Noatum seeking $7.2m from Valencia port authority Terminal operator pursues compensation for broken volume guarantees
Georgia Ports Authority appoints Walters as new chairman Vice-chairman succeeds Robert Jepson as GPA reports record volumes
Saudi Arabia pushes ahead with monster tanker shipping merger Merger of Bahri and Vela closer to reality as shareholders approve
Israel's finance ministry will retain Zim golden share Stock exchange filing reveals Zim has held advanced strategic partnership talks with two shipping lines
Blue Wall buys handysize resale for $22.6m Imabari newbuilding, for delivery in September, will lift fleet to eight ships
Wallem mulls exit from Nanjing Tanker joint venture Mizuho Corporate Bank becomes first creditor to sell off loans
Two heads are better than one at DHT A game of doubles at tanker firm as Harfjeld and Munthe become joint chief executives
More consolidation ahead, but maybe not much Marine Money Week participants see private equity as pressing for mergers and acquisitions
Taiwan CPC books two 40,000 dwt product carriers Deal with CSBC done at $86m
K Line books two more car carriers Japanese carrier now has 10 7,500 ceu ships on its orderbook
China Shipping Development takes 20% in tanker compatriot at auction State carrier reinforces its market position in domestic crude shipping - and at floor price
China's government watchdog lashes out at China Shipping Group National Audit Office slams standards, financial management and corporate practice
Gulf Marine Management lands two-year VLCC charter Owner secures respectable earnings for Chloe rather than risk spot market
P3 carriers could set up joint network on Pacific and Atlantic Lines could still look to two of the three trade lanes that were to be covered by P3, says Drewry
Nordic American Offshore orders two platform supply vessels for $43m each Vessels suited to North Sea and cold climates
Consolidation still needed despite P3 setback David Appleton predicts more looseknit alliances
Plans for $10bn Queensland coal terminal put on hold Adani and Brookfield backed Dudgeon Port terminals near Hay Point and Dalrymple Bay
DHL lands major transactlantic cargo contract DHL Global Forwarding, the world's second-largest ocean freight forwarder, has clinched a major contract of affreightment with aircraft manufacturer Airbus. The logistics group will be providing intermodal door-to-door freight for aircraft parts and modules totalling 80,000 tons for A319, A320, and
Fujian Mawei secures Sinopec PSV Chinese shipyard Fujian Mawei Shipbuilding has secured another order for a Platform Supply Vessel (PSV) from returning compatriot owner Shanghai Offshore Oil Bureau, the offshore unit of SINOPEC. The 3,900dwt Havyard 832 L SE designed vessel will have an overall length of 84.5m, beam 17.6m and depth
NAO firms Vard PSV pair Nordic American Offshore (NAO) has today announced a firm agreement to order two Platform Supply Vessels (PSVs) from Norwegian shipbuilder Vard Aukra. The two new 4,000dwt VARD 1 08 designed PSVs will have their hulls built by Vard Braila in Romania, and will be completed by Vard Aukra with delivery
Chinese ship breakers' purchase drop in Jan-May The purchase of old vessels by Chinese shipbreakers dropped 0.6% year-on-year to 955,000 tonnes, equivalent of about 4.2Mdwt, in the first five months of 2014, according to the China National Shiprecycling Association. During the period, domestic old vessels bought by the breakers totalled 457,000
China, Greece ink more than $4Bn in maritime deals Chinese banks signed contracts worth more than $4Bn with Greece's shipping sector during the visit of Chinese prime minister Li Keqiang to Athens last week. China Development Bank (CDB) signed a $1.5Bn deal with Greece's Costamare on imminent orders of five giant container ships (over 10,000teu) at
Nam Cheong wins $84M order Singapore-listed Nam Cheong has won an order for two accommodation work barges (AWB) worth approximately $84M to Perdana Petroleum. The contract has also included the option for the Malaysia Bursa-listed Perdana to purchase two additional AWBs from Nam Cheong after their delivery. Surya Hidayat,
Chonghaejin staff plead 'not guilty' Five employees of Chonghaejin Marine have pleaded "not guilty" to charges of professional negligence relating to the Sewol disaster. The trial began on 20 June. Chonghaejin Marine is the owner of the Sewol, which capsized on 16 April, killing an estimated 304 of 476 passengers and crew. At the
'K' Line books two more PCTCs Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha ('K' Line) said today it has ordered another two pure car-and-truck carriers at Shin Kurishima Dockyard, taking the total number of such vessels it has on order to 10. Japan's third biggest shipping company, led by Jiro Asakura, had ordered eight such vessels at the same
Arms trafficking worries Indian Ocean islands Increasing numbers of illegal firearms are being shipped into Mauritius, reports from the Indian Ocean republic indicate. Le Défi newspaper quoted a local criminal as saying, "It's very easy to get weapons." The man said that weapons were mostly smuggled from overseas through the port. In the same
JACC still hopes to find MH370 Australia's Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) charged with leading the search for the missing passenger airline MH370 still hopes the wreckage can be located. In response to concerns raised last week that the plane may be lost forever, JACC said it had not given up. "Although we have always
Nigerian authorities turn up heat on 'useless' lifejackets Lives are being lost needlessly on Nigeria's waterways because ferry operators are using substandard lifejackets, maritime and standards organisations have found. Since the New Year, Lagos State Waterways Agency and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) have between them seized and burned
Deadly attacks spark Lamu port fears The prospects for Kenya's huge Lamu port project have been called into question after last week's deadly attacks on Mpeketoni, for which Islamist group al-Shabaab reportedly claimed responsibility. The town is 54km from Lamu Island, which itself is just 110km from the Somali border. China
Japan yard orders down by almost half in May Japanese shipbuilders saw their order wins down by nearly 50% in May, amid concerns that the recovery from the high yen may be tapering off. Figures from the Japan Ship Exporters Association show its members clinched 14 export orders totaling 454,140gt, compared to 29 export orders of 953,900gt in
Nigerian vessel capsizes after militia attack About 100 people died when an unidentified vessel capsized on the River Benue near Ibi, Taraba State, east-central Nigeria. Gunmen, believed to be members of the Christian Tarok militia from neighbouring Plateau State, attacked and burned the Muslim village of Dampar on Tuesday night. Villagers
Sinking Somali ship revives Shifco mystery The Somali consul in Yemen last week visited four Somali ships stranded in the Yemeni port of Aden. The visit was prompted by concerns over the condition of 1982-built Cusmaan Geedi Raage, which is taking on water and in danger of sinking. All four vessels are reported to be in the custody of the
A P3 revival? Never say never, maritime expert says NAPLES, Fla. - The final chapter on the P3 Network, the proposed mega-alliance among the world's three largest ocean carriers that Chinese regulators rejected last week, may not have been written, a former container shipping executive said today. "Maybe one day, the P3 will become the P4," Capt. Chaim Shacham, a...
Kongsberg to develop new e-navigation infrastructure Kongsberg Norcontrol IT will lead a new three-year research project, SESAME Straits, that it hopes will improve ship traffic management in the straits of Malacca and Singapore and lay groundwork for the International Maritime Organization's e-navigation implementation strategy. SESAME Straits, which stands for "Secure, Efficient and Safe maritime traffic Management in...
TSA carriers push back recommended surcharge Members of the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement are pushing back the date of a planned peak-season surcharge to coincide with the end of certain market rates on June 30. The recommended date of the surcharge, which was initially planned for June 15, was pushed back to July 1 today. TSA members hope the...
APM Terminals orders more automated gantries for Maasvlakte APM Terminals has exercised an option for 22 automated rail-mounted gantry cranes for its new Rotterdam container terminal, which is scheduled to open in November. The Maersk Group's port arm said the contract with Austria-based crane manufacturer Hans Kuenz and ABB of Sweden, which takes the total order to 48 automated...
New Penn's Gast moves to Wilson Trucking When opportunity knocked for Steve Gast, he answered. The former president of New Penn Motor Express is now president and COO of Wilson Trucking in Fishersville, Virginia. "It was a unique opportunity, a third-generation family-owned company seeking outside management," Gast said in an interview at the SMC3 Connections 2014 conference. That's a...
Bunker prices continue spotty streak The price per metric ton for high-sulfur bunker fuel rose less than 2 percent this week, while low-sulfur spot prices per metric ton decreased about 1 percent. Full-size chart Spot prices for high- and low-sulfur bunker fuel continued to fluctuate this week, after several weeks of marginal losses and gains. The price per...
Virginia beats the clock with Navis N4 terminal operating system The Port of Virginia has launched its Navis N4 terminal operating system at Norfolk International Terminals two weeks ahead of the scheduled July 4 start date. The Navis N4 system at NIT is being introduced in parallel with other improvements, including the phase-in of an appointment system aimed at smoothing peaks...
Canadian truckers slam US plan to double border fees U.S. imports by truck from Canada were up 1.6 percent in value year-over-year in the first three months of 2014. Full-size chart Canadian truck drivers are bristling at a U.S. proposal to more than double the fees they pay to authorities at the border. Canadian truck drivers would see their annual transponder fees...
Former INTTRA CEO: Carrier business model is broken After 13 years of working closely with container lines to develop their electronic cargo booking and tracking capabilities through INTTRA, its former CEO Ken Bloom is moving on to solve a different problem: how to change the way the shipping industry operates. "Its business models are dying. We have to change...
Enhancing productivity Other than last week's stunning collapse of the P3 Network, there's arguably no hotter issue in the container shipping world than port productivity. As mega-container ships replace smaller vessels in major east-west and north-south trades, terminals are struggling to turn the ships around and move containers through their facilities in...
Economy stunts productivity gains in Europe Europe's top container ports are grappling with an unprecedented coincidence of challenges that threatens to snap vulnerable sections of the continent's overstretched supply chain. Just as terminals across the dominant Le Havre-Hamburg port range were nailing down strategies to cope with a surge in surplus capacity following the opening of two...
Los Angeles, Tacoma lead gains in West Coast imports In the latest indication that beneficial cargo owners are accelerating shipments ahead of the June 30 expiration of the longshore union contract, containerized imports through the West Coast increased sharply in May. But not all ports are sharing equally in the rally that began with the post-Chinese New Year winter...
Why a steady dose of big ships limits Asia productivity gains Berth productivity per ship call at Asia's efficient container terminals consistently outranks their U.S. and European counterparts, but a looming challenge is how to avoid lost time at berths as ships take up more space and remain in port longer. Before mega-ships capable of carrying 8,000 to 18,000 20-foot-equivalent units began...
New operational methods improving port productivity Port productivity data from JOC Group Inc. for 2013 demonstrate that terminal operators around the world are taking quite seriously the challenge they face to service vessels in port as quickly and efficiently as possible in this era of mega-ships. Productivity at many ports and terminals increased in 2013. In fact,...
Troubled Thai Airways ousts five board members Thai Airways is in "critical" condition, according to a report from Thailand's State Enterprise Policy Office, as the military junta prepares to replace five board members in a management reshuffle of the troubled carrier. At a board meeting late last week, the resignations of former Chairman Ampon Kittiampon, General Adul Saengsingkaew,...
Safe to rake in $70m Safe Bulkers will generate gross proceeds of at least $70m from its latest capital markets cash drive, the company said.
Excel sells bulker, again US-controlled Excel Maritime Carriers has reportedly sold a panamax bulker at a price slightly above demolition value.
Coalition seeks US action A coalition including shipowners groups, labour unions and even fishing interests has asked a US congressional committee to take action on a bill to clear up the disconnect between two government agencies regulating discharges from ships.
Boxed art on CMA ship Artists have boarded ships to see the world, but now one will arrange shipping containers on a boxship so the world can see his art.
Safe Bulkers goes again The New York-listed owner said it will offer redeemable preferred shares to the public, with underwriters having an option for extra stock.
Martinac on the edge JM Martinac Shipbuilding has less than a month to secure its future.
Bergen stretches loan Norwegian shipbuilder Bergen has won another six months to repay a loan of NOK 150m ($24.5m).
DHT doubles up New York-listed DHT Holdings has revealed the company will be run by joint CEOs.
Duke adds one India's Duke Offshore has acquired a fast crew/patrol vessel for its oilfield operations.
Omega builds NAO stake The Leon Cooperman-controlled Omega fund has amassed a 21.8% stake in Nordic American Offshore (NAO).
UND prepares bid US private equity fund KKR is to take a big hit on the Turkish ro-ro company it bought in 2007.
Heroin tanker busted A Greek shipowner and crew from a products tanker have been arrested after what authorities called the biggest heroin haul in Europe.
NAO confirms PSV duo Start-up Nordic American Offshore (NAO) has firmed up its order for two platform supply vessels (PSVs) at Vard.
Nigeria aids piracy fight Nigeria has promised $150,000 to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to aid its campaign against piracy.
CSBC inks double Taiwanese shipyard group CSBC has clinched a products tanker order from domestic oil company CPC.
K Line back for more K Line has increased its car carrier newbuilding tally to ten ships with orders for another pair of vessels.
Bahri banks $848m Saudi owner Bahri has fixed SAR 3.18bn ($848m) of bridging financing to complete its merger with Saudi Aramco tanker arm Vela International.
Pertamina tightens up Indonesia state energy company Pertamina is amending charter contracts to beef up security measures after oil thefts.
Sinopec orders PSV China's Sinopec has picked Fujian Mawei to build another Havyard-designed supply ship newbuiding.
Nam Cheong books two Nam Cheong has sold two accommodation work barges to repeat customer Perdana Petroleum Behard in a deal worth $84m.
Tanker stocks rally Shares in some of the largest US-listed tanker owners surged Friday as a flurry of VLCC fixtures boosted market confidence.
TNK files shelf Teekay Tankers is looking to raise fresh funds according to a financial disclosure to US regulatory authorities.
Senator calls for proper emergency training for rail oil spills Sen. Heidi Heitkamp is tasking the Federal Emergency Management Agency with finding out how to properly prepare local first responders in the case of crude oil derailments.
Port of Los Angeles approves plan by APMT to raise cranes APM will fund the $35 million in improvements, which will raise the cranes 32 feet and extend the boom reach by 10 feet. Work is expected to begin this fall and be completed in 2016.
DHL to ship Airbus parts to Ala. facility
Study: Higher charges could erode West Coast cargo share The PMA has released a study that cautions, "Should terminal charges at the West Coast ports increase as the result of the contract negotiations ... the competitive logistics position of the West Coast ports will be eroded."
Morgan crash is wrinkle in HOS debate
'K' Line adds to ro/ro vessel order
Scuttling P3 could postpone container industry recovery Drewry said the decision to block the P3 Network "will probably postpone the stabilization of the over-supplied and unprofitable carrier industry, but the further development of mega-alliances will not stop here."
Port of Virginia upgrades terminal operating system Virginia International Terminals and Navis spent two years planning and installing the new system, which went live ahead of its July 4 service date, the Port of Virginia said Friday.
The Suez Canal Authority has announced that it will introduce surcharges on transit tariffs through the Egyptian canal for most major cargo vessels, effective July 15.
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