On 18 October the United States Office of Financial Control (OFAC) issued four general licences in relation to the United States’ Venezuela-related sanctions including General Licence (GL) 44, temporarily authorising transactions related to oil or gas sector operations in Venezuela.
Smuggling illicit drugs inside containers and ship hulls continues at high levels, and crews must stay vigilant and take preventive measures whenever in Brazilian ports and anchorages
The US has released a Maritime Advisory highlighting the ongoing conflict in the Eastern Mediterranean, which states:
"In light of current tensions and hostilities in the Eastern Mediterranean, there is an increased risk to commercial vessels operating in the region."
Arbitrary arrests and incarcerations make it harder to recruit crews for shipping's future vessels