Container Shipping News

Europe’s roll-on, roll off shipping sector is refusing to allow the continent’s deepening sovereign debt crisis derail its drive to cut costs, boost efficiency and achieve sustainable long

Hanjin Shipping’s container shipping unit posted a first quarter operating loss of 237.8 billion won ($208 million) as weak rates offset a 7.4 percent increase in container volume.

Norway’s Wilh.

Freight rates on westbound trades from Asia to Europe will go up June 1 following peak-season surcharge announcements by major ocean carriers.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines announced a new service to Seattle with its New World Alliance partners.

Chilean carrier CSAV said its first quarter loss on continuing operations narrowed to $175 million from $213 million a year ago, but that rising rates improved results toward the end of the quarter.

Average spot rates in the Asia-Europe trades eased on May 10 after their 19 percent jump last week following carriers’ general rate increase on May 1.

Matson Navigation Co.’s first quarter profit from continuing operations rose to $8.1 millio

A sharp deceleration in imports pulled India’s trade deficit in April to its lowest level in a year despite 3.2 percent year-over-year growth in exports.

Shippers who want reliable services at consistent prices should sign long-term deals with shipping lines, an MOL executive says.

Greek container ship owner Costamare boosted first quarter income 37 percent from a year ago to $24.5 million as charter revenue grew to $100 million from $86 million.

Greek container shipowner Danaos reported first quarter net income surged 72 percent from a year ago to $9.34 million as charter revenue grew 35.6 percent to $134.2 million.

German ocean carrier Hapag-Lloyd’s first quarter net loss widened to 132.4 million euros ($172 million) from 22.1 million euros ($28.7 million) a year ago as lower freight rates and higher fuel

BLG Logistics pre-tax profit soared more than 42 percent in 2011 from the previous year to 48.5 million euros ($63 million) as the Bremen-based stevedore’s revenue topped 1 billion euros ($1.3 b

Global container terminal operator International Container Terminal Services, Inc., booked

Horizon Lines said its first quarter loss on continuing operations narro

Imports at Europe’s largest container ports declined 1.1 percent in the first two months of this year as economic problems cut into demand, according to Global Trade Tracker’s Northern Eur

Singapore-based NOL Group reported a $254 million first quarter loss despite cost-cutting and rate increases in March, and said high fuel costs and excess capacity will continue to challenge container

United States Maritime Alliance Chairman and CEO James Capo said he is “very hopeful and even cautiously optimistic” that management and the International Longshoremen’s Association

Hapag-Lloyd will raise its freight rates on major trade lanes as part of a new rate restoration program.

The CKYH alliance will restructure five of its current all-water services from Asia to the U.S. East Coast this month.

Shipping lines in the eastbound Pacific are counting on a strong peak season this summer and fall to support a proposed peak season surcharge of $600 per 40-foot container.

Trans-Pacific carriers announced proposed rate increases of $300 to $400 per 40-foot container unit, effective July 1, on shipments of frozen and chilled beef, pork and poultry shipments exported from

Textainer Group, the world’s largest intermodal container lessor, reported first quarter net income

Zim Integrated Shipping Services has taken exception to a credit downgrade by the Israeli affiliate of Standard & Poor’s, which forecast the shipping line’s negative cash flow will con

Freight rates in the key Asia-to-Europe container trades appear to have peaked after a nearly fourfold increase since December, according to Alphaliner.

Middle Eastern carrier Emirates Shipping Line will raise its rates on cargo moving on its Far East and intra-Asia services, starting May 15.

Box volumes at South Korea’s ports reached a record high in April as transshipment traffic drove growth.

Imports at the nation’s top container ports will be flat this month compared to May 2011, but imports will then show steady growth into the fall, Global Port Tracker says.

Panama will get a fourth container terminal, a new one in Colon at t

South Korea’s Hyundai Merchant Marine said higher fuel costs and lower container volumes widened its first quarter operating loss to 201 billion won ($177 million) from $24 million a year earlie

Indian authorities released the Italian-flag merchant ship

What a difference four months can make. When 2012 dawned, a sense of doom prevailed in the containing shipping industry. Spot container rates in the critical Asia-to-U.S.

Shippers normally opt for the expense of air service only when they need to expedite high-value cargo such as computer chips and diamonds.

Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Richard Lidinsky Jr.

The failure late last month of American Feeder Lines and its 9-month-old service in the U.S. Northeast marks the latest body blow to short-sea shipping.

Jack Holmes, president of one of the largest trucking companies operating on U.S. highways, keeps an eye on the sea, where container shipping lines are struggling to stay afloat financially.

China weathered the global financial crisis of 2008-09 better than most countries, but the downturn still had a profound effect on its export-led economic model.

Prince Rupert, British Columbia, was the fastest-growing container port in North America in 2011, ramping up its export strategy and spiking 59.1 percent export growth year-over-year.