Russian Diesel Tanker Awaits Destination Off US East Coast
A tanker carrying the first cargo of Russian diesel for the United States has come to a halt off the US east coast, shipping data showed on Tuesday, with its operator saying its destination had not yet been decided.President Donald Trump last month announced a surprise deal with Moscow to import diesel from Russia to help lower prices at the pumps ahead of this month's US midterm elections.The Malta-flagged tanker Agioi Fanendes was loaded with 40,000 metric tons of ultra-low sulphur diesel in Russia's Baltic port of Primorsk on October 22, LSEG shipping data showed, with an expected delivery
Gulf Markets Rise on Hopes of Avoiding Future Iran Strikes
Gulf bourses closed mostly higher on Monday as US President Donald Trump's signal that fresh Iran strikes are unlikely, provided talks continue, lifted sentiment across the region after an eight-month conflict.Trump's remarks came despite reports from the US military and Iranian state media that shipping had been attacked in or near the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that carried nearly a fifth of the world's crude before the war.Trump had earlier hinted at renewed attacks after last week's midterm elections…
Atlas Copco Gas and Process Expands Facilities in South Korea, New York
Atlas Copco Gas and Process has reached two milestones this autumn by expanding its production operations in South Korea and North America. Atlas Copco Gas and Process Korea in Busan, South Korea has opened a new facility that will provide greater production capacity for different compressor technologies. In upstate New York, Atlas Copco Comptec LLC has added a large high bay space to an existing manufacturing facility, thereby increasing its production capabilities for centrifugal compressors.Established in 1981…
Iran Maintains Pressure as Three Tankers Hit in Hormuz
Iran reported three more tankers had been damaged in the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday, making clear that shipping would remain in peril as long as the war in the Gulf is unresolved, now that US voters have punished President Donald Trump for waging it.The electoral rout that cost Trump's Republicans control of Congress has prompted a stark reassessment of the conflict's political cost in Washington, led by Vice President JD Vance, who said in a long social media post on Wednesday that the war was to blame for his party's defeat.In a mocking reply on Thursday…
One of Three Russian Tankers Remains On Course for the US
Only one of the three reported tankers that were sailing to the U.S. with Russian diesel appears to be still heading for the Atlantic coast.The issuing of General License 135 on October 9, which temporarily allows Russian diesel to be imported to the U.S., has yet to result in any cargo being delivered to the U.S.Three tankers were flagged last month as sailing for the U.S. with diesel cargoes, including Russia-flagged TALISMAN (IMO 9292060), Sierra Leone-flagged LERUO (IMO 9385831) and Malta-flagged AGIOI FANENDES (IMO 9798375).The first two were sanctioned by the EU…
Oil Prices Drop 9% After Republicans Lose Congress in Midterm Elections
Oil prices fell 9% on Wednesday in volatile trading as investors awaited Washington's next move in the US-Israeli war with Iran after President Donald Trump's Republican Party lost control of Congress in midterm elections.Brent futures dropped $9.27, or 8.9%, to $94.29 a barrel, touching the lowest level since September 4, at 11:58 a.m. ET (1658 GMT). US West Texas Intermediate crude futures were down $7.44, or 7.8%, to $88.54.Brent settled in the previous session at its lowest…
FMC to Host Demurrage and Detention Research Symposium
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) will host a research symposium on March 31, 2027, at its headquarters in Washington, D.C. This event will bring together scholars conducting research on demurrage and detention (DnD) practices and policies, as well as industry experts who will share insights regarding the use of DnD to incentivize cargo fluidity and velocity. The symposium will foster research and discussion that can advance the understanding of DnD practices and their broader economic and operational implications for freight fluidity.
Ports of Indiana Makes November 1 Leadership Transition
Jody Peacock concluded his service as Chief Executive Officer of Ports of Indiana effective November 1. On that date, Ports of Indiana Chief Operating Officer Dave Parrott and Chief Financial Officer Erica Jackson began serving as the organization’s interim leadership team. Commission Chairman Steven Stemler is taking an active role working with them to lead Ports of Indiana during the interim period.“On behalf of the Commission, I thank Jody for his more than 25 years of service to Ports of Indiana,” said Stemler. “Dave and Erica bring strong experience and a deep commitment to our ports.
Corn Belt Ports See Notable Freight Tonnage Growth in 2026
In the most recent annual report released by the U.S. Waterborne Commerce Statistics Center, two Corn Belt Ports regions took top honors for showing some of the highest growth rates in the inland waterway port system. The Mid-America Port Commission (IL, MO, IA), established in 1999, was ranked as the 40th largest port in the U.S., and saw a 15.2% growth in freight tonnage during the 2024 reporting year (published 2026). This is the highest growth rate for any large (Top 50) U.S.
Gulf Oil Producers Build Tanker Fleet as Security Risks Mount Around Hormuz
Gulf oil producers are assembling a fleet of nearly 230 tankers to maintain crude exports through the Strait of Hormuz despite heightened security risks and reluctance among independent shipowners to operate in the region, according to a weekly intelligence report from Windward Maritime dated October 29.The report identifies five maritime developments, including changes to Gulf oil transportation, an oil spill threatening infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates, suspicious movements near subsea communications cables…
QatarEnergy Purchases Long-Term LNG Supplies In Case of Future Hormuz Disruptions
QatarEnergy is buying long-term supplies of liquefied natural gas from the US and other producers as part of a trading strategy designed to generate revenue if exports through the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted in the future, CEO Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi told Reuters on Thursday."In a scenario where you have a closure of the strait, which is the true contingency that we're looking to have, you'd immediately see a spike in gas price and you'll be able to generate revenue for QatarEnergy that otherwise wouldn't be generated…
AAPA Congratulates Recipients of $498m MARAD Port Development Grants
The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) congratulates the 35 award recipients of the Maritime Administration's (MARAD) Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grants from the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) application cycle.This year, the mainstay port industry grant program, administered by MARAD under the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), will invest $498 million to upgrade America’s ports in 19 states. A few project examples funded by this round of awards include:Relocation…
Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbos Receives $11.2m to Modernize Cargo Handling
Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor has been awarded $11.2 million through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD) Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) to modernize its cargo handling, including the specialized equipment needed to support future international container service. The grant is part of a $498 million investment to modernize 35 port projects across 19 states and strengthen America’s supply chains.The Burns Harbor Container Handling Modernization Project will fund a mobile harbor crane…
Middle East Officials Meet Discuss Deescalation Amidst Continued Houthi Attacks
Top officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan met Iranian officials in Tehran on Monday in a bid to de-escalate the Middle East conflict, as Yemen's Houthis launched new attacks on Saudi Arabia and Egypt approved defence support for the Gulf kingdom.The talks were the first high-level contact between Iran and the three nations — which signed the Mecca mutual defence pact in August — since a war that began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran also spread to Saudi Arabia and…
The Whiskey Project Group Opens North Carolina Manufacturing Facility
The Whiskey Project Group (TWPG) has officially opened its watercraft manufacturing facility in Edenton, North Carolina, marking a milestone in the company’s U.S. expansion and strengthening domestic production and sustainment capacity for American defense, government and commercial customers.The facility was officially opened at a ceremony attended by North Carolina Governor Josh Stein and Congressman Don Davis, local government representatives, defense and industry leaders, and TWPG employees and partners.Located on a 50-acre waterfront site…
US Natural Gad Futures Remain Steady Ahead of Mild Weather
US natural gas futures held steady on Tuesday as bearish forecasts for milder weather and less demand over the next two weeks than previously expected offset a bullish drop in daily output to an eight-month low.Front-month gas futures for November delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) rose 0.2 cent, or 0.1%, to $3.169 per million British thermal units.Financial firm LSEG said average gas output in the US Lower 48 states slid from record highs of 113.3 bcfd in August…
Gecko Robotics, Anduril to Accelerate American Shipbuilding with Robotics, AI
Gecko Robotics announced a partnership with Anduril Industries to help accelerate American shipbuilding using advanced robotics, AI-powered software, and automated quality assurance. The partnership will support Anduril's Arsenal-2, a new software-defined shipyard in Baltimore County, Maryland, announced as part of the company's $3.7 billion investment to expand production for the Virginia-class submarine program. Gecko's technology will be deployed at Anduril's new 160,000-square-foot protofactory in Orange County…
US Natural Gas Prices Steady as Storage Build Offsets Hurricane Isaias
US natural gas futures held near a two-week high on Thursday as a bigger-than-expected storage build last week offset the drop in output in recent days as energy firms reduced flows on offshore Gulf of Mexico pipelines ahead of Hurricane Isaias.Front-month gas futures for November delivery <NGc1> on the New York Mercantile Exchange fell 1.1 cents, or 0.3%, to $3.192 per million British thermal units (mmBtu). On Wednesday, the contract closed at its highest level since September…
Liskow Expands Practice into New England, Welcomes Three Attorneys
Liskow announced the firm’s expansion into New England and the growth of our maritime practice with the addition of three attorneys: Samuel P. Blatchley, Patrick J. O’Connor, and Michael J. Pluhowski. The addition brings an established fisheries litigation and maritime regulatory practice to Liskow and adds a new office in New Bedford, Massachusetts, the nation’s highest-grossing commercial fishing port for 23 consecutive years, according to NOAA Fisheries.The New Bedford office gives Liskow a base in New England and…
Trump to Unveil Plans for $200b of South Korean Investments
President Donald Trump will announce on Wednesday plans for South Korea to invest $200 billion in US projects, including $54 billion to build the long-planned Alaska liquefied natural gas project, a White House official said.The announcement will detail the first major projects under a broader $350 billion strategic investment package South Korea made as part of a trade agreement with Washington last year. The $350 billion package includes $150 billion for shipbuilding and $200…
Oil Prices Lower Alongside Possibility of US-Iran Truce
Oil prices fell about 1% on Friday as markets weighed the possibility of a truce between the US and Iran against concerns that increasing attacks against Saudi Arabia by Houthi fighters could disrupt supply from the Middle Eastern producer.Brent futures were down $1.14, or 1.1%, at $105.46 a barrel by 10:03 a.m. EDT (1403 GMT), while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude fell $1.05, also 1.1%, to $93.56.That put Brent up about 2% for the week and WTI down about 7%.US and Iranian…
US, Iran Explore Phased Deal to Reopen Hormuz, End Blockade
US and Iranian negotiators in New York are exploring a phased path out of war that would involve Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz and Washington lifting its economic blockade of Iran, sources close to the talks said.The strait has become the central bargaining chip in efforts to end the nearly seven-month US-Iran conflict, with Iran seeking relief from the US blockade that is choking its economy and Washington seeking free passage for ships on the global oil supply route now blocked by Tehran.The talks face a big obstacle as neither side wants to be the first to surrender its leverage…
International Propeller Club of Norway Partners with Höegh Autoliners
The International Propeller Club of Norway announced a new partnership with Höegh Autoliners, strengthening the Club’s growing engagement with leading companies across the Norwegian and international maritime community.The partnership was marked during the opening reception of New York High-Level Week and New York Climate Week, held at the Royal Norwegian Consulate General in New York. The signing brought together Andreas Enger, CEO of Höegh Autoliners, and Danielle Centeno, President of the International Propeller Club…