Global News
Hamburg Container Throughput Declines Due to Loss of Russia Trade
Hamburg cited the loss of Russian trade contributing to a soft first quarter 2023 (file photo) PUBLISHED MAY 19, 2023 5:42 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE Leading ports in Europe continue to be impacted by the loss of Russia-related business due to sanctions. The...
Container freight market normalisation is ‘not really normal’
Article-Container freight market normalisation is ‘not really normal’ There’s been a lot of talk of normalisation of container shipping markets, but Xeneta analyst Peter Sand doesn’t believe it is normal at all. Barry Parker | May 18, 2023 “Then again, it’s not really...
Houston’s Export Levels Grow as Port Rises in U.S. Rankings
Houston rose to 5th in the U.S. rankings based on the strength of its 2022 volumes PUBLISHED MAY 16, 2023 7:10 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE The Port of Houston, Texas continues to outpace the industry showing strong volumes than many other U.S. ports due in part...
Ammonia-Fueled Bulkers Could Start Australia’s Green Corridor by 2028
Pilbara Ports handled 279 vessels and has the potential to be a first mover in ammonia-fueled vessels (pilbara Ports Authority) PUBLISHED MAY 15, 2023 7:33 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE A feasibility study on the potential for the Australia-East Asia Iron Ore...
Recession, geopolitics and costs top supply chain fears
A recession in the US, geopolitical tensions and rising operating costs were the top concerns among supply chain professionals, according to a recent survey. Gary Howard | May 10, 2023 Container xChange surveyed 1200 supply chain professionals, asking what disruptions...
Container line schedule reliability returning to pre-Covid levels
Container line schedule reliability is continuing to improve returning to pre-pandemic levels according to analysts Sea-Intelligence. Marcus Hand | May 09, 2023 After a dramatic 7.7 percentage points increase in reliability between January and February this year...
Lifeboats on Cargo Ships Need to Be Redesigned to Improve Crew Safety
While there have been significant advancements in developing lifesaving equipment, the Container Ship Safety Forum says there are far too many injuries to crewmembers aboard cargo ships while launching lifeboats. The industry association, which has a goal to improve...
Imports Continue Slow Climb Despite Cuts in 2023 Forecast
Retail import levels are continuing a slow but steady rise from the three-year lows experienced at the beginning of 2023. The National Retail Federation however continues to lower its forecasts cutting its projections for the second quarter and for the first half of...
As oil tumbles, marine fuel gets cheaper — and so do tanker stocks
VLSFO-HSFO marine fuel spread sinks below $100 threshold Russia — one of the world’s top energy providers — is mired in war. The OPEC cartel is cutting production. And yet, oil prices continue to tumble, weighed by global recession fears and concerns on Chinese...
AD Ports Group expands dry bulk fleet, moves into tankers
AD Ports Group is expanding its shipping fleet with the acquisition of five bulk carriers and three crude oil tankers. “The five bulk carriers, to be purchased for $125 million, form part of the long-term agreement with Saif Powertec, signed in April 2022, for the...
California to Start Phase Out All Diesel Trucks at Ports Next Year
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) approved on April 28 a first-of-its-kind rule that requires a phased transition toward zero-emission medium-and-heavy duty vehicles. Known as Advanced Clean Fleets, the new rule expands on California’s efforts to fully...
Trans-Atlantic shipping rates keep sinking as imports from Europe fall
Building material imports, which previously supported freight rates, are down The trans-Atlantic westbound trade has been a star performer for container lines over the past year, a bright spot amid a global slide. Europe-to-U.S. rates have been an outlier, staying far...
Spot container freight rates on the rise
Spot container rates would seem to be turning a corner with key indexes starting to rise after the collapse seen over the previous year. Both Drewry’s World Container Index (WCI) and the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) posted rises this week. SCFI rose...
Singapore, Los Angeles, and Long Beach Agree to Green Corridor
The ports of Singapore, Los Angeles, and Long Beach became the latest to join the growing list of port authorities committing to the formation of green corridors in the support of the UN initiative and the efforts to achieve global decarbonization. The latest...
As Asia-US shipping rates rise, so does skepticism on staying power
Linerlytica says May 1 rate hikes delayed due to weak demand Container lines have used general rate increases (GRIs) to forcibly push up Asia-U.S. spot rates, yet there’s widespread skepticism on rates’ staying power given the gravitational pull of weak demand....
Starlink making waves in maritime – fast growing interest from major shipping companies
Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite communications service is attracting a growing list leading names in the maritime world. This week saw announcements by Columbia Ship Management (CSM) and Costamare as the latest companies to trial the service provided provided by a...
Reshaping the Future of Logistics: An Outlook on Warehousing Automation Trends
Despite an expected slowing pace of automation in 2023, the forecast is for stronger growth through 2027. According to Interact Analysis’ Warehouse Automation – 2022 report, between 2024 and 2027, the market is forecast to grow at a 19% CAGR, driven by improving...
Los Angeles and Long Beach Port Shutdown Sparks Fears of Retailer Exodus
The port of LOS ANGELES and LONG BEACH shut down for 24 hours from April 6th to 7th due to a mass absence of the majority of workers. The Labor Union and their employers at these ports had been involved in strained negotiations for months. On the...
China-Russia vs. US-EU: How global shipping is slowly splitting in two
Taiwan tensions are latest flash point; geopolitics is reshaping trade Another meeting between a House speaker and Taiwan’s president, another spike in tensions in the Taiwan Strait. Last summer’s meeting between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and Nancy...
Union Workers Skip Shifts Closing Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles
Crane operators and drivers of cargo-handling equipment failed to show up for work starting with Thursday, April 6, evening shift effectively bringing the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to a standstill. Neither the Pacific Maritime Association, which represents...
$34.7bn container line profits mark second straight quarterly decline
The major container lines recorded profits of $34.7bn in the fourth quarter 2022 and are on track for an 80% drop in 2023 profits. Consolidating the results of the sector, Blue Alpha Capital’s John McCown saw a 33.9% drop in profits compared to the year-ago quarter,...
UK’s logistics sector positive on Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal
The UK’s freight and logistics sector has welcomed news that the UK has joined the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) trade deal although they say it won’t be a “game changer”. The CPTPP covers 500m people across Australia,...
Supply Chain Trends in 2023
After three years of crisis, the data show that supply chain conditions are improving. That will allow supply chain leaders in 2023 to resurrect initiatives that may have been sidelined — including data and digitalization programs and sustainability efforts. ...
Container cranes lag container ships by a generation
Shoreside infrastructure continues to suffer diseconomies of scale as container ships grow, adding a column per generation. Speaking at CMA Shipping 2023 last week, Shmuel Yahalom, Ph.D., Distinguished Service Professor of Economics and Transportation at SUNY Maritime...
Contract box rates likely to dip as US negotiation season approaches
Oslo-based analyst, Xeneta, expects shippers to hold the whip hand when this year’s long-term container contract negotiations gather pace through April and May. Latest figures from Xeneta show that global long-term ocean rates have fallen by 24% since their August...
Port of Montreal to Implement AI System to Reduce Vessels’ Carbon Footprint
Montreal Port Authority and Global Spatial Technology Solutions (GSTS) have announced a new project aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of vessels. The project, named the "digital corridor", uses artificial intelligence (AI) and is based on the OCIANATM modular...
Massive Strike in Germany Forces Closure of Hamburg Port
A strike organized by public employees has forced the Port of HAMBURG to close down for more than 48 hours. As the port is the second busiest in Europe, port officials have started to limit vessel movement on the Elbe and have closed the port for all...
Study: Maritime Chokepoints Could Contribute to CO2 Reduction
As shipping examines multiple scenarios to limit its GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions, vessel speed reduction is a low hanging fruit in shipping’s decarbonization journey. This is based on the observation that inefficiencies caused by some key choke points in...
What Do You Do if a Hacker Takes Control of Your Ship?
You stand on the bridge and the course is seen digitally. Still, why does the ship continue to turn west? On the computer screens in the dark wheelhouse, everything looks normal - but outside the window, the land comes dangerously close! What is happening? Down in the...
Top bunkering markets – Singapore over three times larger than nearest rival
Singapore tops the rankings for bunker volumes sold with over a third of the global market among the world’s top 17 bunkering destinations last year. Total bunker output last year for the top 17 supply countries and regions was just under 141 million tonnes (mt),...
MSC Takes Delivery of World’s Largest Container Vessel
MSC took delivery of the Ultra Large Container Vessel, the MSC TESSA, at the Changxing Shipbuilding Base in Shanghai. The vessel is estimated to have cost MSC $600 million. The manufacturer claims that MSC TESSA is the world's largest...
First Automated High-Bay Storage System to be Installed at Korean Port
South Korean terminal will employ the first commercial-scale application of the automated high-bay storage system (BOXBAY) PUBLISHED MAR 10, 2023 9:08 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE South Korean terminal will employ the first commercial-scale application of the...
FOCUS ON PANAMA
Panama Canal implements ‘disruption charge’ An incident in the Panama Canal could prove costly as the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) implements a ‘disruption charge’ for vessels causing delays and operational difficulties to the critical waterway. The disruption charge...
Retailers See Slow TEU Volume Climb After Positive January Trade Data
PUBLISHED MAR 10, 2023 12:20 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE A positive tick-up in trade numbers for January 2023 reported by the U.S. government on Wednesday followed by a forecast for a slow climb back for U.S. retail imports created the first glimmer of hope for...
UK Ports Group ABP Commits $2.4B for Net Zero Transition
The UK’s leading ports group, Associated British Ports (ABP), has unveiled an ambitious $2.4 billion green growth and sustainability plan that is designed to decarbonize operations by 2040. The organization highlights that its plan will also significantly contribute...
China likely to dominate 2023 oil demand growth: MSI
Tanker markets have performed well over the first two months of the year, with sharp increases in spot earnings in both the crude and products sectors, according to Maritime Strategies International (MSI). In its most recent Horizon report, however, the analysts...
Container lines still chartering ships despite drop in cargo demand
GSL, MPC say lessors of smaller ships best positioned to weather storm With import demand flagging, freight rates falling, the container ship orderbook at record highs and ocean carriers canceling voyages, you might think nobody would be chartering more...
Hamburg Gets More Big Ships but Geopolitics/Economy Drive Volume Down
Hamburg is receiving more big containers but volumes were down overall in 2022 (HHA) PUBLISHED FEB 21, 2023 8:29 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE The Port of Hamburg, traditionally one of the busiest in the world, experienced a decline in volumes in nearly all...
Hong Kong investing $2.5m to promote maritime services sector
The Hong Kong government has allocated HK$20m ($2.5m) in its 2023 – 24 budget to promote the high-end maritime service industry sector. Marcus Hand | Feb 23, 2023 In his budget speech on Wednesday Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan said with Hong Kong’s...
Freight forwarders spend 80% of their time fixing problems
Freight forwarders and NVOCCs spend up to 80% of their time manually solving problems with low-tech container operations processes, according to one logistics platform. Gary Howard | Feb 21, 2023 Speaking to Seatrade Maritime News for the Seatrade Maritime Podcast,...
Container price war underway, contract rates plummeting
The gulf between contract and spot container freight rates has narrowed rapidly, and lines appear to be slashing prices rather than capacity. Gary Howard | Feb 16, 2023 The latest market updates from market intelligence platform Xeneta and analyst Sea-Intelligence...
Container lines commit to 100% electronic bill of lading adoption by 2030
Members of the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA), including some of the world’s largest container lines, have committed to fully adopting electronic bills of lading (EBL) by 2030. Gary Howard | Feb 15, 2023 DCSA said its nine container line members...
Does it Make Sense to Have a National Emergency Towing Fleet?
Different nations take different approaches to emergency towing response services Two national response vessels in action: Abeille Liberte, foreground, and Anglian Princess, background. The UK has since retired its emergency response tug fleet (Marine Nationale file...
Slow Start to 2023 Volumes in Long Beach Due to Economy and Labor
Port of Long Beach started 2023 with its third consecutive month below 600,000 TEU (Port of Long Beach) PUBLISHED FEB 13, 2023 7:46 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE Container volume at the Port of Long Beach is off to a slow start in 2023 as port officials continue...
Asian shipping lines are reporting steep revenue declines
Income plunges for OOCL, Evergreen, Yang Ming, Wan Hai New operating results from four Asian shipping lines were released Friday, pointing to steep performance declines in the fourth quarter and ongoing market erosion in the first month of this year. Orient Overseas...
Why ESG Matters for the Decarbonization of Shipping
The Potential for ESG Strategies in Shipping’s Decarbonization With shipping companies making ambitious investments in decarbonization, the debate around creation of robust ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategies for the industry has become imperative....
Top four cold chain growth drivers in 2023
Stakeholders throughout the supply chain understand 2023 will not be like any other year—and this is especially true for the cold chain, both in terms of challenges and opportunities. Greg Tuthill, CCO, SeaCube Containers | Feb 10, 2023 Offering reliability and...
Ningbo-Zhoushan port retains world’s busiest cargo handling crown
China’s Ningbo-Zhoushan port handled over 1.25bn tonnes cargo in 2022, keeping the number one spot globally for a 14th consecutive year. Container volume at Ningbo-Zhoushan port was 33.35m teu, ranking the third globally following Shanghai and Singapore. As the...
Seaports Are the Key to Making Green Hydrogen Cost Competitive
Illustration of Shell's future Holland Hydrogen 1 electrolyzer plant at Port of Rotterdam (Shell) PUBLISHED FEB 5, 2023 8:56 PM BY BRIAN GICHERU KINYUA As the world strives for a net zero emissions future by 2050, hydrogen has attracted considerable attention in...
Just how big are the global container shipping alliances?
Top 9 carriers control 83% of capacity, but the 3 alliances control only 39% The world’s top two container lines — Switzerland’s MSC and Denmark’s Maersk — have cooperated since 2015 in the 2M alliance, a partnership they will end in 2025. Because MSC and...