Maersk on the defensive 
Maersk reported that its profitability was in line with the latest guidance for 2018. Ebitda amounted to USD 3.8 billion, 8% more than in 2017. The improvement in operating earnings was driven by higher freight rates, efficiencies gained from the integration of continuing... more
Laurels for GAC in India
The office of the additional commissioner of customs at Krishnapatnam Port (India), has named GAC India the top steamer agent for financial year 2018-2019. Among all agencies, the award winner handled the most port calls during FY 2018-2019. From April 2018 to January 2019,... more
Den Hartogh and MOL set up new partnership
The Japan-based unit MOL Chemical Tankers (MOLCT) has acquired a 20% stake in Den Hartogh Holding. After the acquisition, both parties will sign a partnership deal aimed at jointly expanding the transport of liquefied chemical products, via tank containers, parcel chemical... more
Full year figures for Spanish Ports confirm good 2018
The full year 2018 results for Spanish ports are generally favourable. According to data published by Puertos de Estado, a total of 550.7 million t were moved in 2018, 3.5% more than in 2017. In the period under review, the volume of goods in international transit rose by... more
Invest securely 
The American Association of Port Authorities has presented the latest report in its infrastructure series, ‘The State of Freight’. It comes as no surprise that it has called for state investment – the amount and the focus are somewhat different this time, however. more
HHLA banking on sustainable energy
At the beginning of the year, the German port operator Hamburger Hafen und Logistik (HHLA) and selected partners commenced research and development work on the publicly funded Fresh project at the Container Terminal Altenwerder (CTA). The goal is to integrate the battery... more
Danica to manage crew on newbuild
The crew management company, Danica, has been entrusted to manage the crew on the "Port Imabari", an ultramax newbuilding for Lisbon-headquartered Portline Bulk International. Delivered in January 2019, the 63,500 dwt vessel, equipped with four 30.5 t (SWL) grab... more
Hapag-Lloyd in the mood
The US rating agency Moody’s has upgraded Hapag-Lloyd’s corporate family rating (CFR) to B1 from B2 and its senior unsecured bond rating to B3 from Caa1. The outlook remains stable. The improved rating acknowledges Hapag-Lloyd’s progress in integrating UASC while reducing... more
Great Yarmouth upgrades port equipment
The port of Great Yarmouth has received a new crane with an 84 t lifting capacity for handling larger cargoes on England's east coast. The LHM280 crane – purchased from Liebherr by the port owner Peel Ports Group, – also shortens loading/unloading processes. For the offshore... more
APL unveils AAX2 service
The CMA CGM affiliate APL is set to launch a new weekly Asia Australia Express 2 (AAX2) service that will directly connect the Southeast Asian ports of Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia to the Australian cities of Brisbane and Sydney. The AAX2 service is poised to... more