Lloyd’s Register Partners with Echo Marine Group to Deliver Electric Ferry Fleet
Lloyd’s Register has entered a partnership with Echo Marine Group to certify the design and construction of five battery‑electric passenger ferries for Perth’s Swan River, creating Western Australia’s first fully electric ferry fleet. The vessels are part of the METRONET Swan River Ferry Service Expansion and are slated to begin operations in 2027. LR will provide classification, technical assurance, and on‑site oversight of high‑voltage systems, while Echo Marine handles construction. The initiative is positioned as a template for low‑emission ferry projects across Australia and New Zealand.
GXO and Hasbro Inaugurate Distribution Centre in Georgia
GXO Logistics and Hasbro have opened a 600,000‑square‑foot flagship distribution centre in Midway, Georgia, expanding Hasbro’s omni‑channel capabilities across North America. The hub supports both brick‑and‑mortar retail partners and the Hasbro Pulse direct‑to‑consumer platform, creating up to 70 permanent and...
Sidra Line to Launch Algerian Express Service
Sidra Line announced the launch of Algerian Express, a new maritime service linking Spain and Algeria. The fortnightly route will operate a multipurpose vessel capable of carrying both containerized and general cargo. Ports of call include Sagunto and Alicante in...
Port of NY/NJ Plans Replacement of Ageing Fare Gates
The Port Authority approved $3.5 million to start planning replacement of fare gates at all 13 PATH stations. The existing 22‑year‑old gates have outlived their 15‑20 year design life, causing breakdowns, higher maintenance costs, and increased fare evasion. The project, slated...
HHLA TK Estonia to Deploy Battery-Powered RTG Cranes
HHLA TK Estonia will become Europe’s first container terminal to run fully battery‑powered rubber‑tired gantry (RTG) cranes. The Konecranes‑built units, each with a 296 kWh battery, can operate up to eight hours on a single charge, allowing a complete shift without...
ANL Announces General Rate Increase for Asia–Oceania Trades
ANL, a CMA CGM subsidiary, announced a General Rate Increase for its Asia–Oceania services effective April 16 2026. The GRI adds $350 to 20‑foot dry and reefer containers and $700 to 40‑foot dry, high‑cube and reefer units. The hike covers shipments between Northeast...
Hutchison Refuses to Exit Quietly and the Panama Canal Deal Unravels
Li Ka‑shing’s Hutchison Ports is mounting a legal counter‑offensive to avoid a quiet withdrawal from its Panama Canal concession. The dispute has turned a U.S.‑backed showcase deal into a protracted standoff, complicating the planned transfer of terminal operations. The deadlock...
Port of New York and New Jersey Sees Rail and Auto Growth in January
The Port of New York and New Jersey logged 749,906 TEUs in January 2026, a 4% year‑on‑year increase. Export volumes jumped 13.9% to 112,426 TEUs, while imports slipped 1.5% to 372,973 TEUs. Rail activity rose 11.5% with 58,522 containers moved,...
PortSide Stories: Valencia
The Port of Valencia is the Mediterranean’s busiest container hub, handling millions of TEUs each year and serving as Spain’s primary gateway for global trade. Modern terminals equipped with advanced cranes and automation enable rapid cargo movement across rail and...
SITC and Dalian Maritime University Sign Cooperation Agreement
SITC signed a cooperation agreement with Dalian Maritime University on 18 March 2026, overseen by Chairman Yang Xianxiang and attended by the Hong Kong Shipowners Association and the Maritime Talent Cultivation Alliance. The pact seeks to fuse industry practice with academic research,...
CMA CGM Launches Transatlantic Panama Direct Service to Cork, Ireland
CMA CGM announced a new direct service linking Cork, Ireland with New York and Savannah, launching on April 28, 2026 aboard the MV CMA CGM WHITE. The route adds an extra vessel to the transatlantic fleet, promising higher frequency and tighter schedules. Positioned...
NWSA Full Exports up 2.2% YTD Despite Overall Volume Decline
The Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) posted February 2026 container volumes of 207,725 TEUs, a 19.4% year‑over‑year decline driven by last year’s cargo front‑loading ahead of tariffs. Full imports fell 29.5% while full exports rose 4.9%, and year‑to‑date volumes remain 16.6%...
CMA CGM Announces FAK Rate Increases From Europe to India & Pakistan
French carrier CMA CGM announced a freight‑all‑kind (FAK) price hike for shipments from Europe to India and Pakistan, effective 1 April 2026. The new rates increase 20‑foot container charges by $150 on the North Europe‑India lane and $150 on the North Europe‑Pakistan lane,...
Latitude Naval Technologies Established at Port of Riga
Latitude Construction has launched a new subsidiary, Latitude Naval Technologies, at the Port of Riga to develop offshore platforms for security and defence. Leveraging over 20 years of shipbuilding experience and advanced composite capabilities, the unit’s first product is the...
APM Terminals Launches Rail Shuttle Connecting Helsingborg to the Port Gothenburg
APM Terminals has launched a five‑hour rail shuttle linking Helsingborg with the Port of Gothenburg, owned by APM and operated by Dania Connect. The service expands the port’s rail network to nearly 30 Swedish locations and follows a record‑breaking 529,000...
North Sea Ports Complete Digital Container Release Process
Germany’s North Sea ports have completed the final integration step of their digital container import release process, requiring transport firms and truck drivers to connect to the German Ports IT platform. The Secure Release Order procedure now mandates a digital...
Sea-Intelligence: Gemini Ceding Capacity Market Share
Sea‑Intelligence’s latest Sunday Spotlight reveals Gemini’s capacity market share slipping across three major trade lanes. The rolling eight‑week average fell from 15 % to 13 % on the Asia‑North America West Coast route, from 20 % to 17 % on the East Coast, and...
DH Shipbuilding Closes in on Annual Target with New Suezmax Order
DH Shipbuilding landed a 130 billion KRW (~$98 million) contract for a new Suezmax crude oil tanker from an Oceania shipping firm, pushing the yard to 82% of its 2026 order target within the first quarter. The deal marks the ninth order the...
NX Group Consolidates Indonesian Forwarding Units
NX Group completed the merger of PT. NX Lemo Indonesia Logistik and PT. Nippon Express Indonesia on March 1, 2026, creating a unified freight forwarding powerhouse. The consolidation ends a fragmented structure by bringing air and ocean services under one...
Sumitomo, “K” LINE, and NYK Join Forces for Ammonia Bunkering in Singapore
Japanese firms Sumitomo Corporation, Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K LINE) and NYK Line have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop an ammonia bunkering vessel in Singapore. The partners will commence a Front‑End Engineering Design (FEED) study to define technical specifications, safety...
CICE Veracruz Adopts Portchain Connect to Digitalize Berth Alignment
CICE Veracruz has joined the Portchain Connect network to automate berth alignment with shipping lines, replacing manual emails and spreadsheets with digital handshakes. The platform feeds real‑time vessel schedules and move‑count updates directly from carrier systems into the terminal’s planning...
VIACHAIN Joins DCSA+ to Drive IoT Standardization
VIACHAIN, an ORBCOMM company, joined the Digital Container Shipping Association’s DCSA+ program to accelerate interoperable digital standards in container logistics. The partnership will help develop shared APIs and data‑exchange frameworks linking carriers, terminals, depots, and shippers. By focusing on ecosystem‑wide...
ClassNK Certifies Pakistan’s First Hong Kong Convention-Compliant Ship Recycling Facility
ClassNK has certified Salam’s International as Pakistan’s first ship‑recycling facility compliant with the Hong Kong International Convention. Pakistan acceded to the convention in November 2023, and the certification enables the competent authority to issue the required Document of Authorization. The...
CMA CGM Upgrades PEARL Service
CMA CGM is revamping its PEARL (PRX) service to create a direct, weekly link between the West Indian Subcontinent and Los Angeles. The new rotation eliminates transshipment stops, offering fixed‑day departures and sharper transit windows—37 days from Colombo, 42 from...
MSC Realigns Uswasa Service
MSC announced a strategic realignment of its USA‑Africa Uswasa service, moving the Ivory Coast port call from San Pedro to Abidjan to streamline its West African network. The revised rotation now links New York, Baltimore and Savannah with key African hubs such...
Everllence Secures Contract to Supply Compression Technology
Everllence won a contract to deliver two RB compressor skids for Thailand’s inaugural carbon capture and storage (CCS) project at PTTEP’s Arthit gas field. The compressors, paired with Solar Turbines gas turbines, will enable capture and offshore storage of up...
Port of Thessaloniki on Advancing Cruise Sector Development
The Port of Thessaloniki Authority has partnered with Five Senses Consulting to accelerate cruise sector growth, focusing on turning the port into a homeport rather than just a call‑away stop. The collaboration leverages the newly upgraded Alexander the Great Cruise...
Piraeus Car Terminal Welcomes Mitsui O.S.K. Lines
The Port of Piraeus has launched a cooperation with Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) following the inaugural call of the M/V Tourmaline Ace at its car terminal. The vessel arrived with roughly 1,000 vehicles bound for the Greek market, marking the...
Drewry’s World Container Index Surges 8% on Asia-Europe Rate Gains
Drewry’s World Container Index jumped 8% to $2,123 per 40‑foot container, driven by strong Asia‑Europe freight gains and continued Transpacific growth. Shanghai‑Rotterdam spot rates surged 19%, while Shanghai‑Genoa rose 10%, reflecting heightened demand on key lanes. Carriers limited capacity, announcing...
MSC Revises Koala Service
MSC has overhauled the rotation of its Koala service linking Northeast Asia and Australia. The southbound call at Jakarta is being dropped in favor of a Singapore stop, and a second northbound call at Adelaide has been added. The revised...
Lloyd’s Register Grants Type Approval to GIT Coatings for Hull Coating
Lloyd’s Register has awarded type approval and technical assurance to GIT Coatings’ next‑generation graphene‑based hull coating, XGIT‑FORCE. The approval confirms compliance with IMO’s Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti‑Fouling Systems and validates the coating’s hard foul‑release performance. GIT Coatings...
CMA CGM Charters Slots on Neoline’s Sail-Powered Transatlantic Service
CMA CGM has signed a charter agreement to secure 50 TEU on each sailing of Neoliner Origin, the sail‑powered container vessel operated by Neoline Armateurs. The ship, with a deadweight of roughly 5,300 tonnes and a capacity of about 265...
MSC Expands St. Petersburg Coverage
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has added two dedicated shuttle services between Klaipeda, Lithuania and St. Petersburg, Russia, bolstering its Baltic feeder network. Baltic Loop 3 will run weekly with a 3,000‑TEU vessel, while Baltic Loop 12 will operate every five days using...
Port of Rotterdam Authority to Build New Quay
The Port of Rotterdam Authority and Evos Rotterdam have agreed to build a new inland shipping quay to accommodate Evos’s terminal expansion in Europoort. The expansion adds five storage tanks, boosting capacity by 67,500 cubic metres for methanol, ethanol and...
Maersk Introduces Peak Season Surcharge From Asia Pacific
Maersk announced a new Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) for cargo moving from Asia Pacific to South Africa and Mauritius, effective 1 April 2026. The surcharge is $500 per 20‑foot dry container and $1,000 per 40‑foot container. It applies only to non‑spot bookings...
PortSide Stories: Klang
Port Klang is Malaysia’s primary maritime gateway and one of the world’s busiest container ports, handling millions of TEUs annually through its Westports and Northport terminals. Situated 40 km from Kuala Lumpur on the Strait of Malacca, it serves as a...
C.H. Robinson Powers Agentic Supply Chain AI
C.H. Robinson disclosed that its AI platform is built on a proprietary logistics dataset exceeding 100 trillion data points collected over decades. The Lean AI operating system embeds intelligence across core workflows such as pricing, routing, and invoicing, with hundreds...
MEDLOG and CMLOG Expand Cold Storage Capacity in China
MEDLOG, the logistics arm of MSC Group, and China Master Logistics (CMLOG) have launched a joint venture operating five cold‑storage facilities in Shanghai, Tianjin and Ningbo, announced on 11 March 2026. The new Shanghai site in Lingang Free‑Trade Zone adds roughly 80,000 tonnes...
RCL Terminates Voyages for Three Additional Vessels
Regional Container Lines (RCL) announced an immediate End of Voyage for three vessels—Mv SM MAHI, Zhong Gu Chong Qing, and Zhong Gu Tai Yuan—citing the heightened escalation of war in the Middle East. The ships will discharge cargo at intermediary...
Hapag Lloyd Suspends Dangerous Goods Bookings for Red Sea
German carrier Hapag‑Lloyd announced an immediate suspension of all dangerous‑goods bookings for three key Red Sea ports—Sokhna in Egypt, Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and Aqaba in Jordan. The halt applies to both import and export shipments and will remain in...
CMA CGM Reopens Export and Import Bookings for Middle East
CMA CGM has lifted the March 3 suspension and reopened both export and import bookings for Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The carrier is routing cargo through a mix of land bridges and feeder services,...
Explainer: How Iran Turned Hormuz Into a Geopolitical Checkpoint
Iran has systematically transformed the Strait of Hormuz into a de‑facto geopolitical checkpoint, deploying naval mines, missile batteries and heightened patrols to control one of the world’s most vital oil arteries. The move coincides with escalating regional tensions and a...
Transworld Shipping Lines Reports Loss for Q3 Amid Aging Fleet Challenges
Transworld Shipping Lines posted a Rs 25 crore net loss for Q3 2025, a sharp reversal from a Rs 15 crore profit a year earlier. Revenue slipped to Rs 132 crore and EBITDA collapsed to Rs 8 crore as four of its twelve vessels near the end of...
Brunswick Harbor Dredging Advances to Restore Channel Depth
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has begun maintenance dredging in Brunswick’s inner and outer harbor to restore the channel to its federally authorized depth. Funded by $11.35 million in federal money and $6 million from the state, the work is slated...
Explainer: How Global Shipping Is Financing China’s Navy without Knowing It
Global shipping’s reliance on Chinese Tier‑1 shipyards is simultaneously financing the People’s Liberation Army Navy. CSIS data shows these yards produce 40% of China’s commercial tonnage while building virtually every major warship, generating $165 billion in export revenue from 2019‑2024. Freight‑rate...
Rotterdam’s 2025 Container Performance Reveals Structural Trade Shifts
Rotterdam’s 2025 container statistics show a structural reorientation of global trade, with imports rising 3.9% while exports continue to fall, especially to Asia. The export slump has widened the import‑export gap by 1.47 million TEU, increasing empty‑container circulation. Carrier alliance reshuffles...
With No Charterers, Marinakis Outfit Converts 8,800 TEU Quartet to Tankers
Greek shipping magnate Evangelos Marinakis’ Capital Maritime & Trading is converting four 8,800‑TEU container ship orders into Suezmax oil tankers after failing to secure charter contracts. The vessels were originally contracted with HD Hyundai Samho in December 2025 at $116.6 million...
APM Terminals Suape Enters Final Construction Phase
APM Terminals Suape has received 28 fully electrified equipment units from SANY, a $47 million investment that pushes the project into its final construction phase. The $350 million terminal, slated to open in the second half of 2026, will initially handle 400,000...
CNC Introduces Emergency Fuel Surcharge for Intra-Asia Shipping
CNC Line announced an Emergency Fuel Surcharge (EFS) for intra‑Asia shipments, effective 16 March 2026. The surcharge is USD 75 per TEU for dry, flat‑rack, open‑top, tank and special equipment containers, and USD 90 for reefers. It covers routes across China, Southeast...
CMA CGM Expands Asia–Iraq Connectivity with PHOEX Service
French shipping giant CMA CGM has launched its Phoenician (PHOEX) service to strengthen cargo links between Asia and Iraq. The route runs from Asian ports to Mersin, Turkey, where containers are transferred to coordinated inland haulage for delivery to key Iraqi...