Legal News


Shipping Industry Faces Volatility from Tariffs and Geopolitical Conflicts

Sep 24, 2025

The shipping industry is experiencing major volatility amid rising geopolitical tensions and disruptions caused by a wave of new tariffs, according to a report published on Wednesday by the U.N. Trade and Development agency.Due to an increasingly complex and uncertain global trade environment…

World Shipping Council Concerned About Dangerous Goods Handling

Sep 08, 2025

The World Shipping Council (WSC) released a new report summarising deficiencies found in government cargo inspection programs, reviving a data series that the IMO discontinued last year.The 2024 report shows that 11.39% of inspected cargo shipments were found to have deficiencies…

NGOs Again Urge EU to Stop Unweaned Calf Transport by Sea

Sep 08, 2025

A joint letter has been sent to EU Animal Welfare Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi urging the Commission to halt the transport of unweaned calves from Ireland to France by roro ferry.It follows a similar letter sent in February.In 2022 the European…

Panamanian President Meets with Japanese Shipowners to Share New Ship Registry Strategy

Sep 05, 2025

President José Raúl Mulino met with more than 40 representatives of shipping companies from Japan’s Kanto region, where he presented Panama’s new ship registry strategy aimed at safeguarding its global leadership through enhanced safety standards and fully digitalized processes…

IMO Sec-Gen Dominguez: Maritime Security is a Shared Responsibility

Aug 12, 2025

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has called for vigilance and deeper cooperation among Member States and international partners to address growing threats to global maritime security. Speaking at the United Nations Security Council high-level open debate on August 11…

Ship Design, Maritime Accidents and There’s a Master on the Run

Jul 02, 2025

There’s a master on the run right now.It was 4am, about 10 years ago. Two crewmembers died, 15 others were hospitalized. The master didn’t receive prior notification of the cargo fumigation that occurred, yet it is the master who is being held accountable…

Maersk Files Lawsuit Over Brazil Port Bid

Jun 25, 2025

Global shipping groups are looking to Brazil's courts to overturn competition rules that bar them from participating in the first round of bidding on a major new container terminal at Latin America's largest port, due to take place later this year…

Panama Warns of Middle East Security and Sanctions Risks

Jun 23, 2025

The General Directorate of Merchant Marine (DGMM) of the Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) has issued a series of warnings to Panamanian-flagged vessels due to rising tensions in the Middle East, through Maritime Notice MMN-04/2025.The DGMM highlighted…

Commercial Ships Advised to Keep Distance From Iran Around Strait of Hormuz

Jun 18, 2025

Commercial ships are sailing close to Oman and are being advised by maritime agencies to avoid Iran's waters around the Strait of Hormuz, with the risk of the conflict between Israel and Iran escalating, shipping sources said on Wednesday.Iran…

Potential Return of Container Ships to Red Sea Following US-Houthi Ceasefire Could Collapse Freight Rates

May 08, 2025

The prospect of a large scale return of container ships to the Red Sea following the announcement of a ceasefire between the US and Houthi militia in Yemen would flood the market with shipping capacity and cause a global collapse in freight rates…

Swire Shipping Bans Carriage of Donkey Skins

May 07, 2025

On World Donkey Day (May 8), international animal welfare charity, The Donkey Sanctuary, acknowledges Swire Shipping as the first global shipping line to commit publicly to a ‘No Donkey Skins Carriage policy’.In February last year, African Heads…

USTR Implements Port Fee Proposal

Apr 23, 2025

On April 17, 2025, the Office of the US Trade Representative (“USTR”) published a notice of action (the “USTR Notice”) implementing its port fee proposal, first announced on February 21, 2025. The rules differ substantially from the February proposal (summarized here)…

USTR: New Measures Target Chinese Maritime Sector

Apr 22, 2025

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (“USTR”) issued a detailed notice on April 17, 2025, regarding actions and proposed actions in response to China's alleged targeting of the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors for dominance…

US Waters Down China Ship Fee Plans, COSCO Remains Indignant

Apr 21, 2025

On April 17, the Trump administration shielded domestic exporters and vessel owners servicing the Great Lakes, the Caribbean and U.S. territories from port fees to be levied on China-built vessels.The Federal Register notice posted by the U…

Current News

Philippines to Extend Two Month Ban on Rice Imports

Chinese Oil Port to Set Measures to Ban Shadow Fleet

Alabama Port Authority Selects Konecranes RTGs to for New Intermodal Terminal

Chinese Shipyard Orders Strong Despite US Port Fees

Subscribe for Maritime Logistics Professional E‑News