1. Special Focus of the Week: Iraq Crude Exports & Dirty Oil Flows. In late July 2025, the United States announced a 25 percent tariff on Indian exports, explicitly citing India’s continued purchases of Russian crude oil and military equipment. The move was widely interpreted as part of a broader strategy targeting countries that maintain strong commercial ties with Moscow.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/08/12/special-focus-of-the-week-iraq-crude-exports-dirty-oil-flows/
2. Coast Guard Heroes to be Honored for Kerr County Flood Rescues. Stonington, Conn. — The Coast Guard Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to strengthening the Coast Guard community and service by supporting members and families all across the country. Its annual Texas Salutes the Coast Guard event on November 18, 2025, will honor the U.S. Coast Guard aircrews from Air Station Corpus Christi and Air Station Houston for their extraordinary rescue efforts during the devastating Kerr County floods over the Fourth of July weekend, where they helped save more than 245 people from life-threatening conditions.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/08/12/coast-guard-heroes-to-be-honored-for-kerr-county-flood-rescues/
3. IMO launches new Regional Presence Office to boost maritime cooperation in the Pacific. New base in Suva, Fiji aims for deeper engagement with Pacific countries.
The International Maritime Organization inaugurated a new Regional Presence Office in Suva, Fiji, marking a milestone for regional maritime cooperation and capacity development in the Pacific.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/08/12/imo-launches-new-regional-presence-office-to-boost-maritime-cooperation-in-the-pacific/
4. UKMPA launches interactive poster to support new SOLAS V/23 pilot transfer compliance regulation. Deficiencies in pilot ladders and transfer arrangements can carry serious operational and financial consequences for the supply chain
In a significant step forward for pilot transfer safety, the United Kingdom Maritime Pilots’ Association has launched a new interactive educational tool designed to improve understanding and compliance with the newly revised SOLAS Regulation V/23.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/08/12/ukmpa-launches-interactive-poster-to-support-new-solas-v-23-pilot-transfer-compliance-regulation/
5. Container market sends mixed signals as charter rates hold firm, spot rates slide. Container shipping is giving out misleading signals. On the one hand, time charter rates are at highs never experienced outside the covid era, while spot rates have been on a decline for nine straight weeks. Likewise, global liners are muddying the outlook – one raising its full-year forecast, while another has decided to lower its own 2025 financial projections.
https://splash247.com/container-market-sends-mixed-signals-as-charter-rates-hold-firm-spot-rates-slide/
6. Report warns shore leave is in danger of extinction. A new report from the ITF Seafarers’ Trust and the World Maritime University (WMU) highlights the continuing absence of shore leave for the world’s seafarers. Analysing the data from 5,879 seafarers who responded to the trust’s shore leave survey, WMU researchers concluded that more than a quarter of seafarers did not get any shore leave at all, and a third only got ashore once or twice during their entire contract, based on an average of 6.6 months onboard.
https://splash247.com/report-warns-shore-leave-is-in-danger-of-extinction/
7. Eastern Pacific lines up feeder boxship series at Mawei Shipyard. Singapore-based Eastern Pacific Shipping (EPS) has made another move into the feeder container market with a major newbuilding order at China’s Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding.Sources following EPS’ shipbuilding moves said the Idan Ofer-led owner has inked firm contracts for 12 vessels of 1,800 teu capacity, with options for another six, worth up to around $680m in total.
https://splash247.com/eastern-pacific-lines-up-feeder-boxship-series-at-mawei-shipyard/
8. Sanctioned Suezmax Oil Tanker Navigates Russian Arctic Without Permit, Unknown Insurance, and Overdue for Inspection. Russia continues to push the safety envelope for oil shipments via the Arctic. A 19-year old sanctioned Suezmax tanker, Latur, loaded with Russian crude oil has entered the country’s Northern Sea Route. The Comoros-flagged tanker left Murmansk on August 6 and is currently displaying China as its destination with a September 6 arrival.
https://gcaptain.com/sanctioned-suezmax-oil-tanker-navigates-russian-arctic-without-permit-unknown-insurance-and-overdue-for-inspection/
9. The Swedish Club warns geopolitical volatility is the new normal for marine insurance. The shipping industry must accept that geopolitical instability is now a permanent part of the operating environment, according to Thomas Nordberg (pictured), Managing Director of The Swedish Club.
https://www.shipmanagementinternational.com/news/the-swedish-club-warns-geopolitical-volatility-is-the-new-normal-for-marine-insurance
10. PSA Singapore and CCN launch OptEModal digital platform to boost sea–air connectivity. PSA Singapore (PSA) and Cargo Community Network (CCN) last week announced the launch of OptEModal, a next-generation digital solution that enables faster, smarter and more coordinated sea-air intermodal transhipment. OptEModal is an intermodal shipment management platform that enables the logistics community to track multimodal shipments and manage potential risks during mode transfers.
https://www.shipmanagementinternational.com/news/psa-singapore-and-ccn-launch-optemodal-digital-platform-to-boost-seaair-connectivity