‘Outraged’ Donald says nations to ‘vote NO’ on shipping’s carbon tax at IMO
President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to nations supporting a global carbon tax on shipping, threatening economic retaliation as the International Maritime Organization votes on its Net-Zero Framework in London this week.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump declared the United States “will NOT stand for this Global Green New Scam Tax on Shipping, and will not adhere to it in any way, shape, or form.” The president characterized the measure as a threat to American consumers and called on member states to “vote NO in London.”
This week’s IMO extraordinary session will decide on the adoption of the Net-Zero Framework—a carbon-pricing regime targeting the international shipping sector. The package combines a tightening marine fuel-intensity standard with a priced compliance mechanism that would channel revenues into an IMO Net-Zero Fund for low-carbon rewards, infrastructure, and transition support.
Chinese sanctions on Hanwha’s US shipbuilding units
Chinese sanctions imposed this week on U.S. affiliates of shipbuilder Hanwha Ocean 042660.KSaim to undermine South Korea-U.S. cooperation and “to coerce” Washington’s Asian ally, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said on Friday.
China announced the sanctions on Tuesday as the U.S. and China began charging additional port fees on each other’s vessels in the latest exchange in a protracted trade war ahead of a planned meeting of the two countries’ leaders.
China’s Commerce Ministry banned transactions and cooperation with Hanwha Ocean’s U.S.-linked affiliates, citing security risks stemming from what it said was their involvement in the U.S. government’s “relevant investigative activities.”
Chinese containership ‘istanbul bridge’ reaches UK
Chinese containership Istanbul Bridge is scheduled to arrive at the UK’s largest terminal Felixstowe during the afternoon of October 13. The Panamax vessel completed the 7,500 nautical mile voyage from China via the Arctic Northern Sea Route in just 20 days. A comparable voyage through the Suez Canal measures 11,000 nautical miles and routinely takes between 40-50 days.
Istanbul Bridge’s voyage is the first liner-type service via the polar region connecting Asia and Europe and calling at several Chinese and European ports. It is also the first time a container ship has traveled from China to the UK via the Arctic.
Cargoship ‘Thamesborg’ departs arctic northwest passage after refloat, concluding 6 week rescue operation
Around six weeks after running aground in Canada’s Arctic waters Dutch cargo vessel Thamesborg and its icebreaker and tug escorts have left the waters of the Northwest Passage. The convoy is traveling southward in Baffin Bay towards the Davis Strait and will leave Arctic waters in the next few days.
The Thamesborg was refloated last Thursday after reloading 5,000 tons of cargo and emptying the flooded ballast tanks with technical equipment delivered by the icebreaker Botnica. The vessel and its escorts then traveled to sheltered waters in nearby Wrottesley Inlet for a thorough inspection. A day later the vessels began their week-long journey to exit the Arctic. Based on AIS information Thamesborg is expected to reach its original destination Baie-Comeau, Canada by October 24.
Baltic exchange introduces latest Canadian crude tanker routes
The Baltic Exchange has launched two new Aframax tanker benchmarks tracking Canadian crude exports to Asia, marking a direct response to shifting global trade dynamics and escalating geopolitical tensions.
TD28 and TD29, listed on the Intercontinental Exchange on October 13, track voyages from Vancouver to Ningbo, China, and from Vancouver to the Pacific Area Lightering zone off the US West Coast, respectively. The routes have emerged as strategically important following the completion of the Trans Mountain Expansion project, which began commercial operations on May 1, 2024.
The TMX project nearly tripled Canada’s pipeline capacity from 300,000 barrels per day to 890,000 bpd, transforming the country’s export profile and providing direct access to Asian energy markets.Vancouver’s Westridge Marine Terminal, previously limited to around five Aframax calls per month, can now accommodate up to 34, a shift that has elevated Canada’s role in global crude trade.
From maritime carbon tax, top shipping nation Greece shies away
Greece, home to the world’s second-largest merchant fleet, is walking back from supporting a global maritime carbon tax that has drawn backlash from Washington.
The nation currently plans to abstain from a final vote this week on an International Maritime Organization proposal to make the sector pay for its more than 1 billion tons of annual greenhouse emissions, a person familiar with the matter said, asking not to be named discussing non-public information.
Athens had always been skeptical of the net zero framework and its impact on the shipping industry, the person said. In April, however, the country voted yes on a draft plan for the sweeping new rules.
Service boat capsizes near scorpio-managed tanker off Mozambique
A service boat carrying crew members capsized alongside the Scorpio-managed oil/chemical tanker Sea Quest at the outer anchorage of Beira, Mozambique on Thursday, leaving seven people missing and multiple casualties.
The incident occurred as the service boat was transporting oncoming crew to the Sea Quest (IMO 9629940), which is managed by Scorpio Marine Management (India). Of the 21 passengers and crew aboard the service boat, 14 were recovered from the water immediately following the capsizing.
“Seven persons, including 5 on signing crew, remain missing,” according to Scorpio Marine Management. “MRCC has been alerted, and the Sea Quest, along with other ships and marine assets in the area, are assisting in the search and rescue operation.”