Global News
World first use of ammonia fuel in trial on Fortescue vessel in Singapore
The dual-fuel ammonia-powered vessel, owned by Australian mining group Fortescue, was loaded with liquid ammonia at Vopak’s terminal on Jurong Island in Singapore for the fuel trial. The Fortescue Green Pioneer was loaded with five cubic metres...
Houthis vow to expand attacks against shipping into the Indian Ocean
The official spokesman for the Yemeni Armed Forces Commander Abdulmalik Badr al-Din al-Houthi announced on the Houthi’s Telegram channel that the group intends to spread its sphere of operations across a region that covers thousands of square miles. The commander...
Dearth of tonnage drives ship recyclers to chase small vessels
Bangladeshi breakers lead the way, followed closely by recyclers in Pakistan, but they are bidding on low-quality units with components already removed, poor steel, corroded ballast tanks and permanent ballast., according to GMS, the world’s largest cash buyer of...
Empty container availability fears slide as demand wanes.
Growth in empty repositioning since 2019 had seen an increase of 20% in terms of teu moved in 2023 compared to four years ago, but also the growth in full containers has increased globally by 2.5%, with an 8% increase in teu miles, according to one analyst using...
Argentina plans $550 million new port in Rosario
"We're announcing an investment for the construction of a new agro-industrial port in Timbues, on the Parana River," presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni told a news conference, referring to a town some 50 km north of the city of Rosario,” Reuters reported. "The...
ICTSI reports 4% container volume growth in 2023
The company said the increase in consolidated volume was mainly due to the contribution of Manila North Harbour Port, Inc. (MNHPI) in Manila, improvement in trade activities, and new services at certain terminals. But volumes were impacted by the...
Nautilus calls for Red Sea transit halt after True Confidence attack
The appeal comes after three seafarers were killed when bulk carrier True Confidence was struck by a missile in the Red Sea on March 6. “We believe it is time for those shipowners who are continuing to transit through the Red Sea to reassess the necessity...
South Africa Buys Tugboats as Efforts Proceed to Improve Port Efficiency
South Africa’s ports operator Transnet reports it is moving forward with a fleet renewal program as part of an overall effort to tackle the perennial challenges of inefficiencies that have placed the ports at the bottom of international rankings and led to massive...
Heavy Lift Alliance Gets Bigger With Addition of Intermarine
Three years ago, heavy lift operators Jumbo and SAL lifted a page from the liner sector and entered into an alliance agreement. That model has been successful enough that they are now adding a third member, Intermarine, which operates smaller multipurpose vessels in...
Rubymar Sinks in Red Sea 13 Days After Houthi Attack Damaged Bulker
The bulker several damaged in a Houthi attack and abandoned by its crew finally succumbed to its damage reportedly sinking after having drifted since the February 18 attack. The government of Yemen issued a statement reporting the sinking of...
Ukraine and UK Brokers Extend Affordable War Risk Insurance to All Cargoes
Ukraine has won an agreement with the major insurance brokerage networks in the UK to expand the current war risk insurance program to cover ships carrying all non-military cargo. Previously the program was limited to grain and foodstuffs but will now permit Ukraine...
Fearing Long-Term Problems in Red Sea, Cruise Lines Change Plans
The cruise industry is starting to rethink its plans into 2025 as increasingly they believe the problems in the Red Sea will persist. It is a view shared by the commercial shipping industry, but with travelers making vacation plans cruise lines need to think longer...
Unifeeder adds two more methanol feeder vessels.
The 1,250 teu pair are due for delivery in 2026, one each from German shipowner Elbdeich Reederei and Norwegian shipowner MPC Container Ships (MPCC). The deal builds on charters made in October 2023 for two similar vessels from Elbdeich Reederei. X-Press feeders...
Shipping associations welcome EU Red Sea operation Aspides
The Council of the EU announced that the defensive operation will have an initial one year duration and a mandate to protect commercial vessels against attacks at sea by providing situational awareness and accompanying ships in the region. In its announcement, the EU...
BYD expanding fleet with seven new car carriers by 2025
Chinese automobile manufacturer BYD is planning to put seven new car carriers into operation in the coming two years to meet the growing export demand. Wang Chuanfu, Chairman and President of BYD stated in Guangdong Provincial High-quality Development...
Baltrader cement carrier to be fitted with Norsepower Rotor Sail
The German Government is funding the installation of a Rotor Sail on Baltrader’s new cement carrier CemCommander this summer. The project attracted funding from the German Federal Government’s Directive "Sustainable Modernization of Coastal Vessels" (NaMKü) programmed...
Shenzhen provides subsidies to LNG carrier operators.
The southern Chinese port city of Shenzhen is offering subsidies to LNG operators to boost its development as an LNG trading hub city. According to the notice from Shenzhen Development and Reform Commission, Shenzhen is going to actively explore new LNG trading...
Houthi attacks on shipping in Red Sea continue
A 58,800 dwt Supramax bulker was fired on by Houthis as it transited the Gulf of Aden, some 85 nautical miles southeast of Aden, causing minor damage to the vessel, but there were no crew casualties or injuries according to the latest reports. Lycavitos operated by...
Seafarers can refuse to sail through Red Sea, but a lot of planning needed
With the continued, and worsening threat to shipping while transiting the region from Houthi rebels in Yemen, the IBF Warlike Operations Area Committee (WOAC) has agreed to expand the High Risk Area to include the Gulf of Aden and surrounding waters. Stephen...
No change in Panama Canal restrictions before April
The Deputy Administrator for the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), Ilya Espino de Marotta, says the waterway does not expect changes to current vessel transit restrictions until at least April. The ACP will assess water levels after the dry season before making any...
Container leasing rates reach for the skies
US shippers are diverting east coast cargo, already shifted from the Panama Canal to via Suez, to west coast ports, boosting southern California port volumes and raising box leasing prices through the roof. Online box leasing and trading company Container xChange...
Tanker Optimized for Wind-Assisted Propulsion Achieves Strong Fuel Savings
A partnership between Finland’s naval architects Deltamarine and UK-based BAT Technologies looks to develop new standards in sustainable shipping. The companies held a presentation in London for their new concept, a wind-optimized design for an Aframax/LRII tanker...
Complexities of compliance with the EU Emissions Trading Scheme
The EU ETS first emissions trading system requiring owners, operators and charterers to pay for their ships’ emissions. At a Lloyd’s Register webinar on 7 February, classification society experts ran through the complex regulations and the steps required by owners and...
AD Ports takes over Karachi Port East Wharf operations.
The agreement will see a joint venture between AD Ports and Kaheel Terminals, Karachi Gateway Terminal Multipurpose Limited (KGTML), develop, operate and manage berths 11-17 at the East wharf of Karachi. The new concession grants 1.5 km of quay wall to KGTML for...
ICTSI to develop Iloilo port complex in central Philippines.
ICTSI will rename it the port complex as Visayas Container Terminal. “We recognise the port’s pivotal role in driving Iloilo's economic and social growth. Our comprehensive proposal outlines significant investments in infrastructure...
Piraeus port inaugurates expanding car terminal.
Greek Shipping and Island Policy Minister Christos Stylianides pointed out at an inauguration ceremony 6 February for the new car facilities, the Ministry's goal is to promote sustainable urban development, the use of sustainable transportation methods and advanced...
QatarEnergy announces next phase of record fleet growth programme
The vessels will enter into timecharters with affiliates of QatarEnergy and Nakilat, the company said in a statement. It is the first award in the second phase of long-term time charters in the largest-ever LNG fleet expansion programmed. Qatar Energy’s LNG Fleet...
ILWU and Portland Terminal Settle Long Dispute Which Bankrupted the Union
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union and International Container Terminal Services settled a more than decade’s long dispute involving the operation of Portland, Oregon’s sole container terminal which forced the ILWU to file for bankruptcy in September...
US Indicts Iranian Oil Network, Individuals, Tankers, and Seeks Oil Cargo
The U.S. Justice Department revealed on Friday three sweeping legal cases launched in U.S. federal courts in New York and the District of Columbia aimed at interrupting the Iranian oil trade. They revealed a widespread network launched by Iran starting in 2018 to...
ICS Proposes $40 Carbon Levy With No Automatic Increases
The International Chamber of Shipping has formulated a revised proposal for an IMO carbon emissions fund. As with earlier proposals, it would see two-way financial flows going in and out of one fund - carbon-emitting shipowners would pay money in, while...
Vietnam’s Ports Benefit From Geopolitics and Trade Wars
Vietnam’s main ports have shot up the world rankings in terms of volumes of container-based traffic as manufacturers increasingly pull out of China in the wake of the tariff-based trade war with America. As the latest data on Vietnam’s growing “connectivity” –...
European Ethanol Producers File Challenge to FuelEU Maritime Regulation
An industry group representing European ethanol producers launched a legal challenge they announced yesterday seeking to at least partially annul the FuelEU Maritime Regulation saying that it improperly addresses sustainable biofuels such as renewable ethanol. In a...
The Law and Practice of Container Shipping
The evolution of container shipping has played a crucial role in transforming international trade and shipping, making it more efficient, cost-effective, and interconnected. Today, container shipping is ubiquitous and efficient. The most recent ULCV, the MSC...
Red Sea Tanker Fire Extinguished
The fire aboard the Marshall Islands registered tanker Marlin Luanda is reported to be out and the vessel is proceeding to an unspecified safe harbor. Trafigura, which chartered the vessel, provided the update confirming that the crew of 23, including...
EU Launches Effort with Shipping Lines and Ports to Fight Drug Smuggling
The European Commission announced the launch of a new public-private partnership, the European Ports Alliance as the latest step to increase the fight against drug trafficking through Europe’s ports. It comes as Europe has seen a dramatic increase in drug smuggling...
Shipping fallout from Red Sea crisis spreads to product tankers
With no end in sight for the Red Sea crisis, detours around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope are soaking up even more vessel capacity and pushing up spot rates across multiple shipping segments. Freight fallout began with container ships. It is now significantly impacting...
Gas and Heat and RINA to Cooperate on Ammonia Fuelled Bunker Vessel
Gas and Heat, the Italian company leader in the design and construction of cargo handling systems, and RINA, the Inspection, Certification and Engineering consultancy multinational, have signed an agreement for the development of a cargo and fuel gas system for...
Supply chain executives pin hopes on technology as diverse challenges escalate
Trade in Transition, a research project by the Economist Impact and DP World, surveyed 3,500 executives around the world for their views on topics related to global trade. Over 34% of respondents listed new technologies as a source of optimism over the next two...
Chinese automobile exports surge 58% in 2023
China’s automobile export market reached 4.91 million units in 2023, increasing some 57.9 year-on-year. With sharp rise in exports China is expected to become the world’s largest automobile exporter. During in 2023, automobile production and sales volume of...
Red Sea crisis drives inflationary trading costs.
Carriers have told shippers and forwarders that rates will rise substantially as shipping heads around the Cape of Good Hope, soaking up excess capacity, and redressing the supply and demand imbalance. One forwarder has been told to expect European rates out of Asia...
More interaction needed between government and private sector
The logistics sector in Panama, the mainstay of the maritime industry, is finally taking off and increasingly using Panama as a dispatch centre for global or Latin American markets. Panama provides logistics services such as warehousing, distribution,...
Port of Corpus Christi handles record cargo tonnage in 2023
The 203 million tonnes moved through the port last year represented an 8.1% increase over 2022. The new record primarily can be attributed to a jump in crude oil exports to 126.1 million tonnes in 2023, a 12.5% increase compared to 2022. Related: New leadership...
Ethiopia’s Port Deal with Somaliland Could Endanger Regional Stability
The Horn of Africa ushered in the new year with news of a deal that would ensure that diplomatic relations in the region got off to a bumpy start in 2024. Ethiopia, it was announced on Jan. 1, had signed a memorandum of understanding with the breakaway...
Work Stoppages Grow at DP Australia Terminals as MUA Pay Dispute Escalates
Work at the terminals operated by DP World in Australia’s four largest ports ground to a halt on Friday, January 12, with the expectation that the dispute is likely to further escalate in the coming weeks. The Maritime Union of Australia, which has been without a...
Cruise Ship Silver Moon Reverses Course to Avoid Southern Red Sea
The luxury cruise ship Silver Moon (40,700 gross tons) has become the latest ship to divert away from the southern Red Sea, altering the itinerary for its current cruise and canceling at least one upcoming cruise. The cruise ship operated by Silversea...
Video: Chinese Company Launches Massive Solid-Fuel Rocket from Sea
A Chinese company has launched its first heavyweight commercial rocket from the deck of a ship, reviving a concept popularized by the Sea-Launch consortium in the 1990s. Orienspace, based in Shandong, launched its first Gravity-1 rocket from the deck of a...
Suez Canal Denies Suspension of Transits Rumor After Red Sea Attacks
The Suez Canal Authority issued a statement on Friday, January 12, denying rumors that its operations had been impacted by the overnight strikes by U.S. and UK forces and the resumption of attacks by the Houthi rebels. The statement came as the military forces have...
IAEA Uses Nuclear Tools to Study Antarctic Plastic Pollution
Last week, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) launched its first scientific research expedition to investigate the extent of microplastics pollution in the Antarctica. Argentine President Javier Milei and IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi led the...
Norway’s Turn Towards Deep-Sea Mining Dismays Experts
Norway, renowned for its substantial offshore oil and gas reserves, made a surprise move in 2021 to rebrand itself as an ocean champion. However, this environmental turn is being reversed as the government pursues commercial mining in the country’s extended...
Belgium Plans Increased Fight Against Drug Trafficking Through EU Ports
Belgium intends to prioritize the fight against drug trafficking through the major ports in the European Union (EU) expanding on existing efforts to reign in the rampant smuggling and corruption at the region’s ports. Over the next six months, they plan to launch an...