Recent articles
July 14, 2026
Trump Flip-Flops on Strait of Hormuz, Creating New Risks for Global Economy
The president now wants Gulf nations to invest in the U.S. in exchange for safe passage. Shipping industry experts worry other nations will follow that lead.
www.nytimes.com
July 13, 2026
Strait of Hormuz Ship Traffic Falls to Lowest Point in a Month After Strikes
Shipping activity plummeted after Iran attacked a ship, setting off U.S. strikes. Little crude oil is being transported through the critical waterway.
www.nytimes.com
July 10, 2026
Shippers Face Deepening Dilemma as U.S. and Iran Vie for Control of the Strait
Companies desperately want to get their ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz, but face mounting risks. “Things are becoming uglier by the minute,” one executive said.
www.nytimes.com
July 8, 2026
Oil Prices Jump After Trump Says Deal With Iran Is ‘Over’
Attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz sparked a new cycle of retaliation that could throttle the flow of energy from the region.
www.nytimes.com
July 6, 2026
Ships Are Moving In and Out of the Persian Gulf, Easing Oil Prices
A recovery in oil flows from the Persian Gulf and a pledge by OPEC Plus to pump more crude have put downward pressure on energy prices.
www.nytimes.com
July 3, 2026
Why One Global Shipping Choke Point Isn’t a Blueprint for Another
The Strait of Malacca may be a model for how Oman and Iran could collect fees in the Strait of Hormuz, but the differences between the waterways are vast.
www.nytimes.com
June 30, 2026
Shipping Traffic in Strait of Hormuz Picks Up Again
Vessels stranded for months have started moving in larger numbers, but many pulled back over the weekend after Iran and the U.S. exchanged attacks.
www.nytimes.com
June 27, 2026
Renewed Strikes Threaten Setback to Shipping Recovery in Persian Gulf
The attacks came after traffic through the Strait of Hormuz had reached the highest levels since the start of the U.S. war in Iran.
www.nytimes.com
June 25, 2026
Iran Threatens Ships in Strait of Hormuz as Marco Rubio Meets Gulf Leaders
The new warning complicated efforts to revive use of the critical waterway as Washington sought regional support for its framework peace agreement with Iran.
www.nytimes.com
June 19, 2026
In a Still Turbulent Strait of Hormuz, Stranded Ships Wait for Clarity
Shipping companies had hoped to get their stranded vessels out, but faced uncertainty as violence flared again in the region.
www.nytimes.com
June 17, 2026
Allowing Iran to Charge Fees in Strait of Hormuz Would Set ‘Dangerous Precedent,’ Maersk CEO Says
With the United States and Iran nearing a deal to reopen the Persian Gulf, the mega shipping firm is treading cautiously.
www.nytimes.com
June 12, 2026
Risk Strait of Hormuz or Wait? Shipping Companies Face a Costly Dilemma.
With more than 500 ships still stranded in the Persian Gulf, pressure on the shipowners and sailors is growing by the day.
www.nytimes.com
May 30, 2026
The World Capital of French Fries Has a Problem: Too Many Potatoes
Belgium’s potato harvest set a record, just as tariffs hit U.S. demand for frozen fries and as competition from suppliers in Asia intensified.
www.nytimes.com
May 29, 2026
Inside the Room Where War Insurance Is Bought and Sold
Many of the ships stranded in the Persian Gulf depend on coverage negotiated at Lloyd’s, the center of marine insurance for more than 300 years.
www.nytimes.com
May 29, 2026
Romania Says It Could Invoke NATO’s Article 4. What Would That Do?
The clause in NATO’s founding treaty is an “instrument” Romania can use, the foreign minister said after a drone, alleged to be Russian, wounded two civilians.
www.nytimes.com
May 25, 2026
Even After a Strait of Hormuz Deal, Moving 1,500 Ships Won’t Be Easy
An agreement to reopen the waterway would be followed by a complicated process of navigating a backlog of vessels stranded for nearly three months.
www.nytimes.com
May 23, 2026
The Risks of Iran’s Threat to Control the Strait of Hormuz
Iran is trying to assert its control over the strait by charging for passage. Experts say it is unlikely to happen, but the threat has unsettled the shipping industry.
www.nytimes.com
May 20, 2026
Timmy the Whale Got Stranded Off the German Coast. Then Things Got Weird.
A humpback that became stuck in the Baltic seemed to unite a nation in hope. Rescue efforts followed, and then finger-pointing.
www.nytimes.com
May 8, 2026
Iran Says It Seized Oil Tanker Listed by U.S. as Sanctions Violator
A maritime tracking company said the move was likely performative, given the Chinese-owned ship has an “established history within the Iranian trade ecosystem.”
www.nytimes.com
May 4, 2026
The ‘Gates to Hell’ Are Dimming. That May Not Be a Good Thing.
A flaming crater of gas has burned in Turkmenistan for decades. Satellite imagery suggests that the fires are decreasing, but the environmental implications are unclear.
www.nytimes.com
May 2, 2026
Timmy the Stranded Whale Is Released After an Elaborate Rescue
The humpback whale, stuck for weeks in shallow waters off Germany, was towed to the North Sea in a barge. The story captivated the country.
www.nytimes.com
April 28, 2026
First Fully Loaded L.N.G. Tanker Since War Began Appears to Have Crossed the Strait
Liquefied natural gas transit has been effectively halted. A ship managed by Abu Dhabi’s state oil company managed to cross, said Kpler, a maritime data firm.
www.nytimes.com
April 24, 2026
The Peril of Piloting Ships Through the Strait of Hormuz
Controllers for shipping companies face a daunting decision as they try to free vessels trapped in the Persian Gulf: “Basically you’re sending someone unarmed into war.”
www.nytimes.com
April 20, 2026
Strait of Hormuz Traffic Is at a Standstill Again
Few vessels are crossing after Iran reversed course on reopening the vital waterway and ships came under attack.
www.nytimes.com