Decks and Deals Weekly #27
From January 11–17, 2026, the global shipping market priced in fragile calm while bracing for conflict, as Maersk returned to the Red Sea amid rising geopolitical risk and swelling orderbooks
From January 11–17, 2026, the global shipping market priced in fragile calm while bracing for conflict, as Maersk returned to the Red Sea amid rising geopolitical risk and swelling orderbooks
The week before Christmas offered few miracles but plenty of action. Container rates continued their inexplicable climb, the Houthis remained a stubbornly expensive problem, and Greece decided to start building ships again. Just another week in shipping
The global shipping industry, from December 14–20, 2025, saw container rates spike as geopolitical temperatures rose. Maersk cautiously re-entered the Red Sea, while Ukraine’s drone campaign expanded into the Mediterranean Sea
While the world was distracted, COSCO quietly signed a $7 billion deal for 87 new ships. This colossal move isn’t just about adding vessels; it’s a calculated reconstruction of maritime power—one that could reshape global shipping for a decade
While its own CFO, Ramon Fernandez, forecasts a grim 2026 for shipping, CMA CGM is pouring billions into an unprecedented expansion. This is not just business; it’s a high-stakes declaration of strategic intent
The global shipping market is sending mixed signals. While container lines brace for a difficult 2026 due to overcapacity, Greek owners are doubling down on LNG, cementing their strategic role in Europe’s energy security
MSC hits seven million TEU while Maersk orders $2.3 billion in tonnage. Container rates collapse, tanker markets diverge, and Somali pirates resurface. Global shipping November 2025 delivers drama, deals, and one sobering reality
The seas now belong to one titan. MSC has crossed the seven-million-TEU threshold—a scale of power no carrier has ever touched. This is not just dominance; it is the reshaping of global trade itself
Shipping developments from September 6–13, 2025, delivered a masterclass in maritime chaos as trade wars collided with regulatory crackdowns, vessel acquisitions, and technological breakthroughs across global markets
Maersk, COSCO, Hapag-Lloyd and ZIM pursue radically different strategies as container shipping profits plummet 56% in Q2 2025, with Red Sea disruptions and U.S. tariffs reshaping global trade dynamics