Loss Prevention Advice
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Proposed Actions’ published by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, or USTR, in February 2025 that would have widespread ramifications for the shipping industry. Those proposals for substantial port fees followed an investigation commenced by the Biden administration into what it referred to as China’s dominance of maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors.
Following a period of consultation with industry that has resulted in many changes to those ‘Proposed Actions’, the USTR confirmed on 17 April 2025 that the following fees will be applied and phased in from 14 October 2025 to Chinese owned, operated and built vessels: -
Phased Fees on Maritime Transport Services – Annex I
A phased fee on Chinese vessel operators and vessel owners will apply. This fee, based on the net tonnage of the vessel, is assessed against any vessel with a Chinese operator or owned by an entity of China (as defined in Annex I).
If a vessel makes multiple U.S. entries before transiting to a foreign destination, this fee is assessed per rotation or string of U.S. port calls. The fee will be set at $0 for the first 180 days, will then be set at $50/NT, and will increase incrementally over the next three years. The fee will be charged up to five times per year, per vessel.
Full advisory at the following link.
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Following our previous circular dated 6th May 2025 regarding the security situation in Port Sudan, we would like to provide the following update:
The security situation in and around Port Sudan remains stable and under full control. Local authorities continue to ensure the safety and continuity of port operations across all terminals.
Key operational updates as of today:
- Northern Port Terminal: While no new vessels have berthed since yesterday, existing vessels remain in place and continue their operations normally, including discharging imports and loading exports.
- Southern Port Terminal: As previously noted, port activity has resumed. A new container vessel, has successfully berthed and initiated operations at the southern terminal, marking the return to operational status in this section.
We expect port activities to continue smoothly and efficiently. However, we advise all maritime partners to:
- Coordinate closely with local agents for vessel scheduling and operational timing.
- Anticipate possible minor delays as the port returns to full rhythm.
- Stay updated via official channels and verified correspondents.
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Piracy risks in the Gulf of Mexico, escalating naval tensions between India and Pakistan, and wider geopolitical shifts affecting maritime operations across key chokepoints and shipping lanes.
Piracy persists in the Bay of Campeche
Maritime crime continues to plague Mexico’s oil-rich Bay of Campeche, with offshore platforms and support vessels facing increasing threats. On 2 May, the offshore supply vessel HANDIN TIDE successfully repelled a pirate boarding attempt 26 nautical miles west of Paraíso. Just days earlier, an attack on the Zacatecas platform near Dos Bocas was thwarted by crew using firefighting equipment, although the Mexican Navy arrived too late to intervene.
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An uptick in cases where LNG ships have faced operational delays due to presence of LNG heavies.
As explained, “LNG heavies” are long chain hydrocarbons, which can create operational problems during shipping and handling. LNG is mostly made up of methane, but also includes small amounts of other hydrocarbons like ethane, propane, and butane, along with traces of nitrogen.
The problem arises when heavier hydrocarbons (called “C6+”) are present in higher amounts. Unlike methane, these compounds can solidify at the ultra-cold storage temperatures used for LNG (around -162°C), causing freezing and clogging in ship equipment like pipelines, pumps, or strainers.