The bunker market is far from ready for the substantial switch in demand to low-sulphur fuel, when the IMO’s 0.5% cap comes into force on 1 January next year, according to the Marine Bunker Exchange (MABUX). In an article published by international shipping association BIMCO, the bunker exchange cautions that “shipowners are ready, but the bunker market…
The United States began collecting higher, 25% tariffs on many Chinese goods arriving in U.S. seaports on Saturday morning in an intensification of the trade war between the world’s two largest economies and drawing retaliation from Beijing. U.S. President Donald Trump imposed the tariff increase on a$200 billion list of Chinese goods on May 10,…
Around 16% of the ocean carrier global fleet – equating to 36% in terms of teu capacity – will be equipped with exhaust gas cleaning scrubber systems to comply with the IMO 2020 0.5% sulphur cap. Ships with approved scrubber systems installed will be allowed to continue to burn heavy fuel oil (HFO) after 1…
Tightened energy efficiency targets and a commitment to further discuss proposed speed reduction rules were the key outcomes of the International Martime Organisation's (IMO) latest round of talks, held in London last week. But environmental campaigners were quick to argue the results showed a "total lack of ambition" on the part of the shipping industry, which…
The Clean Arctic Alliance has issued a call for international shipping operators and national governments to cut maritime black carbon emissions. Black carbon particles are predominantly produced by ships burning heavy fuel oil; when black carbon is released by vessels operating in the Arctic region, the particles reduce the reflectivity of ice and snow –…
After years of criticism that cargo airlines were failing to develop new distribution channels - the increase in digitisation and online sales means online distribution is on the increase. Air France-KLM Cargo has signed up to Freightos’s air freight WebCargo platform, which claims to be the world’s largest. It allows AF-KLM customers to view live rates, assess capacity availability…
Policy director of the UK Chamber of Shipping Anna Ziou has slammed French proposals to impose speed limits as a way to cut shipping emissions. She claims it would give a “false impression” of the industry taking action. Ms Ziou’s objection follows an outcry from container lines following the French IMO delegation’s proposals becoming public last month. “To achieve a 50%…
China’s Belt and Road initiative (BRI) may have faced recent strong criticism from the EU, but that has not dented the growth in its exports to Europe. Chinese officials have claimed a 106% increase in the value of cargo travelling by rail from China to Europe, equating to some $33bn. Xiao Weiming, from the office of…
Japanese merged carrier Ocean Network Express (ONE) recorded a net loss of $586m in its first year of operation, however it said it expected to move into the black in its second year. ONE, formed from the container businesses of K Line, MOL and NYK,was supposed to produce synergistic returns for its parents. Instead it has dragged down the P&L…
The International Maritime Organisation has been urged to clarify four areas of IMO 2020, as carriers scramble for compliance with the forthcoming low-sulphur fuel limit. The “once-in-a-generation disruptor to shipping’s commercial environment” takes effect on 1 January 2020: a fuel sulphur content limit of 0.5%, down from 3.5% in some parts of the world, at…
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