News

As peak season approaches so could crisis point



September 5, 2018 /

One forwarder told The Loadstar all UK ports had been affected by problems ranging from driver shortages and rail failures to issues arising from M&A activity. Advance road bookings now require up to 10 days lead time. “We are seeing failures on some 20% of the boxes we handle; that’s thousands of boxes, and from what we are…


Wind propulsion technology testing begins



September 3, 2018 /

Norsepower, together with project partners Maersk Tankers, Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) and Shell Shipping & Maritime, today announced the installation of two Norsepower Rotor Sails onboard Maersk Pelican, a Maersk Tankers Long Range 2 (LR2) product tanker vessel. The Rotor Sails are large, cylindrical mechanical sails that spin to create a pressure differential – called…


Shipping is delivering on climate change



August 15, 2018 /

In a piece written for the Parliament Magazine, Violeta Bulc, the European mobility and transport Commissioner explained how the international shipping sector is doing its part to contribute to global climate change efforts. Below are her thoughts: In April, more than 100 countries agreed on an initial strategy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from…


Mega Containership Equipped with ABB Turbochargers



August 8, 2018 /

China's newest and largest container ship has ABB turbochargers installed to help to ensure optimal performance and fuel efficiency.  The flagship in Cosco Shipping Line's Universe mega containership series, the 21,000+ TEU COSCO Shipping Universe, was delivered in June 2018 by Chinese shipbbuilder Jiangnan Shipyard (Group) Co. Ltd. The vessel is equipped with three ABB A180-L two-stroke…


Why are fuel prices increasing?



July 25, 2018 /

Fuel prices are on the increase again, which is liable to have a considerable impact on the freight industry. Fuel is now at its highest cost since 2014, and the main reasons for this are the war in Syria, Iranian tensions and biofuel for renewable energy increases. As a result, pump prices and bunkering have…


The environment and Arctic Shipping



July 4, 2018 /

Mariners have known about short cuts to the Pacific via the Arctic for a long time. The Northern Sea Route (NSR), north of Siberia, was discovered 300 years ago, and the Northwest Passage (NWP) has been on the map for more than a century. Although these routes are much shorter than the traditional trading routes from…


The impact of shipping on the climate cannot be solved by gas



June 27, 2018 /

Europe has little to gain from trying to decarbonise the unwieldy shipping sector with liquefied natural gas (LNG), according to a new study that looks into how the EU could cut emissions over the next three decades. Research by consultants UMAS revealed on Monday (25 June) that pouring billions of dollars into LNG-refuelling capacity for…