11th October 2025 – 17th October 2025
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
1. IMO Postpones Adoption of the “Net Zero Framework”
Between 14 and 17 October 2025, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) convened an extraordinary session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC ES.2) in London to decide on the adoption of the proposed Net Zero Framework (NZF) – a global mechanism aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping.
Following extensive deliberations and lack of consensus among Member States, the IMO decided to postpone the adoption of the NZF by one year. According to industry reports, the decision followed procedural disagreements over the adoption process and calls from a number of delegations for more time to examine the economic and technical implications of the proposal.
The final vote resulted in 57 votes in favour of postponement, 21 abstentions, including major shipowning countries with large fleets such as Greece, Cyprus, Japan and South Korea and 49 against. The motion to defer the decision was led by Saudi Arabia and supported by a broad coalition of countries, including the United States, Argentina, Singapore and China. In contrast, Brazil and Denmark were among the countries that opposed the delay.
Ahead of the IMO meeting, on 14 October 2025, the Cyprus Union of Shipowners (CUS) issued an official Press Release titled “Urgent Appeal to EU Member States to Reject the Proposed IMO NZF”, urging to allow more time for consensus-building among Member States.
The CUS underlined the need for a framework that is both environmentally effective and economically sustainable, stressing that premature adoption in its current form could negatively impact the competitiveness of the European and Cypriot shipping sectors, particularly small and medium-sized shipowners, who form the backbone of European shipping.
The Government of the Republic of Cyprus supported the position of the Cyprus Union of Shipowners, for a more balanced, globally coordinated, and pragmatic approach to the decarbonisation of shipping. The Government’s stance reaffirmed Cyprus’ long-standing commitment to the sustainable growth of the maritime sector and its role as a leading voice within the EU and IMO for policies that combine environmental responsibility with competitiveness and technological progress.
Following the release of our official statement opposing the proposed NZF, it became evident that there was full alignment and mutual understanding between the governments of Cyprus and Greece. As already stated, both nations took a coordinated stance by abstaining from the EU voting blocs advocating for the full adoption of the proposed NZF, a policy that, if implemented, would have effectively marked the demise of the shipping industry.
Similarly, Greece, as one of the world’s leading maritime nations, expressed reservations over the immediate adoption of the current NZF, highlighting the need for greater clarity, fairness and feasibility in the proposed mechanism. The Greek delegation stressed that global decarbonisation efforts must not undermine shipping’s competitiveness or create distortions between developed and developing maritime economies.
While Cyprus and Greece took a principled stand by abstaining from the vote, it is unfortunate that Malta, Portugal and other key EU allies did not follow. Adding to the concern, both the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) expressed disappointment with the outcome, while reaffirming their support for the current NZF.
It is noteworthy, that among those opposing the NZF in its current form were major non-EU countries, either key trading countries or leading maritime nations with substantial fleets or both, of which once again this proves just how problematic this framework truly is. Additionally, the majority of prominent Greek shipowners also opposed the NZF in its current form, highlighting the widespread concerns within the industry about the detrimental impact this current framework could have on shipping.
The postponement provides an important opportunity for constructive dialogue and for the formulation of a framework that reflects common ground among governments, industry and technical experts.
The Cyprus Union of Shipowners will continue to closely monitor developments at the IMO and engage actively in forthcoming discussions, working alongside national authorities and industry partners to promote a fair, effective and globally workable framework under the auspices of the IMO that advances environmental progress while safeguarding the competitiveness and resilience of international shipping.
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2. Trump threatens to impose an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods in an attempt to force China to drop the proposed export controls, as US – China Trade War escalates
On Friday, 10th November 2024, US President Donald Trump stated that the US would impose an additional 100% tariff on top of the 30% tariffs already in effect on Chinese goods starting on Nov. 1 over Beijing's plan to impose new export controls on rare earth minerals.
At the start of this week, Wall Street breathed a sigh of relief when Trump hinted at a possible deescalation, since then, however, China sanctioned US units of a South Korean shipping company, while Trump threatened to further curtail trade with the country in response to its halt of US soybean purchases.
On Wednesday, 15th October 2025, Trump confirmed that trade tensions with China remain high, telling a reporter who asked whether the two countries are headed for a prolonged trade war, "Well, you're in one now."
Top US officials have accused China of betraying a trade truce reached earlier this year, escalating tensions between the two economic giants, with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent blasting China's plans to curb exports of rare earths "economic coercion" and "a global supply chain power grab".
At the same time, they left the door open to negotiation, questioning whether China would ultimately implement the export controls it announced last week.
"The scope and the scale is just unimaginable, and it cannot be implemented," Greer said of China's tightened export controls.
The only way China can avoid the new US tariffs, Greer told NBC News, is to drop the proposed export controls.
Bessent and Greer were cautiously optimistic that Beijing would back down and return to the negotiating table.
While the U.S. and China are slugging it out over cargo shipping fees, Europe risks getting hurt by both sides.
The U.S. measure may have little impact on European shipping firms, however, the Chinese retaliation could be much more painful. China's fees apply to any vessel owned or operated by a company in which Americans hold at least 25 percent of the equity, voting rights, or board seats — a definition broad enough to ensnare many European companies. “There is not yet as clear a measurement available because the ownership structures of most shipping companies are — often purposefully — opaque,” James Lightbourn, head of maritime advisory firm Cavalier Shipping, said. “The focus initially will be on publicly listed companies; however, there are also multiple examples of European shipping companies that are owned privately by U.S. funds”.
Lightbourn noted that European shipping companies can more easily sidestep the U.S. fees — and many have already done so. “Most can redeploy any Chinese-built vessels in their fleets to trade lanes that avoid the U.S. entirely”. China, on the other hand, is too deeply embedded in global trade — especially for bulk commodities like crude oil and iron ore — for rerouting to be realistic, Lightbourn said.
The Chinese retaliation came with little warning and European firms are moving fast to limit their exposure. Some spent the weekend reshuffling their boards.
Related Articles:
BBC 15/10 - Bessent blasts China as 'unreliable' as trade tensions mount
POLITICO 14/10 - US-China shipping fee fight creates ‘trepidation’ in Europe
SAFETY4SEA 15/10 - Intermodal: US-China tensions mark a setback to trade
3. UK targets Russian oil market in fresh sanctions, EU may include similar sanctions in the 19th Sanctions Package
On Wednesday, 15th October 2025, the United Kingdom targeted Russia's two largest oil companies, Lukoil and Rosneft, and 44 shadow fleet tankers in what it described as a new bid to tighten energy sanctions and choke off Kremlin revenues.
Lukoil and Rosneft were designated under Britain's Russia sanctions laws for what London described as their role in supporting the Russian government. They are subject to an asset freeze, director disqualification, transport restrictions, and a ban on British trust services.
Also designated by London were Chinese refiner Shandong Yulong Petrochemical and several port operators - Shandong Jingang Port, Shandong Baogang.
"We are introducing targeted sanctions against the two biggest oil companies in Russia, Lukoil and Rosneft," Britain's finance minister Rachel Reeves told reporters while on a trip in the United States.
"At the same time, we are ramping up pressure on companies in third countries, including India and China, that continue to facilitate getting Russia oil onto global markets."
China's foreign ministry told a regular news briefing on Thursday, 16th October 2025, that it opposes unilateral sanctions without a basis in international law or authorisation by the U.N. Security Council, is deeply dissatisfied with Britain's move and has lodged a stern protest.
In the meantime, negotiations continue on the EU’s proposed 19th sanctions package against Russia which among other things includes prohibitions on Russian LNG as of January 2027, lifts remaining exemptions on Rosneft and Gazprom Neft and targets an additional 118 vessels in the shadow fleet.
It is expected that the European Council will make its decision in this regard at the end of October 2025. However, such decisions require unanimity from the 27 Member States, and it is reported that Hungary and Slovenia are at time of writing threatening to veto the decision.
For the time being, legal experts suggest that those affected by the latest UK sanctions should carefully consider their positions. The OFSI has published a General Licence – Russian Oil Majors Wind Down INT/2025/7539056 permitting a wind-down of transactions to 23:59 on 29 November 2025 and may be relevant in considering any existing transactions or the closing out of any positions.
Related Articles:
BBC 16/10 - UK sanctions Russia's oil giants over Ukraine war
Infomarine On-Line 17/10 - Russia’s 44 Tanker Shadow Fleet Takes Hit as UK Imposes Sanctions
Reuters 16/10 - UK sanctions Russia's Lukoil and Rosneft, targets shadow fleet
Hill Dickinson 16/10 - UK announces new sanctions targeting Russian oil companies and shadow fleet
HM Treasury 15/10 - INT-2025-7539056_GL.pdf
4. Amendments to the Turkish Straits Vessel Traffic Regulation Implementation Directive
The Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Directorate General of Maritime Affairs, has announced the implementation of a revised version of the Turkish Straits Vessel Traffic Regulation Implementation Directive, aligning it with current maritime operational requirements and recently enacted maritime legislation.
The updated directive, approved under Ministerial Decree No. 306827 on 1 October 2025, officially entered into force on 13 October 2025. The revised directive modernizes the regulatory framework governing vessel traffic within the Turkish Straits system, comprising the İstanbul Strait, the Çanakkale Strait, and the Sea of Marmara. It replaces the previous version enacted under Ministerial Decree No. 13855 in 2018.
According to North Standard, the key amendments are as follows:
- Container vessels ≥300m: may transit the Çanakkale Strait at night.
- ETA changes: ≥300m passenger/container vessels must notify TBGTH 6 hours in advance.
- Tow length: increased from 90m to 120m for Turkish-flag tugs (construction/subsea ops).
- LPG vessels (150–200m, in ballast/ammonia): permitted for night transit with pilot & tug.
- Checklists: now available in both Turkish & English.
- Article 15 updated for new pilotage/tug escort planning at Çanakkale.
The related Circular can be read here.
Related Articles:
SAFETY4SEA 17/10 - Amendments to Turkish Straits vessel traffic regulation come into force
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5. China sanctions on Korean shipbuilder and reaffirms that Chinese-built ships would be exempted from port fees on U.S.-linked vessels
On Tuesday, 14th October 2025, China’s ministry of commerce stated that it had enacted its anti-foreign sanctions law against Hanwha’s US units.
China has added five US subsidiaries of South Korean shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean to its sanctions list for allegedly co-operating with American efforts to impose punitive fees on Chinese vessels.
The order will prohibit Chinese organizations and individuals from doing business with the sanctioned companies.
In the same announcement, the Chinese ministry said it had launched a counter-investigation into the U.S. probe of China’s dominance in global shipbuilding, warning of further retaliatory actions. It argued that the U.S. investigation poses a threat to China’s national security and maritime sector, pointing to Hanwha’s involvement as part of the concern.
On Thursday, 16th October 2025, the Trump administration condemned China’s sanctions on the subsidiaries of Hanwha Ocean, calling them an attempt to weaken shipbuilding cooperation between South Korea and the United States.
In response to questions from South Korean reporters, the U.S. Department of State said the sanctions represented “an irresponsible attempt to interfere with the operations of private companies and undermine Korea-U.S. cooperation aimed at revitalizing the U.S. shipbuilding and manufacturing industries.” The department added, “China’s move only reaffirms the importance of strengthening economic cooperation with our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific,” describing it as “a recent example of China’s coercion against South Korea.”
On Friday, 17th October 2025, officials in Seoul also stated that China's sanctions on U.S.-linked units of shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean threaten to impact ambitious plans for shipbuilding cooperation between Seoul and Washington. South Korea has vowed to "Make America Shipbuilding Great Again" with a pledge of $150 billion of investment in the sector to help U.S. President Donald Trump's push to revitalise American shipbuilding to catch up with China's.
Earlier Tuesday, 14th October 2025, Beijing confirmed it had begun collecting the additional port fees on U.S.-linked vessels while clarifying that Chinese-built ships would be exempted from the charges.
According to state broadcaster CCTV, vessels owned and operated ships by non – Chinese companies (including US companies), which have been built in China would be exempt from the fees. The details published by CCTV clarify the specific provisions on exemptions, including for ships built by China, empty ships entering Chinese shipyards for repair, and other ships that are deemed exempted from payment.
Related Articles:
Reuters 14/10 - China begins charging port fees for US ships, exempts China-built ones
FreightWaves 15/10 - U.S. ships built in China exempt from new port fees
Financial Times - China slaps sanctions on Korean shipbuilder accused of helping US
SAFETY4SEA 14/10 - China sanctions Hanwha subsidiaries & launches US counter-probe
Reuters 17/10 - China sanctions on Hanwha threaten South Korea-US shipbuilding ties, officials say
Businesskorea 17/10 - U.S. Condemns China’s Sanctions on Hanwha Ocean
SeaTrade Maritime News 15/10 - China sanctions Hanwha Ocean’s US affiliates
6. China Imposes Special Port Fees on US Vessels: Key Details for BIMCO Members / The conflict between the US and China over the imposition of fees on vessels is causing disruptions in global shipping
It appears that a new trade war between the United States and China is now officially underway. As reported last week, China has announced the implementation of special port tariffs on U.S. vessels calling at Chinese ports, effective 14 October 2025. This move comes in direct response to the recent U.S. decision to impose new port service charges on Chinese vessels.
As per the announcements made by the Ministry of Transport of China, the new tariffs will apply to vessels that are owned or operated by U.S. companies, organizations, or individuals, as well as those controlled by entities in which U.S. interests hold 25% or more equity, whether through ownership, voting rights, or board representation. Vessels flying the U.S. flag or built in the United States will also be subject to the charges. The new fees imposed by China will be collected at the first port of entry, either for a single voyage or for the first five voyages within a one-year period.
This is expected to be only the first phase of a broader plan, with further increases in port fees anticipated in the years to follow.
Related Articles:
BIMCO 15/10 - China Imposes Special Port Fees on US Vessels: Key Details for BIMCO Members
7. US TREASURY REPORT
The US Treasury Report for all actions reported is hereby attached.
Related Article:
Attachment 1: US Treasury Report for week 11/10/2025 – 17/10/2025
8. PIRACY REPORT
The Piracy Report for all actions reported is hereby attached.
Related Article:
Attachment 2: Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report, for the period between 17/09/2025 – 15/10/2025
LOCAL NEWS
9. The Shipping Deputy Ministry (SDM) launches CYSh1P: A One-Stop Digital Portal for Maritime Services
On 14 October 2025, the SDM officially launched the Cyprus Shipping 1-Stop-Shop Portal (CYSh1P), a centralised digital platform aimed at streamlining and modernising all maritime services provided by the SDM. This tool is designed to offer shipping stakeholders quick and easy access to a range of services including:
- Ship Registration and Registry Transactions;
- Transactions related to technical (safety and security) and environmental matters for Cyprus-flagged vessels;
- Seafarer Training and Certification;
- Tonnage Tax System (TTS) Services;
- Small and High-Speed Vessel Services.
This initial phase of the launch provides users with access to apply for the issuance of Seafarer Registration Certificates, as well as the issuance or renewal of Seaman’s Books and Endorsements. Users can also submit applications for the issuance or renewal of Seafarer Training Certificates of Proficiency, Documentary Evidence, and Certificates of Competency (CoC).
Additional services will be introduced in the upcoming phases.
A guideline is provided to assist users with registration, profile creation, credentials set-up, and service enrolment.
Users should be aware that the previous eSAS platform has been discontinued and new application can no longer be submitted through it.
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10. Joint Maritime Committee Meeting Cyprus and Egypt
The Shipping Deputy Ministry of Cyprus (SDM) and Egypt’s Ministry of Transport held the first Joint Maritime Committee (JMC) meeting in Limassol, reinforcing maritime ties under the 2006 Merchant Shipping Agreement. The JMC establishes a permanent framework for dialogue and cooperation on shared maritime interests, paving the way for closer, long-term collaboration between Cyprus and Egypt.
The inaugural session of the Committee was co-chaired by Dr Stelios D. Himonas, Permanent Secretary of the SDM and Rear Admiral Nihad Shaheen, Deputy Minister for Maritime and Logistics Affairs of Egypt. High-level representatives from both sides participated, including officials from the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works and the Cyprus Ports Authority, ensuring the active involvement of all key maritime stakeholders.
The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation under the 2006 Merchant Shipping Agreement, including specific agenda items such as collaboration within the framework of the Mediterranean Memorandum of Understanding (MED MoU), mutual cooperation and support within the framework of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), cooperation in seafarer training and maritime education, including partnerships between educational institutions in both countries and mechanisms for implementing joint training programs. In addition, they addressed issues related to cooperation and development between Cypriot and Egyptian ports.
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SDM 16/10 - Joint Maritime Committee Meeting Cyprus and Egypt
Nothing important to report from ILO and the House of Representatives.