Independent journal on economy and transport policy
13:21 GMT+2
CENTRO INTERNAZIONALE STUDI CONTAINERS
ANNO XXXVIII - Numero APRILE 2020
MARITIME TRANSPORT
2020'S TOP STORIES IN CONTAINER SHIPPING & TRADE
"We look back over our most read stories from the first
three months of the year to revisit the topics your reading habits
revealed as key drivers in the maritime industry in Q1 2020"
As with other trade-focussed shipping sectors, coronavirus has
weighed heavily on container shipping in the first months of 2020.
Locations of containers and other essential equipment have posed
problems for the trade and several companies have stepped up to
offer free digital tools to assist operators and owners in
overcoming the various challenges shipping is facing as the virus
continues its worldwide spread. But, while coronavirus dominates
much of the news cycle, readers continue to seek out information on
innovations within the container shipping sector, notably Maersk's
battery retrofit pilot programme and CMA CGM's series of LNG-powered
newbuilding vessels with integral bunker tanks. Also of note are
funding plans throughout Asia for container ports and terminals.
To read each story in full, click on the headline, the image or
the link at the end of the text.
1. How Maersk will benefit from battery retrofitMaersk's battery
pilot programme on a box ship will allow the ship operator to weigh
up benefits versus retrofit costs - and could lead to it
implementing the project learnings to other assets including
terminals. In Q2 2020 a containerised 600-kWh marine battery system
will be installed in a trial on board Maersk Cape Town to improve
vessel performance and reliability while reducing CO2 emissions.
2. Free tools for maintaining ship operations during the
coronavirus pandemic
At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK was one of the first
nations to recognise that commercial vessels and seafarers play a
vital role in maintaining the overseas portion of any logistical
supply chain. The problem for ship operators is that the regulations
being imposed on ships is constantly changing. Maritime logistics
and ships agency Wilhelmsen has produced the COVID-19 Global Port
Restrictions Map. This map, which is being updated three times a day
during the pandemic, shows the restrictions being imposed globally
on vessels and crew. It is one example of a number of digital tools
helping ship owners and operators to continue to operate during the
pandemic.
Equipment imbalances and empty container repositioning is a problem
that costs the shipping industry US$20Bn annually, but due to the
Coronavirus it "got even worse for most carriers or NVOs
(non-vessel operating carriers)", according to Container
xChange, the company behind the Container Availability Index (CAx).
Governments throughout Asia are helping to fund new ports and
terminals for container cargoes and building logistics hubs. China,
South Korea, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia will all
invest heavily in port infrastructure to boost terminal facilities
for container ship operators.
5. CMA CGM's newbuilds feature integral bunker tanks In
September 2019, when CMA CGM's Jacques Saade, one of the largest
container ships built so far, rolled out of Shanghai
Jiangnan-Changxing Shipyard, it boasted not only new navigation and
environmentally friendly features but also several trend-setting
technological choices in container ship LNG propulsion. CMA CGM
Jacques Saade and eight future sister ships feature integrated
membrane tanks. These new vessels will join the Group's fleet in
2020 on the French Asia Line (Asia-Northern Europe) and will be
registered with the French International Register, confirming the
Group's commitment to operate under the French flag.
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