Norman Atlantic seafarers "not presumed guilty" The pressing of charges against crew members of the Norman Atlantic ro-ro ferry, which suffered a devastating and fatal fire on 28 December, has been strongly criticised by some in the shipping industry. President of the International Federation of Shipmasters' Association (IFSMA), Captain Hans
High winds hamper Hoëgh Osaka salvors Stranded car carrier Hoëgh Osaka dragged its anchor and suffered a minor collision in stormy weather over the weekend. More high winds forecast in the coming days are expected to extend efforts to right the vessel. Ho'gh Autoliners' PCTC was intentionally grounded outside Southampton after
Shipping futures market bright in 2015 2015 will be a strong year for the futures market after a buoyant 2014, brokers SSY forecasted today. Mark Richardson head of SSY Futures Ltd said that the industry had experienced an "extended growth in Iron Ore derivatives". He also saw strong interest in CME Coking Coal futures, which achieved
Call for Italian ports to specialise Michele Pappalardo, the president of the Italian ship agents association Federagenti, has called for greater specialisation by Italian ports. He said this was the fastest way to bridge the growing gap between the size and technological sophistication of the latest generation of deepsea cargo
Hoegh Osaka owner praised by maritime charity A UK maritime charity has praised Hoegh Autoliners for the care of its crew after car transporter vessel Hoegh Osaka was dramatically grounded in the Solent off the Isle of Wight in the United Kingdom on the evening of Saturday 3 January. Southampton port chaplain John Attenborough from the Mission
CSSC-SSE fails to use stake sale to book proceeds Shanghai-listed CSSC Steel Structure Engineering (CSSC-SSE) has failed to dispose of its entire stake in a subsidiary by the end of 2014, which is meant to help the company return to profits for 2014. The proceeds from the sale of its stake in the subsidiary, identified as Shanghai Ruisu Enterprise
Cheap oil provides relief for bulkers Plunging oil prices are good news for dry bulk carriers, which have been facing falling freight rates, said Precious Shipping's MD Khalid Hashim. While cheaper oil might mean cheaper fuel, Khalid thinks the real advantage is the boost to the world economy. "According to Deutsche Bank research, for
Australia bans another ship for breaching MLC The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) announced on Friday that it had banned a third ship from Australian ports for breaching the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). The Indonesian-flagged multipurpose ship MV Meratus Sangatta has been refused entry to any port in Australia for three
Ezra bags FPSO turret contract worth $110M Singapore-listed integrated offshore solutions provider, Ezra Holdings (Ezra) has secured a contract worth $110M from Jurong Shipyard of Singapore to supply an external turret mooring system for the Libra oil field's extended-well-test (EWT) FPSO vessel. The contract was signed between Ezra's
ReCAAP identifies fuel-siphoning groups The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP ISC) assessed that there are at least three organised crime syndicates involved in fuel siphoning operation in Southeast Asia. According to its special report, one of the three groups is "less violent" as compared to the other two crime groups. The
Prices down, exports up at Pilbara Ports Australia's Pilbara Port Authority announced another record for the six months ending December 2014, at the same time forecasting a new high for fiscal year 2015. Despite the price of iron ore sitting at a five-year low, the recently amalgamated port authority announced its Port Hedland and Dampier
Wan Hai opens new Japan-Vietnam service Taiwanese carrier Wan Hai Lines announced that it is to launch another Japan-Vietnam service, connecting Kansai and Haiphong, named Kansai Haiphong Service 2 (JSH2) with effect from 1 February 2015. Three 700teu-box ships will be deployed for the JSH2 with a port rotation of Hakata, Moji, Incheon,
Ships speed up to serve new dynamics of Europe to Asia trades Maersk Line says 2M network designed to meet changing cargo mix in one of the world's top container shipping corridors
Tim Ponath joins NSB board Chief operating officer to run company with his father
MSC takes second trio of Quantum-Scorpio mega boxships All six 19,154 teu Samsung series bareboat chartered to Geneva-based operator
Global gas fleet expansion opens door to uncertainties LNG and LPG fleets are getting bigger
Dorian LPG receives $761m of financing for VLGC newbuildings US-listed LPG player says finance commitments are a milestone as it builds large modern VLGC fleet
Market shrugs off Libyan turmoil Fall in nation's oil output is having little effect on international prices
APMT continues to invest in Apapa and Algeciras facilities 16 RTGs on order from Finnish manufacturer as part of container handling upgrade
International Group set to reveal reinsurance programme details Some clubs known to favour increased retention
NYK sale highlights divergence between asset values for product tankers and crude carriers Over past 12 months, medium range product tanker values have been flat, while crude carrier values have taken off
Boskalis raises Fugro holding to 20% Dutch firm continues to deny possible takeover
Asia-Europe box volumes pick up November sees container volumes heading to Europe increase on the back of restocking
Maersk Tankers sells 19-year-old product tanker to make room for newer tonnage Third such sale from the Danish tanker owner in a matter of weeks
Still no proper explanation for jet attack on Araevo, says owner Libyan warplane's rocket strike continues to baffle as first of two killed crewmen is buried
The road ahead for First Ship Lease Trust The Singapore-listed trustee-manager faces a 2015 on firmer financial footing. Chief executive Alan Hatton discusses how FSL Trust plans to manage its better set of choices
Wuchang Shipbuilding industry lands order for 16 AHTS vessels China's Shipbuilding conglomerate continues to explore Singapore offshore engineering market
Shanghai International Port posts $1.1bn 2014 profit Company maintains a solid growth from an expanding container business and rising overseas financing
Nature notes US laws to protect birds offer a warning over offshore wind turbines
Carrier surcharge to boost shipper costs through Portland Importers and exporters who ship through the Port of Portland, Oregon, will experience higher costs next month because of work slowdowns by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. Hapag-Lloyd, in an advisory to customers, said that effective Feb. 9 it will impose a surcharge of $85 per container on imports and...
China bans US poultry, eggs, citing avian flu The Chinese government said it will ban imports of U.S. poultry and egg products because of recent detections of highly pathogenic avian influenza in backyard poultry and wild birds in the Pacific Northwest. China is a key export market for U.S. chicken, turkey and duck products. From January through November last...
TIA's Voltmann: Shortage of drivers threatens crisis The type of loading dock sign that Voltmann says will scare off truckers and guarantee that a receiver will be cut off from already-tight capacityWarnings about U.S. truck driver shortages are on the verge of coming true, Robert Voltmann, president and CEO of the Transportation Intermediaries Association, told JOC.com. "It's finally...
Shippers adjust supply chains to cope with congestion From port congestion and new ocean alliances to driver shortages and rail service worries, the global supply chain is more fragile than at any point in recent memory. Three shippers discuss how they're adjusting to the challenges. Even as they grow more optimistic about the economy and the outlook for demand...
Year of the customer? 2014 was far from the first year to see waterfront labor issues disrupt cargo flows at U.S. ports. Nor was it the first year to see the formation of large vessel-sharing alliances, big ships, equipment dislocations, truck driver shortages, suspect rail service or unexpectedly strong growth in cargo volumes. Each has...
TQL revenue passes $2 billion mark as big 3PLs get bigger Kerry Byrne has a good yardstick for the pace of economic recovery -- his company's rate of revenue growth. Truck freight broker Total Quality Logistics took in $2.1 billion in total revenue last year, only three years after TQL first passed the $1 billion revenue mark in 2011. In 2011, TQL...
Rail congestion boosts St. Lawrence Seaway volume The St. Lawrence Seaway handled 40 million metric tons of cargo in 2014, its highest volume since 2008, as rail congestion caused grain exporters to ship more cargo by water. Grain traffic on the seaway topped 12 million tons, the highest volume since 2000 and an increase from 8.4 million tons...
October 2015 Dates Announced for JOC Inland Distribution Conference NEWARK, N.J. - JOC Group Inc. today announced that its 2015 Inland Distribution Conference will take place in Memphis. The two-day event will examine forecasts and challenges of the transportation industry's intermodal and inland distribution business. JOC Inland will be held Oct. 6-8, 2015, timed to coincide with Memphis World Trade...
Low-sulfur deadline extended for Horizon's Alaska ships The U.S. Coast Guard and Environmental Protection Agency have granted more time for installation of emission scrubbers on three Horizon Lines ships used in an Alaska service being acquired by Matson. Horizon received a conditional waiver from the low-sulfur fuel requirements of the North American Emissions Control Area, which limits sulfur...
Late ship deliveries will add to 2015 overcapacity, Drewry warns HONG KONG - Drewry has estimated 100,000 TEUs of scheduled new container ship capacity did not arrive on time in 2014 and will spill into this year, increasing supply pressure on an already heavily over supplied industry. In its weekly Container Insight newsletter, Drewry said by the end of last year,...
China's growing logistics needs drive demand for GLP warehouses HONG KONG - Global Logistic Properties has signed new lease agreements in China for 1.1 million square feet in the past two weeks as the Singapore-listed developer continues to expand its distribution and e-commerce network in the country. GLP today signed a new lease at a logistics park in Southern China...
Year of the mega-alliances under way as Munkebo Maersk departs Dalian Munkebo Maersk, the line's 14th Triple-E vessel, loads up at Dalian Container Terminal at the weekend in this Maersk Line photo to launch the 2M Alliance's Asia-Europe service.HONG KONG - The 2M Alliance between Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Co. began in Dalian at the weekend when the brand new...
Hafnia branded 'buy' A leading European investment bank has initiated research coverage of Hafnia Tankers.
Top Ships shifts gears A Greek product tanker operator led by Evangelos Pistiolis has lined up a sale-and-leaseback deal for tonnage it chartered to Stena Weco.
Box Ships boxship arrested A containership controlled by Greek operator Box Ships has landed at the centre of another legal battle involving OW Bunker.
Big win for Berlian Laju Berlian Laju Tanker (BLT) appears to be closing in on the final leg of a billion-dollar restructuring that began nearly three years ago.
Horizon lands ECA waiver Horizon Lines of the US is moving forward with plans to install exhaust cleaning systems on three of its Jones Act containerships.
MOL boxship runs aground A boxship operated by Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has run aground in Tateyama Harbor, at Japan's Chiba Prefecture.
Period deal for Paragon Paragon Shipping has found period employment for one of its panamax bulkers, brokers say.
Suspicion falls on crews Piracy reporting body ReCaap has warned that the increasing frequency of bunker theft from tankers in Asia indicates inside information is being passed to organised gangs.
Weather worries High winds are expected to peak on Wednesday evening, something that could further disrupt the salvage of the Hoegh Osaka off the UK.
Diana ties up two Diana Shipping has announced two further charters for its fleet from Vroon and Glencore.
Maersk Tankers sells again Maersk Tankers has sold a third medium range tanker in quick succession, brokers say.
Dorian nets $761m package Dorian LPG has lined up a $761m package to complete funding of its VLGC newbuilding orderbook.
Crewman lost A Filipino seafarer has died after falling from a Greek-managed bulker off Denmark.
Dry bulk at peak pessimism Capesize rates finally took a turn for the better today amid suggestions the dry cargo market had reached peak pessimism.
Finnlines buys ro-ro pair Finnlines has put pen to paper on the acquisition of two ro-ro vessels to be deployed in the company's North Sea service.
Nowacki buys into Box Ships Nowacki Capital Management has emerged as a major investor in Michael Bodouroglou's Box Ships.
Unipec stays number one China's Unipec remained the biggest charterer of crude tankers in 2014, but Vitol moved into the top three.
Double boost for Dof Norway's Dof has added more guaranteed revenue with charter extensions for two supply ships.
Weber shows VL storage sums Interest in floating storage contracts has helped lift VLCC time charter activity to an 18 month high, according to data from Charles R Weber.
Profit warning hits shares A profit warning issued last Friday by Cosco Corp (Singapore) has had an immediate impact, with shares reaching their lowest price level since August 2011.
BlueMountain buys more Andrew Feldstein's BlueMountain Capital has grown its major shareholding in Teekay spin-off Tanker Investments Ltd.
Boskalis buys more Dutch owner Royal Boskalis Westminster has increased its holding in offshore shipping company Fugro, but reiterated it should not be viewed as indicating a likely offer.
Wuchang lands big order China's Wuchang Shipbuilding has won a major order for 16 offshore ships from an unnamed Singapore owner.
Ferry fleet for sale France's Groupe Eurotunnel has put its ro-pax business MyFerryLink up for sale after being barred from operating from Dover.
Maersk Broker sells agency Maersk Broker has completed the sale of its agency business to compatriot Shipping.dk.
ULCC reactivating A ULCC that has been laid up for almost a year is being reactivated after being fixed on time-charter by a trader for storage.
Euronav pair cut stakes Euronav's two largest shareholders have reduced their interest in the Belgian tanker owner.
Three dead in sinking Three people have died and another 12 are missing after a ferry sank off Cape Verde in Africa.
Ro-pax blaze out A new inspection of the burnt-out ro-ro Norman Atlantic is taking place in Italy after the fire on board was finally extinguished.
Western wins ro-ro Bangladesh's Western Marine Shipyard has won a new ferry order from Uganda.
Polarcus recruits Starr Dubai-based Polarcus has named seismic industry veteran Rod Starr as its new chief executive.
Qatargas in Thai first Qatargas has delivered the first cargo of LNG to Thailand under a long-term sale and purchase agreement (SPA) with PTT Ltd.
Tug hits Hoegh Osaka One of the tugs working on the salvage of the Hoegh Osaka has collided with the vessel over the weekend.
Methanol 'consistently less expensive than MGO' Cost of building vessels with methanol flex fuel capability 'modest' compared to other alternative fuels, Methanex tells Bunkerworld.
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