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How many containers will we lose this year?
As we once again make our way towards winter in the North Pacific, should we be bracing ourselves for another season of container losses or have we, as an industry, started to learn some lessons? Tom Bebbington, Maritime Innvoation | Sep 29, 2022 There are many...
Port of New York and New Jersey Becomes America’s Busiest Box Port
For at least one month, the East Coast's busiest container port became the busiest container port in the U.S. PUBLISHED SEP 25, 2022 9:05 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE Last month, volumes at the Port of Los Angeles fell below both Port of Long Beach and the Port...
SIPG splashing out $7.3bn to develop new Yangshan container terminal
Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) has announced it is to invest up to RMB51.3bn ($7.3bn) in constructing container terminal and supporting projects at Xiaoyangshan. Katherine Si | Sep 23, 2022 The investment in the new area through its subsidiary Shanghai...
Container spot rates plunge 58% since January
Container spot rates have fallen by 10% for the fourth week running as increasingly looks like the sector could be in for a hard landing. Marcus Hand | Sep 23, 2022 he bell weather Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) has lost another 10.4% over the last week...
Lines seize Golden Week opportunity for blank sailings
Container capacities on the main trade routes out of China are set to plummet in the weeks following Golden Week as lines blank sailings to maintain rates. Gary Howard | Sep 22, 2022 China’s Golden Week of public holidays runs 1-7 October and comes at an odd time for...
Imports to Los Angeles, America’s largest port, plunged 17% in August
LA lost cargo to East, Gulf Coast ports — and Long Beach next door The Port of Los Angeles, the highest-volume container gateway in America, is diverging from the nationwide trend. U.S. container imports remain close to record highs, yet imports to LA are falling...
Putin Threatens to Pull Out of Ukrainian Grain Shipping Agreement
The UN-chartered bulker Ikaria Angel departed Odesa on Friday, bound for Africa (Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure) PUBLISHED SEP 18, 2022 8:00 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE About 3.7 million tonnes of grain have been shipped out of Ukraine via the Black Sea...
A Second Strike Coming at Felixstowe Port Over Pay Dispute
Posted in Ports by Raghib Raza on Sep 16, 2022 at 02:18. Workers of the Unite Union have scheduled a second strike at Felixstowe, the largest container port in the UK. This strike is the result of a pay dispute between the port operator and the Unite Union that...
New Singapore offshore wind vessel owner targets $1bn fleet
A new offshore wind vessel owning company in Singapore – Cyan Renewables – aims to own and operate a $1bn fleet within five years. Marcus Hand | Sep 19, 2022 Founded by Seraya Partners the energy transition investment platform Cyan is touted as the world's first pure...
Suez Canal to hike transit tolls in 2023
Tolls for vessels using the Suez Canal are set to rise by 15% next year with the exception of dry cargo and cruise ships which will increase by 10%. Marcus Hand | Sep 19, 2022 The transit toll increases from January 2023 were announced at the weekend by Adm....
Key spot container freight index rate falls 10% in a week
The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) plunged 10% week-on-week and is down nearly 19% over the last 14 days. Marcus Hand | Sep 09, 2022 The bell weather SCFI as of 9 September stands at 2,562.12 points down 285.5 points on the level published on 2 September,...
Empty Containers Will Overwhelm Ports in 2023 Warns Sea-Intelligence
Sea-Intelligence forecasts there will be 4.5 million excess containers at the start of 2023 PUBLISHED SEP 8, 2022 6:48 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE Ports around the world have been complaining for nearly a year about the build-up of empty containers blaming the...
Retailers Lower Imports Forecast Citing Inflation and Interest Rates
Retailers now see monthly declines in imports for the remainder of 2022 and into 2023 (Los Angeles file photo) PUBLISHED SEP 7, 2022 4:53 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE The National Retail Federation is revising downward its forecast for retail imports during the...
SMM 2022
Shipping can no longer remain on the sidelines, says ICS The shipping industry must co-operate with other sectors to influence decisions that will fundamentally affect shipping, according to ICS. Gary Howard | Sep 07, 2022 In his keynote address at the opening of SMM...
Container spot rates continue their downward march
Spot rates on most major container trades have fallen significantly on-year, but a few routes bucked the overall trend. Gary Howard | Sep 02, 2022 Most recently, Drewry’s composite analysis of box spot rates on September 1 showed a 5% decrease for the week, the...
Environmental NGOs and shipping industry to share the stage at SMM
The shipping industry and environmental NGOs are set to share a stage at SMM next week to discuss the industry’s decarbonisation challenge and its record so far. Gary Howard | Sep 02, 2022 The NGO debate will be the closing session of gmec, the global maritime...
Singapore officially opens Tuas Port
Singapore officially opened Tuas Port on Thursday as the Republic moves to consolidate all its container terminals into a single location over the next 20 years. Marcus Hand | Sep 01, 2022 Two berths are currently operational in the first phase of Tuas Port which is...
Rystad: Russian Oil Exports Will Decline by the End of the Year
PUBLISHED AUG 26, 2022 9:45 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE Consultancy Rystad Energy expects a drop-off ahead for Russian oil production and exports as the cutoff date for the planned EU oil embargo approaches. At the end of this year, the European Union will not...
Seafarers Get Time for Shore Leave During Felixstowe Strike
PUBLISHED AUG 26, 2022 9:23 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE The strike at the Port of Felixstowe is creating challenges for UK importers and exporters, and it has also delayed several vessels within the port complex. For at least one crew, this meant an opportunity...
Ukrainian seamen are free to leave country and work abroad, by Government decree
Posted in General by Mikhail Voytenko on Aug 27, 2022 at 16:57. Ukrainian seamen are allowed to leave the country by a special governmental decree during Aug 27 government meeting, said Ukrainian premier Nickolay Shmygal. By this decree, effectively, Ukrainian sea...
Maersk to omit calls at strike hit Felixstowe port
Maersk is omitting three calls at the Port of Felixstowe, UK, next week due to strike action. Marcus Hand | Aug 19, 2022 The UK’s largest port is set to grind to a halt from 21 – 29 August as port workers go on strike over pay. The Danish shipping line said in a...
Falling Rates are Likely to Continue Due to Low Vessel Utilization
PUBLISHED AUG 18, 2022 4:53 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE Container prices and spot shipping rates have fallen significantly year over year despite the fact the industry is entering what is traditionally peak season. While declines in demand versus the surge in...
Trans-Pacific rates still sinking. Trans-Atlantic rates still peaking
FBX: Asia-West Coast rates -70% year on year. Europe-East Coast rates +44% It’s a tale of two oceans: The price to ship containers of cargo eastbound from Asia to the U.S. across the Pacific continues to recede from record levels. In contrast, the price to ship...
DP World Sees Profits Soar With Rising Demand for Container Storage
PUBLISHED AUG 21, 2022 10:02 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE In the last few weeks, shipping and logistics companies have mesmerized the world with record first-half profits. DP World, one of the largest port operators worldwide, is the latest addition to the list....
Auckland ports commissions Sparky, first all-electric tug from Damen
Damen’s first all-electric harbour tug has been named Sparky and received her Maori name, Tiaki, on delivery to the Ports of Auckland last week. Paul Bartlett | Aug 12, 2022 The RSD-E Tug 2513 has a bollard pull of 70 tonnes and is capable of assisting the largest...
FMC Considers Invoking Emergency Powers to Alleviate Port Congestion
While West Coast congestion has declined it has increased in ports such as Savannah and Charleston (GPA file photo) PUBLISHED AUG 14, 2022 8:49 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE The Federal Maritime Commission is considering invoking its newly granted emergency powers...
Lines Prepare for Felixstowe Strike After UK Port Labor Talks Stall
Unions are planning an 8-day strike for the port later this month (Felixstowe file photo) PUBLISHED AUG 14, 2022 3:40 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE Felixstowe, the UK’s largest container port, is heading for a crippling 8-day strike after mediation talks with...
Container volume at major Chinese ports up 6.1% in mid-July
According to statistics released by China Ports and Harbors Association, container volume at eight major Chinese ports increased 6.1% year-on-year in mid-July Katherine Si | Aug 05, 2022 The rate of growth was fairly consistent with the 5.9% volumes increase seen in...
The impact on shipping of China military exercises off Taiwan
In further disruption to the supply chain vessels face being forced to divert from the Taiwan Strait as China launches large-scale, live firing military exercises in the key waterway. Marcus Hand | Aug 04, 2022 China began live firing exercises at 12 noon, local time,...
Bulk carrier with grain grounding at Napoli Port, Italy
Bulk carrier IRVINE BAY ran aground in Napoli Port area while approaching berth, on arrival from Santana Brazil with cargo of grain, at around 1200 UTC Aug 4. She was refloated with high tide at around 0230 UTC Aug 5 with tugs assistance, and berthed. No damages, no...
War effect on crude trade: Long-lasting and just beginning
Euronav and Teekay execs see post-invasion trade patterns sticking Is the shift in global crude flows due to the Ukraine-Russia war a fleeting event or the start of a new era? At first, many market watchers and investors viewed it as short-lived. It now seems like...
What’s Causing So Many Port Strikes? It May be the Profits
Ocean carriers and some terminal operators have had a run of exceptional earnings, and dockers want a share. PUBLISHED JUL 29, 2022 9:29 PM BY BRIAN GICHERU KINYUA Besides congestion, strikes at major ports in Europe, Asia and North America have become another...
Container rates may have peaked – 280% above pre-pandemic levels
Long-term contracted ocean freight rates in the container market may have peaked, but remain 112% up on-year and 280% up on July 2019. Gary Howard | Jul 28, 2022 Data from container market intelligence outfit Xeneta showed a deceleration in the price rise of long-term...
51-Day Strike Ends as Questions of DSME’s Financial Stability Mount
PUBLISHED JUL 22, 2022 7:44 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. and the union representing subcontractors reached an agreement at the end of the day on Friday ending a 51-day strike that threatened the financial stability...
What Does the Black Sea Grain Agreement Mean for Africa?
PUBLISHED JUL 24, 2022 7:23 PM BY WANDILE SIHLOBO If Russia keeps to the deal it has signed with Ukraine allowing for the resumption of grain exports, much needed relief will be provided to importing countries, including many in Africa. The relief would be...
US exports of crude oil and diesel are climbing even higher
More diesel flows to Latin America, more crude to Europe At-the-pump prices for gasoline and diesel may be down from all-time peaks but they remain exceptionally high. Meanwhile, as domestic energy resources flow to the highest bidder, more U.S.-produced crude is...
Congestion shifts to US East Coast ports
Port congestion in the US has shifted eastwards with more vessels now waiting at New York and Houston ports than Los Angeles and Long Beach. Marcus Hand | Jul 19, 2022 Congestion at US West Coast ports hit the headlines last year as it reached record levels with...
Stark warning on European energy crunch
Oslo-based analyst, Rystad Energy, has warned that energy turmoil, caused largely by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and sanctions that followed, may cause ‘vast demand destruction across industries and consumers’ in Europe. Paul Bartlett | Jul 19, 2022 Despite support...
Biden Heads Off Rail Strike With 60-Day Cooling Off Period
PUBLISHED JUL 18, 2022 10:49 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE To head off the supply-chain impact of a railway strike, U.S. President Joe Biden has established a presidential emergency board to help resolve a labor dispute between Class I rail carriers and their...
Clearance of Snake Island Opens Route to Ukraine’s Danube River Ports
The Reni port complex on the Ukrainian side of the Danube. Reni, Izmail and Kiliya now have improved access to the Black Sea (USPA file image) PUBLISHED JUL 11, 2022 2:48 AM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE Ukraine is working to revive long-idled inland ports along the...
Post-Covid container demand boom coming to an end
The post-Covid demand surge for container shipping appears to have run its course according to Drewry’s port throughput indices. Marcus Hand | Jul 11, 2022 The Drewry Global Port Throughput Index stood at 141.1 points in April 2022 some 1.5% lower than April 2021,...
Long Beach container backlog crosses red line as delays mount
Long-dwelling containers in the Port of Long Beach now up 9% vs. Oct. 28 he number of container ships waiting off Los Angeles and Long Beach is well off its highs, but the pileup of import containers waiting on Southern California terminal yards is rapidly...
Offshore ship sunk by typhoon off Hong Kong, 27 people missing UPDATE
Jul 2 1500 UTC UPDATE: The ship is identified, it’s offshore construction ship FU JING 001. SAR is under way in extremely challenging weather conditions, 3 SAR ships in the area. So far, 3 people were rescued, 27 remain missing. Offshore construction ship, not yet...
New Maersk feeder servie cuts Asia – Italy transit times
Maersk has launched a new feeder service between Port Said, at the northern end of the Suez Canal and Vado Gateway at the Port of Genoa, which will reduce transit times. Michele Labrut | Jul 01, 2022 The first 3,000-teu feeder of this new service will depart from SCCT...
US outbound container volume drops for 12th month straight
While inbound container volumes continued to rise in the US, export volumes fell for the twelfth straight month in May. Gary Howard | Jun 29, 2022 According to the McCown Report, East Coast and Gulf Coast imports helped inbound volumes rise 2.9% in May across the top...
Containers lost at sea increased 400% in 2020 – 2021
There was a four-fold increase in the number of containers lost overboard during the 2020 – 2021 compared to the previous two-year. Marcus Hand | Jun 22, 2022 According to figures from the World Shipping Council (WSC) 3,133 containers were lost overboard in the 2020 –...
Analysis: The next COVID-19 booster shots will likely be updated for Omicron
NEW YORK: COVID-19 vaccines this fall are likely to be based on the Omicron variant of the coronavirus rather than the original strain, although some experts suggest they may only offer significant benefits for older and immunocompromised people. Moderna, Pfizer and...
UN Ocean Conference is a Key Step to Restoring Ocean Health
PUBLISHED JUN 26, 2022 3:50 PM BY CHINA DIALOGUE OCEAN [By Peter Thomson] With every breath we take, we are connected to the ocean. The planet-defining blue covers more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, providing half of its oxygen, stabilising our...
US and Norway Launch Green Shipping Challenge to Build Decarbonization
The U.S. and Norway are challenging the shipping industry to develop decarbonization plans ahead of COP 27 PUBLISHED JUN 17, 2022 7:58 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE Speaking with world leaders at the third virtual Major Economies Forum President Joe Biden...
Surge in Boxship Orders Could Create Capacity Surplus as Early as 2023
Many of the next generation of boxships will be dual-fuel, like this CMA CGM LNG-powered container ship (CSSC Hudong Zhonghua / CMA CGM) PUBLISHED JUN 17, 2022 7:47 PM BY BRIAN GICHERU KINYUA Although trade volumes are cooling, the appetite by major ocean...
Local News
Anthony Loke says robust maritime industry will boost Malaysia’s economic growth, security
KUALA LUMPUR, June 22 — A robust maritime industry not only bolsters economic growth but will ensure Malaysia’s ability to protect its interests and respond effectively to emergencies, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke. He said that emphasising and expanding the...
Malaysia lacks professionals in quantum computing
KUALA LUMPUR: Challenges such as high costs, specialised maintenance requirements, limited local infrastructure, and a shortage of skilled professionals in quantum computing are holding Malaysia back. Nanotechnologist and Asia Pacific University of Technology and...
Malaysia To Construct Its First AI-Driven Container Port on West Coast
Malaysia is set to construct a state-of-the-art container port along the west coast of the Malay Peninsula, facing the busy Strait of Malacca. Valued at an estimated $425 million, this new port will incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance operational...
Malaysia-China JV wins RM209mil Miri Port job
KUCHING: A joint venture (JV) between Malaysian and Chinese companies has been awarded a RM208.9mil contract to dredge the access shipping channel to Miri Port terminal and construct training bunds in the Batang Baram Delta. Rimbun Prima Sdn Bhd and China...
Malaysia welcomes US firms, not sanctions, amid chips push. ‘We have an edge’: Anwar
Let the US impose all the unilateral sanctions it wants in its tech war with China, ‘we are free to do what we like’, Malaysia’s PM says Malaysia will not abide by US tech sanctions on China if it involves companies that do not come under Washington’s...
3 factors causing prolonged congestion at Singapore’s port
Global congestion raised container prices in Singapore by 26% since October. Congestion at the Port of Singapore will persist through June and possibly beyond due to three key factors, including the country’s increased container throughput. Data from Germany-based...
Malaysia to build port near Kuala Lumpur amid supply chain shift
KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia will build a new container port along the western coast of the Malay Peninsula facing the Malacca Strait, one of the world's busiest sea lanes, as the country prepares to capture logistics demand created by global supply chain shifts. The...
Malaysia’s diesel subsidy removal fuels inflation fears
The government will save billions of ringgit every year. But what about worried restaurants, tour bus operators and others? Fears are mounting in Malaysia that everything from eating out to domestic holidays will become more expensive as the cost of an...
Malaysia moving to join BRICS PM
Kuala Lumpur has made its decision, Anwar Ibrahim has said Malaysia has decided to apply for BRICS membership and will start filing the official paperwork soon, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has said. The 77-year-old leader of the Southeast Asian nation mentioned the...
East and Southeast Asian Ports Dominate 2023 Global Container Port Performance Index
The latest edition of the Global Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) shows East and Southeast Asian ports leading the pack in 2023, with 13 out of the top 20 spots. The fourth iteration of the CPPI, developed by the World Bank and S&P Global Market...
Anthony Loke to lead delegation to China for 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations
KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 — Transport Minister Anthony Loke is leading a delegation to visit Hong Kong and China from June 6 to 9 in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China. He will attend the Official 50th...
Malaysia aims to showcase 40 5G private network use cases
The government of Malaysia said there are currently 12 enterprise projects involving 5G trials across various sectors Malaysia plans to present at least 40 5G private network use cases in sectors such as manufacturing, oil and gas, logistics and healthcare, ahead of...
Malaysia cuts diesel subsidies, with hopes that handouts will cushion inflation impact
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia will cut diesel subsidies and float retail prices to the market rate of RM3.35 per litre, an increase of about 55 per cent from RM2.15, starting from June 10. The move, however, will not have much impact on the country’s inflation rate –...
As shipping supply chains are interrupted by wars, how is Southeast Asia faring?
D isruptions to shipping supply chains are being felt globally due to the conflict in Gaza and related attacks on ships by Houthi militias, as well as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but they are not the only tension points stressing global sea lanes. Southeast Asian...
Transport Ministry: Cable-laying ships exempted from cabotage policy starting June 1
UALA LUMPUR, May 30 ― Starting June 1, all cable-laying ships engaged in the installation, maintenance and repair of submarine telecommunication cables landed at any submarine cable landing centre in Malaysian waters are exempt from the cabotage policy. The Transport...
Johor-Singapore SEZ: Pengerang’s potential as hub for ‘spillover’ business renews optimism for area’s development
KOTA TINGGI, Johor: Tucked away in the southeastern tip of peninsular Malaysia is a large swathe of land with rows upon rows of oil storage tanks and cooling towers with dark smoke billowing from above. The Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex (PIPC) - which...
Diesel subsidy rationalisation due to 10-fold increase in cost to Malaysian government: finance minister II
The decision to rationalise diesel fuel subsidy in Malaysia was due to the cost to the government, which had increased by 10 times in just five years, The Star reported. The Malaysian government had paid RM14.3 billion in diesel subsidy last year,...
Malaysia finally reinstates cabotage exemption for undersea cable repair ships
Malaysia has finally reinstated the cabotage policy exemption for foreign ships to conduct laying, maintenance and repairs of submarine telecommunication cables in Malaysian waters effective 1st June 2024. This comes after Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced in...
Sarawak says exploring proposal to establish state transport authority
KUCHING, May 25 — Sarawak’s Ministry of Transport is exploring a proposal to establish a Sarawak Transport Authority to manage and operate the entire transportation sector in the state, its minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin said today. He said this holistic approach...
Port of Tanjung Pelepas inks deals for 11 ULCV capacity quay cranes
Port of Tanjung Pelepas SdnBhd (PTP), a joint venture between the MMC Group and APM Terminals in Malaysia, has signed an agreement with Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co Ltd (ZPMC) for the purchase of five ultra large container vessel (ULCV) Quay Cranes. This...