Nor-Shipping 2013: A tangle of politics and small print Moves to agree international environmental regulations are proving to be a minefield
Not waving but drowning Green rules and regulations threaten shipowners with a tsunami of new costs
Friction-stir welding could revolutionise vessel construction New technology could weld different steel grades together effortlessly and improve accuracy, quality and automation
MOL sells three more VLCCs Secondhand tankers change hands at low prices
Box rate blame game Customers and carriers are responsible for roller coaster pricing in the container trades
Sliding Indian rupee ends bull run for south Asia demolition Scrap prices soften as summer monsoon season looms
Atlantic VLGC shortage spurs market spike Carriers ballast from Middle East to meet rising LPG volumes out of Houston
Maersk, CMA CGM and MSC are best positioned for transpacific rates war Larger vessel sizes yield economies of scale, says Drewry
Maersk joins aggressive Asia-Europe rate-recovery fight Danish line follows others seeking an increase of around $1,000 per teu
SCI fails to return to profit despite stronger container performance Indian carrier could lose its status after poor bulk performance
Analysis: Why it pays to know your NOx from your SOx Some eco-systems are tried and tested, others are new and unproven
Nor-Shipping 2013: Fortune favours the fence-sitter Will owners who hold out have the last laugh when it comes to fitting eco technology?
Storms, fog and silver linings Changing environmental regulations raise questions and confuse owners
Nor-Shipping 2013: Outlook, changeable But come rain or shine, the Nor-Shipping party will continue
Nor-Shipping 2013: Norway to fuel debate on unmanned ships A key project on automation has attracted support despite shipping's reluctance to adopt new ideas
MSC drives post-Panamax fixing spree MSC, the world's second-largest box line, has swept the spot market for very large container charter vessels by taking on five 7,500teu ships
Breaking prices weaken BREAKING prices are weakening as the monsoon season gets under way in southern Asia, while China's steel market remains soft
SinOceanic makes two financial moves NORWAY'S SinOceanic Shipping said it has entered in a sale and leaseback deal with Grand Indus Shipping of Hong Kong
MOL offloads 3 VLCCs MITSUI OSK Lines has sold three VLCCs in its continuing push to work towards restoring profitability by offloading tonnage
Safe Bulkers selling perpetual preferred NYSE-listed Safe Bulkers today confirmed plans for an offering of perpetual preferred shares, as the popularity of this 'hybrid' security continues to grow
Bharati's losses widen BHARTI Shipyard has reported 1.19Bn ($21.7M) in 1Q13 net losses, more than three times the 365M rupees lost over January-March 2012
UK cocaine cargo seized COCAINE and cannabis worth about £2M ($3.04M) on British streets have been seized at Immingham's port, according to the UK Border Force
Infusion urged for STX O&S KOREA Development Bank officials told Fairplay a cash infusion is needed to ease the debt repayment squeeze at STX Offshore & Shipbuilding, which also told the Korea Exchange today it is still reviewing the sale of STX France and STX Finland
Changhang Phoenix delays charter hires SHENZHEN-listed Changhang Phoenix said it has delayed charter hire payments for four chartered-in bulkers due to stressed finance
Iran's LPG heads east IRANIAN LPG is heading to China and South Korea, according to vessel-tracking data
Seoul's nuclear crunch to boost LNG SOUTH Korea seems likely to need more spot LNG imports because it has suspended 10 of its 23 nuclear reactors, DNB Markets has warned
Wilhelmsen issues 700M kroner in senior bonds NORWAY's Wilh Wilhelmsen said it has completed the issuance of 700M kroner ($120M) in five-year senior unsecured bonds, with maturity in June 2018
G6's Med withdrawal raises rates THE G6 Alliance's decision to withdraw some capacity from Asia/Mediterranean routes has raised rates on the lane, bucking the down trend for other long-haul rates
US Customs Opens Final Three Centers to Expedite Imports U.S. Customs and Border Protection has opened its final three Centers of Excellence and Expertise in Miami, San Francisco and Atlanta. The Miami center specializes in agriculture and prepared products expertise; the San Francisco facility provides experts on apparel, footwear and textiles; and the Atlanta center concentrates on consumer products and...
HSBC China PMI Hit 49.2 in May, Worst Since October China's factory activity deteriorated for the first time in seven months in May as both domestic and external demand softened, a private survey showed, adding to concerns that the world's second-largest economy is losing momentum. The HSBC Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for May slipped to 49.2, the lowest level since October...
Hapag-Lloyd Schedules Asia-North America Rate Hike for July 1 Hapag-Lloyd will increase rates for dry, refrigerated, flat rack and open top containers on its trade from the Indian subcontinent to the U.S. and Canada, effective July 1. The hike will be $320 per 20-foot container, $400 per 40-foot container, $450 per 40-foot high-cube container and $506 per 45-foot container. Trans-Pacific rates...
Crowley Launches Puerto Rico-Central America Service Crowley Maritime's Caribbean logistics group is now offering weekly less-than-containerload services to and from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and several Central American countries. The new service, which uses Crowley vessels, moves freight from San Juan on Fridays to San Jose, Costa Rica; San Salvador, El Salvador; Guatemala City, Guatemala; San Pedro Sula...
OOCL to Hike Trans-Atlantic Rates on July 1 OOCL will boost rates on its trans-Atlantic trade, beginning July 1. The increase will be $150 per 20-foot container and $250 per 40-foot and 45-foot container for westbound dry cargo from Europe to the U.S., Canada and Mexico. CMA CGM has also planned North Europe-to-North America and Europe-to-U.S. rate hikes to take...
High Sulfur Bunker Fuel Sees Lowest Price of May Bunker fuel prices - Rotterdam Full-size image Spot prices for high sulfur bunker fuel slipped to $584.75 per metric ton in the week of May 31, the lowest rate for this fuel type in the month of May, according to daily Bunkervision price data via international marine fuel oil broker LQM Petroleum Services...
Kalmar to Deliver Two Straddle Carriers to Port Otago Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has received an order to deliver two diesel electric straddle carriers to Port Otago, a container-handling operator in New Zealand. The ESC 450W straddle carriers, with a capacity of 50 metric tons and stacking capability of 1-over-3, are scheduled for delivery by the end of this year. "This...
July Deadline Set for Dumping, Subsidy Claims by US Producers U.S. Customs and Border Protection has published a notice in the Federal Register stating that any domestic producer entitled to file a claim under the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act of 2000 needs to file a claim no later than July 30, 2013. The purpose of this law is to...
US Scrap Exports to China Losing Their Luster? U.S. scrap exports market shares-China vs. rest of the world Full-size image U.S. containerized exports of scrap metals, plastics and paper to China have increased at a remarkable pace over the last 20 years. Between 1992 and 2012, scrap exports to China increased at a compound annual growth rate of 20.2 percent,...
US Imports by Rail From Canada Reach March High Cross-border imports by rail from Canada into the United States jumped to their highest value in March since the JOC began collecting data in January 2009, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. This followed a decline in February, which was the first in nine months. U.S. cross-border...
US Rail Imports from Mexico Grow Imports by rail into the U.S. from Mexico jumped 21.7 percent year-over-year in March 2013, according to data obtained from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Rail exports as well as both directions of truck traffic experienced declines. U.S. cross-border imports from Mexico Full-size image Imports by rail reached $3.84 billion this March...
Peruvian Terminal Adds Container Cranes Liebherr to deliver one STS crane and two RTG cranes to Terminales Portuarios Euroandinos.Liebherr Container Cranes has received an order from Terminales Portuarios Euroandinos in Paita, Peru, for the delivery of one super-post-Panamax ship-to-shore crane and two rubber-tire gantry cranes. They are scheduled for delivery by the end of this...
Truck Market Share in US Cross-Border Trade Shrinks The share of U.S. traffic with North American Free Trade Agreement partners Mexico and Canada via truck was down in March 2013, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Truck traffic fell 1 percentage point from 79.4 percent in February to 78.4 percent of the $73.15 billion in trade...
Mandatory Switching Proposal for Class I Railroads Draws Fire The National Industrial Transportation League has proposed a change to rules governing U.S. railroad that, if promulgated by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, would establish new standards by which shippers who are served by a single Class I carrier could qualify for competitive switching of their freight to a second...
Coregistics Acquires Cano Packaging Coregistics, a packaging supply chain services company, has acquired substantially all of the assets of Cano Packaging, a Chicago-area company specializing in primary contract packaging services for food and confectionary manufacturers. The combination of the two companies establishes a Coregistics presence in Chicago and increases the company's ability to support its...
Jaxport Channel Deepening to Cost $733 Million The Port of Jacksonville's channel-deepening project will cost $733 million, according to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers analysis. The federal government would pay about $349 million of that, and the remaining $383 million would be paid by local sources. The project will deepen the Florida port's channel to 47 feet...
Port Klaipeda Completes Dredging Project The Port of Klaipeda in Lithuania has completed the dredging of its channel after one year of work. The dredging and widening of Klaipeda State Seaport Navigation Channel was implemented by Van Oord Dredging and Marine Contractors. Following the contract agreement, the Dutch company dredged 4.432 million cubic meters (about 156.5...
Will DOT Sway the Debate on Truck Size and Weight? An ongoing Department of Transportation study on the ramifications of allowing heavier and bigger trucks won't likely end the decades-long debate over the issue, but it could provide Congress with a more definitive roadmap. The DOT is studying the impact larger and heaver trucks could have on highway safety, pavement and...
Caribbean shines The Caribbean aframax market is experiencing strong spot rates that could continue into this week, said tanker brokerage Charles Weber.
MSC bags quintet Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has inked charters for five post-panamax boxships on charters for up to a year or more.
Fesco falters Russian boxship company Fesco has posted a lower first quarter profit after selling nearly half its fleet.
Safe sells to buy New York-listed Safe Bulkers is lining up two share sales to raise money for ship purchases.
Tallink pockets $150m Loss-making Estonian ro-pax group Tallink has moved to raise funds on the Oslo Stock Exchange.
Bellzone ditches bulker London-listed mining company Bellzone has confirmed the sale of a panamax bulker after lowering production targets at a West African project.
Rieber stretches debt Norwegian owner GC Rieber Shipping has extended NOK 250m ($42.6m) of debt until November 2015.
TTA makes its move Ship-hungry Thai Thoresen Agencies (TTA) has been linked to the purchase of a modern supramax in Japan.
WW seals bond raid Wilh Wilhelmsen has wrapped up a big fundraiser in Norway today.
JMU linked to EAS deal Japan Marine United (JMU) is reportedly eyeing a big stake in Brazilian tanker builder Estaleiro Atlantico Sul (EAS).
Krey in heavylift push Krey Schiffahrts has emerged as the German name behind an order for four heavylift vessels in China.
Yanase buys Samho Korean ship equipment group Yanase has bought bankrupt Samho Shipbuilding at the fourth time of asking.
Greek tanker pranged The US Coast Guard (USCG) is investigating a collision between a Greek tanker and a tug pushing barges in the Houston Ship Chanel at the weekend.
Hellenic halves war rates Owners of most of the Greek controlled fleet are to get a discount on their insurance costs as the Hellenic Mutual War Risks Association will not collect the second half of the annual premium due to be paid in July.
Anek chops loss A focus on cost control is starting to pay off for Greek ferry group Anek Lines in the first quarter.
Port operators team up Cosco Pacific and China Merchants Holdings International (CMHI) have joined forces on a iron ore terminal in China's Shandong province.
Finnlines sells out Ro-ro owner Finnlines has sold out a share issue with a little help from underwriters.
No leisure UK operator All Leisure Group has scrapped a cruise on one of its vessels after it was hit by technical problems.
STX shares hit again Shares in STX Group's listed entities took another battering today after reports emerged that a creditor is looking to wash its hands of the troubled company.
Leak starts ship fire A German cargoship has been hit by a blaze in Alaska after oil leaked from containers on board.
Golden oldies? Maersk Line is funding research into how to cut fuel consumption for older boxships.
WW targets bond funds Wilh. Wilhelmsen is lining up a fundraiser on the Norwegian bond market.
More cash for STX Korean yard's creditors agree deal to pump in another $265m of emergency funds.
SinOceanic's solution Norway's SinOceanic Shipping has lined up a $154m sale and leaseback deal for one of its boxships to solve some of its financial worries.
Stena adds third ship Stena Line is adding a third vessel to its Sweden to Poland route from 8 July to meet the increased demand for freight.
Daewoo powers ahead Korea Southern Power (Kospo) has ordered an innovative barge-mounted power plant (BMPP) at Daewoo.
Swiber eyes Islamic trust Swiber says it is exploring options to set up an Islamic trust certificate programme to "broaden and deepen its investors' pool".
MOL offloads VLCC trio Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) continues to dispose of tonnage with the reported sale of three post-2000 built VLCCs.
APT orders four MRs American Petroleum Tankers (APT) has ordered four LNG-conversion-ready MR tankers at US shipyard NASSCO.
Drewry: 'Big 3' have advantage in transpacific Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM have been deploying vessels on transpacific lanes that average 32 percent more TEUs than the normal ship size on the lane, according to an article in the latest issue of Drewry Container Weekly.
U.S., France team up to stop fake electronics An enforcement blitz by U.S. and French Customs officials resulted in the seizure of 480 shipments of potentially harmful counterfeit electronic components, U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently announced.
IATA bumps up global profit estimate Projections for global airline profitability rose by $2.1 billion to an estimated $12.7 billion in 2013. The industry generated $7.6 billion in profits in 2012. Much of this profitability will come from the passenger side of the business.
Crowley makes Puerto Rico LCL service weekly
Sen. Lautenberg dead at 89 Lautenberg served on the Commerce, Science and Transportation; the Environmental and Public Works; and the Appropriation committees, all of which play key roles in transportation policy and funding.
Railroads, shippers spar over competitive switching
GAC Bunker Fuels appoints new Business Development Manager Murray Bishop appointed GAC Bunker Fuels' Business Development Manager for Europe, the Americas and Africa.
Week starts on soft note Bunker market quiet in Rotterdam.
Strong demand in Fujairah Suez IFO prices continue to slide.
Premature to blame 'fuel additive' for Aiviq engine failure 'Slime' that caused filter blockage may have been caused by microbial growth caused by seawater contamination or FAME.
Norwegian Oil Trading to open Singapore office Local to head NOT's new branch.
Inland river traffic stopped in central Europe High water levels prevent vessels sailing under bridges.
New terminal boosts UK player's turnover Prospects good for increased bunker sales at Scottish port.
Emulsion specialist looks for opportunities in Latin America Quadrise signs MOU with Ecopetrol.
Oil major begins supplying in Algeciras Port is 'ideally suited as a major bunkering location,' says BP Marine.
Hambantota: Bunkering to start in July Port authority chairman says move will bring in 'much needed' revenue.
Asian bunker prices lower in trade Mixed demand was reported in Singapore.
Maersk in new project to cut container fleet's fuel use Project aims to reduce energy consumption of older vessels by 10%-20%.
'Smart' decision maker launched for bunker procurement Optimizer is able to deliver 'proven cost savings', claims Inatech.
Rolls-Royce delivers first Environship vessel LNG-fuelled vessel able to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 40%, says Rolls-Royce.
Beijing office of Dan-Bunkering 'up and running' Office makes 'excellent start' since opening, says firm.
WFS posts quarterly cash dividend Will issue dividend of $0.0375 per share to shareholders on July 5.
Cockett Marine Oil expands Dubai operations Firm relocates Dubai head office to new and larger premises.
Wan Hai announces Q3 bunker charges Charges will affect transpacific trade of the firm.
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