South Korea shipbuilders mull over joint bid for France's GTT The battle between South Korea and China to own Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT), a firm that develops systems for storing liquefied natural gas (LNG) on ships, could ultimately be one of survival for Korean shipbuilders after the country lost most of its market share in the building of standard ships to China.
Container ship capacity may rise 8.3% this year The global fleet of container ships may increase 8.3 per cent in 2012, the most in two years, prolonging an oversupply of vessels on all major trade lanes that could undermine efforts to raise rates, Alphaliner says.
Baltic index hits 5-month low The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, which tracks rates to ship dry commodities, fell to its lowest in five months as a growing slowdown in cargo bookings hurt sentiment.
Fret SNCF to continue single wagon load services Fret SNCF, the railfreight division of SNCF Geodis, remains on course with its multi-lots multi-clients single wagon load service (MLMC) in France, which it launched in 2010, and w...
Direct Rail Services orders 15 locomotives in the UK Freight operator Direct Rail Services has ordered 15 new Vossloh Euro Light UK mixed traffic diesel-electric locomotives. They are scheduled to be delivered in 2013 and will be fit...
German railway crossings cannot handle gigaliners Gigaliners, which are currently being tested in seven German states, are due to hit Germany's roads this spring, but the Allianz pro Schiene (pro-rail alliance) has warned that the...
Bouché & Partner rejuvenates fleet in Mannheim The German company Bouché & Partner is banking on its Mannheim location and investing in nine new trucks and trailers for the hub. The centre's own fleet has thus been younger ...
Universal Express names new Brussels airport branch manager On 1 January former sales manager Luc Del'Haye took over the management of Universal Express's Zaventem branch from Jean-Marc Lambrechts, who has left the industry. Del'Haye is sup...
Finnair cargo volumes increase in 2011 Finnair's latest figures show that the airline's available tonne kilometres grew by 35%, and its revenue tonne kilometres by 20%, in 2011 in comparison with 2010. The amount of car...
AF-KLM Cargo and Martinair introduce e-booking tool It is now easier to book specialised shipments in Air France-KLM Cargo and Martinair Cargo's network through a new e-booking tool. The product selector, an innovation on cargo port...
EU orders Hungary to recover state aid from Malev The European Commission has found that financial support granted to the Hungarian flag carrier Malev between 2007 and 2010 in the context of its privatisation and renationalisation...
Safmarine launches e-shipping application The release of a new Safmarine shipping application for all mobile devices using the Android operating system will allow Safmarine customers to access and download essential shippi...
Port of Auckland loosing clients on account of strikes Ports of Auckland has confirmed that New Zealand's largest exporter Fonterra has decided to transfer export activities from Auckland to other ports from the end of January, on acco...
New Dachser hazardous goods warehouse in Romania Logistics service provider Dachser has started operations in a new 6,500 sqm hazardous goods warehouse with 11,500 pallet slots near Bucharest. The EUR 10 million facility is the o...
Swiss Post takes over all of the Direct Mail Company The Swiss post office has taken over 100% of the Direct Mail Company and of Direct Mail Logistik, thus significantly strengthening its direct marketing position. The entities, in b...
Lines to re-route ships as industrial strife shuts Nigerian ports Country poised for fourth day of strikes
All change in Dealogic lender league RBS share slumps to just 1.1%
Is there new money behind the headline figures? Dealogic's reported 26% lending rise masks shortage of new money for syndicated loans
India seeks new crude oil suppliers Move away from Iranian supplies could create greater tonne-miles
Hong Kong needs more government support City is so naturally good at being a maritime centre, its leaders tend to focus support elsewhere
Gulf Marine VLCC may not be sold but is under negotiations, say brokers Elektra Glory rumoured to be sold to South Korea's Sinokor but nothing is yet confirmed
US natural gas consumption to rise Forecast of 2% growth comes amid concerns that exports will drive up prices paid by US consumers
Seanergy cuts book values for six bulkers Impairment aims to boost balance sheet and improve future profits
Shipping minister to chair Dover privatisation meeting Private talks at House of Commons will bring together trust port's senior managers and their severest critics
Lloyd Fonds finance chief quits Departure said to be by mutual consent after differences of opinion about strategy
In praise of golden oldies Well-maintained old-timers challenge the modern craze for scrapping
Owners cave in to pressure to agree longer box-charter deals Contracts of more than three months are becoming common
China import slowdown spurs early credit easing A sharp fall in import growth signals drop in domestic consumption
Fewer shipping banks to seek new business, says Nordea Ronny Bjørnådal predicts emphasis on LNG and offshore in 2012
China seeks stronger oil ties with Saudi Arabia Oil refinery deal and high-level diplomatic visit show China's concern over Middle East oil supplies
VLCC earnings to stay below $20,000 per day for the next 12-18 months More owners will pool vessels to boost revenues, predicts Dahlman Rose
Brazil soyabean boom boosts end-2011 dry-bulk earnings Record exports in December follow crop failure in the US
Omega Navigation heads for mediation Judge extends cash collateral authorisation through to April 16
Aon Benfield loses marine reinsurance specialist to Cooper Gay John Sullivan moves over after 37 years
Odfjell signs deal to build Chinese chemicals terminal Joint venture with Nangang Port to develop a terminal and marine facility for bulk liquid chemicals, petroleum products and gases
SinOceanic seeks bank loans to finance newbuildings Three 13,100 teu container vessels being delivered this year at a purchase price of around $155m per vessel
Chinese box ports post record throughput Global economic slump leaves Shanghai and Dalian untouched
New doors opening for shipping risk As syndicated lenders edge forward an opportunity is emerging to fill the funding gap
Sinopec Kantons buys 50% of Fujairah storage project Lands first regional bunkers sale with BP deal
Pirates take Iranian tanker A MARITIME security alert was issued today for the Gulf of Aden after pirates hijacked an Iranian chemical tanker carrying 30,000 tonnes of caustic soda
Seanergy severely impaired RESTIS-controlled Seanergy today revealed a $201.9M non-cash impairment loss as it wrote down the value of its drybulk fleet
US crude output to jump US CRUDE production will continue its resurgence this year, while its LNG imports will plunge, according to the EIA
US box tax attacked SEATTLE'S port boss has urged the US to change a law that he said favours Canadian ports for box imports bound for the US
India seeks Oil Plan B DELHI has advised Indian refiners to look for alternates to Iran for crude supplies
Cyprus finds munitions CYPRUS has found 35-60 tonnes of munitions being transported by general cargo ship to Syria
Drybulk snarls easing DRYBULK port congestion is easing, as coal and iron ore fixtures felt pressure amid cooling Chinese imports
Poten plays down sanctions impact on Iran A TANKER consultancy has played down the impact that US and European sanctions would have on Iran's exports
Nigerian ports threatened SHIPMENTS from Nigeria are at a "standstill", AP Møller-Maersk said today as the country began its third day of a general strike
Politicians, up your game SHIPPING markets will recover this year only if strong political leadership helps consumers regain confidence, BIMCO said today
KSS Line signs deal SOUTH KOREAN chemical and LPG shipping specialist KSS Line said it has sealed a one-year CoF to transport monochloroethylene for compatriot electronics maker LG International Japan
VLCC, Suezmax fixtures rose in 2011 THE NUMBER of VLCC and Suezmax fixtures increased last year from 2010 totals, but the reverse was the case in smaller ship sizes, a tanker broker reported
US warned on dredging DREDGING funding cuts could result in $7.2Bn in losses to the US economy, a report from a lobbying group warned today
Wan Hai's shares drop TAIWANESE intra-Asia carrier Wan Hai's shares closed lower today after Moody's graded its Ba3 rating down from stable to negative
STX OSV feels squeeze DEMAND for offshore support vessels remains high, yet a financing crunch in Europe has hindered order flows for Singapore-listed Norwegian shipbuilder STX OSV
Horizon Converts $49.7 Million of Debt to Equity Horizon Lines, the largest U.S.-flag domestic ocean carrier, has converted $49.7 million of debt to equity under terms of a...
'Pipeline by Rail' Planned in Colorado Musket Corp. plans to open a crude-oil export terminal at Windsor, Colo., for unit train shipments using a newly constructed...
DOT Freight Index Rose 0.1 Percent in November The amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry rose 0.1 percent in November from October, the Transportation Department...
BA-Iberia Cargo Traffic Soars 11.5 Percent IAG, the merged British Airways-Iberia carrier, saw cargo traffic in December expand 11.5 percent year-over-year, helping to drive 2011 traffic...
Ceridian-UCLA Trucking Index Rises 0.2 Percent The fuel-based Ceridian-UCLA Pulse of Commerce Index rose for the third straight month in December, climbing 0.2 percent following a...
Shippers' Plant Expansions to Push Up NS Carloads Norfolk Southern Railway is positioned to gain more than 150,000 carloads of annual business from nearly $9.5 billion in facility...
Q&A: A Preview of TPM Long Beach 2012 Peter Tirschwell, senior vice president of strategy for UBM Global Trade, the parent company of JOC, gives a preview of...
Lufthansa Cargo Traffic Rose 1.6 Percent Last Month Lufthansa Cargo boosted traffic by a modest 1.6 percent in December from a year ago, but this was sufficient to...
Trans-Pacific Spot Rates Hold Firm Average trans-Pacific spot rates held firm after a one-week jump spurred by carriers' rate increases at the beginning of the...
Authorities Rescue 20 Sailors From Hijacked Vessel The Indian Shipping Ministry said international naval forces rescued 20 Indian sailors after pirates hijacked their Norwegian-flag bulk carrier off...
DP World (Belgium) improves inland connections DP World has started operating Beverdonk Container Terminal just outside of Antwerp. The barge 'transferium' is located approximately 30km outside the port, in ...
Shanghai keeps top spot for 2011 According to preliminary figures, Shanghai port comfortably retained its position as the number one container hub in the world during 2011 with pro-forma volumes ...
MSC to grow UK rail traffic with Freightliner MSC has renewed its rail contract with Freightliner in the UK, and looks set to increase its market share significantly. Commenting on just the basic terms of the ...
Nigeria is on the brink With Nigeria's national strike now in its third day, concerns are growing about the lawlessness that now prevails and the deeper divisions that are manifesting ...
Strong end-year growth in laid-up boxfleet Unsurprisingly the number of mothballed containerships has spiked in recent weeks as winter season capacity reductions and culled services increased the idled pool ...
Moody's slashes Wan Hai's outlook to negative Taiwan ocean carrier Wan Hai has had its credit outlook downgraded from stable to negative by Moody's Investors Service due to depressed freight rates, high bunker ...
CSA announces 2012 rate restoration regime The members of the Caribbean Shipowners' Association (CSA) have announced their rate restoration programme for the coming year. The objective of the plan is to ...
India moves to partially open up retail sector India's 1.2 billion consumer market will have the opportunity to buy a coffee at Starbucks or a wardrobe at Ikea in a relaxation of legislation announced ...
Daly appointed as Safmarine's new ceo It perhaps comes as no surprise that Safmarine's new ceo is its current head of the multipurpose vessel division, Grant Daly. He has been with the carrier for 17 ...
Zim Line also targets rate increase from Indian sub-continent to Europe Zim Line has joined the list of ocean carriers seeking to increase freight rates from the Indian sub-continent to Europe. With effect from February 1, it will target ...
Asset values: It could be worse Vessel values in the shipping arena may be in flux but remain well above lows seen by owners of specialised municipal tonnage.
ADM wields efficiency axe NYSE-listed parent of US bulker owner poised to shed 1,000 salaried workers as it wages war on costs amid market mayhem.
Warburg to shed EMGS stake Electromagnetic Geoservices at risk of losing support of key shareholder as Warburg Pincus markets major stake.
Iran in piracy puzzler Security alerts and reports out of Tehran fuel speculation surrounding alleged attack on Iranian chemical carrier.
SinOceanic ices fundraisers Norwegian containership owner turns to banks and HNA-backed shareholder for cash to finance balance of $465m acquisition.
Odfjell's China hattrick Bergen-based chemical tanker owner to develop third terminal in China.
Dahlman's new tanker hope Corrective action by owners will start to cleanse oversupplied market in 2012, investment bank says.
Sri Lanka link returns? Ceylon Shipping Corp in talks to re-start Indian ferry route after Scotia Prince detained.
Impairments unhinge SHIP Restis-backed bulker clan takes $200m hit as plummeting asset values overshadow recent rescue package.
Philippines ferry grounds Besta Shipping's Baleno 5 stuck off Calapan after drifting in strong current.
Almi looks for VLCC escape Greek owner plans to clear the way for entry into booming LNG sector by reworking DSME orderbook, says Costas Fostiropoulos.
STX OSV boosted by Barents Singapore-listed shipbuilder primed to profit from game changing Norwegian discovery.
Hunter sells out of Baltic New York-based hedge fund bins its stake in Peter Georgiopoulos-led bulker owner at almost one third of its IPO price.
Coast Guard warns of safety risk during fuel transfer Russian tanker Renda on its way to remote Alaskan community.
Oil lowers after fuel inventories rise Crude inventories increased five times more than analysts expected.
Bunker prices approaching all-time highs Prices at levels not seen since 2008 and just $20 to $40 shy of record.
Hong Kong inaction on emissions has been 'stunning' 'Pollution killing Hong Kong residents is home-grown from trucks, buses, and ships using filthy bunker fuel.'
Bunker prices firm in Fujairah Prices climb in quiet market.
European markets see bunker prices climb Weak demand in Hamburg.
Petition says cruise lines should stop burning HFO European campaign has gathered nearly 50,000 signatures asking cruise ships to 'stop spewing filth' into the oceans.
Windy month ups DFDS fuel consumption Company says December average fuel consumption was around 10% higher than in November across the fleet.
Bank takes 'optimistic' view of demand for shipping Liner rates would be 'beautiful' if liner companies had laid off 5%-7% of their capacity.
Analysts gloomy on dry bulk sector outlook Rates could collapse due to fleet growth, while 'only the strongest' box ship operators will make profit in 2012.
Oil giant's new trading arm begins operations Aramco Trading will handle sale and purchase of fuel oil and other residual products.
IFO prices continue to rise in major Asian ports Demand for bunker fuels below average at key Asian ports on Wednesday.
MEP: European Commission to get involved in Petroplus dilemma British trade union representatives to meet manager of Petroplus Coryton refinery.
IFO avails at Far East Russian ports still 'tight' IFO180 supplies currently very limited while MGO is tight, say local traders.
Moody's lowers Wan Hai ratings to 'negative' Depressed freight rates and high bunker costs will continue to weigh on the Taiwanese shipping firm, says Moody's.
Emerson updates flowmeter configuration and diagnostics tool Tool can simultaneously connect to multiple devices.
Extent of fresh oil leak is 'minimal' Rena leak comes from 'tens of tonnes' of oil left on board the vessel, says Maritime New Zealand.
Istanbul to get tough on 'highly pollutant fuels' As maritime traffic increases, Istanbul Development Agency (ISTKA) passes regulation that would enable authorities to measure ship emissions.
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