Sea Freight

Forwarders’ Volumes Continue to Fall

Following five consecutive monthly increases, the overall Stifel Logistics Confidence Index fell 1 index point to 51.5 in April. Despite the decline, the index remained above the significant 50 mark, denoting expansion, for the third consecutive month. However, a look at the present situation reveals that both air and sea freight volumes are below those expected relative to the time of year. Although the index for sea freight remained virtually flat at 47.4 in April (down 0.1 points from March), it still indicates a decline in volumes. Meanwhile, the index for current air freight volumes fell 1.2 points to 42.0 for the month, indicating an even greater decline relative to the volumes expected for the time of year. In terms of year-on-year comparisons, the sea freight index was 1.4 points higher in April 2013 compared with April 2012. In contrast, the index for air freight was 2.7 points lower compared with the same month last year. Since the Index’s inception over a year ago, the outlook for the next six months has remained very optimistic with respondents consistently anticipating positive volume growth. Although this trend continued in April, with the index at 58.4, it fell 1.3 points which suggests respondents are perhaps becoming less confident in a market revival taking place any time soon.

European Commission to Limit Sulphur Emissions

On July 15, the European Commission published the proposed amendments of the "sulphur directive." Ministers of the EU member states and members of European parliament will begin debates on the directive in the autumn. The proposal is based on the decision made by the International Maritime Organization IMO in 2008 to set the more stringent limits of sulphur content of the bunker fuel and emissions. The severe consequences it will cause to the North Europe have become clear

Feature: Short Sea Shipping-Nurturing a Modal Shift

By David Tinsley, technical editor Swelling U.S. interest in fostering the development of coastwise shipping may be set against the backcloth of an anticipated 55 percent growth in demand for domestic freight transport over the period 2000-2010. Aside from its breathtaking scale, one of the most remarkable aspects of the U.S. projection is its similarity to the forecast, 50-percent increase in European road freight volume within the same timeframe.

PD Ports Promote Trade Opps in Far East

PD Ports senior representatives, including David Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, have returned to PD Ports’ Teesport operations, following a successful 14-day tour of the Far East. The aim of the tour, which included visits to Taipei, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, South Korea and Dubai, was to promote greater use of Teesport and stimulate interest for new shipping lines to call at the Port direct.  Teesport currently has frequent callings from eight container shipping lines

Index-Linked Container Contracts Take-Off

Half of all index-linked contracts filed with the US Federal Maritime Commission reference Drewry’s Container Freight Rate Insight pricing benchmarks.   Drewry Maritime Research’s container freight rate benchmarks are the index of choice in index-linked container contracts, according to the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC). The agency also indicated that uptake of index-linked container contracts on US trades was fast growing

U.S. DOT Chief LaHood Establishes Freight Advisory Committee

DOT Announces Proposal to Establish ‘National Freight Network’.   U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced the establishment of a National Freight Advisory Committee to provide recommendations aimed at improving the national freight transportation system. A strong freight transportation system is critical to the nation’s economy and essential for helping meet President Obama’s goal of doubling U.S. exports by 2015

Rapid Panamax Expansion Affects Freight Rates

A fast expansion of the fleet in the panamax sector has outpaced trade and affected freight rates, shipbrokers on Monday. "Panamax freight rates are not weaker due to falling demand, but rather because the fleet is growing faster than trade," a broker said. Rates quoted on the Baltic Panamax Index reflected a negative trend across the board, with average daily rates for transatlantic round voyages and fronthaul charter starting to ease back, brokers said.

Stena Line Announces Super Ships for NI Ferry Travel

Stena Line has announced the refurbishment of two giant ships that the company will be introducing on the Irish Sea later this year. The identical 'sister' ships 'Stena Superfast VII' and 'Superfast VIII' will be the biggest ferries ever to sail between Northern Ireland and Scotland and will undergo a refit programme at the Remotova shipyard in Poland which the company claims will ensure that they are the most modern, comfortable and best designed ferries ever to ply the Irish Sea

First Electronic Container Freight Swap Settled in USD

Saxo Bank and ICAP Shipping Involved in World's First Electronic Container Freight Swap Settled in USD.   Saxo Bank, the trading and investment specialist, and ICAP Shipping, the shipping arm of ICAP plc, announced on Thursday that they were involved in the execution of the world's first electronic, voice-assisted trade of a container freight swap agreement settled in US dollars. The counterparties to the trade were Saxo Bank in Denmark as the buyer and a Netherlands-based trading house

AAPA: MAP-21 Passage is Forward Progress

America’s Ports, Freight System Recognized in MAP-21 Surface Transportation Bill Reauthorization.   With congressional passage today of MAP-21 (Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century), the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) says elements in the two-year, $105 billion surface transportation reauthorization bill elevate the priority of freight movement in a way that constitutes major progress in recognizing the value of America’s seaports and freight