Aiming for a greater intermodal shift 
Initiatives to increase the attractivity of European inland waterway transport. The political goal of diverting goods traffic to the waterways is threatened by the severe shortage of skilled workers. Against this background the Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine... more
AAL Americas celebrates first decade 
Ten years ago, AAL Shipping formed its AAL Americas division, which has been pivotal in developing Pacific trade and trans-Atlantic services from its Houston base. AAL Americas specialises in transporting oversized project cargo and other commodities, adapting to global... more
Duisport to introduce new cargo scanning system
Duisport is building a large-scale X-ray scanning facility for loaded trucks in Duisburg, the first for a German inland port. Estimated at EUR 3 million, this initiative aims to enhance customs inspections and accelerate customs processes, ensuring higher security standards at... more
MSC Foundation supports Mercy Ships’ project
MSC Group, the MSC Foundation, and Mercy Ships International are collaborating to build a new hospital ship to enhance Mercy Ships' capacity to provide free surgeries and training in sub-Saharan Africa. The project, which is supported by a substantial donation from the MSC... more
Electrifying the Seine River fleet for Paris 2024
In preparation for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which are to open at the end of July, Haropa Port and the French national waterways authority (Voies navigables de France - VNF) are advancing the decarbonisation of river transport. Notable strides... more
Price hike in container leasing market
Container leasing rates, particularly from China to North America, surged significantly in Q1/2024, continuing to stay elevated into April. The online platform Container xChange attributes this rise to a widening price gap between Chinese and US containers, with geopolitical... more
A world debut
DP World has introduced the world's first fully electric straddle carrier fleet at its new GBP 350 million fourth berth at London Gateway. The eight units, manufactured by Kalmar, are part of the first all-electric berth globally. Each zero-emission carrier, costing GPB 12... more
Port priorities for 2024-2029
The European Sea Ports Organisation (Espo) has outlined its priorities for Europe's ports from 2024 to 2029, aiming to enhance their role in promoting a sustainable, digital, and competitive future for Europe. Key priorities include ensuring the effective implementation of... more
Rhenus grows in Belgium
Rhenus Partnership is expanding its reach into Belgium by acquiring DGA Shipping, thus enhancing its services on the river Rhine. Rhenus previously held 45% of DGA; now it owns 100%, following the sale of shares by HGK Shipping, which is reallocating its investments. DGA... more
Promoting digitalisation in container shipping
Pacific International Lines (PIL) has joined the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) to enhance digital standardisation in the container shipping industry. DCSA, which is composed of major container shipping companies representing 70% of global trade, aims to... more