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Maritime

The Journal of Commerce is the industry’s source for maritime news and analysis about ocean container shipping, logistics, supply chains, global shipping ports, shipping technology solutions and end-to-end connectivity. Coverage tracks the movement of containerized cargo — from origin to destination — handled by marine terminals in the US and abroad, depots, container ports, container lines, drayage, consignees and shippers, forwarders, non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs) and off-dock warehousing providers, as well as pricing, capacity, volume and reliability on the trans-Pacific, Asia-Europe, North America-Caribbean, Central and South American and intra-Asia trades.

Subsections

The latest Maritime News & Analysis

Maersk to invest $500 million in Southeast Asia logistics even as integrator model struggles

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
The spending program will target the company’s logistics and services arm with a “substantial amount of investment” earmarked for its ocean and terminals infrastructure in the region.
Container linesMarine terminalsInternational portsAirport News

Europe’s ocean trades may see overlapping CO2 charges: DNV

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The IMO’s global market-based emissions-cutting measure will be introduced in 2027 when it will clash with Europe’s ETS and could force shippers to comply — and pay for — two CO2-reducing systems at the same time, classification societies believe.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer lines

Carriers weigh options after Red Sea route threatened by missile attacks

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Three commercial ships were hit by rockets fired from Yemen over the weekend in a deteriorating security situation that has seen at least two ocean carriers introduce war risk surcharges on routes to and from Israel.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesAsia-Europe

Fast-approaching green goals pose uncomfortable question for shipping: analyst

Lars Jensen, CEO & Partner, Vespucci Maritime, and Journal of Commerce analyst |
Given shipping’s relatively poor track record on implementing anything not rigorously enforced, and a preference to delay action to the last possible minute, there seems to be a high risk that decarbonization milestones will not be met, writes analyst Lars Jensen.
Container linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Wakeo lands fresh investment in far less heated freight visibility market

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
The company, which caters to shippers like Uniqlo and Michelin, will use the new round of funding to spur a global expansion of its multimodal freight visibility product.
Logistics Technology NewsContainer Shipping NewsTrucking NewsSupply chain

THE Alliance diverts ships through Suez ahead of Panama Canal transit cuts

Michael Angell, Associate Editor, and Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor |
Liner operators in THE Alliance will switch transits on three services as low water levels on the Panama Canal reduce the number of ships that can use the main artery for container trade between the US East Coast and Asia.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American ports

Carrier CEOs issue COP28-linked statement urging action on energy transition

Peter Tirschwell |
The rare joint statement reiterates earlier comments by container lines that a greenhouse gas pricing mechanism is needed to make green fuel competitive with traditional bunkers during the phase when both fuels will be in use.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

MPV/HL carriers weigh costly, time-consuming alternatives to Panama Canal

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
Low water restrictions and “exorbitant” costs for rare transit slots through the drought-hit waterway mean tramp breakbulk and heavy-lift carriers must use longer ocean routes, thus increasing voyage costs.
Breakbulk NewsMaritimeBreakbulk carriersProject cargo

Swire Projects launches project cargo liner service to avoid Panama Canal delays

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
The service was previously operated on an ad hoc basis but is being upgraded due to growing demand for breakbulk and project cargo into the US West Coast to avoid restrictions and delays through the drought-hit waterway.
Breakbulk NewsBreakbulk carriersProject cargo

US warehouse fluidity returning to normal amid import drop, inventory discipline

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor |
US importers have finally cleared out most of the inventory overhang that kept their warehouses at capacity and created bottlenecks in their supply chains.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsTrans-PacificLast Mile News

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

Shippers eye varied ‘training wheel’ approach to origin management technology

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Getting the most out of global logistics software sometimes involves using a forwarder as a co-pilot until a shipper is ready to run processes similarly to procurement and order management internally.
Logistics Technology NewsContainer Shipping NewsForwardingSupply chain

Order book more ‘manageable’ if measured in ship numbers, not TEUs: analyst

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Although the incoming capacity will outstrip demand on the major trades over the next two years, the capacity overhang that has been touted in many corners of the shipping sector is being overstated, says an industry analyst.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-PacificAsia-Europe

Roadrunner to enter Canada as K+N, Canada Cartage make cross-border acquisitions

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
The expansion of the three companies, all representing different modes across the US-Canadian border, underscores the depth of the relationship between the two economies.
SurfaceForwardingTrucking NewsTruckloadLTL

USDA invests $200 million to boost agricultural sector’s export efforts

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The fresh funding is part of recent federal efforts to increase economic opportunities for farmers and reduce food costs for US residents.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping News

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

Oversupplied Asia-Europe ocean trade readies for two December rate hikes

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The westbound trades out of Asia are heading into tender season with carriers attempting to lift rate levels before locking in long-term contracts being eroded by surplus capacity.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesAsia-Europe

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

FMC judge rules in favor of HMM in rolled cargo complaint

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
Despite initially failing to meet capacity commitments, the carrier extended the contract for three months at the original rate, saving the shipper $180,000.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer lines

End of EU block exemption a ‘missed opportunity’ for regulators: ITF’s Merk

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
European regulators have never had enough information to effectively monitor the container shipping industry since the consortia block exemption rule was introduced in 2009, according to Olaf Merk.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

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

Sharp rise in Asia-Europe Q3 volumes discounted by last year’s import slump

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
On its own, the growth in container volumes on Asia to Europe trade lanes in the third quarter was impressive, but it compares with the steep slowdown in imports last year by overstocked retailers.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesAsia-Europe

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

Maersk inks new methanol sourcing deal with Chinese supplier

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The carrier’s largest alternative fuel deal to date will be enough to drive half the methanol-powered ships on its orderbook.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer lines

Carriers weigh options as Panama Canal restrictions become a fact of life

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor |
The soonest the Panama Canal Authority says it could see significant relief is 2028, raising the possibility of persistent drought restrictions and reduced container capacity and transits until then, writes Journal of Commerce Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.
Container linesMaritimeContainer Shipping NewsTrans-Pacific

UN climate conference comes amid shipping’s choppy path to decarbonization

Peter Tirschwell |
Despite some pockets of progress, exactly how container shipping achieves decarbonization will likely remain an unanswered question until new zero-emission fuel standards are adopted, writes Peter Tirschwell.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

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

 Congress steps into debate over jurisdiction of rail fees for ocean containers

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
Draft legislation would also seek to codify that rail demurrage fees be billed to the ocean carrier, which would then pass along the charge to the responsible shipper or BCO. .
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesIntermodal providersNorth-American rail

UK watchdog calls for end to ocean carrier antitrust immunity

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Just a month after the European Commission announced that the block exemption regulation for carriers would not be renewed next April, the UK competition authority has also called for it to lapse upon expiry.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

CMA CGM commits €100 million to new Paris-based AI research lab

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
CMA CGM is moving beyond funding and supporting startups with a hefty investment into a non-profit lab designed to improve data models that feed into artificial intelligence products.
Container linesContainer Shipping NewsLogistics Technology News

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

No easy fix on horizon for Panama Canal woes as shipping sector scrambles

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
Carriers, shippers and logistics executives may have to get accustomed to drought-related restrictions along the critically important waterway, with costly water-saving infrastructure improvements years away.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-Pacific

MPV indices from Toepfer, Drewry continue down different paths

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift |
While long-term optimism supports the MPV market, industry analysts see short-term divergence in time charter rate averages.
Breakbulk NewsBreakbulk carriersEnergy projects

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

Cosco, Varamar expand MPV reach with strategic partnership

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
The aim of the venture is to broaden the scope of the companies’ current operations, both geographically and in vessel size.
Breakbulk NewsBreakbulk carriers

Grim 2024 outlook drives Zim to take huge Q3 impairment loss

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The carrier is expecting next year to be dominated by significant overcapacity and weak demand, and with its balance sheet awash with expensive time charter capacity, it decided to factor in expected losses early.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer lines