TradeWinds Wavelength

In this week's podcast:The number of fatalities and injuries in attacks on shipping increases as warring factions ignore calls to stop attacks on innocent seafarers.Fears lead captain and crew on one vessel to mutiny against calls to leave port and head through the Strait of Hormuz.Gary Dixon looks at the latest events.Read more: 'Strait of death’ voyage order sparks seafarer revoltRead more: ‘My leg was hanging on by the skin’: Russian captain tells of 24-hour ordeal after Houthi ship strikeIt's all change at the Baltic Exchange as its long-standing chief executive Mark Jackson announces his retirement and his successor is announced.Holly Birkett looks at the latest developments at the Baltic Exchange and whether it is keeping pace with changeRead more: Trial and transition as the Baltic Exchange tussles with traditionAnd we reveal our 7th Guiding Star Evangelos Efstathiou, owner at Marsoft, as we continue to reveal a total of 10 finalists before a final winner is revealed at the end of the yearRead more: He bought his old boss’ company. Now Evangelos Efstathiou is betting on AIHost and producer: Craig EasonAdditional reporting: Gary Dixon, Holly Birkett, Yannick GuerryA TradeWinds/DN Media podcast

In this episode:Maersk and Hapag Lloyd published bumper second quarter results over the last week. But the news focused on whether liner trades are facing a structural shift due to non-shipping related constraints and the additional cargo types in boxes.Read more: Vincent Clerc: This structural shift will shape container shippingRead more: Seasonality or structural shift? Hapag-Lloyd CEO on latest sharp swing in liner profitRead more: Maersk adds $2.5bn to profit forecast as disruption drives demandRead more: A licence to print money’: How much longer can container shipping get away with it?As shipping hears more and more about artifical intelligence, one digital outfit has launched an overarching agentic Ai tool over its digital modules. Maersk and Cargill-owned Zero North got a new boss four months ago and Soren Andersen is seeking to expand its business and that means giving customers more reasons to go digital.Read more: ZeroNorth embraces speedboat strategy for AI roll-outBrunei Darussalam held a maritime event recently and invited TradeWInds to attend. It is not your normal shipping hub attracting shipping's attention but claims it has some key offerings for shipping to take note.TradeWinds Huaqing Ma was there and filed this report.Read more: Why Brunei does not need to become another Singapore Read more:Can Brunei become industry’s next ship-to-ship transfer hub?Host and producer: Craig EasonAdditional reporting: Ian Lewis and Huaqing MaA TradeWinds/DN Media podcast 

In this week’s episode:Shipowner groups implore the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization to stop Iran from imposing a toll on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz and point to the fear of the practice spreading. But will it and what would it cost? Read more: Shipowners unite against domino effect of Strait of Hormuz tollsRead more: Iran and Oman agree transport plan for Strait of HormuzChina has brought its Arctic information services into one portal for its shipping community. It includes route services through the Northern Sea Route and how to liaise with Russia on transits.What does this mean and will it have an impact on Arctic policy in other countries and on other trade routes?Read more: China quietly strengthens its Arctic shipping toolkitRead more: Russian tankers dodge multiple flash points as they head for Northern Sea RouteProducer and host: Craig EasonAdditional reporting: Paul Peachey, Huaqing Ma and Yannick GuerryA TradeWinds/DN Media podcast

In this week’s episode:Adnoc Logistics & Services has been buying VLCCs as it seeks to control its supply chain out of the Middle East Gulf.Read more: Adnoc L&S linked to six-strong VLCC raid as UAE battles to keep oil flowingRead more: Adnoc L&S splashing out over $500m on gas carriers to safeguard LPG contractsLuke Wickenden from Finland’s Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air joins the podcast to discuss the impact of Europe’s focus on detaining sanctioned vessels and whether it is reducing the number of flag-hopping vessels, or if they are joining the Russian flag.Read more:  Has Europe’s ‘whack-a-mole’ approach to detaining sanctioned tonnage worked?Read more: Europe’s $150m shadow fleet headache: Seized ships, stalled cases and no clear endgameRead more:  EU sanctions create ‘new power’ to sell oil cargoes from detained shadow tankersHost and production: Craig EasonAdditional reporting: Yannick Guerry, Matt CoyneA TradeWinds/DN Media podcast

In this week's episode:Shipping is beset with growing risks as Houthis intensify maritime risks in the Red Sea as July because one of the most intensive months for attacks. To dissect what's been happening risk assessment experts Nick Maddalena and Rob Peters at Ambrey join podcast host Craig Eason in the studio.Read more: Owners who pay Iran’s Strait of Hormuz toll face losing insuranceRead more: Iran ‘seizes’ damaged Dynacom tanker hit by fire in Strait of HormuzRead more: Saudi tanker on fire after being hit by projectile as Houthis strike in Red SeaRead more: Seafarer killed and tanker on fire as Ukraine bombs two shipsAnd shipping is facing a revamp of the European emission trading system. However this time there's a lot for owners and operators to be happy about. Craig talks to Sotiris Raptis, secretary general at European Shipowners, ECSA, about the carrots being offered and how there could be much more cash now for decarbonisation, though not enough for energy efficiency.And what about the alignment of Europe with the IMO?There's also the toothless legal clause in the ETS directive about sharing the costs between owners and charterers that legal researchers say needs to be addressed.Read more: ETS revamp could see millions pumped into European shippingProduction and host: Craig EasonAdditional reporting: Yannick GuerryA TradeWinds/DN Media podcast

The ceasefire in the Middle East Gulf is over and Iranian forces appear to be attacking merchant vessels even further afield than previously. TradeWinds reporter Matt Coyne tells us how vessel traffic is responding. Read more: US boards VLCC as fighting reignites in GulfMiddle East Gulf tanker shuttle service slows as Iran-US trade blowsThree-quarters of ships in Strait of Hormuz go dark as missiles rain downThe master of a dark fleet tanker is being criminally prosecuted in London for breaching UK sanctions on Russia – the first case of its kind. TradeWinds' Paul Peachey is back from the courtroom with this report.Read more: Master of tanker accused of sanctions busting has trial date set for DecemberCaptain of shadow fleet tanker seized in the Mediterranean released by FranceAll the cool stuff comes out of Copenhagen these days – including maritime finance. TradeWinds' Nordic finance lead Jonas Walgard is back from Denmark to tell us how the sector is evolving, with remarks from Danish Ship Finance CEO Kristian Skovmand.Read more: Danske Bank’s shipping book expands as it takes ‘larger bite out of the market’ financeZeaside Capital targets bigger tankers as platform strategy takes shapeNewbuildings and new customers to drive ‘solid growth’, says Nordea global shipping bossAnd MPC Container Ships is getting into bigger boxships. Ian Lewis speaks to CEO Constantin Baack about what that means for the firm. Read more: MPC Container is following the market, not changing course, says Constantin BaackProduction and host: Holly Birkett.Additional reporting: Matt Coyne, Paul Peachey, Jonas Walsgard, Ian Lewis and Yannick Guerry.A TradeWinds/DN Media podcast  

Not even a month after the Strait of Hormuz "re-opened", President Trump has said he considers the ceasefire with Iran to be "OVER!" in the Middle East Gulf.Vessel traffic in the Gulf has responded to the more risky environment. TradeWinds reporter Matt Coyne is here to round up what has been happening.Read more: Ships steer clear of Omani route through Strait of Hormuz as US-Iran deal collapsesTrump says US has agreed to talks with Iran — but ceasefire still ‘OVER!Meanwhile, the northern hemisphere is HOT. El Nino has arrived, according to US authorities, and water levels are falling in major shipping waterways around the world. All eyes are, of course, on the Panama Canal. Ian Lewis joins us to talk about how container lines are passing extra costs on to customers and what we might see next.Read more: How low-water surcharges are becoming the new normal for container shippingPanama Canal braced for El Nino impact as vital waterway cuts lock draught limitsWhy China’s coal surge matters for panamax bulker ownersTradeWinds' gas expert Lucy Hine has spoken to top management at shipowner BW LNG about a new vessel design that could make shipping gas even more efficient. She is here with a snippet from this week's long-form Wavelength Plus podcast.Read more: LNG carriers: Four tanks good, three tanks — even better, BW LNG saysAnd finally, why does shipping — a 'people business' — enjoy a challenge so much? TradeWinds' editor-in-chief Julian Bray tells us about his trip to Barcelona for le grand départ of the Tour de France, and whether the power of 'alternative networking' is behind the rise of shipping businesses sponsoring sports teams and sometimes even buying them. But will shipping ever kick the booze?Read more: Tour de France reveals how cycling truly is ‘the new golf’Shipping teams take on 24 Peaks Challenge for The Seafarers’ CharityProduction and host: Holly Birkett.Additional reporting: Matt Coyne, Ian Lewis, Lucy Hine, Julian Bray and Yannick Guerry.A TradeWinds/DN Media podcast  

In this week’s episode: TradeWinds has reported on sanctioned tankers often flying false flags, but perhaps none so brazenly as those pretending to fly under the Norwegian International Register. TradeWinds’ Matt Coyne looks at what this means and why it is happening.Read more: Sanctioned tanker tycoon turns to false Norwegian flagShipping is now included in the UK’s emission trading scheme and and any vessel over 5,000 gt is included. TradeWinds talks to Lloyd’s Register and the UK Chamber of Shipping about the impact. Read more: Any large ship calling at a UK port set to fall into new emissions trading schemeShipping researchers at UCL have devised a unique tool to help create a future risk score for tonnage to give financiers and charterers a better understanding of shipowners tonnage. UCL’s Professor Tristan Smith offers the insights. Read more: Climate researchers roll out risk scorecard tool for commercial ship financeProduction and host: Craig EasonAdditional reporting: Yannick Guerry, Matt CoyneA TradeWinds/DN Media podcast