Iran and Israel traded fire raising concern that the Middle East shipping crisis could escalate. Iran hijacked an Israeli-owned 15,000 teu containership, the MSC Aries, on April 13. Houthis, meanwhile, continued their attacks on merchant shipping, pushing further and further away from their shores in Yemen. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) claimed that the tide has turned in its ongoing battle to get back to normal operations, following a debilitating year of drought-induced cuts to drafts and transits. “Current forecasts indicate that steady rainfall will arrive in late April and continue for a few months. If this remains the case, the Canal plans to gradually ease transit restrictions, allowing conditions to fully normalize by 2025,” the ACP stated. Dry bulk heavyweights Star Bulk Carriers of Greece and US-based Eagle Bulk Shipping officially combined in an all-stock deal, creating the world’s largest publicly-listed bulker owner. The combined company will operate as Star Bulk Carriers, be headquartered in Athens, and will be led by Petros Pappas. The tricky clear-up in Baltimore moved ahead with authorities opening shallow channels to allow some barges to pass, and revealing they aim to have the port operating at full capacity by the end of May. The 9,962 teu Dali containership, managed by Synergy and on charter to Maersk, has been pinned down under mangled steel in the Patapsco River since it slammed into a bridge on March 26, killing six road maintenance workers. Somali pirates released a hijacked Bangladeshi ship, Abdullah, and its crew of 23 on April 14 after a $5m ransom was paid, according to two pirates. After a six-year quiet period, Somali pirates have been back in the headlines in recent months. Athens-based pool operator and shipmanager Heidmar is expanding its operation with the addition of Landbridge Ship Management in Hong Kong. The move will see the Pankaj Khanna-led outfit with over 60 tankers and bulkers under commercial management expand its offering to include technical shipmanagement. The Biden administration reimposed oil sanctions on Venezuela, hitting out at President Nicolás Maduro for failing to follow a greater democratic path for the South American nation. American companies with investments in Venezuela have until the end of May to wind down operations. TagsSplash Extra April 2024 Splash Extra Archive