In late July 2025, the United States announced a 25 percent tariff on Indian exports, explicitly citing India’s continued purchases of Russian crude oil and military equipment. The move was widely interpreted as part of a broader strategy targeting countries that maintain strong commercial ties with Moscow. On August 6, a follow-up executive order imposed …

Special Focus of the Week: Iraq Crude Exports & Dirty Oil Flows Read More »

The Commercial Court decision in Fastfreight Pte Ltd v Bulk Trident Shipping Ltd (Anna Dorothea) is a timely and significant reminder of the importance of payment discipline in the shipping industry. At the heart of this case was a clause most shipowners would cheer and most charterers would scrutinise: an anti-deduction clause (Line 146, NYPE …

‘Commercial certainty’ takes precedent over fairness Read More »

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted mandatory amendments to SOLAS Chapter V (Regulations 31 and 32) and Article V of MARPOL Protocol I to standardise the reporting of freight container losses at sea. These changes require Masters to report both the loss and observation of containers without delay, ensuring timely communication with nearby vessels, …

18/2025: New IMO Requirements for reporting loss of containers at sea Read More »