Product Tanker Market Adapting to The New Market Realities
Product Tanker Market Adapting to The New Market Realities
in
Hellenic Shipping News
27/04/2026
T
he product tanker market has been adapting to the new market reality that has been shaping after the war in Iran. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Gibson said that “the conflict in Iran concludes its eighth week and tanker markets are adapting to the new reality. In the East, clean exports are so far this month averaging the lowest levels in over a decade, in large part due to nearly inexistent exports from the Middle East Gulf (MEG), but also due to a lack of feedstock, especially for Asian refiners, alongside protectionist policies barring exports from some countries.
US-Iran Peace Hopes Fade As Trump Scraps Talks
The MSC Francesca ship is seen during seizure by the 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
US-Iran Peace Hopes Fade As Trump Scraps Talks
Reuters
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April 26, 2026
By Saad Sayeed, Ariba Shahid and Steve Holland
ISLAMABAD/WASHINGTON, April 26 (Reuters) – Hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran faded on Sunday, as efforts to revive talks stalled and both Tehran and Washington showed little sign of softening their positions.
While Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi continued to shuttle between mediating countries over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump scrapped a visit to Islamabad by his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
U.S.
EU assumes primary funding burden as conflict in Ukraine intensifies
EU assumes primary funding burden as conflict in Ukraine intensifies
in
World Economy News
26/04/2026
The conflict against Russia has shifted firmly onto Europe’s shoulders, as the European Union this week finalized a landmark €90 billion ($105 billion) loan package to sustain Kyiv’s operations through the end of next year.
The move marks a critical evolution in the war’s financing, occurring as the Trump administration narrows its focus toward the Middle East and retreats from its traditional role as Ukraine’s primary backer.
Europe’s funding package provides a vital lifeline, but officials in Brussels warn that the reality of the war’s financial demands may far outpace their current commitments.
Infrastructure constraints and geopolitical friction
The decision, cleared following the recent electoral defeat of Hungarian leadership, represents a rare display of resolve within the bloc. However, Ukraine continues to face a widening fiscal cliff, with diplomats estimating an additional €
U.S. military strikes vessel in Eastern Pacific as controversy over tactics grows
military strikes vessel in Eastern Pacific as controversy over tactics grows
in
International Shipping News
26/04/2026
The U.S. Southern Command confirmed on Friday that its forces conducted a strike on a vessel in the Eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of two individuals. Washington described the targets as “male narco-terrorists” engaged in illicit trafficking operations along established maritime routes.
The incident marks the latest in a series of deadly strikes carried out under the Trump administration’s campaign to disrupt narcotics smuggling, with the U.S.
Public Auction Announcement Of Vessel In The Electronic Sale Portal
Public Auction Announcement Of Vessel In The Electronic Sale Portal
in
International Shipping News
26/04/2026
The type, nature, location, value and significant characteristics of the vessel decided to be sold are as follows:
Vessel named DON CANDIDO, IMO No. Vessel Particulars:
The vessel subject to sale is wholly owned by the debtor.
• Technical Particulars of the Vessel “M/F DON CANDIDO”:
– Vessel Name: DON CANDIDO
– IMO Number: 7901734
– MMSI: 341017000
– Flag: EQUATORIAL GUINEA
– Call Sign : 9LU2015
– Type of Vessel: RO-RO Passenger Vessel
– Year of Build: 1980
– Length Overall : 99.52 m
– Breadth : 17.63 m
– Depth : 10.50 m
– Gross Tonnage : 5,287 Tons
– DWT : 1,188 Tons
– Main Engine : 2 units, Deutz BRAND / RBV 12 M 350 MODEL / 4,400 BHP / 430 RPM
– Registered Owner: VITEOCA GESL
– Ship Manager: SAVMAR SOLUTIONS INC
– Class : BUREAU VERITAS (IACS)
• Factors Affecting the Value of the Vessel:
– The above-mentioned characteristics of the vessel.
– The quality and condition of t
Trump’s Hormuz Blockade Has Deepened A Historic Shipping Crisis
Drone view of oil tanker HELGA berthed 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. REUTERS/Mohammed Aty
Trump’s Hormuz Blockade Has Deepened A Historic Shipping Crisis
Bloomberg
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April 26, 2026
By Weilun Soon
Apr 26, 2026 (Bloomberg) –In early April — after a month of disruption around one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints — US President Donald Trump wrote that with “a little ?more time, we can easily OPEN THE ?HORMUZ STRAIT, TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A ?FORTUNE.”
Three weeks on, transiting through the Strait of Hormuz has instead become virtually impossible for the first time in history. Trump has imposed a US blockade of
Iran-linked ships
, Tehran is using its “mosquito fleet” of gunboats to
close down the waterway
in response — and shipowners say a return to normal shipments is months away, at best.
Read Also:
The H
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