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…

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…

ChainPORT Renews Digital, Environmental Commitment

Delegates from the world’s leading ports have come together to examine their role in the rapidly evolving maritime logistics landscape and in particular to coordinate their contribution to the establishment of an interconnected maritime supply chain at the Port of Barcelona.The multilateral partnership of the world leading ports, ChainPORT, has just concluded its 4th Annual Meeting which was hosted last week by the Port of Barcelona.ChainPORT was initiated in 2016 by the Port…

EU Updates List of Ship Recycling Facilities

European Commission adopted a new Decision amending Implementing Decision (EU) to update the European List of ship recycling facilities. The said decision has been published on Monday in the Official Journal of the EU.With the 4th version of the list, the European Commission and the Member States add 6 new facilities to the list. These include, for the first time, 3 facilities which are located outside the EU -2 in Turkey and 1 in the United States-. The European Shipowners are fully supporting the expansion of the EU list, and in particular the inclusion of compliant facilities worldwide.

Ship Recycling Transparency Initiative Launched

Industry leaders and non-profit the Sustainable Shipping Initiative announced the launch of the Ship Recycling Transparency Initiative’s (SRTI) online platform - a tool for sharing information on ship recycling to drive responsible practice.According to a press release, the platform comes nine months after a group of shipping companies first announced their collective effort to use the market-drivers that transparency brings to make responsible ship recycling the norm. Demanding transparency holds the shipping industry to account…

UNCTAD Calls on Ports to Address Climate Change

About 80% of world trade is carried by sea, but the maritime industry handling these goods is on the frontline of climate woes, unless it adapts - fast.United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said that the transformation is needed if the world trade system is to cope with the projected impacts of climate change.“The hardest hit areas, coastlines, will affect us all since the lion’s share of trade itself is managed through international shipping and ports,” said UNCTAD’s chief of policy and legislation…

California: MSC Pays $630K for Air Quality Violations

Swiss container shipping company Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) paid $630,625 in penalties to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for violating the Ocean-Going Vessel At-Berth Regulation.According to CARB, the violations were discovered during a routine audit of the company’s 2014 visits to the Port of Oakland and the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.The investigation by CARB revealed more than 2500 violations for both the Oakland and LA/LB fleets for failing…

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…

AAPA: U.S. Ballast Water Legislative Victory Appears Imminent

Legislation that sets standards for incidental water discharges from vessels passed the House on Nov. 29.The Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018, S. 140, which includes the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act (VIDA), passed the Senate two weeks earlier and now moves to the President to be signed.The provision places the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the lead role of establishing standards for ballast water discharge, and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) will monitor and enforce compliance.

Fitch Ratings: Demand Risks Weigh on Global Shipping Sector Outlook

The global shipping sector outlook remains negative reflecting the demand-side risks of protectionism and slower economic growth, Fitch Ratings says. Higher fuel costs and sulphur regulation will also put pressure on shippers.Partly offsetting an unfavourable environment are emerging signs of better capacity management by shipping companies, which is key to a sustainable balance and freight rates that support consistent profitability. We expect better fundamentals in container and dry bulk…

Swiss Climate EcoCare, Korean Register MoU for IMO DCS Services

The Classification Society Korean Register (KR) and Swiss Climate EcoCare GmbH has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to provide enhanced International Maritime Organization (IMO) Data Collection System (DCS) services to the maritime industry.According to a release, the MoU was signed in Hamburg, Germany on 22nd Nov 2018 in presence of Philipp Ahrenkiel, Managing Director at Swiss Climate EcoCare GmbH and Michael Suhr, Technical & Commercial Director at Korean Register, Germany.

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…

TEN: Cautious Optimism on Shipping Market

The provider of seaborne crude oil and petroleum product transportation services Tsakos Energy Navigation Limited (TEN) said that though the tanker market showed upward trajectory, management will keep a close eye on developments and refine its employment approach.The Greece-based tanker company said in a stock exchange annoucement that "As we approach the end of 2018, the signs that the worst is behind are becoming increasingly evident. Global oil demand is continuing its upward…

Pole Star's EVE Receives IMO-DCS Approval

The provider of fleet management, ship security, and fisheries monitoring systems to the maritime industry Pole Star Space Applications has received IMO-DCS approval from Verifavia and Bureau Veritas for our Environmental Vessel Efficiency solution (EVE).The UK-headquartered company said in a press release that EVE offers its clients a solution that helps them comply with environmental regulations such as MRV and IMO DCS, and - just as importantly - the data-driven analysis needed to reduce fuel consumption and improve profit margins.Environmental responsibility is a priority for the IMO…

CMA CGM Wins Award for Most Accomplished Asia Pacific Ship Owner

The CMA CGM Group has been awarded the Most Accomplished Asia Pacific Ship Owner Award 2018 at the Maritime2020 Summit, which was held in Singapore on November 27, 2018.The French container transportation and shipping company said that this award recognizes the shipowner who demonstrates the greatest efforts to make its fleet more sustainable, efficient and environmentally friendly.Mathieu Girardin, Vice President CMA CGM Asia regional Office, received the award on behalf of the…

Singapore Hosts ASEAN Ports Association Meeting

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has hosted the 44th ASEAN Ports Association (APA) Meeting on 27 and 28 November 2018. The annual meeting was officially opened by the Chairman of MPA, Niam Chiang Meng, at the Conrad Centennial Hotel.About 100 key port executives and decision-makers from the nine member nations of the APA  attended the event, which serves as a platform for ASEAN ports to cooperate in areas such as port development, operations and management.The nine member nations of the APA are Brunei Darussalam…

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…

ShipNet Ties-up with ShipMate

Marine software and platform companies ShipNet and ShipMate announced a strategic exclusive partnership to provide advanced workflow capabilities for crew management and payroll solutions integrated with safety management, planned maintenance services (PMS) and procurement solutions.The partnership brings close collaboration delivering workflow functionality focused on productivity, improving efficiency and streamlining crewing operations – undoubtedly one of the highest OPEX…

SOGET launches EasyBrexit!

France-based Port Community System operator SOGET, in close collaboration with French customs, port authorities, ferry companies and road hauliers, will offer an integrated e-freight corridor based on a digitalized anticipation of information flows related to cross-Channel goods."Cross-channel RO-RO traffic of trucks and its logistics’ fluidity in ports are crucial matters for the competitiveness of the Great-Britain - Europe corridor. With 5 million trucks on the coastal border territory…

Hapag-Lloyd Commits to EGCS Retrofitting

German container shipping major Hapag-Lloyd announced its plan to retrofit ten vessels with Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (EGCS). Ten Hamburg Class vessels (13,000 TEU) to be retrofitted in 2019 and 2020, it said.Hapag-Lloyd has ordered ten Hybrid Ready Exhaust Gas Cleaning Systems (EGCS), which will be gradually installed to ten of Hapag-Lloyd’s Hamburg class vessels (13,000 TEU) during 2019 and 2020. This will allow the company to comply with the upcoming IMO2020 low sulphur…

NYK Testing Cashless Ships

Japan's Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) is currently considering the establishment of a new network that will enable onboard financial settlements through the remittance of electronic money (e-money).The the shipping and logistics company said it is as a part of the NYK Group’s medium-term management plan “Staying Ahead 2022 with Digitalization and Green”.Onboard tests have been conducted to examine the potential to reduce administrative work and the risk of cash loss, and thus foster an employee-friendly workplace where crews can work comfortably and concentrate on ship operations.Today…

Star Bulk Carriers Reports Profit for Fourth Consecutive Quarter

The global shipping company focusing on the transportation of dry bulk cargoes Star Bulk Carriers Corp announced the third quarter ended September 30, 2018 marks the fourth consecutive profitable one.The Marousi, Greece-based company said that the total revenues for the third quarter of 2018 increased to $188.5 million from $80.8 million in the third quarter of 2017.Petros Pappas, Chief Executive Officer of Star Bulk said: "we achieved $128.7 million in TCE Revenues, $80.1 million in Adjusted EBITDA and Net Income of $26.1 million.

Ponant Tests New Sail System

The French-flag cruise line Ponant is testing the Solid Sail concept on its vessel Le Ponant. Tests are being conducted with maritime construction company Chantiers de l’Atlantique as part of the sailing cruise-vessel project Silenseas, launched two years ago.Two patents have been filed—in 2009 and 2017—for the new type of sail, made of fibreglass, carbon and epoxy-resin panels in a carbon-slat frame. This new technology will significantly reduce energy consumption tied to propulsion…

India to Probe Alleged Antitrust Behavior by Maersk, DP World at Mumbai Port

India's antitrust regulator has ordered a probe into alleged anti-competitive practices by Denmark's A.P. Moller-Maersk and Dubai's DP World at the terminals they operate at the country's largest container port in Mumbai, five sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.The decision by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to investigate follows a complaint by Singapore's PSA International Pte Ltd, which alleged that Maersk and DP World created entry barriers to hinder the…

Shipping: No Progress on Climate Commitment, says T&E

The international shipping community has made little progress to advance the global  commitment made earlier this year to reduce the sector’s greenhouse gas emissions."This is despite impassioned pleas for action by climate scientists to the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) environment committee last month," said Transport & Environment (T&E).The leading NGO campaigning for cleaner transport in Europe said that some IMO delegates soon ‘would not have a country to land…

UNCTAD to Push Sustainability into Freight Transport Systems

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) convenes meeting on ways to build sustainability into freight transport systems, including shipping, to boost trade with and between developing countries.According to UNCTAD, governments, shipping companies and trading industries will need to balance economic, social and environmental concerns to achieve sustainability in maritime transport, experts will say at an UNCTAD meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, on 21–23 November.Multi-year Expert Meeting on Transport…

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…

MPC Container Ships Plans Huge Investment in Scrubbers

The Oslo-based feeder tonnage owner MPC Container Ships has committed to buy exhaust gas cleaning systems  (scrubbers) for five of its ships, with an option to buy ten times as many additional scrubber systems.Under the agreement, the scrubbers would be retrofitted on five selected vessels within the company’s fleet prior to the January 1, 2020 implementation date of the new sulphur emission cap regulation, as set forth by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).Norwegian…

CargoX Launches the World's First Smart Blockchain Platform

Slovenia-based supplier of blockchain solutions for logistics, CargoX has  launched the CargoX latform to become the first open, neutral, and accessible blockchain platform in the shipping industry.The company said that the platform can be used by businesses of any size, and it was recently selected as the winning innovation at the IRU World Congress among 77 startups after a presentation in front of over 1000 attendees from more than 60 countries."Shipping, freight forwarding…

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…

India Publishes Draft Wind Turbine Certification

India's Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued a draft scheme on wind turbines in India. Known as the ‘Indian Wind Turbine Certification Scheme’ (IWTCS), the draft has been prepared in consultation with the National Institute of Wind Energy (NIWE), Chennai."The IWTCS is a consolidation of relevant National and International Standards (IS/IEC/IEEE), Technical Regulations and requirements issued by Central Electricity Authority (CEA), guidelines issued by MNRE and other international guidelines…

Poti Port Commissions Eco-friendly Spreaders

APM Terminals Poti, Georgia,  has commissioned a new, state-of-the-art, revolving spreader to load copper concentrate into bulk vessels. The spreaders are designed to improve efficiency and minimise the impact on the environment during bulk cargo loading operations.In traditional operations, product is loaded from a pile on the ground into the holds of the vessel. During this process product is lost due to the wind blowing and rain washing it away. Even with careful sweeping it is difficult to collect everything after it has been lying on the ground.

ROVs to Investigate Lost Shipping Containers

Remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROV) will be deployed to investigate containers lost from a cargo ship in heavy seas off Australia.The YM Efficiency, operated by Taiwan shipping company Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation, was sailing from Taiwan to Sydney in early June when it lost dozens of containers overboard amid five-meter swells in the Tasman Sea, about 30 kilometers off Australia's east coast.The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), citing serious potential impacts to local fishing and the environment…

Argus Adds New Marine Fuel Price Assessments

Oil price reporting agency Argus has launched five new price assessments for low-sulphur marine fuels, ahead of new global rules capping the amount of sulphur in marine fuels, also known as bunkers.International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations will cut the limit for sulphur in bunker fuels globally from 3.5 percent to 0.5 percent from the start of 2020."Argus is pleased to be taking the lead in bringing price transparency that enables this large and emerging oil market to advance trading in preparation for the IMO 2020 required fuels…

Blockchain to Improve Operations in Port of Veracruz

An innovative application of blockchain technology will be put to the test at the Port Community of Veracruz, Mexico by a team of researchers from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute (TTI) and dexFreight, a Florida-based blockchain and logistics startup.The project will help define blockchain applications for improving the safety and security of freight transportation within port communities. Blockchain has been described as an “immutable ledger,” a secure, transparent system for tracking shipments and transactions through complex environments.

SPARTACUS: World’s Largest Cutter Suction Dredger Launched

On November 10, Royal IHC successfully launched the Spartacus, a 44,180kW self-propelled cutter suction dredger (CSD) designed and built for DEME. The ceremony took place at IHC's shipyard in Krimpen aan den IJssel, The Netherlands. It was performed by Mrs Fabienne Ackermans, the spouse of Mr Luc Bertrand (chairman of the Board of Directors of Ackermans & van Haaren, owner of DEME).Spartacus is reportedly the world’s largest CSD and the first to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). The four main engines can run on LNG, marine diesel oil (MDO) and heavy fuel oil (HFO).

Port Police Regulation in Force in Antwerp

The modification of the Municipal Port Police Regulation, the Port Instructions and related forms come into force on the 12th of November 2018 said a press release from the Antwerp Port Authority.The port and the social context in which it operates are in a constant state of flux. It is therefore essential for the Police Regulation to take account of the changing situation and requirements.In modification 3 of the Port Police Regulation various articles were modified, and various…

Damen Shipyards to Support Drechtsteden's Economy

Damen Shipyards Group said that it would lend its support to the Economic Development Board of the Drechtsteden.The board is a strategic collaboration between business, education and government in the Dredchtsteden area of the Netherlands – an area which incorporates the locations of Damen Shipyards Hardinxveld and Damen Shipyards Gorinchem, said a press release.It plays a pivotal role in strengthening the local economy, placing economic goals, opportunities and developments firmly…

Norwegian Cruise Line Profits Up

Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings reported third-quarter ended September 30, 2018 profit of $470.4 million compared to $400.7 million in the prior year. The cruise operator said in a investor release that its total revenue increased 12.5% to $1.9 billion. Gross Yield increased 4.5%. Net Yield increased 4.0% on a Constant Currency basis, outperforming guidance by 50 basis points. Norwegian expects to generate record earnings in full year 2018 and has increased its outlook above the high-end of its previous guidance range.

Port of Rotterdam Wins ESPO Award 2018

The largest port in Europe the Port of Rotterdam Authority has been awarded the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) Award 2018.The award was made in recognition of the port's engagement with the city or wider community through the creation of a good workplace environment for its current and future employees and the demonstration of its investment in a diverse and inclusive environment, facilitating mutual respect, non-discrimination and personal development.The ESPO Award was handed out by the Deputy Director-General of DG Move…

BREAKING: Tanker, Frigate Collision Shuts Down Norwegian Oil, Gas to Europe

Norway has been forced to close the Sture Oil Terminal near Bergen and has started closing down the nearby Kollsness gas-and-condensate terminal — a lifeline of heating gas to Europe — after an early morning collision between a $440-million frigate and an oil tanker.The frigate Helge Ingstad, now listing heavily to its port side, is loaded with torpedoes and weapons systems said to be unstable as a result of the collision. Eight navy personnel are said to be injured, including two flown to regional hospital…

New Zealand's Napier Port to Build Additional Wharf

Napier Port’s resource consent applications to build an additional wharf on its container terminal and carry out further dredging have been approved.According to the New Zealand port operator, it is a vital regional asset which supports local business to employ an estimated 27,000 people in Hawke’s Bay.Building 6 Wharf will allow more ships to visit, larger ships to berth and alleviate the growing congestion caused by increasing cargo volumes coming out of our thriving region.Napier…

Global Shipping Business Network on Blockchain Platform Launched

Nine leading ocean carriers and terminal operators today signed a formal statement of intent for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to form a consortium to develop the Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN), an open digital platform based on distributed ledger technology.According to a statement, the participants include COSCO Shipping Lines, CMA CGM, Evergreen Marine, OOCL, Yang Ming, DP World, Hutchison Ports, PSA International and Shanghai International Port, as well as software…

Maritime Education to Focus on Quality

As a United Nations agency, International Maritime Organization (IMO)  is firmly committed to the Sustainable Development Goals, one of which is about delivering quality education.A press note from the UN agency said that an important element of its efforts in this regard are its two maritime educational institutions – the World Maritime University (WMU) and the IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI). Both are focussed on delivering high-level education in maritime-related…

TMS, TOTOTHEO Maritime Sign Sales Agreement

Total Marine Solutions (TMS) and TOTOTHEO Maritime Limited has announced a strategic sales partnership agreement whereby TOTOTHEO will act as exclusive sales agent and customer service representative for Ocean Guardian in the Republic of Cyprus.Developed by TMS, in collaboration with Brenock, Ocean Guardian is a digital tool that provides shipboard operators with immediate access to environmental regulations around the world. The software system removes the guesswork from environmental compliance…

North P&I Club Launches Mind Matters Campaign

North P&I Club  launched its new ‘Mind Matters’ campaign, including a confidential helpline for crew provided in partnership with the International Seafarer’s Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN).The new campaign aims to raise awareness of mental health and well being at sea. It provides North P&I Club’s members and their crew with a number of resources and support materials to support their emotional well being at sea and to provide guidance on where to access additional help if needed.The resources include a new confidential helpline…

Fitch Warns: Shippers' Costs and Capex may Increase

More stringent fuel regulations regarding sulphur content could significantly increase global shipping companies' operating costs and capex needs, says Fitch Ratings in a new report."This may negatively affect their credit quality unless they manage to pass these costs to customers. Many shipping companies have started implementing fuel surcharges to recover costs associated with the new sulphur cap regulation, but their ability to sustain these will depend on market fundamentals…

PitPoint.LNG Preps Europe’s First STS LNG Bunkering Station

PitPoint.LNG, a joint venture between PitPoint clean fuels and Primagaz Nederland BV, received the official permit for the construction of Europe’s first shore-to-ship (STS) bunkering station for LNG in the Port of Cologne.With this important milestone now in place, the civil engineering work can start for the LNG bunkering station, which is scheduled to be operational by the second quarter of 2019.Since the plan for the new bunkering station was announced in June last year, PitPoint.LNG has been working hard to complete the thorough and substantial permit application process.The permit…

Big Oil Set to Cash in on IMO 2020 Rules

The world's biggest oil traders are gearing up to cash in on big disruptions that could hit the shipping fuel market in just over a year due to new U.N.-mandated environmental rules.International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations will cut the limit for sulphur in marine fuels globally from 3.5 percent to 0.5 percent from the start of 2020."We're going to hopefully facilitate the new rules in 2020 by helping out the industry and the participants in general to have a reasonably smooth transition…

Port Groups Join for Go Green Initiative

Five global container port operators have jointly undertaken a week-long initiative to promote sustainable resource usage  in their respective port and facility networks through mass recycling.During the fifth annual Go Green Initiative, 8,332 employees of DP World, Hutchison Ports, PSA International, Port of Rotterdam and Shanghai International Port Group collected a total of 1,966 kg of aluminium cans and 2,227 mobile phones for recycling.The choice of two very different waste products for collection and recycling was intentional.Aluminium cans are one of the most recyclable waste items…

Port of Helsinki Launches Separate Company for Ship Services

Finland's main port Port of Helsinki Ltd is preparing for the implementation of the requirements of the EU’s Port Services Regulation by transferring ship services covered by the regulation to a subsidiary company.From 1 January 2019 onwards, the new company South Finland Port Service Ltd, owned by the Port of Helsinki Ltd, will be responsible for vessel mooring and unmooring. Some sixty employees will be transferred to the new company.Kari Noroviita, technical director at Port of Helsinki Ltd…

CMA CGM Completes Containerships Acquisition

The CMA CGM Group has completed the acquisition of Containerships, a container-transportation and logistics company.The European Commission authorized this transaction on October 22nd. Containerships, which specializes in the intra-European market, will complement CMA CGM’s service offering.Containerships, a European door-to-door specialistFounded in 1966, Containerships is a Finnish company specialized in Intra-European containerized trade with 690 employees. Containerships offers its clients a complete range of high-quality services…

Seanergy Maritime to Install Scrubbers on its Capesize Fleet

Seanergy Maritime Holdings Corp. announced that it has entered into commercial agreements for the installation of exhaust gas cleaning systems (scrubbers) on five of its capesize bulk carriers before the January 1, 2020 implementation date of the IMO sulfur emission cap regulations.Upon completion of the installations scheduled for Q2 and Q3 2019, the vessels will commence index linked period employment with three leading dry-bulk charterers ranging in durations between three and five years.Stamatis Tsantanis…

Kalmar Supports Port of Long Beach Electrification

Kalmar, part of Cargotec, has signed a contract to supply a fully electric Kalmar Ottawa T2e electric terminal tractor to Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT) for a six-month demonstration period. The order was booked in Cargotec's 2018 third-quarter order intake with delivery scheduled for Q1 of 2019. A press release from the cargo handling solutions and services provider the Port of Long Beach, California, is the second-busiest container seaport in the U.S. and handles trade…

The 2020 Global Sulphur Cap: ABS Aid for Greek Shippers

Leading Greek shipping industry stakeholders joined ABS, a global provider of classification and technical advisory services to the marine and offshore industries, for a workshop on drafting 2020 sulfur limit Ship Implementation Plans (SIP).Intended to help shipping companies and crew ready their vessels for compliance with the required sulfur content limit of 0.50% by 1 January 2020, the ABS workshop identified risks associated with design and operations of vessels in relation to the IMO regulation, including a HAZID study.

Hyundai Merchant Marine Mulls Fleet Capacity of 100 million TEUs by 2022

The South Korean container carrier Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) has chalked out an ambitious blueprint for expansion.The ocean carrier's CEO C.K. Yoo presented HMM’s target of building up its capacity to 100 million TEUs and posting USD 10 billion in annual revenue by 2022, during an employees  gathering at HMM HQ in the Seoul office.HMM recently ordered twelve 23,000 TEU and eight 15,000 TEU eco-friendly mega vessels in preparation for the IMO’s sulfur regulations starting from 2022…

COSCO Shipping Ports Revenue Surged by 62.6%

COSCO Shipping Ports said that its revenue  for the three months ended 30 September 2018  surged by 62.6% to US$253.0 million. The net profit for the same period rose by 11.8% to US$75.1 million.The  ports operator in a press release also said that the revenue for the nine months ended 30 September 2018 was surged by 73.5% to US$748.4 million where as adjusted net profit rose by 46.6% to US$244.1 million,For the nine months ended 30 September 2018, the Group’s total throughput increased by 20.6% to 87…

Nor-Shipping Appoints First Sustainability and Technology Chief

Nor-Shipping is continuing its mission to build ‘your arena for ocean solutions’ with the recruitment of its first Head of Sustainability and Technology, Silje Bareksten.A press release stated that the development marks another step in an evolution that aims to realign the event week to support, serve and enable the maritime industry of tomorrow."Over the course of 2018 Nor-Shipping has rebranded, repositioned to help its maritime base exploit the potential of increasing ‘ocean industry’ activities and announced that its exhibition Hall A will now focus on the Blue Economy…

Kiel Port Ends Most Successful Cruise Shipping Season

On Sunday October 28th with the visit of the “AIDAbella” Port of Kiel closed its latest cruise shipping season.This year the port has been visited 166 times by 33 different cruise ships with a combined gross tonnage of more than 11 million. For the first time close to 600,000 cruise ship passengers, 16.4% more than last year, have passed through the port’s terminal facilities to end or embark on cruises.Dr Dirk Claus, Managing Director of the Port of Kiel(Seehafen Kiel GmbH & Co.