The UKs biggest container port faces strike action this month as staff vote for a walk out over pay. Close to 2,000 workers have launched a formal strike from August 22nd - 29th, potentially creating trade and supply chain disruptions in the region. 48% of all containers brought into the UK are transported through the…
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Time is running out to move over to switch to HMRCs new customs system before Septembers deadline - with more than 3500 businesses at risk of severe delays if they do not migrate to the Customs Declaration Service (CDS) before it switches off. Director of programme and operational delivery for borders and trade Julie Etheridge…
Following two months of negotiations by the United Nations and Turkey, there’s finally a signed agreement to re-open three of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports for grain shipments opening the route for significant volumes of food exports. Guarantee of safe passage UN Officials have said that Russia and Ukraine have the elements in place such as…
It’s only been just over a year since the Ever Given, a giant 20,000 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit) capacity container ship, ran aground in the Suez canal causing trade chaos for a week until it was freed. And now another of Evergreen’s massive, albeit half the size of the Ever Given, has run aground in…
Decarbonisation is now the second most important issue for the shipping industry, according to a report released today by the Global Maritime Forum. The Global Maritime Issues Monitor 2019, which surveyed respondents from 46 countries, ranked only the “global economic crisis” ahead of “decarbonisation of shipping” as the issue to have the greatest impact on…
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…
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%…
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…
LNG is the most environmentally friendly, readily available fuel for shipping today – and in the foreseeable future, according to a new study. With the IMO’s 0.5% sulphur cap regulations coming into force next January, along with its target of halving C02 emissions from shipping by 2050, decisions need to be taken on alternative fuels.…
The port of Shanghai has maintained its position as the world largest container port. However, new data from Alphaliner today shows its lead over second-placed Singapore narrowed last year. Shanghai posted 2018 throughput of 42.01m teu, 4.4% growth on 2017, while Singapore handled 36.6m teu, representing growth of 8.7%. And the 5.41m teu differential between…