Shipping News revived

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‘Unprecedented uncertainty’: Geneva Dry takes the pulse of the global trading...

Quizzed as to how often he was having to change his global economic projections, Rahim replied: “I would say hourly, but it’s probably more likely by the tweet or by the Truth Social post.”
Discussing tariffs, Rahim commented: “I think the keyword now is uncertainty… We’re now in unprecedented uncertainty for a little bit.”

The Canadian said that the current US administration was “pouring fuel” on an already inflationary environment, which he said was likely detrimental to world trade.

At least, for non-Chinese owners the Chinese tonnage penalties recently introduced by the US Trade Representative look to have a minimal effect of the dry bulk fleet, Pathy said.

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Smaller shipowners in danger: Geneva Dry risk workshop - Splash247

Despite the initial warning, the session ended with Trump versus AI in terms of risk for shipping, with ABS’s Gkikas getting the best reaction from the audience by outlining the risk of AI acting as the US president. It was unclear whether he was forced to take a double shot of Geneva Dry gin for this closing statement.

How to manage uncertainty - Splash247

Trade is learning to live with new risks
Tariffs, shifting alliances, and supply chain rewiring are becoming the new normal. Flexibility — in geography, operations, and commercial strategy — is now essential. Old routines no longer work. If you can’t adapt fast, you fall behind.

[AKBJR]

In “related news” at the page bottom, WRT an increase in sea theft/robbery in the Singapore Strait, an interesting supposition -
“This is likely due to the combined effects of the Northeast Monsoon (Dec to Mar), which exacerbated the already challenging sea conditions in the South China Sea (SCS) and affected fishing activity/yield and increased financial burdens leading up to festivities (Feb and Mar), causing locals to resort to petty crime in coastal waters to supplement their income.”

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How the business of chartering is evolving - Splash247

“I think the role of technology and tools are empowering the users. It’s augmenting the service that you can provide to your customer,” Svard said, going on to argue that while AI and large language models are great for processing big quantities of data, they are “absolutely crap” in making decisions.

In his concluding remarks, Palin from Arrow stressed how information is freely available and abundant everywhere.
“The role of a broker is to understand what is pertinent there. Our commodity, our only commodity, is information and our ability to collate that, direct that and advise,” Palin said, noting how there is a more consultative element to what brokers do as a job these days as opposed to just price matching and transacting and fixing ships.

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Paper tigers at sea - Splash247

Choosing the harder, higher road
Our maritime world has always been driven by those bold enough to sail beyond the visible horizon. Today that horizon is less of a line separating sky and sea; it’s a destination where truth, responsibility and progress converge.

Yes, regulation may remain our pet paper tiger. But it only stays a ‘toothless wonder’ if we choose to keep it that way.

Let’s be better than that. Let’s be honest about where we are, and committed to where we can go. Let’s build a culture where rules matter not by mandate, but because they’re meaningful. That’s not a burden. That’s leadership.

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Why shipping can’t wait for another cybersecurity crisis - Splash247

My message to the industry is that cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue. It’s a safety issue, an environmental issue, and a business continuity issue. Despite this, right now many vessels are still running outdated operating systems, using default passwords, and lacking any real-time monitoring or response capabilities.

In today’s digital era, it’s no longer the wind and waves that pose the greatest threat to the maritime industry, it’s the invisible forces hidden in lines of code. Cyber risks are growing more dangerous by the day, and the future will not wait. The time to act is now, because sailing into tomorrow without robust cybersecurity is like navigating blind through a storm.

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Vessel operators warned to prepare for imminent rule changes

From 1 January 2026 fixed water monitors will be mandatory on weather decks, following amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-2 and the FSS Code approved by the IMO’s 107th MSC session.
The number of cargo fires, particularly involving EVs, is rising, says Survitec
This regulation comes in response to a rising number of severe fires involving vehicle cargo, particularly electric vehicles, exposing gaps in current fire safety measures.

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Middle East shipping routes on alert amid rising US-Iran-Israel tensions -...

The advisory warns of an increased threat level in the Arabian/Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman, citing “increased tensions within the region which could lead to an escalation of military activity having a direct impact on mariners.”
At the heart of the warning is the deepening crisis between the US and Iran, with a sixth round of diplomatic talks over Tehran’s nuclear program reportedly scheduled for this week. However, the tone between both governments has grown increasingly hostile.

Significant movements on the diplomatic and defence fronts add further urgency to the joint advisory.
The US Embassy in Iraq is reportedly preparing for a planned evacuation due to rising security threats, while the US State Department has ordered the withdrawal of nonessential personnel and their families from diplomatic posts in Bahrain and Kuwait, and US military dependents in Bahrain have been cleared for temporary departure, indicating the seriousness of the perceived threat.

PS> Been there, done that. Luckily us old farts don’t have to worry too much.
As long as they keep it in the Middle East, that is.

[ombugge]

This could have gone in the Heavy Lift tread I presume:

Rebuilding U.S. Merchant Marine Will Be a “Heavy Lift”

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New security guidance for the shipping industry | IUMI

MISTO aims to provide an understanding of prevailing security threats and is intended for use alongside the Best Management Practices (BMP) for Maritime Security.

PS> Very timely, looking at what is happening in the Middle-East right now.

[Binbag_the_Saylore]

@ombugge

timely, looking at what is happening in the Middle-East right now

… and becoming obsolescent by the minute!

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No big surprise on this list:

Top 5 shipping lines steering global sea trade in 2025 - Maritime Gateway

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Why shipping needs a new breed of executive - Splash247

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Splash Wrap: Red Sea attacks lead coverage - Splash247

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Singapore retain Shipping Centre top position:
https://www.ajot.com/news/singapore-tops-2025-xinhua-baltic-international-shipping-center-development-index-marking-12-year-streak

For the 12th consecutive year, Singapore has been recognized as the world’s leading shipping center, achieving a score of 99.50 out of 100. Singapore’s enduring success is attributed to its strategic location, robust international outlook, and a well-established ecosystem of professional maritime services.
London once again secured second position with a score of 81.02, demonstrating its continued prominence as a maritime support services powerhouse. Shanghai, with a score of 81.01, retained third place, highlighting its significant role as a major port city in Asia. London and Shanghai have maintained their positions within the Index for the past five years.
Top 20 New Entrants: Los Angeles and Vancouver were new features to this year’s list, taking 19th and 20th position, marking two new North American ports in the global rankings.

New survey suggests China's Ningbo Zhoushan is a greater maritime hub than...

[quote)
Ningbo Zhoushan and Athens/Piraeus swapped positions this year, with Ningbo Zhoushan moving up to seventh and Athens/Piraeus settling in eighth.
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Hafnia seals $715m credit line backed by 32 ships - Splash247

“By refinancing existing debt with this loan facility, Hafnia has lowered its overall cost of funding, reduced the cash flow breakeven, strengthened its liquidity profile and built in flexibility to position itself for future growth,” the BW Group-controlled operator of around 200 tankers said.

The financing was led by ING, OCBC, and Standard Chartered as mandated lead arrangers, with BNP Paribas, DBS, IYO Bank, Societe Generale, and UOB acting as lead arrangers. E.Sun Commercial Bank, SEB, and Taishin International Bank also joined as co-arrangers. ING took on the role of facility coordinator and agent.

Home - Hafnia

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Not only tanker giant Hafnia secure favourable credit line for expansion and security:

Genco targets fleet and growth moves with new $600m credit line - Splash247

The facility was arranged with support from a syndicate of international shipping banks. Nordea acted in multiple roles, including coordinator, administrative agent, and sustainability coordinator. Mandated Lead Arrangers included Nordea, DNB Markets, SEB, and ING Capital, with CTBC Bank as Mandated Lead Arranger and First-Citizens Bank as Co-Arranger.

Genco said the refinancing strengthens its liquidity and improves its ability to pursue “accretive growth opportunities,” including fleet moves or other capital deployment as market conditions allow.

Dry Bulk Shipping Company | Genco Shipping

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Shipping and the era of integrated configurable solutions - Splash247

Innovative supply chain leaders are no longer trying to reshape their workflows around generic software. They are partnering with global systems integrators and consultancies, such as Accenture, Deloitte, and Palantir, alongside specialised AI teams. Together, they assess the foundational processes that make their networks tick and then design bespoke or, preferably, configurable systems that bring tangible benefits. This collaborative approach unlocks efficiencies and competitive advantages that off-the-shelf tools simply cannot deliver and leaves behind the higher costs typical of entirely custom build.

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International Seaways picks up modern VLCC as it sheds six ageing product...

International Seaways, Inc. - Investor Relations

https://www.intlseas.com/about/board-of-directors/person-details/default.aspx?ItemId=e89b796b-72f8-4686-aaed-66577109483c

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London P&I Club warns industry over incorrect FIBC loading

To help industry to understand the risks associated with incorrect handling and stowage of jumbo bags, the Club has developed a detailed video case study of a fictional bulk carrier MV Calm Sea, which can be used by vessel owners, operators and charterers, crew and port agents as a training resource for identifying risks, liabilities and best practices.

Video:

Loading Jumbo bags – English video