08th August 2026 – 14th August 2026
Contents
- LOCAL NEWS
- INTERNATIONAL NEWS
- 1. Strait of Hormuz: Continued Disruption and Risks to Global Shipping
- 2. Black Sea Security Concerns: Attacks on Commercial Vessels and Maritime Navigation lead Turkey to restrict the movement of commercial vessels heading toward the Black Sea. Ukraine proposes a deal with Russia to halt attacks on civilian ships
- 3. Putin says Russia will start seizing European vessels if its ships targeted
- 4. BIMCO: HNS Convention set to enter into force in November 2027
- 5. UK extends sanctions waivers for Lukoil international subsidiaries
- 6. China cracks Arctic shipping route in new era for global trade. Russia also sends shadow fleet north
- 7. GARD: Sulphur-related bunker claims on the rise amid increased China MSA enforcement
- 8. Shipping Disruption Mounts as Colombia Quake, Panama Constraints and Middle East Attacks Add Pressure
- 9. US TREASURY REPORT
- 10. PIRACY REPORT
LOCAL NEWS
No Local News reported.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
1. Strait of Hormuz: Continued Disruption and Risks to Global Shipping
On 12 August 2026, Reuters reported that shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remained significantly below normal levels, according to shipping data, as vessel operators continued to avoid the strategic waterway amid ongoing hostilities in the Middle East.
The disruption comes as the United States and Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen reported separate attacks in the region. The incidents occurred in the Gulf of Oman, near the Strait of Hormuz, and at the entrance to the Red Sea, all of which are strategically important routes for global energy shipments.
Furthermore, on the 13th August 2026, the United Arab Emirates has condemned Iran for attacking two ships linked to the UAE’s national oil company in the Strait of Hormuz. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) confirmed that “two of its vessels were attacked while transiting” the waterway on Thursday evening, adding that the situation was “brought under control”, Emirati media reported. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has previously threatened action against any vessels transiting the strait if they are linked to Tehran’s adversaries, or if they fail to comply with Iranian directives.
Both the United States and Iran continue to maintain their respective positions and conditions for ending the conflict. Throughout the conflict, President Trump has alternated between warnings of further escalation and statements that a negotiated settlement may be imminent. Furthermore, on Wednesday, 12th August 2026, President Trump stated that the U.S. has "total control" over the Strait of Hormuz, a claim Iran has disputed.
Iran, for its part, has continued to set conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. On the 8th Aug.2026, Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, the then-secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, set out conditions that the Iranian government says the United States must satisfy before Iran will reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which include lifting the U.S. naval blockade and sanctions against Iran. On 11 August, senior Iranian security official Mohsen Rezaei stated that the Strait would remain closed unless the United States accepted Iran’s demands. According to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, these demands include the release of frozen Iranian assets and an end to regional conflicts, including those in Lebanon and Gaza. Rezaei was quoted as stating that the Strait would not be reopened unless the United States changed its position and accepted Iran’s conditions. Washington did not immediately respond to the statements.
As of mid-August 2026, Iran and Oman are close to finalising a bilateral arrangement governing traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — the waterway carrying roughly a fifth of global oil and LNG, however, this is not a full reopening. It's a managed, time-limited traffic scheme: agreed routing coordinates (northbound entry near the Iranian coast, southbound exit via an Omani-backed corridor), Iranian oversight of navigation and security, a disputed fee structure, and an explicit Iranian ban on US- and Israeli-linked vessels.
US disputes Iran's right to charge fees or require permits at all, and Iran maintains it is negotiating only with Oman — full normalisation still depends on the US lifting its naval blockade and unfreezing Iranian assets. The IMO has separately warned that any toll would "set a dangerous precedent" under international transit-passage law.
The continued divergence between Iran and the US leaves the prospect of a negotiated settlement uncertain. Meanwhile, the reduced level of commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continues to raise concerns regarding the security of a major global energy route and the potential economic consequences of prolonged disruption to maritime trade.
Related Articles:
Attachment 1: Reuters 12/08 - Hormuz shipping traffic falls to one-week low amid hostilities
Attachment 2: Reuters 11/08 - New attacks on shipping as Iran war talks hit fresh impasse
Attachment 3: Reuters 12/08 - Four crew, two rescuers killed in Red Sea attack; US strikes ship in Gulf of Oman
Attachment 4: Reuters 11/08 - Houthi attack on small cargo ship in Red Sea kills three crew members, sources say
Attachment 5: Reuters 12/08 - Wall Street ends down as US-Iran peace optimism fades
UAE accuses Iran of attacks on two ADNOC vessels in Strait of Hormuz | Shipping News | Al Jazeera
2. Black Sea Security Concerns: Attacks on Commercial Vessels and Maritime Navigation lead Turkey to restrict the movement of commercial vessels heading toward the Black Sea. Ukraine proposes a deal with Russia to halt attacks on civilian ships
Recent incidents involving commercial vessels in the Black Sea have raised concerns regarding the safety of navigation and the potential impact of ongoing hostilities on commercial shipping.
Following continued attacks on Turkish-owned vessels in the Black Sea, including further incidents on 8 August, Bloomberg News reported that Ankara had restricted commercial vessel traffic entering the Black Sea. On the 8th August 2026 Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has called on Russia and Ukraine to implement a mutual moratorium on attacking commercial vessels in the Black Sea, warning that the conflict is increasingly threatening international shipping.
According to Le Temps, Fidan said “The conflict has spread to the entire Black Sea. At first, they targeted ports and warships. Now they are attacking all merchant ships without exception”. Following Fidan’s remarks, Turkey began restricting the movement of commercial vessels heading toward the Black Sea. According to Bloomberg, Turkey’s Directorate General of Coastal Safety informed several ships bound for the Russian port of Novorossiysk that it is currently withholding transit permits or taking longer to process applications for passage through the Dardanelles Strait.
Furthermore, Turkey has proposed creating two separate security corridors in the Black Sea, one for ships bound for Russia and another for vessels bound for Ukraine, as maritime risks in the region continue to rise. Fidan said he had submitted proposals to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on measures to address the situation and is now working to implement them.
In parallel, in a separate development, the Financial Times reported on 12 August, citing Ukrainian officials, that Ukraine had suspended drone strikes against oil tankers operating from Russia’s Black Sea port of Novorossiysk following a request from U.S., which expressed concerns that such strikes could disrupt global oil markets and adversely affect U.S. companies by targeting tankers transporting crude oil from Kazakhstan to the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) terminal at Novorossiysk.
Furthermore, a U.S. official cited by Reuters stated that the Trump administration had warned Ukraine to “cease and desist” from targeting non-Russian vessels in the Black Sea and CPC infrastructure. According to the official, the United States considers the CPC an alternative to Russian energy supplies. The official further stated that Ukraine had undertaken to refrain from targeting CPC infrastructure and non-Russian vessels bound for the CPC offtake point, provided that such vessels are not subject to Ukrainian sanctions.
According to Reuters, Ukraine has proposed a deal with Russia for both sides to halt their attacks on civilian ships in the Black Sea in an apparent attempt to reopen the crucial grain corridor. Kyiv is said to have made the offer through a third party, however, Moscow has yet to respond, the news agency added.
Related Articles:
Attachment 6: Reuters 12/08 - Ukraine halts strikes on tankers using Russian port at US request, FT says
Attachment 7: Reuters 12/08 - Ukraine pounds naval base, grain terminals at Russia's Black Sea port of Novorossiysk
SAFETY4SEA 10/08 - Drone strike disables bulk carrier as Black Sea shipping tensions mount
3. Putin says Russia will start seizing European vessels if its ships targeted
On 12 August, President Vladimir Putin stated that Russia would take reciprocal measures if European countries began seizing Russian merchant vessels. The commander of Russia’s Pacific Fleet, Viktor Liina, similarly stated that Russian forces were prepared to inspect and detain vessels from states considered hostile by Russia.
The statements come as the European Union continues to strengthen measures against Russia’s so-called shadow fleet, including through additional sanctions targeting vessels suspected of facilitating sanctions evasion. Some European governments are also considering further maritime enforcement measures against vessels suspected of circumventing sanctions.
During naval exercises in Russia’s Far East, Admiral Liina told President Putin that vessels operated by countries such as the United Kingdom and France also transport goods under flags of convenience and could, in Russia’s view, be characterised as part of a “shadow fleet”. He further stated that the Russian Pacific Fleet had analysed maritime traffic in the Asia-Pacific region and had information on the routes, cargoes and ownership of vessels linked to states considered unfriendly by Russia.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also criticised the European Union’s EUNAVFOR MED Irini operation, which was originally established to support the enforcement of the UN arms embargo on Libya, alleging that it had carried out unlawful inspections of foreign vessels.
The statements by Russian officials indicate a potential escalation in tensions surrounding maritime sanctions enforcement. They also raise broader legal and operational concerns regarding the inspection, detention and seizure of merchant vessels in the context of international maritime trade.
Related Article:
Attachment 9: Reuters 12/08 - Putin says Russia will start seizing European vessels if its ships targeted
4. BIMCO: HNS Convention set to enter into force in November 2027
On 13 August, BIMCO issued an article highlighting the significance of the International Convention on Liability and Compensation for Damage in Connection with the Carriage of Hazardous and Noxious Substances by Sea (HNS Convention), which is expected to enter into force on 29 November 2027. The Convention will establish a more uniform international framework for liability and compensation for damage arising from the carriage of hazardous and noxious substances (HNS) by sea.
BIMCO notes that, at present, incidents involving HNS may be subject to a combination of national laws, regional rules and general limitation regimes. Once the Convention enters into force, it will introduce a more structured regime based on strict shipowner liability, compulsory insurance or other financial security, and access to an international compensation fund. The Convention will cover a broad range of HNS carried as cargo by sea, including certain oils, chemicals, liquefied gases and packaged dangerous goods. Furthermore, the scope of compensable damage extends beyond pollution and may include damage resulting from fire, explosion or toxicity, as well as personal injury and property damage.
BIMCO points out that the Convention establishes a two-tier compensation system. Under the first tier, the registered owner is liable for the relevant damage, supported by compulsory insurance or other financial security. Where the owner’s liability is insufficient or compensation is otherwise unavailable, the second tier, the HNS Fund, may provide additional compensation. The total compensation available under the Convention may be up to 250 million SDR per incident.
The new regime will be particularly relevant to ships carrying HNS to or from ports in States that are party to the Convention. As the Convention does not provide for a general minimum tonnage threshold, its certification requirements may apply to a broad range of vessels. Industry bodies have estimated that tens of thousands of ships may require relevant certificates once the Convention enters into force.
According to BIMCO, for shipowners, operators, charterers and other parties involved in the carriage of HNS, the period leading up to November 2027 will therefore be important for assessing the potential impact of the new regime on documentation, insurance and contractual arrangements. Accurate cargo information will also be important, as the application of the Convention depends, among other matters, on the classification of the substances carried and the circumstances of their carriage. BIMCO is monitoring developments concerning the implementation of the Convention, including certification requirements, insurance arrangements and potential implications for contracts and contractual clauses. As further information becomes available and the practical details of the new regime become clearer, BIMCO will provide additional guidance to its members.
Related Article:
BIMCO 13/08 - BIMCO: HNS Convention set to enter into force in November 2027
5. UK extends sanctions waivers for Lukoil international subsidiaries
On the 12th August 2026, the HM Treasury stated that the UK has extended its sanctions waivers for Russia's Lukoil international subsidiary. On the 12th August 2026, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation published a new general license which exempts Lukoil International GmbH from sanctions on the Russian parent company, effective until Feb. 26, 2027. The previous license was about to expire on Aug. 25.
Separately, HM Treasury issued a waiver for the Bulgarian subsidiaries of Lukoil, which was about to expire on Aug. 13, extending it until Oct. 29. The list of Bulgarian subsidiaries includes Bulgarian retail arm Lukoil Bulgaria EOOD, its refining business Lukoil Neftohim Burgas, as well as Lukoil Aviation Bulgaria and Lukoil Bunker Bulgaria.
The waivers allow Lukoil subsidiaries to avoid transaction bans and continue their operations. Under June 19 amendments, OFSI authorized Lukoil International and its subsidiaries to receive funds, but stressed that this does not mean the money can be transferred to the parent company.
Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Alexander Pulev, said Aug. 13 at a media briefing that the UK license extension prevented a deficit in the fuel market in the country and a shock price increase for consumers.
Mr. Pulev said that Bulgaria will now focus on negotiations for the renewal of the license waiver with the US. The US sanctions waiver for Lukoil's Bulgarian subsidies, as well as retail stations outside of Russia, is valid until Oct. 29.
Related Articles:
General_Licence_-_Continuation_of_Business_Lukoil_International-12_August_2026.pdf
UK extends sanctions waivers for Lukoil international subsidiaries | S&P Global
UK extends license allowing transactions with Lukoil companies in Bulgaria
UK Extends LUKOIL License in Bulgaria Until October 29 - Novinite.com - Sofia News Agency
6. China cracks Arctic shipping route in new era for global trade. Russia also sends shadow fleet north
On the 11th August 2026, a Chinese shipping company confirmed the plan to launch a regular container service via Russia's Northern Sea Route to Europe this week, marking a new Arctic option for Asia-Europe trade once it sets sail.
Chinese container shipping company Sea Legend Shipping stated that its vessel Dubai Tower, originally scheduled to depart Ningbo-Zhoushan Port in East China's Zhejiang Province, on August 15, has had its departure adjusted because of weather conditions. The company said it is making internal arrangements for the maiden voyage of the China-Europe Arctic Express Route.
On Friday, 7th August 2026, Russia’s Rosatom reported that it had completed issuing permits for the 2026 season on the NSR, which is ready to start and will run through until November.
According to GCaptain, Chinese shipping companies are preparing for their busiest season yet on the Northern Sea Route, with at least six operators planning a mix of container and bulk voyages linking China with Russia and increasingly with major Western European ports. Chinese operators have in previous summers primarily used the route to connect China with Russian ports in the Baltic and Arctic. But the network is now expanding westward, building on Sea Legend’s by the Istanbul Bridge last summer and adding destinations including Felixstowe, Hamburg and Rotterdam.
South Korea is also set to conduct a container shipping trial voyage this summer with the vessel PanStar Arco scheduled for departure from Busan on August 22.
According to industry observers, the move reflects growing interest in Arctic shipping as global logistics networks continue to diversify beyond traditional canal routes. As polar ice retreats and seasonal navigation windows widen, the Arctic is emerging as a practical alternative for some Asia-Europe shipments, particularly those seeking to avoid congested or geopolitically sensitive sea lanes.
Russia also intends to use the NSR in response to the sanctions imposed on its shadow fleet. According to reports, eight sanctioned Russian shadow fleet tankers are coordinating an eastbound passage through the Northern Sea Route towards the Laptev Sea.
Windward believes the convoy represents a deliberate attempt to use Arctic waters to reduce exposure to European naval enforcement and flag-verification boardings in more conventional maritime corridors.
Related Articles:
Chinese Operators Gear Up for Busy Arctic Shipping Season
China’s Sea Legend Poised to Launch First Regular “Ice Silk Road" Service
7. GARD: Sulphur-related bunker claims on the rise amid increased China MSA enforcement
On the 12th August 2026, Marine Insurer GARD published a report pointing out that Sulphur-related bunker claims on the rise amid increased China MSA enforcement.
GARD states that they are seeing a heightened focus on sulphur compliance driven by stricter inspections by the China MSA, with a distinct concentration of enforcement activity in the Bohai Sea.
According to GARD, while each case is fact-specific, the increase is notable because excessive sulphur content constitutes a MARPOL compliance issue. Unlike many other bunker quality problems, sulphur non-compliance identified through port state inspections can result in vessel delays, enforcement action, and substantial costs associated with debunkering and fuel disposal.
GARD’s Christina Kwok, Deputy Underwriter, and Bruce Liu Loss Prevention Executive, highlight that based on the Club’s recent experience, including cases involving fuel quality and sulphur compliance, owners and operators may be asked to provide a wide range of records to demonstrate compliance and establish how fuel was supplied, sampled, tested, stored and used onboard.
Therefore, GARD advises Owners and operators to take preventive steps before bunkering, act promptly if non-compliant fuel is suspected, and preserve evidence carefully if an inspection or claim arises.
Under amended Resolution A.1206(34), Appendix 18, 2.1.5, if the BDN shows compliant fuel, but the master has independent test results of the fuel oil sample taken by the ship during the bunkering which indicates non-compliance, the master may document this by notifying the ship’s flag Administration, with copies to the competent authority of the relevant port of destination, the Administration under whose jurisdiction the bunker deliverer is located and to the bunker deliverer.
Related Articles:
Sulfur Bunker Claims Rise as China Steps Up Checks: Gard - Ship & Bunker
Gard: Keep documentation for fuel sulphur content investigations in China - SAFETY4SEA
8. Shipping Disruption Mounts as Colombia Quake, Panama Constraints and Middle East Attacks Add Pressure
Global shipping is facing a fresh cluster of operational pressures as, in addition to the continuing disruption in the Middle East, the earthquake disruption in Colombia and tightening conditions at the Panama Canal combine with persistently elevated bunker costs.
In Colombia, following the powerful earthquake that struck the western part of the country on 10 August 2026, Maersk has reported a temporary suspension of its operations at Buenaventura, with wider logistics activities in parts of the country disrupted.
For shippers using Buenaventura, the immediate issue will be how quickly road, terminal and supporting logistics operations can normalise. The port is one of Colombia’s principal gateways to the Pacific and disruption has the potential to affect both imports and exports as cargo begins accumulating elsewhere in the supply chain.
According to the most recent update, the situation at the terminal remains challenging and recovery efforts are progressing gradually.
• Terminal operations have partially resumed, with vessel operations being handled under constrained conditions.
• Yard utilization remains critically high, resulting in severe space limitations.
• Staffing shortages continue to affect operational productivity as part of the local workforce remains unavailable.
• Empty container returns are being impacted by restricted terminal access and congestion.
• The Cali–Buenaventura corridor, the primary logistics gateway serving the port, has not yet been fully restored due to ongoing landslides and infrastructure instability.
Meanwhile, pressure is continuing to build at the Panama Canal.
An advisory supplied to SeaNews indicates that CMA CGM will introduce a Panama Canal Adjustment Factor of US$500 per TEU from September 10 for cargo moving from the Far East to the US East and Gulf coasts.
The move follows an earlier CMA CGM Panama Canal Transit Surcharge of US$320 per TEU on the same trade, introduced from July 25.
The latest increase comes as water availability once again becomes a major operational concern.
Related Articles:
Shipping Faces New Disruption Across Key Global Trade Routes
9. US TREASURY REPORT
The US Treasury Report for all actions reported is hereby attached.
Related Article:
Attachment 10: US Treasury Report for week 08/08/2026 – 14/08/2026
10. PIRACY REPORT
The Piracy Report for all actions reported is hereby attached.
Related Article:
Attachment 11: Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report, for the period between 15/07/2026 – 12/08/2026
Nothing important to report from ECSA, IMO, ILO, Local News and the House of Representatives.