CUS NEWS REPORT FOR WEEK 37 OF 2026

During her visit, Mrs. Hadjimanolis held a bilateral meeting with the Bahraini Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Dr. Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, as well as a series of high-level meetings with relevant authorities and the country’s political leadership. Discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in shipping and exploring new areas of mutual interest. A key outcome of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the shipping sector, establishing a framework for practical cooperation and the exchange of expertise, know-how and best practices between Cyprus and Bahrain.

Following a request from the Bahraini leadership, Mrs. Hadjimanolis also met with the Minister of Industry and Commerce to review bilateral economic and trade relations, with particular emphasis on new partnerships and business opportunities in the maritime services sector.

The Deputy Minister also visited Khalifa Bin Salman Port, where she was briefed by APM Terminals Bahrain on its facilities, operations and services, including the cruise terminal and logistics zone, followed by discussions with senior Bahraini officials on the development of the port and the wider maritime sector. It should be noted that Mrs. Hadjimanolis was accompanied by the President of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), Mr. Stavros Stavrou, and the CEO of the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI), Mr. Zacharias Siokouros. Together, they held meetings with representatives of the Bahraini government, business and academic communities to explore opportunities for cooperation, investment, research and innovation. In this context, CMMI and Bahrain Polytechnic signed an MoU on cooperation in research, innovation and education, including the exchange of expertise and know-how.

The visit of the Deputy Minister received significant coverage in Bahraini local media, highlighting the importance of the visit.

The visit reaffirmed the strong potential for further developing Cyprus-Bahrain relations in the maritime sector and highlighted opportunities for enhanced institutional, commercial, research and educational cooperation between the two countries.

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SDM 05/09 - The Deputy Minister of Shipping pays an official visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain

SDM 08/09 - The official visit of the Deputy Minister of Shipping to the Kingdom of Bahrain has been completed

Cyprus, Greece, Malta and Italy have agreed to strengthen their common front on European shipping, signing a joint declaration in Limassol on Wednesday as they seek greater influence over decisions on competitiveness and decarbonisation in Brussels and at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

The four countries have agreed to coordinate their positions on the EU's emissions trading rules for shipping, arguing that the European Commission's latest proposals still fail to address their concerns.

They agreed to work together in upcoming EU and IMO negotiations, while seeking the “widest possible consensus” on measures that support shipping’s green fuel transition while keeping the sector competitive.

Shipping regulations should reflect the practical needs of the global shipping sector and be developed in consultation with the industry, according to a joint declaration adopted after the meeting.

They called on the IMO to develop globally applicable measures that maintain a level playing field for international shipping.

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On 9 September 2026, Reuters reported a significant escalation in attacks against shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, following a series of retaliatory military actions between the United States and Iran. According to the report, Iran attacked 10 vessels in the vicinity of the Strait after the United States sank five Iranian oil tankers, in what has been described as the largest reported wave of reciprocal attacks against shipping by the two sides since the beginning of the six-month-old conflict. The attacks have also resulted in casualties among seafarers, with at least one crew member reportedly killed and another reported missing.

Furthermore, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps indicated that Iran intended to establish a significantly expanded maritime exclusion zone extending into the Arabian Gulf from the eastern part of its coastline. These developments have heightened concerns regarding the safety and freedom of navigation in the region and the potential consequences for international maritime trade.

Meanwhuile, Washington has subsequently indicated that it intends to continue targeting Iranian tankers in response to actions threatening U.S. naval assets, while Iran has stated that it is deploying more advanced missiles against U.S. vessels. Following Iran’s announcement that it had attacked two U.S. vessels and eight tankers, reports indicated that a number of commercial vessels had sustained damage in waters near neighbouring states. One such incident involved an oil products tanker , which was reportedly struck while at anchorage off Dubai, resulting in the death of one seafarer and the disappearance of another.

The escalating hostilities have had a direct impact on maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has significantly restricted transit through the Strait, while the United States has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports and stated that it has continued to facilitate the passage of a number of tankers. Independent monitoring has nevertheless indicated that the volume of oil continuing to transit the Strait is increasingly difficult to assess. Preliminary data showed that only six vessels had transited the Strait with their AIS transponders switched on during the preceding 24-hour period, further underscoring the uncertainty surrounding current levels of maritime traffic.

Houthis increase risks to maritime security

The regional security situation has been further compounded by the intensification of hostilities between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-aligned Houthi movement in Yemen, creating an additional risk to maritime and energy security. On 8 September 2026, the Houthis reportedly launched attacks against four Saudi Arabian cities, resulting in fires at oil-related installations and causing casualties and property damage. The renewed escalation has consequently raised further concerns regarding the safety of commercial shipping in the Red Sea and surrounding waters, particularly in light of previous Houthi threats against Saudi-linked shipping.

A related development is the capture of a strategic island on a vital oil shipping route. Yemeni fighters took control of an island in the narrow point of Bab al-Mandab strait, which Saudi is relying on for oil exports expanding their control of the narrow waterway, one of the ​world’s vital shipping routes.

Diplomatic efforts to secure freedom of navigation

On a hopeful note, on Friday, 11^th September 2026, the Financial Times reported that Gulf foreign ministers plan to meet their Iranian counterpart in a push by Oman and Iran to secure buy-in for a temporary deal to manage shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. The gathering is scheduled to be held on Monday in the Omani coastal city of Salalah, the report said, citing two people briefed on the matter.

On Friday, 11^th September 2026, South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun had a telephone call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on Friday and discussed the situation in the Middle East, including freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Related Article:

Attachment 1: Reuters 09/09 - Iran and US hit tankers in biggest wave of attacks on shipping since war began

Attachment 2: Reuters 08/09 - Hormuz traffic slows after Iran threatens retaliation for US attacks

Iran claims to have attacked 10 ships near strait of Hormuz after US strikes | Iran | The Guardian

Why US-Iran war over Hormuz is threatening the Gulf’s waters | Infographic News | Al Jazeera

Iran’s Houthi allies capture strategic island on vital oil shipping route | Yemen | The Guardian

Gulf foreign ministers to meet with Iran counterpart for Strait of Hormuz deal | The Jerusalem Post

Under the new approach, FSIs will be carried out independently of statutory surveys and certification, with vessels selected primarily on the basis of risk factors relating to both the ship and its managing company. In this context, particular attention may be given to older vessels, including those over 10 years of age, as well as any vessel otherwise considered to warrant inspection.

The Administration may also apply enhanced monitoring where a company has a history of repeated detentions, serious deficiencies or other safety concerns, including requiring its entire fleet to undergo FSI every six months at the owner’s expense. Similarly, where a Maltese-flagged vessel is detained by Port State Control, an additional FSI may be required immediately, regardless of when the vessel was last inspected.

To ensure the effectiveness of these measures, owners, managers, masters and their representatives are expected to cooperate fully with inspectors and provide access to the vessel, crew, records and relevant onboard areas. The revised regime therefore forms part of Malta’s wider compliance obligations under the IMO III Code, EU Directive 2009/21/EC and applicable Maltese legislation.

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SAFETY4SEA 08/09 - Malta strengthens Flag State inspections for higher-risk ships and companies

Callas's proposal is to transfer control over investigations into sanctions violations to the European Public Prosecutor's Office, which is headquartered in Luxembourg. Specifically, this concerns illegal shipments to Russia of goods subject to restrictions, as well as financial transactions aimed at supporting the Kremlin.

However, there is no specific legislative initiative yet.

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The measures — which have already been extended by six months many times before — expire on Sept. 15. The bloc had hoped to secure a longer extension and avoid repeated renegotiations, but any amendment requires the unanimous support of all 27 member countries.

The Committee of Permanent Representatives, known as Coreper, is expected to discuss the issue again before the deadline.

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In the meantime, the 27 member states of the European Union have not reached an agreement on a joint action on this issue. With the EU conducting trade worth tens of billions with Israel every year,  there is not a consensus or the majority required to take similar actions.

According to an EU spokesperson, as of last week, the bloc had sanctioned a dozen individuals and nine entities related to illegal settlements, but there was no "clear outcome" to the discussions about other options on the table, presumably meaning a ban on imports from the settlements.

This week, a senior EU official stated that the European Commission had later tabled a new proposal, specifically laying out options to deter Israel from expanding illegal settlements, including the ban on imports, but not even 15 member states are on board.

On Friday, the 11^th September 2026, European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, stated that an EU-wide ban on trade with illegal Israeli settlements would be a “principled stance” to take for the bloc, comparing illegal settlements in the West Bank to Russia’s occupation of Crimea.

“If we take the example when Crimea was occupied, then it was very clear, it’s illegal, we don’t recognize this, which means that we stop the trade with any products that come from Crimea,” Kallas said in an interview with the Irish Times. “We should have the same principled stance — you know this is illegal, everybody agrees — so we should stop trading with Occupied Territories” Ms. Kallas stated.

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11 European nations and Canada announce trade sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank | Euronews

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Britain banned settlement imports. Will Europe finally follow suit? | Responsible Statecraft

EU should sanction Israeli settlements like Russian-occupied Crimea, Kallas says – POLITICO

The coalition brings together shipowners, fuel producers and suppliers, technology developers and industry bodies to address the fuel supply, infrastructure and policy requirements needed to achieve maritime net zero. The coalition will be jointly facilitated by the UK Chamber of Shipping and CLIA and will meet regularly to coordinate industry priorities and promote practical solutions for alternative marine fuels. Its members include organisations representing the biogas, carbon capture, e-fuels, hydrogen, methanol, LNG, ammonia and bunkering sectors.

The initiative aims to strengthen cooperation across the maritime fuel supply chain and help ensure that the UK has the infrastructure and regulatory framework required to support the sector’s decarbonisation.

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SAFETY4SEA 08/09 - New UK coalition targets alternative fuels and decarbonization

In the Odesa region, Russian forces delivered severe strikes to port facilities. At the port of Chornomorsk, the distribution center was completely destroyed, while at the port of Odesa, two commercial vessels (dry cargo) and a tugboat escorting vessels carrying military supplies were destroyed.

Furthermore, on the 9^th September 2026, Russian forces attacked a cargo ship with drones in the Black Sea, killing two citizens and injuring two others.

On Thursday, 10^th September 2026, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that Russia would continue targeting commercial vessels it claims are transporting military supplies for Ukraine.

"A huge number of commercial vessels are used to transport weapons, ammunition, and fuel for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. These vessels are being destroyed and will continue to be destroyed," Peskov stated.

Meanwhile, on the 9^th September 2026, Ukrainian forces attacked a port in Novorossiysk, Russia, hitting fuel oil storage and at least three ships, the General Staff of Ukrainian Forces reported.

On Sept. 8-9,  a meeting was held between Mehmet Samsar, director of the Turkish Foreign Ministry's Department of Eastern Europe and Transcaucasia, and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin, with Samsar also holding consultations with the heads of the Russian Foreign Ministry's Third and Fourth CIS Countries departments.

During the talks, Russia's Foreign Ministry informed Turkish officials that Ukraine's actions in the Black Sea threaten the safety of shipping, including for Turkey. "Moscow's fundamental approaches to resolving the Ukrainian crisis by eliminating its root causes, as well as Russian assessments of the destructive actions of the Kyiv regime in the Black Sea, which threaten the safety of shipping, including for the Turkish side, were conveyed to the partners," the ministry said in a statement following the Russian-Turkish inter-ministerial consultations.

Turkey has called for an end to the attacks of ships in the Black Sea and has separately proposed the creation of an international mechanism to protect ships and agricultural infrastructure.

According to Daily Sabah, the Government spokesman Ömer Çelik, said that the conflict poses increasing risks for the Black Sea region. Çelik specifically drew attention to the attacks on civilian ships under the Turkish flag and called for an immediate end to this cycle of attacks and a return to negotiations in Istanbul.

In parallel, the Turkish Agricultural Diplomacy Group (TTDG) has proposed a separate international mechanism to protect food trade and civilian shipping in the Black Sea, writes Miller. For vessels carrying grain, oilseeds, vegetable oils and fertilizers, it is proposed to create a system of notification and route coordination, as well as a voluntary register with confirmation of the civil status of the vessel, cargo and declared route.

TTDG believes that Turkey could perform a coordinating role based on the model of the Joint Coordination Center, which operated in Istanbul within the framework of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

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Russian drone attack on cargo ship TEDY kills two Azerbaijanis / The New Voice of Ukraine