1. Mental Health experts warn lack of support for female seafarers puts talent pipeline at risk
Mental health specialists say shipping could lose future talent and leaders if it fails to remove barriers facing women at sea. Female seafarers are often under pressure to prove themselves constantly while also managing family-work strain, stereotypes and workplace bias.
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2. MarinePALS CEO calls for action to make defibrillators mandatory on all merchant vessels
MarinePALS CEO Captain Pradeep Chawla is urging the maritime industry and the IMO to require automated external defibrillators on every merchant ship. He argues the sector has delayed too long and that mandatory onboard AEDs could help prevent avoidable deaths at sea.
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3. Tanker charterers cancel voyages, defer deals; owners seek routes outside Gulf
Oil traders and importers are postponing fresh tanker charters in the Persian Gulf and releasing some ships that had already been booked. That is pushing owners to look for employment outside the Gulf in order to protect cash flow during the disruption.
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4. Shipping Markets hit record highs: Taking Stock
Shipping has once again moved to the center of geopolitical turmoil, with vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz down by more than 90%. The market shock has been accompanied by attacks on ships and ports, damage to energy infrastructure and an all-time high ClarkSea Index.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2026/03/13/shipping-markets-hit-record-highs-taking-stock/
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5. HJ Shipbuilding set to take over HD Hyundai’s Gunsan yard
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has agreed to sell its Gunsan shipyard to HJ Shipbuilding & Construction. The deal would shift control of the yard to HJ and marks another notable change in the South Korean shipbuilding sector.
https://splash247.com/hj-shipbuilding-set-to-take-over-hd-hyundais-gunsan-yard/
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6. Fear of silence keeps harassment hidden at sea
Despite greater regulatory attention, many seafarers still do not report bullying and harassment because they believe nothing will change. Britannia P&I’s Captain Charles Chong says the industry needs trauma-informed leadership, visible follow-up and a broader cultural response to tackle the problem properly.
https://splash247.com/fear-of-silence-keeps-harassment-hidden-at-sea/
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7. Why does the Port of Fujairah matter to the oil market?
Some oil-loading operations at Fujairah were suspended after a drone attack and fire, putting focus on one of the world’s key bunkering and oil export hubs. The port handled more than 1.7m barrels per day of crude and refined products on average last year and sold 7.4m cubic meters of marine fuel in 2025.
https://gcaptain.com/why-does-the-port-of-fujairah-matter-to-the-oil-market/
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8. Indian sailors stranded off Iran just want to go home
Indian seafarers stuck near Bandar Abbas say they are desperate to return home after spending weeks trapped in a war zone where ships nearby have been hit. Reuters reports that about 23,000 Indians work on merchant, harbor and offshore vessels across the wider Gulf region, where the conflict has become a major safety issue.
https://gcaptain.com/indian-sailors-stranded-off-iran-just-want-to-go-home/
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9. 36 bulk carriers transit Hormuz Strait, 240 vessels remain stranded
Only 36 bulk carriers had managed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz so far, while 240 vessels were still stranded in the area. The report says more than 80% of ships inside the zone remained stuck despite a limited number of transits.
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10. MacGregor launches new system for container ships load distribution
MacGregor has introduced a new load-distribution solution for container vessels called the Balanced Lashing System. The company says the system went through two years of successful testing before launch.