Freight Operators News

The Baltic Exchange's main sea freight index posted its second-biggest jump ever on Thursday, as rates for all vessel segments rebounded from their multi-year lows, led by capesizes.The overall index, which factors in rates for capesize, panamax and supramax shipping vessels, was up 142 points, or about 21.1%, at 816, an over one-month high.The index, extending gains to a fifth session, recorded its biggest jump since mid-June 2020, according to Refinitiv data going back till 1985.The capesize index gained 183 points…

Bumper soybean harvests in Brazil and unsold grains stocks in the United States are set to boost dry bulk shipping rates as buyers including China restock after supply shocks last year, leading freight operators said.The dry bulk shipping market has been hit in recent months by slow activity, partly driven by the COVID lockdowns in China, one of the world’s biggest generators of seaborne commodities trade including grains as well as coal and iron ore.Grains supplies were also affected by the war in Ukraine for part of last year until a United Nations-backed corridor was set up…

Singapore's PSA International and Indian container freight operators have warned the Indian government that its order to waive container storage charges during the coronavirus lockdown could lead to port congestion, letters seen by Reuters showed.India's Ministry of Shipping asked ports to allow free storage of containers as part of relief measures to ease pressure on companies hit by logistics restrictions because of India's nationwide lockdown.PSA's local unit in a letter to the government on April 24 said importers might not remove their containers from ports due to free storage…

Driver-less heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) will be to ship freight between the UK and continental Europe in the future, according to a new white paper published by the British Ports Association (BPA) and the specialist freight transport consultancy MDS Transmodal.Commercial and environmental pressures will encourage freight operators to look at autonomous trucks and they would transform the way the ro-ro market works in Great Britain."Changes anticipated include significant growth in the market share of ‘driverless accompanied’ RORO traffic – particularly through North Sea and Western English Channel ports," it said.Technical developments…

The British Ports Association (BPA) will be holding a short targeted seminar on Thursday 29 November to discuss coastal shipping in the UK with ports and operators. In comparison with other transport modes, shipping is an efficient and environmentally sustainable option.Utilising the UK’s hundreds of ports in supporting more coastal shipping has the potential to improve connectivity between regions.Commenting on the importance of coastal shipping (moving freight within the UK by sea) and what will be discussed at the seminar, Sara Walsh, the BPA’s Corporate Services Manager said:“We are aware of the importance of existing coastal shipping routes and possible new markets which would help to sustain trade between regions around the UK.

Drewry’s Z-score carrier financial stress index sunk to its lowest ever point following the first-half 2016 results. After Hanjin’s bankruptcy shippers are demanding more financial transparency from carriers. There is still much work to be done to clean up the logistical chaos created by Hanjin’s bankruptcy, but even so there are lessons from the sorry mess that need to be learned to avoid a repeat occurring. Firstly, all stakeholders must understand that no carrier is too big to fail. The hitherto expectation that some white knight would rescue an ailing carrier has been erased forever. Secondly, while Hanjin’s financial position was at the extreme edges and its demise is not expected to create a domino effect…

Incat has been selected by Virtu Ferries of Malta to design and build a 110 meter vehicle passenger RoPax ferry. The new wave piercing catamaran will become the 15th fast ferry Virtu has acquired, it will be the largest high speed catamaran in the Mediterranean and with a service speed up to 38 knots it will complete the crossing from Malta to Sicily, berth to berth, in around 90 minutes. “Virtu Ferries is amongst the oldest, most respected and most discerning fast ferry operators in the world…

The Port of Felixstowe, the Port of Britain has walked away with the coveted Rail Freight Group 2015 Customer Care Award for its continued and sustained improvement in customer service. This Award recognises the port’s commitment to delivering for its customers’ real needs by consistently making every effort to ensure continuity of service and minimum disruption to supply chains. “We are delighted to have been honoured with the prestigious Customer Care Award by the Rail Freight Group. In 2014 the prolonged Ipswich Yard track lengthening works caused an extended and unexpected period of disruption, posing many challenges for cargo owners, the port and freight operators.

Continental Refining Company Now Processing Low Sulfur Marine Diesel T90-700 and Completes Upgrades to Receive Transmix for Finished 500ppm LM Diesel Fuel Production; CRC Expands with Two New Niche Market Product Offerings that Serve Marine Users and Help to Prevent Bottlenecks in the U.S. Today Continental Refining Company, LLC announced a new product offering for the marine market with the production of low sulfur marine diesel, a special blend distillate fuel that has a T-90 greater than700° f…

Leading international classification society Bureau Veritas has issued the first of its new voluntary SEEMP notations to the 1,500-passenger and 500-car cruise ferry Cap Finistère, operated by France’s Brittany Ferries. Higher efficiency, lower costs and less environmental impact are all benefits for Brittany Ferries and for everyone in the transport chain. “Proactive ship owners like Brittany Ferries are voluntarily investing in eco-friendly technologies and operational practices,” says Martial Claudepierre, Marine Environmental Leader, Bureau Veritas.

Jones Lang LaSalle’s third annual Port, Airport and Global Infrastructure (PAGI) report published today, reveals that even amid economic volatility, real estate in the markets surrounding the country’s seaports is leading the U.S. industrial real estate recovery. Overall vacancy rates for seaports have dropped from last year by 1.4 percent to 8.5 percent, outperforming the 9.7 percent vacancy rates held by the general industrial real estate sector. “Even with a myriad of global economic challenges, seaport industrial real estate has continued to retain its premium value over inland industrial locations,” said John Carver, head of Jones Lang LaSalle’s Ports Airports and Global Infrastructure team.

Trade association Interferry is mounting a membership drive with ro-ro operators among key targets in a further move to strengthen its representation at the International Maritime Organization. Interferry, which has had IMO consultative status since 2003, recently became an associate member of the influential International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and has just set up a regulatory committee to direct safety and environmental submissions by its newly expanded delegation. Now the association – formed 35 years ago by passenger sector interests - is aiming for more ro-ro members after becoming increasingly involved in issues that also affect freight-only ferries.

Incat is proud to introduce the Evolution One12 112 metre Wave Piercing Catamaran, a new craft well suited to the demands of both commercial and military operators. Construction of the first Evolution One12, ordered by Incat USA, will commence shortly in Hobart, with delivery programmed for 2004. The Evolution One12 will be capable of carrying up to 1500 tonnes deadweight and will be the largest diesel powered fast craft in the world. Incat has selected four 20RK280 MAN B&W engines to provide the 36 megawatts required to power the vessel at speeds of up to 50 knots. Each 20-cylinder RK280 engine is rated for continuous operation at 9,000KWb at 1000 rpm for this application.