More units for OOCL 
Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL), an affiliate of Cosco, has ordered ten vessels with a capacity of 16,000 teu each, a USD 1.5 billion investment. Delivery is expected from Q4/2024 till the end of 2025. OOCL recently referred to the current mega trends in the shipping... more
A toast to green inland navigation
The ‘Alphenaar’, the first Dutch inland vessel to use interchangeable energy containers for propulsion, entered operations for Zero Emission Services (ZES) on 6 September 2021. ZES, a Dutch company aimed at making inland waterway shipping more sustainable, was founded by a... more
Contract for very large gas carrier
Another very large gas carrier is on its way: Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha/K Line has placed an order for its first LPG fuelled LPG/Ammonia carrier with Kawasaki Heavy Industries. If everything goes to plan, the newbuild, which will have an approximate tank capacity of 86,700 cbm, will... more
Car carriers set a trend
Investments in vehicle carrier newbuilds have risen in recent weeks, according to the intelligence provider Vessels Value (VV). VV's head of vehicle carriers Dan Nash said that in the course of the year, so far, "a total of USD 4.4 billion, including options, have been... more
Mixed results in Auckland
The Ports of Auckland have reported the results of their financial year 2020/2021 ending on 30 June 2021. New Zealand's main port facility showed a mixed picture after a difficult year. The port's container throughput fell by 7.6% to 818,000 teu (FY 19/20: 881,000 teu),... more
Ten newbuilds for Canada
Fednav, a major dry bulk shipping group based in Canada, has ordered ten new ocean-going Lakers. The group signed respective agreements to build these vessels with Sumisho Marine and Oshima Shipbuilding in Japan. The first unit is expected to be delivered in mid-2023. Fednav... more
When major shippers change sides
Ikea has learned its lesson from the Ever Given blockade in the Suez canal this year. The Scandinavian home furnishing retailer has now entered the shipping business arena, confirming to the Swedish press that the company is chartering vessels and buying containers to avoid... more
Belgians comment environmental report
In its comments on the EU’s first environmental report on maritime transport (Emter), the Royal Belgian Shipowners’ Association says that the report provides a clear overview of the sector’s current efforts to achieve Europe’s carbon neutrality ambition. Launched on 1... more
Not only California
The Port of New York and New Jersey moved almost 759,000 teu in July 2021. Cargo volumes went up by 14.5% from pre-pandemic July 2019, which set a new monthly record mark in the East Coast port. Compared to the previous month, cargo volumes increased by 1.3% from June 2021.... more
Will carrier profitability last?
Patrik Berglund, CEO of freight rate benchmarking platform Xeneta, expects the big carriers to further seek higher contract rates to extend profitability The surge in carrier profitability has been based on the high spot freight rates boom this year. A key test will be whether... more