Maritime Events
Morning Watch — today

The brief · Monday, 2 November 2026

Tug hit in Hormuz as Gulf congestion grows; US delays China port fees

  1. 01Safety & incidents

    Hormuz attack and Gulf congestion weigh on trade flows

    An Emirati-owned offshore tug was struck by a projectile on Sunday evening in the Strait of Hormuz, northwest of the Musandam Peninsula. Fujairah now holds 28% of bulkers waiting in the Gulf. Indian state refiners are shifting to buying crude on a delivered basis as freight and insurance costs swing sharply.

  2. 02Regulation & policy

    US pushes back port fees on Chinese ships by two months

    The US Trade Representative has delayed implementing port fees on Chinese vessels by two months while trade talks with Beijing continue, and took public comment until 30 October. One analysis argues the Section 301 extension shows US shipbuilding policy becoming a bargaining chip, with China keeping its own levers in play.

  3. 03Markets & finance

    Capesizes recover while BIMCO flags dry bulk risks

    Capesize sentiment improved through the week, with stronger fixing in both basins lifting rates. BIMCO, however, says geopolitical disruption and escalating attacks on ships cloud the dry bulk outlook for 2027 and 2028. On the tanker side, the TC1 LR2 index fell 99 points to WS1003, with round-trip earnings down $33,200 to $288,700 a day.

  4. 04Cyprus & East Med

    Cyprus courts Asian owners; Ayia Napa Marina reshuffles leadership

    Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis held meetings and attended industry events in Japan, China and South Korea from 13 to 29 October to promote the Cyprus register. Separately, Ayia Napa Marina announced changes to its executive team, including the appointment of Anthony John Scholes.

  5. 05Ports & containers

    Carriers rebuild Red Sea and East Med links

    Sidra Line is returning to the Red Sea with a service linking the Eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea, plus an intra-Red Sea loop. Emirates Shipping Line will turn its South Red Sea Service into a Nhava Sheva–Jeddah shuttle every nine days. CMA CGM is adding a seasonal Iskenderun call to its MEDEX service.

  6. 06Markets & finance

    Newbuild prices and orders: LNG carriers soften

    LNG carrier prices have fallen to $245 million despite rising demand, which is squeezing margins at Korean yards. KMTC has ordered six 3,100 TEU ships at CSSC Huangpu Wenchong, its first containership order outside Korea. SFL agreed to buy two 8,800 TEU vessels for 2027 delivery and a very large ammonia carrier, all on long-term charters.

  7. 07Fuel & energy

    Germany-backed gas deals and new US LNG supply

    Trafigura signed a $1.5 billion five-year loan guaranteed by Germany to support a contract to supply more than 150TWh of gas. MOL agreed a long-term charter with Deutsche ReGas for the Deutsche Ostsee terminal. Shell became the first customer to receive LNG under a long-term contract from Venture Global's Plaquemines plant.

Written by Maritime AI at 06:30 Cyprus time from 93 headlines and their outlets’ own summaries. It can get things wrong — read the original articles before you rely on anything here.

Morning Watch, Monday, 2 November 2026 — Maritime Events