Maritime

For ocean carriers, the decision to cancel sailings suggests they expect no rebound in trans-Pacific freight rates that are now at two-year lows.

US big-box retailers are receiving fewer imports while inventories remain elevated and US consumer confidence teeters, boding poorly for a significant second-half rebound in Asia container imports, writes JOC Executive Mark Szakonyi.

Forwarders that experimented with new software during the days of robust freight demand now face a dilemma over what technology produces actual returns on investment as volumes and margin shrink.

Ongoing uncertainty over longshore labor on the West Coast is disrupting the long-term relationships US agricultural exporters have worked to establish with their overseas buyers.

HMM’s decision to immediately cease charging demurrage fees at closed terminals comes as the US Federal Maritime Commission is finalizing rulemaking around free time billing practices.

The legislation also aims to provide a boost for US exporters by prioritizing getting their products into foreign markets and better defending them against container rate increases and detention and demurrage fees.

Recovering US supply and lower shipping costs are benefiting resin exports, but the uncertain forecast for the global economy makes the outlook for more growth a guessing game.

APM Terminals said the new facility would specifically target North American and European export and import markets.

German unions demanding inflation-busting wage increases walked off the job Monday, bringing the country’s transport system to a halt.

Dutch conglomerate SHV’s planned divestment of Mammoet, the world’s largest heavy-lift and engineered transport company, could have a “very important impact” on the sector, according to one consultant.

The plea to the Biden administration comes just days after the Pacific Maritime Association said the latest job action by dockworkers caused “significant delays” at some marine terminals at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

For carriers, accelerating the shift from existing fuel oil to a low-carbon fuel alternative could bring cost-saving benefits, according to Longspur Capital.

Mississippi’s Gulfport is looking to add more container handling capability with Ports America planning to redevelop a shuttered terminal for cargo handling.

Ahead of a June deadline to issue new rulemaking on detention and demurrage billing, the Federal Maritime Commission is seeking clarity from carriers and terminals about billing shippers when container pickups and drop-offs are not possible.

Local freight forwarder sources in India say they view GRIs more as a tool to slow the erosion in rates rather than effectively trying to increase prices.

The provisional agreement between the European Parliament and European Council negotiators sets out a fuel standard for ships that steadily increases the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels.

The Port of Hamburg is once again being disrupted by strike action that is causing significant disruption to vessel schedules at Europe’s third-largest container hub.

The Scan Baltic to USA service, which will begin calling Jaxport in late April, marks the port's second trans-Atlantic service and fifth container service.

The fast-track hearing schedule came after the South Carolina State Port Authority told the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals the port could become “bottlenecked” if ships can’t call the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal.

Maersk in April will stop collecting detention and demurrage fees on days terminals are closed and shippers can’t pick up or drop off containers, a move yet to be followed by competing ocean carriers.