The Hormuz shipping crisis led coverage all week, with Splash carrying reports on the conflict’s effects on fertiliser, sulphur and seafarers. “De-escalation, meaningful actions and restoring the freedom of navigation is the only way forward,” urged Arsenio Dominguez, the head of the International Maritime Organization, amid the deteriorating security situation in the region.

The Panama Canal Authority this week moved to quash congestion fears, reiterating the waterway is fully operational and queue-free. The headline number from a press conference give this week surrounded auction slot pricing, up from $135,000-140,000 pre-Iran conflict to around $385,000 in March-April, with individual bids topping $1m.

India moved to establish its own protection and indemnity (P&I) capability by creating the Bharat Maritime Insurance Pool, aimed at reducing reliance on overseas insurers and strengthening maritime self-sufficiency. The new pool will provide liability cover for Indian-flagged vessels, including risks such as pollution, collisions, and crew claims-areas traditionally dominated by the International Group of P&I Clubs.

This week’s Splash Wrap podcast reports from the busy scenes at this year’s Sea Japan exhibition, discussing how Tokyo is belatedly wanting to recuscitate its maritime infrastructure – and the challenges the nation faces in doing so.