Advertisement
Your banner here
News
Container Lines Abandon Red Sea Return as Fresh Attacks Entrench the Cape Route
Every attempted step back toward the Suez Canal has been reversed by the next attack. Within weeks of major container carriers resuming transits through the Red Sea in early 2026, fresh escalations—first Iran strikes in late February, then Houthi threats on 28 February—sent Maersk, CMA CGM, Hapag-Ll
Carriers Reroute to Avoid SA Port Congestion as 79 Ships Queue at Durban and Ngqura
A record surge of Cape-route traffic should have been South Africa's windfall. Instead, 79 vessels carrying 145,000 containers are queuing outside Durban and Ngqura ports whilst carriers systematically reroute to avoid the bottleneck entirely. The fundamental mismatch between surging traffic volumes
Lifting Appliance & Winch Audits: The Hidden SOLAS II-1/3-13 Retrofit Wave
On 1 January 2026, a comprehensive new IMO mandate enters force that redefines safety standards for every crane, winch, and hoist aboard ships. SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-13—adopted via Resolution MSC.532(107) in June 2023—imposes mandatory certification, load testing, thorough examination, and mainten
Alternative Fuels at Scale: LNG, Methanol & Biofuel Market Dynamics in 2026
The global shipping industry is navigating a complex fuel-switching landscape as regulatory pressure and infrastructure investment collide with supply constraints. As of mid-2026, LNG bunkering has expanded to 201 operational ports with a further 57 under development, whilst methanol's rapid fleet a
West and Central Africa's Port Surge: AD Ports Drives $287m Investment into Douala and Congo Terminals
Two flagship port terminal projects—AD Ports' $87 million dry bulk facility in Cameroon and its $200 million container terminal in Congo—signal a major infrastructure shift in West and Central Africa. Construction timelines between 2026 and 2028 are now moving from concession to active procurement,
Container Loss Reporting: SOLAS V/31 & V/32 Compliance Now Mandatory—Operator Playbook for 2026
On 1 January 2026, the International Maritime Organization's landmark amendments to SOLAS Chapter V came into force, making container loss reporting mandatory worldwide. Masters must now report losses and drifting sightings without delay to nearby vessels, coastal authorities, and flag states. For o
Navigating the Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Bunker Markets Under Pressure and Strategic Responses for 2026
The escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have disrupted one of maritime trade's most critical chokepoints. The de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz since late February 2026 has cascaded through global bunker supply chains, with Fujairah VLSFO premiums surging from $15–20 per tonne
Singapore Bunker Crisis: Off-Spec VLSFO and the Case for Real-Time Quality Assurance
Multiple batches of Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) delivered at Singapore in 2026 have tested contaminated with alkylresorcinols and phenolic compounds—chemicals linked to engine damage, fuel system degradation, and operational failure. The contamination crisis coincides with Hormuz closure-drive
African Bunkering Hubs: The Structural Shift Reshaping Global Shipping
Persistent Middle East instability is forcing a permanent restructuring of global shipping networks. Since March 2026, when major carriers including Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM suspended Suez Canal operations, vessel diversions around the Cape of Good Hope have surged 112%. For African ship supp