U.S. says Hormuz blockade ‘fully implemented,’ while signaling diplomatic off-ramp for Iran
says Hormuz blockade ‘fully implemented,’ while signaling diplomatic off-ramp for Iran
in
International Shipping News
15/04/2026
The U.S. blockade of Iranian ports is now fully into effect, “completely” cutting off Tehran’s international sea trade that powers about 90% of its economy, the U.S. Central Command said late Tuesday stateside.
The announcement comes at a time when the White House has been signaling a diplomatic solution to the conflict in the Middle East, as discussions around continuing negotiations with Tehran are underway.
“A blockade of Iranian ports has been fully implemented as U.S.
China Moves to Block Entrance to Disputed South China Sea Shoal, Images Show
A satellite image of fishing vessels at the entrance, which is blocked by a floating barrier, to the disputed Scarborough Shoal, in the South China Sea, April 11, 2026. Vantor/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MUST NOT OBSCURE LOGO.
China Moves to Block Entrance to Disputed South China Sea Shoal, Images Show
Reuters
Total Views: 0
April 15, 2026
By Greg Torode and Karen Lema
HONG KONG/MANILA, April 15 (Reuters) – China is employing ships and a barrier to tighten control of the entrance to the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea amid roiling tension with the Philippines over the disputed feature, satellite imagery obtained by Reuters shows.
Scarborough is one of Asia’s most hotly disputed maritime sites, where some diplomats and analysts fear
long-running
frictions and confrontations could degenerate into armed conflict.
The presence of four fishing boats, a Chinese naval or coast guard ship and a new floating barrier comes as the Philippines sends
OneCare Group responds to Strait of Hormuz crisis, strengthening support for stranded seafarers
OneCare Group responds to Strait of Hormuz crisis, strengthening support for stranded seafarers
in
International Shipping News
16/04/2026
Leading health and wellbeing provider OneCare Group is working closely with shipping companies to support seafarers impacted by the escalating war situation in the Strait of Hormuz, where maritime transit has been severely disrupted amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
The continued disruption, driven by heightened regional tensions and security threats, has created a prolonged period of uncertainty for crews operating in one of the world’s most strategically critical maritime corridors. With vessels being effectively immobilised since February, seafarers have been facing extended tours of duty, restricted movement, and growing concerns over both their personal safety and the wellbeing of their families back home. Despite a fragile ceasefire and ongoing international efforts to stabilise the region, conditions for commercial shipping remain highly unc
OceanScore Pool-Price Index Market Commentary: April 2026
OceanScore Pool-Price Index Market Commentary: April 2026
in
International Shipping News
,
Monthly OceanScore Pool-Price Index
16/04/2026
The OceanScore Pool-Price Index (OPX) for Compliance Balance 2025 continued its downward trend in April, reaching €196 per ton of CO
₂
e, marking a multi-month low.
This development occurs in the final month in which 2025 surplus can be used for compliance, ahead of the pooling deadline on April 30, 2026.
Continued Surplus Oversupply
Current market conditions are characterised by a significant oversupply of compliance surplus.
Available volumes in the market remain high, and it is increasingly evident that not all surplus will be absorbed within the current compliance period.
Banking into Future Compliance Years
Given current conditions, substantial volumes of surplus are expected to be banked into the 2026 compliance year and beyond.
This is likely to further increase available supply in future periods and reinforce downward pressure on pricing.
Imp
Strait of Hormuz traffic dips as US enacts blockade
Strait of Hormuz traffic dips as US enacts blockade
in
International Shipping News
16/04/2026
A dozen vessels transited the contested Strait of Hormuz April 13, a drop of seven transits from the day before, as the US blockade of Iran’s ports came into effect, according to an April 14 report from S&P Global’s Commodities At Sea.
Most of those ships clung to the confines of Iranian territorial waters, the report said, after Iran advised vessels to use a specific pathway inside its territorial waters because anti-ship mines were present.
Six oil and chemical tankers transited the strait on April 13, four of which are sanctioned by the US, CAS data showed.
Windward analyst Ami Daniel wrote in a LinkedIn post that a US-sanctioned Handysize tanker, after initially reversing course, eventually left the Strait of Hormuz in what he said was “first indication” of Iranian output moving out of the Gulf after the announcement of the US blockade.
Eight ships left the Strait of Hormuz April 13, while
Rupee depreciation fuels incremental gains in India’s dry bulk export volumes
Rupee depreciation fuels incremental gains in India’s dry bulk export volumes
in
Dry Bulk Market
,
International Shipping News
16/04/2026
I
ndia’s dry bulk exports, although modest in global terms, increased noticeably through 2025–26 alongside the depreciation of the Indian rupee. The trend broadly aligned with classical economic theory, although the response varied across commodities and regions. For dry bulk shipping, this translated into incremental cargo availability, particularly on regional trade routes.
A standard starting point in international economics is the Marshall–Lerner condition: the depreciation of a country’s currency tends to improve its trade balance if export demand is sufficiently price elastic.
Bureau Veritas releases new report on EU rules impact to shipowners
Bureau Veritas releases new report on EU rules impact to shipowners
in
International Shipping News
16/04/2026
Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore (BV), a global leader in Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC), has released a policy report which details the impact that the integration of the RED III Directive will have on the maritime industry as Member States continue in their efforts to transpose its provisions into national legislation.
Following significant revisions to the RED in 2023, as part of the EU’s “Fit for 55” package, Member States are required to integrate RED III objectives into national law in order to achieve the binding renewable energy targets outlined in the directive. These targets require the entire transport sector, including the maritime industry, to evidence a 29% renewable energy share by 2030, or a GHG intensity reduction of 14.5% by 2030.
Julien Boulland, Sustainability Strategy Leader at Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore
The directive sets an obligation f
First-ever global study reveals wind propulsion can cut fleet-wide emissions today but only with stronger policy action
First-ever global study reveals wind propulsion can cut fleet-wide emissions today but only with stronger policy action
in
International Shipping News
,
Shipping: Emission Possible
16/04/2026
A
landmark study commissioned by Seas At Risk, drawing on 1.74 billion kilometres of real voyage data, the equivalent distance from the Earth to Saturn, finds that wind propulsion could reduce fleet-wide fuel use by 6.3–9.4% with even greater potential when combined with other measures. By 2050, it could deliver up to 762 million tonnes of cumulative CO₂ savings. The gap is policy.
Until now, no study has assessed the decarbonisation potential of wind propulsion across the entire maritime fleet.
Ship Recycling Demand Picking Up
Ship Recycling Demand Picking Up
in
Hellenic Shipping News
16/04/2026
T
he ship recycling market has picked up pace over the past week. In its latest weekly report, Best Oasis (
www.best-oasis.com
), a leading cash buyer of ships, said that in India, “Indian recyclers remain keen to acquire fresh tonnage, with currency movements offering some support to buyers, while softer steel prices continue to weigh on sentiment. Breakers are still showing interest, though bidding levels are not strong enough to match those currently being offered by their counterparts in Bangladesh.
India’s coal demand is rising, but high inventories are delaying imports, setting up a potential step-change in seaborne demand
India’s coal demand is rising, but high inventories are delaying imports, setting up a potential step-change in seaborne demand
in
Dry Bulk Market
,
International Shipping News
16/04/2026
India’s coal market shows signs of a demand–import lag, with recent flow data indicating the early stages of a potential shift. After several months of relatively soft seaborne volumes, import flows appear to have strengthened into March 2026, suggesting that the period of subdued buying may be ending and that inventory buffers could begin to draw down.
The underlying demand pressure is increasingly evident. Seasonal heat is driving an early rise in electricity consumption, while disruptions in global gas markets linked to heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have constrained the availability and affordability of imported LNG.