The Strait of Hormuz turmoil marks a critical juncture for shipmanagers, says Sebastian von Hardenberg, exposing the fragility of crew relationships and the need for deeper owner engagement as operational and welfare pressures intensify, in a flashpoint that will carry long-lasting implications for the sector long after the crisis passes

The size and scale of the celebrations at Posidonia would not suggest an industry in distress, but we have been here before...

The Hormuz crisis has laid bare the vulnerabilities of autonomous vessel systems, with ClassNK president Hayato Suga warning that data manipulation, signal interference and geopolitical instability render AI-driven navigation unsafe in the world’s most volatile waters

Artificial intelligence is beginning to deliver real operational value in shipping, but only for companies that have already laid the digital groundwork

Speaking at Posidonia, ABS chief executive John McDonald said shipping is entering a critical phase where technological capability is accelerating faster than the industry’s ability to absorb it, creating rising risk, higher costs and mounting pressure on crews. Closing this gap, he argued, will define the sector’s future competitiveness and safety performance

Lloyd’s List Intelligence data reveals 673 vessels have switched to Singapore’s registry since 2024, with tonnage from Hong Kong accounting for nearly half the inflow