From Amwaj Media. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Can Iraq Navigate the Hormuz Dilemma with a New Maritime Fleet? Momentum is building in Iraq to resurrect the nation's maritime shipping fleet after decades of war, sanctions and instability have kept the […]
By John Crowley, for Arabian Gulf Business Insight (AGBI). Any opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iran's Hormuz Insurance Scheme 'Amounts to Transit Fee' Iran's plans to require vessels crossing the Strait of Hormuz to obtain insurance amount to a transit fee, […]
By John Lee. A cargo vessel operated by Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) was struck by two projectiles near Umm Qasr on 1st June, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre and MSC. The vessel, the MSC Sariska V, was departing port when the first projectile hit while the pilot was still onboard; […]
By John Lee. According to Reuters, two tankers entered the Persian Gulf on Wednesday en route to Iraq: The Alicia, capable of carrying 2 million barrels of oil, is reportedly heading to Iraq to load a cargo on Thursday; The Malta-flagged Agios Fanourios I is said to be heading to Iraq to load Basra crude […]
By John Lee. According to a statement today (Wednesday) from Iraq's Ministry of Trade, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz has led to a gradual recovery in maritime traffic, although activity remains below normal levels amid continued geopolitical uncertainty. It says early signs of improvement have been observed in trade flows, particularly in energy […]
By John Lee. The Iraqi Ministry of Transport has reported continued arrivals of cargo vessels at Iraqi ports during March, reflecting ongoing maritime trade activity despite regional tensions. According to the ministry, maritime agencies of the State Company for Maritime Transport (SCMT) have continued to provide services to incoming vessels, while cargo handling operations are […]
By Michael Eisenstadt and Assaf Orion, for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Any opinions expressed are those of the author(s), and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Military Options for Reopening the Strait of Hormuz: Limitations and Imperatives Loosening Tehran's grip on the strait and its disruption of the […]
By John Lee. Conflicting tracking data has raised uncertainty over the movements of the Omega Trader, an oil supertanker carrying Iraqi crude, amid ongoing disruption to shipping routes near the Strait of Hormuz. Ship-tracking data in recent days reportedly indicated the tanker had arrived near Mumbai, while its manager, Mitsui OSK Lines Ltd, said the […]
By John Lee. Angola's Sonangol has reported an incident involving the oil tanker Sonangol Namibe (pictured) while anchored at Khor Al-Zubair in southern Iraq awaiting loading operations. Preliminary reports indicate that a localised explosion occurred on the vessel's deck on 5th March (Thursday). The tanker is registered under the Bahamas flag and is operating within the […]
By John Lee. Gulftainer has reported a 28 percent increase in throughput and container handling at its Iraq Container Terminal (ICT) at the start of 2026 compared with the same period last year. The company attributed the growth to expanded carrier services, an enhanced product portfolio and improved operational performance, strengthening the terminal's role as a […]
By John Lee. The General Company for Ports of Iraq (GCPI) has launched a new direct international Ro-Ro shipping line linking Port Rashid in the United Arab Emirates with Umm Qasr port, with the arrival of the first shipment of TIR trucks. The service, inaugurated on 25 December 2025, operates with a transit time of […]
By John Lee. DP World has introduced a new weekly 36-hour maritime service linking Dubai's Mina Rashid with Iraq's Umm Qasr Port, offering what it says is a faster and more predictable alternative to overland trucking. The route will accommodate up to 145 accompanied trailers per sailing on the upgraded 166.75-meter Ro-Ro vessel DP World […]
