Maritime Events
Morning Watch — today

The brief · Thursday, 12 November 2026

Iran's attacks on Hormuz shipping continue as IMO presses states to protect seafarers

  1. 01Safety & incidents

    Hormuz attacks continue as IMO calls for seafarer protection

    The IMO says at least 25 seafarers have died and 130 attacks on merchant ships have been recorded since the conflict began. Its Secretary-General urged governments to enforce SOLAS rules in the strait. A projectile struck the VLCC Fujairah Energy on 10 November, injuring four crew, and Iran claimed a strike on Oman's Didamar Island.

  2. 02Markets & finance

    Container lines report stronger profits on firm freight rates

    Hapag-Lloyd raised its 2026 earnings outlook again, citing robust spot rates. MOL said containership profit tripled in its first half on stronger ONE results, and Yang Ming posted a third-quarter net profit of NT$18.57 billion. CMA CGM announced a US$1,600 per 40ft peak season surcharge from Asia to the Mediterranean.

  3. 03Markets & finance

    Evergreen resumes Suez transits after almost three years

    The Suez Canal Authority said Evergreen has resumed Suez Canal services after a pause of nearly three years. According to Alphaliner, the carrier plans eight ad hoc Suez and Bab-el-Mandeb transits for Far East–Europe services, plus four Red Sea sailings, prompting concern about congestion at Red Sea ports.

  4. 04Markets & finance

    COSCO orders 16 VLCCs as tanker sale and purchase activity rises

    COSCO Shipping Development ordered 16 VLCCs from China State Shipbuilding Group for 13.43 billion yuan ($2.01 billion). Volare Shipping agreed to buy a VLCC newbuilding from a Trafigura affiliate for $210 million. Secondhand tanker sales rose 61% to 82 vessels in October, although Fearnleys reported VLCC rates falling over the past week.

  5. 05Ports & containers

    Panama Canal raises daily transits to 34 and restores 50ft draft

    After improvements in lake levels, the Panama Canal has added a booking slot for Super vessels at the Panamax locks, bringing daily capacity to 34. It has also restored the maximum allowable draft at the Neopanamax locks to 50 feet.

  6. 06Markets & finance

    Baltic Dry Index rises for a sixth straight session

    The Baltic Exchange dry bulk index rose 3.4%, or 97 points, to 2,959. This is its highest level since 8 October and extends its gains to six consecutive sessions, with increases across vessel sizes.

  7. 07Cyprus & East Med

    Cyprus hosts Nemesis 2026 exercise and deepens ties with Israel

    Eight countries took part in the Nemesis 2026 exercise in Cyprus' EEZ, deploying 860 personnel and 39 naval and aerial assets. Scenarios included a hijacking, mass evacuations and a major oil spill. Separately, Cyprus and Israel are moving towards an environmental cooperation agreement that would cover marine pollution.

Written by Maritime AI at 06:31 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.