1. World’s Largest Electric Boxship Sets Sail in China The world’s largest electric boxship has set sail in China, marking a major milestone in zero-emission vessel development.
2. Columbia Shipmanagement CEO Steps Down After nine years in the post, Mark O’Neil is no longer president at Columbia Shipmanagement and CEO of Columbia Group , signaling a major leadership change at one of the world’s largest ship management companies.
3. CENTCOM Extends Iran Shipping Blockade US Central Command (CENTCOM) has extended the reach of its blockade — in force since April 13 — beyond vessels simply entering or leaving Iranian ports. The updated order now covers all Iranian vessels and ships under active OFAC sanctions.
4. Strait of Hormuz Crisis Disrupts Container Shipping The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has cut off a major source of global resin supply, and Indian ports are handling significant rerouted volumes of stranded Persian Gulf-bound containers. Hapag-Lloyd has repositioned its upcoming westbound sailing on the India-USEC “TPI” service to call at Port Qasim, Pakistan, following the suspension of operations at Salalah due to a drone strike.
5. Navigator Holdings Signs $183M Gas Carrier Sale Navigator Holdings has signed a non-binding letter of intent to sell eight gas carriers and its shareholding in a joint venture for about $183 million, in an agreement with Bernhard Schulte and Sloman Neptun covering vessels currently managed under the deal.
6. Fincantieri Wins $30M US Navy Contract Fincantieri Marinette Marine has been awarded a $30 million US Navy contract in support of construction of four Medium Landing Ship vessels under the Navy’s new acquisition framework.
7. Wind Propulsion at Centre of Decarbonisation Push A new global study has placed wind propulsion at the centre of shipping’s decarbonisation strategy , as the industry accelerates its search for green alternatives.
8. Wärtsilä Boosts Ammonia Engine Output Wärtsilä has boosted its ammonia engine output to match its LNG twin , a significant step toward commercially viable ammonia-fuelled propulsion.
9. Fugro Opens ROV Test Pool in Singapore Fugro has opened a new ROV test pool in Singapore to de-risk offshore operations , strengthening the hub’s position as a centre for subsea technology.
10. IMO MEPC 84 Session Approaching The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) will meet for its 84th session at IMO Headquarters in London from April 27 to May 1, 2026 , where key decisions on shipping emissions are expected.
