Stomach Bugs, Not Hantavirus, Are A Bigger Threat On Cruises
Cruise ship Ambition, operated by the Ambassador Cruise Line, is docked at the Port of Bordeaux after local authorities said passengers could not disembark following an outbreak of possible gastroenteritis reported on board, in Bordeaux, France, May 13, 2026. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe
Stomach Bugs, Not Hantavirus, Are A Bigger Threat On Cruises
Bloomberg
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May 17, 2026
By Annika Inampudi and Ignacio Gonzalez
May 17, 2026 (Bloomberg) –Stomach bugs on cruise ships recently hit a nearly two-decade high as more people than ever board the vessels, underscoring how easily viruses spread on contained voyages.
While cruises are in a global spotlight after a rare
hantavirus outbreak
killed three people on an ocean liner since April, mild gastrointestinal illnesses are far more common on ships. They have risen for the last four years to the highest since 2007, according to data from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s
Vessel Sanitation Program.
Canada and Norway Launch a Cross-Atlantic Alliance for Marine and Clean Technologies
Canada and Norway Launch a Cross-Atlantic Alliance for Marine and Clean Technologies
Posted to
Maritime Reporter
(by
AKA Energy Systems
)
on
May 17, 2026
AKA Energy Systems on their 30th Anniversary and Sustainable Energy Katapult Centre establish a shared platform to attract, develop, and validate marine and clean technologies in both nations.
MONTAGUE, PEI
– Canada and Norway share deep ties as NATO allies, maritime nations, and leaders in clean energy transition. Today, that partnership takes a concrete and commercial form. AKA Energy Systems (AKA), based in Prince Edward Island, and the Sustainable Energy Katapult Centre (SE), based in Stord, Norway, have established a formal cross-Atlantic collaboration – not merely between two companies, but between two national ecosystems for marine and clean technology development.
AKA Energy Systems have incorporated “Sustainable Energy Canada” as the shared brand and vehicle for this collaboration – with the ambition of building a globally r
Biofuel Bunker Snapshot: B30 prices gain in Rotterdam and Singapore
Biofuel Bunker Snapshot: B30 prices gain in Rotterdam and Singapore
in
International Shipping News
17/05/2026
Rotterdam and Europe
Rotterdam’s B30-VLSFO (POMEME) price has increased by $28/mt since Monday.
Conversely, the port’s conventional VLSFO price has remained steady during the week. Prima Markets’ assessed POMEME barge price has registered a small gain of around $4/mt over the same period.
Bunker suppliers delivering low-carbon advanced biofuel blends in Dutch ports can generate ZRE A tickets, which can, for example, be sold to conventional fuel suppliers. This helps subsidise the price in Dutch ports compared to other ports.
The price of these ZRE A tickets fell from €125/mtCO2e ($145/mtCO2e) to €115/mtCO2e ($134/mtCO2e) during the week, according to Prima Markets.
Liquids supply developments in non-DoC countries
Liquids supply developments in non-DoC countries
in
Oil & Companies News
18/05/2026
In 2025, liquids supply from non-Declaration of Cooperation (non-DoC) countries is estimated to have increased by around 1.0 mb/d, year-on-year (y-o-y), to average 54.2 mb/d. The US accounted for the bulk of this increase, adding roughly 0.5 mb/d, y-o-y, driven by higher output from non-conventional NGLs and tight oil, as well as gains in the Gulf of Mexico. Tight oil alone expanded by 0.2 mb/d, almost entirely from the Permian Basin, supported by longer laterals and continued drilling and completion efficiency improvements.
VLCC Market Treading Carefully Amid Uncertainties
VLCC Market Treading Carefully Amid Uncertainties
in
Uncategorized
18/05/2026
Clean
LR2
The TC1 75kt MEG/Japan index continued along just under the WS550 mark this week.
A voyage west also saw the TC20 90kt MEG/UK-Continent index dipped by $112,000 to $10.76 million.
The TC15 80kt Mediterranean/East index came down another 11% to $8.73 million this week with the corresponding TCE dropping to $74,900/day on Baltic description round trip.
LR1
The TC5 55kt MEG/Japan index has been assessed consistently at the WS600 level all week.
A run west on TC8 65kt MEG/UK-Continent also remained stable at the $8.49 million mark.
MR
The TC17 35kt MEG/East Africa index dropped an incremental 8.5 points this week to WS726, this would generate $89,500/day on Baltic description round trip TCE.
On the UK-Continent, MR freight levels look to have stabilised having possibly reached a floor for the moment. The TC2 37kt ARA/US-Atlantic Coast index was assessed 3.4 points lower than last week at WS210, with the
Dry Bulk Market: Capesize Market on the Rise
Dry Bulk Market: Capesize Market on the Rise
in
Dry Bulk Market
,
International Shipping News
18/05/2026
C
apesize
The market enjoyed a convincingly firmer week overall, with sentiment steadily improving across both basins as reduced vessel availability and sustained cargo flow gradually shifted the balance back in owners’ favour. While the Pacific opened in a relatively stable and subdued manner, consistent miner presence on C5 throughout the week provided an important underlying floor to rates. Activity ultimately firmed midweek as fixtures pushed towards the high $15s, although charterer resistance re-emerged into Thursday amid a quieter Ascension Day-affected session, with rates easing back closer to $15.00.
Liquids supply developments in non-DoC countries
Liquids supply developments in non-DoC countries
in
Oil & Companies News
18/05/2026
In 2025, liquids supply from non-Declaration of Cooperation (non-DoC) countries is estimated to have increased by around 1.0 mb/d, year-on-year (y-o-y), to average 54.2 mb/d. The US accounted for the bulk of this increase, adding roughly 0.5 mb/d, y-o-y, driven by higher output from non-conventional NGLs and tight oil, as well as gains in the Gulf of Mexico. Tight oil alone expanded by 0.2 mb/d, almost entirely from the Permian Basin, supported by longer laterals and continued drilling and completion efficiency improvements.
DP World, Syria’s GABC Discuss Accelerating Port Of Tartous Development Plans
DP World, Syria’s GABC Discuss Accelerating Port Of Tartous Development Plans
in
Port News
18/05/2026
His Excellency Essa Kazim, Chairman of DP World, met His Excellency Qutaiba Ahmed Badawi, Chairman of Syria’s General Authority for Borders and Customs (GABC), and discussed the latest progress on the Port of Tartous development. The project highlights the port’s role as a strategic maritime gateway that supports Syria’s economic recovery and boosts trade activity.
The meeting in the Syrian capital, Damascus, discussed opportunities for enhancing infrastructure and logistics efficiency to ensure the Port of Tartous is well equipped to handle the anticipated rise in trade and cargo volume. Such efforts aim to underline the Port’s status as a key regional gateway linking trade routes across Southern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
DP World’s plans to develop the Port of Tartous form part of a 30-year concession agreement signed in July 2025 with the Syrian government.
Maritime to take 15% of clean hydrogen demand by 2060, DNV forecasts
Maritime to take 15% of clean hydrogen demand by 2060, DNV forecasts
in
International Shipping News
18/05/2026
Clean hydrogen uptake is expected to be the third strongest in the maritime sector, according to DNV’s latest hydrogen outlook.
The report notes that renewable and low-carbon hydrogen remain key to decarbonizing hard-to-electrify industries, such as shipping and aviation.
DNV said clean hydrogen will replace 65 million tonnes of unabated hydrogen use and be used in synthetic fuels for the aviation and maritime sectors.
“The addressable market for clean hydrogen and its derivatives is now more focused on those areas of energy demand that are impossible to electrify,” said Ditlev Engel, CEO of Energy Systems at DNV, adding that maritime applications are expected to use hydrogen derivatives in the form of ammonia and e-methanol.
According to the report, these hydrogen-derived fuels will help reduce dependence on oil in aviation and maritime transport, sectors that are central to
LNG Spot Market Flat, As LPGs Keep Rising
LNG Spot Market Flat, As LPGs Keep Rising
in
International Shipping News
18/05/2026
LNG
The LNG spot market remained relatively flat this week, with balanced tonnage and enquiry across both basins keeping sentiment steady.
On the BLNG1 Australia–Japan route, 174k cbm vessels eased $1,700 week-on-week to settle at $64,800/day, as muted Pacific activity and a balanced tonnage list kept the market steady but under slight pressure.
The BLNG2 US Gulf–Continent route softened marginally, with earnings slipping $800 to $94,300/day. Despite limited vessel availability in the Atlantic, a lack of fresh cargoes prevented any meaningful upside momentum.
Similarly, the BLNG3 US Gulf–Japan route declined $5,300 to $100,800/day, with less long-haul enquiry due to a weaker arb.
In the time charter market, period rates were mixed. The six-month rate edged up $200 to $92,300/day, while the one-year term fell $1,600 to $85,100/day.