under a bareboat arrangement.
Logistics SK Gas Pays Record $5.3m to Jump Panama Canal Queue Amid Drought
SK Gas smashed the Panama Canal auction record with a $5.3m bid to move an LPG carrier northbound on September 1, according to Splash247. The previous record of $4.6m was set only earlier this month. Congestion is worsening as the canal cuts daily booking capacity from 34 to 32 ships in mid-September.
Supply Chain SmartSea CEO: Fleets must become connected operational networks, not isolated ships
Shipping digitalisation is being held back by data silos rather than a lack of sensors, according to SmartSea CEO Kris Vedat. He estimates that the industry operationalises less than 20% of available vessel data, and argues fleets should be managed as connected operational networks supported by open interoperability standards.
Logistics Iran blacklists 45 tankers over Strait of Hormuz rules amid fresh US sanctions threat
Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority has blacklisted 45 tankers for allegedly violating its rules for transiting the Strait of Hormuz, threatening fines, detention and cargo confiscation. The list includes vessels linked to ADNOC L&S, Navig8 Tankers, Bahri, Klaveness, Stolt Tankers and Sinokor. The move escalates tensions weeks after the US threatened 'the toughest sanctions in history' against Iran.
Logistics USPS Proposes 6% Peak Season Parcel Surcharge, Adding to Shippers' Cost Pressures
The U.S. Postal Service proposed a 6% temporary surcharge on key parcel services for the 2026 peak season, running Oct. 4 through Jan. 17, 2027. The fee, which requires Postal Regulatory Commission approval, adds to an existing 8% fuel surcharge and follows similar demand surcharges from FedEx, while UPS has yet to announce its fees.
Logistics Tabi Pricing Pressure Index Rises 7 Points, Signaling Broker Power Erosion
Tabi's Pricing Pressure Index rose 7 points to 36 over the past month, signaling a measurable softening in spot freight conditions while brokers and carriers still hold the upper hand, according to FreightWaves. The index draws on more than 1.5 million spot loads monthly. Shippers typically feel the market shift three to four months after brokers.
Logistics MSC Returns to Red Sea as Trans-Pacific Spot Rates Hold Elevated
Mediterranean Shipping Co. has joined other container lines returning to the southern Red Sea despite renewed Houthi attacks, according to FreightWaves. Trans-Pacific spot rates remain elevated, with Asia-U.S. West Coast prices up 1% to $6,826 per FEU and East Coast prices up 2% to $9,576 per FEU. Carrier capacity cuts and China port congestion are supporting rates, while U.S.-Iran and U.S.-China tensions keep the market on edge.
Logistics Diana Shipping rolls panamax bulker Leto into stronger Cargill fixture at $18,000 per day
Diana Shipping secured a 41% rate increase for the panamax Leto, fixing the 81,297 dwt bulker to Cargill at $18,000 per day from September 10. The charter runs until at least September 1, 2027, and a minimum extension will generate about $6.34m in gross revenue.
Logistics SPM Shipping enters gas shipping with $91m VLGC buy from Dorian LPG
Dubai-based SPM Shipping has entered gas shipping with the $91m purchase of the 2015-built, 84,000 cu m VLGC Clermont from Dorian LPG, according to Splash247. The deal, concluded in August, follows SPM Shipping's moves into capesize and VLCC segments. Dorian LPG has now sold three VLGCs this summer, with reported prices of $81.8m, $87.3m, and $91m.
Logistics Houthi Strike Hits Saudi VLCC Amzan Off Yanbu in Red Sea
A Saudi-owned VLCC, Amzan, was struck by an unknown projectile off Yanbu on August 24, causing a main deck fire but no casualties or pollution. The attack extends the Houthi campaign against Saudi shipping to the key Red Sea crude export route, where tanker calls have fallen by more than a third since a July 20 ban.
Logistics Hormuz compliance clash traps owners between Tehran and Washington
Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority has blacklisted 45 vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, threatening fines, detention and cargo confiscation, while the US warns that complying with Tehran's regime could trigger sanctions. The list includes ships linked to ADNOC Logistics, Bahri, Sinokor and others, with 14 already attacked. The US Treasury expanded secondary sanctions to shipping, targeting five shadow-fleet vessels.
Logistics Container Port Congestion Smashes Covid-Era Record, Removing 4.3m TEU of Capacity
Global container port congestion has climbed beyond Covid-era levels, with 4.3m TEU waiting to berth and removing capacity from circulation. East Asian ports, led by Shanghai and Ningbo, are driving the spike after tropical storms, while Panama Canal transit cuts loom. Freight indices like SCFI and Platts Container Index are accordingly rising.
Logistics IMO Warns Piracy Surge in Gulf of Aden Leaves More Than 90 Seafarers Captive
The International Maritime Organization warns that more than 90 seafarers are now captive after a piracy surge in the Gulf of Aden, with six vessels held following the August 20 hijacking of the Seamull. IMO secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez demands immediate release and calls for renewed naval cooperation and security preparedness.
Logistics Thom Albrecht Says Freight Supply Cycle Could Stretch Through Q1 2028
According to FreightWaves, Thom Albrecht of Reliance Partners says supply constraints — not demand — are driving trucking's current cycle, with regulatory enforcement and proposed rules likely to extend it through next year or into Q1 2028. Demand indicators have improved, including rail volumes at their second-highest level since 2008.
Logistics Freight Distress Report: More than 7,000 Jobs Cut in New Wave of Closures
FreightWaves' latest Freight Distress Report tallies roughly 7,058 confirmed job cuts across 21 companies in 15+ U.S. states, led by Tyson Foods' closure of beef plants in Illinois and Utah and Essendant's potential liquidation. FedEx, Ryder, CJ Logistics America, Daimler Truck, and others are also shuttering facilities, forcing shippers to reroute freight and find alternative capacity.
Logistics Car Carrier Operators Form GRC Council to Improve Emissions Data Accuracy
A coalition of car carrier operators representing around 80% of global capacity has established the GRC Council to maintain and improve its GHG accounting methodology. ClassNK, the GRC's independent verifier, drafted the new governance framework and will provide verification services for emissions data. The move aims to strengthen confidence in Scope 3 reporting under FuelEU Maritime and IMO GHG measures.
Logistics NBOSCO commits $123m to four 1,900 TEU feeder boxships at Wuchang Shipbuilding
Ningbo Ocean Shipping (NBOSCO) has committed RMB832m ($123m) to four 1,900 TEU feeder newbuildings at CSSC's Wuchang Shipbuilding, with delivery set for 2028 and 2029 and options for two more vessels. The order adds to an orderbook that Alphaliner puts at 20 ships across three size classes, including larger tonnage from Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard.
Logistics US Ends Extra Security Measures on Ships Calling Nigeria
The US Coast Guard removed Nigeria from its Port Security Advisory, ending 12 years of additional security requirements for ships trading from Nigerian ports to the US. The change takes effect August 19, 2026, following four US Coast Guard assessments that showed improved ISPS Code implementation.
Logistics Shipmanagement becomes crisis management as Red Sea diversions alter Asia-Europe operations
Shipmanagement has shifted into crisis-management mode, with Red Sea disruption forcing Cape of Good Hope diversions that add thousands of miles to Asia-Europe voyages. Splash247 reports decarbonisation targets, crew-change bottlenecks, war-risk cover and GPS spoofing are compounding the strain on vessel managers.
Logistics Yangzijiang Maritime orders six product tankers in $320m Haifeng newbuild deal
Yangzijiang Maritime Development has ordered six product tanker newbuildings from Jiangsu Haifeng Shipbuilding in a deal valued at more than $320m, according to Splash247. The package of four MRs and two LR2s takes the company's reported tanker programme at the yard to 14 ships, with deliveries spanning 2028 through 2030.
Logistics Global ship orderbook growth hits fastest pace since pre-Lehman boom as orderbook swells 27%
Global shipbuilding orderbook growth reached 27% year-on-year, the fastest since the eve of the 2008 financial crisis, according to Splash247. Clarksons Research data shows 9,012 ships totalling 405.9m gt on order, with Greek and Chinese owners leading contracting. Industry executives at Posidonia warned that the record $2.4trn fleet-and-orderbook value may be signalling an overheated market.
Logistics China's Shipbuilding Boom Draws Another Yard into Oceangoing Construction
Yizheng Kangping Ship Repair Yard has started construction of its first 5,000 ceu pure car and truck carrier, ordered by newly established Hainan Chunlong International Shipping. The project signals China's shipbuilding boom pulling smaller domestic yards into oceangoing construction. Chinese yards captured 82.3% of global newbuild orders by deadweight in H1 2026, up 173% year-on-year.
Supply Chain Maritime’s durability is its digitalization trap, ABS Wavesight CEO warns shippers
ABS Wavesight CEO Steve Bomgardner argues that maritime’s centuries-old conservatism is now the industry’s biggest obstacle to digital transformation. He warns that shipping evaluates software on a hardware lifecycle, underestimates AI’s value, and lets return uncertainty block modest SaaS investments.
Logistics Sinokor's $6bn Tanker Bet Pays Off as Hormuz Crisis Fuels VLCC Buying Spree
Sinokor Maritime has acquired 73 secondhand tankers for $5.925bn in 2026, matching the combined spend of the next eight largest buyers. With MSC taking 50% joint control and Hormuz disruptions pushing VLCC earnings toward $510,000 a day, the buying spree has lifted asset prices to 2008 levels.
Logistics Panama Canal Rations Capacity, Trims Draft as Red Dots Warn of El Niño Drought
The Panama Canal is rationing daily booking capacity and cutting maximum neopanamax draft ahead of an expected El Niño-driven drought, with Gatun Lake levels projected to keep falling through October. MSC introduced a $100 per TEU surcharge on Asia–US East/Gulf coast cargo, while CMA CGM raised canal-related charges, according to Splash247.
Logistics 167 Logistics and Transportation Companies Make 2026 Inc. 5000; Here Are the Fastest-Growing Freight Firms
A total of 167 logistics and transportation companies made the 2026 Inc. 5000, with a 114% median three-year growth rate, $23.1 billion in combined revenue, and 115,631 employees. Grip led all freight names at 29,398% growth, followed by Mountainy and Jet Freight Services.
Logistics Shared Truckload Cuts Costs 30-40% as 2026 Truckload Rates Rise, Flock Freight CEO Says
According to FreightWaves, rising 2026 truckload rates are pushing shippers toward shared truckload, which Flock Freight CEO Pat Dillon says can cut costs 30-40% versus full truckload. The model combines two shippers' loads on one trailer, targets 10-40 linear feet, and pays carriers more per combined load.
Logistics Ocean Freight Rates Surge 400% as Carriers Cut Capacity, Demand Flat
Ocean freight spot rates have surged more than 400% on transpacific lanes even as China-to-U.S. volumes decline roughly 1%, according to FreightWaves SONAR data. The spike is driven by capacity control and strategic blank sailings by top carriers, not demand. Shippers should prepare for continued rate and capacity volatility through Q4.
Logistics BNSF expands intermodal rail service between Phoenix and North Texas for shippers
BNSF Railway has expanded intermodal rail service between the Phoenix metro area and North Texas, now running six days a week with transit of just over three days. The move is aimed at converting truck freight to rail ahead of the domestic peak shipping season. BNSF is also building Logistics Park Phoenix, with its first phase slated to open in early 2027, according to FreightWaves.
Trade India's Tanker Exports Surge Over Six-Fold to USD 1.36 Billion in Q1 FY27; UAE Leads
India's tanker exports grew more than six-fold to USD 1.36 billion in Q1 FY27 (April-June 2026-27), with the UAE emerging as the top destination. Export volumes rose from 10 to 23 vessels, and new markets including Egypt, South Africa, and Vietnam received first-time shipments.
Logistics India Eyes First Cargo Ship on Arctic Northern Sea Route to Russia as Arkhangelsk Talks Advance
India may send its first cargo ship via the Northern Sea Route to Russia next year. Arkhangelsk region discussions cover ship construction, port infrastructure, and a possible Rosatom memorandum of understanding, potentially cutting sailing distances by up to 40%.
Logistics Maersk abandons 4.4m teu fleet ceiling as CEO Vincent Clerc signals capacity growth
Maersk has abandoned its 4-4.4m teu capacity ceiling, with its operated fleet now above 4.7m teu. CEO Vincent Clerc told investors the carrier will 'ensure that we have the capacity to grow.' Analysts are split on whether this will trigger a newbuilding spree or more chartering.
Logistics China Merchants Energy Shipping firms charter deal for five MPP newbuilds
China Merchants Energy Shipping has firmed long-term charter deals for five multipurpose newbuildings, adding 422,500 dwt of capacity. The Shanghai-listed owner will take three ships from CMB Financial Leasing and two from China Merchants Financial Leasing, with deliveries in 2029-2030.
Logistics A.P. Moller Capital agrees to acquire majority stake in Moroccan logistics group Globex
A.P. Moller Capital has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Moroccan logistics group Globex Investissement, deploying capital from its newly established Morocco-focused fund. The Casablanca-based company operates express, road freight, forwarding, customs and warehousing services across Morocco, Senegal and Cameroon. Completion awaits clearance from Morocco's Competition Council.