News

PSA Thailand, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the global port operator PSA International, have announced a joint venture to develop and operate the Thai Prosperity container terminal in Bangkok, along with locally based logistics firm SCG. The two companies have formed...

After a period of very dry weather, the region around the Panama Canal has recently received enough rain to enable bigger vessels to travel through it.This year's lack of rainfall had resulted in many reductions in the draft size of vessels permitted through the...

The 2019 instalment of the UniOcean Lines Asia Europe Service Directory has just been released, which includes all major inbound and outbound loops and services operating in the trade, being the most comprehensive sailing schedule available on the market. The...

Global container movements increased in volume during 2018 by 4 percent to 146.4 million twenty foot equivalent containers (TEU), which was down on the 5.6% growth that was witnessed the previous year. A slowdown of the global economy, caused by escalating trade...

The port of Shanghai is still the world's largest container port, however, recent data reveals its lead over its closest rival Singapore tightened last year.The famous container port faces the East China Sea and was first opened in 1842. Shanghai port container...

From the end of March, considerable changes to carriers and alliance schedules on the Asia-North Europe route will be implemented, resulting in longer average transit times as vessel sailing speeds continue to be reduced further.The new schedules will mean that the...

A new service connecting northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Australia and South-east Asia, is being collectively launched by Ocean Alliance member CMA CGM and the 2M’s MSC.Set to launch in September, the partnership will see the carriers upgrade their respective Nemo...

On March 2nd 2019, tariffs across $200 billion worth of goods from China to the US are set to rise from 10% to 25%, unless a deal can be reached between the countries. According to President Donald Trump, there is a possibility that the US will extend the March 2nd...

According to the loadstar, a number of blank sailings are being introduced by carriers over the next few weeks, as early indications suggest that post Chinese New Year volumes will be lower than originally expected.The 2M Alliance have announced that the Feb/Mar loops...

The arrival of more 20,000 teu-plus megaships has seen a change of market share from Germany’s hub gateway container port of Hamburg to neighbours Rotterdam and Antwerp.A recent report is projecting a 5.1% downturn in container imports for Hamburg in the first quarter...

The steamship alliances have called for an extension on their block exemption agreement with the European Union this week, as they seek approval to continue their arrangements for another 5 years.The EU commission approved the current exemption in 2014, which allows...

A bill was passed this week in the US, which provides the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) with more power to regulate ocean carrier alliances. The revised Shipping Act was approved by President Trump this week and provides protection to container terminal operators,...

Accordingly to Bloomberg and a report by economists Citigroup, the next round of duty tariffs to be applied by President Trump are likely to be the costliest yet for US consumers. The report suggests that the US are preparing to announce further tariff increases as...

The 2M Alliance, led by Maersk and MSC, have reportedly confirmed plans to restore their jointly operated ‘AE-2/Swan’ Far East - Europe service, after previously suspending the service for three months. The loop traditionally operates between China and Korea in Asia...

The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) are introducing new low sulphur regulations with effect from January 2020, which will effectively mean that shipping lines will have to reduce emissions by 85%. The regulation aims to reduce the environmental impact of...

  This week America imposed new tariffs on $200 billion worth of imports from China, reigniting a trade war between the two nations, which has resulted in China announcing $60 billion worth of tariffs on US products today. The US tariffs confirmed on Monday were...

A super typhoon is building in the Pacific and is forecast to impact the Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong and South China during the next few days. Typhoon Mangkhut, named after a fruit in Thailand, is forecast to hit the Philippines on Wednesday, with winds expected to...

After the early part of this year saw carriers trying to cope with overcapacity on the Trans Pacific trade, recent weeks have seen a complete turnaround as the peak season gets underway. The trade is now witnessing container spot rates rising as exporters struggle to...

Felixstowe Port continues to suffer with significant operational delays since introducing their new IT operating system back in June. OOCL are the latest carrier to move business away from the port. They have just confirmed their NET service between Europe and Turkey...

  The impact of global warming, and subsequent melting of Arctic ice, could potentially lead to a new shipping route between Asia and Europe. The Northern Sea Route (NSR), which runs along the Russian Arctic Coast, is being utilised this week by a container ship...

  UniOcean group partners - CP Training Services - have just launched their new look training website, which provides an exciting range of supply chain training courses designed for managers and aspiring managers. CP Training Services have been the go-to supply...

Increases in container shipping rates, in the Transpacific and Asia-European trades, are expected to kick in during the next week or two, as peak season gets under way. The Transpacific trade is expected to see increases of between 8-12% after a number of carriers...

2M alliance partners - MSC and Maersk - recently announced plans for a strategic cooperation with Israeli container line Zim, which means the three carriers will share capacity between Asia and the US East Coast from September. The parties will share five loops, which...

Operating system delays, that have haunted Felixstowe Port over recent weeks, appear to be set to continue, as MAERSK Line have announced they are moving two 2M alliance loops to the Port of Liverpool for a three month period. The first two vessels diverted to...

North Vietnam has recently opened its first deep-sea container terminal in the North, with some steamship lines expected to make calls with larger vessels by the end of this year. Haiphong International Container Terminal (HICT) has been built to serve the booming...

  2M partners - Maersk and MSC - have announced they will be suspending their Eagle service indefinitely from next week, in addition to rationalising port rotations on three other services. The decision to cut the service - on the Trans-Pacific trade - is in...

Laem Chabang's new terminal began operations last week when the MOL Grandeur became the first vessel to call. The $600m terminal is the third at Thailand’s major container port and the facility is expected to pave the way for a 40% capacity increase in the largest...

This week saw another bout in the US/China trade spat, as President Trump ordered for $200 billion in Chinese imports to be identified for 10 percent additional duty - with another $200 billion after that if Beijing retaliates. Trump had previously promised to place...

  A container ship, travelling from Taiwan to Sydney, lost more than 80 containers overboard after being hit by heavy swells last week. The vessel was 30km off the New South Wales coast when the loss occurred and the debris, which included car parts, nappies and...

According to recent reports, the port of Hamburg is starting to fall behind neighbouring European container terminals, due to its inability to maximise capacity. Figures from the first quarter of this year show that the German port has made virtually no headway on...

  United States retailers are currently rushing to import merchandise from China to avoid the prospects of billions of dollars of extra taxes being incurred on Chinese products. With proposed tariffs yet to be officially imposed by Trump's administration,...

  A severe shortage of truck drivers in the United States is continuing to drive increases, with trucking costs reportedly rising between 8 and 15% last quarter. The US driver shortage has been a concern for years, but the strengthened economy, increased demand...

  Recent suggestions have indicated that the current spat between Donald Trump and China may be having an affect on COSCO Shipping’s takeover of fellow steamship line – OOCL. The Chinese state-owned shipping line had moved closer to incorporating the...

The latest instalment of the UniOcean Lines Asian Service Directory has just been released, which includes all inbound and outbound loops and services currently available in the trade. In total, the in-depth schedule offers all 19 Asian origin loops, that are...

  ONE Line (Ocean Network Express) are gearing up for their official April launch with a recent order of new containers and a new website. The newly branded shipping line, being created by the merging of the three major Japanese carriers K-Line, NYK and MOL, have...

      UniOcean Lines have recently confirmed their joint sponsorship of the Fence Club’s bi-annual charity football match, which is being held in Hong Kong in January. The event pits a team of 11 Toy Importers against a Hong Kong Club Select XI and is...

      A recent report by Drewry suggests that the current desire to order and build large container ships is being driven by prestige rather than economic forecasts. The maritime research company highlighted that both MSC and CMA CGM have orders in...

      Chinese shipping group COSCO have been making financial news recently with both overseas investment and new funding. COSCO Shipping Ports extend its international network of port interests, with the acquisition of a stake in a Valencia port...

      In a landmark decision last week, the US Supreme Court upheld an original ruling that 'General Average' should apply to costs incurred when ships are hijacked by pirates. The dispute relates to the vessel 'Longchamp', a petroleum gas carrier, that...

      Extreme storms in South Africa last week have caused major damage to the port of Durban and its infrastructure, which have inevitably resulted in carriers adjusting schedules. According to the Transnet Ports Authority it is still too early to...

      Recent factory closures and stricter import controls on waste paper and plastics, driven by China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP), are believed to be having a detrimental impact on the waste product industry. China has recently been...

      Delays from Bangladesh are set to continue with an increase in backlogs since work stopped during Eid al-Adha (The Sacrifice Feast). Congestion at Chittagong port has heightened considerably in recent months, with the average time in port for...

      Hurricane Irma ranked as one of the most powerful Atlantic hurricanes on record, wreaking havoc across the US South Eastern States and The Caribbean. While there may be some delays to logistics in the region, the major US ports are all expected to...

      Please be advised that Typhoon Hato is approaching Southern China, and is expected to make landfall in Guangdong province tomorrow. The tropical cyclone has continued to intensify in the past few hours and may pass within 100 kilometers south of...