21st March 2026 – 27th March 2026
LOCAL NEWS
No news reported.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
1. Strait of Hormuz becomes a state-managed chokepoint, as Iran’s “informal levy” on commercial vessels comes into effect
On the 25th March 2026 (the 26th day of the the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz), Iran rejected the US ceasefire proposal and laid out five conditions, including recognition of Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz. On the 26th March 2026, President Trump extended his deadline by 10 days to 6 April, a move widely interpreted as a concession acknowledging the limited effectiveness of military pressure alone in reopening the Strait.
Law on Levy on commercial vessels: On Thursday, 26th March 2026, Iranian media reported that the country’s parliament is seeking to pass legislation to collect tolls for ships transiting the world’s single most important oil passageway. The reports by the Tasnim and Fars news agencies, quoting the chairman of parliament’s Civil Affairs Committee, said a draft law has been prepared and will soon be finalised by the Islamic Consultative Assembly’s legal team. “According to this plan, Iran must collect fees to ensure the security of ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz,” an official was quoted as saying.
But even without that domestic legal framework, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has already imposed a “toll booth” system to control vessel traffic through the strait. Iran moved from an ad hoc blockade to a formalised, state-managed transit regime. The emergence of an IRGC-controlled corridor represents a fundamental shift from open navigation to conditional access, effectively transforming the Strait from an international waterway into a state-managed chokepoint.
Iran's Controlled Corridor and Toll Regime: At least 26 vessels had taken an Iranian-approved route as of 25 March, routing north of Larak Island under IRGC escort. The process requires shipping companies to submit documentation to IRGC intermediaries, obtain clearance codes, and accept escorted passage through a single controlled corridor. Sources familiar with the new system stated that to pass through the strait, vessel operators have to first reach out to intermediaries connected to the IRGC and submit all details of the vessel. This includes documentation, its International Maritime Organization number, the cargo being transported, the names of all members of the crew and the vessel’s final destination.
The intermediaries then submit the information to the IRGC’s naval command, which vets the information. If the vessel passes the screening, then the IRGC issues a clearance code and instructions on the route the vessel has to take to pass through the strait. Once the ship is in the strait, IRGC commanders yell out over VHF radio, asking for the vessel’s clearance code. The ship answers, and if approved, a boat from Iran arrives to escort the vessel through the country’s territorial waters around Larak Island. If ships don’t clear the IRGC navy’s screening test, they are not allowed to pass through the waterway.
One tanker reportedly paid $2 million for transit rights.
IMO 36th Extraordinary Council Session: The IMO Council met on 18-19 March 2026 to discuss the situation in the Middle East and its impact on shipping and seafarers. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated that nearly 2,000 ships are waiting on both sides of the strait to sail through it.
Furthermore, approximately 20,000 seafarers remain stranded aboard 3,200 vessels west of the Strait. The IMO called for a safe-passage framework and urged ship managers not to put seafarers at risk by attempting uncoordinated departures.
BIMCO also released a film campaign calling for urgent government action to protect seafarers caught in the crisis. The campaign underscores the human cost of the Hormuz disruption, which extends far beyond commercial losses to the welfare of maritime workers who remain trapped in an active conflict zone with limited access to shore leave, medical care, and crew changes.
Consequences and potential tension increase: The above - mentioned developments and disruptions have materially affected global energy markets, with crude oil and LNG shipments down 10–15% and freight rates rising sharply, highlighting Iran’s strategic influence over a route through which approximately one-fifth of global energy supplies transit and raising significant concerns under international law regarding the right of transit passage.
Furthermore, in the event of a U.S. ground incursion, Iran has indicated potential extension of hostilities to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and the Suez Canal. Iranian officials, including Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, have signaled possible retaliatory measures targeting strategic assets such as Kharg Island. Any escalation would create significant legal and operational risks, particularly given Yemen’s proximity and the presence of Houthi forces, whose prior actions in the Red Sea during the Gaza War demonstrated the vulnerability of key maritime routes.
In the meantime, seven states, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan and Canada, have expressed readiness to support measures ensuring safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. They emphasized the immediate need for a moratorium on attacks against civilian infrastructure, including oil and gas facilities.
Related Articles:
Attachment 1: Reuters 26/3 - Trump pauses attacks on Iran's energy plants, says talks 'going well'
Al Jazeera 26/3 - Tehran's tollbooth: How Iran picks who to let through Hormuz
MonoNews 23/03 - Strait of Hormuz: Iran charges “transit fees” of USD 2 million per vessel
Aljazeera 26/03 - Tehran issues warning to regional neighbour if Iranian island occupied
IMO 19/03 - IMO condemns attacks on shipping, calls for safe-passage framework in Strait of Hormuz
The Guardian 27/3 - Trump extends deadline for Iran to open strait of Hormuz by 10 days
SAFETY4SEA 26/3 - Hormuz vessel transits continue through a controlled corridor
Windward 26/3 - Iran War Maritime Intelligence Daily
Attachment 2: Reuters 25/3 - Western powers were unable to secure shipping in the Red Sea. Hormuz will be harder
ISW 25/3 - Iran Update Special Report, March 25, 2026
NPR Illinois 25/3 - Iran rejects Trump's proposal to end the war and lays out 5 conditions
Windward 25/3 - Iran War Maritime Intelligence Daily
SAFETY4SEA 24/3 - GNSS disruption causing navigational challenges in the Strait
Safety4Sea 23/3 - Strait of Hormuz update: Passage not closed but closely controlled
SAFETY4SEA 23/3 - Managing risk, stress and responsibility in a conflict zone
SAFETY4SEA 20/3 - Seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz crisis: IMO calls for safe passage framework
BIMCO 23/3 - BIMCO launches film to call for the protection of seafarers
Safety4Sea 24/3 - BIMCO launches campaign to highlight the crucial role of seafarers
InterManager 26/3 - BIMCO launches film to call for the protection of seafarers
FOX 9 27/03 - Iran latest: CENTCOM commander says 303 US troops have been wounded in war
2. ICS Releases Fifth Edition of Maritime Labour Convention Guidelines
On the 23rd March 2026, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) announced that it released the 5th edition of its Guidelines on the Application of the ILO Maritime Labour Convention (MLC).
The new edition brings together, for the first time, all sets of amendments to the ILO Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) in one publication, offering what ICS described as the most up-to-date and practical guidance on the convention’s mandatory and recommended employment standards.
According to the chamber, the updated publication explains in clear terms what the changes mean in practice for shipping companies, masters, managers, crewing agencies and those responsible for day-to-day operations both ashore and at sea.
The updated guidelines are of particular relevance to Cyprus-flagged vessels. Shipowners are strongly advised to review the new edition and ensure full compliance with the updated provisions on shore leave, medical access, and harassment prevention. The release comes at a critical time, with approximately 20,000 seafarers currently stranded in the Persian Gulf, highlighting the urgency of robust employment protections for maritime workers.
Related Articles:
Maritime Executive 23/3 - Updates to Guidelines on the Application of ILO Maritime Labour Convention
Cyprus Mail 26/3 - Shipowners urged to prepare for new global employment amendments
3. Ukraine struck the Russian ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga
Between 22–23 March, Ukrainian forces reportedly conducted coordinated strikes against Russian oil export infrastructure at the Primorsk and Ust-Luga terminals in the Baltic Sea. The attacks followed Ukraine’s objections to the lifting of U.S. sanctions on Russian crude and aimed to maintain European pressure on Moscow. Operations at both terminals were temporarily suspended. Ukrainian authorities assert that the strikes caused damage to Transneft’s loading infrastructure and oil storage facilities at Primorsk. Additional collateral damage included power line outages and fires in surrounding areas.
Primorsk, which handles up to 1 million barrels per day and exports over 60 million tons annually, resumed limited operations. Ust-Luga, with a capacity of approximately 700,000 barrels per day, also resumed operations post-strike. Analysts estimate that at least 40% of Russia’s oil export capacity was affected, representing the most significant disruption in modern Russian history. Transneft intends to reroute exports from damaged Baltic ports. Experts note that damage to storage and loading infrastructure could suspend pipeline flows for an extended period, directly impacting government revenues and global energy markets.
Related Article:
MonoNews 24/03 - Ukraine struck the Russian ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga
4. EU delays proposal to ban Russian oil
EU Delays Permanent Russian Oil Ban: On Tuesday, 24th March 2026, an updated EU legislative agenda showed that the European Commission no longer submit the permanent Russian oil ban proposal on 15 April as originally planned, as a result of the current geopolitical environment and the risk of further destabilising energy markets already strained by the Iran conflict. However, an EU official, told Reuters the proposal had not been cancelled and would still be published though no longer by the mid-April date due to "current geopolitical developments".
This development comes amid a tense standoff with Hungary and Slovakia, the only two member states that still buy Russian oil, over the Soviet-era Druzhba pipeline.
The legislation, which is part of the REPowerEU roadmap, was tentatively scheduled to be unveiled on 15 April, but the date has now been removed from the calendar.
"I do not have a new date to give," Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, the Commission's spokesperson for energy, said on Tuesday morning.
However, the week saw a significant escalation in both kinetic action and policy measures against Russia's shadow fleet, with European nations moving from sanctions lists to physical interdiction.
Drone Attack (26 March): A naval drone struck a Mozambique-flagged crude oil tanker carrying approximately 140,000 tonnes of Russian Urals crude in the Black Sea, some 15 nautical miles from the Bosphorus. The vessel, which has been subject to EU sanctions since October 2025, sustained damage to its bridge and engine room. All 27 Turkish crew members were reported safe. Turkey condemned the attack and dispatched rescue vessels to the scene.
UK Authorises Boarding: On 26 March, at the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) Summit in Helsinki, Prime Minister Starmer announced that British armed forces are now authorised to intercept and board Russian shadow fleet vessels transiting UK waters, including the English Channel. Military personnel have been trained for scenarios including boarding uncooperative or armed vessels. Each target ship will be individually assessed by legal, military and energy market specialists before ministerial approval is given. The UK joins Finland, Sweden and Estonia, which have already carried out operations against suspected shadow fleet vessels in the Baltic.
Related Articles:
EURONEWS 24/03 - EU delays proposal to ban Russian oil amid Iran war, price spikes and Druzhba row
eKathimerini 26/3 - Europeans vow to get tougher on Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers
GOV.UK 26/3 - Shadow fleet set to be interdicted in UK waters in latest blow to Russia
Attachment 3: Reuters 24/3 - EU delays April 15 proposal to permanently ban Russian oil imports
SAFETY4SEA 26/3 - Drone strikes crude oil tanker near the Bosphorus
Safety4Sea 24/3 - CHIRP Maritime: How to identify the shadow fleet
France24 26/3 - Turkey-operated tanker carrying Russian oil struck by naval drone in Black Sea
5. Antipollution Egypt: Suez Canal shifts toward “green” shipping with new hazardous waste management servic
The Suez Canal will, for the first time, provide comprehensive hazardous waste management services for vessels, effective April 15, operated by Antipollution Egypt, a subsidiary of the Greek V Group. The initiative, approved by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, forms part of Egypt’s broader environmental upgrade and aligns with IMO standards and the MARPOL Convention. Given that approximately 12% of global trade transits the Canal, the new services address a longstanding regulatory gap, enabling lawful and safe disposal of ship-generated hazardous waste and reducing environmental risks. Antipollution Egypt will manage collection, transport, treatment, and final disposal, under the oversight of Suez Canal Authority head Osama Rabie and coordination by Minister Kamel Al Wazir.
The project aims to implement zero-waste practices and achieve gradual carbon neutrality, establishing the Canal as a global reference for sustainable shipping. This represents both a strategic environmental measure and an operational framework with potential influence on vessel routing and compliance obligations.
Related Articles:
SafetyForSea 27/03 - Suez Canal introduces new IMO-compliant hazardous waste services
6. IMO Net-Zero Framework (NZF): Uncertainty Clouds Green Shipping Investment
Ahead of MEPC 84 (April-May 2026), where the IMO Net-Zero Framework implementation guidelines are due for approval, Wärtsilä published a report showing that nearly 70% of industry respondents indicated that uncertainty complicates efforts to prioritise decarbonisation investments.
The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) will convene its 84th session in London from 27 April to 1 May 2026, where discussions on mid-term GHG reduction measures will resume. The Committee is expected to consider amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, including the designation of a North-East Atlantic Emission Control Area and enhancements to the IMO Data Collection System, as well as measures on energy efficiency (EEXI, SEEMP, CII), OCCS, ballast water management, and air pollution. Additional agenda items include marine plastic litter, underwater radiated noise, and biofouling, alongside proposals for new regulatory outputs. While technical progress is anticipated, final decisions on the NZF remain contingent on achieving broader consensus among member states.
The United States maintains its firm opposition to the IMO NZF for maritime carbon reduction. In formal submissions, it has called for termination of the framework, citing material deficiencies, lack of member-state consensus, reliance on unproven fuels, potential punitive enforcement, and disproportionate economic impacts on small- and medium-sized operators, rejects penalties.
Conversely, the European Union supports the NZF as a central instrument for maritime decarbonisation, seeking alignment with its regional regulatory framework, notwithstanding reservations expressed by certain Member States, including Cyprus, Greece, and Malta. In parallel, a coalition of Pacific island nations has warned that any delay or dilution of the NZF would undermine global greenhouse gas reduction efforts, advocating retention of economic measures and strengthening of short-term instruments, particularly the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII), to ensure a timely and equitable transition.
In addition, China has proposed an alternative regulatory focus, urging the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to accelerate the development of a framework for onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS). Its submission to MEPC 84 calls for initial guidelines by 2026 and full implementation by 2028, supported by an experience-building phase. China further advocates a simplified “reporting–verification–prevention” model, prohibiting operational discharges, requiring onboard storage of captured carbon, and enabling flexible disposal pathways, including onshore sequestration and industrial reuse under national regulation. The proposal emphasizes technical standards, real-time monitoring, and integration into existing IMO reporting systems.
Related Articles:
NewMoney 23/03 - US: Calls to end discussions on reducing shipping carbon emissions
Argus 23/03 - US pushes IMO to overturn net-zero framework
SAFETY4SEA 27/03 - Pacific islands call for no further delay on IMO Net-Zero Framework
SAFETY4SEA 24/03 - China calls on IMO for framework to accelerate onboard carbon capture
SAFETY4SEA 27/03 - IMO MEPC 84: What’s on the agenda?
IMO - Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC)
Attachment 4: TradeWinds 25/3 - Shipowners’ green fuel confusion complicating investment decisions, says Wartsila
Splash247 25/3 - Uncertainty clouds green shipping spend, says Wärtsilä
7. EU and Australia agreed a sweeping free trade deal
On the 24th March 2025, the EU and Australia concluded negotiations on a sweeping free trade deal after eight years of negotiations.
The deal signed in Canberra was described as a mutual "win-win" by Australia's prime minister and the visiting European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Ms. von der Leyen described the deal as having a focus on "collective resilience" in a world that is "deeply changing".
As well as removing almost all tariffs on trade, the two sides agreed to improve access to critical raw materials and strengthen strategic ties with the Indo-Pacific.
According to the European Commission, with the ambitious and balanced free trade agreement, the EU is opening the market to one of the world's fastest-growing developed economies and thereby bringing significant economic opportunities to European companies and cosumers,, while EU exports are expected to grow by up to 33% over the next decade.
The agreement will give EU exporters privileged access to the Australian market, including:
- Removing over 99% of tariffs on EU goods exports to Australia, thus cutting some €1 billion a year in duties for companies of all sizes;
- Opening of the Australian services market in key sectors, including financial services;
- Providing greater access for EU companies to Australian government procurement contracts;
Related Articles:
EU Commission - The EU-Australia trade agreement
BBC 24/03 - Australia and EU agree sweeping trade deal in face of global uncertainty
8. US TREASURY REPORT
The US Treasury Report for all actions reported is hereby attached.
Related Article:
Attachment 5: US Treasury Report for week 21/03/2026 – 27/03/2026
9. EU SANCTIONS LIST
Please note that no updates have been published this week regarding the EU Consolidated List or the EU Sanctions Map.
10. PIRACY REPORT
The Piracy Report for all actions reported is hereby attached.
Related Article:
Attachment 6: Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report 25/3: For the period between 25/02/2026 – 25/03/2026
Nothing important to report from Local News, ILO, ECSA and the House of Representatives.