Fortnightly maritime news for the industry and PortXL community.

MARITIME NEWS

Panalpina and DSV to merge, creating the world’s fourth-largest freight forwarder
Danish logistics giant DSV has offered to buy Swiss logistics major Panalpina, quoting a price of 195.8 Swiss francs per share in a deal worth around $4.6 billion.

Major lines establish Digital Container Shipping Association
Four major lines – AP Moller-Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, MSC and ONE – have jointly established Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) to drive standardisation, digitalisation and interoperability in the industry.

How shipping is so vulnerable to hackers
The maritime business relies on basic technology to remain connected globally at all times to execute work effectively. However, this can have a disastrous effect on the business if the lines are being compromised.

IMO sets new anti-corruption agenda
The IMO has agreed to address maritime corruption by including the issue in its work program for the Facilitation Committee. The organisation will now work on a guidance document to address maritime corruption, which is expected to be completed by 2021.

ZIM signs up for Maersk-led TradeLens
Israeli carrier ZIM has signed up to participate in TradeLens, a blockchain-enabled documentation system designed to smooth bureaucracy between carriers, freight forwarders, customs officials and port authorities.

Drewry: Slower volumes dent carriers’ hopes for higher contracts
Following the tariff-induced cargo rush of late-2018, container shipments from Asia to West Coast North America dived in the first quarter of 2019, denting carriers’ hopes of securing higher annual contracts.

Denmark to deploy ‘sniffer’ drone to help enforce sulphur cap regulation
The drone, provided by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), is fitted with a so-called ‘sniffer’ capable of measuring sulphur emissions.

Tsakos Columbia Shipmanagement introduces electronic payments for crew
Under an agreement with global maritime payments provider ShipMoney, the electronic payment solution means the seafarers will have control and access to their wages while onboard ships, including the timing and currency of remittances sent home.