Greek shipowner Euroseas has acquired two new 82,000 dwt bulkers at a cost slightly below $60m, and purchased a secondhand 5,600 teu containership.

Genco Shipping & Trading has obtained an extension for loan waivers and discussions will continue on seeking a consensual restructuring of its debt.

Beleaguered China Cosco has dodged the bullet for this year at least, with a successful application to be dropped from the delisting watchlist of the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

China's Yangzijiang Shipbuilding has confirmed 18 new shipbuilding orders worth a total of $815m in March.

Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) plans to invest JPY530bn ($5.13bn) in LNG carriers and the offshore business over the next five years, while making its container and dry bulk segments more asset light.

Wärtsilä has received a number of orders for exhaust gas scrubbers to be installed on a number of vessels under construction by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for Solvang, Wlihelmsen and Dorian LPG.

Over the past three months, confidence across the shipping industry has risen to its highest level since 2008, according to Moore Stephens' shipping confidence survey.

Three suspected piracy incidents have been recorded in or near the Strait of Hormuz in the last 24 hours, including exchanges of gunfire.

Mistui OSK Lines (MOL) is aiming for a major expansion of its LNG shipping and offshore activities from 9% of its assets to 26% in 2020.

The US Maritime Liaison Office (Marlo) in Bahrain has warned of threats made against crew members by Suez Canal Port employees.