04th April 2026 – 10th April 2026
LOCAL NEWS
1. Shipping Deputy Ministry Launches 3rd Cyprus Shipping Gender Equality Award
The Shipping Deputy Ministry has announced the launch of the third edition of the Cyprus Shipping Gender Equality Award 2026, following the decision of the Council of Ministers to establish the institution. The Award is presented annually by the Shipping Deputy Minister to the President, on behalf of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, during the event held in view of the International Day for Women in Maritime. Nominations for the Award should be submitted to the Selection Committee through the Permanent Secretary of the Shipping Deputy Ministry, on the prescribed form, no later than 3pm on Monday, 4 May 2026. The nomination form, criteria and regulations are available on the Shipping Deputy Ministry's website. The initiative reflects the continued commitment of Cyprus to promoting gender equality and inclusion within the maritime sector.
Related Article:
CBN Cyprus 6/4 - Cyprus Shipping Gender Equality Award nominations open
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
2. US Imposes Naval Blockade on Iran as Trump Issues Stark Warning
On Monday, 13 April 2026, the United States launched a sweeping naval blockade on Iran, dramatically escalating tensions in the Middle East after diplomatic efforts collapsed over the weekend. The move, ordered by the US President, targets all maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports, with immediate global economic and security implications.
The blockade took effect Monday, covering Iran’s entire coastline and key access points through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a corridor that normally handles around one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas shipments.
In a sharply worded warning, Donald Trump said any Iranian vessels approaching the blockade, particularly fast-attack boats operated by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, would be “immediately eliminated”. The statement underscores a shift toward a zero-tolerance enforcement strategy, with U.S. naval and aerial assets prepared to intercept or destroy perceived threats.
The blockade follows six weeks of conflict between the United States and Iran, during which much of Iran’s conventional navy has reportedly been destroyed. The crisis intensified after Iran restricted access to the Strait of Hormuz, allowing limited passage while leveraging the chokepoint to pressure global markets and political rivals.
However, the move has drawn concern from maritime authorities. Mr. Arsenio Domingues, Secretary-General of the IMO, stressed that freedom of navigation is a fundamental principle of international law and must be respected by all parties. He stressed that civilian shipping must be safeguarded and that seafarers should be protected from the effects of wider geopolitical tensions.
Mr. Dominguez further stated that, from a legal perspective, states have no right to block international straits used for global transit or impede innocent passage.
Moreover, the U.S. action has exposed deep divisions among Western allies. Key NATO members, including the United Kingdom and France, have declined to participate in the blockade, instead advocating for a neutral, multinational effort to secure maritime navigation after hostilities end.
Iran has condemned the blockade as illegal and warned of retaliation, raising fears that the conflict could spill across the wider Gulf region. Despite the escalation, the U.S. President suggested that Iran may still be seeking negotiations, though no verified breakthrough has emerged.
Related Articles:
China Daily 14/04 - IMO chief: Additional curbs won't ease crisis in Strait of Hormuz
CNN 13/04 - Trump warns Iran as US military blockade on Iranian ports takes effect
NYPost 13/04 - US blockade of Iranian ports in Strait of Hormuz takes effect
Aljazeera 13/04 - Iranian Port Traffic in Hormuz strait
BBC 13/06 - US blockade of Iranian ports takes effect as Trump says Tehran wants a deal 'very badly'
Telegraph 13/04 - Iran desperate to make a deal, Trump claims
BBC 13/04 - What is a naval blockade and how would it work in Strait of Hormuz?
NBCNews 13/04 - What to know about Trump's Iran blockade and the Strait of Hormuz
3. Maritime Insurance: War Risk Premiums Remain Elevated Despite Ceasefire
The ongoing crisis in the Strait of Hormuz has resulted in the repricing and, in many cases, withdrawal of war-risk insurance policies for vessels operating in the region. Major maritime insurers have suspended or repriced war-risk coverage, reflecting the shift from standard commercial risk to active conflict exposure. Marine insurance is a prerequisite for global shipping, with vessels requiring hull, cargo and Protection and Indemnity cover to operate.
Following the ceasefire announcement, shipowners began placing significant volume requests for insurance cover as they assessed opportunities to transit the Strait. However, industry sources indicate that even with a ceasefire in place, insurers do not expect a rapid return to normal pricing or capacity, with war risk premiums likely to remain elevated as long as tensions persist.
In response to the insurance crisis, the United States Government directed a federal development finance agency to provide political risk insurance to support continued shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting the extent to which states are stepping in as insurers of last resort where private markets have retreated.
Related Articles:
Insurance Business 8/4 - Strait of Hormuz slams shut as ceasefire dealt huge blow
4. BIMCO: Geopolitics, supply chains – and the human face of global trade
On the 7th April 2026, BIMCO published a letter from its President Paul Pathy, which had been circulated to the CEOs of all BIMCO member companies and organisations on 31 March 2026, addressing the fundamental role of shipping in supporting the global economy and the essential contribution of seafarers in enabling it in the context of the current geopolitical crisis.
This letter points out that the events in the Middle East reaffirm that global supply chains constitute tangible, interconnected systems, inherently exposed to geopolitical risk, therefore, disruption in any region produces immediate and material effects across markets, including energy distribution, commodity pricing, inflation and trade routes. According to Mr. Pathy, maritime transport remains central to this framework; interference with shipping operations generates consequences extending beyond the sector.
The letter highlights that maritime transport underpins the global economy and seafarers are indispensable to its operation. In this context, BIMCO has produced Fair Seas, a short film intended to present the human dimension of seafaring, illustrating the professionalism, resilience, and lived experience of seafarers. BIMCO encourages stakeholders to utilise Fair Seas in professional and public forums, including corporate communications, meetings, and industry engagements.
Related Articles:
BIMCO 07/04 - Geopolitics, supply chains – and the human face of global trade
MonoNews 09/04 - Shipping underpins the global economy, and seafarers make it possible
5. Netherlands adopts electronic bills of lading legislation
The Netherlands has introduced new legislation recognising electronic bills of lading (eBLs) as legally equivalent to traditional paper documents, marking an important step in the digitalisation of international trade. The reform aligns with the UNCITRAL (United Nations Commission on International Trade Law) Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records, an internationally recognised framework that enables the legal use of digital trade documents.
The adoption of eBLs is expected to enhance efficiency by allowing faster document transfers, reduce administrative costs, and improve security by limiting the risks associated with paper-based processes. As a key global trading hub, the Netherlands’ initiative is likely to facilitate smoother cross-border transactions and further strengthen its position in advancing digital trade.
Related Articles:
Safety4Sea 06/04 - Netherlands adopts electronic bills of lading legislation
6. Consultation on new BIMCO ESG metrics guidance
On the 7th April 2026, BIMCO invited its members to review and provide comments on its draft Guidance on best practice for ESG (Environmental Social Governance) metrics in the shipping industry. BIMCO points out that shipping companies are subject to a range of ESG reporting obligations and expectations, including mandatory requirements under the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), various national regimes, and voluntary disclosure initiatives, as well as data requests from commercial counterparties. According to BIMCO, existing ESG frameworks are generally designed for cross-sector application and may not adequately reflect the operational realities of maritime transport, while current shipping-specific guidance remains limited in scope.
The draft Guidance by BIMCO seeks to address these gaps by providing practical, shipping-specific ESG metrics intended to support consistent and meaningful reporting and data exchange across the industry, irrespective of whether reporting is mandatory or voluntary. BIMCO suggests that it may also serve as a reference for companies subject to CSRD when interpreting ESRS requirements in a maritime context.
BIMCO explains that the Guidance is non-binding and does not prescribe mandatory metrics. It reflects current best practice, informed by applicable regulations and industry sustainability reporting and is designed to complement, rather than replicate, existing ESG standards. BIMCO Members wishing to participate in the consultation may request access to the draft Guidance via
Related Articles:
BIMCO 07/04 - Have your say – Consultation on new BIMCO ESG metrics guidance
7. US TREASURY REPORT
The US Treasury Report for all actions reported is hereby attached.
Related Article:
Attachment 4: US Treasury Report for week 04/04/2026 – 10/04/2026
8. EU SANCTIONS LIST
Please note that no updates have been published this week regarding the EU Consolidated List or the EU Sanctions Map.
9. PIRACY REPORT
The Piracy Report for all actions reported is hereby attached.
Related Article:
Attachment 5: Worldwide Threat to Shipping (WTS) Report, for the period between 11/03/2026 – 08/04/2026
Nothing important to report from ECSA, ILO and the House of Representatives.