Founder and Editor, The Maritime Gazette
Maritime journalist, PR and communications specialist
Luke Smout is a maritime journalist, PR and communications specialist, and the Founder and Editor of The Maritime Gazette. He leads the publication’s editorial direction across shipping, ports, vessels, maritime business and public policy, translating complex maritime developments into clear reporting and useful reference coverage for readers in the United Kingdom and internationally.
Luke Smout leads The Maritime Gazette’s editorial standards, reporting development and public-facing maritime communications. The publication uses verifiable factual records, writes in its own editorial voice and corrects material errors transparently.
Luke’s professional focus combines maritime journalism with PR and communications work, with an emphasis on clear public information, sector context and responsible editorial practice.
The Department for Transport has released its final statistical account for the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, recording renewable fuel supply in the UK for January–December 2026.
Follow Luke Smout’s latest Gazette reporting alongside the connected archive of maritime coverage below.
Read this reportThe Department for Transport published its final Official Statistics report on sustainable aviation fuel supplied under the SAF Mandate for the calendar year 2026, dated 2 October 2026.
The Department for Transport published accredited provisional estimates of personal injury accidents and casualties on public roads in Great Britain for the year ending June 2027, with updates to accompanying materials and Crime Survey analysis.
A The report on 2 October 2026 says alleged arms transfers, training and expanding contacts between the Houthi movement and Al‑Shabab could strengthen both groups and widen threats to Red Sea shipping, a stance echoed by US Africa Command.
The Baltic Dry Index climbed eight points to 3,148 on Friday 2 October 2026, according to a report from reports. The London-based Baltic Exchange compiles the index from a daily survey of agents worldwide and cites cargoes such as coal, grain and iron ore.
MOL Ocean Bulk will operate two 210,000‑tonne ore carriers under a 25‑year contract with Vale International; the ships are fitted with tri‑fuel systems able to burn ethanol, methanol or heavy fuel oil, MarineLink reported on 2 October 2026.
The ICCT has urged a common methodology to assess green‑corridor fuels, calling for life‑cycle, well‑to‑wake measurement in carbon dioxide‑equivalent terms, sources indicated on 2 October 2026.
Sources report that steeper freight rates have made western arbitrage flows uneconomical, trimming low-sulfur fuel oil arrivals to Singapore in October.
The Singapore Registry of Ships has reached its 60th year and said it will modernise registration systems to better serve a fleet moving towards alternative fuels, MarineLink reported on 2 October 2026.
DNV has granted an Approval in Principle to a blue ammonia FPSO concept developed by BW Offshore and McDermott International, a step MarineLink says advances offshore low‑carbon ammonia production.
The Marine Management Organisation’s October 2026 study examines whether acoustic deterrents are practical and affordable for the small static‑net fleet, and provides an economic modelling tool informed by south‑west stakeholder engagement.
The Marine Management Organisation on 2 October 2026 published guidance setting out its evidence strategy, the requirements it applies to evidence and the reports linked to those arrangements.
The third ECONSHIP conference finished in Chios on 25 September 2026 after three days of academic sessions organised by the University of the Aegean and the University of Piraeus.
Sources report that demand in Houston remains steady and conventional bunker grades were generally available within four to eight days as of 1 October 2026.
Sources indicated on 1 October 2026 that crude exports via the Strait of Hormuz have essentially returned to prewar volumes, aided by U.S. escorts and pipeline rerouting, but deliveries of refined fuels remain constrained.
reports and Windward data show a marked increase in Suez transits between March and September 2026, a shift that industry sources say will free up capacity and put downward pressure on container rates.
A MABUX assessment, reported on 1 October 2026, says October bunker prices will remain unstable amid Middle East tensions and constrained product supplies.
A weekly broker note cited by reports on 1 October 2026 identifies rising cargo flows, increased tonne-mile demand and constrained vessel availability as the principal reasons the Capesize segment has outperformed other dry bulk classes in recent months.
MarineLink on 1 October 2026 carried a Windward intelligence brief reporting that three Chinese state-linked vessels conducted survey operations over Pacific undersea cable corridors, citing the Guam cable hub and the Japan–United States route.
Liskow has expanded into New England and strengthened its maritime practice with the arrival of three attorneys, MarineLink reported on 1 October 2026.
A government order effective 1 October 2026 lowered the export duty on diesel from 20 to 16 rupees per litre and cut the levy on aviation turbine fuel from 15 to 10.5 rupees per litre, sources indicated.
DP World has received four of Europe’s largest quay cranes at its UK terminals, with the first two machines each weighing more than 2,000 tonnes and standing nearly 150 metres high, in a delivery framed as investment to expand capacity and support the growth of UK trade.
MarineLink reports a 1.8 per cent year‑on‑year increase in U.S. Great Lakes limestone shipments for September to 2.7 million tonnes, though volumes remained 5.8 per cent under the five‑year monthly average with year‑to‑date volumes at 15.9 million tonnes.
Nakilat has taken delivery of Energy North, a 90,000-cbm dual-fuel LPG/ammonia carrier built by HD Hyundai Samho and reported on 1 October 2026.
His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh formally opened Brookes Bell’s new Liverpool office on 24 September 2026, unveiling a commemorative plaque in a ceremony attended by local civic officials.
A notice republished by reports on 1 October 2026 says the 15,785 tonne bulk carrier XIE HAI 107 will be offered by online public bidding on the Shipbid platform on 29 October 2026.
Saronic has started construction of Port Alpha at the Port of Brownsville, Texas, in a private development said to exceed $3 billion and sited on an initial 835 acres.
Siemens Energy has contracted EST-Floattech to supply an Octopus High Energy battery system of more than 1 MWh for Marco Polo Marine's new CSOV Plus, a vessel intended for both offshore wind and oil and gas work.
Evac Group has acquired WatMan Engineering, MarineLink Maritime News reports on 1 October 2026. Evac is noted for water, waste and wastewater management systems and for corrosion and marine growth prevention solutions.
Sources indicated on 1 October 2026 that Capital Maritime Finance Corp., affiliated with Vangelis Marinakis, will seek an exclusive listing of all shares on Euronext Athens, a transaction described as the first shipping IPO in Greece and a strategic step for Athens as a shipping hub.
A memorandum of understanding between ABS, HD KSOE and Siemens aims to develop a digital twin to assess leak behaviour and safety on ammonia-fuelled ships, according to MarineLink.
The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency published Guidance: MGN 719 (M+F) on 1 October 2026, setting out the risks of GNSS degradation and denial and measures maritime stakeholders can take to improve resilience and operational safety.
ClassNK has granted Products & Solutions certification to two components of Accelleron’s LOREKA360° digital suite, covering an engine diagnostics platform and an emissions compliance tool.
Höegh Evi and Petroleum Sarawak (PETROS) will jointly develop an FSRU-based LNG import terminal in Kuching, Malaysia, aiming for first gas by the end of 2029, MarineLink reported on 1 October 2026.
The Marine Management Organisation published official guidance on 1 October 2026 explaining how to export or move fish intended for human consumption from the UK.
A study presented at Gastech 2026 and reported finds a nuclear‑powered LNG carrier would require about 2.5 times the capital cost of a conventional vessel while substantially reducing fuel expenditure over its operating life.
A HEMEXPO delegation of Greek marine equipment companies completed a five-day business mission to Northern Spain from 21 to 25 September 2026, visiting eight leading shipyards.
Top Ships Inc has closed the acquisition of three high‑specification MR newbuildings after signing a share purchase agreement with a related party on 28 July 2026, the company said in an announcement reported on 30 September 2026.
A report dated 30 September 2026 says prompt fuel availability in Amsterdam–Rotterdam–Antwerp is tight, with suppliers facing loading issues and buyers urged to plan five to seven days ahead.
The International Chamber of Shipping has expanded a set of free practical tools, including checklists, assessment aids and guidance, aimed at helping shipowners, managers and seafarers apply industry best practice, according to reports on 30 September 2026.