Tankers hit in Strait of Hormuz as US advises vessels to stay clear

1. 01Safety & incidents

   Tanker attacks and fires reported in the Strait of Hormuz

   Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said four oil tankers caught fire and exploded in the strait while using what it called unauthorised routes. Separately, a tanker was reported struck by limpet mines, the first such attack there since 2019. On 28 October US naval forces advised ships with no need to transit the area to stay well clear.

   • gCaptain (opens the original article: Iran’s IRGC Navy Says Four Tankers Catch Fire In Strait Of Hormuz)
   • Marine Insight (opens the original article: Tanker Struck By Limpet Mines In Strait of Hormuz In First Such Attack Since 2019)
   • Container News (opens the original article: Why the US advisory for Hormuz is traffic management rather than risk mitigation)
2. 02Cyprus & East Med

   Ten crew rescued as cargo ship sinks off Paphos

   A Tanzanian-flagged merchant ship sank off the Paphos coast on Friday evening, and all ten crew members were rescued. Elsewhere in the Eastern Mediterranean, CMA CGM has added a seasonal Iskenderun call to its MEDEX service, which links the Indian Subcontinent and the Mediterranean, until the end of December 2026.

   • Cyprus Mail (opens the original article: Ten rescued after ship sinks off Paphos coast)
   • Container News (opens the original article: CMA CGM adds seasonal Iskenderun call to MEDEX service)
3. 03Markets & finance

   Container capacity at record highs as carriers add surcharges

   Sea-Intelligence reports that deployed container capacity has reached historic highs on all major East–West trades in October and November. CMA CGM is introducing three new surcharges on cargo from Mozambique, China and the Far East, taking effect on various dates in November. COSCO Shipping Ports' third-quarter revenue rose 13% to US$484.3 million, helped by overseas terminals.

   • Container News (opens the original article: Sea-Intelligence: Unprecedented Capacity Levels in Oct/Nov)
   • Container News (opens the original article: CMA CGM announces new surcharges for Beira and Indian Ocean trades)
   • Container News (opens the original article: COSCO SHIPPING Ports revenue rises as overseas volumes accelerate)
4. 04Ports & containers

   Security workers' dispute threatens Los Angeles–Long Beach

   A contract standoff involving 250 security workers could halt operations at terminals in the two ports once an extended deadline of 4 November passes. Separately, US West Coast dockworkers joined colleagues in 22 countries who struck on Friday in protest against war and the use of ports for arms exports.

   • Seatrade Maritime (opens the original article: Impending strike threatens LA-LB ports container flow)
   • AJOT (opens the original article: West Coast dockworkers join international dockworkers protesting wars)
5. 05Markets & finance

   NORDEN more than doubles third-quarter profit

   Danish operator NORDEN reported a third-quarter net profit of US$54 million, compared with US$26 million a year earlier. The company attributed the increase to stronger market conditions in both its Dry Cargo and Tankers businesses.

   • Container News (opens the original article: NORDEN more than doubles Q3 profit to US$54 million)
6. 06Fuel & energy

   Russia extends ban on most diesel exports until end of January

   Russia's government has prolonged its general ban on diesel exports by producers until the end of January. Some volumes will still be allowed to leave the country under the extended measure.

   • gCaptain (opens the original article: Russia Extends Ban On Most Diesel Exports Through January)
7. 07Regulation & policy

   Panama Canal changes slot reallocation and NetZero rules

   The Panama Canal has revised the criteria for reallocating transit slots that are cancelled or become free during booking periods 1A and 2. The authority has also updated its NetZero requirement.

   • The Maritime Executive (opens the original article: Panama Canal Revises Transit Booking System and Updates NetZero Requirement)

Written by Maritime AI at 06:30 Cyprus time from 38 headlines and their outlets’ own summaries. It can get things wrong — read the original articles before you rely on anything here.