Sanctions Against VUXX Shipping: What’s Happening and How the Market is Responding
On July 31, 2025, the United States imposed its largest package of sanctions to date against Iran, which also affected some vessels operating on international routes. Part of the fleet of the Chinese shipping company VUXX Shipping, including several container ships serving foreign trade routes to Russia, has come under these restrictions.
The sanctions list includes 15 container ships operated by Marvise SMC DMCC and 7 container ships operated by REEL Shipping L.L.C. Until October 1, 2025, only a limited range of operations is allowed with these vessels: safe berthing, anchorage, and departure from ports (excluding ports in Iran, Russia, or under their control), ensuring crew health and safety, emergency repairs, environmental measures, unloading of cargo loaded before July 30, 2025, as well as services such as vessel management, insurance, and bunkering. New commercial contracts with blocked persons and any operations not specified in the license, including transactions with Iranian or Russian organizations, are prohibited.
Some VUXX Shipping vessels affected by the restrictions will be replaced by other ships. The company is preparing operational solutions to avoid disruptions in container deliveries to customers. Checks of all voyages and schedules are already underway to minimize delays and reassign cargo to alternative vessels.
The sanctions have had a significant impact on the carrier’s operations: VUXX Shipping has had to give up chartering 16 vessels, reducing its operating capacity and causing a drop in its global ranking among container operators by fleet capacity. Industry experts expect temporary instability in shipping schedules, especially on routes linked to Russia, in the near future.
Second Response Tug Takes Over Tow of Burned-Out Car Carrier in N. Pacific
On Sunday, the second of three oceangoing tugs dispatched by salvage company Resolve Marine has arrived on scene to assist the burned-out car carrier Morning Midas, which is adrift in the Pacific south of Adak.
The Morning Midas was abandoned on June 3 after an uncontrollable fire broke out on board. In comparatively calm conditions for the North Pacific, the crew abandoned ship and were safely rescued by a passing merchant ship.
The vessel, which is managed by London-based Zodiac Maritime, is reported to be carrying a total of 3,048 vehicles, including 70 fully electric vehicles and 681 gas-electric hybrids. It was heading from China to Lázaro Cárdenas under charter to China’s SAIC Anji Logistics.
The first responders arrived on scene aboard tug Gretchen Dunlap on June 9. Gretchen Dunlap managed to establish a towline to Morning Midas on the 11th, and the tug has been holding the stricken vessel in position ever since. Garth Foss has now arrived and taken over the tow.
The third and final tug scheduled to assist - the first one powerful enough to tow Morning Midas away - is still one week out, a reminder of the sheer remoteness of the Aleutian Islands. With this vessel's current estimated ETA, it is on track to arrive roughly three weeks after the fire began.
Luckily, salvors aboard Garth Foss report that thermal scans show no remaining signs of active fire onboard the car carrier. There are no signs of pollution in the water, and the vessel’s watertight integrity remains intact. Pollution control plans have been prepared as a precautionary measure.
"Zodiac Maritime and Resolve Marine continue to be grateful for the ongoing close cooperation and support from the United States Coast Guard," operator Zodiac said in a statement.
CMA CGM invests in port infrastructure in Algeria
The French carrier is developing its logistics and terminal operations, including in the Mediterranean, where it recently announced the modernization of the Syrian port of Latakia and entered into a long-term agreement for the reconstruction of the port of Beirut.
CMA CGM has shown interest in modernizing the ports of Oran and Djen-Jen. This will help relieve the port of Algiers, which is currently experiencing delay problems, with waiting times for ships exceeding seven days.
In Oran, CMA CGM reportedly wants to lease a container terminal through its subsidiary CMA Terminals. The aim is to increase the terminal's capacity to one million TEU per year.
To improve intra-media connections, CMA CGM is also considering a feeder shipping line between Marseille and Oran, which would reduce transit times to less than 48 hours. This line would be operated by La Méridionale, a subsidiary acquired in 2023.
MSC is the first container line to operate a 24,000 TEU vessel on routes in West Africa
The deployment of the container ships MSC Diletta and MSC Türkiye on the Africa Express service marks a transformational moment connecting major Asian markets, including China and South Korea, via Southeast Asia to key West African ports in Ghana, Togo, Côte d'Ivoire and Cameroon.
The Hunchun checkpoint has recorded an increase in the number of border crossings between China and Russia since the beginning of 2025
The Hunchun checkpoint has recorded over 120,000 border crossings between China and Russia since the beginning of 2025, which is 11 percent more than a year earlier. This was reported by the local border control service.
Border guards expect a new surge in cross-border travel during the May Day vacation. During May 1-5, the total number of border crossings, according to forecasts, may exceed 14,000 person-trips.
The Hunchun checkpoint is the only land border crossing on the Sino-Russian border in Jilin Province /Northeast China/. From here people can directly get to Vladivostok, Zarubino, Pochet and other Russian cities. Thanks to convenient transport links, the number of travelers from China and other countries who prefer the Hunchun checkpoint is growing.
The checkpoint is actively preparing for the upcoming growth in tourist traffic. Measures have been worked out in advance to ensure that people stand in line at the checkpoint for no more than 30 minutes. Large tour groups, for example, can sign up in advance for border control. Tourists can also expect assistance if needed, including interpreter services, counseling, etc.
“During the May Day vacation we will work in a normal mode. Passenger traffic is expected to be at a high level - approximately 2,800 people per day. With the help of real-time monitoring data, we will improve our work plans,” the Hunchun checkpoint said.