RED SEA

Black-and-white photograph of a small floating structure alone on calm water beneath a vast, cloud-filled sky, emphasizing isolation and stillness

Decks and Deals Weekly #27

18/01/202619/01/2026

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

Long pier extending into calm water under heavy, overcast skies, photographed with long exposure creating a muted, subdued seascape atmosphere

The first week of January 2026 exposed an illusion in global shipping: spot container rates jumped, but short-term discipline masks structural oversupply, rising regulatory costs, and geopolitical risk, leaving downside heavier than upside

Black-and-white photograph of waves crashing against wooden pier supports, with foaming water moving forcefully between the pilings

Decks and Deals Weekly #23

21/12/202523/12/2025

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

Black and white photograph of an empty wooden bench overlooking a vast, turbulent sea under a cloudy sky, with a distant cargo ship on the horizon, symbolizing market uncertainty and the need for strategic patience in the maritime industry

Decks and Deals Weekly #21

07/12/202509/12/2025

This week’s global shipping landscape, spanning November 30 to December 6, 2025, presented a familiar cocktail of geopolitical risk and aggressive market consolidation, demanding cool heads and deep pockets from industry leaders who understand the true cost of doing business

A small, weathered fishing boat rests on calm, reflective water under a heavy, overcast sky, with distant hills in the background

Decks and Deals Weekly #19

23/11/202525/11/2025

The global shipping sector experienced a week of high-stakes maritime geopolitics and remarkable market volatility between November 16 and November 22, 2025, forcing industry veterans to once again adjust their carefully laid spreadsheets

A large ocean wave rising under a partly cloudy sky, with sunlight reflecting off the deep blue water near the shore

Decks and Deals Weekly #13

12/10/202513/10/2025

Trade wars turned into port wars, Red Sea routes stayed perilous, and the IMO’s Net-Zero plan divided the seas—here’s the global shipping news from October 5–11, 2025

A white UH-1Y Venom helicopter hovers above the flight deck of USS Boxer amphibious assault ship while taking off, with naval personnel on deck and other warships visible in the background waters of the Strait of Hormuz, illustrating military presence in critical shipping waterways

When freighters fear the Strait: Maritime commerce under fire

24/06/202530/06/2025

As tensions escalate between Israel and Iran, commercial shipping faces unprecedented threats across vital Middle Eastern waterways, forcing global maritime commerce into uncharted territory

Aerial view of the USS Stockdale (DDG 106), a U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer, and the ENS Abu Qir (F941), an Egyptian Navy frigate, sailing in formation during a bilateral exercise in the Red Sea. The ships move through calm blue waters, with the American vessel displaying the U.S. flag. The image highlights military cooperation in a geopolitically strategic maritime zone

Trump’s price tag on the Red Sea effort collides with shipping realities

28/03/202501/04/2025

The U.S. bombed Yemen to reopen the Red Sea, but shipowners remain unconvinced. Trump wants Europe to pay for the effort, yet global trade has already adapted

A cargo vessel loaded with blue shipping containers sails across rough ocean waters under a dark, stormy sky, symbolizing the challenges facing the ocean freight industry

The uncertain future of ocean freight: Tariffs, overcapacity, and the Red Sea factor

28/02/202501/03/2025

The world’s largest ocean carriers are facing a challenging landscape of falling freight rates, surplus capacity, and shifting geopolitical forces. With tariffs, an influx of new ships, and alliance shake-ups in motion, the industry is bracing for turbulence

A U.S. Navy sailor observes the sea through binoculars from a military vessel, with a mounted machine gun nearby. In the background, the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower sails through calm waters, while a military helicopter hovers in the sky. The scene reflects heightened naval security in the Middle East amid regional tensions

Editorial #2

11/10/202410/02/2025

Rising tensions in the Middle East threaten maritime trade, as Israel braces for Iran’s response and Hezbollah escalates attacks near key shipping routes. What’s next for global supply chains