LNG Canada has increased production and exports to Asia in early March as global LNG markets tighten amid disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict. The Kitimat, B.C. facility has already shipped five cargoes this month, with destinations including Japan, South Korea and the Philippines, and appears to be operating close to its full capacity of 14 million tonnes per year. The ramp-up comes as Qatar, a major global LNG supplier, halted shipments after tanker routes through the Strait of Hormuz were disrupted. With direct Pacific access shortening shipping times to Asian buyers, LNG Canada is positioned to help fill supply gaps while benefiting from higher regional LNG prices.

The Port of Vancouver recorded its highest cargo volumes ever in 2025, handling 170.4 million metric tonnes, an 8% increase from the previous year, driven largely by strong exports of Canadian commodities. International trade through the port rose 11%, with exports to Indo-Pacific markets leading growth. Record volumes were achieved for key commodities including grain, crude oil, and potash, while container traffic also reached a new high of 3.8 million TEUs. The port continues to play a central role in Canada’s trade diversification strategy, connecting Canadian goods to more than 170 global markets and supporting national goals to expand exports beyond the United States.

A pod of transient (Bigg’s) killer whales was spotted in Burrard Inlet over several days, drawing widespread attention from residents across Vancouver and North Vancouver. The whales were seen moving between the Lions Gate Bridge and the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing after earlier sightings near Indian Arm. Observers noted unusual behaviour as the whales lingered in the busy inlet while hunting seals and sea lions. The pod eventually departed after several days, leaving behind what wildlife watchers described as a rare and exciting sighting in one of the region’s busiest waterways.

A Canadian National Railway freight train carrying potash derailed near Lestock, Saskatchewan, early Thursday morning, with 49 rail cars leaving the tracks. The incident occurred around 5:40 a.m., approximately 140 kilometres north of Regina, with video showing multiple damaged cars scattered beside the line. Authorities reported no injuries, fires, or leaks, and confirmed that no dangerous goods were involved. Cleanup operations are ongoing while the Transportation Safety Board of Canada has deployed investigators to determine the cause of the derailment.

Scientists have detected a tagged great white shark in waters off southern British Columbia, marking the first time the Marine Conservation Science Institute has tracked one of its tagged sharks into the region. The five-metre female shark, named Kara, was originally tagged near California and is believed to be following prey such as seals and sea lions migrating along the coast. Researchers say the sighting may reflect changing ocean conditions and growing marine mammal populations, suggesting great white sharks could appear more frequently along Canada’s Pacific coast as ocean temperatures warm.

The Canadian Coast Guard is planning infrastructure upgrades at its Greater Victoria bases to accommodate a new generation of vessels arriving as part of its fleet renewal program. Improvements are expected at facilities in James Bay and Patricia Bay to support larger ships and expand operational capacity. The upgrades will also include shore-power systems to reduce emissions while vessels are docked. The expansion comes as Canada invests in new icebreakers and smaller vessels to strengthen maritime operations and sovereignty on the West Coast.

A grievance filed by a former Canadian Coast Guard captain has been dismissed after the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board ruled his termination was justified for failing to respond to a distress call. The captain sailed past a mussel boat taking on water near Malpeque Harbour, Prince Edward Island, despite hearing a MAYDAY call and being only about nine nautical miles away. The board found that captains have a legal duty under the Canada Shipping Act to assist vessels in distress without waiting for formal instructions. The decision concluded that the captain’s refusal to respond and his failure to acknowledge wrongdoing warranted dismissal despite his long service.

The Jones Act may be temporarily waived by the White House for 30 days to help reduce rising fuel prices during the ongoing Middle East conflict. The proposed exemption would allow foreign-flagged tankers to transport oil, gasoline, diesel, LNG, and fertilizer between US ports, routes normally restricted to American vessels. Officials say the measure could improve fuel supply flows from Gulf Coast refineries to the US East Coast and modestly reduce gasoline prices. The move would complement a coordinated strategic oil release, though analysts suggest the impact on fuel prices may be limited.

US President Donald Trump announced plans for a new 168,000-barrel-per-day refinery to be built at the Port of Brownsville in Texas with investment from Reliance Industries. The project, led by America First Refining, will be designed to process light shale oil, an increasingly abundant feedstock that many existing Gulf Coast refineries are not optimized to handle. Reliance has reportedly agreed to a 20-year offtake deal for the refinery’s products, helping strengthen US–India energy ties while reducing the US trade deficit with India. Construction is expected to begin in the second quarter of this year.

US Customs and Border Protection officers seized approximately 214 pounds (97 kg) of cocaine hidden in a parasitic device attached to the hull of the containership Medstar after it arrived in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from the Dominican Republic. The drugs, valued at about $1.7 million, were discovered during a routine vessel boarding when officers used an underwater drone to inspect the hull. The San Juan Municipal Police Dive Unit assisted in recovering the device, while Homeland Security Investigations supported the operation. Authorities say the investigation remains ongoing.

The United States has issued a second temporary authorization allowing countries to purchase Russian oil already loaded on tankers, expanding a waiver previously granted to India. The measure aims to ease global supply pressures and prevent further fuel price spikes as conflict in the Middle East disrupts shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. The waiver applies only to cargoes loaded before March 12 and is intended to release some of the Russian crude currently stranded at sea, though analysts say the volumes involved will offset only a small portion of the broader supply disruptions affecting global oil markets.

Global bunker fuel prices have surged to record levels as the conflict in the Middle East disrupts energy flows and shipping routes. According to Ship & Bunker, the average price of IFO380 heavy fuel oil climbed to $841.50 per tonne, well above the previous record of $760, while prices in Singapore exceeded $1,070 per tonne. Analysts say the spike reflects tightening logistics, rising freight and insurance costs, and the trapping of a significant share of high-sulphur fuel oil exports in the Middle East. While major bunkering hubs remain supplied, industry observers warn that prolonged disruption could push the market from price volatility toward physical shortages, significantly raising operating costs for shipowners and potentially impacting global shipping demand.

A recent container loss incident involving the vessel Baltic Klipper near the Isle of Wight highlights the risks posed by long-period swell, which can trigger parametric rolling even in moderate sea states. Experts warn that the shipping industry often focuses on wave height while overlooking wave period, a key factor influencing vessel motion and stability. Forecast models may miss these swell conditions, creating hidden operational risks that can lead to container losses and costly disruptions. Analysts argue that improved wave forecasting, enhanced observations, and voyage-optimisation tools that account for vessel-specific motion are essential to reduce weather-related shipping incidents.

The International Energy Agency has recommended releasing 400 million barrels of strategic oil reserves, the largest coordinated release in its history, to help stabilize global crude prices during the escalating conflict involving Iran, the US, and Israel. The measure, agreed by all 32 member countries, would see major contributions from the United States and Japan, though the timing and pace of releases are still to be determined. The proposal comes as oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz remain severely disrupted, affecting roughly 20% of global supply flows. Analysts caution that while the release could ease market pressure, its effectiveness will depend on how quickly the reserves are deployed compared with the scale of the current supply disruption.

At least three commercial vessels were struck by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, according to warnings from the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The ships include the bulk carrier Mayuree Naree, which sustained fire and engine-room damage after being hit by two projectiles north of Oman; the containership ONE Majesty, which reported limited damage with crew safe; and the bulk carrier Star Gwyneth, where a projectile reportedly holed a cargo hold but the vessel remained seaworthy. Meanwhile, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) warned that Iranian civilian ports used for military operations could become legitimate military targets, advising civilians and commercial crews to avoid areas where Iranian naval forces are operating amid escalating tensions affecting international shipping.

Woodfibre LNG has received the liquefaction module for its project near Squamish, delivered aboard the heavy cargo vessel Red Zed 1. Weighing over 10,800 tonnes, the module is the largest and most critical component of the facility and will serve as the core of the LNG production process, cooling natural gas to –162°C so it can be transported as LNG to global markets. The project uses electric-drive liquefaction powered by BC’s renewable electricity grid, significantly reducing operational emissions compared with conventional gas-turbine systems. The module is the 15th of 19 planned modules, with all expected on-site this spring as construction advances toward completion in 2027.