The EU’s 20th Sanctions Package and What It Means for Maritime Operators
On April 23, 2026, the EU adopted its 20th sanctions package against Russia, adding 46 vessels to the shadow fleet list, cutting off 20 more Russian banks, and putting the legal basis for a full maritime services ban in place, though activation remains contingent on G7 coordination that has yet to materialize. It is the…
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Alcatel Pauses Gulf Subsea Cable Repairs as Iran Demands ‘Protection Fees’
At a Glance A New Chokepoint, Drawn on the Seabed The image above, captured on the Windward Maritime AI™ platform, shows the cable lattice that ties the Middle East Gulf to South Asia, East Africa, and Europe. Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the UAE, Oman, then onward to Karachi, Mumbai, and the Bay of Bengal. Dozens of…
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Five Weeks Into the Ceasefire, Hormuz Is Operating Under Control
At a Glance Operational Overview Five weeks into the ceasefire, the Strait of Hormuz remains constrained, opaque, and increasingly managed through selective access. The clearest signal is the state of Iranian export infrastructure. Kharg Island showed no active tanker loading for multiple consecutive days, while large tanker queues remained staged nearby. No confirmed crude departures…
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Kharg Stalls as Iran Expands Maritime Control Across Hormuz
At a Glance Operational Overview The Strait of Hormuz operating environment remained heavily constrained between May 11 and May 13 as Iranian export infrastructure continued operating below normal capacity, dark tanker staging expanded across protected Iranian waters, and IRGC-linked maritime activity intensified throughout the corridor. Kharg Island showed its clearest signs yet of sustained export…
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