In a coup, Myanmar's powerful military seized control of the country and declared a state of emergency after Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior government leaders were arrested in early morning raids on Monday.

The nation awoke to widespread blackouts of the internet and communications, closed banks, and army soldiers patrolling the streets of Myanmar's largest city, Yangon. Only the military-owned Myawaddy TV channel could be viewed by residents turning on their TV sets, with all the other news channels blocked.

The army has defeated the government headed by Aung San Suu Kyi and has promised to take power for at least the next 12 months.

Whilst the country's ports remain open today, Yangon's main airport is closed.

“Lots of crewing agents and shipmanagement companies are quaking over events in Yangon this morning. They all have offices and a presence there. With the total clampdown and the airport closed this will not help the crew change crisis,” a source from Singapore’s maritime community told Splash.

Maritime Business World