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It would be foolish to extrapolate the road ahead based on one new service, but the fact that MSC brings so many things to bear and can move so quickly implies that others will have to be at the top of their game to compete, writes Jeremy Masters.

The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project has been a test case of sorts for the Port of Virginia’s heavy-lift capabilities for future cargo opportunities.

Markets such as high tech and perishables are showing strong growth and, combined with shifting trade patterns in Asia, will help offset the lack of a traditional air peak season this quarter, forwarders say.

Slowing demand from sluggish European economies and excess ocean capacity on the Asia-Europe trade lane are frustrating liners’ attempts to raise rates.

The combination of AAA Cooper Transportation, Midwest Motor Express and Dependable Highway Express covers the US LTL market coast-to-coast, except for the Northeast.

The New Jersey-based carrier believes its vessels should be treated as container ships given that 80% of their cargo is containerized, but a USTR designation that would classify the ships as vehicle carriers means the company faces hefty US port fees.

Union Pacific’s application seeking federal approval to acquire Norfolk Southern will be 4,000 pages long and provide the first detailed look at how the railroads believe customers would benefit from the $85 billion deal.

Tender season is a time when shippers traditionally look to switch forwarders, so signing them to new contracts will be the real test of the DSV-DB Schenker integration, DSV CFO Michael Ebbe says.

Average spot rates from West India to the US East Coast have dropped by $400 to $500 per container over the last three weeks, according to new data from freight forwarders.

The Trump administration’s two nominees to fill open positions on the Federal Maritime Commission say ongoing enforcement of existing law can help bring more efficiency to commercial shipping.

Some of the largest less-than-truckload carriers are announcing non-contract GRIs, but the state of the freight market argues against substantial rate increases.

One possible explanation for the gain is the softer volumes that were artificially suppressed and shifted in August and September of 2024 due to separate labor-related events, but clarity should come over the next week when market players report third-quarter earnings.

The financial risks to shippers are rising as the increasing costs of EU carbon tax and fuel intensity regulations are passed on by Mediterranean carriers, a report from maritime technology company OceanScore has found.

Amid tariffs of up to 130%, US laden imports from China for the six months between April and September fell to levels not seen since 2013.

Record container volumes resulted in greater port activity amid an increase in calls by vessels, trucks and trains, as well as increased use of cargo-handling equipment.

The Owner-Operator Independent Driver’s Association is urging Congress to codify new regulations aimed at tightening oversight of commercial driver licensing and to support more training for new drivers.

The absence of a framework on how global shipping can pass on the higher operating costs of using low- or zero-emission fuels to cargo owners will likely stall investment in the sector.

The partnership is part of a broader effort to advance the development of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor via the Adriatic’s main port.

The ocean carrier and logistics provider already has big investments in Panama but may lack dedicated berth space for ships if MSC swoops in on two big container terminals there.

Companies large and small — from C.H. Robinson to ShipAngel — are unveiling new suites of AI agents to augment their customers’ capacities and help them organize unstructured data.

The top ocean carriers serving Colombo have kept their calls intact while others are skipping calls.

But freighter operators were prepared for the frontloading, and no capacity shortages are being reported on China-US routes, according to Tiaca.

The Virginia Port Authority said the longshore union’s lawsuit alleging violations of the master contract doesn’t give clear picture of when it knew about the new rail gantry cranes.

Terminal operators in Los Angeles-Long Beach have seen no changes in demurrage billing practices since the Federal Maritime Commission’s demurrage rule was struck down by an appeals court.

Carriers continue to struggle to raise rates on intermodal shippers, resulting in revenue gains or losses based solely on volume.

The ill-tempered environmental protection committee session was filled with procedural maneuvering as member states opposed to the net-zero framework attempted to delay the proceedings.

Tariffs have increased sixfold since January, but those cost increases have yet to fully reveal themselves in consumer prices.

Some carriers and forward are predicting a strong recovery in volumes in the first quarter of next year despite US retailers’ downward expectations.

J.B. Hunt lowered its peak season surcharge because of disappointing volume on the West Coast.

The investment in less carbon-intensive vessels is part of a $17 billion spending plan that also includes $3 billion on its logistics business and the acquisition of new container terminals by 2030.

The trade dispute has become multi-dimensional with many different elements all impacting shipping and the supply chain, writes maritime and Journal of Commerce analyst Lars Jensen.

Industrial action by auxiliary workers in Rotterdam and Antwerp-Bruges is heavily disrupting operations in the region’s two busiest container ports.

Seasonal demand is believed to fuel most of the moderate pricing gains, with the impact of a driver licensing crackdown perhaps affecting outbound lanes from Southern California.

But forwarders say the effort by liners to end a four-month decline in rates may lose steam after a week or so given generally weak market fundamentals.

China’s new port fees on non-China-made vessels that are US-flagged or owned or controlled by US companies are forcing the Gemini Cooperation partners to transship via South Korea to avoid the multimillion-dollar hit.

Trade professionals and shippers say US Customs and Border Protection is pursuing trade violations with historic vigor.

A 25% state subsidy for the newbuild program approved by Indian policymakers after months of negotiations is believed to have pushed the deal through, thus neutralizing the cost gaps with rival yards in China and South Korea.

The ILWU is warning the state’s governor of political consequences, while maritime employers say the decision preserves the integrity of collective bargaining.

But the move comes as China’s Transport Ministry launched an investigation into how the country’s maritime industry and supply chains will be impacted by the US Trade Representative’s Section 301 port charges and tariffs.

But it will take several months of sustained peace before liners are confident enough of safe passage to redirect mainline services through the Suez Canal, according to an HSBC report.