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Global News
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...
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...
Local News
Bus and lorry companies facing shortage of drivers
PETALING JAYA: Bus and lorry services companies are grappling with a critical shortage of drivers, threatening their viability and sustainability, said Pan Malaysia Bus Operators Association president Datuk Mohamad Ashfar Ali. He said the affected sector, which...
Unlocking Malaysia’s e-commerce growth: The role of logistics
Today, Malaysia sits at the heart of this transformation, uniquely positioned to harness the e-commerce boom sweeping across the region. Yet, to fully capitalise on its potential and not lose ground to its neighbours, Malaysia must confront key challenges, including...
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 27 (Bernama) — The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a warning for strong winds and rough seas across the country’s waters, effective from Sunday (Dec 29) to Tuesday (Dec 31).
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 27 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a warning for strong winds and rough seas across the country’s waters, effective from Sunday (Dec 29) to Tuesday (Dec 31). In a statement on Friday (Dec 27) afternoon,...
Decarbonizing ports: A path to sustainability
In continuation of my previous column, this week I turn my focus the the pressing issue of carbon emissions — a cornerstone of sustainability efforts. Ports, as pivotal nodes in global trade and hubs of economic and logistical activity, are significant contributors to...
Getting on board the freight train for safer roads
KUALA LUMPUR: After yet another major fatal accident on the highway involving heavy vehicles, an association of retired policemen has suggested using trains more to transport goods. Retired Senior Police Officers Association (Respa) president Datuk Meor Chek Hussien...
Malaysia urged to adopt ready-to-go flood response
THE government has been urged to adopt a full “ready-to-go” strategy to ensure emergency aid can be delivered swiftly and efficiently during the monsoon season. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Disaster Preparedness and Prevention Centre full member Dr A. Kogila...
10 trends set to shape APAC supply chain and logistics
As we approach 2025, it is clear that supply chains and logistics will continue to be disrupted and shaped by many factors keeping the industry on its toes in 2024. Among them, technology is increasingly taking centre stage. Geopolitical tensions are continuing to...
2024 in review: Seven taxes and e-invoicing to boost Malaysia’s revenue
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 11 — The government will continue efforts to narrow its fiscal deficit to 4.3 per cent in 2024 and 3.8 per cent in 2025, down from five per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023. Simultaneously, it will advance fiscal reforms to strengthen...
Shipping poised to play a vital role in APAC cross-border CCUS initiatives
Singapore, 10 December 2024 - A joint study by the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) has identified shipping to play a key role in enabling CCUS initiatives, particularly when there is a large...
Premier: Private sector sets sights on Tg Embang deep sea port, KIA projects
KUCHING (Dec 3): The private sector has shown significant interest in Sarawak’s two major projects, the Tanjung Embang Deep Sea Port and the new Kuching International Airport (KIA), said Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. This was highlighted in...
Northport handles 3.32 million TEUs in November
Northport carried 3.32 million TEUs of containers as of 27 November 2024. On 28 November 2024, the firm also exceeded its traditional cargo record by handling 11.43 million FWTs, surpassing the previous yearly record of 11.40 million FWTs set in 2023. Dato’ Azman Shah...
Pahang aims to be East Coast EV production hub
Following further news on Malaysia’s aim to become an ASEAN EV hub, and Selangor, Johor and Negeri Sembilan ramping up on EV charging infrastructure, Pahang has chimed in, with state investment, industry, science, technology and...
Four factories in Johor linked to fatal blaze lacked safety compliance, say fire officials
JOHOR BARU, Dec 6 — A lack of adherence to operational requirements and faulty fire prevention systems were identified as key causes of a deadly fire at four factories in the Southern Industrial Logistics Clusters (SILC) in Gelang Patah, last October. Utusan...
Singapore spillover of data centres benefits Malaysia’s Johor
Businesses in Johor are reporting a boom driven by new data centres pivoting from being based in Singapore, industry insiders say, as Kuala Lumpur looks to banish long delays in developing the Malaysian border territory. Johor ranked 2024’s fastest-growing data...
Transport Ministry forms committee to review maritime law, port Acts
KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry has formed the Malaysia Maritime Law Revision Committee (MLRC) to review and update the Merchant Shipping Ordinance (MSO) 1952 and the respective Port Acts to ensure they remain relevant and effective in the face of evolving...
Johor’s Forest City SFZ to focus on banking, logistics for economic growth, says MB
ISKANDAR PUTERI, Nov 27 –– The Forest City Special Financial Zone (SFZ) has identified two main sectors as its main focus areas, said Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi. He said services for the first sector will be provided on Pulau Satu, while services for...
Malaysia’s logistics sector just got safer with the launch of Volvo’s new trucks, here’s how
Trucks get a bad rap for being intimidating road companions, but looks like Volvo is trying to flip that narrative with its safety technologies. Not only that, but Volvo Malaysia Sdn Bhd’s (Volvo Trucks) latest range of heavy-duty trucks are also...
Malaysia-India ties strengthened through Anwar’s visit – Indian Ministry of External Affairs
NEW DELHI: The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has described the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s recent official visit to India, as marking a significant milestone in strengthening the partnership between the two nations. Its official spokesperson...
Transportation sector key driver of job creation and ASEAN growth, says DPM Fadillah
KUALA LUMPUR: The transportation sector has emerged as a key driver of job creation and economic growth within the ASEAN region, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. Speaking at the 30th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting here today, he said that...
Malaysia: Selangor Powers Data and Logistics Growth
Selangor is intensifying its focus on infrastructure development to bolster key industries such as data centres and logistics, aligning with its commitment to driving investment and economic growth. Addressing industry-specific needs, the state government aims to...