Weight of Freight: Rising role on Insurance in maritime
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Key topics covered in the podcast:
- Rising tensions in the Red Sea prompted LR tanker freight rates to spike in early January
- How are rates faring now, and how is insurance moulding freight in the region?
- Impact of Cargo Insurance market
- How ‘The Polar” case ruling limits shipowner’s right to refuse Red Sea voyages
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Crude Summit: Brazilian export logistics are stretched
Crude Summit: Brazilian export logistics are stretched
New York, 4 February (Argus) — Brazilian crude exporters are working to address bottlenecks that are becoming overburdened by the country's surging exports, according to speakers at the Argus Americas Crude Summit today. The potential lack of enough dynamic positioning (DP) tankers to ferry crude from the country's offshore production sites to the coast for transfer onto standard tankers for export is "something everyone has to be worried about," said Fernando Colares Nogueira, Petrobras' head of crude oil, said at the event. Brazil's crude production climbed by 12pc year over year to 3.77mn b/d in 2025 , and is expected to rise further this year . To meet the demand, Petrobras has six of these DP tankers on order, said Nogueira, which would add to the roughly 50 that already operate along the Brazilian coast. The port of Acu is the receiving port for much of these crude-laden DP tankers, but is struggling to keep up with the rising ship-to-ship transfers happening at the port and needs "relief", said PetroChina International Trading's vice president of crude Alipio Ferreira. Petrochina is investing in improving port infrastructure across the country, including building a new terminal in Puerto Central, said Ferreira. By Nicholas Watt Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Ohio River ice chokes barge traffic
Ohio River ice chokes barge traffic
Houston, 3 February (Argus) — Ice buildup on the Ohio River is slowing barge traffic, following temporary lock shutdowns that created vessel backlogs along the waterway, according to notices from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the US Coast Guard. Severe cold weather has frozen portions of the river, making navigation difficult, especially for heavy barge tows. The Willow Island Locks and Dam in Reno, Ohio, was temporarily closed on 28 January after ice in the main chamber prevented its miter gates from operating. USACE officials said the issue was resolved on Monday afternoon and nine tows have since transitted the lock as of Tuesday. Navigation challenges, however, persist across the Ohio River. The USACE's Huntington district has imposed tow-size restrictions between miles 161.7 and 436.2. Under these limits, towboats and their assembled tows must not exceed 1,050ft in length or 105ft in width. The US Coast Guard has also issued a number of safety advisories and barge tow restrictions across multiple points along the Ohio Valley. The restrictions follow a week of extreme winter weather and hazardous ice that reduced maneuverability and limited how many barges can safely transit the river. The combination of ice, reduced tow sizes, and temporary delays is creating congestion, even with the Willow Island lock back on line. The USACE's lock queue report showed delays of nearly three days at the Willow Island locks as of Tuesday. The National Weather Service forecasts near-normal to below-normal temperatures across the western portion of the region from 8-12 February. By Sneha Kumar Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
EU eyes maritime decarbonisation, industry strategy
EU eyes maritime decarbonisation, industry strategy
Brussels, 2 February (Argus) — The European Commission is expected to publish a maritime manufacturing industrial strategy on 18 February, a leaked draft of which underscores the need for "mechanisms" to earmark national emission revenues for maritime decarbonisation. Beyond funds from a projected €10bn/yr by 2030 in national revenues raised from shipping emissions under the EU emissions trading system (ETS), the commission will make available 20mn ETS allowances assigned to the bloc's innovation fund for demonstration and pre-deployment — worth approximately €1.6bn — earmarked to support maritime emissions reductions until 2030. Future innovation fund calls for proposals could focus on production and uptake of renewable and low-carbon fuels. The draft, which is expected to change before final publication, said a commission-led task-force will explore additional technical support and "match-making" tools to connect ports, shipping companies, shipyards, equipment manufacturers and fuel producers. The commission will also leverage public and private funding towards "made in EU" vessels, technologies and equipment, boosting construction of next-generation low and zero-carbon vessels. It promises a "robust" policy framework for nuclear power propulsion in commercial shipping and commits to mobilising €800mn for shipbuilding, retrofitting, shipping and blue tech by 2028. The draft further calls for boosting wind-assisted propulsion using the EU's sustainable finance taxonomy. The upcoming revision of EU public procurement law will introduce targeted non-price requirements, including sustainability, circularity and made in EU criteria. Export credits will also include specific provisions for zero and low-emission ships. The commission plans to allocate €160mn to finance a Zero Emission Waterborne Transport programme until 2027, with an additional €8mn allocated to fuel cells. Officials will "streamline" existing monitoring, reporting and verification requirements under the EU ETS and the FuelEU Maritime regulation , which sets greenhouse gas intensity cuts for marine fuels used in ships over 5,000 gross tonnage, starting at 2pc in 2025 and reaching 80pc by 2050, against a 2020 baseline. By Dafydd ab Iago Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Venezuelan crude likely to head to Mediterranean
Venezuelan crude likely to head to Mediterranean
Barcelona, 23 January (Argus) — A tanker slated to load Venezuelan crude at the end of this month now looks likely to deliver into the Mediterranean region. According to brokers, trading firm Vitol secured the Suezmax Poliegos to load from 30 January for delivery to the Mediterranean. Brokers had previously said the charterer was Trafigura. Vitol and Trafigura have been approved by the US government to market Venezuelan crude. The Poliegos' final destination is unclear. Vitol owns and operates the 300,000 b/d Sarroch refinery on the Italian island of Sardinia, which was the last Mediterranean refinery to take receipt of Venezuelan crude in 2025 ahead of tightened US sanctions. A number of tankers have loaded or are loading crude at Venezuela's Jose terminal, according to Argus tracking. Aframax Ionic Anassa loaded around 500,000 bl of crude on Thursday, 22 January, and left the terminal around 22:30 local time headed to Freeport, Texas. Aframax Canopus Voyager loaded a similar-sized cargo on 20-21 January and is headed to the US. Suezmax Gloria Maris is close to the Jose terminal. It appears full with around 1mn bl of crude loaded on Thursday, but is yet to signal a destination. Other crude tankers are signalling arrival at Jose and others appear to be on route, but some are showing alternate destinations. Suezmax Folegandros is in the Atlantic headed towards Venezuela although it shows its destination as Rotterdam. Broker information shows the tanker will load 130,000t of crude at Jose in early February, chartered by trading firm Trafigura. The Nissos Koufonissi has no destination but is undertaking a similar voyage, with broker information showing a charter by Trafigura, to load 130,000t of crude in February at Jose. Trafigura did not immedately respond to a request for comment. By Adam Porter and Rhys van Dinther Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2026. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
