Antarctica’s Cruise Boom Sparks Alarm After Deadly Hantavirus Outbreak
Cruise ship MV Hondius docks off Cape Verde port, as passengers were not allowed off the ship, while health authorities investigated suspected cases of hantavirus aboard the vessel, in Praia Port, Cape Verde, in this screengrab obtained from a video, May 4, 2026. REUTERS TV via REUTERS
Antarctica’s Cruise Boom Sparks Alarm After Deadly Hantavirus Outbreak
Reuters
Total Views: 0
May 8, 2026
BRUSSELS, May 8 (Reuters) – Tourism in the Antarctic Peninsula is a niche but booming industry powered by deep-pocketed adventure-seekers traveling thousands of miles to marvel at penguin colonies and take “polar plunges” in sight of icebergs.
But growing numbers of visitors bring risks including disease, invasive species and pollution to the delicate ecosystems of Antarctica and the remote sub-Antarctic islands that teem with bird life, sea lions and whales.
The outbreak of a deadly strain of the
hantavirus
on a Dutch-flagged cruise ship that sailed from the southern tip of Argentina across the sout
Greek Shipping Financing Grew by 11.5% in 2025, Now Standing at Almost $60 Billion, Petrofin Research Shows
Greek Shipping Financing Grew by 11.5% in 2025, Now Standing at Almost $60 Billion, Petrofin Research Shows
in
Hellenic Shipping News
09/05/2026
B
ank ship finance for Greek shipping recorded a very impressive leap upwards from 5% in 2024 to 11.5%, bringing the overall Greek loans (both drawn and committed but undrawn) booked both in Greece and worldwide to a total of $59,687.69m as of end 2025. This was the second consecutive year of growth, from $53,510.88m in 2024.
The Petrofin Index for Greek Ship finance, which commenced at 100 in 2001 and peaked at 443 in 2008, increased to 361, from 324 in 2024. It should be noted that the Petrofin Index relates to bank related finance only.
Dry Bulk Shipping: Australian Coal Exports On the Rise, but China’s Share Diminishing
Dry Bulk Shipping: Australian Coal Exports On the Rise, but China’s Share Diminishing
in
Dry Bulk Market
,
Hellenic Shipping News
09/05/2026
S
eaborne coal cargoes from Australia are finding new destinations, as China’s share during the first quarter of 2026 has shrunk. In its latest weekly report, shipbroker Banchero Costa said that “in Jan-Mar 2026, global seaborne coal loadings declined by -1.7% y-o-y to 303.9 mln t (excluding cabotage), based on vessel tracking data from AXS Marine. In Jan-Mar 2026, exports from Indonesia declined by -5.8% y-o-y to 109.9 mln tonnes, whilst from Australia were up by +1.6% y-o-y to 78.0 mln t.
Dry Bulk Shipping: Capesize Market Showing Strenght
Dry Bulk Shipping: Capesize Market Showing Strenght
in
Dry Bulk Market
,
International Shipping News
11/05/2026
C
apesize
The market strengthened convincingly over the course of the week, with momentum building steadily from an already active start in the Pacific following the UK bank holiday. Early support came primarily from robust Pacific activity, where the consistent presence of all three major miners on C5, coupled with a healthy flow of East Australian coal tender cargoes, drove rates progressively higher and underpinned increasingly bullish sentiment. This strength gradually filtered into the Atlantic basin, where activity and confidence improved as the week progressed.
Intra-Asia Container Index Rose for Yet Another Week
Intra-Asia Container Index Rose for Yet Another Week
in
International Shipping News
11/05/2026
Drewry’s Intra-Asia Container Index (IACI), strengthened for the fourth consecutive week to reach $925 per 40ft container.
Drewry’s Intra-Asia Container Index (IACI), a weighted average of weekly spot rates across 18 major trade routes within Asia, strengthened for the fourth consecutive week to reach $925 per 40ft container. On the one hand, rates for Shanghai–Jebel Ali softened somewhat, which may indicate that the market has found its equilibrium amid the conflict, while on the other, rates from Shanghai to North, South and Southeast Asia have been rising, indicating space on these markets remains tight.
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.
China’s shipping industry propels shift toward intelligence
China’s shipping industry propels shift toward intelligence
in
International Shipping News
11/05/2026
Scenes once only seen in science fiction — ships plotting routes autonomously, identifying obstacles in real time, and docking at ports with fully automated cranes — are quickly becoming the new normal in China’s maritime industry.
Driven by a surge in artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, the world’s largest shipping nation is actively pivoting toward “smart shipping,” which experts say is essential for developing “new quality productive forces” and securing supply chains.
“Smart shipping is a water transport system focused on vessel autonomy, supported by digital infrastructure and guaranteed by collaborative operational control,” said Geng Xiongfei, an expert from the country’s Ministry of Transport (MOT). He noted that developing this sector is essential for improving safety, efficiency, and environmental sustainability.
The stakes are high. China currently boasts the world’s
MMI Daily Iron Ore Index Report May 11 2026
MMI Daily Iron Ore Index Report May 11 2026
in
Chinese iron ore and steelmaking prices
11/05/2026
On May 8, 2026, iron ore futures experienced oscillating movements in the morning session before edging lower in the afternoon.
The main contract I2609 closed at 814.5 yuan/ton, down 0.06% from the previous trading session. Port spot prices remained largely flat compared to the day before. Traders showed limited enthusiasm for quoting, while most steel mills adopted a wait-and-see approach, with purchases driven mainly by immediate needs.
Russia-linked LNG Carrier ‘Merkuriy’ Loads at Arctic Hub, Expanding Shadow Fleet Capacity
(Source: Rosmorport)
Russia-linked LNG Carrier ‘Merkuriy’ Loads at Arctic Hub, Expanding Shadow Fleet Capacity
Malte Humpert
Total Views: 0
May 11, 2026
The LNG carrier
Merkuriy
, recently reflagged to Russia alongside three other tankers, has been observed loading liquefied natural gas at the
Saam
floating storage unit (FSU), satellite imagery and automatic identification system (AIS) data show. The vessels are serving the sanctioned Arctic LNG 2 project.
Merkuriy
is one of four LNG carriers – alongside
Kosmos
,
Luch
and
Orion
– that were previously part of Oman’s Asyad Shipping fleet and sold en bloc earlier this year for roughly $110 million, according to company disclosures and shipbroking sources.
All four vessels have since been reflagged to Russia
, according to maritime tracking data and industry reporting.
Initial uncertainty over their new role has now given way to mounting evidence that the ships are being integrated into the logistics chain supporting Arctic LNG 2, a sancti
LNG Shipping Market in Quiet Mode, as LPGs on the Rise
LNG Shipping Market in Quiet Mode, as LPGs on the Rise
in
International Shipping News
11/05/2026
The LNG spot market experienced a quiet week, with rates easing modestly across all major routes amid subdued fixing activity. While underlying vessel availability remains relatively tight, the lack of fresh cargo demand kept downward pressure on earnings across both basins.
On the BLNG1 Australia–Japan route, 174,000 cbm vessels declined by $3,400 week-on-week to settle at $67,100/day. The Pacific market remained muted, with minimal activity and little momentum to support rates.
The BLNG2 US Gulf–Continent route edged lower, with earnings slipping $1,000 to $94,500/day.
Bidding Announcement of PSV “Bourbon Liberty 154” with her Bareboat Charter
Bidding Announcement of PSV “Bourbon Liberty 154” with her Bareboat Charter
in
International Shipping News
11/05/2026
Entrusted by the Seller, our company (the “Bidding Company “) is scheduled to conduct an online public auction on the Shipbid website (www.shipbid.net) from 16:00 to 16:30 on June 9th, 2026 (“Auction Day”), which is hereby announced as follows:
1. Auction Target:
This Auction is for the Bourbon Liberty 154 with her Bareboat Charter, particulars as follows:
Vessel Name: Bourbon Liberty 154 (hereinafter referred to as the “Vessel”);
IMO Number: 9630119;
Vessel Type: PSV(Platform Supply Vessel);
Primary Flag Registration: St. Vincent and the Grenadines;
Classification Society: ABS;
Trading Area: Unrestricted;
Class Notation: ※A1, Fire Fighting Vessel Class 1, Offshore Support Vessel, Oil Recovery Vessel Class 2, ?, ※AMS, ※ACCU, ※DPS-2, CRC, CRC(I), ENVIRO, GP
LOA/MLB/MLD: 61.8m x 14.00m x 5.80m;
GRT/NRT: 1764/548;
Deadweight: 1703t;
Summer Draft: 4.9m;
Azimuth Propeller: S