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Container Shipping News

The latest container shipping news and analysis of ocean container shipping, logistics, supply chains, technology solutions and end-to-end connectivity. Coverage includes the movement of containerized cargo handled by marine terminals and container ports, depots, container lines, drayage, consignees, importers and shippers, forwarders, non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs) and off-dock warehousing providers. The Journal of Commerce's container shipping news includes news from the trans-Pacific, Asia-Europe, North America-Caribbean, Central and South America trades, and intra-Asia trades.

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The latest Container Shipping News News & Analysis

OOCL bucks trans-Pac trend with sharp rise in Q3 volume, but revenue slumps

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The Cosco subsidiary reported mostly positive volume metrics for both the third quarter and nine months through September, although revenues were down sharply.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-PacificTrans-AtlanticAsia-Europe

CMA CGM makes big investment in electric van JV with vehicle makers

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
While light commercial vehicles are not typically used on a large scale by the ocean carrier, it has a significant landside presence where the electric vehicles could be used to lower emissions.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTrucking NewsLogistics Technology News

Rail dwells rising along West Coast amid shortage of available rail cars

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor and Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
Marine terminal operators in Los Angeles-Long Beach and the Pacific Northwest are dealing with an increase in rail container dwell times owing to an east-west imbalance in rail equipment that has worsened in recent weeks.
Marine terminalsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-PacificNorth American ports

Seatrade plays service card in latest container ship order: analyst

Richard Bright, Journal of Commerce analyst |
The Benelux-based reefer owner/operator says its fast, dedicated and direct model trumps the transshipments, transit times and indirect costs of the major carriers.
Cool Cargo NewsContainer Shipping News

Doubts growing over shipping’s readiness for Europe’s ETS carbon tax

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
To comply with the European emissions trading system, ocean carriers will essentially need to become experts in carbon credit trading, on top of monitoring, verifying and reporting CO2 emissions.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-AtlanticAsia-EuropeLogistics Technology NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Savannah working through unexpected backlog of anchored vessels

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor and Ari Ashe, Senior Editor |
While shippers say the situation — which could linger through mid-November — is less than ideal, many noted there have been no real impacts yet.
North American portsContainer Shipping NewsPort infrastructure

MSC cements North Europe presence with Bremerhaven terminal extension

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
MSC’s move to extend its partnership with Eurogate in the north German gateway port follows a bid by the carrier for a half-stake in Hamburg’s largest terminal operator.
Port NewsContainer Shipping NewsMarine terminalsInternational ports

MSC avoids fine as FMC finds no OSRA-22 violation in charge complaint

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
The Federal Maritime Commission said its enforcement agency does not have a case against the ocean carrier over a congestion surcharge complaint from a shipper.
Container Shipping NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Coming implementation of European ETS setting up for a predictable mess: analyst

Lars Jensen, CEO & Partner, Vespucci Maritime, and JOC Analyst |
If shippers found the post-IMO 2020 bunker fuel formulas confusing and misaligned across ocean carriers, just wait until they see the surcharges linked to Europe’s new emissions trading system, says analyst Lars Jensen.
Container Shipping NewsInternational portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Ocean carriers sell US chassis lessor to private equity group

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor |
Consolidated Chassis Management is the sole provider of chassis to the newly launched South Atlantic Chassis Pool 3.0, which covers the ports of Jacksonville, Savannah and Wilmington, North Carolina.
Container linesNorth American ports

India-Middle East-Europe corridor plan to skirt Suez begs costly questions

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent |
The multimodal transshipment connector is taking shape as the industry puts a heavier focus on end-to-end, point-to-point carrier offerings to enable more resilient and sustainable trade flow.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesInternational ports

FMC mediation office ramps up help for US shippers seeking dispute relief

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
Use of the little-known arm of the FMC comes as shippers are increasingly turning to US maritime regulators to perform a consumer protection function in the aftermath of pandemic-linked disruptions and broad shipping reform that became law 15 months ago.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping News

Europe’s coming ETS surcharges based on ‘guesswork’: Sea-Intelligence

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
A significant misalignment in ETS surcharges among ocean carriers can be expected if the per-FEU levies already announced by Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are any indication, according to Sea-Intelligence Maritime Analysis.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-AtlanticAsia-Europe

California drayage operators seek help meeting zero-emission regulations

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor |
Drayage companies in the state say existing incentive programs will not be enough to enable them to meet regulations that mandate a zero-emission drayage fleet by 2035.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsPort NewsNorth American ports

SC Ports turns to US Supreme Court in bid for relief over Leatherman dispute

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
While the South Carolina Ports Authority cited the “urgency and importance” of the Leatherman terminal issue to the state and regional economies, getting on the Court’s docket is a daunting task.
North American portsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Shippers to bring European ETS surcharge into carrier contract talks

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Cargo owners want complete transparency from carriers in their “emission surcharges” that will be levied on customers from the first quarter of 2024 and are looking at how the surcharges can be handled in long-term rate agreements.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-AtlanticAsia-Europe

Rising green fuel costs offer looming challenge for carriers, BCOs

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
While the costs of meeting shipping’s net-zero 2050 target are expected to run into the trillions, Europe’s emissions trading system presents a more immediate decarbonization cost that awaits European cargo owners in the new year.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-PacificAsia-Europe

New Shanghai contract fails to budge skeptical carriers on container futures

Peter Tirschwell |
The concept of widespread use of a hedging tool continues to face an uphill battle within the container sector years after it was introduced, especially among carriers whose buy-in is considered essential to confer legitimacy on the fledging market.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Montreal’s uncertain mega-project opens window for Halifax, Saint John

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
Halifax and Saint John are expanding their container terminals as Class I railroads see an opportunity to serve major inland destinations from the Eastern Canadian ports.
North American portsContainer Shipping NewsNorth-American rail

Aggressive trans-Pac blank sailings likely through Lunar New Year amid freight downturn: sources

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor |
For importers and forwarders, the blank sailings mean the resulting schedule disruptions and “rolling” of cargo they are already experiencing at Asian load ports will force them to book more of their cargo with carriers they can count on to maintain schedule integrity.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-PacificNorth American portsInternational ports

Inland23: Pandemic yields rise in US truckload thefts

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
Solar panels and energy drinks are among the top targeted goods for truckload theft, with major markets such as Los Angeles, Houston and Chicago particularly ripe for those crimes.
SurfaceContainer Shipping NewsTrucking News

First green shipping corridor will connect Shanghai with Southern California

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor |
Los Angeles, Long Beach and Shanghai will work with ocean carriers and an organization of cities committed to emissions reductions to develop the first-ever green shipping corridor along one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsPort NewsNorth American ports

Sourcing shift causes surge in South American logistics investment

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
New forwarding and ocean services are being added to South American trade lanes as service providers move to capture rising trade growth in the region.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-PacificInternational ports

New ZIM service takes advantage of Savannah’s expanding cold storage network

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
Savannah attracted the new service due to its growing third-party logistics network and proximity to East Coast and Midwest markets, allowing for quicker and fresher imports.
North American portsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesCool Cargo News

Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd put shippers on notice ahead of European ETS surcharges

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The phased implementation of Europe’s emissions trading system on the shipping industry beginning next year will generate significant costs for carriers that will be passed on to customers in the form of new charges.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-PacificAsia-Europe

Pandemic, shipping reform boost caseload for harried FMC

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
Shippers more than tripled their formal complaints in fiscal year 2022, emboldened by the maritime regulator’s sharpened focus on how ocean carriers interact with their customers.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American ports

August volume boost, FAK rate revisions drive India-Europe rates higher

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent |
Signaling some growth expectations, Indian container volumes saw gains in August, hitting 1.9 million TEUs, up 14% from 1.7 million TEUs a year earlier.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesInternational ports

Trans-Atlantic blank sailings to ease despite loss-making rate levels

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Carriers appear reluctant to make the drastic capacity reductions required to match supply with demand on the westbound trade lane, leaving rates far below pre-pandemic levels.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-Atlantic

More trans-Pac service cuts on tap for October as carriers seek to buoy rates

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
The decision to suspend a service outright may represent a new leg down in terms of ship capacity, which is expected to grow sharply this year and next.
Trans-PacificContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American ports

Asia-North Europe blank sailings to soar in October amid capacity overhang

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Ocean carriers on the busy trade lane plan to slash deployed capacity to match falling demand levels that typically follow China’s Golden Week holiday at the start of October.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesAsia-Europe

Panama Canal draft restrictions offer sustained challenge for carriers

Peter Tirschwell |
Carrier executives and others say the draft limitations imposed due to a shortage of rainfall are creating a more difficult economic rationale for the so-called all-water route to the East Coast of North America.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-PacificNorth American portsInternational ports

Dynamics behind Flexport’s leadership change signal digital forwarding’s natural endpoint

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Much criticism has been leveled at the digital forwarding model, but steep declines in topline revenue during a year of weak demand are a sign that digital forwarders have had trouble differentiating themselves from the pack.
ForwardingLogistics Technology News

Maersk, CMA CGM join forces in drive to accelerate shipping decarbonization

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The two carriers will work together to develop alternative fuel standards, scale up the production of green fuel and ensure its supply at key bunkering ports around the world.
MaritimeContainer Shipping News

Largest US ports record 20%-plus declines in trans-Pacific imports

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor |
The top four US ports, which accounted for 68.2% of US imports from Asia through August, experienced greater than 20% declines in Asian imports in the first eight months of 2023 whereas imports through Houston, the dominant port on the Gulf Coast, declined only 3.7%.
Container Shipping NewsTrans-PacificNorth American ports

Lower demand from China, high prices stunting US ag exports

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
West Coast ports are bearing the brunt of a steep decline in US agriculture exports, as are carriers such as CMA CGM that pivoted to serving exporters amid weaker import demand.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American ports

Green fuel costs could make nuclear ships economically viable: experts

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Small onboard nuclear reactors could ultimately be the lowest-cost method of decarbonization as shipping competes with other thirsty industries for sustainable net-zero fuels, according to energy and investment analysts.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesLogistics Technology NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Ocean carriers will look to ‘chokepoint’ assets for next wave of spending: analyst

Lars Jensen, CEO & Partner, Vespucci Maritime, and JOC Analyst |
Owning and operating potential supply chain chokepoints is a competitive advantage, and we should expect to see major carriers — flush with cash post-pandemic — be very active in attempting to secure such assets, writes analyst Lars Jensen.
Supply chainContainer linesPort NewsMarine terminalsRail News

Possible MSC deal brings ‘respite’ for competition-hit HHLA: Drewry

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The carrier’s commitment to bring an additional 1 million TEUs per year across HHLA’s wharves in Hamburg if it wins a bid for almost half the company will come as an attractive sweetener for the terminal operator.
Port NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesInternational ports

Low rates, poor service to mark trans-Pacific trade amid capacity boom

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor |
Although importers can look forward to paying low freight rates at least into 2024 due to weak volumes and significant overcapacity in the trans-Pacific, aggressive capacity reductions through blank sailings will disrupt service levels, this week’s IANA conference was told.
Trans-PacificContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American portsInternational ports

Ocean carriers on India-US trade cut sailings to keep rates afloat

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent |
The Indamex 2, the weekly loop touted as the fastest connection between western India and the US East Coast, is set to see a 50% capacity reduction for loads out of India this month.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American portsInternational ports