News from gCaptain

The U.S. trade deficit widened in February as a rebound in imports offset strong growth in exports, which increased to a record high, potentially keeping trade on track to subtract from economic growth in the first quarter.

The liquefied natural gas carrier Arctic Metagaz is “completely out of control at sea” in the Mediterranean after a towing attempt collapsed at around 0400 local time on April 2 due to severe weather, according to an urgent notice issued by Libya’s Ports and Maritime Transport Authority. 

President Donald Trump finally tried to sell the American public on his Iran war. But his primetime address five weeks into the messy conflict instead underscored the US president’s growing defensive posture, as pressure mounts on global shipping routes, gas prices and his political party.

Britain will host talks on Thursday aimed at forming a coalition of countries to explore ways to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after U.S. President Donald Trump said securing the vital waterway was a problem for other nations to resolve.

The Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints—remains effectively closed, sending shockwaves through global trade, energy markets, and financial systems, according to a new report from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. 

In recent days, the operator of an oil tanker stuck in the Persian Gulf received a compelling proposal. After weeks at anchor with missiles and drones passing overhead, it could finally sail safely out through the Strait of Hormuz and into the open ocean — escorted by the Iranian Navy. But first it would need to change its registration and raise the flag of Pakistan, according to a company executive, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to discuss sensitive conversations.

U.S. offshore oil production surged to a record 714 million barrels in 2025, marking a new high for output from the Outer Continental Shelf and underscoring the growing role of deepwater projects in the nation’s energy mix.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said a US insurance program meant to boost shipping through the Strait of Hormuz will begin soon, a move that may help revive flows of much of the world’s oil and gas supplies.

A simmering dispute over control of key Panama Canal terminals is now spilling into global shipping lanes, with China detaining Panama-flagged vessels in its ports and U.S. regulators warning of potential fallout for international trade.

The United States is warning commercial shipping that the threat from Yemen’s Houthi militants remains active across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden—despite a recent lull in attacks—and is...

Container freight rates pushed higher for a fourth straight week, as rising fuel costs and ongoing disruption in the Middle East begin feeding directly into global shipping markets. Drewry’s World...

The Trump administration is rolling out nearly half a billion dollars in new port funding, with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration announcing $488.6 million in grants under the Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP), a key federal vehicle for upgrading the nation’s port network and supply chains.

A Turkish-owned tanker carrying Russian petroleum product was struck overnight by a suspected uncrewed surface vessel (USV) in the Black Sea, in what appears to be an escalation in attacks...

Hapag-Lloyd delivered solid operational performance in 2025, but a sharp drop in freight rates and rising disruption costs pushed earnings significantly lower as the container shipping market continued to normalize....

The Iranian parliament is working on a draft bill that would impose a fee on vessels seeking safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.

Yemen's Houthi forces stand ready to strike the Bab al-Mandab Strait in solidarity with Iran, threatening to revive Red Sea shipping chaos. The move could deepen the global oil crisis as the strategic chokepoint controls traffic to the Suez Canal.

The Iranian commander who spent years threatening—and ultimately executing—Tehran’s campaign to pressure global shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has reportedly been killed, according to the U.S. military. Rear Adm....

Russia’s top oil port in the Baltic Sea resumed loading days after it came under attack from Ukrainian drones, although the company that pipes crude there said it is trying to divert barrels elsewhere because of the incidents.

German shipping company Hapag-Lloyd HLAG.DE is incurring additional costs of $40 million to $50 million per week due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, a burden described as "not sustainable for a long time" by Chief Executive Rolf Habben Jansen on Thursday. Speaking at an online press conference, Habben Jansen said the company was grappling with "a big challenge" as six of its vessels, with 150 crew members, remain stranded in the Persian Gulf.

The escalating Middle East conflict has triggered what the International Energy Agency (IEA) says could become the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market, as tanker traffic through the...