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Port News

The latest port news from the Journal of Commerce spans the globe from North Carolina and Florida to Shanghai and Singapore. Port news includes port automation, terminal construction projects, the future of decarbonization and net-zero shipping, dredging, port hinterland connectivity, labor, disruption, port congestion and cargo flow.

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The latest Port News News & Analysis

Global liner performance unchanged in October, but USWC ticked higher

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
While container volumes have largely returned to normal historical levels, ocean carriers still have not been able to restore performance to pre-pandemic levels.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American ports

UP boosts intermodal service with new Houston connections, Phoenix ramp

Michael Angell, Associate Editor and Ari Ashe, Senior Editor |
The Class I railroad sees an opportunity to tap growth at the Gulf Coast’s busiest port with new intermodal lanes, while expanding its inland reach from Los Angeles and Long Beach.
North-American railNorth American portsIntermodal providers

New CMA CGM service adds to intra-Asia capacity boost for Indian shippers

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent |
The move complements a flurry of Asia-India service additions by niche regional carriers and newer feeder operators in recent months.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesInternational ports

Busy intra-Asia market bucks trend in driving container demand growth: analyst

Lars Jensen, CEO & Partner, Vespucci Maritime, and Journal of Commerce analyst |
The intra-Asian region is expected to be a hotbed of mergers and acquisitions in container shipping because that is where the growth in container demand is centered, writes analyst Lars Jensen.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesInternational ports

India-US contract rates hit fresh lows despite lower capacity from sailing cuts

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent |
Given the persistent downward pressure on demand, it remains to be seen if India-US carriers will be able to push through a new round of modest rate hikes planned for December.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American portsInternational ports

ONE readies India-US East Coast service as part of 2024 network rollout

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
The carrier is looking to expand beyond its two current services jointly offered with other liners with a standalone service meant to take advantage of the growing shift in sourcing from India.
Container linesContainer Shipping NewsNorth American ports

Ashcroft Terminal to expand railcar storage to alleviate Vancouver congestion

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The project, in coordination with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, is due to be completed in late 2024 and will help move cargo faster through Western Canada.
North-American railTrans-PacificNorth American portsPort infrastructure

Virginia’s resins export market gets boost with new $60 million investment

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
The Norfolk expansion plans from resin logistics specialist Katoen Natie come as more plastics production is going onstream in the Northeast US.
North American portsContainer Shipping News

Soft US import volumes crimping container availability for agricultural exports

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor |
With peak season at hand for ag exports, shippers say weak US import volumes have constrained the supply of repositioned containers they need to send goods overseas, risking disruption to their supply chains.
MaritimeContainer linesNorth American portsNorth-American rail

New logistics center under construction to tap into Port of Savannah’s growth

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The four-phase, seven-building project with CSX rail connections will support the growing needs of importers and exporters using the port.
Industrial Real Estate NewsNorth American portsNorth-American rail

November rate plunge negates carrier pricing activity on India-Europe trade

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent |
Still, the latest Indian trade data presents some hopeful signs for supply chain stakeholders, as the country's merchandise exports grew 6.3% by value year over year in October, the fastest rate of expansion in a year.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesInternational ports

US imports from Asia hit 2023 high in October despite muted peak season

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor |
While October is typically one of the busiest months of the year for West Coast ports, the region’s market share of imports from Asia slipped markedly from September, but carrier executives said that was an anomaly linked to capacity cuts in the eastbound trans-Pacific.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsTrans-PacificNorth American ports

House bill seeks to ensure funding for CBP capital costs linked to port inspections

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The bill is a response to growing CBP demands that ports pay for new inspection-related equipment, or risk having the agency reduce the amount of time its officers spend performing inspections.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsNorth American ports

Hamburg port volume turns positive in Q3 amid boost in Asia business

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
There was significant improvement in Hamburg’s operational indicators through the third quarter, especially those covering trade with China, its biggest source of imports.
Port NewsInternational ports

Rate spread between US East-West coasts erodes amid shifts in volume, sourcing

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
The long-standing spread, typically about $1,000, is now half that as volume growth returns to West Coast ports and shippers increasingly tap into Southeast Asia manufacturing.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American ports

GPA invests $262 million to upgrade Brunswick’s ro/ro facilities

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
GPA's ability to handle growing volumes has attracted the likes of Rivian and Hyundai, both planting roots in Georgia to export vehicles from new facilities through Brunswick.
Ro/ro cargoHeavy-haul transportNorth American portsPort infrastructure

Deadline looming for IMO’s ‘single window’ data-sharing platform

Peter Shaw-Smith, Middle East contributor |
The International Maritime Organization voted in May 2022 to implement the so-called Maritime Single Window from the start of 2024 in a bid to accelerate digitalization in shipping.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesInternational portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Seaboard Marine includes Wilmington in new Central America service

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The direct service that kicks off at the end of the month will add further options to transport apparel, textiles, poultry, pork and agricultural products between Central America and the US East Coast.
North American portsContainer Shipping NewsCool Cargo News

Cargo operations partially resume after cyberattack hits DP World Australia

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
The incident comes as dockworkers announced a further series of strikes this week at DP World's four Australian terminals in an ongoing row over new rostering arrangements.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesMarine terminalsLongshore laborInternational ports

India's Adani secures big US investment for Colombo container terminal project

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent |
The move holds considerable significance as it comes amid accelerated efforts by India and the US to boost bilateral ties at multiple levels.
Container Shipping NewsInternational ports

Rising marine terminal charges stir ire of Australian shipper groups

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
DP World Australia plans to hike terminal access charges by up to 50% at its four terminals in the country from Jan. 1.
Container Shipping NewsMarine terminalsInternational ports

ILA looking for local ports to bring in more union foremen

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
Alongside broader talks on wages for its members, the International Longshoremen’s Association said individual ports need to use more union supervisors and foremen, particularly throughout the South.
Longshore laborContainer Shipping NewsNorth American portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Weak US imports via Western Canada reveal BC port challenge

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor |
The cracks in the gateway’s attractiveness to importers and exporters out of the US Midwest were showing before this July’s work stoppage and the decline in import demand across North America.
North American portsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth-American rail

ILA, USMX remain at odds over dockworker wage increases: Daggett

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
The ILA president says further progress on a new master contract, as well as port-specific local deals, can’t happen until the two sides agree on coastwide pay hikes.
Longshore laborContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesMarine terminals

Mobile looks to boost container terminal capacity to handle intermodal demand

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
Once fully complete by 2025, the current expansion project would allow the port to handle 1.1 million TEUs annually, up from 650,000 TEUs.
North American portsIntermodal providersNorth-American rail

India-US cargo flow buffeted by blank sailings, sliding schedule reliability

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent |
On top of the sailing cuts, some recent vessel arrivals at India have been behind schedule by up to a week, resulting in cargo rollovers, according to forwarder sources.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesInternational ports

Hamburg terminal operator HHLA accepts MSC’s offer for ownership stake

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
While the carrier will not hold the controlling share, expanding its presence in Hamburg will cement MSC’s terminal operating position in Europe’s third-largest container shipping port.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesPort NewsMarine terminalsInternational ports

ONE finalizes terminal deals in Los Angeles, Oakland, Rotterdam

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The Singapore-based carrier has now expanded its access to capacity in the strategic locations of the US West Coast, North Europe and Southeast Asia.
Port NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American portsInternational ports

ILA's Daggett raises possibility of 2024 strike at US East, Gulf coast ports

Peter Tirschwell |
Ahead of an International Longshoremen’s Association conference, president Harold Daggett has warned union rank-and-file to be prepared for the “possibility of a coast-wide strike.”
Longshore laborContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American ports

Delaware’s planned Edgemoor terminal gets grant from US port funding program

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
Along with the grant for the Port of Wilmington’s proposed container terminal, Tacoma and Long Beach received grants for improving truck and rail access, respectively.
North American portsContainer Shipping NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Volume growth underscores need for expansion at Port Tanger Med

Peter Shaw-Smith, Middle East Contributor |
Given the current growth rate, Morrocco’s Tanger Med could reach its nominal annual container capacity of 9 million TEUs as early as next year.
International portsContainer Shipping NewsPort infrastructure

Southeast governors say ILA could ‘weaponize’ Leatherman court decision

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
Six amicus briefs have been filed to the US Supreme Court supporting the South Carolina Ports Authority’s position that the ILA is illegally forcing carriers to boycott Charleston’s Hugh Leatherman Terminal as a means to acquire jobs that belong to state employees.
North American portsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesLongshore laborTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

USWC-bound ships boost reliability in September amid cargo push

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
On-time performance to the West Coast improved during the busiest month of 2023 for Asian imports to date, but East Coast reliability took a dip.
Trans-PacificContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American ports

ILA contract expiration, Panama Canal limits favor West Coast ports: Matson

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor |
Pacific-focused Matson has already enjoyed the return of some cargoes that had been diverted to the East and Gulf coasts but are now returning to the West Coast after the ILWU ratified its contract in September.
Trans-PacificContainer Shipping NewsNorth American ports

New MSC-backed Baltimore container terminal on track for 2028 debut

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
Developers of the Sparrows Point Container Terminal are starting the permitting process with the US Army Corps of Engineers that will allow construction to begin in 2025.
North American portsContainer Shipping News

Carriers, shippers face Australia cargo delays from DP World stevedore strikes

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
DP World said it is currently experiencing a seven- to eight-day turnaround in vessels being worked at four major ports in the country, a significant delay compared with the usual two-day turnaround.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesInternational ports

Lack of investment constraining US breakbulk port capacity

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
The funding shortage for breakbulk port facilities will create severe constraints on both cargo owners and vessel operators as offshore wind construction accelerates and new types of energy projects are developed.
Breakbulk NewsBreakbulk carriersProject cargoRo/ro cargoEnergy projectsHeavy-haul transportPort News

Georgia tells Supreme Court ILA ruling could jeopardize plans for third ocean terminal

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The Georgia Ports Authority plans to open a third ocean terminal in Savannah in 2030 and says updating its current hybrid labor model to an all-union workforce could cost the port $600 million in its first operating year.
North American portsLongshore laborTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Port of Montreal labor talks head to mediation at longshore union’s request

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
While neither side has made public its terms for a new collective bargaining agreement, sources familiar with the talks say the union is looking for a 20% increase in wages over four years and a faster seniority path for dockworkers.
Longshore laborContainer Shipping NewsNorth American ports

China-India rates tick steadily higher as Asian manufacturing diversifies

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent |
Seeing the demand growth, niche intra-Asia liners have beefed up their networks out of India, deploying bigger vessels and opening more calls to the country’s East Coast ports.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesInternational ports