Fortnightly maritime news for the industry and PortXL community.
Hapag-Lloyd and ONE joins TradeLens
The world’s fifth and sixth largest carriers, respectively, join CMA CGM and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, in becoming part of TradeLens. With these additions, the scope of the Maersk-IBM platform now extends to more than half of the world’s ocean container cargo.
HMM leaves 2M for THE Alliance
South Korean line HMM has been accepted into THE Alliance, becoming the fourth member of the liner grouping set up by Hapag-Lloyd, Ocean Network Express and Yang Ming in 2016.
Shipping and port companies set out to create the internet of logistics
The initial signatories to the Global Shipping Business Network (GSBN) are CMA CGM, Cosco, Hapag-Lloyd, Hutchison Ports, OOCL, Port of Qingdao, PSA International and Shanghai International Port Group with CargoSmart – now owned by Cosco – serving as the facilitator, providing software solutions and services.
Inmarsat to provide Arctic VSAT coverage for the first time
Inmarsat has announced plans to introduce broadband services over the Arctic for the first time in its history, following an agreement to develop new Global Xpress payloads for two highly elliptical orbit (HEO) satellites being developed by Space Norway.
Samsung Heavy delivers world’s largest containership
Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) has completed the construction of the world’s largest containership at 23,000-teu for Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).
UK opens first Maritime Innovation Hub
Organisations collaborating on the ‘2050 Innovation Hub’ include Port of Tyne, PD Ports, Nissan, Connected Places Catapult, Accenture, Royal HaskoningDHV and Ubisoft.
Chinese shipbuilders CSIC and CSSC confirm merger
China’s two largest state-owned shipbuilding groups China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) and China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) have confirmed a plan to merge, according to the separate exchange filings released by several listed units of the two companies.
Denmark commits to digital shipping registry by 2020
The Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) has begun work on development of the new computer-based Danish Register of Shipping, and once it is operational all future reporting and registration of ships will occur digitally.
Singapore remains World’s top shipping center
Singapore has topped the 2019 Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development (ISCD) Index for the sixth year running. Among the top ten international shipping centers in 2019 are also Rotterdam, Hamburg, New York – New Jersey, Houston and Athens.
Liners start implementing Middle East war risk surcharges
With increasing risk and associated costs for carriers in Middle Eastern waters, CMA CGM joins X-Press Feeders and the roro division of Japan’s Nippon Yusen Kaisha (NYK) in installing war risk surcharge plans.
West Africa seas remain world’s most dangerous for piracy: IMB
The seas off West Africa remain the world’s most dangerous for pirate attacks, with 62 seafarers captured in the Gulf of Guinea so far this year, according to the International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) latest report.