Hormuz attacks reach monthly high as UAE oil spill and oil price rise unsettle shipping

1. 01Safety & incidents

   Hormuz attacks peak as UAE reports large oil spill

   A Washington-based think tank says October is the worst month yet for attacks on merchant ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian state TV said seven tankers were struck in one night. The UAE confirmed a spreading spill off the Khor Al Beidah peninsula that has closed local beaches. Iran also warned that Gulf subsea cables would be targets if war resumes.

   • MarineLink (opens the original article: Strait of Hormuz Ship Attacks Reach New High in October)
   • Marine Insight (opens the original article: Iran Says 7 Oil Tankers Hit In One Night In Strait Of Hormuz As Fears Of Return To War Grow)
   • The Maritime Executive (opens the original article: UAE Confirms Approaching Oil Spill as Iran Claims Continued Attacks)
   • Baird Maritime (opens the original article: Tanker oil spill off UAE forces full shutdown of local beaches)
   • Baird Maritime (opens the original article: Iran warns Persian Gulf subsea cables are targets if war resumes)
2. 02Fuel & energy

   Brent climbs on Middle East supply fears

   Oil prices rose on Friday after Houthi attacks in Saudi Arabia and the UAE spill raised concern about Gulf supplies. Outlets differ on the benchmark: one says Brent hit its highest level since early May, while another says prices were the highest since late April.

   • MarineLink (opens the original article: Brent Crude Prices Reach Five-Month High Amidst Continued Houthi Attacks, UAE Oil Spill)
   • Baird Maritime (opens the original article: Oil prices rise to highest since late April on Middle East fears)
3. 03Safety & incidents

   Drone strike sinks cargo ship off Romania

   The Comoros-flagged cargo ship Khoryv sank off Constanța after a drone strike. One seafarer died and three are missing while a search continues. Romanian President Nicusor Dan accused Russia of escalating attacks on NATO's eastern flank.

   • Marine Insight (opens the original article: Romania Blames Russia as Drone Sinks Ship Off Constanța, Killing Seafarer)
   • The Maritime Executive (opens the original article: Romania Blames Russia for Ship Attack Leaving 1 Dead and 3 Missing)
   • MarineLink (opens the original article: Romania Blames Russia for Ship Strike, Sinking)
   • Baird Maritime (opens the original article: Romania accuses Russia of escalation after fatal cargo ship attack)
4. 04Markets & finance

   Tanker costs squeeze US crude exports to Asia

   Chartering a tanker for the Pacific voyage has hit a record of almost $80 million, and US crude exports to Asia are heading for a seven-year low. India's HPCL is changing how it buys crude as freight soars. Affinity, however, reported a sharp downward correction in VLCC rates this week on thin activity.

   • gCaptain (opens the original article: Record Tanker Rates Threaten to Push U.S. Oil Exports to Asia to Seven-Year Low)
   • Baird Maritime (opens the original article: India's HPCL adapts crude buying as freight rates soar)
   • Hellenic Shipping News (opens the original article: Affinity Tanker Weekly, 23 October 2026)
5. 05Regulation & policy

   First Russian diesel cargo heads for the US

   A Greek tanker sailed on 23 October with the first Russian diesel cargo bound for the US under a deal between Moscow and President Trump, following a sanctions waiver. Ship-tracking reports put one cargo on course for New York. Another report says a tanker is due in Norfolk, Virginia on 2 November, ahead of the New York-bound vessel.

   • gCaptain (opens the original article: First Russian Diesel From Putin-Trump Deal Heading for US)
   • The Maritime Executive (opens the original article: Greek Tanker Sails for the U.S. with First Russian Diesel Cargo)
   • gCaptain (opens the original article: Rare Russian Diesel Shipment Expected in Norfolk November 2, Ahead of Tanker Bound for New York)
   • Baird Maritime (opens the original article: Tanker with Russian diesel heads to New York under Trump deal)
   • Riviera (opens the original article: First Russian diesel shipment to US in the making following sanctions waiver)
6. 06

   HD Hyundai and Kiewit plan new US Gulf Coast yard

   HD Hyundai has agreed a joint venture with Kiewit to build a new shipyard on the US Gulf Coast. Construction is due to start next year, with operations expected in 2029 and about 3,000 jobs created. The plan marks a move from investing in existing US yards to building new capacity.

   • gCaptain (opens the original article: HD Hyundai to Build US Shipyard with Kiewit, Create 3,000 Jobs)
   • Hellenic Shipping News (opens the original article: HD Hyundai Forms U.S. Shipbuilding Joint Venture)
   • gCaptain (opens the original article: HD Hyundai–Kiewit Shipyard Plan Signals New Phase in South Korea’s U.S. Shipbuilding Push)
   • The Maritime Executive (opens the original article: HD Hyundai and Kiewit Plan to Develop New Gulf Coast Shipyard)
7. 07Markets & finance

   BDI slips but Greek owners return to bulker orders

   The Baltic Dry Index fell 1.2% to 2,660 points on Friday, ending a four-day rise but still posting a second weekly gain. Greece's Pavimar has ordered four Kamsarmaxes in China, its first order in a decade. Panos Laskaridis's Lavinia Bulkers is linked to four Chinese-built newcastlemaxes worth around $312m.

   • Hellenic Shipping News (opens the original article: Baltic Dry Index Snaps 4-Day Winning Run)
   • Baird Maritime (opens the original article: Baltic dry bulk index slides, but locks in second straight weekly gain)
   • Riviera (opens the original article: Greece's Pavimar places first order in a decade with four Kamsarmaxes in China)
   • Splash247 (opens the original article: Laskaridis linked to $312m newcastlemax order in China)

Written by AI (Claude) at 09:52 Cyprus time from 120 headlines and their outlets’ own summaries. It can get things wrong — read the original articles before you rely on anything here.