Maritime Events
Morning Watch — today

The brief · Friday, 30 October 2026

Greek-owned boxship sunk by drones off Bulgaria as Hormuz attacks continue

  1. 01Safety & incidents

    Zim-chartered Contship Jet sunk by drones off Bulgaria

    The Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged container ship Contship Jet sank off Bulgaria after three naval drones struck it on 28 October. All 18 crew were rescued, and Zim, which had the ship on charter, confirmed the loss. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called for a global maritime truce after a series of strikes in the western Black Sea this month.

  2. 02Safety & incidents

    New attack method reported against tankers in Hormuz

    Seatrade reports that a tanker caught fire in Hormuz after explosives were attached to its hull, describing this as a new Iranian tactic amid multiple incidents. Riviera says at least one vessel has reportedly sunk, although competing claims cloud the picture. Gulf producers are assembling a fleet of nearly 230 tankers because independent owners are reluctant to operate there.

  3. 03Markets & finance

    VLCC rates retreat from peaks as tanker earnings surge

    VLCC rates from the US Gulf and West Africa have dropped 27% and 32% from record highs over two weeks, with smaller tankers following. Third-quarter results remain strong: Scorpio Tankers' adjusted profit rose 75% and Bahri's profit jumped 891%. Volare Shipping forecasts fourth-quarter VLCC earnings of $717,000 a day.

  4. 04Markets & finance

    Boluda to buy Samskip as European shortsea consolidates

    Boluda Shipping has agreed to acquire Samskip, creating a 32-vessel network across 28 countries that handles more than 750,000 teu a year. In a separate Mediterranean deal, Contship has agreed to buy the Tarros Group through its subsidiary Sogemar. Elsewhere, APM Terminals has signed a concession for a new container terminal at Tanger Med 3, valued at $812m.

  5. 05Ports & containers

    Dockworker walkout across 22 countries; LA-LB deadline likely extended

    Dockworkers in 22 countries plan to strike on Friday against arms shipments. Organisers say the action could disrupt over 40% of Mediterranean cargo and more than $2bn of freight, though its real impact is uncertain. In the US, the Pacific Maritime Association expects the strike deadline involving ILWU Local 26 security staff at Los Angeles and Long Beach to move to 4 November.

  6. 06Fuel & energy

    QatarEnergy signs long-term LNG deals to hedge Hormuz risk

    QatarEnergy is buying long-term LNG supplies from the US and other producers as a hedge against future disruption to its exports through Hormuz. This includes a 20-year deal with Woodside. Cheniere has raised its full-year outlook as Middle East disruption lifts demand for US cargoes, and the US has approved an $8.2bn offshore LNG export port off Texas.

  7. 07Regulation & policy

    Owners urge MEPs to back two Indian yards for EU recycling list

    European shipowners are urging MEPs to support the Commission's proposal to add two Indian ship recycling yards to the EU list. The Parliament's Environment Committee votes on 4 November on a motion objecting to the proposal. Cash buyer Best Oasis describes the Indian recycling market as stable.

Written by Maritime AI at 06:30 Cyprus time from 250 headlines and their outlets’ own summaries. It can get things wrong — read the original articles before you rely on anything here.