Maritime Industry Briefing: Vessel Charters, Strait of Hormuz Closure, and Cloud Integration

## Vessel Charter Deal for DHT Holdings DHT Holdings, Inc. has secured a one-year time charter agreement for its VLCC vessel DHT Opal, according to Hellenic Shipping News. The contract, valued at $90,000 per day, is expected to commence in February 2026 and has been concluded with a global energy company. 'This charter further strengthens our cash flow visibility and demonstrates the continued strong demand for modern, fuel-efficient VLCCs,' said Svein Moxnes Harfjeld, Co-CEO of DHT Holdings. ## Iran Partially Closes Strait of Hormuz Iran has partially closed the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil chokepoint, citing 'security precautions' as its Revolutionary Guard conducts military drills in the waterway, reports Hellenic Shipping News. The move comes as Iran holds talks with the U.S. in Geneva, seeking to resolve ongoing tensions. The partial closure of the Strait, through which about a fifth of the world's oil supply flows, has raised concerns about potential disruptions to global energy markets. ## Marlink Integrates with Microsoft ExpressRoute Maritime communications provider Marlink has integrated with Microsoft's ExpressRoute program, enabling faster and more secure global access to cloud services for its customers, according to Hellenic Shipping News. 'This latest milestone in the partnership between Marlink and Microsoft enables Marlink customers to extend on-premises networks into the Microsoft cloud, delivering enhanced performance and security,' the company said in a statement. The integration is expected to benefit Marlink's customers in the maritime industry by improving cloud connectivity and security as they increasingly rely on cloud-based applications and services.