Good morning, and welcome to my daily Panamax Post column.

London will be another mild day, with any early mist and fog clearing to leave it dry with sunshine for all, 16C.

With much in the news, I wish you good fixtures and safe travels. And now for the news before the headlines.

A small feeder containership, Safeen Prestige, became the fourth vessel targeted by the Iranians in and around the Straits of Hormuz.

War risk at the Strait of Hormuz continues to deter shipowners from venturing near to Iran, and AIS-active traffic remains 90% below normal levels.

Breakbulk and project cargo flows through the Gulf are facing a sharp deterioration in operating conditions as geopolitical tensions and increase operational risk.

US Secretary of War has said an American submarine sank an Iranian warship in the Indian Ocean.

Ukrainian strike on Novorossiysk caused damage to a Transneft oil loading terminal.

Batlic Exchange‘s dry bulk index advanced for a third session on Tuesday, rising 2.55%, propelled by higher rates across segments.

BIMCO has commented that Donald Trump’s proposal to have the U.S. Navy escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz ‘sounds interesting’.

A Greek-owned tanker has sailed into the Persian Gulf through the Hormuz blockade, while several ships remain waiting to leave: Reuters

The European Commission has presented a comprehensive EU Ports Strategy designed to bolster the competitiveness and security of the bloc’s maritime gateways.

Kuehne+Nagel may cut more jobs than the planned 2,000, with CFO Markus Blanka-Graff saying staffing will continue to be adjusted to market conditions.

India’s Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas has reported that the country is ‘fully prepared amid the evolving situation in the Middle East’.

MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company is offloading all cargo bound for the Arabian Gulf at the nearest safe port, redirecting shipments by land and sea.

HVO availability in Augusta is currently tight but expected to ease later this month when a new cargo arrives, supplier jEnergy said.

Hapag-Lloyd AG-Lloyd has suspended all new bookings in eight Gulf countries as operational and safety restrictions disrupt services in ports across the northern part of the Persian Gulf.

The EU plans to strengthen its ports through easier access to funding, while introducing new criteria on foreign ownership and control under a five-pillar Ports Strategy.

European shipowners are urging the EU to recognize shipping as a strategic asset ahead of the Commission’s upcoming European Maritime Industrial Strategy: Shipping Watch

The EU’s new Maritime Industrial Strategy positions shipbuilding and shipping as critical sectors for securing the Union’s industrial sovereignty and strategic autonomy.

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