Gas specialist powers Purus’ new fleet 
The Wärtsilä Corporation has secured a contract to provide Cargo Handling Systems (CHS) with four new medium gas carrier vessels, with a 45,000 cbm capacity each, being built for UK and Singapore-based Purus. These ships, under construction at Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) in... more
A bombshell in Hamburg 
A period of general upheaval in the port of Hamburg also sees a pilot leaving the ship. Europe’s northern ports have been losing ground to the continent’s western range for many years now. In addition to a large number of unresolved port infrastructure matters there’s an... more
Energy shock easing, according to RWI / ISL
The RWI / ISL Container Throughput Index, a measure of global trade activity, decreased slightly in October to a seasonally-adjusted 125 points. This slight decline follows a period of recovery from the impacts of energy price shocks. Chinese ports experienced minor... more
Carriers face post-boom dip
In Q3/2023, major shipping lines experienced significant year-on-year revenue declines, with the least contraction being –51.8%. This downturn aligns with pre-pandemic levels when viewed against 2019 figures, however, suggesting the recent declines are a correction from the... more
Konecranes tech elevates Steveco
Steveco Oy, a Finnish stevedoring company, has initiated operations with the new sixth generation Konecranes Gottwald ESP.8 mobile harbour crane at its ro-ro terminal in HaminaKotka, southern Finland. This upgrade is part of their ongoing efforts to modernise equipment,... more
How many keels laid down – and by whom?
An overview of new ships on order in South Korea. The euphoric years of 2021 and 2022 are over for shipowners, but their effects in the form of newbuildings are now only gradually reaching the market. An analysis of the order backlog in South Korea was recently carried out by... more
Melbourne Port's new face
Victoria International Container Terminal (Vict) in Melbourne is finalising its Phase 3A expansion, set for completion in December. This phase, part of an AUD 235 million (USD 156 million) project, enhances VICT's capacity by 30% to 1.25 million teu. It extends the quay to... more
Final phase for Bremerhaven quay
The final phase of construction for the new Columbuskaje in Bremerhaven has officially commenced, led by Mayor Melf Grantz, Bremenports CEO Robert Howe, and Jens Diekmann of Tagubau. This third and last section will complete the 800 m long quay, with 600 m already finished.... more
Rotterdam's CER now active
The Container Exchange Route (CER), a 17 km closed road network at Maasvlakte, Rotterdam, was officially commissioned on 28 November 2023. It connects major terminals, including Rotterdam World Gateway, Hutchison Ports ECT Rotterdam, Q Terminals Kramer Rotterdam, and the state... more
Inland sustainability
Old barges can run on lorry engines that go easier on the environment. New inland barges with sustainable propulsion are expensive and take longer to pay for themselves than deepsea shipping vessels. Now Rhenus has teamed up with DBR to convert old units in a way that goes... more