Maritime

The Journal of Commerce is the most trusted 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 America and intra-Asia trades.

Subsections

The latest Maritime News & Analysis

Lack of market clarity undermines positive sentiment: OOCL

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Aug 21, 2023, 9:44 AM EDT

The Cosco Shipping subsidiary noted that significant uncertainties over economic growth prospects and the huge injection of capacity into major trade lanes made forecasting difficult.

MaritimeContainer shippingContainer linesTrans-PacificAsia-Europe

US July imports from Asia hit 11-month high, portending year-on-year fall growth

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Aug 18, 2023, 2:15 PM EDT

The fresh data also showed — starkly — how the West Coast’s share of imports from Asia eroded during the 13 months of contentious contract negotiations between the ILWU and waterfront employers.

Trans-PacificContainer shippingContainer linesNorth American ports

Shippers reluctant to shoulder high cost of decarbonization: executives

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Aug 18, 2023, 11:33 AM EDT

Getting shippers to commit to premium-priced, low-emissions shipping services is a hard sell for ocean carriers and forwarders as cargo owners enjoy rates that are now mostly below pre-pandemic levels after two years of record highs.

MaritimeContainer shippingContainer linesForwardingTrans-PacificTrans-AtlanticAsia-Europe

Wallenius Wilhelmsen orders up to 12 ro/ro ships amid market strength

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Aug 18, 2023, 8:00 AM EDT

The carrier did not disclose the value of the vessel order, but shipbroking sources estimate the price of each ship at $140 million to $150 million, based on their size and multi-fuel capability. 

Breakbulk shippingRo/ro cargo

Forwarders warn of substantial Q4 rise in Asia-Europe blank sailings

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Aug 17, 2023, 11:25 AM EDT

Carriers will have to withdraw large amounts of capacity to prevent a freefall in rate levels that are expected to be undermined by rising capacity and subdued demand, according to forwarders.

MaritimeContainer shippingContainer linesAsia-Europe

FMC ‘refusal of service’ rule risks overreacting to pandemic market

Peter Tirschwell | Aug 17, 2023, 10:11 AM EDT

The proposed rulemaking shows how far the pendulum of power has swung in favor of shippers seeking to hold carriers accountable for practices that occurred during the pandemic, but which were rarely experienced prior to that period, writes Peter Tirschwell.

Transport, trade and regulationContainer shippingContainer linesNorth American ports

Port Houston joins Portchain’s growing network for vessel arrival software

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Aug 17, 2023, 2:00 AM EDT

Portchain has pulled in 76 container terminals into its vessel arrival coordination platform with carriers in the past 18 months, with Port Houston the latest to join.

Logistics technologyContainer shippingContainer linesPortsNorth American portsInternational ports

Western Canadian cargo flow returning to normal following labor agreement

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Aug 16, 2023, 5:25 PM EDT

Ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert are clearing out the backlog of containers that built up during the two weeks of dockworker strikes in July, with no significant vessel, rail or trucking delays to report, according to stakeholders.

North American portsMarine terminalsLongshore labor

Zim bets on spot rates in challenging trans-Pacific market

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Aug 16, 2023, 2:48 PM EDT

Despite the stability offered by contracted volume, the Israel-based carrier decided against locking in long-term rates at unsustainably low levels.

MaritimeContainer shippingContainer linesTrans-Pacific

FMC walks tightrope on 'refusal of service' rulemaking

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor | Aug 16, 2023, 2:28 PM EDT

The clash between shippers and container lines highlights a major challenge for the FMC in finalizing rulemaking on when a carrier can refuse to serve shippers, most notably the risk that it could create a rule that’s so commercially restrictive that it’s unconstitutional.

Transport, trade and regulationContainer shippingContainer linesNorth American ports

Rate collapse drags trans-Atlantic trade to loss-making levels: Hapag-Lloyd CEO

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Aug 16, 2023, 10:57 AM EDT

Rolf Habben Jansen has hinted that capacity cuts on the trans-Atlantic could be made “fairly soon” as supply outstrips weak demand for US imports.

MaritimeContainer shippingContainer linesTrans-Atlantic

Logistics technology investment slowing post-pandemic: survey

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Aug 16, 2023, 10:18 AM EDT

A study of global logistics professionals around hurdles to technology investment found that respondents were uninterested in linking financial rewards with software adoption.

Logistics technologyForwardingSupply Chain

New ships coming to trans-Pacific expected to overwhelm rate gains

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Aug 15, 2023, 3:26 PM EDT

A sharp increase in new vessel deliveries over the coming weeks is forecast to put more pressure on ocean carriers to blank sailings — or face falling rates.

Container shippingTrans-PacificNorth American ports

Shippers offer mixed reaction to Dye’s proposals to fix container terminal flow

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Aug 15, 2023, 1:51 PM EDT

The National Shipper Advisory Committee saw some good in the FMC commissioner’s ideas, but said without a clear path for implementation, businesses will continue to be hurt by detention and demurrage charges.

Transport, trade and regulationContainer linesTrucking

Terminal operators launch renewed push to expand in emerging markets

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Aug 15, 2023, 11:31 AM EDT

Demand for container shipping in major destination markets remains subdued, so some of the world’s largest port operators are channeling their attention — and money — on growing business in emerging nations.

PortsMarine terminalsInternational portsPort infrastructure

Most India-Europe rates falter amid shrinking export volumes

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent | Aug 15, 2023, 10:10 AM EDT

Average rates from West India to Europe and the Mediterranean have cooled between 10 to 15% from what carriers were quoting at the end of July, deepening the slide seen over the past year.

Container shippingContainer linesInternational ports

Asia-US container spot rates keep rising amid more blank sailings

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Aug 14, 2023, 6:04 PM EDT

Spot rates in the eastbound trans-Pacific continue to move higher, although a planned general rate increase this week could be the last one for a while, as carriers are scheduled to add a significant amount of new capacity into the global fleet beginning later this year.

Trans-PacificContainer shippingContainer linesForwardingNorth American ports

Latest push in House for US shipping reform stalls, for now

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Aug 14, 2023, 2:15 PM EDT

Stalled since May, the Ocean Shipping Reform Technical Act of 2023 may never be taken up by the House of Representatives as regulators are still struggling to implement last year’s original legislation.

Transport, trade and regulationContainer linesNorth American ports

Demand decline shrinks MSC’s lead atop US import carrier rankings

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Aug 14, 2023, 11:42 AM EDT

No carrier was untouched by a 22.4% drop in containerized US imports through May, with 36 of the 40 largest lines registering year-over-year volume declines, according to the Journal of Commerce’s Top 40 Container Carriers by US Imports and Exports.

Container shipping

Panama Canal delays raise risks for shippers, but not yet biting

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Aug 11, 2023, 5:05 PM EDT

The Panama Canal’s limits on vessel drafts and transits have yet to make big impact on container shipping, but at least one forwarder is warning shippers not to be complacent.

Container shippingContainer linesNorth American ports

Yang Ming, Wan Hai end profitable runs with Q2 loss

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Aug 11, 2023, 12:03 PM EDT

The rapid normalization of container shipping markets claimed its first victims as tumbling rate levels dragged Yang Ming and compatriot carrier Wan Hai into the red in the second quarter.

MaritimeContainer shippingContainer lines

ILA flexes to fight on multiple beachheads

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Aug 11, 2023, 11:04 AM EDT

Sources say USMX has made the ILA an offer on par with the increases the ILWU secured in its latest contract. However, the ILA also wants stronger protections for work jurisdiction and automation.

Longshore laborContainer shippingContainer linesNorth American ports

Logistics industry tiptoeing toward AI adoption: Freightos research

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | Aug 10, 2023, 1:23 PM EDT

Shippers and forwarders recently surveyed by Freightos believe artificial intelligence will reduce headcounts in the logistics industry, even if they have yet to figure out how best to use the still-emerging technology.

Logistics technologyContainer shippingForwardingAir cargo forwardingSupply Chain

Hapag-Lloyd, HMM predict H2 demand pickup amid faltering profits

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Aug 10, 2023, 9:38 AM EDT

The first-half results of Hapag-Lloyd and HMM mirror those reported by their peers, with earnings severely challenged by the rapidly normalizing market.

MaritimeContainer shippingContainer linesTrans-PacificAsia-Europe

Parish lawsuit won’t derail new terminal project: Port NOLA CEO

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Aug 9, 2023, 4:33 PM EDT

A district attorney for the parish that would be home to the proposed new Louisiana International Terminal alleges the Port of New Orleans has no legal basis to operate there.

North American portsContainer shipping

Ongoing office worker contract talks the lynchpin to West Coast labor peace

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Aug 9, 2023, 2:35 PM EDT

Negotiators for shipping lines and office workers in Los Angeles-Long Beach report that progress is being made in the ILWU Local 63 Office Clerical Unit (OCU) contract negotiations, but the two sides have work to do on the issues of wages, pension benefits and technology.

MaritimePortsLongshore laborNorth American ports

Hapag-Lloyd’s steel-floor container aims to mitigate growing global pest infestations

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | Aug 9, 2023, 12:31 PM EDT

The Hamburg-based carrier is testing a prototype container with a steel floor that is easier to repair and clean than traditional wooden floors, decreasing the chance of cargo contamination, particularly invasive pests.

Container shippingContainer linesTransport, trade and regulation

Revamped Southeast chassis pool to charge ‘penalty fee’ to unregistered users

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Aug 8, 2023, 3:28 PM EDT

Consolidated Chassis Management is asking cargo owners to encourage their trucking partners to sign up for the South Atlantic Chassis Pool (SACP) 3.0 before it launches in October.

Drayage

Robust Asia–Med demand continues to outpace North Europe growth

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Aug 8, 2023, 1:32 PM EDT

Despite unfavorable comparisons with last year, volume between Asia and the Mediterranean has surpassed that recorded in pre-pandemic 2019.

MaritimeContainer shippingContainer linesAsia-Europe

DB Schenker signs up to Hapag-Lloyd ‘book and claim’ green service

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Aug 8, 2023, 10:34 AM EDT

The German forwarder aims to make significant cuts in emissions for customers on the ocean leg of their container transport.

MaritimeContainer shippingContainer lines

ILA seeks arbitration with carriers in new Leatherman suit

Michael Angell, Associate Editor, and Teri Griffis, Associate Editor | Aug 7, 2023, 5:01 PM EDT

The latest lawsuit from International Longshoremen’s Association ups the damages the union is seeking from ocean carriers that used the Port of Charleston’s Hugh K. Leatherman terminal.

Longshore laborContainer linesNorth American ports

Chassis maker CIE halts US equipment imports

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | Aug 7, 2023, 3:43 PM EDT

CIE Manufacturing, a major manufacturer of new chassis, has suspended all imports of chassis into the US in response to an investigation by US customs officials.

DrayageNorth American ports

Chartering slump keeps MPV sector in August ‘doldrums’

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Aug 7, 2023, 3:00 PM EDT

Although the multipurpose vessel market is expected to further soften on weak charter activity in the third quarter, firmer demand is expected by the end of the year, keeping certain sectors of the market — mainly, project carriers — optimistic, analysts said.

Breakbulk shippingBreakbulk carriersProject cargo

MSC adds Italian airline to expanding air cargo offering

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Aug 7, 2023, 12:39 PM EDT

AlisCargo will join MSC’s air freight division in early 2024 as the ocean carrier steadily builds out its global air network.

Air CargoContainer linesAir cargo carriers

New China–South India string to boost rising intra-Asia capacity

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent | Aug 7, 2023, 11:27 AM EDT

The latest China–India service follows the announcement of another new string from CULines and capacity increases from other carriers, including Pacific International Lines, Evergreen Marine and Regional Container Lines.

Container shippingContainer linesAsia-Europe

ILWU Canada contract ratification ensures BC port peace

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor | Aug 6, 2023, 9:39 AM EDT

The disruption laid bare the limits the Trudeau government will exercise to push both sides to a deal that was ratified Friday by longshore union membership at the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert.

Longshore laborContainer shippingContainer linesTrans-PacificNorth American portsTransport, trade and regulation

Maersk’s lagging ‘integrator’ plan now needs to winnow costs: Clerc

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Aug 4, 2023, 3:30 PM EDT

Maersk has invested $10.5 billion in its logistics and services business to date, but results are falling behind plan after last year’s volumes evaporated.

Container linesContainer shippingForwardingSupply ChainLast mile

Maersk’s contract business cushions impact of ‘normalizing’ market

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Aug 4, 2023, 9:46 AM EDT

The carrier has more than two-thirds of its volume under long-term agreements, which provided some insulation from the tumbling second-quarter spot market.

MaritimeContainer shippingContainer lines

Cosco to control largest semi-submersible fleet after deal with Guangzhou Salvage

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Aug 4, 2023, 8:00 AM EDT

The joint venture will increase Cosco’s fleet to 18 heavy-lift semi-submersible vessels by the end of 2023.

Project cargoEnergy projects

HMM puts larger ships into trans-Pacific as Yang Ming signs on for slots

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Aug 3, 2023, 1:59 PM EDT

The deal with Yang Ming follows similar slot charter agreements that HMM inked with Hapag-Lloyd in mid-July and Ocean Network Express in March.

Container linesContainer shipping

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