A new trade association has been established to provide the world’s bulk terminals with a united front at governmental level in order to ensure the sector can better face the environmental and commercial challenges ahead. The Association of Bulk Terminal Operators (ABTO) seeks to provide a voice for
The 2015-built containership Maersk Shams, operating on a long-term time charter with the Danish shipping giant Maersk Line, was refloated in the evening hours on July 5 after it grounded in the Suez Canal earlier that day. After it was refloated, the vessel proceeded to the Suez Canal anchorage “in
Container freight rates are forecast to rise modestly over the next 18 months from the all-time lows reached recently, but this will not be sufficient to rescue the industry from substantial losses in 2016, according to shipping consultancy Drewry. Liner shipping has had a torrid time so far in 2016
The demand outlook for the multipurpose vessel (MPV) fleet has not improved since the first quarter of 2016 and is set to remain unchanged until the end of 2017 due to persisting weakness in breakbulk and project cargo sectors, according to the latest Multipurpose Shipping Market Review and Forecast
Provider of products and services to the shipping industry Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) has secured the first contract under its new ‘canal transit’ solution with very large gas carrier (VLGC) owner and operator Avance Gas for the Panama Canal transit of its Neopanamax ships Passat and Breeze. The
The Netherlands-based APM Terminals has reported a smooth incorporation of the new Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS) Verified Gross Mass (VGM) regulations for containers into its daily operations across over 70 locations during the first three days since the rules came into force. Back in 201
As Hyundai Merchant Marine aims to take advantage of a surge in shipping demand following the lifting of sanction on Iran, the South Korean shipping giant revealed plans to expand its routes which link the Middle East and the Asia regions, according to Yonhap News Agency. The company reportedly said
Qatar-based liquefied natural gas (LNG) company Qatargas has signed a contract with European energy trading centre RWE Supply & Trading (RWEST) for the delivery of up to 1.1 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per annum to RWEST in North West Europe for seven and a half years. The cargo is
The International Dockworkers’ Council (IDC), International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) are planning to organize an hour of activities on international dockers’ action day on July 7 at 8 am local time. Under the slogan “Defend Dockers Rights,”
LNG producer Qatargas has entered into a long-term Sale and Purchase Agreement (SPA) with Global Energy Infrastructure Limited (GEIL) to supply 1.3 tonnes of LNG per year to Pakistan for 20 years, with a possibility to increase this volume to 2.3 million tonnes. The LNG will be supplied from Qatarga
A new regulation requiring the gross mass of a container to be verified before it is loaded onto a ship enters into force today, July 1, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) said. The regulation will assist in ensuring that the millions of containers carried on ships each year are optimally
Paris MoU saw a large decrease in the refusal of access or bans in 2015 – 11 bans compared to 20 in the previous year, according to 2015 Annual Report on Port State Control. The data shows that the detention percentage has remained stable at 3.33 percent. The number of deficiencies has decreased ten
Dubai-based container shipping firm United Arab Shipping Company S.A.G. (UASC) informed that all six of its shareholding states voted unanimously to approve the proposed merger with German shipping major Hapag-Lloyd AG on Wednesday. During an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), the shareholding sta
Ocean carriers achieved a six-month high for liner service reliability in May, according to data provided by Drewry’s Carrier Performance Insight. The most reliable carrier in May was Hong Kong-based Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), which had an on-time average of 81.1%, very closely followed
