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The latest news and commentary on how the US/Israel-Iran conflict is affecting the global maritime industry and shipping markets. Tensions are high the Strait of Hormuz as Iran continues hitting tankers and the US launches attacks for first time in over a month August 31, 2026 A third tanker was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday and a day laterUSforces launched strikes on Larak Island. The UKMTO said it had received a report of a tanker being hit by an unknown projectile in the Strait at 20:53 hrs UTC on 29 August. The vessel was inbound in the Strait of Hormuz 12 nm north of Khasab,Oman. No casualties were reported on the vessel, the name of which was not disclosed. It was the third tanker to be hit in the Strait of Hormuz last week. On 25 August the tankerAl Salam IIwas struck by an unknown projectile which caused a fire on the vessel that was extinguished by the crew. On 24 August the Liberian-flagged AframaxMetro Venetianwas struck in the Omani route of the Strait of Hormuz causing a fire in the engine room and disabling the vessel. On Sunday, 30 August US forces launched their first strike on Iran in over a month. US forces struck two launchers on Larak Island in the north Capt. Tim Hawkins, spokesperson for US Central Command was quoted as saying in mainstream media reports. Related:Iran war at six months - 6,000 seafarers still stranded in the Gulf Posting on social media platform X US Central Command said, “US forces took limited, precise action against IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) minelaying forces posing an imminent threat in the Strait of Hormuz.” Last week on 27 August Brad Cooper, Commander of US Central Command, said in a video message posted on social media that said that US forces had successfully completed mine clearance in the Strait and the lanes of the internationally recognised traffic separation scheme (TSS) were free from sea mines. However, in a 30 August update the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) continued to warn commercial shipping on the presence of mines. “There remained a continued risk of drifting or uncharted mines in and near the TSS, with mine danger areas still active.” Meanwhile the US blockade of Iranian ports continues and since it was restarted on 14 July US Central Command says it has disabled three commercial vessels, boarded two others, and redirected 83 ships. Read more about: Marcus Hand Editor Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia. Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation. In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology. Marcus is the founder of theSeatrade Maritime Podcastthat delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics. Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars. Wind-Assisted Propulsion: Are we ready? at Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global 2024 IMPA 2024 SingaporeMaritime Procurement and Sustainability Panel, November 2024 Goodbye Globalization? Red Sea Impacts Reviewed,EGN Singapore (Executives' Global Network)webinar, February 2024 Offshore Marine Breakfast Forum atSea Asia 2023 Sustainable Finance, Shipping & Technology at Hong Kong Maritime Week 2022 Building & Operating Dual-Fuel Vessels, February 2022 Shipping’s Decarbonisation Challenge – The Role of Technology and Digitalisation at Hong Kong Maritime Week 2021 The Challenge Faced by Ship Registries in a Digital and Post-Pandemic Era, October 2020 The Future of Transhipment Hubs Post-Pandemic, November 2020 Offshore Marine Breakfast Forum at Sea Asia 2019 Marcus Hand regularly guests on mainstream media talking about maritime and shipping news stories. Below you'll find a list of selected appearances KBS World Radio -Korea24,May 2026 BBC News -Hindi Service,April 2026 RNZ -First Up, April 2026 Subscribe and get the latest industry news, analysis and more straight to your inbox.

No agreement has been reached between the US and China over multi-million dollar port fees suspended in November 2025 August 28, 2026 The clock is ticking on a truce between theUSandChinaon reciprocal port fees suspended last November. The USTR charges came into effect on 14 October 2025 for Chinese owned, operated and built ships calling US ports, while China responded with additional charges for US-flagged and built ships, and those from companies 25% or more controlled by US citizens. The latter fees from China were introduced with just a few days’ notice and sent many companies scrambling to comply. The two countries agreed to suspend the charges for one year following a meeting between US President Donald Trump andChinesePremier Xi Jinping in late October. The suspension took effect on 10 November 2025, meaning that the fees from both sides could come back into play on 9 November this year, just some 10 weeks and three days away at the time of publication. Writing on LinkedIn Lars Jensen, CEO of Verspucci Maritime commented, “Last year this fee was only postponed for a year with the intention to have a new agreement in place during this period. Thus far no agreement has been seen. In this context it might be a valid assumption that if US rekindles this fee, China will simply repeat what they did last year with fees on US shipping as well.” Related:Efficiency critical in volatile regulatory climate says DNV The looming deadline comes with a backdrop of continued tensions between the US and China with the US’ imposition of secondary sanctions on Iran. China is Iran’s top trading partner and buyer of its crude oil exports, if the majority of these are masked through ship-to-ship transfers in Southeast Asia, primarily in the Malaysia Eastern Outer Port Limits (EOPL) anchorage. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant said on Monday that Chinese banks would be targeted under the sanction, “If they facilitate transactions and are part of the ecosystem that turns Iranian oil into money, into repression, they will be targeted.” The latest tensions come ahead of an expected summit in the US between Presidents Trump and Xi in late September, although the date is yet to be confirmed. Should no agreement be reached on suspended USTR and Chinese port fees by 9 November shipowners will again need to carefully study and adjust routings based on where vessels were built and ownership/operation lies to avoid multi-million port fees when calling at ports in China and the US. Looking at the container line side of the equation Jensen said it would particularly impact the Chinese/Hong Kong carriersCosco Shipping,OOCL, and Hede Shipping, and US shipping company Matson Shipping on the Transpacific trade. These companies would have limited options to avoid the fees given their ownership base and it was estimated that should the USTR fees have stayed in place throughout 2026 the full year impact on Cosco and OOCL would have been around $1.5 billion. Related:Why small states matter in maritime diplomacy The reimposition of the fees would also impactCMA CGMthrough its US-flag subsidiary APL Eagle Express 1 service andMaerskon their TP7 service which include US-flagged vessels, while other lines would need to reshuffle vessels to different services much as they did in the run up to the 14 October deadline last year. The biggest corporate moves made to mitigate the effects of the reciprocal port fees went ahead despite the suspension of the charges with Seaspan Corporation moving its head office fromHong KongtoSingaporeand reflagging a major portion of its fleet with the Singapore Registry of Ships. Dry bulk shipowner Pacific Basin Shipping also reflagged a significant portion of its fleet to Singapore and according to its website its global leadership team is based in the Lion City, having previously been located in Hong Kong. Read more about: Marcus Hand Editor Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia. Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation. In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology. Marcus is the founder of theSeatrade Maritime Podcastthat delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics. Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars. Wind-Assisted Propulsion: Are we ready? at Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global 2024 IMPA 2024 SingaporeMaritime Procurement and Sustainability Panel, November 2024 Goodbye Globalization? Red Sea Impacts Reviewed,EGN Singapore (Executives' Global Network)webinar, February 2024 Offshore Marine Breakfast Forum atSea Asia 2023 Sustainable Finance, Shipping & Technology at Hong Kong Maritime Week 2022 Building & Operating Dual-Fuel Vessels, February 2022 Shipping’s Decarbonisation Challenge – The Role of Technology and Digitalisation at Hong Kong Maritime Week 2021 The Challenge Faced by Ship Registries in a Digital and Post-Pandemic Era, October 2020 The Future of Transhipment Hubs Post-Pandemic, November 2020 Offshore Marine Breakfast Forum at Sea Asia 2019 Marcus Hand regularly guests on mainstream media talking about maritime and shipping news stories. Below you'll find a list of selected appearances KBS World Radio -Korea24,May 2026 BBC News -Hindi Service,April 2026 RNZ -First Up, April 2026 Subscribe and get the latest industry news, analysis and more straight to your inbox.

New vessel deliveries could put container freight rates under pressure as the peak season ends August 28, 2026 Orient Overseas (International) Ltd, parent ofOOCL, says the container market did not normalise as expected in the first half of 2026 and has instead remained uncertain. Hong Kong-listed OOIL, part ofCosco Shipping, reported an EBIT of $728 million for the first half of 2026 compared to $954.2 million in the same period a year earlier. Revenues increased to $5.17 billion in H1 2026 up from $4.88 billion in the first half of 2025, and total container liftings increased to 4.13 million teu for the period up from 3.93 million teu in H1 205. Liner revenues and liftings were at a record high excluding the pandemic period. On the cost side the company reported that average bunker fuel prices in the first half of the year were up 8% at $582 per ton compared to $541 per in the same period in 2025. The company said sharp fluctuations in oil prices, heightened inflation expectations and higher EU carbon emission cost increased cost pressure on container lines and affected the global economic outlook. Related:PIL opens second office in Brazil However, geopolitical uncertainty also resulted in a better than expected container shipping market. “The global container market did not normalise in the first half of 2026 as many had anticipated at the end of last year. Instead, the year progressed amid the uncertainties. With the escalation of conflict in the Middle East and repeated changes in the situation, the return to the Red Sea was once again delayed,” OOIL said. Looking ahead OOIL said market volatility may become the new normal and the large number of newbuildings joining the global fleet could rates under pressure. “As new vessels continue to be delivered and the peak season approaches its end, freight rates may come under pressure,” the company said. Read more about: Marcus Hand Editor Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia. Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation. In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology. Marcus is the founder of theSeatrade Maritime Podcastthat delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics. Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars. Wind-Assisted Propulsion: Are we ready? at Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global 2024 IMPA 2024 SingaporeMaritime Procurement and Sustainability Panel, November 2024 Goodbye Globalization? Red Sea Impacts Reviewed,EGN Singapore (Executives' Global Network)webinar, February 2024 Offshore Marine Breakfast Forum atSea Asia 2023 Sustainable Finance, Shipping & Technology at Hong Kong Maritime Week 2022 Building & Operating Dual-Fuel Vessels, February 2022 Shipping’s Decarbonisation Challenge – The Role of Technology and Digitalisation at Hong Kong Maritime Week 2021 The Challenge Faced by Ship Registries in a Digital and Post-Pandemic Era, October 2020 The Future of Transhipment Hubs Post-Pandemic, November 2020 Offshore Marine Breakfast Forum at Sea Asia 2019 Marcus Hand regularly guests on mainstream media talking about maritime and shipping news stories. Below you'll find a list of selected appearances KBS World Radio -Korea24,May 2026 BBC News -Hindi Service,April 2026 RNZ -First Up, April 2026 Subscribe and get the latest industry news, analysis and more straight to your inbox.

Singapore-basedApex Logistics, a wholly-owned subsidiary ofKuehne+Nagel (K+N), is being investigated by the US authorities over its suspected role in supplying AI chips to China. The news broke earlier today withBloombergciting sources familiar with the matter. Since 2022, the US has placed restrictions on the sale of high-end AI chips to China. This has more recently included H20 chips specifically designed specifically for AI segments, overfears that they could be used to support China’smilitary. Responding to questions fromThe Loadstar,a spokespersonsaid:“Kuehne+Nagel confirms that Apex Logistics is fully cooperating with the relevant authorities regarding this isolated matter within a wider US government investigation. “Kuehne+Nagel has not been contacted by the authorities and, as this matter does not relate to Kuehne+Nagel and remains subject to an ongoing investigation, we are unable to comment further.” If there is a case to answer, it would mark the first action against a freighttransport and logistics company for alleged participation in the illegal semiconductor trade. In a statement toBloomberg, Apex said it was aware of the “US’s concern for and interest in a small number of shipments that Apex handled in 2024 and which may have involved materials and equipment which were ultimately forwarded to prohibited locations”. The ‘smuggling’ routes the US suspects Apex may have facilitated entail the transport of Nvidia-powered AI servers from Taiwan to the US, then to an Asian destination outside China, before delivery to Hong Kong, from where they were driven into mainland China.

The latest news and commentary on how the US/Israel-Iran conflict is affecting the global maritime industry and shipping markets. Reports say the attack caused a fire on the vessel transiting the Middle East waterway August 27, 2026 Attacks on shipping continue in the Strait of Hormuz with the latest strike causing a fire on a tanker. “Local authorities have reported a tanker has been hit by an unknown projectile causing fire to the vessel which has since been extinguished,” said UKMTO. The attack is reported to have taken place on 25 August and all the tanker’s crew are safe and accounted for. There was no report of any environmental impact. The latest reported incident follows that on the Liberian-registered aframaxMetro Venetianwhich was struck by an unknown projectile 9nm northeast of Ash Shishah,Omanon 24 August. The tanker’s engine room was hit resulting in the vessel being disabled. In a 25 August update the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) said that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps continued to carry out attacks, attempted attacks, and harassment of vessels including UAV overflights, targeted surveillance of merchant shipping, and occasional VHF hailing in the Strait of Hormuz. Related:UAE condemns attack on two ADNOC tankers in Hormuz “These actions continue to demonstrate Iran’s intent to assert presence along key transit lanes and maintain pressure on transiting vessels," JMIC warned. Read more about: Marcus Hand Editor Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia. Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation. In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology. Marcus is the founder of theSeatrade Maritime Podcastthat delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics. Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars. Wind-Assisted Propulsion: Are we ready? at Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global 2024 IMPA 2024 SingaporeMaritime Procurement and Sustainability Panel, November 2024 Goodbye Globalization? Red Sea Impacts Reviewed,EGN Singapore (Executives' Global Network)webinar, February 2024 Offshore Marine Breakfast Forum atSea Asia 2023 Sustainable Finance, Shipping & Technology at Hong Kong Maritime Week 2022 Building & Operating Dual-Fuel Vessels, February 2022 Shipping’s Decarbonisation Challenge – The Role of Technology and Digitalisation at Hong Kong Maritime Week 2021 The Challenge Faced by Ship Registries in a Digital and Post-Pandemic Era, October 2020 The Future of Transhipment Hubs Post-Pandemic, November 2020 Offshore Marine Breakfast Forum at Sea Asia 2019 Marcus Hand regularly guests on mainstream media talking about maritime and shipping news stories. Below you'll find a list of selected appearances KBS World Radio -Korea24,May 2026 BBC News -Hindi Service,April 2026 RNZ -First Up, April 2026 Subscribe and get the latest industry news, analysis and more straight to your inbox.

It took just six months for Jebel Ali to crash out of the top 30 container ports ranks, after more than two decades among the 10 busiest gateways in the world, as the impact of the US/Israel war on Iran continues. Alphaliner’s half-year assessment of box port standings is bleak reading for gateways on the west side of the Persian Gulf, with Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa dropping out of the top 50, having occupied 32ndplace in the list. “Renewed disruption in Hormuz, which resulted in a near shutdown of the waterway from March onwards and only a partial and unstable reopening in June saw volumes plummet over 90% at Dubai’s Jebel Ali to just 374,000 teu in Q2,” Alphaliner said. “Combined with a Q1 decline of 23%, Dubai’s flagship port handled 3.14m teu in the first six months of the year, less than half the 7.77m teu recorded a year earlier. As a result, the port fell out of the top 30, dropping from 10thto 32nd.” Khalifa’s disappointing performance is in strong contrast to where it was just a year ago, when a year-on-year volume surge saw it handling some 21.4% more than it had in 2024, putting it in a position to challenge Lianyungang for a spot in the top 30. For its part, Lianyungang has shown no great shakes, reporting flat to marginal growth, but doing just enough to retain its position from last year, albeit leaving it well short of the average 3.7% growth rate recorded across the 11 Chinese ports in the top 30. Alphaliner noted: “With strong export growth driven by hi-tech and manufactured goods, plus a successful diversification drive, volumes at China’s seaports reached 161m teu in the period, a rise of 5.8% and a new six-month record. It added that “while exports to the US rose just 4%, China reported increased shipments to Africa, Latin America, Europe, and South-east Asia”, which climbed 30%, 14%, 10%, and 9% respectively. Although in terms of growth rates, South Asia was the standout star, with Sri Lanka’s Colombo and India’s Nhava Sheva climbing 11.9% and 13.6% year on year respectively, as carriers and shippers sought alternatives to the Gulf routings. But with Colombo’s 4.4m teu and Nhava Sheva handling just over 4m teu, both are a long way off challenging for a spot among the biggest players, given Singapore and Ningbo-Zhousan both handle some 22m teu a year and Shanghai handles 28.7m teu. “Sri Lanka’s leading port saw stronger transhipment demand as well as new capacity at its Colombo West International Terminal, which cut congestion and attracted additional volumes,” Alphaliner said. It pointed out: “Nhava Sheva also benefited from India’s strong export growth, and expansion through the Bharat Mumbai Container Terminal and Nhava Sheva Freeport.”

Singapore is seeking closer cooperation with Malaysia and Indonesia to improve regional response to containership fires. Cargo-related incidents aboard box ships have become an increasing concern for the maritime industry. The move was outlined at the 17th Cooperation Forum in Singapore yesterday, where the three countries discussed navigation safety and marine environmental protection in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. Singapore’s minister for transport, Jeffrey Siow (pictured), said when incidents happened, rapid coordination among relevant authorities was critical to saving lives, limiting environmental damage, and keeping vital shipping routes operational. He said: “In recent years, we have also observed more cargo fires on containerships. Despite our best efforts, marine accidents will occur……When they do, rapid and coordinated action can save lives, limit pollution, and keep the waterway open for others.” One of the most recent containership fires was in Singapore, on Evergreen-owned 9,226 teuEver Lenienton 10 April, while the vessel was docked at the Pasir Panjang Terminal. The crew and firefighters extinguished the flames. Nearly a quarter of global seaborne trade passes through the Straits of Singapore and Malacca. Against this backdrop, Singapore plans a trilateral procedure covering three key areas: the management and notification of maritime incidents; procedures for identifying containers that are lost overboard; and vessels that have sunk. Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore CEO Ang Wee Keong said more vessel movements, larger ships, and changing cargo profiles were making navigation in the straits more challenging. He said: “We must continue to anticipate new challenges and adapt our approac accordingly.” Allianz Commercial said in itsSafety and Shipping Review 2026, more than 200 vessel fire incidents were recorded in 2025, the second-highest annual total in the past decade. The insurer said misdeclared cargo comprised nearly 25% of cargo-related incidents, with batteries and chemicals among the most common causes of fires. Allianz also said that last year, lithium-ion battery cargo volumes were six times higher than five years earlier, and that demand was expected to double again by 2030.

Following US allegations that Singapore is part of a “shadow transhipment network” used by Chinese exporters to circumvent tariffs, its prime minister, Lawrence Wong (pictured), said it would be “unrealistic” to expect the city-state to determine the movement and origin of every consignment passing through its port. . At the National Day rally, Mr Wong hit back at the White House report naming Singapore among more than 40 countries allegedly involved in the “shadow”transhipment networksthat enable Chinese exporters to disguise the origin of goods and evade US trade measures. As the world’s largest transhipment hub, last year Singapore processed 44.66m teu of containers, of which 85% to 90% were transhipments and Mr Wong said Singapore enforced the rules and laws governing international trade. He said: “There are established rules of origin for international trade. You cannot just route goods through another country to disguise where they actually come from.” However, the scale and complexity of global supply chains made it impossible to trace and verify the provenance of every product moving through the port, he added. “We’re a major centre for re-exports and transhipment. Goods pass through Singapore from all over the world. We cannot possibly trace and verify the entire supply chain behind every product that passes through our shores.” He added that Singapore would investigate and take action where there was evidence of wrongdoing, but cautioned that there were limits to what the country could achieve independently. “We must also be realistic about what Singapore can do on our own.” The Trump administration has also turned its attention to forced labour in supply chains. Following the US Supreme Court’s February ruling that the so-called Liberation Day tariffs were unlawful, the White House re-imposed tariffs on the grounds of alleged failures to prevent imports of goods produced using forced labour. A US review of 60 trading partners found 54 economies had failed to impose, and effectively enforce, prohibitions on imports linked to forced labour, and last month, Washington announced a 12.5% tariff on a range of Singaporean goods, citing the state’s failure to prohibit imports produced with forced labour. Mr Wong said: “We all agree there should be no place for forced labour. This is a global problem. The better way to tackle it is through international cooperation and common standards – not tariffs. “But the US now expects countries to have domestic measures to stop imported goods made with forced labour. We will continue engaging the US and explaining our position.”

Indian importers sourcing goods from Asia continue to grapple with freight rate shocks. Indian manufacturers and retailers traditionally rely heavily on Chinese suppliers, so elevated shipping costs from the Strait of Hormuz supply chain choke point have resulted in a worrisome knock-on impact on their business dynamics. The latest data secured byThe Loadstarfrom market sources points to a sharp month-on-month spike in container booking rates from China to India this month. Spot rates from Shanghai to Nhava Sheva (JNPA), for example, have nearly doubled, currently hovering around $3,100 per teu and $3,300 per 40ft, up from $1,600 and $1,700, respectively, a month ago. Other load ports are also recording high double-digit rate increases. Ocean rates from China to Chennai in southern India have also climbed sharply, reaching around $2,900 per teu and $3,100 per 40ft, compared with $1,600 and $1,800 in July, an increase of roughly 60%, according to the data. Indian importers are also facing similar rate pressures on container bookings from other key Asian hub ports. Container lines are selling space ex-Singapore to JNPA at about $2,500 per teu and $2,600 per 40ft, up from $1,600 and $2,000 in July. Industry participants in India have voiced concerns over the import trade challenges. “The spike in China–India ocean rates is a clear sign that available capacity is getting tight – but the bigger concern [for shippers] remains predictability,” Pushpank Kaushik, CEO and head of business development for the region at Jassper Shipping, toldThe Loadstar. “For Indian companies importing goods and services from China, it’s the changing vessel availability, sailing schedules, and transit times that are impacting inventory planning and costs,” he added. Import demand in India typically gathers pace ahead of the local festival season in August/September, and this is adding further strain on already-stressed shipping capacity, sources believe. Shipping schedules on Asia-India trades are already under pressure as container lines respond to the volatile vessel operating environment. And several leading Asian hub ports, including Shanghai and Singapore, have been battling deteriorating berthing schedules and rising container dwell times due to congestion, according to reports. CMA CGM has notified Indian customers of multiple schedule disruptions on its Asian networks, which include theXin Tian Jinand theNavios Bahamason the China-Indian East Coast Express (IEX) service, omitting this month’s Singapore calls.

Diana and Genco battle ends, MSC returns to Red Sea, and Panama Canal cuts transit numbers August 21, 2026 A look back at the top stories on Seatrade Maritime News over the last week. The long running battle by Diana Shipping to take over Genco Shipping and Trading ended in nought. Diana pulled its unsolicited offer to acquire all the shares it did not own in Genco after months of accusing the latter of not engaging in negotiations. Both sides fired their final salvos for this stretch of the prolonged takeover battle, although Diana warned that as Genco’s largest shareholder, it is "not going away". Genco and Diana fire parting shots as Diana withdraws acquisition offer Red Sea transits by container lines are coming back quicker than expected with MSC quietly joining the fray with seven vessels in two weeks on eastbound voyages via the Suez Canal. “It sends a clear signal that the full resumption of Red Sea transits could come earlier than anticipated”, said consultant Linerlytica. With CMA CGM and Maersk having already made the switch for some full services more are expected to follow. Related:Hapag Lloyd’s Zim deal scrutinised by Brazilian anti-trust Race back to Suez gathers pace as MSC increases Red Sea sailings As the impact of El Nino starts to be felt on Panama Canal watershed levels the key waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans is cutting daily transit numbers. From 3 September the number of slots available in the Neo-Panamax locks will be capped at nine and the Panamax locks at 25 and reduced to 23 on 15 September. Overall this will reduce maximum daily transits from 38 to 32 vessels. Panama Canal cuts daily transit slots due to El Niño Marcus Hand Editor Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia. Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation. In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology. Marcus is the founder of theSeatrade Maritime Podcastthat delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics. Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars. Wind-Assisted Propulsion: Are we ready? at Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global 2024 IMPA 2024 SingaporeMaritime Procurement and Sustainability Panel, November 2024 Goodbye Globalization? Red Sea Impacts Reviewed,EGN Singapore (Executives' Global Network)webinar, February 2024 Offshore Marine Breakfast Forum atSea Asia 2023 Sustainable Finance, Shipping & Technology at Hong Kong Maritime Week 2022 Building & Operating Dual-Fuel Vessels, February 2022 Shipping’s Decarbonisation Challenge – The Role of Technology and Digitalisation at Hong Kong Maritime Week 2021 The Challenge Faced by Ship Registries in a Digital and Post-Pandemic Era, October 2020 The Future of Transhipment Hubs Post-Pandemic, November 2020 Offshore Marine Breakfast Forum at Sea Asia 2019 Marcus Hand regularly guests on mainstream media talking about maritime and shipping news stories. Below you'll find a list of selected appearances KBS World Radio -Korea24,May 2026 BBC News -Hindi Service,April 2026 RNZ -First Up, April 2026

The latest news and developments from Panama, one of the world’s most important shipping nations. The canal watershed has seen lower than expected rainfall and transit adjustments include auction slots August 21, 2026 ThePanama Canalis reducing the number of slots available daily for transits of the waterway that links the Atlantic and the Pacific as the impact of El Niño starts to bite. From 3 September the number of slots available in the Neo-Panamax locks will be capped at nine and the Panamax locks at 25. From 15 September the number of slots for the Panamax locks will be reduced to 23. Normally the maximum number of daily transits of the canal is around 38 in total so from 3 September this will be reduced to 34 and to 32 in total from 15 September. “Despite the arrival of the rainy season in Panama, and the water-saving measures implemented by the Panama Canal to mitigate the adverse effects of the El Niño event, current watershed conditions, including below-expected precipitation in the Canal watershed, require additional action to support the long-term sustainability of transit operations,” the Panama Canal Authority stated. Related:Panama Canal sees increase in transits as El Niño impact looms Daily auction slots are also be adjusted into four groups in a move that the ACP said is designed to balance the allocation of slots with the groups as follows: Group 1:LNG, LPG Group 2:Dry Bulk Carriers, General Cargo, Others Group 3:Container vessels, Vehicle Carriers / ro-ro, reefer Group 4:Chemical Tankers, Crude / Product Tankers The price paid for auctions slots has already surged to as high as $4 million for a single transit in recent months as demand for Panama Canal transits has been high due to supply chain disruptions in other parts of the world. The canal authority said that individual customer limits for transits do not apply for auction slots and the Neo-Panamax locks full container ships with the highest capacity will be given priority in the booking process. Customer ranking will be used in the event of a tied bid. The latest measures announced for the Panama Canal will put further stress on supply chains already impacted by conflict in the Middle East and port congestion in Europe. Read more about: Marcus Hand Editor Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia. Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation. In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology. Marcus is the founder of theSeatrade Maritime Podcastthat delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics. Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars. Wind-Assisted Propulsion: Are we ready? at Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global 2024 IMPA 2024 SingaporeMaritime Procurement and Sustainability Panel, November 2024 Goodbye Globalization? Red Sea Impacts Reviewed,EGN Singapore (Executives' Global Network)webinar, February 2024 Offshore Marine Breakfast Forum atSea Asia 2023 Sustainable Finance, Shipping & Technology at Hong Kong Maritime Week 2022 Building & Operating Dual-Fuel Vessels, February 2022 Shipping’s Decarbonisation Challenge – The Role of Technology and Digitalisation at Hong Kong Maritime Week 2021 The Challenge Faced by Ship Registries in a Digital and Post-Pandemic Era, October 2020 The Future of Transhipment Hubs Post-Pandemic, November 2020 Offshore Marine Breakfast Forum at Sea Asia 2019 Marcus Hand regularly guests on mainstream media talking about maritime and shipping news stories. Below you'll find a list of selected appearances KBS World Radio -Korea24,May 2026 BBC News -Hindi Service,April 2026 RNZ -First Up, April 2026

The White House is claiming more than 40 countries, including Singapore and Vietnam, have been complicit in transhipping Chinese-manufactured goods to evade tariffs. In a report,The Great Transhipment Scam, released on 11 August, the White House said: “The US faces a growing challenge from the illegal transhipment of goods through third countries to evade applicable tariffs and other trade remedies. “Exporters in higher-tariff jurisdictions can abuse differences in US tariff treatment across countries to route goods through lower-tariff jurisdictions before entering the American market. “Illegal transhipment may involve relabelling, repackaging, re-invoicing, minor processing, false country-of-origin claims, or other actions intended to secure tariff treatment that would not apply if the goods’ true economic origin were declared.” The administration claims that since 2018, between $40bn and $303bn in tariffs has been evaded as made-in-China goods were routed through a “shadow transhipment network” of countries like Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea, Japan, India, those in the EU, and its neighbours, Canada and Mexico. The White House said that since Section 301 tariffs in 2018, the US trade deficit with China fell in 2019 and 2020. It said: “After their [tariffs] imposition, Chinese exporters increasingly routed goods through third countries. “Products that previously moved directly from China to the US were shipped through jurisdictions where limited assembly, finishing, repackaging, relabelling, or documentation changes could create the appearance of a different national origin. Over time, these practices contributed to the development of a global network of production hubs, logistics platforms, free-trade zones, bonded warehouses, processing corridors, and re-export centres.” Singapore is the world’s largest container transhipment port, while Busan, Shanghai, and Port Klang also have substantial transhipped volumes. White House trade advisor Peter Navarro told media the White House was working with US Customs and Border Protection to develop an AI-enabled “detective border” to help assess whether a shipment involved transhipped goods. Meanwhile China, the EC and Singapore have refuted the US allegations. China’s embassy in Washington responded that the country was against unilateral tariffs and “suppressing Chinese businesses in the name of national security”. EC spokesperson Arianna Podesta was quoted byAFP: “We have been very clear and consistent on the fact that neither our rules framework nor our regulatory autonomy are up for negotiation.” Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry said it took trade compliance “seriously”, and pointed out that in June 2025, Singapore Customs sent a circular to all traders and declaring agents to stress the importance of accurate “country/region of origin” declarations.

A new platform from MACN takes data from over 70,000 corruption reports to provide automated pre-arrival port information to crew August 19, 2026 The Maritime Anti-Corruption Network (MACN) has transformed more than a decade’s worth of corruption reports into an operational database. With support from the Danish Maritime Fund MACN has taken data from over 70,000 reports made by vessel owners and managers to build the Global Port Integrity Platform (GPIP) covering 1,350 ports worldwide. The suite of tools is designed to shipping companies assess risk, prepare crews before arrival, and integrate corruption intelligence directly into operational workflows. According to MACN 75 organisations are already using the platform's dashboard tools, while over 350 shipping companies receive corruption risk information through its pre-arrival communication systems. "Shipping generates enormous amounts of operational data, but historically there has been very limited structured data available to help companies understand and manage corruption risks at the ports where they operate," said Cecilia Müller Torbrand, CEO of MACN. Related:Shipping’s talent shortage is partly self-inflicted "This initiative demonstrates how maritime data can be transformed into practical intelligence that supports better decisions, protects crews, and strengthens integrity across the industry." The platform automatically provides port specific information directly to crews ahead of arrival and further AI enabled applications are expected in future. "The API integration with MACN's corruption incidents database opens new possibilities for us. We're exploring how to transform this real maritime data into actionable intelligence that flows directly to our vessels. It demonstrates how data collaboration can drive meaningful innovation in our industry,” said Uriel Chareca, Head of Group Data & AI, Torm. Marcus Hand Editor Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia. Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation. In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology. Marcus is the founder of theSeatrade Maritime Podcastthat delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics. Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars. Wind-Assisted Propulsion: Are we ready? at Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global 2024 IMPA 2024 SingaporeMaritime Procurement and Sustainability Panel, November 2024 Goodbye Globalization? Red Sea Impacts Reviewed,EGN Singapore (Executives' Global Network)webinar, February 2024 Offshore Marine Breakfast Forum atSea Asia 2023 Sustainable Finance, Shipping & Technology at Hong Kong Maritime Week 2022 Building & Operating Dual-Fuel Vessels, February 2022 Shipping’s Decarbonisation Challenge – The Role of Technology and Digitalisation at Hong Kong Maritime Week 2021 The Challenge Faced by Ship Registries in a Digital and Post-Pandemic Era, October 2020 The Future of Transhipment Hubs Post-Pandemic, November 2020 Offshore Marine Breakfast Forum at Sea Asia 2019 Marcus Hand regularly guests on mainstream media talking about maritime and shipping news stories. Below you'll find a list of selected appearances KBS World Radio -Korea24,May 2026 BBC News -Hindi Service,April 2026 RNZ -First Up, April 2026

The Chinese – Korean joint venture backed MSC’s Gianluigi Aponte has made a huge play in the VLCC sector August 19, 2026 It is little surprise to see Sinokor top the list of secondhand tanker buyers so far this year with it’s aggressive move into the spotVLCCmarket. Sinokor has acquired 73 tankers this year at a total spend of $5.98 billion according to Veson Nautical’s VesselsValue. The shipowner has spent more than five times the next nearest buyer of tanker tonnage this year – Industrial Bank Financial Leasing – spending $1.51 billion on 12 vessels. Sinokor’s $5.98 billion spree is roughly equal to the next eight biggest tanker buyers. Third biggest buyer of secondhand tankers in financial terms wasAbu Dhabi National Oil Co. (ADNOC)which has made waves recently with a series of purchases at high prices. TheUAE-company has spent $987 million on eight vessels this year. It was noted by Veson Nautical that VLCC prices were already at levels not seen since 2008. Rounding out the top five are the Bank of Communications Financial Leasing spending $917.8 million also for eight vessels and Frontline splashing out $875.7 million for seven tankers. Related:Investor excitement at tanker company earnings Looking at the top 10 buyers Veson Nautical's Senior Content Analyst Rebecca Galanopoulos noted that four were Chinese financial leasing houses. “Industrial Bank, Bank of Communications, CMB, and BOC Financial Leasing accounted for over $2.85 billion, meaning a good share of this record activity reflects sale-leaseback structuring rather than straightforward ownership change.” Read more about: Marcus Hand Editor Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia. Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation. In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology. Marcus is the founder of theSeatrade Maritime Podcastthat delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics. Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars. Wind-Assisted Propulsion: Are we ready? at Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global 2024 IMPA 2024 SingaporeMaritime Procurement and Sustainability Panel, November 2024 Goodbye Globalization? Red Sea Impacts Reviewed,EGN Singapore (Executives' Global Network)webinar, February 2024 Offshore Marine Breakfast Forum atSea Asia 2023 Sustainable Finance, Shipping & Technology at Hong Kong Maritime Week 2022 Building & Operating Dual-Fuel Vessels, February 2022 Shipping’s Decarbonisation Challenge – The Role of Technology and Digitalisation at Hong Kong Maritime Week 2021 The Challenge Faced by Ship Registries in a Digital and Post-Pandemic Era, October 2020 The Future of Transhipment Hubs Post-Pandemic, November 2020 Offshore Marine Breakfast Forum at Sea Asia 2019 Marcus Hand regularly guests on mainstream media talking about maritime and shipping news stories. Below you'll find a list of selected appearances KBS World Radio -Korea24,May 2026 BBC News -Hindi Service,April 2026 RNZ -First Up, April 2026

The greenfield terminal will be developed by Port of New Orleans, MSC’s TiL, and Ports America August 18, 2026 TheUSArmy Corps of Engineers has granted the federal permit for the construction of Louisiana International Terminal a greenfield development located on the lower Mississippi River. The port development is a public/private partnership between thePort of New Orleans (NOLA),MSC’sTerminal Investment Ltd (TiL), and Ports America. "Today's permit turns years of engineering, environmental review, and partnership into forward motion," said Beth Branch, President and CEO of the Port of New Orleans. "This is not simply a regional port expansion — it is nationally significant infrastructure that will expand American export capacity and position Louisiana to lead the next generation of maritime commerce. We are ready to build.” Positioned outside of the Crescent City Connection Bridge the new terminal will be able to handle container ships in excess of 16,000 teu and compete for mainline calls into US ports. Related:Jebel Ali volumes plummet 90.1% in second quarter Ammar Kanaan, CEO of Terminal Investment Limited (TiL) described it as one of the most significant investments in its portfolio. "The Mississippi River corridor gives the United States a chance to build deepwater capacity that rivals any port in the world. We're proud to invest alongside Port NOLA and Ports America in a project that strengthens America's position in global trade for decades to come." No timeline for construction of the new terminal was given. Read more about: Marcus Hand Editor Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia. Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation. In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology. Marcus is the founder of theSeatrade Maritime Podcastthat delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics. Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars. Wind-Assisted Propulsion: Are we ready? at Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global 2024 IMPA 2024 SingaporeMaritime Procurement and Sustainability Panel, November 2024 Goodbye Globalization? Red Sea Impacts Reviewed,EGN Singapore (Executives' Global Network)webinar, February 2024 Offshore Marine Breakfast Forum atSea Asia 2023 Sustainable Finance, Shipping & Technology at Hong Kong Maritime Week 2022 Building & Operating Dual-Fuel Vessels, February 2022 Shipping’s Decarbonisation Challenge – The Role of Technology and Digitalisation at Hong Kong Maritime Week 2021 The Challenge Faced by Ship Registries in a Digital and Post-Pandemic Era, October 2020 The Future of Transhipment Hubs Post-Pandemic, November 2020 Offshore Marine Breakfast Forum at Sea Asia 2019 Marcus Hand regularly guests on mainstream media talking about maritime and shipping news stories. Below you'll find a list of selected appearances KBS World Radio -Korea24,May 2026 BBC News -Hindi Service,April 2026 RNZ -First Up, April 2026

The latest news and commentary on how the US/Israel-Iran conflict is affecting the global maritime industry and shipping markets. Tanker reportedly seized by Iranian forces for failing to follow the Northern route in the Strait of Hormuz August 18, 2026 Iran claims to have detained an Emirati tanker while crossing the Strait of Hormuz south of Qeshm Island, according to local media reports. Fars News Agency reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) detained the UAE-owned tanker for refusing to use its Northern route through the Strait and not paying service fees. The name and owner of the tanker involved were not identified. Fars said tankers seeking safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz “must follow a route designated by Iran, pay service fees and obtain Iranian authorization.” Reports of the seizure have not been independently verified, however, AIS tracking data shows a Liberian-flagged tankerAmarastopping south of Qeshm Island on an inbound crossing of the Strait and proceeding to sail slow in circles for over the next 12 hours. The vessel is broadcasting that it has an Indian owner and crew. According to Pole Star Global’s Purple Trac theAmara’sregistered owner is Marshall Islands company HSG Shipping, however technical management of the vessel lies with UAE-based Superfleet DMCC. The beneficial owner of the tanker is listed as unknown. Related:Frequency of vessel attacks in Hormuz increases The reported seizure follows strikes on three vessels from Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC) in the Strait on 13 and 14 August. Marcus Hand Editor Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia. Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation. In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology. Marcus is the founder of theSeatrade Maritime Podcastthat delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics. Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars. Wind-Assisted Propulsion: Are we ready? at Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global 2024 IMPA 2024 SingaporeMaritime Procurement and Sustainability Panel, November 2024 Goodbye Globalization? Red Sea Impacts Reviewed,EGN Singapore (Executives' Global Network)webinar, February 2024 Offshore Marine Breakfast Forum atSea Asia 2023 Sustainable Finance, Shipping & Technology at Hong Kong Maritime Week 2022 Building & Operating Dual-Fuel Vessels, February 2022 Shipping’s Decarbonisation Challenge – The Role of Technology and Digitalisation at Hong Kong Maritime Week 2021 The Challenge Faced by Ship Registries in a Digital and Post-Pandemic Era, October 2020 The Future of Transhipment Hubs Post-Pandemic, November 2020 Offshore Marine Breakfast Forum at Sea Asia 2019 Marcus Hand regularly guests on mainstream media talking about maritime and shipping news stories. Below you'll find a list of selected appearances KBS World Radio -Korea24,May 2026 BBC News -Hindi Service,April 2026 RNZ -First Up, April 2026

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), together with industry partners, has launched several new initiatives to enhance maritime safety. Announced at the opening of the 13th Singapore Safety@Sea Week, these initiatives will support shared learning, strengthen operational capabilities, and prepare the industry for the safe adoption of new technologies. 2. Speaking at the opening, Mr Murali Pillai, Senior Minister of State for Law and Transport, highlighted three priorities for strengthening maritime safety: harnessing technology responsibly, preparing early for emerging risks, and keeping people at the centre of safety. He also underscored the importance of strong partnerships across the maritime community in building a strong safety culture. 3. Organised by MPA from 17 to 21 August 2026, this year’s Safety@Sea Week is themed “All Hands on Deck – Safety First!” About 1,500 participants from across the maritime community are expected to take part in 18 events organised by MPA and its partners. These include the Safety@Sea Symposium, featuring seven speakers across two panel sessions, and three workshops on ammonia bunkering, methanol bunkering, and crew safety awareness. Please visit https://www.safetyatseaweek.gov.sg/ for programme details. Encouraging Open Reporting and Shared Learning 4. At the opening of Safety@Sea Week, the National Maritime Safety at Sea Council and the Singapore Shipping Association launched the Singapore Near Miss Reporting System to encourage the reporting and sharing of lessons from near miss incidents. 5. Modelled on the internationally recognised Confidential Human Factors Incident Reporting Programme (CHIRP)[1], the system provides sea space users with a confidential online channel to report near misses. CHIRP will independently receive the submissions and provide anonymised information to the Council, which will distil key safety lessons for sharing with the wider maritime community. Strengthening Situational Awareness 6. MPA also announced the operationalisation of the Integrated Port Operations Command, Control and Communications (IPOC) system, developed with the Defence Science and Technology Agency and ST Engineering. 7. IPOC strengthens MPA’s ability to manage increasingly complex operations and incidents in Singapore’s busy port waters, by bringing together live data from multiple sources to provide MPA officers with a real-time view of port operations and activities. The new map-based tools allow these officers to coordinate operations, share information and identify potential risks, supporting faster and more informed decisions and deployment of resources. Supporting Safe Autonomous Operations 8. Safety@Sea Week also saw the announcement of a MOU between MPA and Ocean Infinity[2] to test, evaluate and validate trials for autonomous and remote marine operations in Singapore port waters. 9. Ocean Infinity will share operational insights and practical lessons from its experience in autonomous and remote maritime operations. MPA will contribute its expertise to guide the design and conduct of trials, and assess the safety and operational considerations arising from them. Both parties will also support capability development, operational experimentation and research partnerships. 10. The trials will provide further operational insights into autonomous vessels and Remote Operations Centres, and inform how such technologies can be safely introduced in Singapore port waters in the future. Recognising Industry Contributions to Maritime Safety 11. Safety@Sea Week also recognises the role of the maritime community in keeping people safe at sea. MPA Chief Executive Mr Ang Wee Keong presented the MPA Safety@Sea Awards to nine companies for their outstanding contributions to search and rescue efforts in 2025. 12. Letters of Commendation were presented to four companies for rendering assistance to those in distress at sea. Details of the recipients are in the Annex. <End of Release> [1] The Confidential Human Factors Incident Reporting Programme (CHIRP) is an independent UK-based charity founded in 1982 that operates a world-renowned safety reporting system for the maritime and aviation sectors. Its primary focus is to ensure that individuals involved in aviation and maritime can share safety concerns and report close-call incidents and lessons learned through CHIRP’s confidential reporting service without fear of being identified or harming their careers. [2] Ocean Infinity is a marine technology company specialising in robotics and large-scale subsea data acquisition. It develops and operates robotic systems, including its Armada fleet, autonomous underwater vehicles and onshore operations centres, enabling safer and more efficient marine operations.