US box terminals seek mediator Container terminal operators on the US West Coast have requested that a federal mediator help resolve their contract dispute with dockworkers. The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), which represents terminal employers at 29 West Coast ports, had hoped it could resolve its differences with the
Fugro Equator refits for MH370 search Fugro Equator is back at Fremantle for a refit but will rejoin the hunt for MH370 in the New Year, according to a report today from the Australian Transport Safety Authority (ATSB). The vessel has been extending bathymetric survey work to locate the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 while awaiting parts
Pilbara Ports to freeze fees until 2016 Pilbara Ports Authority (PPA) has announced it will freeze all its port fees until July 2016, handing Australia's beleaguered iron ore export industry its second reprieve this week. The state government has just announced a 50% rebate on iron ore royalties for up to 12 months as some smaller miners
Pan Ocean readies for Harim-JKL takeover Pan Ocean has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that prepares the way for its acquisition by the Harim Group and JKL Partners. The Harim-JKL consortium aims to complete a KRW1.06Tn ($962M) takeover of the South Korean bulker operator. Harim Group is a South Korean poultry processor and
Chinese yard new orders up 9.4% y/y The growth of Chinese shipyard new orders slowed down further to a year-on-year rate of 9.4% for the first 11 months of 2014. New orders in the first 11 months of 2014 were at 56.8Mdwt, the China National Association of Shipbuilding Industry (CANSI) said today. The growth in new orders reached
PSV launched by gantry crane Honghua Offshore Oil & Gas Equipment Company in Jiangsu, China, has extended the weight limit on lifting a complete vessel for launching with its first ship, an IMT982 platform supply vessel (PSV). Nordic Trym was launched in a unique way through the first use of the yard's new gantry crane, which
MOL Logistics sets up new office in Vietnam Japanese transport company MOL Logistics has opened a new office in Quang Ninh province, Vietnam to provide faster and better managed logistics services. The new office is established by MOL Logistics Vietnam (MLG Vietnam), a subsidiary of MOL Logistics, and the location is situated just one and a
Jiangzhou Union signs deal with Auerbach Schifffahrt Jiangzhou Union Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of Hong Kong-listed China Ocean Shipbuilding Industry Group, has signed a strategic co-operation agreement with Auerbach Schifffahrt and Xiamen ITG Shipbuilding to build multipurpose vessels. According to the agreement, Auerbach Schifffahrt shall first
Six predictions for container shipping in 2015 The pressures and opportunities that will shape another year of change
APMT Maasvlakte 2 handles first vessel Terminal operator also reveals orders for more equipment
Marine insurance review 2014: An uninspiring year Overcapacity and earlier policy years cast a shadow over the market
Five marine insurance predictions for 2015 Overcapacity will keep rates down, as emerging market entrants add to problems
LNG review 2014: A challenging year, but deals got done Spot rates were a sobering reminder to LNG shippers that fortunes can swing down as well as up
Five predictions for tankers in 2015 Optimists may be eagerly eyeing oil price, but orders may yet prolong the long and bumpy road to recover
Tankers review 2014: VLCCs and suezmaxes take centre stage Overall the tanker market balance has improved during 2014, but there's a bumpy road ahead yet to travel
Boxship scrapping to continue to slow in 2015 The second half of 2014 saw a dramatic slowdown in the number of ships sent to the breakers and further declines are expected next year
Eitzen Chemical announces $840m debt for equity swap Norwegian outfit to rebrand as Team Tankers International
Oakland takes steps to deal with 'unprecedented vessel calls' West coast port to open extra gates and send out daily updates to shippers, truckers and carriers
Shippers welcome EU Commissioner's promise to monitor box line alliances Global Shippers' Forum gives full support to Brussels' pledge to ensure there is no anti-competitive behaviour
LNG: five things to look out for in 2015 Southeast Asian demand will be important, along with energy security in Europe and the potential for increased supplies balanced against the flow of new ships
LPG: five things to look out for in 2015 Avance Gas is unlikely to sit quietly next year, but will US exports maintain their impressive pace?
Dry Bulk review 2014: Problems, problems Vessel oversupply hanging over from previous years, a flood of newbuildings and geopolitical developments weighed down on the sector
Navig8, General Maritime in VLCC merger talks Tie-up would create world's fifth largest VLCC owner with 28 vessels
Star Bulk sells aged bulker only four months after buying it Handymax acquired in 34-ship deal with Excel Maritime is quickly moved on
US west coast employers call for federal mediator to unblock ILWU contract talks Pacific Maritime Association asks for outside help after failing to reach agreement with labour leaders during seven months of negotiations - ILWU to respond Tuesday
Wall Street review 2014: All over by March 12 Shipping's coming out party in 2014 lasted 70 days
Are we riding an oil-price rollercoaster? What goes down in 2014 may go back up in 2015
Port Metro Vancouver drayage drivers threaten strike Less than a month before it takes effect, the Port Metro Vancouver drayage program faces major headwinds with truck drivers threatening to strike if changes to pay aren't made. The threat is particularly palpable since frustration with low drayage rates spurred union and non-union drivers to strike for several weeks in...
Early chumminess disguised the true underlying conflict in ILWU talks Though the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association remain silent on why they've been unable to reach an agreement- and PMA was similarly cryptic on Monday in throwing in the towel and requesting Federal mediation - the big picture is becoming clearer. Employers need more cost...
Federal mediators asking ILWU if aid in stalled talks needed WASHINGTON - The U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service said today it's reaching out to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union to see whether it can help in labor talks with U.S. West Coast port employers, and if so, when it could aid. The Pacific Maritime Association, which represents employers, said...
Container freight stations at JNPT complain of 30-hour truck moves Truck congestion caused by the deteriorating quality of road networks around the Nhava Sheva port complex, India's largest container gateway, is creating a nightmare for shippers already dealing with months-long rail delays and ocean carrier surcharges at India's largest container gateway, also known as Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust. The three container...
Looking back at 2014 Once again I find myself marveling at the astonishing pace at which another year has come to an end and, yet again, how unprepared I have been for the holidays. How does this always happen? And while some folks seem bent on speeding the clock up even faster (like my...
Philippine banana exports to slip into higher gear in 2015 HONG KONG - The banana industry in Davao Region of the Philippines is expected to fully recover during the first or second quarter of 2015, an industry leader this week. Stephen Antig, Pilipino Banana Growers and Exporters Association (PBGEA) executive director, told the Sunday Star Davao that around 80 percent of...
West Coast congestion to hit 2015 schedules, Drewry says U.S. shippers must prepare for further disruption and delays in ship arrivals at congested U.S. West Coast ports "well into 2015", according to Drewry Shipping Consultants. Carriers operating on the trans-Pacific route are speeding up ships on the return leg to Asia in order to maintain some semblance of the weekly...
UPS buys Polish health care logistics firm United Parcel Service has agreed to the acquisition of Polish pharmaceutical logistics firm Poltraf from Poland-based investment fund Ortie Capital Investment. The U.S. delivery giant did not release financial details of the transaction, which it expects to complete in the first half of 2015. The acquisition will add three warehouses and 170...
North American intermodal volume had rare decline in November North American intermodal volume in November shrank 1.9 percent year-over-year, a rarity for an industry that has experienced steady growth for years. But it's unclear how much of an impact U.S. port congestion and the deterioration of intermodal rail service had on the rare traffic dip. International intermodal volume fell 3.6...
Nicaragua canal gets off to rocky start HONG KONG - Protests marred yesterday's ground-breaking ceremony in Managua for the $50 billion Nicaraguan canal as opposition to the bold Chinese-driven interoceanic project mounted in the Central American nation. Work on the canal linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans was supposed to begin on Monday, Dec. 22. While it is...
Nigerian Shippers Council to oversee port concession awards The Nigerian Shippers Council hopes its new regulatory powers will help bring Nigerian ports up to global standards by ensuring concessions are awarded fairly. The six-member governing council will focus on reducing dwell times, improving vessel turn times and increasing throughput in 2015, as part of a larger effort to combat...
Federal mediation requested in stalled West Coast longshore talks Confirming that eight months into negotiations progress has come to a standstill in West Coast longshore talks, employers on Monday requested federal mediators to enter the negotiations. "Outside intervention is necessary to bring the talks to conclusion, particularly given the ongoing impact of ILWU work slowdowns, which have disrupted cargo movement...
Mediator sought for ports The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and supply chain groups have called on the US government to step in to cool down a labour dispute that has been dragging on at US ports.
Cuba shipping rules to ease US President Barack Obama's recently announced plans to ease an embargo on Cuba will modify restrictions on port calls by ships that recently visited the island nation.
Judge orders YM arrest A US judge has issued an order to arrest a Yang Ming Marine Transport-owned boxship over a disputed OW Bunker fuel bill.
CMA CGM bolsters Euraf CMA CGM has re-jigged its offering between Europe and Africa to improve reliability and punctuality.
Timber ship held Six foreign-flagged vessels were newly detained in UK ports during November, and two remained under detention from previous months, according to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
Flex takeover completed John Fredriksen-controlled Geveran Trading has finalised its mandatory offer to takeover Oslo-listed Flex LNG.
Diana in Glencore deal Diana Shipping has secured a period contract with Glencore for one of its kamsarmax bulkers.
Maersk Tankers sells MR Maersk Tankers continues the renewal of its products tanker fleet with the sale of a second 1990s built medium range (MR) tanker in two weeks.
VLCC period market climbing VLCC period rates have continued to increase.
Atlantic bags new tug Singapore-based Atlantic Navigation has purchased a new 5,150 BHP anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) vessel with a joint venture company and revealed charter extensions for two other vessels in its fleet.
Clarksons wins backing Clarksons investors today backed the $441m takeover of RS Platou.
Silk goes compulsory Silk Bidco, the company which said last week it had acquired 97.4% of Norwegian ferry and cruisehip company Hurtigruten through its October takeover offer, is compulsory acquiring all remaining shares.
Vita tied to Scorpio swoop Dionyssios Vassilatos-led Vita Management is said to have snapped up a kamsarmax newbuilding offloaded by Scorpio Bulkers last week.
Tanker orders tumble A nosedive in medium range (MR) tanker newbuilding deals has seen tanker contracting all but halved in 2014, EA Gibson says.
Glovis grabs Navios VLCC Navios Maritime Acquisition has found period employment for a VLCC purchased from Wah Kwong this year, brokers say.
BW LPG completes buyback VLGC owner repurchases 3.4 million of its own shares worth more than $20m.
Eitzen Chem's $850m plan Eitzen Chemical has revealed a restructuring plan that will tackle debts of $850m.
Harim signs Pan Ocean deal Chicken processor Harim has moved a step closer to a takeover of Pan Ocean following the signing of a preliminary deal.
Tarik 3 up for auction South African authorities have scheduled the auction of an elderly Turkish handysize bulk carrier at the request of Credit Europe Bank.
TTA plans rights offering Bangkok-based Thoresen Thai Agencies is proposing a rights offering with free warrants to increase capital base for what it describes as a desire to bolster core businesses and to take advantage of new investment opportunities while the world economy and capital markets are volatile.
MISC in generous mood Malaysia's MISC Berhad could deliver a surprise year-end dividend to its investors, analysts who follow the company say.
Tokyo Marine tanker arrested Authorities in Singapore have seized a handysize chemical tanker operated by Tokyo Marine Asia.
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