Maritime Industry Briefing: Hormuz Oil Flows, Jones Act Waiver Debate Mark Busy Week

## Mercuria Leveraged Government Deals to Move Oil Through Hormuz Commodity trading giant Mercuria Energy Group Ltd. moved oil through the Strait of Hormuz by relying on government-brokered arrangements, according to legal filings that offer a rare window into how major traders are navigating one of the world's most strategically sensitive shipping chokepoints, gCaptain reports. The disclosures come amid heightened tensions in the region following the Iran war, and underscore the increasingly complex diplomatic and logistical frameworks that commodity traders must engage to maintain oil flows through the strait. The Strait of Hormuz remains critical to global energy markets, with an estimated 20% of the world's traded oil passing through the waterway. The revelation highlights the degree to which private commercial interests are now intertwined with state-level negotiations to keep supply chains intact in contested maritime corridors. --- ## Jones Act Labor Coalition Renews Waiver Opposition on Law's 106th Anniversary U.S. maritime labor leaders marked the 106th anniversary of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 — commonly known as the Jones Act — by renewing their call for the Trump administration to terminate its emergency waiver program, according to gCaptain. The coalition argues that the waivers, which allow foreign-flagged vessels to carry cargo between U.S. ports under emergency provisions, undermine the domestic maritime workforce and erode the industrial base the Jones Act was designed to protect. Labor representatives contend that the waivers set a damaging precedent and that no genuine emergency justification exists for their continued use. The Jones Act has long been a flashpoint in U.S. trade and shipping policy, with supporters citing national security and domestic job protection, while critics argue it raises shipping costs, particularly for non-contiguous states and territories such as Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. The anniversary renewed debate is expected to intensify as the administration weighs broader maritime policy priorities. --- ## Industry Eyes Posidonia as Global Shipping Gathering Approaches The maritime industry is also looking ahead to Posidonia, the biennial international shipping exhibition held in Athens, Greece, widely regarded as one of the most significant gatherings in the global maritime calendar. The event, tracked by Seatrade Maritime, draws shipowners, operators, financiers, and technology providers from across the industry and is expected to serve as a key forum for discussions on fleet investment, decarbonisation, and market conditions. --- *Sources: gCaptain, Seatrade Maritime*