Diana Containerships Announces Receipt of NASDAQ Notice

Diana Containerships (NASDAQ: DCIX), a shipping company specializing in the ownership of containerships, announced that it has received written notification from The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC dated January 10, 2019, indicating that because the closing bid price of the Company's common stock for 30 consecutive business days, from November 26, 2018 to January 9, 2019, was below the minimum $1.00 per share bid price requirement for continued listing on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, the Company is not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(a)(1).

First U.S. Crude Cargoes Head to China Since Trade Breakthrough

Three cargoes of U.S. crude are heading to China from the U.S. Gulf Coast, trade sources said on Monday, the first departures since late September and a 90-day pause in the two countries' trade war that began last month.The vessels left Galveston, Texas, last month and are scheduled to arrive at Chinese ports between late January and early March, according to shipbrokers and vessel tracking data. The shipments mark a change since Chinese buyers largely began avoiding U.S. oil during the trade dispute that flared last summer."It looks like China has resumed purchasing U.S.

ITIC Reimburses Broker Accused by Owner of Breach of Authority

International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC) recently represented a shipbroker accused by an owner of breach of warranty of authority in a dispute arising under a non-performing contract of affreightment (CoA).The shipbrokers had negotiated the terms of a CoA between the charterers and the ship owners, receiving all their instructions from an agent purporting to act for the charterers. The CoA provided for a minimum of 18 shipments to take place over a 12-month period but…

Ahead of Brexit, ABP Increases Investment in Port of Hull

Port operator Associated British Ports (ABP) said on Monday it had boosted investments at its Port of Hull, bringing the total to 250 million pounds ($321.78 million) since the country's 2016 decision to leave the European Union.ABP said it was working to support businesses that are anxious about a no-deal Brexit and the potential "severe disruption" that it may cause with the March 29 exit date ticking closer."We have already seen volumes begin to rise at our ports on the Humber as customers look for alternatives to Dover," said ABP, which has 21 ports across England, Scotland and Wales.Prime

BIMCO: US Box Imports Break Records Despite Uncertainty Ahead

Container imports on both the US East Coast (USEC) and West Coast (USWC) had a strong year in 2018, growing 3.7% and 8% respectively in the first 11 months of the year compared to the same period in 2017.Record high levels of inbound laden containers were experienced on both coasts in October with the USWC at 1.09 million TEU and the USEC at 0.91 million TEU according to BIMCO’s own data.The first two months of 2018 saw the USWC coast’s laden imports increase 11.7% from the start of 2017, with the accumulated growth rate then stabilising to around 4% for the rest of the year.

India Okays Marititme MoU with Denmark

Indian Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Maritime issues between India and Denmark.The MoU is proposed to be signed during the upcoming visit of the Denmark officials to India in January, 2019.Signing of the MoU will pave way for both countries for exploration of areas for bilateral collaboration in facilitating cross-border cooperation and investments between the maritime sectors of India and Denmark.The agreement will enable both the countries to exchange expertise…

Trade War Contributes to U.S. LNG Export Decline

The number of U.S. liquefied natural gas vessels that went to China in 2018 fell by around 20 percent from the prior year as the trade war between Beijing and Washington heated up.In recent weeks, however, that dispute has cooled somewhat with talks in China this week between Chinese and U.S. trade teams raising hopes additional tariffs can be avoided.As the trade war escalated during the last six months of 2018, only six LNG vessels went from the United States to China, down from 25 during the same period in 2017. China imposed tariffs on U.S.

Canaveral Port Authority: $108.5M Contracts Awarded for New Cruise Terminal

At a special meeting on Tuesday, the Canaveral Port Authority Board of Commissioners unanimously approved awarding Merritt Island-based Ivey’s Construction Inc. a $78.98 million contract for the Port’s Cruise Terminal 3 project and a $29.53 million contract for the adjacent 1,800-vehicle parking garage.Ivey’s was the low bidder to build a two-story, 188,000-square-foot terminal as part of the Port’s largest single construction project in its 65-year history – a $163 million complex that will become the homeport for Carnival Cruise Line’s biggest and largest cruise ship…

DFDS Gets Brexit Contract by the UK

Danish shipping and logistics company DFDS has been awarded a contract by the UK government to provide additional ferry capacity in the North Sea.Maria Anagnostou, Fleet Management, will be responsible for handling DFDS’ contract about additional ferry capacity in the North Sea with UK Department for Transport.The  UK Department for Transport announced that it had signed a contract with DFDS to provide additional ferry capacity to prepare for “the possibility of severe congestion at and around UK ports from 29.3.2019…

U.S. Commerce Secretary: U.S., China Could Settle Immediate Trade Issues

The United States and China are likely to reach a good settlement over immediate trade issues while agreement on structural trade issues and enforcement will be harder, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross said on Monday as U.S.-China trade talks resumed.Ross, in an interview on CNBC, said the talks in Beijing would help determine whether trade differences between the world's two largest economies could be resolved through negotiations."I think there's a very good chance that we will get a reasonable settlement that China can live with…

Sovcomflot Orders Three LNG-fueled Tankers from Zvezda Shipyard

On December 28, 2018, Sovcomflot (SCF Group) placed an order at Zvezda shipbuilding complex for construction of three new generation product carriers that use cleaner-burning LNG fuel as their primary fuel.Three MR-class vessels will have a deadweight (DWT) of 51,000 tonnes each. They will transport petroleum products and gas condensate and will be chartered to Novatek under long-term time charter agreements. Each tanker will have an ice class of 1B, enabling safe operations in areas with challenging ice conditions, including the Baltic.Using LNG fuel enables to significantly reduce emissions.

UK Defends Brexit Ferry Contract to Inexperienced Ferry Operator

Britain's transport minister has defended awarding a 14 million-pound ($18 million) contract for shipping goods after Brexit to a new ferry company that owns no ships.The government last week awarded three contracts to charter extra ferries to ease congestion if the United Kingdom fails to secure a trade deal before leaving the European Union in March.The smallest contract was won by Seaborne Freight, a British business that has never previously operated a ferry route, raising concern about whether the new service would be ready."I make no apologies for supporting a new British business…

Coast Guard Proposes Annual Great Lakes Pilotage Increase

“When somebody says it’s not about the money, it’s about the money.” – H.L. Mencken, American journalist and essayist, 1880-1956.This report is about Great Lakes pilotage rates. It’s all about the money. In fact, it’s hard to find someone who even suggests that it’s not about the money.For fifty or so Great Lakes pilots, it’s about cold hard cash: now. For others, say, vessel owners, it’s about wasted resources, about lost chances for a more efficient and sustainable system; “opportunity costs,” as economists like to say.

Star Bulk Carriers Acquires Own Shares

Star Bulk Carriers Corp., a global shipping company focusing on the transportation of dry bulk cargoes, announced that, pursuant to the Company’s previously announced share repurchase program, the Company purchased today 25,000 of its common shares in open market transactions at an average price of $8.76 for aggregate consideration of $219,100.The Company shall cancel all the common shares it has repurchased.On November 29, 2018, the Company announced a share repurchase program to purchase up to an aggregate of $50.0 million of the Company’s common shares.

Diana Shipping Win TC for m/v Myrsini with Glencore

Diana Shipping  through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with Glencore Agriculture B.V., Rotterdam, for one of its Kamsarmax dry bulk vessels, the m/v Myrsini.The global shipping company specializing in the ownership of dry bulk vessels, today announced that the gross charter rate is US$12,750 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period of minimum ten (10) months to maximum twelve (12) months.The charter commenced on December 22, 2018.

Diana Shipping Fixes m/v Seattle with SwissMarine

Diana Shipping announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with SwissMarine Services S.A., Geneva, for one of its Capesize dry bulk vessels, the m/v Seattle.According to the global shipping company specializing in the ownership of dry bulk vessels, the gross charter rate is US$16,000 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period of minimum 16 months to maximum 19 months. The charter is expected to commence on December 25…

TMS Cardiff Gas Orders Four LNG Carriers at Hyundai Heavy Industries

Greek gas carrier owner and operator TMS Cardiff Gas has signed additional contracts with Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) & Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) of Korea for the construction of 174,000 cubic meter LNG carriers with XDF propulsion. The Greek corporation said that this order is the latest in the Company’s X Carrier Series of orders taking the tally of X Carriers Series within the fleet to eleven. The Company’s fleet of managed vessels has grown to sixteen. The vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2020/2021…

Biggest Spenders of 2018

With less than a week until Christmas and most of our presents bought, we're feeling the pinch. However, that's nothing compared to the amount that some have been spending this year. VesselsValue's Senior Analyst Court Smith gives a rundown on which countries have splashed the most cash on second hand vessel purchases over 2018.USAJP Morgan Global Maritime is the US company who has spent the most on second hand vessels: 308 million USD so far in 2018. However, they have changed their purchasing strategy half way through the year.

Indian Court Refuses to Quash Antitrust Probe at Mumbai

An Indian court has declined to quash or stall an antitrust investigation into Dubai-based port operator DP World's alleged anti-competitive behaviour at the country's largest container port in Mumbai, three sources told Reuters on Wednesday.The Competition Commission of India (CCI) last month said it suspected antitrust violations by DP World and Denmark's A.P. Moller-Maersk at the terminals they operate at state-owned Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT).The CCI's probe followed a complaint by Singapore's PSA International Pte Ltd…

BIMCO: Global Shipping Scouts for Future Growth

Reflections 2019 – Market Analysis Section By Peter Sand, Chief Shipping Analyst.This article contains extracts from BIMCO’s Reflections 2019, which will be available in full on 2 January 2019 on www.bimco.org and will be sent out to all BIMCO members alongside their free member copy of BIMCO’s Holiday Calendar 2019.Where do we go to find economic growth that spurs shipping demand in the next five years? According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), we should look towards emerging and developing countries.

Baltic Index Slips from 6-week Highs

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, on Tuesday retraced from its six-week high in the previous session, weighed down by declines in capesize vessel rates.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, shed 11 points, or 0.8 percent, to land at 1,395 points. The index had touched its highest in six weeks in the previous session on Monday.The capesize index lost 40 points, or 1.6 percent, to 2,393 points.

Port of Duqm, Shell Oman to Develop Fuel Bunkering Facilities

Shell Oman Marketing Company SAOG signed an agreement with Port of Duqm Company SAOC (PDC) to develop fuel bunkering facilities and services.The downstream oil marketing company in the Sultanate said in a press release that agreement was signed by Dr. Mohammed Mahmood Al Balushi, Chief Executive Officer of SOM, and Reggy Vermeulen, CEO of PDC.The agreement establishes bunkering terminal to provide different grades of quality fuels and lubricants as well as other ancillary facilities to marine liners calling at Port of Duqm…

Gazprom, Itochu Sign MoU on Baltic LNG

Russian oil and gas company Gazprom and Japanese trading house Itochu have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the proposed Baltic liquefied natural gas (LNG) export project."With this document, the parties confirmed their interest in potential cooperation in the framework of the project," said a press note from the Russian gas giant.A working meeting between Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, and Yoshihisa Suzuki, President and Chief Operating Officer of Itochu Corporation, took place in St.

Stronger Capesize Demand Propels Baltic Index

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships transporting dry bulk commodities, gained on Friday supported by a jump in capesize vessel rates.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, gained 36 points, or 2.6 percent, to 1,401 points.The capesize index rose 203 points, or 9.3 percent, to 2,383 points. Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 170,000 tonne-180,000 tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal…

China to Halt Additional Tariffs on U.S.-made Cars

China to suspend additional 25 pct tariffs on U.S.-made cars for three months; China's planned tariff halt follows purchase of U.S. soybeans.China will suspend additional tariffs on U.S.-made vehicles and auto parts for three months starting Jan. 1, 2019, the country's finance ministry said on Friday, following a truce in a trade war between the world's two largest economies.China will suspend 25 percent tariffs on 144 U.S. vehicle and auto part items and 5 percent tariffs on 67 auto items between Jan.

Stevedores in Portugal End Strike, Unblocking VW Car Shipments

Striking stevedores at the Portuguese port of Setubal and the port administration reached a deal on Friday to end a strike that started 40 days ago and has blocked shipments of over 20,000 cars from a Volkswagen plant nearby."Loadings can start today if there are ships ready," said Renato Teixeira, a spokesman for the SEAL union, explaining that the government-brokered deal involved contracts for dozens of stevedores who previously had precarious conditions, usually hired for just a day's work.The Volkswagen Autoeuropa plant near Lisbon is Portugal's single largest exporter.

ICE to Launch Marine Futures Contracts Ahead of IMO 2020 Sulfur Cap

The Intercontinental Exchange will launch new Marine Fuel 0.5% futures contracts in advance of the implementation of the 0.5% sulphur cap by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 2020.The operator of global exchanges and clearing houses and provider of data and listings services said in a press release that the new contracts are expected to launch on February 4, 2019, subject to completion of relevant regulatory processes.The new contracts have been developed in response…

Scorpio Bulkers Gets Work for SBI Hera

Scorpio Bulkers Inc, shipping company, owns and operates dry bulk carriers,  announced that it has entered into a time charter-out agreement with an unaffiliated third party for SBI Hera, one of its Ultramax drybulk carriers.According to a press release from the provider of marine transportation of dry bulk commodities, the charter is for a period of between four and six months at a rate of $14,850 per day.Recently, it has entered into a time charter-out agreement with an unaffiliated third party for SBI Libra…

Brazil’s Itaqui Port and Panama Canal Sign MOU

The Panama Canal has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Port of Itaqui to promote the shipment of grains and other cargoes in the commercial route from Brazil through the Panama Canal to destinations located in the Pacific Ocean.Itaqui, located in São Luís, Maranhão, is the Brazilian port closest to the Panama Canal. It  has the infrastructure and connectivity necessary to move these exports to markets in Asia."With this agreement, the Panama Canal looks to promote…

Hispano-Chinese MoU for Ports

The Port of Algeciras Authority (APBA) Chairman, Manuel Moron, and the Ningbo Zhoushan Port Group Chairman, Mao Jianhong, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that is set to formalize co-operation between both of the logistics powerhouses and increase commercial flow between Southern Europe and Asia. According to the port and harbour of Algeciras, the MoU was rubber-stamped during the official state visit to Spain of the Chinese President,  Xi Jinping, who - together with the Spanish Prime Minister…

Xeneta: Watch Both Sea and Air Amid Trade War Tensions

As the ongoing trade war between the US and China continues to send tremors of uncertainty through the global economy, Xeneta is advising senior executives to keep a close eye on fluctuating ocean and air freight rates. In an unpredictable geopolitical environment, highlighted by last week’s arrest of Huawei’s CFO in Canada, the leading freight rate benchmarking and market intelligence platform says shippers need agile logistics strategies, with the option of shifting transportation mode whenever necessary.“Nobody…

Baltic Index Slips on Weaker Capesize Demand

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities, slipped on Wednesday as capesize vessel rates declined.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, lost 11 points, or 0.8 percent, to 1,353 points.The capesize index fell 30 points, or 1.4 percent, to 2,153 points. Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 170,000 tonne-180,000 tonne cargoes such as iron ore and coal, decreased by $269 to $16,808.The panamax index dipped 9 points, or 0.6 percent, to 1,445 points.

NYK in Charter Agreement with Mitsubishi

Japanese shipping and logistics giant Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) has signed long-term contracts with Diamond Gas International Pte. Ltd. (DGI), a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) located in Singapore, for DGI to charter from NYK three newly built liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.Previously, NYK concluded long-term time-charter contracts for three new LNG vessels for MC’s Cameron LNG project, so these most recent contracts bring the total to six carriers for MC.The NYK Group will be responsible for ship management for the three ordered LNG carriers…

Diana Shipping in TC Pact for m/v Ismene with Koch

Diana Shipping announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with Koch Shipping Singapore, for one of its Panamax dry bulk vessels, the m/v Ismene.The a global shipping company specializing in the ownership of dry bulk vessels said in a press note that the gross charter rate is US$12,125 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period until minimum January 1, 2020 up to maximum March 31, 2020.The charter is expected to commence on December 12, 2018, it said.

Kalmar Books Order for 30 Ottawa Terminal Tractors

Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has secured an order to supply a total of 30 Kalmar Ottawa T2 Terminal Tractors to the Tecon Santos container terminal in Brazil, operated by Santos Brasil Participações S.A. The order was booked in Cargotec's third quarter 2018 order intake, with delivery of the machines scheduled to take place through the first quarter of 2019.Tecon Santos is located in the largest port in Latin America and is one of Brazil's leading logistic company and biggest container terminal.

China, U.S. Discuss Road Map for Continuing Trade Talks

China and the United States discussed a road map for the next stage of their trade talks on Tuesday during a telephone call between Vice Premier Liu He, U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed at a Dec. 1 meeting in Argentina to a truce that delayed a planned Jan. 1 U.S. increase of tariffs to 25 percent from 10 percent on $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.Lighthizer said on Sunday that unless U.S.-China trade talks wrapped up successfully by March 1…

Baltic Index Snaps Winning Streak as Capesize, Panamax Rates Sag

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities, marked its first decline in last six sessions on Tuesday, weighed down by weaker demand for capesize and panamax vessels.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, lost 21 points, or 1.5 percent, to 1,364 points.The capesize index snapped its five-day winning streak and dropped 2.7 percent, or 61 points, to 2,183 points. Average daily earnings for capesizes…

OSG Extends Charter of AMSC's Nine Tankers

Florida-based provider of energy transportation services delivering crude oil and petroleum products Overseas Shipholding Group (OSC) and American Shipping Company (AMSC) jointly announced that OSG has exercised options to extend its charter agreements with AMSC for nine vessels currently under charter from AMSC.AMSC is a  Norwegian-American shipping and shipyard company and part of the Aker Group."A Charter agreements for five of the vessels were extended for additional three-year terms, commencing from December 2019 and ending in December 2022.

Global Ship Lease Sings TC with CMA CGM

UK-based containership lessor Global Ship Lease (GSL) has agreed five-year charters with CMA CGM for the 2015-built, 6,882 TEU containerships UASC Bubiyan and UASC Yas.The containership charter owner said in a release that the new charters, which are in addition to the four similar charters announced on November 9, 2018, will commence upon the expiry of the current charters during the second quarter of 2019, are for a period of five years and are at a rate of $25,910 per day, up from $20…

Panama Canal Signs Deal with Port of Itaqui

The Panama Canal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Port of Itaqui, located in the northeastern region of Brazil, to promote the shipment of grains and other cargoes in the commercial route between the north of Brazil through the Panama Canal to destinations located in the Pacific Ocean.The Port of Itaqui, located in São Luís, Maranhão, is the Brazilian port closest to the Panama Canal and has the infrastructure and connectivity necessary to move these exports to markets in Asia.

Stronger Capesize Demand Propels Baltic Index Still Higher

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships transporting dry bulk commodities, rose for the fifth straight session on Monday, buoyed by stronger capesize rates.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, gained 13 points, or about 1 percent, to 1,385 points.The capesize index climbed 2.1 percent, or 47 points, to 2,244 points, highest since Nov. 6. Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 170…

Chinese Consortium Bags USD 1.4bln Panama Bridge Project

The government of Panama gave a US$1.4 billion contract to build a bridge over the Panama Canal to Panama Cuarto Puente, a Chinese consortium.Panama Cuarto Puente consortium or so-called Panama Fourth Bridge Consortium,  composed of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC) and its unit China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC), will design and build a bridge over the Panama Canal.According to a report in Reuters, the 6.5-km (4-mile) bridge will have six car lanes and a two-way metro line.

NYK Line Signs TC for Two LNG Carriers with Total

Japanese shipping giant NYK has signed a long-term contract with a unit of French energy giant Total to charter two liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers.According to the contract, Total Gas & Power Chartering Ltd (TGPCL) will charter from NYK two newly built liquefied natural gas (LNG) carriers that will be built by Samsung Heavy Industries Co. Ltd. in Korea and scheduled for delivery in 2021.The two LNG carriers will be equipped with a WinGD-made dual-fuel slow-speed diesel engine (i.e.…

Strong Capesize Rates lift Baltic Index to One-month High

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities, rose for the fourth straight session to touch a one-month high on Friday, boosted by strong demand for capesize vessels.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, gained 33 points, or 2.5 percent, to 1,372 points, a peak level since Nov. 6.The capesize index surged 5.6 percent, or 117 points, to 2,197 points. Average daily earnings for capesizes…

Diesel-Loaded Tankers Stranded off Asia as Demand Wanes

Several tankers carrying diesel fuel are floating off Taiwan and Southeast Asian waters as a steep fall in oil prices kept buyers at bay, trade and shipping sources said on Friday, helping push rates to their highest since January 2016.With tanker rates also boosted by strong Chinese oil exports, it was a big relief for an industry that has been in the doldrums for the past three years.About seven to nine long-range tankers carrying about 5 to 7 million barrels of diesel are currently floating off Taiwan waters largely due to a drop in bunker fuel demand from the South China Sea…

ADNOC, Inpex in LNG Bunkering Pact

ADNOC Logistics & Services (ADNOC L&S), a wholly-owned subsidiary of UAE's ADNOC, has signed an agreement with Japan's Inpex Corp to collaborate on LNG bunkering activities.Under the agreement, ADNOC L&S and Inpex will explore opportunities for LNG bunkering in the UAE as well as the potential to jointly expand LNG bunkering activities to cover other regions, including Southeast Asia, said a press release from the Abu Dhabi-based integrated shipping and logistics company.The use…

Baltic Index Gains on Stronger Broad Demand

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships carrying dry bulk commodities, rose for the third straight session on Thursday, supported by strong demand across vessel segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, rose 43 points, or 3.3 percent, to 1,339 points.The capesize index rose 8.1 percent, or 155 points, to 2,080 points. Average daily earnings for capesizes, which typically transport 170…

Dachser Names Touya to Head U.S. Management Team

Touya brings 30 years of successful company development to American supply chain endeavors.Dachser has named Vincent Touya as Managing Director of its U.S. based organization. Mr. Touya is from France and has been with the family-owned company for over 30 years.Mr. Touya will join Dachser at its U.S. Regional Office in Atlanta on February 1, 2019 and succeeds Frank Guenzerodt, who had been with Dachser for 14 years. Mr. Guenzerodt was in charge of transforming Dachser USA from a small country organization into a key pillar of Dachser’s global network.Guido Gries…

NWSA's Terminal 18 Breaks Records with 2018 Volume

SSA Marine’s Terminal 18 surpassed 1 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in yearly container volume last week, marking the first time in Washington state history that a single marine terminal handled a million TEUs in a year.Located in the North Harbor of The Northwest Seaport Alliance, the terminal is on track to top 1.1 million TEUs by the end of 2018. “We are proud to announce that Terminal 18 has handled over 1 million TEUs so far this year,” said Courtney Gregoire, Port of Seattle commission president and co-chair of the NWSA.

CMA CGM, Freightos Ink Digitization Pact

CMA CGM becomes the first ocean carrier listed on Freightos; direct digital sales, booking, and shipment management on CMA CGM key transpacific trade lanes now available on Freightos.The CMA CGM Group, a worldwide leading shipping group, and Freightos, the world’s online freight marketplace, are pleased to announce they have signed an ambitious pilot agreement whereby CMA CGM has become the first ocean carrier listed on Freightos. Online bookings, guaranteed pricing, and secured capacity on CMA CGM China-US trade lanes are available on the platform…

Floating LNG in Asia Finds Buyers as Prices Plunge

Nine or more tankers on the way or discharged into Asia, while at least five still holding LNG off Singapore.Several liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes that had been stored on vessels in Asian waters are now heading towards buyers' terminals in China, Japan or South Korea as spot prices for the super-chilled fuel have plunged this week to multi-month lows.At least nine LNG tankers are now on their way or have already offloaded cargoes to buyers after floating off Singapore, Malaysian or South China waters for up to two months…

BHGE Inks 3-year Contract with Saudi Aramco

Saudi Aramco has awarded major stimulation and well-testing contract to Baker Hughes, a GE company (BHGE). BHGE will deliver a comprehensive well services solution including all cased-hole wireline logging, perforation, well testing, stimulation, fracturing and associated intervention services.By integrating discrete products, services and capabilities into a single offering, BHGE will help Saudi Aramco reduce time, costs and complexity while increasing efficiency.The three-year…

Baltic Index Snaps 4-day Losing Streak

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships transporting dry bulk commodities, marked its first gain in five days on Tuesday, helped by firmer rates across vessel segments.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, rose 34 points, or 2.8 percent, to 1,237 points.The capesize index snapped four straight sessions of losses and gained 6.2 percent, or 101 points, to 1,739 points. Average daily earnings for capesizes…

Rising Ship Supply Eases LNG Charter Rates

Limited availability drove LNG shipping rates to highs; but prices now falling as more ship supply becomes available.Inflated spot charter rates for liquefied natural gas (LNG) tankers are easing as more ships becoming available, which could help increase LNG trade if Asian demand rises in coming months.LNG charter rates are a key component of spot LNG trade, dictating the way the super-cooled gas is transported. Charter rates usually follow the price of LNG, which has fallen since September due to sluggish demand from Asian buyers.Rates have remained high for most of this year…

Hyundai Merchant Marine to Say Good Bye to 2M Alliance?

South Korea's largest shipping firm Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) is likely to part ways with the 2M Alliance which will expire in April 2020 and join  a new ocean alliance said a local media report.According to a report in Business Korea, the 2M Alliance (consists of Maersk Line and MSC) is disadvantageous to HMM as it is not a full member of the alliance. HMM's status fell as the 2M Alliance inked a partnership deal with Israel's Zim Integrated Shipping Services, the report…

Konecranes Hybrid RTGs for Port Houston

Konecranes has won an order from long-term customer Port Houston, USA, for eight Konecranes RTGs equipped with hybrid power packs. These will be the first Konecranes hybrid RTGs to be delivered. The cranes will be delivered in Q1 2020 to the Barbours Cut Terminal. The order will be booked in Q4 2018. Port Houston, the international port of Texas, has been a Konecranes customer for over 15 years. The port currently operates 90 Konecranes diesel-electric RTGs.The new RTGs will be hybrid, for eco-efficient operation without compromising crane performance.

Ørsted Hires Focus Consultants on Sustainable East Coast Offshore Hub

Focus Consultants has been appointed to deliver sustainability services for a new East Coast Hub for the offshore wind giant, Ørsted, which is currently building the biggest offshore wind farms in the world.Currently in construction on the Royal Docks at Grimsby, Lincolnshire, the building will represent a state-of-the-art operations and maintenance hub to support both the construction and operation of Ørsted’s offshore wind farms, from which they currently operate more than 1.2 gigawatts (GW) of capacity with a further 2.6GW under construction.“The construction…

MPC Container Ships Buys More Scrubbers

Norwegian oner and operator of container vessels MPC Container Ships (MPCC) has exercised options to equip additional five vessels with exhaust gas cleaning systems.The scrubber investments are expected to be financed with cash on hand and available debt capacity on the MPCC's existing fleet.The Oslo-headquartered company said in a press release that it has also agreed charters for six scrubber-retrofitted boxships."The charterparties will be initiated after scrubber retrofitting and with a duration into 2022.

Subsea Innovation Bags Two Contracts with Royal IHC

Subsea Innovation, the supplier engineered equipment and technology used in the installation of subsea equipment for the offshore oil and gas, has announced two high profile contract wins with Royal IHC, as part of a collaborative framework agreement.A press release from the  offshore energy engineering compmany said that  will be supporting their client Royal IHC Limited on the design, development, manufacture and supply of back deck equipment on two projects to be completed throughout 2018 and 2019."For both projects…

TEN Finds Work for Suezmax Tanker

Tsakos Energy Navigation (TEN) has announced the charter with profit sharing provisions of one suezmax tanker for 18 months to a major oil concern.The Greek shipping company pointed out hat this increases the number of vessels fixed on secured revenue contracts since the beginning of the year to 24, the majority of which on rates with upside optionality.These charters have an average duration of two years and are expected to add a minimum of $250 million to fleet revenues, it…

Scorpio Bulkers Updates on New TC

Scorpio Bulkers announced  that it has entered into a time charter-out agreement one of its Ultramax drybulk carriers for a period of between five and seven months.The  provider of marine transportation of dry bulk commodities said that the 64,000-dwt SBI Libra (built 2017) will earn $15,250 per day. However, it did not name the charterer.Scorpio Bulkers announced last month that it has entered time charter-out agreements for seven of its Ultramax vessels and four of its Kamsarmax vessels.

Port of Corpus Christi: $59m for Channel Upgrades

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced its Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Work Plan, which includes an additional $59 million in funding for the Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project (CIP). This funding brings the total Federal appropriations for the CIP to $95 million. The estimated CIP cost is $360 million, of which the federal government is responsible for $230 million, while the Port of Corpus Christi is responsible for the remaining $130 million. To date, the Port of Corpus Christi has transferred $78 million of its own funds to the USACE…

Boskalis Wins USD 283 mln Contract from Ostwind

Dutch dredging Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. (Boskalis) has been awarded a sizable export cable installation contract for the Ostwind 2 offshore grid connection.A press release from the global services provider operating in the dredging, maritime infrastructure and maritime services sectors said that the contract was awarded by 50Hertz and carries a value for Boskalis in excess of EUR 250 million (USD 283.45 mln) making this the largest cable installation contract acquired by…

Nordic American Offshore Shelves Horizon Maritime Combination

The owner and operator of platform supply vessels (PSVs) Nordic American Offshore (NAO) has informed that its project to combine with Horizon Maritime Services has been called off.A stock exchange announcement from the Bermuda-based company said: "The contemplated business combination, involving NAO and a group in Eastern Canada (Horizon Maritime), has been shelved as it has been decided not to move forward at this time."It added that a Nordic company (Nordic Canadian Shipping…

Kongsberg Marine Bags Award for DPS

The state-of-the-art DPS i-Series Differential Positioning System has won the ‘Innovative Dredging Technology of the Year’ category at the Dredging and Port Construction Awards 2018.The judges highlighted the unique system as a powerful tool for dredging contractors who can now leverage the same abilities for high-precision applications as offshore operators; using sensor technology combined with satellite positioning systems to improve not just the position of dredging vessels but also their efficiency.Ines Nastali…

Sapura Energy Wins Contracts in Mexico, Malaysia

Malaysia-based integrated oil and gas services Sapura Energy Berhad has strengthened its presence in Mexico and Malaysia with new contract wins valued at approximately RM1.75 billion (USD 410 mln).The new contracts have lifted the company’s orderbook to RM18 billion and total contract wins to-date for this financial year to RM7 billion (USD 1.68 bln).Sapura Energy has built capabilities and expertise that are critical to support its clients in their quest to meet global energy demand and as a result…

Exmar Bags FLNG Contract from YPF

Belgium's Exmar and YPF of Argentina announced the signing of a firm, ten-year agreement to deploy Exmar’s barge-based floating LNG liquefaction unit (FLNG) currently known as Caribbean FLNG to produce and export LNG from the Vaca Muerta source at the Neuquén Basin in Argentina.The project marks the entry of Argentina to the select club of global LNG exporting nations, with an initial plan to export 500,000 tons of LNG per year to overseas markets.Exmar’s FLNG barge will be named Tango FLNG and be deployed to the port of Bahia Blanca.

Diana Shipping Fixes m/v Alcmene with BG Shipping

Greece-based Diana Shipping announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with BG Shipping Co., Limited, Hong Kong, for one of its Post-Panamax dry bulk vessels, the m/v Alcmene.The global shipping company specializing in the ownership of dry bulk vessels said in a press note that the gross charter rate is US$11,500 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period of minimum 11 months to maximum 14 months.

V.Ships Wins Magellan Explorer Contract

The global marine and offshore vessel management and support services provider V.Group said that its V.Ships Leisure unit has been awarded a contract by Antarctica21 for the technical management of the expedition vessel, Magellan Explorer.The 100-guest Magellan Explorer is currently under construction at Asenav in Chile and due to be delivered in October 2019, the ship management company company said.The vessel, which is being built to the new polar code and is uniquely customised for fly-cruises in Antarctica…

Diana Shipping Signs TC for m/v Sideris GS

Diana Shipping  announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with Berge Bulk Shipping Singapore, for one of its Capesize dry bulk vessels, the m/v Sideris GS, for a period until minimum December 15, 2019 up to maximum March 30, 2020.The global shipping company specializing in the ownership of dry bulk vessels said that the gross charter rate is US$8,500 per day for the first 30 days of the charter period and US$15,350 per day for the balance period of the time charter…

Daewoo Shipping and Marine Engineering Posts Q3 Loss

The South Korean shipbuilding major Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) has posted a net loss in the third quarter from a year earlier due to one-off losses.According to a stock exchange announcement by the world’s second-largest shipbuilder by orders, the net loss reached 323.9 billion won (US$285.1 million) in the three months ending Sept. 30 from a net profit of 74.9 billion won during the same period last year.DSME's operating profit in the third quarter fell 9.6…

Linde Group Bags Chinese LNG Contract

The technology company The Linde Group has been awarded a contract from Chinese chemical and energy company Inner Mongolia Huineng Coal Chemical Co Ltd to supply a mid-scale LNG plant near Beinichuan in Inner Mongolia."This will be Linde’s seventh and largest LNG plant to date in China and is in response to growing demand from customers in China," said a release from the company.Linde's Engineering Division will be responsible for engineering, procurement and site services for the LNG plant with a nameplate capacity of 750…

Klaveness Combination Carriers Extends Contract with South32

Norwegian shipping company Klaveness Combination Carriers (KCC) said that it has signed an agreement with South32 Marketing Pte Ltd extending the current Contract of affreightment (COA).According to the owner and operator of combination carriers, the COA is for shipments of caustic soda to Worsley Alumina Pty Ltd, South32’s alumina refinery located in Western Australia.Through this agreement, the term of the COA is extended by three years from January 2019 to December 2021 with…

Baltic Index Edges Higher on Firmer Capesize Demand

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships ferrying dry bulk commodities, rose for the second straight session on Friday, boosted by stronger capesize demand.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, gained 11 points, or 1.1 percent, to 1,031 points. However, the index has declined for the fourth consecutive week, and has lost nearly 30 percent in the last two weeks.The capesize index rose 5 percent, or 50 points, to 1,057 points.

Meyer Turku Cuts Steel for New Carnival Cruise Ship

The cruise ship builder Meyer Turku started the production of a 5,286-lower berth cruise ship for Carnival Cruise Line.According to German shipbuilder, the ship will be the first North American-based cruise ship to run on iquefied natural gas (LNG) and will also be the largest Carnival cruise ship ever built with 180,000 gross tonnage (GT).With the first steel cutting the physical form of the ship will start to takeshape. The new Carnival ship will offer a variety never-before…

BIMCO Overhaules Standard Ship Repair Contracts

BIMCO, the largest of the international shipping associations representing shipowners, said that it has revised and updated its two standard ship repair contracts: REPAIRCON, which is for major work at a repair yard; and MINREPCON, which is for minor repair work that can be done by contractors when a ship is in port.Both contracts were approved at BIMCO’s Documentary Committee in Copenhagen on 13 November. Modifications and improvements have been made to the REPAIRCON contract…

Diana Shipping Fixes M/V Thetis with Hudson

Diana Shipping announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with Hudson Shipping Lines Incorporated for one of its Panamax dry bulk vessels, the m/v Thetis.According to the global shipping company specializing in the ownership of dry bulk vessels, the gross charter rate is US$10,650 per day, minus a 3.75% commission paid to third parties, for a period of minimum 14 months to maximum 17 months.The charter is expected to commence tomorrow.

Seanergy Maritime in Leaseback, Refinancing Pact with Cargill

The dry bulk cargo shipping company Seanergy Maritime Holdings announced has successfully concluded the refinancing of the 2011-built Capesize M/V Championship through a leasing agreement with Cargill International.The Nasdaq listed shipping company based in Greece informed that the refinancing has released approximately $7.8 million of liquidity for the Company.Pursuant to the agreement, the Company has chartered back the Vessel on a bareboat basis and subsequently entered it…

Diana Shipping Fixes M/V Maia with Glencore

The provider of shipping transportation services Diana Shipping announced that, through a separate wholly-owned subsidiary, it has entered into a time charter contract with Glencore Agriculture B.V., Rotterdam, for one of its Kamsarmax dry bulk vessels, the m/v Maia.The global shipping company specializing in the ownership of dry bulk vessels said in a press release that the gross charter rate is US$13,300 per day, minus a 5% commission paid to third parties, for a period until minimum January 1, 2020 up to maximum March 31, 2020.

Global Ship Lease Bags New TC with CMA CGM

Containership lessor Global Ship Lease, announced a new time charter with ANL, a wholly owned subsidiary of CMA CGM, for the 2003-built, 2,207 TEU containership GSL Keta (formerly Delmas Keta).The containership charter owner informed that the new charter, commencing on or around November 20, 2018, is for a period of between seven and 10 months (at charterer’s option) at a rate of $8,450 per day, up from $7,800 per day under the preceding charter.The company incorporated in the Marshall Islands has also exercised options to extend the existing charters of the 2002-built…

Savannah Achieves All-time TEU Record in October

The Port of Savannah moved more container cargo in October than any other month in its history, with 413,800 twenty-foot equivalent container units crossing its docks. Containerized trade at the Port of Savannah has increased by 8 percent for the fiscal year to date (July-Oct. 2018), totaling 1.53 million TEUs - up 113,000 compared to the same period last year.Last month's performance marked the 24th consecutive month of positive year-over-year growth for the Southeastern gateway.Intermodal rail cargo grew by 8.7 percent for the month, compared to October 2017.

Wood Secures Major Contracts in Abu Dhabi

Aberdeen-based energy services firm Wood been awarded three new, call-off contracts totaling $53 million by ADNOC Onshore, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).Project management consultancy (PMC) services will be provided for major projects across the company’s onshore fields in Abu Dhabi, aimed at supporting ADNOC’s group-wide production capacity target of 4 million barrels of oil per day by 2020.Creating around 100 new jobs in-country, the five-year contracts…

Poseidon Containers Inks TC with CMA CGM

The containership charter owner Global Ship Lease (GSL) announced that Poseidon Containers, with which it has entered a definitive merger agreement, has agreed five-year time charters with CMA CGM for four of its 6,927 TEU containerships, Mary, Kristina, Katherine and Alexandra.The charters will deliver incremental annualized EBITDA of approximately $11.0 million compared to third quarter 2018 contracted rates. The new charter for Mary commenced recently, and the remaining three new charters will commence upon expiry of their existing charters during the first half of 2019.

Port of Oakland Cargo Volume Up in Trade War, But Can It Last?

A U.S.-China tit-for-tat over tariffs hasn’t dampened cargo volume growth at the Port of Oakland. In fact, the Port is on track for its third straight year of record container volume in 2018.But can it last? That’s the question supply chain experts pondered this week at the quarterly meeting of the Port’s Efficiency Task Force. Forty trade and transportation executives ranging from longshore labor representatives to cargo owners gathered to discuss trade dynamics. Their consensus: cargo volume is spiking right now but could drop by January.“We’re peaking,” said a major U.S.

Palau Lines Up with BIMCO

Palau International Ship Registry (PISR) is the latest registry to join the world’s largest international shipping association representing ship owners, operators, managers, brokers and agents. PISR has grown to become one of the premier SMART ship registries and joining BIMCO offers unique opportunities for the registry to work alongside some of the biggest names in the maritime sector.BIMCO is recognized throughout the shipping world for the clarity, consistency and certainty of its standard maritime contracts and Panos Kirnidis…

Baltic Index Losing Streak Continues as Capesize Rates Drag

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index, tracking rates for ships transporting dry bulk commodities, fell for the eighth consecutive session on Thursday, pressured by weakness in the capesize segment.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, fell 73 points, or 5.6 percent, to 1,231 points, its lowest since June 4.The capesize index declined for the seventh straight session, tumbling 221 points, or 11.2 percent, to 1,747 points - also its lowest since June 4.