U.S. Navy intercepts Iran-linked vessel in Arabian Sea, orders return to Iran
Navy intercepts Iran-linked vessel in Arabian Sea, orders return to Iran
in
International Shipping News
27/04/2026
U.S. naval forces intercepted a sanctioned vessel called ’Sevan’ in the Arabian Sea on Saturday, in a move tied to the Trump administration’s campaign to block Iranian energy exports, U.S. The vessel was halted by a helicopter deployed from the guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney (DDG 91), and is now complying with orders to reverse course toward Iran under escort.
“M/V Sevan was among 19 “shadow fleet” vessels sanctioned by the U.S.
Tanker Market Stabilizing After Recent Turbulence
Tanker Market Stabilizing After Recent Turbulence
in
International Shipping News
27/04/2026
Clean
LR2
The TC1 75kt MEG/Japan index held in the mid to high WS120’s this week. A voyage west also saw the TC20 90kt MEG/UK-Continent index climb to $10.78 million (+$250,000). The TC15 80kt Mediterranean/East index dropped by $250,000 to $11.15 million this week, with the corresponding TCE down to $110,700/day on Baltic description round trip.
LR1
The TC5 55kt MEG/Japan index has been assessed up another 10 points this week to WS656.
A run west on TC8 65kt MEG/UK-Continent ended the week with the index $492,000 higher to $8.37 million.
MR
The TC17 35kt MEG/East Africa index firmed 28 points to WS728 this week, which would generate $92,000/day on Baltic description round trip TCE.
On the UK-Continent, MR freight levels weakened modestly this week.
No safe transit through Strait of Hormuz: IMO Secretary-General
No safe transit through Strait of Hormuz: IMO Secretary-General
in
International Shipping News
27/04/2026
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has called on all Member States to support efforts to address the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, where around 20,000 seafarers remain trapped and unable to leave.
In an informal briefing to Member States and industry representatives, Secretary-General Dominguez confirmed that several vessels had been seized and detained in the region over the past few days.
He urged maximum caution, considering potential mines present throughout the Strait and threat of further attacks on ships.
“My call is to release the seafarers because they are not at fault,” he said. “The situation is not improving. I reiterate: there is no safe transit anywhere in the Strait of Hormuz.”
He highlighted that 29 attacks on vessels in the Persian Gulf and around the Strait of Hormuz had been verified by IMO since the beginning of the conflict, resulting in the death of
Transit or no transit – that’s the question
Transit or no transit – that’s the question
in
International Shipping News
27/04/2026
S
ince 13 April, the challenge for vessels to enter or leave the Middle East Gulf has been complicated significantly. While in the first 1.5 months of the conflict the full focus was on the Strait of Hormuz, the targeted US blockade on Iranian or Iran-related vessels is geographically much less specific.
Accordingly, we have to differentiate two distinct and operationally independent blockades:
• Iranian de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz enforced by the IRGC since 28 February,
• A US naval blockade of Iranian ports initiated by CENTCOM on 13 April, which is not necessarily implemented close to Iranian ports nor within the Strait of Hormuz, but flexibly around an area about 300miles to the West between the Pakistani/Iranian border and the most eastern “corner” of Oman.
These two instruments target different actors, operate under different legal frameworks, and have different geographic reach. An
Xeneta Weekly Ocean Container Shipping Market Update: Rates Softening
Xeneta Weekly Ocean Container Shipping Market Update: Rates Softening
in
International Shipping News
27/04/2026
The softening of container shipping rates on the European trades should not be read as a sign that the market is returning to normal. The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to container shipping,
Xeneta analyst insight
Peter Sand, Xeneta Chief Analyst
“Conflict in the Middle East forced carriers to build entirely new service networks with little to no warning, including rerouting via land bridges such as Jeddah and alternative ports on the Indian Ocean coastline. On the European ocean container shipping trades, these new routing patterns are now established and carriers have reorganised capacity, meaning freight rates are easing from the spike in the immediate aftermath of conflict.
“Compared to one month ago, average spot rates from Far East are down −6% to North Europe and -13% to Mediterranean.
“The softening on the European trades should not be read as a sign tha
Drewry: Intra-Asia Container Index Gained 2%
Drewry: Intra-Asia Container Index Gained 2%
in
International Shipping News
27/04/2026
Drewry’s Intra-Asia Container Index (IACI) continued strengthening on the back of the US-Israel conflict with Iran, gaining 2% to reach $890 per 40ft container.
Intra-Asia Container Index assessment for 24 Apr 2026
• Drewry’s Intra-Asia Container Index (IACI), a weighted average of weekly spot rates across 18 major trade routes within Asia, continued strengthening on the back of the US-Israel conflict with Iran, gaining 2% to reach $890 per 40ft container. The rates are currently 26% higher than last year.
About Intra-Asia Container Index
Drewry’s Intra-Asia Container Index (IACI) reports actual spot container freight rates for major intra-Asia trade routes. The Index, which will be updated weekly (from 02 Jan 26), consists of 18 route-specific indices representing individual shipping routes and a composite index.
Economic Fury Targets Global Network Fueling Iran’s Oil Trade and Shadow Fleet
Economic Fury Targets Global Network Fueling Iran’s Oil Trade and Shadow Fleet
in
International Shipping News
27/04/2026
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned China-based independent teapot refinery Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery Co., Ltd. China-based independent teapot refineries continue to play a vital role in sustaining Iran’s oil economy, and Hengli is one of Iran’s largest customers for crude oil and other petroleum products, having purchased billions of dollars’ worth of Iranian petroleum.
Iran War Leaves Seafarers Stranded In The Gulf
A sailor observes the oil tanker HELGA, which is moored at one of Iraq’s southern offshore oil terminals near Basra, as it prepares to load crude oil, becoming the second vessel to arrive since the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, April 24, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Mohammed Aty
Iran War Leaves Seafarers Stranded In The Gulf
Reuters
Total Views: 0
April 25, 2026
By Saurabh Sharma
NEW DELHI, April 24 (Reuters) – Ankit Yadav, a seafarer from India, has been stuck on a boat at an inland Iranian port for about 2-1/2 weeks, surviving with his three fellow mariners on limited rations of tomatoes and potatoes.
He is one among thousands of seafarers from India and other nations who are
stranded in and around the Strait of Hormuz,
as the war in Iran disrupts trade along one of the world’s busiest ship routes.
Ankit, who is in his early 30s, was on a small vessel carrying steel and plying between Iran, Kuwait and Oman.
US Says Navy Intercepted Iran-Linked Vessel in Arabian Sea
Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter flies over U.S. Mine Countermeasures Exercise (MCMEX) taking place at the Arabian Sea, September 10, 2018. REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
US Says Navy Intercepted Iran-Linked Vessel in Arabian Sea
Bloomberg
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April 25, 2026
By Sam Kim and Tony Czuczka
Apr 25, 2026 (Bloomberg) –US naval forces intercepted a
sanctioned vessel
in the Arabian Sea on Saturday as part of the Trump administration’s blockade of Iranian energy exports, according to US Central Command.
The M/V Sevan was among 19 “shadow fleet” vessels sanctioned by the US Treasury Department on Friday for its links to “transporting billions of dollars worth of Iranian energy, oil and gas products, including propane and butane, to foreign markets,” Central Command said in a statement.
Yesterday, M/V Sevan was among 19 “shadow fleet” vessels sanctioned by the U.S.
Strait of Hormuz Remains Near-Empty With Just A Few Iran Ships Moving
The Epaminondas ship is seen during seizure by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the Strait of Hormuz, Iran, in this image obtained by Reuters on April 24, 2026. Meysam Mirzadeh/Tasnim/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
Strait of Hormuz Remains Near-Empty With Just A Few Iran Ships Moving
Bloomberg
Total Views: 0
April 25, 2026
By Prejula Prem and Julian Lee
Apr 25, 2026 (Bloomberg) –The
Strait of Hormuz
remains largely empty of merchant ships, with only a few Tehran-linked vessels moving through the waterway, following a tense week that saw Iranian gunboat attacks and tanker interceptions by the US Navy.
As of Saturday morning, observable traffic was down to only two very small fuel carriers and one tiny coastal cargo ship, all with ties to Tehran, leaving the Persian Gulf through the crucial waterway, vessel-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg show. No ships were observed on their way in.
While Iran continues to fill supertankers with millions of barrels, the US N