Industry News

News from Lloyd’s List – Containers

• Climate concern will end shipping ‘as you know it’, warns Citi banker October 14, 2019
  The climate change agenda is making such quick inroads into shipping that some shipping companies may think their best option...      Related StoriesSouth Korean group eyes bid to operate Qatar LNG carriersSouth Korean group eye bid to operate Qatar LNG carriersIranian tanker continues to spill oil after Red Sea ‘attack’ 
• Change is exciting or terrifying — you decide October 14, 2019
  So much has changed in the global economy over the past 20 years that shipping would be foolish to believe...      Related StoriesFrom the News Desk: Tankers on fire and the future in fluxViewpoint: Speed or power?Pacific Radiance’s revamp tests Singapore’s debt restructuring aims 
• Carriers ‘waste opportunity’ to raise Asia-Europe rates October 14, 2019
  Average spot rates on the Asia-Northern Europe trade are down 18% on the past year, despite a near 6% increase...      Related StoriesSouth Korean group eyes bid to operate Qatar LNG carriersSouth Korean group eye bid to operate Qatar LNG carriersIranian tanker continues to spill oil after Red Sea ‘attack’ 
• Cosco Shipping Holdings issues $212m in short-term bonds October 14, 2019
  As of end-July, the company’s total current liabilities amounted to Yuan79.2bn, including Yuan24.6bn short-term borrowings, whereas its cash and cash...      Related StoriesSouth Korean group eyes bid to operate Qatar LNG carriersSouth Korean group eye bid to operate Qatar LNG carriersIranian tanker continues to spill oil after Red Sea ‘attack’ 
• UK signs Brexit freight capacity contracts worth $109m October 11, 2019
  Up to £86m ($109m) of UK taxpayer cash will be used to fund a set of contracts handed out to...      Related StoriesSouth Korean group eyes bid to operate Qatar LNG carriersSouth Korean group eye bid to operate Qatar LNG carriersIranian tanker continues to spill oil after Red Sea ‘attack’ 
• Ballast water focus must shift from equipment to compliance, workshop hears October 11, 2019
  Workshop participants agreed that progress in ballast water treatment was being held back by an attempt to attain absolute elimination...      Related StoriesShipmanagers can expect rapid evolution ahead, but it won’t all be smooth sailingPerfecting your RFP processRogue shippers: The bane of box shipping 
• The Interview: Vincent Power October 11, 2019
  The newly elected chairman of the European Maritime Law Organisation hopes to broaden the scope of interest beyond competition law...      Related StoriesRegistry calls for review of IMO’s casualty investigation codeMaersk and Cargill aim for 100 tankers in MR poolShrinking fleet may aid smaller dry bulk segment 
• Italy must integrate port reform and maritime governance October 11, 2019
  Italy’s maritime economy lacks the central oversight and organisation that benefit other European governments      Related StoriesWTO Brexit ‘threatens UK’s maritime legal standing’Dirty market rates lure LR2 ownersLR2s tempted to switch by better dirty market rates 
• Questions remain over carriers’ ability to pass on 2020 sulphur costs October 11, 2019
  Leading freight forwarder Kuehne + Nagel is extremely cautious about securing long-term contracts into 2020 against a backdrop of high...      Related StoriesWTO Brexit ‘threatens UK’s maritime legal standing’Dirty market rates lure LR2 ownersLR2s tempted to switch by better dirty market rates 
• Ocean freight peak season fails to materialise October 11, 2019
  Carriers have little to look forward to on the transpacific trade as shippers look elsewhere      Related StoriesWTO Brexit ‘threatens UK’s maritime legal standing’Dirty market rates lure LR2 ownersLR2s tempted to switch by better dirty market rates 
• The Lloyd's List Podcast: Containers, shipmanagement and the casualty code October 11, 2019
  In this week’s review of the stories shaping shipping, our containers kingpins James Baker and Linton Nightingale discuss the peak...      Related StoriesWTO Brexit ‘threatens UK’s maritime legal standing’Dirty market rates lure LR2 ownersLR2s tempted to switch by better dirty market rates 
• Holyhead ‘unprepared for no-deal Brexit’ October 11, 2019
  Holyhead port, a major link in the UK landbridge between Ireland and Europe, is not ready for a no-deal Brexit...      Related StoriesSouth Korean group eyes bid to operate Qatar LNG carriersSouth Korean group eye bid to operate Qatar LNG carriersIranian tanker continues to spill oil after Red Sea ‘attack’ 
• Time to take reefers to the 'next level' October 11, 2019
  Maersk Line’s head of global reefer solutions Anne-Sophie Zerlang Karlsen says she is continually lashing out at peers for calling...      Related StoriesWTO Brexit ‘threatens UK’s maritime legal standing’Dirty market rates lure LR2 ownersLR2s tempted to switch by better dirty market rates 
• Reefer rates on the rise despite softening perishables trade October 11, 2019
  Slower growth in the overall perishables market will become a feature over the next few years      Related StoriesWTO Brexit ‘threatens UK’s maritime legal standing’Dirty market rates lure LR2 ownersLR2s tempted to switch by better dirty market rates 
• Is IMO 2020 the final nail in the conventional coffin? October 11, 2019
  According to Great White Fleet president Stefano Di Paolo, the era of ‘conventional reefer shipping is over’      Related StoriesWTO Brexit ‘threatens UK’s maritime legal standing’Dirty market rates lure LR2 ownersLR2s tempted to switch by better dirty market rates 
• Port of Los Angeles director calls for end to Sino-US trade war October 10, 2019
  Imports at the nation’s major retail container ports are expected to hit their highest level of the year in November...      Related StoriesSouth Korean group eyes bid to operate Qatar LNG carriersSouth Korean group eye bid to operate Qatar LNG carriersIranian tanker continues to spill oil after Red Sea ‘attack’ 
• Cosco’s Piraeus investment plan handed partial approval October 10, 2019
  Fate of proposed new 2.8m teu box terminal extension still hangs in balance      Related StoriesSouth Korean group eyes bid to operate Qatar LNG carriersSouth Korean group eye bid to operate Qatar LNG carriersIranian tanker continues to spill oil after Red Sea ‘attack’ 
• Shippers eye lower contract rates October 10, 2019
  Weak rates present an opportunity for negotiation of base costs, but shippers are warned to expect higher bunker costs      Related StoriesItaly must integrate port reform and maritime governanceQuestions remain over carriers’ ability to pass on 2020 sulphur costsThe Lloyd's List Podcast: Containers, shipmanagement and the casualty code 
• Forum to consider hazardous cargo concerns October 10, 2019
  Panel of experts from industry and regulators to seek solutions on containership fire issue      Related StoriesSouth Korean group eyes bid to operate Qatar LNG carriersSouth Korean group eye bid to operate Qatar LNG carriersIranian tanker continues to spill oil after Red Sea ‘attack’ 
• Viewpoint: Speed or power? October 10, 2019
  Slowing down to save the environment is an easy fix that produces instant results, but it does not encourage the...      Related StoriesPacific Radiance’s revamp tests Singapore’s debt restructuring aimsThe Lloyd’s List Podcast: How to change the shipping industryFrom the News Desk: Sanctions shockwaves create volatility, but also opportunity 

News from JOC Journal of Commerce

• Four Signs You Need Global Transportation Management Software October 14, 2019
  Conventional transportation management software (TMS) has been on the market for decades, focused primarily on outbound truck shipments. The rise of the globalized supply chain has created a more complex transportation environment. Companies must still focus on cost containment, but over many modes, across-borders, and through a mix of service...
• Cosco’s Bangladesh agent has license restored October 14, 2019
  [caption caption="Cosco accounts for nearly 6 percent of the containers handled by Bangladesh’s Chittagong port. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."][/caption]The local customs agent that handles Cosco Shipping’s business in Bangladesh has had its license reinstated for the next three months, bringing relief to shippers who feared the loss of the carrier’s export...
• US-China still far from comprehensive trade deal: speaker October 14, 2019
  [caption caption="The partial trade agreement between the US and China has eased tensions, at least for now, according to the executive vice president of the US-China Business Council. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."][/caption]RANCHO MIRAGE, California — The “phase one” trade agreement worked out between United States and Chinese negotiators at the end of...
• Asia-Europe rate hits new low despite capacity cuts October 14, 2019
  [caption caption="Carriers are struggling to raise spot rates on Asia-North Europe, despite sailing cuts being made on the trade. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."][/caption]Carriers preparing for a sharp increase in costs as they switch to low-sulfur fuel over the next two months appear to be falling back into their old predatory pricing...
• DP World joins Indian logistics tech startup race October 14, 2019
  [caption caption="The CEO of DP World Subcontinent said the goal of a new collaborative tech development effort is to reduce logistics costs in India, thereby making domestic goods more competitive globally. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."][/caption]Mirroring a “Silicon Valley” investment ecosystem, India’s logistics technology startups appear to have become a darling of...
• E-commerce helps boost small warehouse demand, rents October 11, 2019
  [caption caption="Demand for smaller warehouses and a lack of construction of smaller industrial space has made it tough for e-commerce and logistics companies to find it. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."][/caption]Fierce demand for warehouses smaller than 120,000 square feet has helped push up rental rates by twice as much than larger warehouse...
• US-China reach ‘substantial’ first phase of trade deal October 11, 2019
  [caption caption="The US has dropped plans to raise tariffs to 30 percent on $250 billion worth of Chinese goods now subject to a 25 percent levy. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."][/caption]The United States and China have reached the first phase of a trade deal that could signal the end of a tariff...
• Trade compliance automation behind Amazon's recent acquisition October 11, 2019
  [caption caption="Amazon's purchase in late September of a digital customs broker could be seen as the start of a new era of how shippers, large and small, handle customs entry filing. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."][/caption]There’s a cliché in tech circles that every startup is ultimately angling to be acquired by Amazon....
• Video: Port Tampa Bay CEO on IMO 2020 October 11, 2019
  Port Tampa Bay President and CEO Paul Anderson on the geopolitical factors at play in the looming deadline for the International Maritime Organization regulation on marine fuel sulfur content. Recorded March 2019.TPM19, Long Beach, California ...
• Video: 3 Reasons to Attend JOC Inland Distribution 2019 October 11, 2019
  Join us at the JOC Inland Distribution 2019 in Chicago, Oct. 21-23, to gauge direction of the market, interact with industry peers in regional Think Tanks, and begin to build your company's vision, budget, and plans for the next decade. For more detail, and to register, visit www.joc-inland-distribution.com...
• Zim: Control of supply chain crux of premium services October 11, 2019
  [caption caption="Nissim Yochai, executive vice president of trans-Pacific trade for Zim, said ocean carriers could offer a premium delivery based on “last loaded/first off.” Photo credit: IHS Markit."][/caption]SHENZHEN, China —Ocean carriers could learn from the air express cargo industry in offering time-definite delivery, but only if they have total oversight...
• India looks to tighten screws on carrier surcharges October 11, 2019
  [caption caption="Indian officials are seeking stakeholder support to create a standard operating procedure by which an exporter can pay freight charges directly to a shipping line instead of a freight forwarder or an intermediary. Photo credit: DP World Subcontinent."][/caption]Facing mounting pressure from freight industry groups over what they say is...
• US railroads nudging shippers away from trailers October 10, 2019
  [caption caption="Marten Transport, which has been doing TOFC since 2005, will shift to containers after talking with BNSF and NS about how to maximize the use of trains and terminal space efficiently. Photo credit: Marten Transport."][/caption]Two refrigerated (reefer) intermodal carriers have purchased more than 1,000 containers combined this year as...
• DHL looks to capitalize on growing El Paso market October 10, 2019
  [caption caption="Demand for logistics space in El Paso remains “very strong,” according to industrial real estate developer CBRE. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."][/caption]El Paso, Texas, may not rival Laredo as a long-haul truck crossing point for Mexican freight, but it is the hub of an extensive cross-border manufacturing region that encompasses Texas,...
• Flexport adds visibility capabilities with Crux buy October 10, 2019
  [caption caption="Flexport's purchase of visibility software provider Crux is only the second M&A deal in the San Francisco-based forwarder’s six-year history. Photo credit: II.studio / Shutterstock.com."][/caption]The freight forwarder Flexport has acquired the container visibility software provider Crux Systems, positioning Flexport as a third-party provider of visibility data, even to shippers...
• Logistics market awash in unhelpful 'solutions' October 10, 2019
  [caption caption="Augmented and virtual reality apps could help visualize practical solutions for organizing laydown space and cargo flows. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."][/caption]The pace of technological growth is exceeding the logistics sector’s ability to come up with ways to use it. As Abir Thakurta, vice president of global supply chain for Atlanta-based...
• Trucker Tools rolls out automated booking for brokers October 10, 2019
  [caption caption="The Book it Now system leverages data from the 750,000 individual drivers and 130,000 unique carriers that have downloaded the Trucker Tools app. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."][/caption]The freight broker and carrier software provider Trucker Tools has gone live with a new feature that allows brokers to automate the process of...
• WeWork debacle reveal logistics startups' sustainability challenge October 10, 2019
  [caption caption="More than $12 billion in financing has been committed to the supply chain and logistics sector in 2019, according to CB Insights. Photo credit: Koshiro K/Shutterstock.com."][/caption]WeWork’s abrupt decision last month to delay an initial public offering, followed quickly by the sudden forcing out of the company’s CEO, raises questions...
• Driver problems top latest list of trucking woes October 10, 2019
  [caption caption="Driver pay is a problem that won’t go away this year or next, according to ATRI. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."][/caption]Trucking faces challenges old and new as it rolls toward a new decade, but most of them revolve around one of the industry’s oldest problems: finding and keeping truck drivers. And...
• US-China trade war drags air cargo down October 10, 2019
  [caption caption="The trade dispute between the US and China is an ongoing drag on air freight demand. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com."][/caption]The impact of the United States-China trade war on air cargo has combined with slowing economies to drag down demand this year, with the Asia-Pacific market being particularly brutalized.August recorded the...

News from Container Management

• COSCO’s Piraeus investments approved but with no container terminal expansion October 14, 2019
  Greece’s Committee of Planning and Development of Ports (ESAL) has approved investments from COSCO Shipping amounting to €612m (US$673m) but plans for a container terminal expansion did not receive the go-ahead. Yu Zenggang, chairman of Piraeus Port Authority (PPA), stated: “After a long waiting period, we obtained the approval to proceed to the implementation of significant […]
• ABP Southampton adds 12 new electric vehicles to its fleet October 14, 2019
  Electric vehicles now make up the majority of the Port of Southampton’s fleet due to ABP acquiring an additional 12 new electric vehicles. There are now 28 ABP zero-emission vehicles operating at the port as part of commitments to improve air quality across the facility. The new vehicles are intended for staff to travel around […]
• Kalmar introduces automated truck handling for straddle carriers October 11, 2019
  Kalmar has introduced Automated Truck Handling (ATH) to its Kalmar AutoStrad offering to allow for a fully automated container flow between quay cranes and trucks. ATH automates the placement of containers from automated straddle carriers onto trucks in the terminal’s truck interchange zones and aims to help to improve safety, predictability and cost efficiency of […]
• First phase of DP World Posorja now open October 11, 2019
  The US$538m first phase of the new deepwater Port of Posorja in Ecuador, operated by DP World, is now completed and successfully operational. The overall US$1.2bn project aims to replicate Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port and freezone, making Ecuador a trade and logistics hub for South America’s west coast, and opening a gateway for vessels exceeding […]
• Shore-based power units for Hamburg receive state government approval October 10, 2019
  Hamburg’s state government has approved a large-scale expansion of shore-based power supply at the Port of Hamburg to help facilitate a shift from shipboard diesel power supply to ecological electric power during lay times. The port aims to be the first in Europe to offer shore-based power supply for both cruise liners and mega-containerships from […]
• CMA CGM lays out plans for IMO’s 2020 regulation October 10, 2019
  CMA CGM Group has opted to use compliant fuels with 0.5% or 0.1% sulphur as its main solution to be compliant with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)’S 2020 low sulphur regulation. The group will also use liquid natural gas (LNG) powered vessels and advanced air quality systems onboard its vessels to help with the IMO’s […]
• Port of Gothenburg urges customers to prepare documentation for Brexit October 9, 2019
  Ahead of a potential no-deal Brexit on October 31, the Port of Gothenburg has warned importers and exporters to ensure their goods are ready for customs clearance, otherwise face significant delays. Elvir Dzanic, Gothenburg Port Authority chief executive, stated: “The exporter must ensure its goods are ready for clearance through customs before they reach the […]
• King Abdullah Port welcomes 23,000 teu vessel October 9, 2019
  King Abdullah Port has welcomed one of the world’s largest container ships, the 23,656 teu MSC Mina, on its first visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The ship measures 400 m long, has a breadth of 61 m, a draft of 16.5 m and is able to accommodate 24 rows of containers with a […]
• Porto Itapoá recognised for expansion work October 8, 2019
  Porto Itapoá has received an award, recognising successful fund-raising for its expansion work, which has enabled capacity to double to 1.2m teu per year. The port from Santa Catarina state in Brazil was honoured at LatinFinance Magazine’s annual awards, winning in the the Port Project Funding category. Expansion work included the addition of 100,000 sq […]
• Konecranes appoints new CEO and president October 8, 2019
  Konecranes’ board of directors has appointed a new president and CEO, Rob Smith, who will take over his new role as of February 1, 2020. Smith has joined the company from AGCO Corporation, where his latest position has been senior vice president & general manager for Europe and Middle East. Prior to this he has […]
• Marseille Fos completes blockchain trial October 7, 2019
  Completion of a blockchain pilot scheme coordinated and part-financed by the Marseille Fos port authority has indicated the solution’s scope for enhancing intermodal freight movements on the Mediterranean-Rhone-Saone (MeRS) corridor. Results from trials held over recent months demonstrated that harmonisation of the digital transport chain improved fluidity, reliability and competitiveness of pre- and post-forwarding on […]
• Liebherr to deliver two megamax STS cranes to Bremerhaven October 7, 2019
  MSC Gate Terminal Bremerhaven has ordered two megamax ship-to-shore (STS) cranes from Liebherr Container Cranes in order to handle the world’s largest container vessels. The cranes, which are due for handover before the end of 2020, have an outreach of 73 m (25 container rows), a backreach of 25 m, a span of 30.48 m […]
• Los Angeles tests world’s first zero-emissions top handlers October 4, 2019
  The Port of Los Angeles has demonstrated the world’s first zero-emissions top handlers which will be tested at the Everport Container Terminal as part of the port’s effort to achieve clean cargo handling operations. The two pre-commercial battery-electric top handlers were designed and built in the US by Taylor Machine Works Inc, the largest supplier […]
• Ground broken at Singapore’s Tuas Port October 4, 2019
  PSA Corporation has celebrated a significant milestone with the Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong placing a torch on the grounds of Tuas Port, the long term home of the country’s mega port operations. As the biggest port project in the world, Tuas is designed to meet and exceed the future demands of the world’s […]
• Port of Rotterdam introduces track and trace containers October 3, 2019
  The Port of Rotterdam Authority has launched an application that allows shippers and freight forwarders to see where their containers are located at any given moment. The tool, named Boxinsider, is meant to be more reliable than the approach used now and also more user-friendly and efficient compared to collecting information yourself from multiple sources. […]
• P&O Ferrymasters enters partnership to prepare for no-deal Brexit October 3, 2019
  P&O Ferrymasters has entered into a strategic partnership with SGS Maco to offer customers declaration services to its customers with the aim to maintain easy and fluid trade in the event of a “no-deal” Brexit. If the UK leave the European Union (EU) without a deal at the end of October, goods may have to […]
• Noatum Logistics strengthens its position in Asia October 2, 2019
  Noatum Logistics is now directly present in 28 countries, having acquired PT. JCL Indonesia and further reinforcing its business in Asia with offices in Jakarta, Surabaya, Semarang, Bandung and Yogyakarta. The acquisition means the integration of more than 20 years of experience in the Indonesian market, thereby consolidating Noatum’s experience in the country and the […]
• NileDutch goes live with CyberLogitec Allegro October 2, 2019
  Nile Dutch Africa Line (NileDutch) has gone live globally with Allegro, CyberLogitec’s integrated container carrier operations solution. The carrier, which specialises in West Africa services, is looking to accelerate operational efficiency and harness real-time data for critical decisions and effective resource deployment. In summer 2018, NileDutch procured Allegro, attracted by its algorithms for automated data […]
• Kalmar signs five-year software and maintenance support agreement with PSA Singapore October 1, 2019
  Kalmar has signed a Software Maintenance and Support Agreement with PSA Singapore which covers its entire automated guided vehicle (AGV) for five years. The agreement was booked in Cargotec’s Q3 2019 order intake and the contract will be in effect from Q4 2019 onwards. PSA Singapore’s AGV fleet is expected to grow to over 400 […]
• Exports up at Abidjan Terminal October 1, 2019
  Abidjan Terminal has ended the Ivory Coast’s 2019 export season with a strong performance in the handling of cocoa, rubber and cashews according to Bolloré Ports. The facility, which Bolloré operates under a concession agreement, provides opportunities to local farmers to export goods to Europe and Asia. Thanks to the Vridi Channel expansion works, the […]

News from CN – Container News

• Hapag-Lloyd announces new prices from East Asia October 14, 2019
  Hapag-Lloyd announces the following Ocean Tariff rates for all cargoes... The post Hapag-Lloyd announces new prices from East Asia appeared first on Container News.
• Maersk increases rates to West Africa October 14, 2019
  Maersk is announcing an increase in FAK rates (Freight All ... The post Maersk increases rates to West Africa appeared first on Container News.
• New shore-based power units in Hamburg October 14, 2019
  Hamburg’s state government approved a large-scale expansion of shore-based power ... The post New shore-based power units in Hamburg appeared first on Container News.
• No rate adjustment in Hamburg port dues – HPA’s strong signal to shipping October 14, 2019
  Next year Hamburg Port Authority (HPA) will be making no adjustments to port dues levied for use of the The post No rate adjustment in Hamburg port dues – HPA’s strong signal to shipping appeared first on Container News.
• New management structure to unlock synergies at APM Terminals Scandinavian operations October 14, 2019
  Effective January 1, 2... The post New management structure to unlock synergies at APM Terminals Scandinavian operations appeared first on Container News.
• APMT Barcelona sets new productivity record October 14, 2019
  APM Terminals Barcelon... The post APMT Barcelona sets new productivity record appeared first on Container News.
• New Chairman for Vizag port appointed October 14, 2019
  K. Ramamohana Rao, a Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officer belonging to 1994 batch, has been appointed as the new ... The post New Chairman for Vizag port appointed appeared first on Container News.
• Iran decries ‘cowardly attack’ on oil tanker – Reuters – October 14, 2019
  An Iranian government spokesman on Saturday described as a “cowardly attack” an incident that Iranian me... The post Iran decries ‘cowardly attack’ on oil tanker – Reuters – appeared first on Container News.
• DP World becomes a full logistics operator in Peru October 14, 2019
  DP World’s business in Peru, which began with container handling at the Port of Callao, has expanded into ... The post DP World becomes a full logistics operator in Peru appeared first on Container News.
• APL announces Trans-Pacific void sailings October 14, 2019
  APL will be implementing below void sailings for its Asia-North America services to match the market demand ... The post APL announces Trans-Pacific void sailings appeared first on Container News.

News from Tradewinds

• 'Madness' persists as Dynacom ties up tanker fixtures at scorching rates October 14, 2019
  While spot trading has turned quiet on some main routes, Greek owner fixes a VLCC at WS330 and a suezmax at WS550 on the Middle East-India route
• ENRA enters tanker sector with Maersk Tankers purchase October 14, 2019
  Malaysian FSO owner seeks to expand oil and gas operations
• 2020 Bulkers strikes Glencore newbuild charter deal October 14, 2019
  Tor Olav Troim company signs up Chinese-built bulker with trader for up to 13 months
• Struggling Uljanik yard group to be delisted in Croatia October 14, 2019
  Zagreb bourse says it is responding to request from shipbuilder's bankruptcy trustee.
• First photos emerge of Sabiti 'missile' damage October 14, 2019
  Iranian shots show two holes in hull of suezmax near waterline
• Age restrictions on tankers kill innovation and threaten environmental progress October 14, 2019
  Focus on quality, not build year, is the best way to ensure investment in the future
• Tanker owners could bank billions in 'blockbuster' market October 14, 2019
  Windfall from record rates could end up with shareholders through dividends, says analyst Amit Mehrotra in bullish market overview
• Iran: 'cowardly' attack will not go unanswered October 14, 2019
  Spokesman says country is gathering evidence before responding to Sabiti incident
• South Korean owners team up to seal slice of giant Qatar LNG deal October 13, 2019
  Five owners hoping to win operating contracts for expected 80 gas carrier newbuildings
• Castor settles dividend obligation with preferred shareholders October 13, 2019
  Agreement clears way for Petros Panagiotidis-led bulker owner to start paying dividends

News from The Loadstar

• Good news and cautious news for liners in the run-up to IMO 2020 October 14, 2019
  Fresh concerns have been raised over the liner industry’s ability to recoup the increased fuel costs from IMO 2020. McKinsey partner Steve Saxon said there was “some good and some cautious news” for carriers in the run up to 1 January, when the new low-sulphur fuel regulation kicks in. “The good news is there will […]
• MSC Zoe investigations thwarted by ‘black box defect’ October 14, 2019
  At the beginning of this year, some 281 containers were lost overboard off the Dutch coast from the ultra large container ship MSC Zoe, while it was en route from Sines to Bremerhaven. A criminal investigation in the district court of Amsterdam is currently underway, according to World Cargo News, but it also suggested that […]
• MSC links with logistics start-up MatchLog to drive efficiency October 14, 2019
  MSC has partnered with an Indian start-up to help it triangulate its containers, reducing costs and boosting efficiency.  MatchLog Solutions, founded in July, will help the line reposition its empties in India. If used across the country, it is thought lines could make savings of some $10bn a year by cutting the 40% wastage seen in the sector  […]
• Supply chain radar: Watch out for week 51 at Ceva Logistics. Happy Xmas? October 14, 2019
  As you might remember, last week CMA CGM talked up the prospects of its asset-light logistics arm Ceva Logistics with group CFO Michel Sirat stressing the view that investment in Ceva will ensue, rather than meaningful job cuts. Quite honestly, some of my sources were hardly impressed with those remarks and insist there are plans […]
• M&A radar: DSV Panalpina – here’s the latest from Miami… October 14, 2019
  DSV Panalpina is the gift that keeps giving to the media – sadly, the same cannot be argued for the workforce of the acquired company in this $5.4bn takeover. While some in the press recently highlighted that a major sell-side house had expressed doubts about the speed at which synergies would be realised, others locally […]
• Carriers still mired in spot rate doldrums as slack season sets in October 11, 2019
  Today’s Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) shows no sign of a recovery with spot rates for most trades still dropping, following a break for China’s Golden Week holiday. The Asia-North Europe component of the SCFI recorded a further 2% decline, to $581 per teu, which is 21% below the level of the same week of last […]
• Cosco chief slams rivals’ plans to be ‘end-to-end’ supply chain providers October 11, 2019
  China Cosco Shipping executive vice president Wang Haimin has rubbished the idea that carriers can be sole service providers of end-to-end container supply chains. Mr Wang (pictured) drew comparison between competitors Maersk and CMA CGM’s push to become fully integrated container logistics providers and, at the other end of the spectrum, MSC and Hapag-Lloyd’s apparent […]
• Flexport buys online container tracking specialist Crux Systems October 11, 2019
  US digital-first freight forwarder Flexport has completed the acquisition of container tracking and shipment visibility company Crux Systems, for an undisclosed amount. Crux Systems was founded in 2014 by Eric Klein and Jennifer Colvin who set out to automate container shipment visibility so that shippers, freight forwarders and hauliers could “receive data such as gate-out […]
• Automate or stagnate as RPA transforms transport and logistics October 11, 2019
  If you work in transportation and logistics, technology may sometimes seem like the bane of your existence. The implementation of different kinds of software applications meant to elevate and simplify your business may, in fact, have the opposite effect. Your employees may experience “portal fatigue,” trying to manually piece together a workflow involving a lot […]
• Edoardo Podesta new COO at Dachser Air & Sea Logistics October 11, 2019
  German freight forwarder and haulage firm Dachser has promoted Edoardo Podestá (pictured above) to global chief operations officer of its Air & Sea Logistics operations. Mr Podestá replaces Jochen Müller, who decided not to renew his contract in the new year and, said the firm, “will stop working for Dachser with immediate effect”. Dachser said: […]

News from Transport Topics

• Crossword Puzzle Solution October 14, 2019 October 14, 2019
  Here's the solution to the crossword puzzle found in the October 14, 2019 print edition.
• Indiana DOT Announces $99 Million for Local Roads October 11, 2019
  The Indiana Department of Transportation and Gov. Eric Holcomb recently announced the distribution of $99.2 million in state matching funds across local government agencies to fund infrastructure construction projects.
• US, China Reach Substantial ‘Phase One’ Trade Deal, Trump Says October 11, 2019
  The U.S. and China reached a partial agreement Oct. 11 that would broker a truce in the trade war and lay the groundwork for a broader deal that Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping could sign later this year, according to people familiar with the matter.
• SEFA Group Wins State Clean Diesel Grant October 11, 2019
  The SEFA Group was awarded a State Clean Diesel Grant in South Carolina through the Diesel Emission Reduction Act program, the company said in an Oct. 10 news release.
• GM Losing Patience With UAW Over Nearly Monthlong Strike October 11, 2019
  General Motors Co.’s chief labor negotiator suggested the United Auto Workers is dragging its feet in responding to the automaker’s latest contract offer in a show of frustration with a strike that’s lumbering toward the one-month mark.
• Shipping Costs Are Soaring as LNG Vessels Drop Out of Service October 11, 2019
  The day rate for a standard tanker east of the Suez Canal jumped 57% in the week to Oct. 9, as issues related to U.S. sanctions on units of China’s COSCO Shipping Corp. start to hit just as the heating season begins to boost demand.
• Uber to Acquire Chilean Grocery Startup That Walmart Failed to Buy October 11, 2019
  Uber Technologies Inc. plans to buy a majority stake in online grocer Cornershop, a deal designed to both extend its geographic reach and bolster profits by bundling food delivery with rides.
• Consumer Sentiment Rises to Three-Month High October 11, 2019
  Sentiment among American consumers posted a surprise jump in October amid expectations for rising incomes and lower inflation, indicating households will continue to extend the longest-running U.S. expansion.
• Walmart’s Vaunted Turnaround Artist, Greg Foran, Leaves for Air New Zealand October 10, 2019
  Walmart U.S. CEO Greg Foran, the architect of the revival of Walmart Inc.’s U.S. stores, is departing to run an airline in his native New Zealand, leaving a big hole at the world’s biggest retailer on the cusp of the holiday season.
• Trump Says Day 1 China Trade Talks Went ‘Very Well’ October 10, 2019
  President Donald Trump said the first day of high-level trade negotiations between the U.S. and China went “very well” and he’ll meet the top Chinese negotiator on Oct. 11.
• Trucking Takes on Emerging Challenges October 10, 2019
  SAN DIEGO — Trucking leaders discussed how potential changes to federal regulations and international trade policy may soon affect the industry during American Trucking Associations’ 86th annual Management Conference & Exhibition, held from Oct. 5-8.
• UPS, Shippo Collaborate on Small-Business Shipping October 10, 2019
  UPS Inc. will work with shipping technology company Shippo to offer marketplace shipping rates to the more than 35,000 small- and medium-size businesses that use Shippo’s platform, according to an Oct. 10 news release.
• GM Factory Hands Making 40% Less Than Their Coworkers October 10, 2019
  The future of temps has been among the major impasses contributing to the United Auto Workers union’s strike against GM, now in its 25th day.
• Funding Bills to Dominate Congress’ Fall Legislative Agenda October 10, 2019
  When congressional funding leaders return to Washington on Oct. 15, they plan to cut through a tense political atmosphere and resume negotiations on their fiscal 2020 appropriations measures.
• USDOT Targets Infrastructure Needs in Rural Areas October 10, 2019
  Transportation priorities across rural areas will be the focus of an initiative recently established at the U.S. Department of Transportation, the country’s top transportation officer announced Oct. 8.
• Employers, Drivers Urged to Register for Drug, Alcohol Clearinghouse October 10, 2019
  SAN DIEGO — Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration officials are encouraging motor carriers to register now on the agency’s Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse database, aimed at ending job-hopping by drivers who fail their drug and alcohol test.
• China to Ask US to End Sanctions on COSCO Shipping Company October 10, 2019
  China plans to ask the U.S. to lift sanctions on its biggest shipping company at high-level trade negotiations in Washington this week, people familiar with the matter said.
• Consumer Comfort in US Improves on Economy October 10, 2019
  U.S. consumer comfort improved slightly last week as more upbeat assessments of the economy and buying climate were tempered by the weakest reading on personal finances in almost two months.
• Jobless Claims Hit Three-Week Low October 10, 2019
  Applications for unemployment benefits in the U.S. unexpectedly declined to a three-week low despite a strike by General Motors Co. workers that continues to reverberate through supporting industries.
• FMCSA Administrator Ray Martinez to Leave Post October 10, 2019
  Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administrator Ray Martinez will be leaving his position at the end of October.