Bridget Diakun
Maritime Intelligence and Research Director, Lloyd’s List Intelligence
Bridget Diakun joined Lloyd’s List Intelligence in January 2022 as a data journalist. She initially worked on understanding the impact that the war in Ukraine had on commercial shipping in the Black and Caspian seas.
In 2023, she was named 'Multimedia Journalist of the Year' by the Seahorse Freight Association for her extensive investigation into the trade out of the occupied ports of Mariupol and Berdyansk.
Now Lloyd’s List’s maritime intelligence and research director, Bridget focuses on the intersection of geopolitics and commercial shipping. She assesses the impact of conflict on seaborne trade, how the maritime industry adapts to sanctions and investigates tactics used by vessels to disguise illicit activities.
Latest From Bridget Diakun
Non-Iranian bulker traffic through Hormuz holds firm despite security risks
Non-Iranian bulk carrier traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains at roughly double pre-ceasefire levels despite renewed security threats, as operators continue moving essential cargoes and adapt to shifting regional trade flows
Red Sea container transits hit post-crisis high as carriers accelerate return
Lloyd’s List Intelligence data shows Bab el Mandeb transits at their highest since the crisis began, as the industry’s Cape detour unwinds faster than expected
Russia absorbs shadow fleet tankers at record pace as EU seizures reshape sanctions battle
Russia has reflagged 86 shadow fleet vessels since July as European enforcement squeezes fraudulent registries, signalling a strategic shift towards bringing sanctions-resistant oil shipping under direct state control despite concerns about fleet quality and liability
Conflict pushes Russia-Iran trade deeper into the Caspian
Lloyd’s List Intelligence data shows shipping activity between Russia and Iran on the Caspian Sea has surged since the Strait of Hormuz crisis, as traders shift cargo on to alternative routes despite growing infrastructure constraints and security concerns
Russia, China and Europe vie for influence as Arctic shipping surges
Record Arctic vessel traffic is no longer only a shipping story. As Russia builds export infrastructure, China gains operational experience, South Korea develops maritime capabilities and Europe shifts towards security concerns, the Northern Sea Route is emerging as a strategic arena in the contest for future trade corridors
Chinese shipowners lead bulk carrier boom in Russian Northern Sea Route transits
With the NSR’s seasonal navigation window running from August to October activity is expected to remain elevated, while expanding container services also signal strong commercial interest in the Arctic corridor outside of the energy shipping sectors