ECSA joins fight to save EU infrastructure funding The European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA) has joined other leading transport bodies in challenging the planned EU transport infrastructure spending erosion of EUR315 billion (USD333 billion) by EU commission president Jean-Claude Juncker. The new grouping, which comprises 14 bodies
Houston Ship Channel closed for second day Ships waiting to transit the Houston Ship Channel increased as the waterway remained closed for a second day following a vessel collision. As of 0600 local time on 11 March, 37 vessels were waiting to enter and 30 were waiting to exit the channel, considered America's busiest gateway for the
Daimler close to establishing Mediterranean car export hub German premium car manufacturer Daimler is about to shift some of its vehicle export loadings to the Far East away from north continent to Mediterranean loading ports for the first time, Jan Maes, the group's manager for vehicle distribution in Europe, revealed today. Its new port strategy is "in
SSCL takes loan to buy pure car truck carrier Singapore Shipping Corporation Limited (SSCL) has signed a long-term loan facility of up to USD77 million with a Japanese financial institution to buy a pure car truck carrier (PCTC) vessel. Taurus Leader, with a capacity for 7,000 cars, is scheduled for delivery in March 2015 before being
Infographic: European tug casualties, 2004-14 While IHS Maritime casualty data records 197 tug incidents in Europe in 2004-14, tugs have a better safety record than some other merchant ship types. Only 19 of the 196 recorded incidents were severe enough to result in the vessel's total loss. In this time period, six serious incidents have
Hong Kong to require cleaner bunker fuel on 1 July Hong Kong's law on cleaner bunker fuel switch is expected to take effect on 1 July, a government statement said today. The Air Pollution Control (Ocean Going Vessels) (Fuel at Berth) Regulation, which mandates ocean-going vessels to use clean fuels while berthing in Hong Kong, will be tabled at the
Volatile outlook predicted for LNG market The outlook for the global LNG market in 2015 will be marked by increasing volatility, according to UK-based BG Group's annual global LNG market outlook report. The market is suffering from the after-effect in 2014, with limited growth year on year despite four new liquefaction trains that
Zhongchang Marine cancels order at JEHI Shanghai-listed Zhongchang Marine announced on 11 March that it has cancelled the second of the two 47,500 dwt bulk carriers it ordered at Jiangsu Eastern Heavy Industries (JEHI). JEHI is a subsidiary of Singapore-listed JES International Holdings, which had recently filed for restructuring
Long Beach port open to LA 'peel off' scheme Prioritising loaded containers at the Port of Los Angeles to help clear cargo backlogs could be replicated at the Port of Long Beach, a port spokesman said. The Port of LA's 'Peel Off' Programme, which launched on 25 February, is helping relieve congestion blamed on equipment shortages and a labour
Bangladesh ship recycler defends beaching A Bangladeshi ship recycler has reacted to non-governmental organisations' (NGOs') criticism of its beaching method. Beaching, where ships are simply dismantled along the shores, is commonly practised in South Asia. NGOs have criticised the practise as polluting and unsafe for yard workers who are
Nam Cheong wins USD58m in orders Singapore-listed shipbuilder Nam Cheong has secured sales contracts totalling approximately USD58 million for two vessels. One of the contracts is for a 200-man accommodation work vessel (AWV) for Singapore-based integrated marine logistics company Marco Polo Marine. In 2014, Marco Polo Marine
Pilbara ports on cyclone watch Australia's ore ports are readying for their first cyclone this season with a Category 1 storm expected to cross the coast over night. The Pilbara Ports Authority issued an alert this morning that the tropical low is located approximately 545 km north of Karratha and 700 km north northeast of
China coal imports slump in first two months of 2015 China's coal imports stood at 32.04 million tonnes in January and February, down 45.3% year on year (y/y), according to data released by General Administration of Customs on 8 March. Coal imports declined 33.1% y/y to 15.26 million tonnes in February. However, a coal dealer told IHS Maritime that
Wintermar to postpone AHTS deliveries Indonesian offshore support vessel owner Wintermar Offshore Marine announced on 11 March that it has postponed the delivery of two out of three anchor handling tug supply (AHTS) ships. The company said the decision was due to the oil shock that has forced oil companies to cut back on exploration
Donghai Marine Insurance to set up firm in Ningbo Donghai Marine Insurance, a Ningbo-based insurer focused on marine insurance, has won regulatory approval to setup a branch in the port city. China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) has granted approval to the initiators of Donghai Marine Insurance for the preparation of the company's setup, a circular of
Maher expanding at Prince Rupert Maher Terminals will increase capacity at the Port of Prince Rupert by 500,000 teu to take advantage of growing demand for containers moving through the Canadian West Coast. Maher announced on 10 March that it had awarded the prime construction contract at its Fairview Container Terminal to
Wärtsilä, Clean Marine Energy offer scrubber plan Installing scrubber systems may become an easier choice for shipowners with the announcement by Wärtsilä and Clean Marine Energy (Europe) Ltd (CME) of an agreement to provide funding to assist in the adoption of exhaust gas scrubbers. The companies see the move as a way to ease the financial burden
Transatlantic volumes increase as US economy strengthens Latest figures from Container Trades Statistics show an 11.4% increase in headhaul volumes on the transatlantic trade lane
Newbuild investment is one ice until charter rates warm up, says Danaos Chief executive John Coustas tells Lloyd's List that current options for 18,000 teu-20,000 teu charter projects are unattractive and do not justify investment
Tanker owners dazzled by newbuilds fail to see the light when it comes to 10-year-old ships Paying $50m for a 10-year-old VLCC with plenty if life left offers better value, say industry players
Top 30 ports handled 366m teu in 2014, more than half of world box-handling activity Shanghai retain its premier ranking in Containerisation International survey of container throughput
Long Beach sends delegation to European lines to discuss congestion Group that includes harbour commission president Doug Drummond and chief executive Jon Slangerup will visit Maersk Line, Mediterranean Shipping Co and CMA CGM
Prince Rupert announces terminal expansion as volumes soar Project to add a new berth to Canadian west coast port will push up capacity to 1.3m teu
Shipowners face added CO2 reporting complexity as Brussels confirms dates for monitoring scheme European MRV dates confirmed while separate deadline approaches for large businesses to report energy efficiency
With ecVision, Amber Road extends supply chain reach, expands in China Stitching together a door-to-door global supply chain requires more than the ability to route shipments, track cargo or comply with customs rules. The job requires close collaboration with suppliers and designers to develop products before they're packed in a box or container. Those are the skills and capabilities global trade management...
US inland waterways poised to receive much-needed investment WASHINGTON - After a banner year for freight and an unexpected tax revenue boost, U.S. inland waterways could see shovels in the ground on a list of long-overdue projects in the coming year, helping shippers move their commodities more efficiently. A 9-cent increase on barge diesel fuel user fees, signed into...
Potential Indonesian logistics boom hinges on infrastructure investment Indonesia's logistics and forwarding markets are on the brink of a new era - if it can secure billions dollars of investment for its antiquated and overburdened infrastructure. The contract logistics market alone could grow at a compound annual growth rate of up to 14.4 percent over the next five years,...
US cargo theft incidents fell by nearly a quarter in 2014, report finds The number of incidents of U.S. cargo theft tracked by a company facilitating such information plunged 23 percent last year compared to 2013. Cargonet said it saw 844 incidents reported on its network last year, valued at roughly $90 million, down from 1,090 in 2013 and an average of 1,134 annually...
Low-sulfur rules for Hong Kong berthing set to take effect July 1 A proposed Hong Kong rule requiring use of low-sulfur fuel for ships while at berth - a less stringent rule that those applied in U.S. and some European waters - will take effect on July 1 if approved by the Legislative Council next week. The rule is believed to be the...
Port of Virginia container volume slips on severe winter weather The Port of Virginia blamed a 1 percent year-over-year decrease in container traffic in February on severe winter weather and warned it was still grappling with cold and icy conditions that have brought down productivity. The weather-related closure of operations from Feb. 16 and Feb. 25 cost the port five vessel...
Temporary Long Beach empty container storage depot gets extension The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners agreed to extend until the end of September use of a near-dock storage yard for loaded and empty containers. The 30-acre site at the undeveloped Pier S facility was designated a temporary equipment storage yard and was schedule to close on March 31. The...
US shipping activity rises 5.5 percent despite West Coast congestion North American freight volumes jumped 5.5 percent in February from January, rising before any significant progress on moving containers stuck at West Coast ports, while shipper spending on surface cargo transport rose 4.3 percent, according to the Cass Freight Index. The uptick in freight spending broke a three-month decline in shipper...
Houston's Barbours Cut Terminal closed for second day The Port of Houston's largest container terminal was closed for the second full day on Wednesday and so was part of the shipping channel it is served by, as authorities clear the mess caused by the Monday collision of two vessels. Barbours Cut Terminal will remain closed Wednesday until further notice,...
Trans-Pacific eastbound carriers see positive signs for higher annual contract rates Carriers in the trans-Pacific eastbound market are hoping to leverage robust volumes, higher spot rates and the disruption tied to the recent U.S. West Coast labor standoff to achieve higher rates in annual contracts with shippers that take effect on May 1. Long considered an unprofitable market, the carriers see 2015...
North America-Med trade's yawning cargo imbalance still widening The yawning cargo imbalance on the North America-Mediterranean container trade is still widening and carriers need an economic recovery in southern Europe to narrow the gap, according to Drewry Maritime Research. Steady year-on-year growth in traffic on the main haul westbound leg to North America is accentuating weakening backhaul volume as...
Deutsche Post DHL net profit slumps despite ocean, air freight gains Deutsche Post DHL's fourth quarter earnings slumped 17 percent even as the German mail, express and freight forwarding giant posted strong gains in ocean container and air freight revenues. Net profit fell to 640 million euros [$691 million] from 772 million euros in the previous year when the group benefited from...
Get service levels up, mega shipper tells airlines SHANGHAI - Ericsson head of distribution logistics Robert Mellin took a swing at the air cargo industry that he said was delivering service levels well below expectations and was failing to evolve at the same pace as other modes of transport.Poor lead time and lack of real time information in...
China-Europe rail services starting to turn shippers' heads SHANGHAI - Forwarders are reporting a steady rise in shipper enquiries into the China-Europe rail route from higher value shippers looking for an alternative to expensive and often unreliable air freight and the lengthy ocean shipping.Several of the global forwarders have weekly, and sometimes twice weekly, rail services going both...
Terminal expansion shows Prince Rupert is an idea that works Seven years ago the idea that a relatively obscure bulk port in a sparsely populated region of Western Canada would become one of the fastest growing container gateways in North America would have drawn smirks, and did, even though the vision of a gateway for Asia trade at that location...
US federal agencies finally digging into 'single window' prep work WASHINGTON - U.S. federal agencies able to slow and hold imports are finally getting down to brass tacks as the deadline for President Obama's new comprehensive trade system nears. It's been a year since Obama signed an order mandating the completion of an International Trade Data System by 2017. That system,...
Seaspan wants bigger board Seaspan is again asking its shareholders to approve an increase in the size of the containership owner's board of directors.
Nathan to close Dampier Tropical Cyclone Nathan has led Australia's officials in Dampier to clear the port and anchorages of all large vessels.
Houston still hampered The Houston Ship Channel remained partially closed Wednesday as authorities continued to respond to a vessel collision that led to a chemical release.
Feinberg doubling down Prominent investor Steven Feinberg has more than doubled his stake in tanker owner DHT Holdings since the previous reporting last May and now controls 12% of the stock.
Odfjell takes more stock Laurence Odfjell has topped up his interest in Norwegian tanker owner Odfjell with a $2.43m investment in the company.
Search on for crewman Gibraltar rescue teams are searching the sea off Rosia Bay for one of two Syrian crew believed to have jumped from a Dubai-managed bulker.
Anchor handling only A Swedish-flagged anchor handling tug supply vessel (AHTS) targeted for operations off Alaska will not carry out any supply duties that would fall under the US Jones Act, a market source said.
BW boosts VLCC fleet Shipowner Andreas Sohmen-Pao has strengthened his trading VLCC fleet with the purchase of a tanker from BW's offshore wing.
Frontline 2012 adds MR pair John Fredriksen's Frontline 2012 continues to expand its chartering activity taking two medium range (MR) tankers on time charters from an Italian owner.
Fugro opposes Boskalis bid Netherlands' Fugro has expressed "disappointment" over compatriot Royal Boskalis Westminster's attempt to change a measure designed to protect it from a takeover.
Sinking ship abandoned Japanese rescuers have taken all crew from a sinking Hong Kong-owned cargoship on Wednesday.
Crew held over drugs Five NCL cruiseship employees have been accused of smuggling cocaine into the US in their underwear.
Reach extended Reach Subsea has made good on its efforts to expand outside of the North Sea.
NewLead seals $10m loan Greek owner NewLead Holdings has fixed up a $10m loan to further expand its fleet of five tankers and five bulkers.
Nam Cheong wins double Malaysian shipbuilder Nam Cheong has kicked off 2015 with the sale of two offshore support vessels worth around $58m.
Wintermar delays duo Indonesia's Wintermar Offshore Marine has postponed delivery of two new ships as it posted lower earnings for 2014.
K Line cashes out Japanese shipowner K Line has raised AUD 154.65m ($117.87m) from selling its stake in an Australian ports services group.
Opus orders at Damen Damen Shipyard has won a contract for a fast crew supplier (FCS) vessel from Germany's Opus Marine.
Rongsheng selling? China Rongsheng Heavy Industries has halted trading in its shares from Wednesday morning in Hong Kong as it lines up a big asset sale.
SNO holds on to cash Romanian shipyard Santierul Naval Orsova (SNO) will not pay a dividend for 2014 for the sixth year running in a bid to cover losses in previous years.
AAL eyes expansion Singapore multipurpose owner AAL is planning to boost its fleet to more than 500,000 dwt this year.
JES loses bulker order China's JES International has seen a bulker contract torn up after its shipyard subsidiary filed for court-led debt restructuring last week.
Carla Maersk still 'unstable' A Maersk Tankers vessel continued to leak toxic vapours from a cargo tank as the Houston Ship Channel remained partially closed for a second day after a collision in the waterway.
Multraship adds hybrid tug to fleet Recently delivered Multratug 28 will be used in the Zeeland Seaports and Antwerp areas, company says.
Report: Sinking ship abandoned in Sea of Japan Eight crewmembers have reportedly been safely evacuated by the Japanese Coast Guard.
Maersk Line removes online BAF calculator Will introduce a new formula that will be 'more accurate'.
Part of Houston Ship Channel still remains closed Salvage crews work to remove vessels involved in Monday's collision.
Upcoming IMO meeting 'last chance' to contribute to Paris climate accord CSC urges transport ministers to support 'clear targets' and action to achieve them at MEPC 68.
Shipowners worried that CO2 rules are 'too complex' Controversial EU plans to require ship operators to monitor and report CO2 emissions are raising new fears.
OW manager fears extradition to Italy High court to decide early next week after appeal against Copenhagen court decision.
No comment on future of 'major new centre for ship fuels' Recent bunkering event heard VTTI had pulled the plug on advanced plans for new Algeciras terminal.
Emissions from ships become election issue Politicians fighting Australian state election promise to cut sulphur pollution from ships.
Falling bunker prices boost shipping stocks On annual profit announcements.
Greece, UAE cement maritime relationship Economic co-operation to include bunkering.
ExxonMobil launches another unique ECA fuel Tests during product development indicates it is 'fully compatible' with its HDME 50 ECA product, and MGO.
Shipmasters could face jail for breaching sulphur rules Hong Kong gives details of regulations that come into force on July 1.
Report: Former OW traders leave Mercuria New trading manager among those who have resigned, sources say.
Storage terminals event to discuss bunkers 'Significant marine fuel oil market changes are yet to occur', says speaker.
Titan Petrochemicals ordered to extend long-stop date Company given approval to enter into a new loan agreement.
Shell: Experience a 'key factor' in LNG bunkering The oil major talks to Bunkerworld about LNG operations at Rotterdam.
Korean eco-ship fund takes shape Fives ships ordered under project.
Registry highlights fuel issues within ECAs Changeover experience should limit risk.
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