Post-Covid shipping blues 
Bimco's chief shipping analyst, Niels Rasmussen, reports that the container market experienced a modest growth of 0.2% year-on-year in 2023, reaching 173.8 million teu. Nevertheless, it lagged behind the global trend, as the world’s economy has grown by 10% since 2019.... more
No buyer for HMM (yet)
The bidding process for South Korea's key global container carrier, HMM, has finally failed. From the original six bidders that emerged (Hapag-Lloyd, SM Group (SM Line), LX Holdings, Dongwon Group, Global Sae-A. and Harim) just the latter remained in the end – with a partner... more
GAC's Seoul debut
GAC Group, which provides shipping and logistics services in the Asia-Pacific region, recently opened an office in Seoul, South Korea. The company thus continues its efforts to engage with the expanding South Korean market, which now accounts for more than 10% of the global... more
Towards a greener Baltic Sea
Ports of Stockholm, the port of Turku, and Viking Line have joined forces to establish a green shipping corridor between Turku and Stockholm, aiming to eliminate fossil fuel usage by 2035 at the latest. With the MOU, signed on 6 February, the partners agree to create a... more
From asphalt to water
The EU project "Innovative Waterway Transportation" aims to promote eco-friendly inland shipping by shifting more cargo from roads to inland waterways. Bremenports is working with 25 partners from Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and Sweden on this... more
UAE and Pakistan clinch port deal
AD Ports Group and Karachi Port Trust have signed a 25-year concession agreement for bulk and general cargo operations at Karachi Port, Pakistan. The joint venture, Karachi Gateway Terminal Multipurpose Limited, will manage berths 11-17 at the East Wharf, aiming to enhance... more
Norsepower's eco yoyage
Oldendorff Carriers and Norsepower have joined forces to reduce CO2 emissions in shipping. They will outfit the bulk carrier 'Dietrich Oldendorff' with three 24 m x 4 m Norsepower Rotor Sails, which will actively rotate, harnessing wind to save fuel and reduce emissions. The... more
Not identical twins 
New alliance to be launched in 2025 – the Gemini Cooperation. Maersk is leaving 2M, and Hapag-Lloyd freeing itself from The Alliance, in order for the two new partners to set up an alliance in 2025. By then the other major carriers will surely also have come together in new... more
Barcelona's LNG leap
The port of Barcelona significantly increased its liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering operations to ships in 2023, providing a total of 143,000 cbm of LNG, twice that of 2021. This growth reflects the port's commitment to LNG as a transitional fuel for reducing environmental... more
Faster UK-Europe link
P&O Ferries is set to launch a new freight route in the North Sea, connecting London (Tilbury 2) and Rotterdam (Europoort) from early March 2024. This addition complements the shipping company's existing Zeebrugge to London route and strengthens its rail-connected hub in... more