News
Global News
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...
Maersk to kill off Hamburg Süd and Sealand brands
Maersk plans to retire the brands of 152-year old Hamburg Süd and containerisation pioneer Sealand. Gary Howard | Jan 27, 2023 The integration of Maersk-owned brands is part of a strategy to unify Maersk’s structure, remove internal barriers within the organisation...
Europe to Asia reefer rates slide
Freight rates on the Europe to Asia trades have begun to follow the wider container market down after a period of resistance. Gary Howard | Jan 26, 2023 According to a market update from freight rate benchmarking firm Xeneta, spot and log-term freight rates are...
Engines Driven by Sound Waves for Bottom-Cycle Maritime Application
PUBLISHED JAN 29, 2023 7:55 PM BY HARRY VALENTINE Thermoacoustic engines are based on tubes that convert heat into resonant sound waves, which in turn drive pistons inside cylinders. A discovery from several hundred years ago involved the bottom end of a...
FMC Reports Increase in D&D Claims as Carrier Rulemaking Proceeds
FMC continues to focus on carriers with rulemaking as D&D complaints increased PUBLISHED JAN 25, 2023 6:46 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE The Federal Maritime Commission is reporting that it has received a strong response to the proposed rulemaking for key...
US supply chain congestion eases, carriers seek cargo
As 2023 begins, many participants in the cargo supply chains are breathing a little easier than they were a year ago as inventory buildups have backed down, and landside congestion has eased. Barry Parker | Jan 25, 2023 A very visible indicator, the green vessel icons...
Container shipping shake-up: Maersk, MSC terminating 2M in 2025
World’s two largest shipping lines call it quits on the world’s largest alliance The global container shipping network is poised for a major shake-up. The 2M vessel-sharing alliance between MSC and Maersk — the world’s two largest ocean carriers — is being dissolved....
South Korea’s First Smart, Electric Ship Begins Service
Ulsan Taehwa is a dual-fuel, battery powered demonstration ship built by Hyundai (HHI) PUBLISHED JAN 13, 2023 6:45 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE Hyundai Heavy Industries recently commissioned South Korea’s first large next-generation electric propulsion ship which...
Offshore market dayrates hit 8-year high in 2022
Dayrates for rigs, OSVs and subsea support vessels hit their highest levels since 2014 last year, according to Clarksons. Gary Howard | Jan 13, 2023 In its review of its full-year data for 2022, Clarksons Research said its Clarksons Offshore Dayrate Index was up 32%...
Flat spot rate, high blank sailings a bad omen for container lines
While spot container freight rates have stopped plunging in recent weeks, but there is little for lines to cheer about as they blank large numbers of Asia – US West Coast services ahead on Chinese New Year. Marcus Hand | Jan 13, 2023 Analyst Drewry’s World Container...
Study: Urban Light Pollution is a Danger for Marine Ecosystems
Shanghai's harbor skyline at night PUBLISHED JAN 6, 2023 3:01 PM BY THE CONVERSATION [By Tim Smyth] Cities are artificially lit to allow humans to make use of the night. This light pollution means that stars are often barely visible in urban skies. But reduced...
First LNG-powered vessel calls at Panama port
The dual-fuelled French-flagged CMA CGM 15,000 teu-Patagonia, docked at the port facility located east of the Panama Canal Atlantic entrance, in the Bay of Manzanillo, province of Colon. Early December 2022, the vessel transited the Panama Canal for the first time as...
Drewry: Carriers Failed to Act on Capacity Losing Market Control
The container lines failed to respond quickly enough to changes in the markets as volumes plummeted in the second half of 2022 instead falling back on their old ways says Drewry in its latest Container Forecast report. The financial and consulting firm writes that...
Shipping’s Decarbonization Outlook for 2023
Will the CII succeed? Will green fuels take off? And will the IMO enact a carbon levy? This year, we may have the answers. PUBLISHED JAN 1, 2023 7:34 PM BY BRIAN GICHERU KINYUA As we begin 2023, maritime experts are looking into their crystal balls for the trends...
Houston is Proceeding with Container Dwell Fee as Volumes Remain High
Houston will start an excess dwell time fee at its container terminals starting in February 2023 (Barbours Cut Container Terminal file photo) PUBLISHED DEC 30, 2022 6:29 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE Port Houston continues to report strong increases in...
Euroseas Boxship Sold for Scrap as Environmental Regulations Loom
More containerships are expected to head for scrap as demand falls and environmental regulations loom PUBLISHED DEC 30, 2022 3:57 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE Just weeks after admitting that the age profile of its fleet that is tilted towards older vessels is...
New shipping regulation to combat global warming is under fire
Leading charterers will refuse to use new regulatory contract clause The ocean shipping industry is just days away from the debut of the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII), a new regulation meant to combat global warming. Even as an initial baby step, the CII is not...
Alarm sounded on low blank sailings for Lunar New Year
Analysts Sea-Intelligence have sounded the alarm over the low level of blank sailings scheduled by container lines for the Lunar New Year period. The Lunar New Year, which traditionally sees an extended shutdown of factory production in China, impacting container...
Will shippers hold back container cargo from contracts for lower spot rates?
The yawning gap between container shipping spot rates and contract rates leaves a question on how much volume shippers will commit to contracts when they renegotiate. Container shipping spot rates have crumbled since the start of the year and in early December...
Expectations that Pacific Container Trade Will Remain Down till Q2’23
Recent trends for softer cargo volumes at the Southern California ports continued in November. Both the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, however, believe that it is a temporary slowdown partially due to market conditions and in part operational uncertainties...
Major Chinese ports container volume up 4.7% in mid-Nov
Container volume at eight major Chinese ports increased 4.7% year-on-year in mid-November. Export container volume increased 5.2% while the domestic volume grew 3.2%. Among which, the port of Dalian posted an increasing rate of 20.8%. Export containers number...
Drewry: Less Congestion Means Less Profit for Container Terminals
The sudden fall-off in container spot rates has been well publicized, and it is likely to lead to leaner times for ocean carriers in the next few quarters. Some of the smaller start-up lines that launched during the pandemic are already finding it hard to cover the...
Expansion of Ukraine Grain Deal Unlikely in the Near Term
At the end of a four-day visit to Ukraine, Martin Griffiths, the U.N. under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief coordinator, said it was unlikely the Black Sea grain deal would be expanded in the near term to include more Ukrainian ports....
Local News
Westports’ net profit rises to RM233.07mil in 3Q24
KUALA LUMPUR: Westports Holdings Bhd has posted a higher net profit of RM233.07 million in the third quarter ended Sept 30, 2024 (3Q 2024), compared to RM195.0 million in the same quarter a year ago. Revenue for the quarter rose to RM572.57 million versus...
Electric train service that will link Johor Bahru to north Malaysia hits another roadblock
KUALA LUMPUR – The Gemas-Johor Bahru electrified double-track rail project (Gemas-JB EDTP), which is expected to halve the journey time between Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru once it links up with the already up-and-running Padang Besar-Gemas line, has missed yet...
Port of Tanjung Pelepas Recognized with Supply Chain Innovator of the Year Award
BANGKOK, Nov. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), Malaysia’s largest transshipment hub, was honored with the Supply Chain Innovator of the Year: Digital Transformation Award at the 2024 Supply Chain Asia Awards on Friday, Oct. 18. The...
PM Anwar urges logistics sector to maintain high standards of workforce skills and industry infrastructure
He pointed out the recent growth in investments in Selangor, Johor, and Kulim Hi-Tech, with more data centres and focus on AI being implemented in Malaysia. Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim has called on all parties — including the Ministry of Transport,...
Malaysia’s Budget 2025: Impact for Businesses
On October 18, Malaysia’s government introduced its 2025 national budget – the largest in its history – to bolster the economy’s competitiveness by introducing new tax incentives, slashing subsidies, and developing new economic clusters. With an unprecedented 421...
Say goodbye to traffic jams: West Coast Expressway to ease North-South Expressway congestion, elevate local growth, says transport minister
TANGKAK, Nov 2 — The West Coast Expressway (WCE) from Banting, Selangor, to Gelang Patah, Johor, will serve as an alternative route to alleviate the traffic congestion frequently faced by motorists on the North-South Expressway (NSE). Transport Minister Anthony Loke...
Port operators should view KRA land bridge as opportunity to boost competitiveness – Loke
Transport Minister, Anthony Loke, instead said that port operators need to improve operational efficiency and formulate strategies, in line with Malaysia’s investor-friendly foreign policy, to compete with projects in the neighbouring country. “This is Thailand’s...
Growth In Demand For Relocation Services In Malaysia And Singapore Amid Market Challenges
(MENAFN- market Press Release) October 25, 2024 7:59 am - As global mobility increases and companies expand operations across borders, Malaysia and Singapore have witnessed a surge in demand for professional relocation services. [Kuala Lumpur, October 25,...
Shipping capacity in Asia strong despite global shocks: UNCTAD report
Asia is still the region best-connected to global shipping networks, according to the latest Review of Maritime Transport released by UN Trade & Development (UNCTAD). Asian economies retain top spots on the global liner shipping connectivity index, with China at...
RI, Singapore, Malaysia seek ways to make maritime navigation safe
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia are continuing to strengthen cooperation to improve maritime safety in the straits of Malacca and Singapore. The cooperation has been carried out through the Tripartite Technical Experts Group (TTEG) forum,...
Singapore, Malaysia deploy aircraft to support relief operations in Philippines – Manila Standard
Military aircraft from Singapore and Malaysia arrived in the Philippines on Saturday to assist with ongoing relief operations following the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine. A C-130 cargo aircraft from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and a...
Budget 2025 roundup: 20 quick facts entrepreneurs in Malaysia need to know
Following the theme of “Ekonomi MADANI: Negara Makmur, Rakyat Sejahtera”, Budget 2025 has been tabled on October 18, 2024, by Malaysia’s Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. If you missed it, here are the must-know topics for...
New minimum wage will cause job loss says enterprise association
PETALING JAYA: The increase in the minimum wage to RM1,700 from Feb 1 next year is expected to disrupt the operations of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), according to the Small and Medium Enterprises Association of Malaysia (Samenta). Its president, Datuk Willian...
Explained: What will the expanded SST affect and when?
KUALA LUMPUR, October 18 — The federal government is expanding the scope of the Sales and Service Tax (SST) to further improve the nation's tax revenue in the Budget 2025. The expansion will be implemented starting May 1, 2025. Here are the key points from Prime...
Malaysian Checkpoints and Border Agency to take over operations of five entry points from Feb 2025
Operations will begin in phases, starting with the Rantau Panjang entry point from 1 January 2025. As part of efforts to improve border control, the Malaysian Checkpoints and Border Agency (AKPS) will assume control of the country's five entry...
Solving the Southeast Asia Logistics Puzzle
Southeast Asia is growing as a driving force in global trade. Its logistics sector has faced several stress tests in recent years. Here’s one factor that can make a difference. Southeast Asia has long been the go-to area for manufacturers seeking cost-effective...
Adopt EV and AI to enhance customer service, minister Fahmi urges delivery and logistic firms
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 — Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has called on delivery and logistics companies today to utilise technologies such as electric vehicles (EV) and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance services for customers. He said this in line with Pos...
Malaysia committed to exploring new business opportunities in Laos
VIENTIANE: Malaysia is committed to exploring new business opportunities in Laos that could benefit both countries and is looking forward to enhancing bilateral cooperation, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said. The sectors include defence, banking and...
Tengku Zafrul: Malaysia, UAE enhance trade prospects after concluding CEPA negotiations
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have successfully concluded the negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), set to eliminate or reduce tariffs, lower trade barriers, foster private-sector collaboration, and create...
Mandanas announces: Batangas is logistics hub for ASEAN
THE ASEAN-Batangas Access Zone (ABAZ) was officially turned-over Friday to the provincial government of Batangas, making the province the logistics hub for Southeast Asian countries. ASEAN consisted of Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines,...