Maersk Lines News

Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller - Maersk announced it is partnering with U.S.-based SunGas Renewables to secure a supply of green methanol to fuel its next generation of cleaner burning containerships.Under a recently signed letter of intent (LOI), SunGas Renewables, a spin-out of GTI Energy, will produce green methanol from multiple facilities that it will develop in the U.S. from which Maersk intends to offtake methanol. Slated to begin operations in 2026, the first facility is expected to produce approximately 390…

Maersk Line said that the growth of EXIM container trade of India in the current year is likely to be in two digits. The export-import container trade volume of India grew by 10% for the full year 2016, which was double of 2015, that too amid weak global trade. In 2017, the growth is likely to be in two digits provided that India maintains its growth in markets like the Middle East, Latin America and East Africa, enhancing its client portfolio and diversifying the risks, said Maersk in its 2016 Annual India Trade Report. Maersk Line believes, that with the right policy initiatives India can continue to grow and improve its position in the global trade, delivering double-digit growth in 2017.

Net profit below forecasts, operating figure above; group hit by low freight rates and low oil prices. A.P. Moller-Maersk's progress in cutting costs reassured investors on Friday after the Danish shipping and oil giant reported a sharp decline in quarterly profit and its new chief executive confirmed that earnings would fall this year. The Copenhagen-based company fired its CEO in June and replaced him with Soren Skou, head of its Maersk Line container business, indicating it could split it into separate companies and sell off part of the group, including its oil division. Skou, a company veteran who has to respond to a shipping industry recession and tough oil markets, is expected to present the results of a strategy review in late September.

The Panama Canal’s impact on shipping routes and vessel sizes since it opened in 1914 is undisputed. This will continue with the opening of a third channel for larger vessels in 2016. This briefing examines the risk management impact of this expansion on the maritime industry. Why is the Panama Canal Expansion Significant? The Panama Canal’s $5.25 billion expansion increases the maximum vessel capacity and enlarges the overall volume of transported freight. Existing locks can handle ships up to 106 ft. wide, 965 ft. long, and 39.5 ft. of draft.

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has detained Lindavia, a cargo vessel arrived from China, in Unalaska due to alleged environmental crimes, reports Alaska Public. According to Kevin Feldis, who is with the U.S. Attorney's Office, the 600-foot carrier was loading up with seafood to transport back to Asia. The ship was, however, detained before it could manage to depart. Right now the crew is still here in Dutch Harbor, and they will be staying there pending further steps in the investigation, Feldis said. He is working together closely with the USCG on the case, but could not add any further details about the alleged violations, citing the open investigation. Peggy McLaughlin, Unalaska Ports Director, noted that the Lindavia was chartered by Maersk Lines.

Willard Marine, a 56-year-old builder of composite and aluminum boats, has recently taken orders to build rescue boats for the Alaska Marine Highway System (AMHS), U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) and Maersk Lines Ltd. The Willard Marine rescue boats meet all U.S. Coast Guard requirements under the international Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) treaty. AMHS has ordered two 670 rescue boats for the M/V Columbia, which is being refitted with new safety equipment. The boats are being supplied through Vigor Industrial Shipyard in Portland, Ore.

While there are indications that the shipping industry is starting to emerge  from the doldrums of the last six years, signals remain mixed. Moore Stephens reported in June that shipping confidence has risen to its highest point since 2010. Indeed, there are signs of a new wave of speculative ordering of new tonnage, propelled by bargain-basement prices from shipyards desperate to fill slots and a reported influx of capital from private equity sources. A primary driver for the surge of orders is the improvements in fuel efficiency of new ship designs over older ships.

The SHIPPINGInsight conference producers have finalized the agenda and confirmed speaker list for the 2013 Fleet Optimization Conference, scheduled for Oct. 22-24 at the Sheraton Stamford Hotel in Stamford, Conn. “The theme for this year’s conference is ‘Connect and Engage,’” said conference co-producer Frank Soccoli. “We are bringing together an impressive lineup of speakers, moderators, panelists, sponsors, exhibitors and delegates representing all segments of the shipping industry. New for 2013 is an extra LNG Workshop, which will take the form of a roundtable discussion of experts to consider the barriers, challenges, solutions and best practices for achieving widespread adoption of LNG as a marine fuel. The workshop is free for all registered delegates.

The producers of the SHIPPINGInsight Fleet Optimization Conference have announced that online registration is now open. Following a successful inaugural conference in 2012, the 2013 event will take place October 22-24 at the Sheraton Stamford Hotel in Stamford, Conn. It will bring together senior executives from shipowners, ship managers, classification societies, regulatory bodies, consultancies and suppliers to address the pressing issues facing fleet operators in the current business climate. The confirmed keynote speakers for the conference are Anthony Chiarello, president and CEO of Tote, Inc., and Yasushi Nakamura, executive vice president of Class NK.

The SHIPPINGInsight producers announced that the agenda for the 2013 Fleet Optimization Conference has been finalized. Now in its second year, the 2013 SHIPPINGInsight Conference addresses the challenges, solutions, technologies and best practices for improving efficiency in ship and fleet operations. It will take place Oct. 22-24 at the Sheraton Stamford Hotel in Connecticut. Keynote speakers will be Anthony Chiarello, CEO of Tote, Inc., and Yasushi Nakamura, executive vice president of ClassNK.

Maritime Administration officials said that Maersk Lines, Limited, a U.S.-flag vessel operator and Maritime Security Program (MSP) contractor for the U.S. government, are in the process of replacing nine of its militarily-useful, U.S.-flag containerships in the MSP with nine newer and more efficient ships. The Maritime Administration manages the MSP, which leverages commercially viable, militarily-useful, privately-owned vessels and inter-modal assets to meet national defense and other security requirements. Maersk’s 2008 request for the change was approved and coordinated with the Department of Defense’s U.S. Transportation Command after the Maritime Administration found that the proposed replacement vessels met or exceeded the eligibility requirements of the Maritime Security Program.

Shipyards around the world are facing increasingly stringent environmental rules and regulations, adding additional expense to a business sector with an already reputed thin bottom line. Nonetheless, to stay in business shipyards must continuously enhance their capabilities and compliance, in order to successfully woo and complete lucrative jobs. U.S. shipyards have aggressively been augmenting traditional repair expertise with the tools and systems needed to prosper in 2000 and far beyond. The ensuing editorial updates significant activities and enhancements at U.S. ship repair yards. Detyens Shipyards based in North Charleston, S.C., is continuing its upbeat course of developing trusted relationships with customers along the U.S. East Coast — specifically with Hvide Marine, Inc.

The Maritime Administration (MarAd) has approved three vessels sale and transfer under section 9 of the Shipping Act, of 1916, as amended. MarAd has given approval to Industrial Resources, Inc., of Clear Lake, Washington to sale the fishing vessel MOMMA, to Front Street Management LLC of Vancouver, Washington and transfer of said Vessel to Panamanian registry and flag. The fishing vessel was built in 1945. MarAd has given approval to Maersk Lines, Limited, of Norfolk, Va., to sell the container RoRo’s MAERSK ALASKA and MAERSK ARIZONA, to Ignazio Messina and C.S.P.A. of Genoa, Italy and transfer of said Vessels to Italian registry and flag. Both container ships were built in 1976.

Newport News Shipbuilding has been awarded two separate contracts for ship repair work. The first award is for the M/V 1st Lt. Alex Bonnyman, a Military Sealift Command (MSC) pre-positioning ship chartered through Maersk Lines. Work being performed on the ship includes hull blasting and painting; tank blasting and painting; overhaul of deck cranes; survey and repair of main propulsion equipment; repair of machinery components; cargo equipment refurbishment; and deck equipment survey and repair. The ship is 755 ft. long with a beam of 90 ft. Bonnyman arrived at NNS on Oct. 1 and will remain at the company for approximately a month. NNS also performed work on this ship in 1995 and 1997. The second contract is for the SS Cape Nome. A MARAD cargo ship, Cape Nome arrived at Newport News on Oct.

History was made by Maersk Lines last June when the Line's containership, Susan Maersk sailed into the Port of Long Beach, Calif. on its maiden voyage - establishing a new record as the largest ever to call a U.S. port. Measuring twice the length of the Washington Monument, wider than the Panama Canal and equal in length to about four football fields, the 6,600 TEU vessel was deployed into Maersk's Asia/U.S. West Coast TP6 Service. This vessel, and others similar to it, will allow Maersk to accommodate seasonal surges in cargo from Asia, and will better serve exporters of refrigerated cargoes from the U.S. A sampling of the top 10 import commodities carried from Asia on Susan Maersk include: electrical appliances, footwear, department store merchandise and textiles.