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Lebanon truce reopens the Strait of Hormuz
17 Aprile 2026 - A temporary ceasefire in Lebanon has led Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to cargo traffic, although only along a pre-coordinated route.
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Gnv strengthens ro-ro route between Italy and Morocco
16 Aprile 2026 - From 1 June and 1 July 2026, the ferries Gnv Aurora and Gnv Virgo will enter service on the Genoa–Tanger Med route via Barcelona, increasing capacity and frequency. Both vessels are powered by liquefied natural gas.
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How to address the shortage of reefer containers in Africa
15 Aprile 2026 - The growth of fruit and vegetable exports in Africa, driven by South Africa and Kenya, is widening the gap between refrigerated and dry containers. A report by Ocean Network Express highlights shortages of up to 55% and points to non-operating containers as an operational solution.
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Gulf war could reshape the architecture of container transport
15 Aprile 2026 - The Strait of Hormuz is no longer just the world’s energy artery: since March 2026 it has become the point where the geography of container transport between Asia, the Middle East and Europe is being rewritten. Combined with the Red Sea crisis, it has created an unprecedented double bottleneck, pushing shipowners, shippers and logistics operators towards choices that are unlikely to change even when military tensions ease.
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MSC ownership passes from Gianluigi Aponte to his children Alexa and Diego
14 Aprile 2026 - On 13 April 2026, Mediterranean Shipping Company announced a historic generational transition: ownership has passed from founder Gianluigi Aponte, who remains Executive Chairman, to his children Alexa and Diego, who serve respectively as Group Chair and Chief Financial Officer.
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An oil tanker tests the US blockade at Hormuz
14 Aprile 2026 - The tanker Rich Starry crossed the Strait of Hormuz on 14 April 2026 bound for China. It has not called at an Iranian port, but has been under US sanctions since 2023. The question now is how Trump will respond under the blockade that came into force on 13 April.
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Hormuz crisis spreads into open waters
13 Aprile 2026 - The US Central Command has announced the seizure at sea of vessels departing from or bound for Iranian ports, with operations potentially extending into international waters. At the same time, China has approved, with immediate effect, a regulation allowing it to protect its interests in international waters.
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Italian shipowners raise alarm over fuel costs
13 Aprile 2026 - Assarmatori and Confitarma are calling on the Italian government to introduce a tax credit to offset rising energy costs. At current price levels, national maritime services are at risk, with direct consequences for logistics and the territorial continuity of the islands.
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Hormuz transit limited to 15 vessels and subject to charges
10 Aprile 2026 - During the fragile truce with the United States, Iran announced on 10 April 2026 that it will allow transit through the Strait of Hormuz for only fifteen vessels per day on a fixed route, and reiterated its intention to introduce a fee.
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Global container freight rates show a two-speed trend in early April 2026
10 Aprile 2026 - In the first week of April 2026, Drewry’s average spot container freight rates reveal a two-speed market: increases on transatlantic and transpacific routes driven by fuel costs and capacity constraints, and declines on Asia–Europe routes due to excess supply.
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Hormuz reopens and shuts again within twenty-four hours
9 Aprile 2026 - A two-week truce agreed between the United States and Iran overnight on 7–8 April 2026 formally reopened the Strait of Hormuz, but by the morning of 9 April the closure was already back in place following Israeli raids in Lebanon. Major container carriers, led by Maersk, had already adopted a cautious stance and did not alter their routes.
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The odyssey of the Arctic Metagaz wreck exposes a structural problem
9 Aprile 2026 - The wreck of the Russian LNG carrier Arctic Metagaz, hit between Sicily and Malta in early March 2026, has been drifting for over a month off the Libyan coast with up to 60,000 tonnes of LNG and hundreds of tonnes of fuel on board. The case highlights sanctions, maritime safety, environmental risk and the lack of a shared operational command.
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Hormuz reopens but the energy crisis is not over
8 Aprile 2026 - The truce between Washington and Tehran reopens tanker traffic through the world’s most strategic strait, but the two-week agreement brokered by Pakistan leaves unresolved issues over sanctions, nuclear policy and control of shipping routes. For global logistics, the risk has not disappeared; it has merely been frozen.
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First European container ship transits Hormuz
3 Aprile 2026 - The container ship Cma Cgm Kribi has passed through the Strait of Hormuz along a corridor approved by Iran, marking the first known transit linked to European traffic since the start of the third Gulf war. Traffic remains minimal and tightly controlled, as shipowners and governments assess risks, alternative routes and operational implications.
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Freight rates stable but fuel cost pressures point to increases ahead
2 Aprile 2026 - Drewry’s World Container Index stood at $2,287 per 40ft container on 2 April 2026, with limited weekly changes across the main routes. However, rising fuel costs, driven by tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and major Asian hubs, are pushing carriers to introduce emergency surcharges and signalling further rate increases.
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News from transport and logistics – 1 April 2026
1 Aprile 2026 - Dfds boosts Baltic capacity – Rail alliance in Rotterdam – Digital evolution of FS Logistix – Concern over Tarvisio closure
Brevi dal mondo
Dfds potenzia nel Baltico - Alleanza ferroviaria a Rotterdam - Evoluzione digitale di FS Logistix - Preoccupazione per la chiusura di Tarvisio
Podcast K44
Cronaca
17 camionisti arrestati a Savona per furto di gasolio
Un’indagine della Guardia di Finanza nel deposito fiscale carburanti di Vado Ligure ha coinvolto diciassette autotrasportatori, col sequestro di oltre 3.700 litri di gasolio. Il prodotto veniva sottratto durante il carico e rivenduto fuori circuito a prezzi inferiori.
Normativa
Videocast K44
Aereo
Il cargo aereo scommette sulla tregua del Golfo
La tregua tra Stati Uniti e Iran può ridurre la pressione sui noli del trasporto aereo delle merci, ma il ritorno alla normalità richiederà fino a due mesi. Intanto le rilevazioni di Xeneta mostrano aumenti fino al 105% sulle principali rotte tra Asia, Medio Oriente ed Europa.
Ferrovia
La Baviera frena ancora la ferrovia del Brennero
Dalla Baviera giunge un altro rinvio per la tratta di accesso al tunnel di base del Brennero. Respinto il progetto di DB con la richiesta di più tratte in galleria e il sotto-attraversamento dell'Inn. Ormai si parla del 2050, con il rischio di creare un collo di bottiglia a nord.
Persone
La proprietà di Msc passa da Gianluigi Aponte ai figli Alexa e Diego
Il 13 aprile 2026 Mediterranean Shipping Company ha annunciato uno storico passaggio di generazione: la proprietà passa dal fondatore Gainluigi Aponte, che resta presidente esecutivo ai figli Alexa e Diego, che sono rispettivamente presidente e Cfo del Gruppo.
