Maritime Industry Briefing: Tanker Seizures, Shipping Route Updates, Decarbonization Efforts

## Tanker Seizures in the Gulf Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have seized two oil tankers with their foreign crews in Gulf waters for "smuggling fuel," according to a report from the Tasnim news agency. The flags and nationalities of the crews were not immediately clear. This marks the latest incident in the ongoing tensions in the strategic waterway. ## Shipping Route Updates S&P Global Platts has amended the Worldscale flat rate baskets used in $/mt calculations for the Australia-North Asia dirty tanker route assessments, effective February 2nd. This follows recent updates to port fees for the Port of Dampier and Pyrenees Venture. Additionally, container shipping giants Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are shifting some of their jointly operated Gemini services to go through the Red Sea and Suez Canal. This signals a fuller return of commercial shipping to these vital waterways. ## Calls for Cross-Sector Decarbonization Caribbean policymakers and financiers have emphasized that decarbonizing shipping will require coordinated action across sectors and countries, supported by evidence-based planning and investment-ready pathways. Senior representatives from Caribbean maritime organizations stressed that isolated projects or technologies alone will not be enough to achieve emissions reduction goals. "Decarbonization will not succeed through isolated projects or technologies alone, but through coordinated action across sectors and countries," said one industry leader, according to Hellenic Shipping News. ## The Human Side of Transport While the maritime industry is often focused on efficiency, scale, and automation, the role of human psychology should not be overlooked. Transport remains a human industry, and factors like worker wellbeing, training, and culture can have significant impacts. As the sector continues to evolve, experts emphasize the importance of considering the "human side" of transportation.