7th June 2025 – 13th June 2025
LOCAL NEWS
1. Prime Minister Modi’s Visit to Cyprus Highlights Strategic and Maritime Cooperation
On Sunday, 15 June 2025, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, officially welcomed the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi, as part of a diplomatic visit aimed at deepening Cyprus–India relations. The visit, which took place en route to the G7 Summit in Canada, focused on strengthening strategic cooperation between the two Countries.
According to officials, the visit aimed to explore Cyprus’s potential role in facilitating India’s access to European markets via a new trade corridor. Speaking to journalists earlier in the day, President Christodoulides stated: “One of the objectives of our discussions is the connection of India with Europe through the region of the wider Middle East (and) its entry into Europe through the Republic of Cyprus”.
Prime Minister Modi and President Christodoulides addressed business leaders in Limassol on Sunday, with formal bilateral talks scheduled for Monday. The two-day visit formed part of India’s broader diplomatic outreach to European nations, ahead of Cyprus assuming the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union in early 2026.
As part of the official programme, a high-level roundtable discussion was held in Limassol, bringing together key stakeholders from diverse sectors such as banking, financial institutions, defence, manufacturing, logistics, technology, innovation, AI, IT services, and the maritime and shipping sector. Mr. Kyriacos Z. Mouskas participated on behalf of the Cyprus Union of Shipowners, reaffirming the Union’s strong commitment to fostering maritime partnerships with India.
Participants also took the opportunity to reiterate their support for India’s shipbuilding industry. In particular, the Cypriot shipping community expressed its intention to advocate for closer collaboration with Indian shipyards, recognising their strategic importance for future fleet development and technological advancement.
In Prime Minister Modi closing remarks, he also mentioned India will be focusing on maritime and port development and that shipbuilding and shipbreaking were to be given priority and that a new policy will be introduced for this.
Related Articles:
Philenews 16/06 - Cyprus and India leaders agree five-year action plan to strengthen economic ties
Cyprus Times 16/06 - Cyprus President and India’s Premier discuss strengthening diplomatic ties
Cyprus Mail 15/06 - India’s Modi arrives in Cyprus
Euronews 15/06 - Indian PM Modi's visit to Cyprus - upgrade of Indo-European relations?
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
2. USTR Opens Public Comment Process on Proposed Modifications to Certain Aspects of Section 301 Ships Action – US issues legislation to boost maritime operations
On 6 June 2025, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (“USTR) announced a public comment process to consider proposed modifications to certain aspects of Annexes III and IV in the action (90 Fed. Reg. 17114, 23 April 2025) in the Section 301 Investigation of China’s Targeting of the Maritime, Logistics, and Shipbuilding Sectors for Dominance.
The proposed modifications can be found here.
Specifically, the proposed modifications to Annex III “Service Fee on Vessel Operators of Foreign- Built Vehicle Carriers” are the following:
- A modification of the fee basis from Car Equivalent Units to net tonnage, with a fee of $14 per net ton to be charged at the first U.S. port call from 14 October 2025.
- The proposal clarifies that a “Vehicle Carrier” subject to this annex includes Roll-On / Roll Off Vessels.
- The fees imposed in this Annex do not apply to the following vessels:
- U.S.-owned or U.S.-flagged vessels enrolled in the Maritime Security Program
- U.S. government vessels
- Vessels carrying U.S. government cargo
Regarding Annex IV “Restriction on Certain Maritime Transport Services”, the proposal:
- Removes the term providing for suspension of export licenses if the terms are not met, in order to allay concerns about the provision’s impact on the U.S. LNG sector.
- Starting in the third year (April 16, 2028), the vessel operator (rather than the terminal operator) must report to Department of Energy (DOE) the amount of maritime LNG exports carried on U.S.-built and U.S.-operated vessels and the amount of LNG carried on foreign-built and foreign-operated vessels.
The deadline for public comments on the proposed modifications to Annex III and IV is 7 July 2025.
On a separate action, on 9 June, the US House of Representatives approved nine pieces of legislation aimed at boosting maritime operations.
The House passed measures including:
- H.R. 2390, the Maritime Supply Chain Security Act – introduced by Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC). The bill strengthens security and operations at U.S. ports by clarifying that Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) funds can be used to replace port crane hardware and software of Chinese origin;
- H.R. 252, the Secure Our Ports Act of 2025 – introduced by Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA), prohibits certain foreign entities, including state-owned enterprises of China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran, from entering into contracts for the ownership, leasing, or operation of U.S. port facilities that are subject to security plans.
- H.R. 2351, to direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to update the policy of the Coast Guard regarding the use of medication to treat drug overdose, and for other purposes – introduced by Rep. Addison McDowell (R-NC). The bill strengthens the U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) ability to confront drug trafficking – including cases involving unmanned or autonomous vessels and instances in which drugs have been hidden onboard a vessel without the crew’s knowledge.
- H.R. 2035, the American Cargo for American Ships Act – introduced by Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA). The bipartisan bill supports the U.S. maritime industry by requiring that 100% of cargo procured, furnished, or financed by the Department of Transportation be transported on U.S.-owned, privately-operated commercial vessels.
- H.R. 1182, Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety and Oversight Improvements Act – introduced by Rep. Troy Balderson (R-OH). This bill directs the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to enact regulations to ensure foreign manufacturers of compressed gas cylinders meet U.S. Department of Transportation safety specifications and standards.
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3. US and China reach framework agreement around new tariffs
The United States and China have reached a tentative framework agreement to ease ongoing trade tensions due to tariffs, following two days of high-level negotiations in London between 9 – 10 June 2025.
This deal builds upon the earlier Geneva truce from May, which had temporarily reduced some tariff pressures. While the London talks did not produce a final accord, negotiators described the result as a significant step forward, with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick noting it “put meat on the bones” of prior agreements.
Tariff levels, however, remain high. The U.S. will maintain a total tariff rate of 55% on Chinese imports. This includes a 10% baseline tariff, an additional 20% levy specifically targeting chemicals used in fentanyl production, and the remainder consisting of pre-existing tariffs. China, for its part, will keep a 10% tariff in place on U.S. goods, Reuters reports. These elevated rates are part of a broader “reciprocal enforcement” strategy emphasized by U.S. officials, with no immediate reductions planned.
Related Articles:
Aljazeera 11/06 - What do we know about the US-China trade deal?
Safety4Sea 12/06 - US and China reach framework agreement around new tariffs
Reuters 12/06 - Deal to get US-China trade truce back on track is done, Trump says
Safety4Sea 11/06 - US issues legislation to boost maritime operations
4. Maritime Labour Convention - final adoption at ILO
Following the fifth Meeting of the Special Tripartite Committee of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006) took place between 7 – 11 April 2025 on the MLC 2025 amendments, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has now officially adopted those amendments at its ongoing 113th International Labour Conference on 6 June 2025. The ILO conference was convened on 2 June and ended on 13 June 2025.
As previously stated, the MLC 2025 amendments are expected to enter into force in late December 2027.
The amendments made concern the following topics, while the official list of amendments can be found here.
- Repatriation without discrimination;
- Shore leave;
- Seafarers as key workers;
- Fair treatment of seafarers and marine casualties;
- Costs of repatriation;
- Medical training;
- Violence and harassment.
Please click here to see how the above amendments and by which countries were voted at the ILO.
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ILO 02-13/06 - 113th Session of the International Labour Conference
BIMCO 11/06 - Maritime Labour Convention - final adoption at ILO
5. EU proposes 18th sanctions package against Russia
The European Commission has proposed an 18th package of sanctions against Russia, targeting its energy sector, financial institutions, and military industry.
According to the Media, key measures include a ban on transactions involving the Nord Stream gas pipelines and additional restrictions on 22 Russian banks, including a full transaction ban beyond their removal from SWIFT. Sanctions may also extend to banks in third countries and the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), along with its subsidiaries and affiliates.
A central element of the proposal is a suggested reduction in the G7 oil price cap on Russian crude from $60 to $45 per barrel, aimed at curbing Moscow’s energy revenues. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy supported the new sanctions but urged further action, calling for the oil cap to be slashed to $30 and for restrictions on Russia’s tanker fleet and oil processing technologies, Reuters reports.
The package also expands the EU’s blacklist of vessels in Russia’s “shadow fleet” to over 400 and proposes banning imports of refined products made from Russian oil to prevent indirect trade.
The proposal is set for discussion among EU member states in the coming days.
Related Articles:
Safety4Sea 11/06 - EU proposes 18th sanctions package against Russia
EUNews 10/06 - EU, 18th sanctions package against Russia. Energy exports and banking targeted
Euronews 10/06 - EU proposes fresh sanctions on Russia's oil, banks, Nord Stream and 'shadow fleet'
Reuters 10/06 - EU's new Russia sanctions to target energy sector and banks
6. US TREASURY REPORT
The US Treasury Report for all actions reported is hereby attached.
Related Article:
Attachment 1: US Treasury Report for week 07/06/2025 – 13/06/2025
7. PIRACY REPORT
The Piracy Report for all actions reported is hereby attached.
Related Article:
Attachment 2: Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report, for the period between 14/05/2025 – 11/06/2025
Nothing important to report from the IMO and the House of Representatives.