Iran’s new supreme leader pledged to maintain the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as the maritime crisis engulfing the Middle East triggers warnings of the worst oil supply disruption in history, with the Middle Eastern shipping paralysis leading Splash coverage all week.

Behind closed doors, authorities in Beijing have been taking action in response to Panama’s decision to revoke Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison’s running of two container terminals in Panama, and the subsequent handing over temporary operations to subsidiaries of the world’s two largest containerlines, Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) and Maersk. Splash detailed what measures China has been pursuing in a report filed on Wednesday.

Japan’s Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) has moved to take full control of Norwegian open-hatch operator Saga Welco from Westfal-Larsen. NYK had previously run Saga Welco for the past 12 years as a 50:50 joint venture with Westfal-Larsen. No financial details for the takeover have been revealed. 

Singapore-headquartered liner Ocean Network Express (ONE) is increasing its exposure to the world’s largest containership lessor while new capital from shipbuilder Yangzijiang Shipbuilding enters the same investment vehicle. The shipping line, formed by Japanese majors MOL, NYK and K Line, said it has struck agreements to raise its ownership in Poseidon Acquisition Corp, the holding company behind boxship leasing giant Seaspan. Once completed, ONE’s stake will rise to 48.9%, up from about 28.7%.

In conversation with Maritime CEO, Meei Wong, CEO of Circle Digital Ventures, a technology company with a mission to improve human sustainability in the maritime industry, discussed how tech must support the wellbeing of those at sea. “Supporting crew is no longer just about welfare,” she said, adding: “It is becoming a core part of risk management and operational resilience. Because in the end, you cannot run a high-performing ship if the people onboard are not well,” she explains.”

We also sat down with Friederike Hesse, co-founder and managing director of carbon emissions optimising platform ZERO44, this week, who made a bold request to shipowners.“If I had one wish,” she told us, “it would be for the industry to be a little more willing to experiment – to pilot and trial solutions and judge them through use, rather than solely upfront.” That approach, she argued, would help younger tech companies learn faster and build solutions that are even better aligned with real operational needs.

It has been an especially strong week for Contributions to Splash, so rather than picking one article, readers are advised to have a look at all the headlines from this section of our website by clicking here.

Finally, this week’s Splash Wrap podcast (carried below) questions how the International Maritime Organization can reassert itself as shipping’s clear global lead regulator.