<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">ARTHUR J. GALLAGHER ACQUIRES BROKERAGEROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. - Arthur J. Gallagher &amp; Co. said</div>

ARTHUR J. GALLAGHER ACQUIRES BROKERAGEROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. - Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. said

<div>ARTHUR J. GALLAGHERACQUIRES BROKERAGEROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. - Arthur J. Gallagher &amp; Co. said Wednesday that it acquired almost all of the assets of the Boston Insurance Center Inc., an insurance brokerage based in North Quincy, Mass.Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.Robert E. Gallagher, president and chief executive of Arthur J. Gallagher, said: Our corporate strategic plan calls for expanding our network of risk management offices in the Northeast.Arthur J. Gallagher is an insurance brokerage and risk management services firm.AUDEMARS' OFFER TO BUYFREMONT GROUP EXPIRESSANTA MONICA, Calif. - Audemars' offer to buy Fremont Insurance Group from its parent, Fremont General...

ARTHUR J. GALLAGHER ACQUIRES BROKERAGEROLLING MEADOWS, Ill. - Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. said Wednesday that it acquired almost all of the assets of the Boston Insurance Center Inc., an insurance brokerage based in North Quincy, Mass. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Robert E. Gallagher, president and chief executive of Arthur J. Gallagher, said: Our corporate strategic plan calls for expanding our network of risk management offices in the Northeast. Arthur J. Gallagher is an insurance brokerage and risk management services firm. AUDEMARS' OFFER TO BUY FREMONT GROUP EXPIRES SANTA MONICA, Calif. - Audemars' offer to buy Fremont Insurance Group from its parent, Fremont General Corp., has expired. James A. McIntyre, president and chief executive at Fremont General, said the application submitted to the California Insurance Department on March 7 was withdrawn. Audemars is a company that was formed by the management of Fremont Insurance. PACIFIC MUTUAL LIFE FORMS SUBSIDIARY FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. - Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Co. Thursday announced the creation of a new subsidiary, PM Group Life Insurance Co., to handle its group business. The new group benefits subsidiary, which is licensed in 27 states, will give Pacific Mutual more flexibility in competing in the group insurance market, said Harry Bubb, Pacific Mutual's chairman and chief executive. The company also announced that G.W. (Kim) Kimmerle and William L. Ferris were named chairman and chief executive, and president and chief operations officer, respectively. Both held similar positions in Pacific Mutual's employee benefits area. While other companies are moving away from the group benefits industry, Pacific Mutual is boldly reaffirming its dedication to the evolving market through the creation of PM Group, Mr. Bubb said. LIFE FIRM GETS BACKING TO REVISE OWNERSHIP MINNEAPOLIS - An administrative law judge recommended that the Minnesota commerce commissioner give his approval to Northwestern National Life Insurance Co.'s plan to convert from a combined stock and mutual ownership to all stock ownership. The recommendation also would include the formation of an upstream holding company.

INSURANCE BRIEFS

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">The private equity fund that operates New York-New Jersey’s largest marine terminal agreed to the Port Authority’s new requirement to carry the cost of maintaining berths and wharves. </div>

The private equity fund that operates New York-New Jersey’s largest marine terminal agreed to the Port Authority’s new requirement to carry the cost of maintaining berths and wharves.

<div class="phx-topic">Infrastructure fund Macquarie has renewed its lease of the largest container terminal at the Port of New York and New Jersey through 2063, agreeing to the port’s new terms for tenant terminals that include taking over the upkeep of its wharves and berths and pledging to increase capacity at the busiest East Coast seaport. The board of commissioners for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Thursday voted to approve the amendment to Macquarie’s existing lease for Maher Terminals that was set to expire in 2030. The Port Authority entered negotiations for a new lease last year due to the expected liquidation date for the specific fund that owns Maher and the potential for a sale of the terminal to another operator. Investors in the fund, however, <a href="https://www.joc.com/article/macquarie-looks-to-keep-hold-on-ny-nj-terminal-amid-lease-talks-6043502">opted not to liquidate</a>. While <a href="https://www.joc.com/article/ssa-marine-looks-to-expand-into-new-us-ports-with-deal-for-ceres-5221078">the fund shed its stake in Ceres Terminals in 2023</a>, Macquarie still owns the Long Beach Container Terminal and ITS Terminal in Long Beach and has stakes in Yusen Terminals in Los Angeles and TraPac terminals, which operates in Los Angeles and Oakland. The Maher lease is the latest to be revamped by the Port Authority. Following <a href="https://www.joc.com/article/cma-cgm-adds-terminal-assets-in-new-yorknew-jersey-5217593">CMA CGM’s 2022 purchase of Global Container Terminals’ US assets</a>, the agency has changed the lease terms to move away from a flat annual rent with cost escalators to a rent that is based on actual container throughput, subject to an annual minimum. Terminals will also have to share with the Port Authority any excess demurrage revenue and commit to the agency’s environmental and sustainability goals. <a href="https://www.joc.com/article/apm-to-spend-500-million-to-enhance-cargo-handling-at-elizabeth-terminal-5969027">APM Terminals signed a similar lease agreement in March</a>, extending its tenancy of the Elizabeth Marine Terminal to 2062. <h3>Maher could face $2 billion in wharf maintenance costs</h3>Along with the new terms, the biggest financial burden for terminal operators under the new leases will be responsibility for maintaining their berths and wharves, which was previously handled by the Port Authority. Some of the berths and wharves at New York/New Jersey are 60 years old, with many of the wood pilings also being damaged by marine borer worms. Port Executive Director Beth Rooney said Thursday the combined bill for maintaining the berths and wharves at GCT, APM and Maher could reach $6 billion. With 10,000 linear feet of berth space, Maher could face as much as $2 billion in costs for berth and wharf maintenance. The new leases also include commitments to increase capacity as part of the Port Authority’s expectations that container volumes will double by 2050. Rooney said Maher committed to “demand induced” capacity improvements over the course of the new lease.Maher, which handled 1.8 million container lifts in 2024, is the largest terminal at the port with 450 acres of space. However, like other terminals in New Jersey, it is land constrained with little available acreage near the port. Despite the land constraints, Rooney said Maher could eventually double its capacity by switching over from using straddle carriers to rubber tire gantry cranes, which would allow higher density stacks. “By having a 33-year lease, it gives Maher the lanes they need to invest in additional infrastructure and equipment and amortize that cost,” Rooney said. “Our estimates are that within Maher’s footprint they could almost double the capacity of the terminal through densification.” Contact Michael Angell at <a href="mailto:michael.angell@spglobal.com">michael.angell@spglobal.com</a></div>

Infrastructure fund Macquarie has renewed its lease of the largest container terminal at the Port of New York and New Jersey through 2063, agreeing to the port’s new terms for tenant terminals that include taking over the upkeep of its wharves and berths and pledging to increase capacity at the busiest East Coast seaport. The board of commissioners for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey on Thursday voted to approve the amendment to Macquarie’s existing lease for Maher Terminals that was set to expire in 2030. The Port Authority entered negotiations for a new lease last year due to the expected liquidation date for the specific fund that owns Maher and the potential for a sale of the terminal to another operator. Investors in the fund, however, opted not to liquidate . While the fund shed its stake in Ceres Terminals in 2023 , Macquarie still owns the Long Beach Container Terminal and ITS Terminal in Long Beach and has stakes in Yusen Terminals in Los Angeles and TraPac terminals, which operates in Los Angeles and Oakland. The Maher lease is the latest to be revamped by the Port Authority. Following CMA CGM’s 2022 purchase of Global Container Terminals’ US assets , the agency has changed the lease terms to move away from a flat annual rent with cost escalators to a rent that is based on actual container throughput, subject to an annual minimum. Terminals will also have to share with the Port Authority any excess demurrage revenue and commit to the agency’s environmental and sustainability goals. APM Terminals signed a similar lease agreement in March , extending its tenancy of the Elizabeth Marine Terminal to 2062. Maher could face $2 billion in wharf maintenance costs Along with the new terms, the biggest financial burden for terminal operators under the new leases will be responsibility for maintaining their berths and wharves, which was previously handled by the Port Authority. Some of the berths and wharves at New York/New Jersey are 60 years old, with many of the wood pilings also being damaged by marine borer worms. Port Executive Director Beth Rooney said Thursday the combined bill for maintaining the berths and wharves at GCT, APM and Maher could reach $6 billion. With 10,000 linear feet of berth space, Maher could face as much as $2 billion in costs for berth and wharf maintenance. The new leases also include commitments to increase capacity as part of the Port Authority’s expectations that container volumes will double by 2050. Rooney said Maher committed to “demand induced” capacity improvements over the course of the new lease. Maher, which handled 1.8 million container lifts in 2024, is the largest terminal at the port with 450 acres of space. However, like other terminals in New Jersey, it is land constrained with little available acreage near the port. Despite the land constraints, Rooney said Maher could eventually double its capacity by switching over from using straddle carriers to rubber tire gantry cranes, which would allow higher density stacks. “By having a 33-year lease, it gives Maher the lanes they need to invest in additional infrastructure and equipment and amortize that cost,” Rooney said. “Our estimates are that within Maher’s footprint they could almost double the capacity of the terminal through densification.” Contact Michael Angell at michael.angell@spglobal.com

Port infrastructure

Marine terminals

North American ports

Macquarie seals deal for new Maher lease at NY/NJ through 2063

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">The US’ de minimis program, which ended in May, allowed importers one shipment per day valued at $800 or less to clear customs duty-free and with minimal data elements. </div>

The US’ de minimis program, which ended in May, allowed importers one shipment per day valued at $800 or less to clear customs duty-free and with minimal data elements.

Feature image

<div class="phx-topic">US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has collected more than $1 billion in duties on low-value imports since the May end of the duty-free de minimis provision. The duties collected were generated from more than 246 million low-cost, US-bound shipments since the Trump administration began phasing out the de minimis provision, also known as Section 321 shipments, earlier this year, CBP said in a statement Wednesday. The US’ de minimis program allowed importers one shipment per day valued at $800 or less to clear customs duty-free and with minimal data elements. “Reaching the $1 billion milestone so quickly shows just how much revenue was slipping away under the old rules,” CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said in the statement. “With this change, American businesses don’t have to compete with duty-free foreign goods, and CBP has stronger oversight of what comes into our country.” The Trump administration began phasing out the de minimis rule on May 2 on shipments from China and Hong Kong and extended the ban globally on Aug. 29. The value threshold of the de minimis provision was increased from $200 to $800 in 2016, based largely on lobbying from parcel integrators interested in facilitating more frictionless e-commerce cross-border shipments. The higher threshold has been cited as the key driver in the huge growth of those shipments, especially in tandem with CBP’s Type 86 entry program, which allowed de minimis shipments to be cleared faster if moved via intermediaries that partnered with the agency to provide more robust details on the characteristics of the shipments than normal Section 321 entries. Low-cost e-commerce giants such as China-based Shein and Temu have used the higher threshold to grow revenue exponentially during and after the pandemic. <h3>Safety element </h3>US customs brokers have long argued that raising the de minimis value threshold created more security vulnerability for CBP, given that the limited customs entries associated with 321 filings were not robust enough. Customs brokers lost revenue because of broader use of the de minimis rule, as those shipments did not require formal customs entry, a process that brokers generally charge a fee for. CBP in its statement touted the safety element of ending the de minimis rule, saying seizures of unsafe and non-compliant low-value goods have increased by 82%, including counterfeits, narcotics, faulty electronics and goods containing hazardous chemicals. “With increased visibility into data for these low-value shipments, we’re better equipped to detect and disrupt criminal networks from smuggling drugs, counterfeits, and other illegal items — making our country safer,” Susan Thomas, acting executive assistant commissioner for CBP’s Office of Trade, said in the statement. The amount collected in duties from shipments once protected under the de minimis provision is a fraction of the overall amount of tariff revenue collected by CBP in 2025. The Trump administration stated in recent court filings that it has collected more than $125 billion in tariffs since the White House announced global tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in the spring. But the legality of those tariffs is being challenged before the US Supreme Court, and a ruling against the administration could trigger massive refunds to importers. Contact Eric Johnson at <a href="mailto:eric.johnson@spglobal.com">eric.johnson@spglobal.com</a>. </div>

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has collected more than $1 billion in duties on low-value imports since the May end of the duty-free de minimis provision. The duties collected were generated from more than 246 million low-cost, US-bound shipments since the Trump administration began phasing out the de minimis provision, also known as Section 321 shipments, earlier this year, CBP said in a statement Wednesday. The US’ de minimis program allowed importers one shipment per day valued at $800 or less to clear customs duty-free and with minimal data elements. “Reaching the $1 billion milestone so quickly shows just how much revenue was slipping away under the old rules,” CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott said in the statement. “With this change, American businesses don’t have to compete with duty-free foreign goods, and CBP has stronger oversight of what comes into our country.” The Trump administration began phasing out the de minimis rule on May 2 on shipments from China and Hong Kong and extended the ban globally on Aug. 29. The value threshold of the de minimis provision was increased from $200 to $800 in 2016, based largely on lobbying from parcel integrators interested in facilitating more frictionless e-commerce cross-border shipments. The higher threshold has been cited as the key driver in the huge growth of those shipments, especially in tandem with CBP’s Type 86 entry program, which allowed de minimis shipments to be cleared faster if moved via intermediaries that partnered with the agency to provide more robust details on the characteristics of the shipments than normal Section 321 entries. Low-cost e-commerce giants such as China-based Shein and Temu have used the higher threshold to grow revenue exponentially during and after the pandemic. Safety element US customs brokers have long argued that raising the de minimis value threshold created more security vulnerability for CBP, given that the limited customs entries associated with 321 filings were not robust enough. Customs brokers lost revenue because of broader use of the de minimis rule, as those shipments did not require formal customs entry, a process that brokers generally charge a fee for. CBP in its statement touted the safety element of ending the de minimis rule, saying seizures of unsafe and non-compliant low-value goods have increased by 82%, including counterfeits, narcotics, faulty electronics and goods containing hazardous chemicals. “With increased visibility into data for these low-value shipments, we’re better equipped to detect and disrupt criminal networks from smuggling drugs, counterfeits, and other illegal items — making our country safer,” Susan Thomas, acting executive assistant commissioner for CBP’s Office of Trade, said in the statement. The amount collected in duties from shipments once protected under the de minimis provision is a fraction of the overall amount of tariff revenue collected by CBP in 2025. The Trump administration stated in recent court filings that it has collected more than $125 billion in tariffs since the White House announced global tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in the spring. But the legality of those tariffs is being challenged before the US Supreme Court, and a ruling against the administration could trigger massive refunds to importers. Contact Eric Johnson at eric.johnson@spglobal.com .

Transport, Trade and Regulation News

Revenue from low-value shipment duties crosses $1 billion mark: CBP

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">The resistance came primarily from Expeditors International, with sources saying the forwarder flagged ongoing uncertainty around the insurance premium implications of a Suez routing. </div>

The resistance came primarily from Expeditors International, with sources saying the forwarder flagged ongoing uncertainty around the insurance premium implications of a Suez routing.

<div class="phx-topic">Hapag-Lloyd has dropped plans to reinstate a Suez Canal routing for its India-US East Coast “TPI” service after failing to secure sufficient customer backing due to cargo insurance concerns, local industry sources, including within Hapag-Lloyd India, told the Journal of Commerce. The pushback came primarily from Expeditors International, said to be the German carrier’s largest freight forwarder account for India-US volumes. The US-based forwarder is understood to have flagged ongoing uncertainty around the insurance premium implications of a Suez routing in response to Hapag-Lloyd’s outreach for customer feedback. “Expeditors was unable to persuade many of its core shipper clients to sign on to a letter of intent framework that would have required them to absorb terrorism and war-risk liabilities for vessels transiting the Red Sea,” said a Hapag-Lloyd India executive who didn’t want to be identified. “Forwarders without this requirement are more willing to ship as they are able to manage the necessary insurance coverage for Suez transits.” When contacted by the Journal of Commerce for comment, a global spokesperson for Hapag-Lloyd said no timeline has been set for a return to the Suez route. “We continue to monitor developments very closely and maintain a detailed plan for a potential return, but any decision will only be taken when the security situation is sustainably safe,” the spokesperson said. “We need to see constant stability and tangible progress before routing vessels back through the Suez Canal.” Expeditors’ support is critical as it moves approximately 400 TEUs per week on Hapag-Lloyd’s India-US network, mostly on the TPI. The carrier is believed to have received positive signals for a Suez return from other major global forwarders such as DSV, Kuehne + Nagel and C.H. Robinson. Sources across European carriers agree that extra insurance exposure remains a sticking point in customer engagement on Suez resumption efforts. US retailer Costco is said to be among the Indian goods buyers reluctant to commit cargo support for Suez transits. Hapag-Lloyd is a predominant operator on the India-USEC trade. Out of an estimated 1.3 million TEUs shipped from India to the US this year through November, the carrier handled approximately 303,500 TEUs, representing about 23% of the market, according to industry data. <h3>Carriers weigh Red Sea return </h3>Ocean carriers have been weighing a resumption of mainline Red Sea/Suez Canal transits in the aftermath of what has been a shaky ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, but most shipping executives say the security situation is still too unsettled, forcing continued diversions around southern Africa. The Premier Alliance <a href="https://www.joc.com/article/premier-alliances-2026-network-to-maintain-red-sea-diversions-6134989">unveiled its updated 2026 network this week</a> with services from Asia to Europe, the Mediterranean and the US East Coast continuing to divert around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid passing through the Red Sea. Still, Ocean Network Express <a href="https://www.joc.com/article/one-returns-to-red-sea-under-slot-charter-deal-with-thailands-rcl-partners-6136866">confirmed Wednesday</a> it will make a tentative return to the Red Sea cargo market under a slot charter agreement with three regional carriers. Sunil Vaswani, executive director of the Container Shipping Lines Association (India), said while there have been some eastbound sailing attempts over the Suez, most lines want to “test the Red Sea waters” ahead of implementing drastic network changes, given the persistent geopolitical volatility. Meanwhile, CMA CGM <a href="https://www.joc.com/article/stretched-logistics-capacity-in-europe-threatened-by-red-sea-return-6129492">is set to resume a Suez-based rotation for its India-USEC “Indamex” service</a> from January, with the first westbound sailing under the “normal” itinerary known to be the 6,039-TEU CMA CGM Verdi departing India’s Nhava Sheva Port Jan. 18 and transiting the Suez Canal Feb. 8, available data indicates. The French carrier plans to switch over to a full Suez rotation for the Indamex in the second quarter of 2026 as it continues to realign capacity deployments. Contact Bency Mathew at <a href="mailto:bencyvmathew@gmail.com">bencyvmathew@gmail.com</a>. </div>

Hapag-Lloyd has dropped plans to reinstate a Suez Canal routing for its India-US East Coast “TPI” service after failing to secure sufficient customer backing due to cargo insurance concerns, local industry sources, including within Hapag-Lloyd India, told the Journal of Commerce. The pushback came primarily from Expeditors International, said to be the German carrier’s largest freight forwarder account for India-US volumes. The US-based forwarder is understood to have flagged ongoing uncertainty around the insurance premium implications of a Suez routing in response to Hapag-Lloyd’s outreach for customer feedback. “Expeditors was unable to persuade many of its core shipper clients to sign on to a letter of intent framework that would have required them to absorb terrorism and war-risk liabilities for vessels transiting the Red Sea,” said a Hapag-Lloyd India executive who didn’t want to be identified. “Forwarders without this requirement are more willing to ship as they are able to manage the necessary insurance coverage for Suez transits.” When contacted by the Journal of Commerce for comment, a global spokesperson for Hapag-Lloyd said no timeline has been set for a return to the Suez route. “We continue to monitor developments very closely and maintain a detailed plan for a potential return, but any decision will only be taken when the security situation is sustainably safe,” the spokesperson said. “We need to see constant stability and tangible progress before routing vessels back through the Suez Canal.” Expeditors’ support is critical as it moves approximately 400 TEUs per week on Hapag-Lloyd’s India-US network, mostly on the TPI. The carrier is believed to have received positive signals for a Suez return from other major global forwarders such as DSV, Kuehne + Nagel and C.H. Robinson. Sources across European carriers agree that extra insurance exposure remains a sticking point in customer engagement on Suez resumption efforts. US retailer Costco is said to be among the Indian goods buyers reluctant to commit cargo support for Suez transits. Hapag-Lloyd is a predominant operator on the India-USEC trade. Out of an estimated 1.3 million TEUs shipped from India to the US this year through November, the carrier handled approximately 303,500 TEUs, representing about 23% of the market, according to industry data. Carriers weigh Red Sea return Ocean carriers have been weighing a resumption of mainline Red Sea/Suez Canal transits in the aftermath of what has been a shaky ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, but most shipping executives say the security situation is still too unsettled, forcing continued diversions around southern Africa. The Premier Alliance unveiled its updated 2026 network this week with services from Asia to Europe, the Mediterranean and the US East Coast continuing to divert around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid passing through the Red Sea. Still, Ocean Network Express confirmed Wednesday it will make a tentative return to the Red Sea cargo market under a slot charter agreement with three regional carriers. Sunil Vaswani, executive director of the Container Shipping Lines Association (India), said while there have been some eastbound sailing attempts over the Suez, most lines want to “test the Red Sea waters” ahead of implementing drastic network changes, given the persistent geopolitical volatility. Meanwhile, CMA CGM is set to resume a Suez-based rotation for its India-USEC “Indamex” service from January, with the first westbound sailing under the “normal” itinerary known to be the 6,039-TEU CMA CGM Verdi departing India’s Nhava Sheva Port Jan. 18 and transiting the Suez Canal Feb. 8, available data indicates. The French carrier plans to switch over to a full Suez rotation for the Indamex in the second quarter of 2026 as it continues to realign capacity deployments. Contact Bency Mathew at bencyvmathew@gmail.com .

Container lines

Trans-Atlantic

Asia-Europe

Container Shipping News

Maritime

Hapag-Lloyd nixes Suez return for India-USEC loop amid customer pushback

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">While the alliance will strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia, the refined network to be rolled out in April has removed several direct calls in other parts of Asia. </div>

While the alliance will strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia, the refined network to be rolled out in April has removed several direct calls in other parts of Asia.

<div class="phx-topic">The Asia-Europe trade lane of the Premier Alliance’s revised 2026 network is edging closer to a hub-and-spoke model, with some loops having just five ports in their rotation. While the alliance of HMM, Ocean Network Express (ONE) and Yang Ming will strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia, the refined network that was unveiled earlier this week and will be put into play in April has removed several direct calls in other parts of Asia, according to Alphaliner. “This will be compensated for by more feeder services calling at Busan for transshipment to and from Kaohsiung, Xiamen and the Japanese ports of Tokyo, Kobe and Nagoya,” the analyst wrote in its latest newsletter. The Gemini Cooperation alliance of Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd uses a hub-and-spoke approach, with its east-west network consisting of 29 mainline services and 28 intra-regional shuttle services. The carriers wholly or partly control the hub terminals where Gemini ships call, with Maersk controlling most of the shuttles that make up the spokes. “While not adopting the hub-and-spoke principle applied by the Gemini Cooperation, some [Premier Alliance] Asia-North Europe loops will only have five ports in their rotation,” Alphaliner noted, adding that the Asia-Europe trade was most affected by the network revision. For example, the Asia-North Europe leg will be maintained as a dedicated Southeast Asia-North Europe FE1 loop calling at five ports — Laem Chabang (Thailand), Cai Mep (Vietnam), Singapore, Rotterdam and Hamburg before returning to Singapore and Laem Chabang. The FE4 loop from April will also have a limited rotation, with calls at Shanghai and Busan on the Asian side and at Rotterdam, Hamburg and Le Havre in Europe. On the FE3 loop, Busan, Shanghai and Xiamen will be removed, with the Asian rotation including stops at Qingdao, Ningbo, Yantian and Singapore. The European rotation will become Algeciras (Spain), Felixstowe (replacing Southampton), Hamburg and Antwerp (replacing Rotterdam). Another change is that the vessels will return directly from Antwerp to Qingdao, skipping current eastbound calls at Singapore and Yantian. In the North Europe-Asia-North America West Coast FP2 pendulum service, the European rotation will only include Southampton, Rotterdam and a new second eastbound call at Southampton. <h3>Schedule reliability needs improvement </h3>The shortening of some rotations is aimed at enhancing the Premier Alliance’s schedule reliability, an area that requires substantial improvement. On-time performance data from eeSea by Xeneta shows the alliance carriers’ global reliability was at 36% in the first quarter but slid to 22% by the third quarter before edging up to 23% thus far in the fourth quarter. Average ship delays began the year at 2.7 days in the first quarter, but that has almost doubled to 5.2 days in the fourth quarter. Peter Sand, chief analyst at Xeneta, said there was certainly room for improvement in Premier’s on-time performance. “Shippers will hold Premier Alliance responsible in 2026 for their claim that enhanced service reliability will be delivered through an optimized global network,” Sand told the Journal of Commerce. In <a href="https://www.joc.com/article/premier-alliances-2026-network-to-maintain-red-sea-diversions-6134989">a joint statement earlier this week</a>, Premier Alliance members said the updated network aimed to “deliver improved service reliability by means of an optimized global structure.” “With the Premier Alliance calling fewer ports on individual services, that could prove to be one pathway to better on-time performance,” Sand noted. <div class="wrapper-narrow"><dynamic-object type="jocchartid" resource-id="327db686-17bc-4c86-bc4e-86d341c2425a"></dynamic-object></div>Gemini Cooperation continues to lead global schedule reliability scores, recording 88.6% on-time performance across September and October, according to data from Sea-Intelligence Maritime Analysis. The standalone Mediterranean Shipping Co. was at 77.5%, Ocean Alliance scored 65% and Premier Alliance recorded 64.6% over the two months. Data from eeSea shows overall industry schedule reliability on the Asia-North Europe trade lane in November was 32%, up from a 2025 low of just 18% in August. Asia-Mediterranean on-time performance of 30% in November, while still at a low level, was also a substantial improvement on the 15% recorded in August. Contact Greg Knowler at <a href="mailto:greg.knowler@spglobal.com">greg.knowler@spglobal.com</a>. </div>

The Asia-Europe trade lane of the Premier Alliance’s revised 2026 network is edging closer to a hub-and-spoke model, with some loops having just five ports in their rotation. While the alliance of HMM, Ocean Network Express (ONE) and Yang Ming will strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia, the refined network that was unveiled earlier this week and will be put into play in April has removed several direct calls in other parts of Asia, according to Alphaliner. “This will be compensated for by more feeder services calling at Busan for transshipment to and from Kaohsiung, Xiamen and the Japanese ports of Tokyo, Kobe and Nagoya,” the analyst wrote in its latest newsletter. The Gemini Cooperation alliance of Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd uses a hub-and-spoke approach, with its east-west network consisting of 29 mainline services and 28 intra-regional shuttle services. The carriers wholly or partly control the hub terminals where Gemini ships call, with Maersk controlling most of the shuttles that make up the spokes. “While not adopting the hub-and-spoke principle applied by the Gemini Cooperation, some [Premier Alliance] Asia-North Europe loops will only have five ports in their rotation,” Alphaliner noted, adding that the Asia-Europe trade was most affected by the network revision. For example, the Asia-North Europe leg will be maintained as a dedicated Southeast Asia-North Europe FE1 loop calling at five ports — Laem Chabang (Thailand), Cai Mep (Vietnam), Singapore, Rotterdam and Hamburg before returning to Singapore and Laem Chabang. The FE4 loop from April will also have a limited rotation, with calls at Shanghai and Busan on the Asian side and at Rotterdam, Hamburg and Le Havre in Europe. On the FE3 loop, Busan, Shanghai and Xiamen will be removed, with the Asian rotation including stops at Qingdao, Ningbo, Yantian and Singapore. The European rotation will become Algeciras (Spain), Felixstowe (replacing Southampton), Hamburg and Antwerp (replacing Rotterdam). Another change is that the vessels will return directly from Antwerp to Qingdao, skipping current eastbound calls at Singapore and Yantian. In the North Europe-Asia-North America West Coast FP2 pendulum service, the European rotation will only include Southampton, Rotterdam and a new second eastbound call at Southampton. Schedule reliability needs improvement The shortening of some rotations is aimed at enhancing the Premier Alliance’s schedule reliability, an area that requires substantial improvement. On-time performance data from eeSea by Xeneta shows the alliance carriers’ global reliability was at 36% in the first quarter but slid to 22% by the third quarter before edging up to 23% thus far in the fourth quarter. Average ship delays began the year at 2.7 days in the first quarter, but that has almost doubled to 5.2 days in the fourth quarter. Peter Sand, chief analyst at Xeneta, said there was certainly room for improvement in Premier’s on-time performance. “Shippers will hold Premier Alliance responsible in 2026 for their claim that enhanced service reliability will be delivered through an optimized global network,” Sand told the Journal of Commerce. In a joint statement earlier this week , Premier Alliance members said the updated network aimed to “deliver improved service reliability by means of an optimized global structure.” “With the Premier Alliance calling fewer ports on individual services, that could prove to be one pathway to better on-time performance,” Sand noted. Gemini Cooperation continues to lead global schedule reliability scores, recording 88.6% on-time performance across September and October, according to data from Sea-Intelligence Maritime Analysis. The standalone Mediterranean Shipping Co. was at 77.5%, Ocean Alliance scored 65% and Premier Alliance recorded 64.6% over the two months. Data from eeSea shows overall industry schedule reliability on the Asia-North Europe trade lane in November was 32%, up from a 2025 low of just 18% in August. Asia-Mediterranean on-time performance of 30% in November, while still at a low level, was also a substantial improvement on the 15% recorded in August. Contact Greg Knowler at greg.knowler@spglobal.com .

Premier Alliance trims Asia-Europe port calls in new 2026 network

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">Port officials say the next Army Corps spending bill needs to make sure that dredging funds set aside under a 2020 law actually get distributed. </div>

Port officials say the next Army Corps spending bill needs to make sure that dredging funds set aside under a 2020 law actually get distributed.

<div class="phx-topic">Large US ports face the prospect of less federal support for dredging and maintenance projects next year if Congress doesn’t ensure fairer distribution of monies from a government-run maintenance fund, lawmakers were told Wednesday. Port of Long Beach Chief Operating Officer Noel Hacegaba told the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that Congress needs to require the US Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE’s) next spending authorization to comply with a law passed during its 2020 authorization that aimed at more even distribution of dredging funds. That law, known as Section 102, aimed to distribute at least 12% of the federal Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund back to so-called “donor and energy ports,” which contribute about half of the funds. Hacegaba’s testimony comes as Congress looks to draft a biennial spending authorization for the USACE. The Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund is expected to reach $7.8 billion next year. Sen. John Kennedy (R-Louisiana) introduced a spending bill earlier this month that would require the USACE to use $417 million from the trust toward Section 102 funding in 2026. The House version of the next USACE, however, does not have that provision. Hacegaba said the 2025 US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) budget failed to include some $380 million that should be available under Section 102. Without that, Hacegaba said there was a $43 million shortfall in federal funds available this year to Long Beach for dredging and other maintenance. “You’re talking about nearly a 90% drop in funding that is critical for this project,” Hacegaba said. “[Long Beach] respectfully requests your continued support to ensure that annual distribution of these funds is not viewed as optional,” he added. “We are asking for equitable funding for donor and energy ports.” The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), which has estimated that <a href="https://www.joc.com/article/big-us-ports-ask-congress-to-follow-law-for-equal-funding-of-dredging-work-6055791">lax enforcement of Section 102 could mean a $1 billion loss in dredging funds</a>, said in a letter to Congress the law itself needs to be redrafted due to having too many qualifiers that “have led to inconsistent implementation.” Changing the law “would provide stability and ensure that these critical hubs receive the support needed to maintain safe and efficient operations,” AAPA said. Contact Michael Angell at <a href="mailto:michael.angell@spglobal.com ">michael.angell@spglobal.com</a>. </div>

Large US ports face the prospect of less federal support for dredging and maintenance projects next year if Congress doesn’t ensure fairer distribution of monies from a government-run maintenance fund, lawmakers were told Wednesday. Port of Long Beach Chief Operating Officer Noel Hacegaba told the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that Congress needs to require the US Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE’s) next spending authorization to comply with a law passed during its 2020 authorization that aimed at more even distribution of dredging funds. That law, known as Section 102, aimed to distribute at least 12% of the federal Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund back to so-called “donor and energy ports,” which contribute about half of the funds. Hacegaba’s testimony comes as Congress looks to draft a biennial spending authorization for the USACE. The Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund is expected to reach $7.8 billion next year. Sen. John Kennedy (R-Louisiana) introduced a spending bill earlier this month that would require the USACE to use $417 million from the trust toward Section 102 funding in 2026. The House version of the next USACE, however, does not have that provision. Hacegaba said the 2025 US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) budget failed to include some $380 million that should be available under Section 102. Without that, Hacegaba said there was a $43 million shortfall in federal funds available this year to Long Beach for dredging and other maintenance. “You’re talking about nearly a 90% drop in funding that is critical for this project,” Hacegaba said. “[Long Beach] respectfully requests your continued support to ensure that annual distribution of these funds is not viewed as optional,” he added. “We are asking for equitable funding for donor and energy ports.” The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), which has estimated that lax enforcement of Section 102 could mean a $1 billion loss in dredging funds , said in a letter to Congress the law itself needs to be redrafted due to having too many qualifiers that “have led to inconsistent implementation.” Changing the law “would provide stability and ensure that these critical hubs receive the support needed to maintain safe and efficient operations,” AAPA said. Contact Michael Angell at michael.angell@spglobal.com .

Big US ports ask Congress to ensure fair funding for dredging

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