Stepping up digital efficiency at ECT terminal 
An increasing number of shipping companies, terminals and nautical service providers are sharing real-time information via the port of Rotterdam’s Pronto digital platform. During a pilot project, the site, a "single point of truth" for information, already improved... more
Technical upgrades for Sovcomflot’s tankers
Sovcomflot, a major Russian shipping company, will roll out a Wärtsilä fleet operations solution for its fleet of arctic shuttle tankers. The order was booked in March 2019. The agreement signed with Sovcomflot comprises the upgrade of the navigation systems installed... more
Medcenter Container Terminal extends range of equipment
Italy’s Medcenter Container Terminal (MCT), which is owned and operated by Terminal Investment Limited (TIL), will purchase a total of 32 diesel-electric straddle carriers. All the machines are scheduled to be delivered by the end of Q4/2019. MCT is located in the southern... more
Pirate flags lowered 
Nobody will deny that piracy is a scourge of shipping. Incidents continue to be reported. So the latest news from the International Maritime Bureau is welcome – the number of incidents of piracy has declined, and combined with a geographic shift. more
Arkas and CNAN to cooperate in the Med
Turkey-headquartered Arkas Line and CNAN Med, the national shipping line of Algeria, are launching an Algeria service at the beginning of this month (May). CNAN Med will operate the new Westmed Oran service (WOS) with two 1,600 teu vessels and Arkas Line will purchase slots... more
New Mexican offspring for Hamburg Süd
Hamburg Süd recently held a ceremony to name a containership at the port of Veracruz (Mexico). Now known as the "Polar Mexico", the vessel was sponsored by Claudia Dávila, wife of Carlos Ayala, logistics and distribution director of Alpek Polyester, a subsidiary of the... more
Coalition on West African routes
Bremen Overseas Chartering and Shipping (Bocs) and Universal Africa Lines (UAL) are to combine their forces on the West African trades. The Bremen entity, a breakbulk MPV shipping line, operates five geared MPV vessels ranging from 12,800 to 28,000 dwt, with a lifting capacity... more
Mixed results for Q1/2019 in Antwerp
In the port of Antwerp, total throughput fell by 3% in Q1/2019 compared to Q1/2018. Container traffic, on the other hand, continues to rise, recording the port’s best ever monthly result in March. In 2018, Antwerp’s share in the container market measured in tonnage increased... more
ONE banking on synergy effects
ONE, the joint venture for container traffic of the three Japanese shipping companies K Line, MOL and NYK, reported a loss of USD 586 million in the fiscal year ending 31 March 2019. Revenues were at USD 10.88 billion. The average exchange rate was JPY 109.48 per USD, and the... more
World container throughput recovers, says RWI/ISL
According to current flash estimates, the container throughput index of the RWI – Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute for Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) rose to 136.9 in March, thus offsetting, at least in part, the sharp drop to 134.5 reported in... more