Race for containers continues 
It is the time of major coups: Hapag-Lloyd has ordered 60,000 teu of standard containers from China. The Hamburg-based shipping company has decided to push its container fleet to a total of 210,000 teu, while the sharp increase in demand has led to a shortage of boxes across the... more
Joint service by Arkas and Evergreen 
Arkas and Evergreen are joining forces with regards to their services in the Med and the Black Sea. They will integrate their respective Med-Black Sea TGR and BSX service into a new loop to which they will contribute a single vessel each. The services will be called... more
Central American Express launched
Having introduced its first service linking the US Gulf Coast with Brazil and other parts of South America in March 2020, the Chinese shipping company Cosco now adds a new route from the United States to Central America - in a joint operation. Cosco will run its new Gulf... more
New standards at AAL
Singapore-based heavy-lift carrier AAL Shipping (AAL) recently complied with the latest 2020 IMO Intact Stability Code standards with its heavy-lift cargo handling procedures and new levels of sailings efficiency and safety. This qualification was achieved thanks to the... more
Beyond the peak of container flows?
For the first time in around a year, the months-long catch-up process in global trade is likely to be interrupted in May. The Kiel Trade Indicator, Germany, signals stagnation or a decline in imports and exports. For total world trade a slight decline of 1.4% is expected in... more
More equipment to Algeciras
Servicios Portuarios Puerto De Algeciras (SPPA) has ordered five units of the Kalmar T2i terminal tractor for its operations in the port in Southern Spain. Delivery is scheduled for Q4/2021. SPPA began operations in 2013 in the Port of Algeciras as a stevedoring company for... more
Autonomous (un-)berthing is on
Successful completion of a pilot project: In conjunction with the Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Akishima Laboratories and MOL Ferry, the carrier MOL announced the end of a demonstration test (from March to April 2021) for the jointly developed auto berthing... more
RMI works on fleet quality
The United States Coast Guard’s (USCG’s) has again awarded its Qualship 21 to the registry of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI). In 2001, the USCG implemented an initiative to identify high-quality ships and provide incentives to encourage quality operations. ... more
Antwerp picks up import speed
Having started in January 2021, the new digital process for releasing containers at the Port of Antwerp, known as Certified Pick up (CPU), is entering its next phase. Instead of using PIN codes, containers will be picked up based on identity as from this summer. The process,... more
Admiral Container Lines ready for perishables
Admiral Container Lines is enhancing its equipment. The liner, which has been offering weekly and direct container shipping services in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea since 1998, is adding more than 150 new 40-foot, high-cube containers equipped with Carrier Transicold... more