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Asia’s Largest Offshore Wind Farm Commissioned by Ørsted in Taiwan
Ørsted along with officials of the government of Taiwan gathered today to celebrate the commission of the first sections of the Greater Changhau offshore wind farms. In addition to being the largest of its kind in Asia, the wind farm doubled Taiwan’s offshore wind...
Nigeria’s Calabar Port Hasn’t Received a Large Container Ship in 25 Years
With Nigeria considered Africa’s largest economy, it goes without saying that its maritime sector has to play a substantial role in facilitating the country’s trade. Unfortunately, Nigeria’s maritime sector - especially the public-owned port system - continues to reel...
Shipping Trade Groups Call on UN to Protect Seafarers
Sixteen commercial maritime industry associations joined together in a letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres calling for action while saying the current situation where merchant ships and their crews are being targeted is “intolerable”...
New York Ends Third Wind Round Without Awards Due to Material Modifications
In the latest setback to U.S. plans to accelerate renewable energy development, New York State regulators today reported they closed the third round of offshore wind solicitation with no final awards. Last fall, New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul had hailed the round as...
Danish Ferry Forced to Maneuver to Avoid Russian Warship
Danish media is widely reporting an incident this morning that involved a high-speed passenger ferry that was forced to maneuver when a Russian warship failed to yield or acknowledge the ferry which was underway at full speed. Shipping operator Molslinjen is...
Japan Plans Next Generation Containership for Zero Emissions and Efficiency
A Japanese consortium made up of coastal shipping company Imoto Lines and marine software company Marindows is launching a government-backed effort to develop a next-generation containership. Plans call not only for the vessel to address decarbonization with the...
Is China Ready to Put Solar Panels Out at Sea?
China is increasingly seeking to put solar panels on the seas off its coastline, with some state-run companies experimenting as far offshore as 30 kilometers. A global leader in renewable energy, China has already been looking to the ocean to meet its future power via...
Vessel Condition, Human Error Blamed for Loss of Thai Navy Frigate
The Royal Thai Navy has completed its investigation into the sinking of the frigate Sukhothai in 2022, blaming a combination of bad weather, vessel condition and human error for the casualty. On the night of December 18, 2022, the 36-year-old frigate Sukhothai...
Cruise ships sailing into the port of Seattle for the 2024 season will plug in to shore power at the Bell Street Pier Cruise Terminal at Pier 66.
After a $44 million investment in shore power infrastructure and equipment, all three cruise berths at Pier 66 are now electric. In effect, this advances plans by the facility to become the greenest port in North America with the 2024 Cruise Season seeing more vessels...
DP World Sets Up Latin America’s First E-Truck Charging Station
DP World’s terminal at the Port of Callao, Peru has begun using the first electric charging station for trucks in Latin America. The new infrastructure is part of the port operator’s decarbonization plans at Callao, with an aim of reducing over 2000 tons of carbon...
Repurposing Harmful Fisheries Subsidies Could Reduce Poverty
Each year, governments around the world give billions of dollars to their fishing sectors. These public funds – around $35.4 billion annually, according to 2018 estimates – pay for everything from building ports to research and development. Some subsidies...
East Coast’s Biggest Crane Barge Hoists Giant Piece of Baltimore Bridge
For the first time, contractors for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have brought in the East Coast's biggest crane barge to remove a section of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. The large section of the main span was located in the federal navigation channel, and...
Red Sea crisis has negative impact on gas ship CII ratings
The firm’s statistics recorded 64 LNG carriers navigating through the Gulf of Aden and Suez Canal during January and February 2023. In the same period this year, the number had fallen to just seven. In the reverse direction, 59 vessels took the Suez/Gulf of...
X-Press Feeders signs green shipping corridor MoU with major European ports
Belgium’s Port of Antwerp Bruges, Estonia’s Port of Tallinn, Finland’s Ports of Helsinki and HaminaKotka, Latvia’s Freeport of Riga and Lithaunia’s Klaipeda Port all signed the agreement with the carrier. Collaboration under the agreement begins with the establishment...
End-April target to reopen Port of Baltimore to smaller container ships
The Port of Baltimore could re-open to container ships of up 4,500 teu by end April as work continues to clear the wreckage of the Key Bridge after it was struck by the vessel Dali. Barry Parker | Apr 08, 2024 The US Army Corp of Engineers (USACE), the agency...
Global names back association to promote nuclear power in shipping
NEMO will be headquartered in London and will officially start activities in the second quarter of 2024. The association aims to assist nuclear and maritime regulators in the development of appropriate standards and rules for the deployment, operation, and...
Tangshan port adds two large bulker berths
The northern Chinese port of Tangshan in Hebei province is planning to build a 300,000 tonnes-class bulk cargo berth and a 300,000 tonnes-class ore berth. These two new berths will bring 25.6 million tons annual cargo handling capacity to the port having a...
T&E survey shows lines profiteering over EU ETS charges
A study by the Brussels-based Transport & Environment group analysed 565 journeys taken by 20 vessels to and from Europe operated by four of the world’s largest carriers, Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, MSC and CMA CGM, and found that the lines were over-charging in more...
Wartsila says fuel price parity possible by 2035
In its report – ‘Sustainable fuels for shipping by 2050 – the 3 key elements of success’ – the Helsinki-based company declared that decisive emissions policies such as the inclusion of shipping in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) from January this year, and...
OceanScore boss warns of ETS compliance issues
Grell cites demarcation of responsibility between owners, managers, and charterers, the buying and selling of EU Allowances (EUAs), charter party terms, and data management, as some of the issues that have not yet been properly addressed by many shipping firms. ...
Ports of Southampton and Singapore explore green partnership
The two ports discussed various areas of potential cooperation regarding sustainable maritime transport during the UK-Singapore Green Economy Framework (UKSGEF). The meeting was seen as paving the way for further discussions on green and digital shipping cooperation...
Documentation delays push industry costs to $3bn
However, some shippers and forwarders believe an electronic payment system favours the shipping lines, who can use the system to make late payment charges, adding another minor revenue stream to their income. Container Trade Statistics calculates that around 173m...
The ‘vastly different’ time horizons of shipping bosses and investors
Did container liner execs recklessly binge on newbuilding orders, needlessly sabotaging their own bottom lines (and stocks) for years to come? Are some public tanker companies shortchanging their own shareholders by not returning enough capital via dividends and...
Taiwan International Port upgrading terminal facility at Kaohsiung
TIPC is to invest NT$4.47 billion ($139.8 million) to upgrade infrastructure at the third and fifth container terminals of Kaohsiung port which will significantly increase the terminals handling capacity and operational efficiencies. Draught will be deepened and...
Decarbonisation set to boost Middle East oil producers and VLCCs
The analysis will please the small group of VLCC owners who have embarked on something of a VLCC spending spree in recent weeks. Through the course of 2023, VLCCs on order had fallen to a long-time low. The few contracts that were placed were at significantly higher...
Port of Los Angeles container volumes up 60% in Feb
The Port of Los Angeles handled 781,434 teu in February this year compared to 487,846 teu in February 2023. “Market confidence in our gateway is as strong as it’s ever been,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka at a media briefing. “We’ve...
Wartsila says fuel price parity possible by 2035
In its report – ‘Sustainable fuels for shipping by 2050 – the 3 key elements of success’ – the Helsinki-based company declared that decisive emissions policies such as the inclusion of shipping in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) from January this year, and...
Saudi launches port community system
The President of the General Ports Authority, Omar bin Talal Hariri, explained that the launch of the PCS is part of MAWANI’s effort to channel technology to serve the maritime transport system, raise the efficiency of the operational performance of the Saudi...
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...
DP World launches global freight forwarding network
DP World said that with businesses seeking increased control over their supply chains, its expansion comes at a pivotal time for the global logistics and supply chain industry. By expanding its freight forwarding offering, with a focus on air and ocean freight. DP...
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...
Local News
Northport breaks container, conventional cargo handling records in July 2024
KUALA LUMPUR: Northport (M) Bhd has achieved unprecedented success by breaking monthly records in both its container and conventional cargo business segments in July 2024. Northport handled its highest-ever monthly container throughput of 354,548 twenty-foot...
More locals needed to fill up sea freight jobs, says federal deputy minister
MIRI (Aug 8): There is a crucial need for the locals to be trained and hired as maritime professionals, said federal Transport deputy minister Datuk Hasbi Habibolah. This, he pointed out, is to meet the demand of the shipping industry and to fill in the shortage of...
Malaysia’s first hydrogen filling station to be operational early 2025
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is setting up mobile hydrogen filling stations, with work to begin at the end of this year and the first one operational by early 2025, said Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Chang Lih Kang. “We are going to set up a mobile...
Malaysian firms could be transformed by AI: Lenovo exec
Malaysia is poised to reap benefits from generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the coming years, but the largest gains are expected in the local manufacturing sector. According to Lenovo (NASDAQ: LNVGY) Malaysia General Manager Varinderjit Singh, the Southeast...
Tengku Zafrul: Global players like Tesla needed for the development of Malaysia’s EV ecosystem
KUALA LUMPUR: The development of Malaysia’s electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem requires the participation of global EV players such as Tesla, according to Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. He said his ministry (MITI) has a...
PTP hits another throughput record in handling 1.11 mln TEUs in July
JOHOR BAHRU: Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP), a joint venture between MMC Group and Netherlands-based APM Terminals, has set a new throughput record by handling 1.11 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in a single month without experiencing any congestion in...
Palm oil drops on strong ringgit, posts second monthly fall
JAKARTA: Malaysian palm oil futures fell and posted a second straight monthly drop on Wednesday despite strong July export as a stronger ringgit weighed down the price. The benchmark palm oil contract for October delivery on the Bursa Malaysia Derivatives Exchange...
JB is rapidly growing with a massive ambition; here’s why lingering traffic woes may hinder that
JOHOR BARU, Aug 3 — Several experts have warned that the worsening traffic conditions in Johor Baru is set to stunt the state capital’s growth and quality of life, if it continues to be unaddressed. Speaking to Malay Mail, the traffic woes may even impact future...
S’pore residents can clear T3 immigration by using facial & iris biometrics without passport from Aug. 2024
Singapore residents will be able to clear immigration at selected automated lanes at Changi Airport Terminal 3 from Aug. 5, 2024 by using their facial and iris biometrics without presenting their passports. This is part of a trial for the new passport-less clearance...
Marine DG charged with deceiving predecessor with fake letter
SHAH ALAM: A top tier civil servant was charged at the Sessions Court here Thursday (Aug 1) for deceiving his then superior into issuing some documentation four years ago. Current Marine Department director-general Capt Mohamad Halim Ahmed was accused of tricking his...
Shipping association says may face worker shortage after Immigration Dept halts issuing guarantee letters for foreigners
KUCHING (July 25): The Sarawak Shipping Association (SSA) claims local shippers may face a workforce shortage after the Sarawak Immigration Department stopped issuing letters of guarantee (LG) for recruiting foreign seafarers to serve tug and barge (T&B) operators...
India’s quest to become leading maritime shipping hub
Maritime transport serves as the bedrock of international trade and, by extension, the global economy. As per the International Chamber of Shipping, the international shipping industry is accountable for transporting approximately 90 per cent of global trade....
Singapore, Hafnia to transfer oil cargo from fire-hit tanker
Shipowner Hafnia, operator of the Hafnia Nile oil tanker, is in discussion with Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) about transferring the damaged ship’s cargo of naphtha to a safe location, the MPA said on Wednesday. The Singapore-flagged Hafnia Nile and...
Industry experts urge Malaysia to reduce foreign vessel reliance with new shipping policy
KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 — Malaysia’s new national shipping policy must not only encourage the development of a robust domestic fleet to reduce dependency on foreign vessels but also provide more funding to modernise and accelerate the transition to green shipping. They...
Cargo vessel congestion at port eases: Phoong
KOTA KINABALU: Cargo vessel congestion at the port has here been eased with the Roll on Roll Off (RORO) ships operations relocated from Sepanggar Port.State Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe said this immediate short-term...
Johor MB urges public to assist in locating missing 6-year-old girl
KUALA LUMPUR: Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has urged the public to assist the police to locate the six-year-old girl who has been reported missing since Saturday in Taman Botani. In a posting via Facebook, he also urged those with information on the girl...
Malaysia coast guard detains oil tanker involved in collision off Singapore
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s coast guard said on July 21 that it had located and intercepted a large oil tanker that was involved in a fiery collision with another vessel on July 19, about 55km north-east of the Singapore island of Pedra Branca. The coast guard...
Sabah Ports holds industry dialogue to address congestion
KOTA KINABALU (July 17): Sabah Ports Sdn Bhd (SPSB) affirmed its commitment to improve productivity, particularly container handling rate and will reestablish its window berthing system to better manage vessel arrivals. SPSB will further implement effective planning...
Malaysia’s top F&B event highlights food tech trends and sustainability
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian International Food and Beverage Trade Fair (MIFB) 2024 kicks off on Wednesday, marking the start of a transformative three-day event set to redefine the future of the food and beverage industry. This year’s theme, “Elevating the F&B...
Private-sector needs to shape policies on Johor-S’pore SEZ as talks continue, say panellists
SINGAPORE - A deal between Singapore and Malaysia to develop South-east Asia’s first cross-border economic zone in Johor will be shaped by private-sector needs from both sides of the Causeway, trade officials and businesses said at a July 11 forum. This will increase...