10th January 2026 – 16th January 2026
LOCAL NEWS
1. Cyprus shipping ministry expects marine pollution plan to be ready by summer
Speaking to Entrepreneurial Limassol, a periodical published by the Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Director General of the Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Shipping, Theodoulos Mesimeris indicated that he expects that the new comprehensive strategy to prevent, monitor, and respond to marine pollution will be ready before the summer season begins.
Mr. Mesimeris clarified that the objective is to finally establish a clear coordination mechanism, with well-defined responsibilities and timelines, so that every involved authority knows exactly what actions to take, both preventively and in the event of a crisis.
Before the summer, an action plan must be prepared as the product of collective effort. This will be submitted as a proposal to the Shipping Deputy Minister, Marina Hadjimanolis, with the aim of being presented to the Council of Ministers for approval. The plan will include specific actions, clearly defined responsibilities and timelines, covering the entire spectrum, from prevention and monitoring to control and the handling of a pollution incident should one arise.
The plan includes the use of technology, through the deployment of drones in cooperation with EMSA, the European Maritime Safety Agency, which will be able to detect overloading of the sea or pollution slicks. Beyond monitoring, an important key of the plan is the strengthening of inspections, with attention given to vessels.
Related Articles:
Cyprus shipping ministry expects marine pollution plan to be ready by summer | Cyprus Mail
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
2. EU states back record South America trade accord: what it means for transport
On the 9th January 2026, EU states gave the go-ahead for the bloc to sign its largest free trade accord with the South American group Mercosur, aiming to create one of the world’s largest free trade areas.
In particular, the European Council adopted the two decisions authorising the signature of the EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA) and the interim Trade Agreement (iTA). The iTA will be repealed and replaced by the EMPA once the latter is fully ratified and enters into force. The approval clears the way for Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to sign the agreement with Mercosur partners - Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay - in Asuncion. Argentina's Foreign Ministry said the signing ceremony would take place on the 17th January 2026.
The goals of the new EU-Mercosur trade deal are:
- to increase bilateral trade and investment, and lower tariff and non-tariff trade barriers - notably for small and medium-sized enterprises;
- to create more stable and predictable rules for trade and investment through better and stronger rules, e.g. in the area of intellectual property rights (including geographical indications), food safety standards, competition and good regulatory practices, and;
- to promote shared values and sustainable development, including by strengthening worker’s rights, fighting climate change, ensuring environmental protection, and encouraging responsible business conduct.
The EU–Mercosur trade deal comes at a moment of growing pressure to diversify export markets and trade partners amid heightened geopolitical uncertainty, particularly in light of US tensions with China and the imposition of US tariffs. According to experts, the European Commission has sought to expand the EU’s network of trade relations to compensate for pressures from US tariffs, aggressive challenges from China, and the need to secure access to critical materials. Whether that diversification strategy is credible hinged in no small part on this trade deal—not just on the substance of market access and comparative advantages but also on the geopolitical feasibility of such a major agreement. The shifts in US trade policy under Trump, the challenges to the global trading system that Europe’s export-oriented economies depend on, and the demonstration of China’s stranglehold on critical resources clearly accelerated the decadeslong negotiations between the EU and Mercosur.
According to the European Commission, more than 90 percent of tariffs are to be gradually dismantled in the future. Companies could save around four billion euros in duties each year as a result.
The European Commission introduced a slew of regular monitoring instruments, which will have to report to the European Council and European Parliament for increased accountability on enforcement. The Commission will be able to suspend imports from Mercosur in sensitive sectors if it deems this to be necessary.
For the transport and logistics sector, the EU–Mercosur agreement is of central importance. With the reduction of tariffs and trade barriers, bilateral trade volumes are expected to rise significantly—along with demand for sea, air and land transport.
For logistics service providers, this means:
- rising container and general cargo volumes at ports,
- higher demand for project, automotive and machinery logistics,
- growing importance of multimodal transport chains between Europe and South America,
- additional requirements for customs clearance, certificates of origin and compliance.
European Shipowners / ECSA welcomed the approval by EU Member States of the EU–Mercosur trade agreement as a strong signal in support of open, rules-based trade at a time of heightened geopolitical uncertainty. “Shipping is essential to Europe’s trade, connectivity and security. By advancing free and fair trade through agreements such as EU–Mercosur, Europe strengthens its economic security and resilience, while ensuring that European shipping can continue to deliver for citizens, industry and global partners” said Sotiris Raptis, Secretary General of European Shipowners
Related Articles:
EU states back record South America trade accord after 25 years | Reuters
European Commission: EU-Mercosur
EU–Mercosur trade deal explained: 5 key things to know
EU–Mercosur trade deal: what it means for transport and logistics
European Shipowners welcome approval by EU Member States of the EU–Mercosur Trade Agreement | ECSA
EU-Mercosur agreement: Five key questions about where things stand
3. Trump orders tariffs against countries that do business with Iran
On Monday, 12th January 2026, the US President, Donald J. Trump, ordered the imposition of tariffs targeting foreign states that maintain commercial relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran.
“Effective immediately, any country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a Tariff of 25% on any and all business being done with the United States of America,” Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform. “This Order is final and conclusive,” the US president wrote without providing further details.
There was no official documentation about the policy from the White House on its website or information about the legal authority Trump would use to impose the tariffs. Although the United States already maintains a robust framework of extraterritorial sanctions against Iran, the Administration has not yet promulgated formal regulations, enforcement mechanisms, or interpretive guidance governing the scope or implementation of the proposed tariff regime.
Under the announced measure, any country that engages in trade with Iran would be subject to a 25% tariff on all goods and services exchanged with the United States. If implemented as stated, the measure would be expected to have significant economic consequences, particularly for China, which is Iran’s largest trading partner and one of the United States’ principal commercial counterparts. Other countries that are expected to be affected by this measure are Turkey, Iran’s second largest trading partner, Pakistan and India.
The announcement has prompted international responses. The Chinese Embassy in Washington publicly criticized the policy, stating that China would take “all necessary measures” to protect its national interests and reiterating its opposition to unilateral sanctions and what it described as the improper exercise of extraterritorial jurisdiction. A spokesperson for the embassy emphasized that China’s position against the indiscriminate use of tariffs is longstanding, asserting that tariff and trade wars produce no beneficiaries and that coercive economic measures are ineffective in resolving disputes.
The tariff announcement occurs against the backdrop of a broader reassessment by the US Administration of its policy toward Iran. According to reporting by The Wall Street Journal, deliberations among senior U.S. officials have encompassed a wide range of potential actions, including cyber operations and the possible use of military force. The President has also stated publicly that the United States may engage in talks with Iranian officials and that he remains in contact with opposition groups, while simultaneously increasing pressure on Iran’s leadership through economic and military threats.
Throughout his second term, President Trump has frequently relied on tariffs as a tool of foreign and trade policy, imposing or threatening duties on countries over their relationships with U.S. adversaries and over trade practices he has characterized as detrimental to U.S. economic interests. At the same time, the President’s trade authority is under heightened judicial scrutiny. The U.S. Supreme Court is currently considering challenges to a broad range of tariffs imposed during the Trump Administration, raising fundamental questions regarding the scope of presidential power in trade matters. The Court has thus far declined to issue a ruling during its initial decision windows this year, including the most recent opportunity.
The case has drawn significant attention from the business community, as multiple companies, including major retailers, have initiated litigation seeking reimbursement of import duties should the Court determine that the President lacked statutory authority to impose the tariffs. Oral arguments were heard in early November, during which justices across the ideological spectrum expressed scepticism regarding the Administration’s reliance on a 1977 statute intended for use in national emergencies as the legal basis for sweeping global trade measures. The Administration has continued to press its position before the Court, with President Trump publicly warning that an adverse ruling would significantly undermine U.S. leverage in trade negotiations. Regardless of the outcome, the Court’s decision is widely viewed as a landmark ruling with potentially far-reaching implications for the balance of powers between the executive branch and Congress in the realm of international trade.
Related Articles:
Attachment 1: TradeWinds 13/01 - Trump orders tariffs against countries that do business with Iran
Reuters 13/01 - Trump says nations doing business with Iran face 25% tariff on US trade
How Trump’s secondary tariffs could hurt Tehran | Iran International
Trump's tariffs on Iran could raise prices in the US | AP News
Which countries do business with Iran and what could new US tariffs mean?
4. EU's proposal for sanctions on Iran
As tension still lingers over the Middle East, on Thursday, 15th January 2026, the EU’s diplomatic wing sent to European governments a proposal for new sanctions, designed to retaliate against the regime in Tehran for its recent crackdown on protesters.
According to diplomatic sources, after technical talks on Thursday, 15th January 2026, the EU proposal now includes sanctions on 20 further individuals for human right violations and ten companies involved in developing drone technology. Brussels is aiming for approval when EU foreign ministers gather in Brussels on the 29th January 2026, hosted by Kaja Kallas.
Related Articles:
Newsletter: Inside the EU’s proposal for fresh sanctions on Iran | Euronews
EU floats fresh Iran sanctions amid protests crackdown | Euractiv
EU to propose new sanctions against Iran after protests | European Newsroom
5. Dozens of ships anchor outside Iran's ports as Shipping awaits outcome of Iran-Trump standoff
According to data and shipping sources in recent days dozens of commercial ships have dropped anchor at a distance outside Iran's port limits. Such movements were precautionary given the tensions amid ongoing protests in Iran, the shipping sources said. Port limits are significant because they run a higher risk of collateral damage in the event of air strikes on nearby infrastructure.
On Monday, 12th January 2026, the U.S. Navy's Combined Maritime Force said in a note that the level of interference with GNSS navigation systems, which included GPS, had increased to "substantial" in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz area over the past week.
In the meantime, Iran has warned the US that any strike against it would make US and Israeli “shipping centres” legitimate targets. It’s unclear what “shipping centres” means in this context. Risk intelligence senior analyst Dirk Siebels described the threat as “murky”, but said it may pertain to regions as well as specific ports
The card Iran has threatened to play when tensions have risen in the past has been to close the Strait of Hormuz. Closing the Strait has been touted as a potential option for the Iranian regime many times, and while Siebels admitted that Iran has the capacity to attack ships in the Middle East Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, he has his doubts over whether this would ever be a realistic option for Tehran, since an effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz would “go against their own interests and certainly against those of China, which happens to be the largest buyer of Iranian crude exports”.
BIMCO chief safety and security officer Jakob Larsen, said Iranian forces were more likely to be preoccupied with managing domestic unrest than projecting power abroad., however, actions by actors such as the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy “may become desperate and less concerned with long-term consequences” if the situation continues to escalate.
“Our advice to shipowners is to continue monitoring developments closely and to factor into their security risk assessments that conditions could deteriorate with very little warning,” he said.
Related Articles:
Dozens of ships anchor outside Iran's ports as US tensions rise | Reuters
Iran threatens to attack ‘shipping centres’ if US ... | myKN
Dozens of vessels anchored outside Iran's port limits - SAFETY4SEA
Shipping awaits outcome of Iran-Trump standoff - Splash247
Dozens of ships anchor outside Iran ports amid US tensions | The Journal Record
6. EU: New dynamic mechanism to lower price cap for Russian crude oil to $44,10 per barrel
On the 15th January 2026, the European Commission announced that on that day the new automatic and dynamic mechanism for price adaptation of the Oil Price Cap for Russian crude would be applied for the first time. The new price cap for Russian crude oil is $44,10 per barrel, effective 1st February 2026. Starting 15th January 2026, old contracts concluded under the previous price cap can be executed for 90 days.
The announcement states that the cap was lowered from $60 to $47.60 under the 18th sanctions package. In the meantime, an automatic and dynamic procedure for setting the future crude oil price cap was introduced. The new procedure ensures that the cap will always be 15% lower than the average market price of Urals crude oil for the previous reporting period of 22 weeks, the European Commission said. Under the revised rules, EU companies will be barred from providing transport, insurance, financing, or other services for oil shipments sold above the new cap.
The price cap will be subject to regular review every six months by the Commission, although extraordinary reviews are possible where duly justified by developments in the oil markets or other unforeseen circumstances. The Commission is in regular contact with EU Member States, as well as with international partners, to ensure close coordination on the measures.
Related Articles:
New dynamic mechanism to lower price cap for Russian crude oil to $44,10 per barrel - Finance
Price Cap Coalition statements and guidance - Finance - European Commission
EU to lower price cap for Russian oil to $44.10/bbl as of Feb 1
EU lowers price cap for Russian oil | Ukrainska Pravda
7. BIMCO Documentary Committee adopts Standard Agreement for the Supervision of Vessel Construction (SUPERMAN 2025)
On the 13th January 2026, BIMCO announced that it has adopted the revised Standard Agreement for the Supervision of Vessel Construction (SUPERMAN 2025), updating one of the industry’s key contracts for shipbuilding oversight.
The said Agreement provides a clear and balanced framework for agreements between shipowners and supervision service providers for vessel construction, ensuring that responsibilities, authority, and obligations are well-defined, giving clarity and certainty and reducing risk through the build process.
The contract sets out the scope of supervision services in detail and defines the obligations of both parties, covering reporting requirements, access to shipyards, and compliance with applicable regulations. Financial provisions are also addressed comprehensively, with clear rules on fees, expenses, and budgeting, as well as secure protocols for changing nominated bank accounts. In addition, the agreement incorporates legal and compliance clauses such as law and arbitration, termination rights, and liability limitations, ensuring a robust and modern contractual framework.
The new edition updates and improves upon the previous (2016) version and incorporates amendments to align SUPERMAN with SHIPMAN 2024 and CREWMAN A and B 2025, ensuring consistency across BIMCO’s suite of management services contracts. Notable changes include:
- The definition of “Regulatory Authorities” now explicitly includes Flag State and Classification Society, reflecting their critical role in vessel construction oversight.
- New subclauses in Clause 10 (Supervisors’ Fee and Expenses) set clear rules for dealing with any withholding tax liabilities and introduce a secure protocol for making any changes to the bank account.
- Adopted from SHIPMAN and CREWMAN, this provision addresses changes in ownership of the parties, including the right to opt out and terminate the contract.
- Personal Data Protection, Cyber Security, Sanctions and Anti-Corruption clauses are now embedded in the contract, eliminating the need for rider clauses.
- Provisions on waivers, warranty of authority, confidentiality, and electronic signatures ensure the contract meets current operational standards.
Related Articles:
BIMCO Documentary Committee adopts new SUPERMAN 2025 contract
8. IMB Annual Piracy Report: 137 recorded incidents in 2025
The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reported 137 incidents involving ships worldwide between January and December 2025, an increase from 116 in 2024 and 120 in 2023. These incidents included 121 boardings, four hijackings, two cases of vessels being fired upon and ten attempted attacks. Although most incidents were assessed as low-level, violence against crew members persisted. In 2025, forty-six crew members were taken hostage, twenty-five were kidnapped, ten were threatened, four were injured, and three were assaulted.
Piracy off the Somali coast remained limited in 2025, though two incidents occurring far offshore demonstrated that Somali pirate groups retain long-range operational capabilities. The continued absence of widespread piracy in the region reflects the deterrent effect of sustained naval patrols, vessel hardening, and adherence to Best Management Practices. In the Gulf of Guinea, twenty-one incidents were reported in 2025, compared with eighteen in 2024. The region accounted for the kidnapping of twenty-three crew members across four incidents, underscoring the need for enhanced coordination to reduce violence against seafarers. The Singapore Straits recorded the highest number of incidents globally in 2025, with eighty reported cases, representing approximately fifty-eight percent of all incidents worldwide. While generally opportunistic in nature, these incidents showed a notable increase in the use of firearms. Reported incidents declined in the latter half of the year following enforcement action by the Indonesian Marine Police. Within the Indonesian archipelago, incidents fell to twelve in 2025, down from twenty-two in 2024.
The IMB Piracy Reporting Centre emphasized that timely reporting of incidents remains essential to effective prevention and the safety of vessels operating in affected waters.
Related Articles:
SAFETY4SEA 15/01 - IMB Annual Piracy Report: 137 recorded incidents in 2025
9. US TREASURY REPORT
The US Treasury Report for all actions reported is hereby attached.
Related Article:
Attachment 2: US Treasury Report for week 10/01/2026- 16/01/2026
10. PIRACY REPORT
The WTS Report has not been made available yet.
Nothing important to report from the ILO and the House of Representatives.