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Bunker Fuel

CMA CGM and MSC to impose emergency bunker fuel surcharge amid Middle East tensions

CMA CGM said that it will impose a fuel surcharge later in the month in response to a surge in global fuel prices due to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Near and Middle East.
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RESIZED CMA CGM

French shipping giant CMA CGM on Saturday (7 March) has announced that it will impose a fuel surcharge later in the month in response to a surge in global fuel prices due to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Near and Middle East.

As a result, bunker costs have significantly increased across all regions and trades, impacting the overall cost of ocean transportation.

“To continue providing reliable and sustainable services in this exceptional context, CMA CGM will implement an Emergency Fuel Surcharge (EFS) as follows,” the company said in an advisory.

The EFS will be effective as from 23 March 2026 (Loading date), or subject to regulatory filings where applicable, and will remain in place until further notice.

On the same date, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company also announced it will apply an EFS to all cargo from Mediterranean (including West Mediterranean, Adriatic, East Mediterranean, Greece and Turkey) and Black Sea to Indian Sub-Continent, Red Sea and East Africa.

The EFS is scheduled to take effect from 16 March. 

Cosco Shipping and Hapag-Lloyd have respectively announced suspension to services in the Middle East. 

“In view of the escalating conflicts in the Middle East region and the resultant restrictions on maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, to maximise the safety of your cargo and the stability of overall shipping operations, COSCO Shipping Lines has decided, based on the latest risk assessment results, to suspend all new bookings services for relevant routes with immediate effect until further notice,” the company said on 4 March. 

The scope of the suspended service is as follows:

  • Suspension of all new bookings from worldwide to the United Arab Emirates (excluding Khor Fakkan and Fujairah), Bahrain, Iraq, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (excluding Jeddah), and Kuwait.
  • Suspension of all new bookings from the United Arab Emirates (excluding Khor Fakkan and Fujairah), Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (excluding Jeddah), and Kuwait to worldwide.

On 6 March, Hapag-Lloyd said the current security situation in the Middle East, especially in and around the Upper Gulf, is affecting vessel movements and port operations across the region.

Effective 6 March and until further notice, the company has temporarily suspended its IG1 and KWF services. 

On 4 March, the company said it has decided to implement a booking stop with immediate effect and until further notice for all cargo types to and from the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman (Sohar), Saudi Arabia (Dammam and Jubail) and Yemen. 

 

Photo credit: CMA CGM
Published: 9 March, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

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July 21, 2026

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PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. 

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post. 

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024. 

 

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s alternative fuel bunkering infrastructure.
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July 21, 2026

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CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

China’s Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (CIMC SOE) recently signed a contract with Sinopec (Beijing) Clean Energy Co., Ltd. to build a 12,000-cubic metre (m3) LNG bunkering vessel, according to Chinese maritime media.

The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2028 and will support Sinopec’s efforts to expand its presence in the marine clean energy sector.

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s LNG bunkering infrastructure.

With this signing , CIMC Pacific Offshore Engineering’s LNG bunkering vessel orderbook is further strengthened, maintaining its leading position in the global market for small and medium-sized LNG bunkering vessels.

The contract also marked another milestone for CIMC SOE, which has seen a sharp increase in orders and business performance this year amid a surge in domestic LNG vessel demand.

 

Photo credit: Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026

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Nuclear

ABS awards AiP to Korean institute for SMR-powered container ship concept design

KRISO says AiP recognises the technical feasibility and safety of its concept design, marking an important milestone toward the development of next-generation nuclear-powered commercial ships.
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July 21, 2026

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ABS awards AiP to Korean institute for SMR-powered container ship concept design

Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO) on Thursday (16 July) received Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for its concept design of a 15,000 TEU Small Modular Reactor (SMR)-powered container ship utilising Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) technology.

KRISO said the AiP recognises the technical feasibility and safety of its concept design, marking an important milestone toward the development of next-generation nuclear-powered commercial ships.

“This achievement demonstrates international recognition of KRISO’s technological capabilities in the rapidly evolving field of nuclear-powered shipping, supporting the transition toward low-carbon maritime transport,” it said. 

Building on this milestone, KRISO will continue advancing basic and detailed ship design, paving the way for future demonstration and commercialisation of SMR-powered vessels. 

Through continued R&D and international collaboration, KRISO remains committed to strengthening next-generation maritime technologies and contributing to the safe deployment of nuclear propulsion in the maritime industry.

 

Photo credit: Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026

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