Splash247's final Splash Wrap of 2025 captured how the shipping industry closed the year. Venezuela began deploying naval escorts for vessels carrying oil byproducts after President Donald Trump's threat of a "total and complete" tanker blockade, signaling a rapid escalation in maritime tensions.
In the wider Black Sea region, attacks on commercial shipping turned deadly Thursday. A Ukrainian drone strike hit a tanker docked at the southern Russian port of Rostov-on-Don, killing two crew members and setting the vessel ablaze. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez urged "all parties to refrain from targeting innocent seafarers, port workers and merchant ships. Shipping should not be used as collateral in geopolitical situations."
On the corporate side, UK shipbroking group SSY agreed to acquire Grieg Shipbrokers, one of Scandinavia's longest-standing brokerage houses, in a deal due to take effect in January 2026. SSY head of research Roar Adland delivered the year's most quotable shipping outlook line: "Sentiment will eat careful fundamental research for breakfast any day."
Splash also said its December issue was available free, with annual reviews on dry bulk, tanker and container markets and a selection of 2025's top shipping stories. The year closes amid geopolitical fragility and a constantly updated risk profile.
Key Takeaways:
1. Venezuela began naval escorts for oil byproduct tankers after Trump's blockade threat.
2. A Ukrainian drone strike on a tanker at Rostov-on-Don killed two crew members.
3. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez urged that seafarers and ships not be targeted.
4. SSY will acquire Grieg Shipbrokers under a deal taking effect in January 2026.
5. SSY research chief Roar Adland said sentiment will dominate the 2026 shipping outlook.
