New Year

The New World Alliance to Reduce Ocean Capacity

The New World Alliance said it will temporarily reduce capacity on selected Trans-Pacific Trade services to coincide with Lunar New Year factory shutdowns in Asia.  The three container shipping lines in the alliance -- APL, Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) said the winter deployment program is expected to last six weeks; more if necessary.   "We'll review demand and capacity again well in advance of the peak shipping season," said APL President Eng Aik Meng.  "As conditions warrant, we'll re-introduce capacity."   Winter deployment programs are routine for The New World Alliance carriers and the Trans-Pacific Trade in general, where Asian exports slow significantly during the Lunar New Year holiday break.  Factory closures sharply curb the production of finished goods which are a staple of the trade.  Alliance members said Lunar New Year factory closures this year are expected to be longer than usual, perhaps up to three or four weeks.   Alliance carriers said they will reduce capacity during the period by selectively omitting sailings on the SAX, PSW, PCX and PCE services.  They said other services may be adjusted to ensure complete port coverage and that customers will be notified ahead of deployment changes.

Asia-Europe Trade May Grow Until February

Maersk Line believe demand for trade on its Asia- Europe route may grow until Lunar New Year in February. Imports into China have also helped increase demand as raw materials are shipped to Asia’s largest economy for final assembly while local consumers increase spending, Bloomberg learned from Tim Smith of Maersk Line in a Hong Kong television interview. A year-end surge in demand also prompted the container line, owned by A.P

Carnival Suffers Another Fire

Carnival Corp.’s spate of bad luck continued in the new year, as a fire reportedly broke out aboard the cruise ship Celebration Wednesday, leaving the vessel adrift in the Caribbean for hours without engine and main electrical power, according to owner Carnival Cruise Lines. None of the passengers or crew were injured by the fire, which began shortly after midnight in one of three auxiliary generators as the Celebration sailed about 100 miles northwest of Montego Bay, Jamaica, Carnival said

Container Freight Rates Gain

A short-lived revival in rates still means rich pickings for shippers coming into the transpacific contracting season, but beware the capacity crunch to come.   Shippers should not lose sleep over the recent, short-lived jump in spot rates, but ought instead focus on ways to mitigate the risk of another sudden capacity crunch later in the year, urges Drewry Maritime Research. Freight rates on east-west trades have been in the ascendency of late

An ISO Standards New Year’s Resolution:

Objectives & Targets add up to “Saying What You Mean, Meaning what You Say and then, Proving it.”   As a maritime compliance auditor in the field, I’m often called upon to explain the ISO’s (International Standards Organization) approach to continual improvement which says a company shall establish, implement and maintain documented objectives and targets at each relevant function and level within the organization

ISS Offers Management of Pollution Response in China

Inchcape Shipping Services China launches pollution regulation intermediary service. Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS), the world’s leading maritime services provider, today announced the launch of an intermediary service for ships calling at ports in China.  The move is in response to new pollution prevention and control regulations introduced by Chinese regulators and the service is already fully operational.    

InterManager to Tackle Industry Challenges

Low freight rates and a challenging market are concerns for ship managers as they begin 2013.   A survey of members of InterManager, the international trade association for the ship and crew management industry, has identified the main concerns affecting the industry as it begins the New Year.   In addition to fears about how challenging market conditions impact on operating budgets, ship and crew managers are also concerned at the difficulties of finding and retaining quality

Dubai Maritime City Construction Progresses

Development at the Dubai Maritime City has moved forward in the New Year with progress being made in construction of industrial infrastructure works and related support structures/ The scope of infrastructure works well underway with the first ship lift positioned in November 2006 and the excavation for the 2nd lift nearing completion. This activity is critical as it will pave the way commencement of the JADAF relocation and early occupation of the industrial precinct by the JADAF tenants

New Offshore Equipment Contracts for Maritime Pusnes

The Aker Kvaerner subsidiary, Maritime Pusnes, has had a busy start to the new year winning contracts for over NOK 180 million. The contracts involve both marine and offshore equipment demonstrating MP's strength in both these market sectors. The contract awards comprise: Two contracts to supply mooring and riser pull-in equipment for a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel that will be located off the coast of Angola

Sinopacific Shipbuilding & Corporate Social Responsibility

Sinopacific said it believes Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) means clinging to the business ethics which includes clinging to lawful business operation, advocating product safety, environmental protection, protection of employee benefits, integrity and responsibility to all stakeholders and etc. The enterprise provides more tax revenue and employment opportunities through legitimate business activities, which fully embodies the CSR