JUPITER SEA & AIR
SERVICES PVT. LTD, EGMORE – CHENNAI, INDIA.
E-MAIL : Robert.sands@jupiterseaair.co.in Mobile : +91 98407 85202
Corporate News Letter for Saturday July 18, 2026
Today’s
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/// Sea Cargo News ///
Maersk raises emergency contingency surcharge on India-Europe services
Maersk has announced a US$1,000 per container increase in its Emergency Contingency Surcharge (ECS) for shipments from the Indian Subcontinent to North Europe and the Mediterranean on its E3W and E4W services.
The revised surcharge will take effect from 1 August 2026 and applies to cargo originating from North West India, Pakistan, Nepal, South and East India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Bangladesh.
Following the increase, the ECS for shipments from North West India and Pakistan to North Europe will rise to US$3,500 per container across 20ft dry, 40ft dry and 40ft reefer equipment. Bangladesh exports to North Europe will be subject to ECS levels of US$4,000 for 20ft containers, US$4,800 for 40ft dry containers and US$4,400 for 40ft reefers.
On the Mediterranean trade, the surcharge from North West India and Pakistan will increase to US$3,900 for 20ft containers and US$4,100 for 40ft dry and reefer containers. Bangladesh shipments to the Mediterranean will carry ECS levels of US$4,000, US$4,800 and US$4,400 respectively.
Maersk said the revised ECS also applies to out-of-gauge (OOG), shipper-owned (SOC) and non-operating reefer (NOR) containers, with 40ft flat racks, open tops and NOR equipment charged at the same level as standard 40ft dry containers.
ADNOC L&S confirms damage to two tankers after Strait of Hormuz attack
ADNOC Logistics and Services (ADNOC L&S) has confirmed that two crude oil tankers were struck by projectiles while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The incident occurred during the early hours of 14 July.
The company said one seafarer was killed in the attack. Several others were injured.
ADNOC L&S extended its condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased. The company also wished those injured a full and speedy recovery.
The company condemned the attack on civilian shipping and the seafarers serving on board the vessels.
ADNOC L&S said it is working closely with emergency responders and other relevant stakeholders following the incident.
The two vessels involved were Al Bahyah and Mombasa B.
Al Bahyah is an ADNOC L&S-owned Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC). Mombasa B is a VLCC operated by ADNOC L&S under a time-charter agreement.
The company confirmed that both vessels sustained significant damage during the attack.
OOCL reports 19.8% revenue growth in second quarter of 2026
Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) reported higher revenue and volumes in the second quarter of 2026, driven by stronger demand across its major trade lanes, particularly the Trans-Pacific market.
The carrier’s liner revenue increased 19.8% year on year to US$2.54 billion during the quarter. Total liftings rose 8.8%to 2.14 million TEUs, while loadable capacity increased 6.3%. The overall load factor improved by 1.9 percentage points, and average revenue per TEU climbed 10.1%.
The Trans-Pacific trade delivered the strongest growth. Liftings increased 21.5% to 608,979 TEUs, while revenue surged 29.3% to US$973.7 million.
On the Asia-Europe trade, OOCL carried 386,513 TEUs, up 6.9% from a year earlier. Revenue on the route rose 17.6%to US$520.9 million.
The Trans-Atlantic market remained relatively stable. Liftings edged up 1.8%, but revenue declined 1.3% to US$191.5 million.
Intra-Asia and Australasia volumes increased 3.9% to 989,215 TEUs. Revenue on the trade reached US$850.8 million, up 16.8% year on year.
For the first six months of 2026, OOCL reported liner revenue of US$4.68 billion, a 5.5% increase from the same period last year. Total liftings rose 5.2% to 4.13 million TEUs.
During the first half, capacity increased 5.3%, while the overall load factor slipped 0.1 percentage points. Average liner revenue per TEU increased 0.2% year on year.
OOCL noted that the figures are based on internal management accounts and have not been reviewed or audited.
Lloyd’s List Intelligence launches Vessel Due Diligence platform
Lloyd’s List Intelligence has launched Vessel Due Diligence, a new operational screening tool designed to help marine underwriters and vessel vetters assess vessel risk more efficiently.
The solution is available as an add-on to the company’s Seasearcher maritime intelligence platform.
The new platform combines operational risk data into a single interface. It aims to replace the manual process of collecting information from multiple sources before making underwriting and vetting decisions.
According to Lloyd’s List Intelligence, marine underwriters and vessel vetters typically spend two to four hours each week reviewing vessel data across different systems.
Vessel Due Diligence brings together information on incidents, inspections, deficiencies, detentions, seizures, arrests, classification status and P&I cover. It also includes dry dock records, machinery condition, historic port calls and hull risk indicators.
The platform supports both individual vessel reviews and fleet-wide screening. It also provides audit-ready decision support to help improve consistency across underwriting and vetting teams.
“Vessel Due Diligence marks a real shift for our underwriting and vetting customers—from fragmented data to genuine decision-making support,” said Nicola Marlin, Chief Product Officer at Lloyd’s List Intelligence.
“We built it to mirror how underwriters and vetters actually work, so they can make faster, more defensible calls at scale,” she added.
Lloyd’s List Intelligence said the new product combines proprietary AIS data, maritime analytics and operational intelligence to help shipping, insurance and finance professionals make faster and more informed decisions.
Port of Rotterdam introduces uniform permit system for port towage
The Harbour Master of Rotterdam has introduced a mandatory permit system for providers of port towage services in the port of Rotterdam, establishing uniform quality standards within the nautical chain for the first time in the port’s history.
The permit requirement, grounded in the European Seaport Regulation and laid down in the Port Regulations, means that tugboat companies cannot offer port towage services in Rotterdam without holding a valid permit.
As of July 1, two port towage service providers have been granted permits. The new requirements establish clear standards across several areas. Port towage service providers must demonstrate that their tugboat captains possess appropriate knowledge, training, experience and skills.
Tugs must be continuously available around the clock, throughout the year, for all clients and at all berths within the port.
Providers are also required to engage in regular consultation with other nautical service providers on working methods and procedures, strengthening coordination across the broader nautical chain.
Harbour Master René de Vries described the permit as a major step toward a stronger and more integrated nautical team, noting that the clear standards anchor collaboration between boatmen, pilots and tugs.
He highlighted the pragmatic and democratic nature of the process, which incorporated sector input and has resulted in broad industry support for the new framework.
The requirements complement regulations already in force for other nautical service providers in Rotterdam, completing a more comprehensive regulatory environment across the port’s nautical services ecosystem.
Trump proposes 20% cargo charge for Hormuz Strait security
US President Donald Trump has proposed imposing a 20% charge on all cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz as part of a new US-led maritime security initiative for one of the world’s busiest shipping corridors.
In a statement published on Truth Social, Trump declared that the Strait of Hormuz “is OPEN, and will remain OPEN, with or without Iran,” following heightened tensions in the Middle East and recent threats to commercial shipping.
Trump said the United States would reinstate what he called the “Iranian blockade,” stating that it would only restrict Iranian vessels or customers, while ships from all other countries would continue to have unrestricted access through the strait.
As part of the proposal, Trump said the US would become “The Guardian of the Hormuz Strait” and would be reimbursed for providing security by charging 20% on all cargo shipped through the waterway.
“The U.S.A. will be, from this point forward, known as ‘THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT,’ but as such, and as a matter of fairness, will be reimbursed, at the rate of 20% on all cargo shipped, for any and all costs necessary to do the job of providing safety and security,” Trump wrote.
He added that work on implementing the proposed security framework and cargo charge would begin immediately.
Maersk adds Jeddah call to AE15 Gemini service
Maersk will add a call at Jeddah to its AE15 Gemini Cooperation service from August, further strengthening connectivity between Asia, Europe and Saudi Arabia following the service’s return to the trans-Suez route.
The new port call follows the previously announced structural change that sees the AE15 service resume transits through the Suez Canal instead of routing vessels around the Cape of Good Hope.
Maersk said the additional Jeddah call will enhance cargo connectivity to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia while supporting faster transit times between Asia and Europe.
The carrier added that it will continue to closely monitor the security situation in the Middle East together with Hapag-Lloyd. Any further changes to the Gemini network will depend on conditions in the Red Sea, with contingency plans in place should the service need to revert to the Cape of Good Hope route.
I hope you have enjoyed reading the above
news letter.
Robert Sands
Joint Managing Director
Jupiter Sea & Air Services Pvt Ltd
Casa Blanca, 3rd Floor
11, Casa Major Road, Egmore
Chennai – 600 008. India.
GST Number : 33AAACJ2686E1ZS.
Tel : + 91 44 2819 0171 / 3734 / 4041
Fax : + 91 44 2819 0735
Mobile : + 91 98407 85202
E-mail : robert.sands@jupiterseaair.co.in
Website : www.jupiterseaair.com 1Branches : Chennai, Bangalore,
Mumbai, Coimbatore, Tirupur and Tuticorin.
Associate Offices : New Delhi, Kolkatta, Cochin &
Hyderabad.
Thanks to : Container News, Indian Seatrade, Cargo Forwarder Global & Air Cargo News.
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