Carrier Services News

Singapore based shipping company Pacific International Lines (PIL) is installing satellite communication, or VSAT, on its entire fleet as part of its digitalization efforts to enhance seafarer wellbeing and improve productivity on board its ships. Communications technology group Singtel said it is one of the partners providing PIL with communications and cybersecurity solutions for 33 vessels in PIL’s fleet.“As a progressive company, PIL is constantly looking for ways to achieve business excellence and optimize operational efficiency.

Chinese shipping index organization Shanghai Shipping Exchange (SSE) and  shipping management software provider CargoSmart have signed a memorandum of cooperation (MoC) to develop a new shipping index for ocean carrier schedule reliability.Both parties will work together to create a new methodology to calculate schedule reliability for key trade lanes to help shippers optimize their supply chains and for the industry as a whole to improve service quality.SSE has been playing a significant role in providing up-to-date and accurate shipping information for the global shipping market, including publishing the China Containerized Freight…

Japanese shipping major Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) celebrated a major milestone-25 years since the launch of MOL business operations in Indonesia.The carriers of containerized and other cargo said in a press note that it has hosted a party in Jakarta for about 200 attendees, including customers to celebrate 25th anniversary. Among those on hand for the party were Japanese Ambassador to Indonesia Masafumi Ishii, and representatives of MOL's business partners.MOL President & CEO Ikeda addressed the gathering, saying, "Indonesia is expected to show further economic growth on the back of its abundant energy resources; it is also a vast land to the world's fourth-largest population…

The level of satisfaction regarding container carriers among exporters, importers, and freight forwarders reduces marginally, according to the third annual shipper satisfaction survey of Drewry and the European Shippers’ Council (ESC).The joint ESC and Drewry survey reveals that the 249 shippers and forwarders who took part in the survey rated the service of container shipping lines with a score of 3.1 on average (which is 0.1 lower than last year) on a scale of 1 (very dissatisfied) to 5 (very satisfied).Customer satisfaction was reported least favourable for clarity of prices and surcharges, transit times, and reliability of booking/cargo…

The Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) moved more containers in 2018 than at any time in its history, totaling 591,253 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), up 12.3 percent compared to one year ago.The deep-draft multipurpose port at the center of the world's busiest port system -- Louisiana's Lower Mississippi River said in a press release that the record marks the fifth year in a row Port NOLA has surpassed the half million TEU-mark at its Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal, which is operated by New Orleans Terminal and Ports America.“The expansion of the Panama Canal and growth in containerized exports, namely resin and frozen poultry, have buoyed Port NOLA’s containerized cargo to record levels.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL)announced that the MOL-operated next-generation FLEXIE series car carrier received the Good Design Award  2018, from the Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization (JDP).This year, MOL's FLEXIE won the award for the first time in nine years as the only winner from the shipping industry. The Good Design Award is in a program to evaluate and encourage design representing Japan, which inherits the Good Design Product Selection System (G Mark System) founded in 1957.Judges highly evaluated the design, saying: "It's great that the FLEXIE realized unconventional innovation as an outcome of re-defining the car carrier. It's notable that the space onboard the vessel was rearchitected using the design concept.

Marlink has re-established its commitment to Hapag-Lloyd Cruises to provide its Sealink services on the fleet of four cruise vessels, plus two new cruise ships which are due to enter operational service in 2019. The contract renewal reflects Hapag-Lloyd Cruises' desire to meet the requirements of the growing market for adventure and expedition cruises, as the ships are now in remote areas that were previously considered inaccessible for cruise ships, such as Arctic and the Antarctic.Marlink’s global Sealink services provide stable…

The DG Competition of European Commission (EC) announced that several companies including MOL breached European competition law with respect to car carrier services. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines  (MOL) and other shipping companies have been investigated by the EC due to the suspicion of competition law violation. MOL has fully cooperated with the EC during the investigation. Though the EC announced that they found the violation of European competition law and imposed fines, MOL and its subsidiary companies were exempted from all penalty including the fine because EC granted MOL an immunity. "MOL received full immunity for revealing the existence of the cartel, thereby avoiding a fine of ca. €203 million," said a communication from EC.

The Fair Trade Commission of South Korea (KFTC) announced on August 21, 2017 that several companies including MOL have breached South Korean antitrust law with respect to car carrier services. "MOL and other shipping companies have been investigated by the KFTC due to the suspicion of antitrust law violation. MOL has fully cooperated with the KFTC during the investigation," said a press statement from the company. Though the KFTC announced that they found the violation of South Korean antitrust law and imposed a fine, MOL and its subsidiary company, Nissan Motor Car Carrier Co., Ltd. (NMCC) was exempted from all penalty including the fine because KFTC granted MOL's and NMCC's joint application under the KFTCs leniency program.

The Alabama State Port Authority has announced a new memorandum of understanding with the National Port Administration of Cuba, potentially laying the groundwork for future trade deals. The five-year, cooperative agreement  was signed at the Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel in Tampa, Florida. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Port of Mobile and the Cuban ports marks the first ports agreement signed on U.S. soil since 1959. James K. Lyons, chief executive officer of the Alabama State Port Authority and Rene Rolando Fernandez de Lara Cabezas, director of Inland Waterway and Sea Transport, of the Republic of Cuba Ministry of Transportation…

A shipment of artisanal charcoal made its way from Cuba to Port Everglades aboard Crowley’s container ship K Storm, marking the first truly commercial shipment from a Cuban cooperative to a private U.S. business since the U.S.-Cuba trade embargo was imposed more than 50 years ago. Crowley was the first U.S. carrier to obtain a license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury to provide regularly scheduled common carrier services for licensed cargo from the U.S. to Cuba. Crowley launched its Cuba service in December 2001, becoming the first U.S. carrier to reenter the country in nearly 40 years, and has maintained a regularly scheduled service ever since, currently operating from Port Everglades in Florida.

Commissioner William P. Doyle Votes to reject joint contracting authority for Ro/Ro foreign carriers to negotiate collectively for U.S.-Flag tug services. Doyle's Statement, shown below, says new rules go beyond the scope of the Shipping Act and shipping practices harmful to U.S. Today, I voted to disapprove the roll-on roll-off (Ro/Ro) WLL/Eukor/ARC/Glovis Cooperative Working Agreement amendment involving Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics AS (WWL), Eukor Car Carriers Inc. (Eukor), American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier LLC (ARC), and Hyundai Glovis Co. Ltd. (Glovis) (collectively Parties). This amendment filed with the Federal Maritime Commission seeks to broaden the authority of the Parties to jointly solicit bids for contracts covering the provision of tug services…

In August 2016, CEVA Logistics honored Hamburg Süd with the Ocean Supplier of the Year award for 2015. CEVA is one of the world’s leading non-asset-based supply chain management companies. Hamburg Süd was recognized for its strong global relationship with CEVA in combination with its dedication to ongoing operational excellence. “This award is in recognition of Hamburg Süd’s exceptional carrier services at a global and local level. The line has reinforced CEVA’s commitment to fostering a strong partnership with the mutual goal of delivering exceptional global service standards for our customers,” says CEVA’s Chief Operating Officer Air and Ocean, Helmut Kaspers. Michael Britton, General Manager Region Asia Pacific for Hamburg Süd: “We are delighted with the award from CEVA Logistics.

The Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans joined a host of elected officials and industry partners today to dedicate the Port’s new $25 million Mississippi River Intermodal Terminal. The terminal, made possible by a $16.7 million federal transportation TIGER grant, has a capacity of moving 160,000 twenty-foot-equivalent units (TEUs) per year by rail. “This new terminal provides a highly efficient option for our customers moving cargo via rail,” said Gary LaGrange, Port President and CEO. The Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant provided about 68 percent of the total funding for the terminal.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) has signed a contract covering construction of four next-generation "FLEXIE" car carriers at Minaminippon Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. To be delivered in 2017 and 2018, the ships will serve on on MOL's worldwide car carrier services and will offer increased capacity and a new deck design for more flexible loading. Deck construction of the newly-ordered car carriers will be substantially altered to change the number of decks from the current 12 to 14. Furthermore, the number of liftable decks will be increased from two to six. This means two adjustable decks can be placed between two fixed decks. The newly designed liftable decks will offer greater flexibility in accommodating vehicles of different heights…

The U.S. Treasury Department, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) has publish revised Cuba sanctions regulations opening trade with Cuba for the first time in decades. Those changes, issued January 16, 2015, are the first step in moving toward normal relations with Cuba. The revised regulations ease certain limitations on travel to Cuba and certain associated services (e.g., insurance services), broaden exports and imports, and make financial transactions related to authorized transactions easier. The biggest impacts appear to be in travel, telecommunications, financial services and exports to the Cuban private sector. A pre-release of the revised regulations from the U.S.

International Shipholding Corporation inform that its Board of Directors has declared a dividend of $2.375 per share on its Series A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock (NYSE:ISHPRA) and a dividend of $2.25 per share on its Series B Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock (NYSE:ISHPRB), each representing payment for the full ninety day period ending July 30, 2014. The dividend will be paid on July 30, 2014 to preferred shareholders as of record on July 29, 2014. According to its web site, International Shipholding Corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates a diversified fleet of U.S. and International Flag vessels…

MOL (America) Inc. said that Michael Checchi will enter the position of vice president, area operations, where he will lead MOL’s equipment, intermodal services, contract management, and operations administration groups for the United States and Canada. He will report to Richard Craig, executive vice president for sales and operations. Checchi served as the director of intermodal operations for OOCL for the past 13 years where he directed rail and motor carrier services procurement. He has also served in various operations roles with Matson Intermodal System, Inc. and APL Land Transport Services. He earned his undergraduate business administration degree from California State University, East Bay. “We’re excited to have someone with Mr.

The South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) closed a year marked by new carrier services, inland port development & Charleston harbor deepening project. In results announced at the SCPA's regular meeting, container volume in Charleston was up 9.6 percent in calendar year 2012, with 1.5 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) handled at the port's two container terminals. Volume was up 13 percent in December compared to the same month last year, with 124,120 TEUs traded across the docks. Charleston also was the fastest-growing East Coast container port January through November, the latest month of volume data available from competing ports.

The Port of Houston Authority will partner with Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Lines to offer new services from the Bayport Cruise Terminal, it was announced at the Nov. 15 Port Commission meeting. Princess Cruises will make passenger cruise calls during the 2013-2014 cruise season, while Norwegian Cruise Lines has committed to three years and will begin service in 2014. This will result in a $200 million economic impact to the communities within the greater Houston region over this four-year period.

Crowley Sends First Articulated Tug-Barge to Guantanamo Bay to Deliver Fuel at U.S. Naval Base. Crowley Maritime Corporation’s shipping services to Cuba reached another milestone this past weekend with the first delivery of petroleum products to the U.S. Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay via articulated tug-barge (ATB) tank vessel. The cargo was loaded in San Diego, Calif., and transported to Cuba aboard Crowley’s ATB Coastal Reliance / 550-4. The fuel delivery was made in support of Crowley customer Military Sealift Command (MSC)…

PT Samudera Indonesia reportedly entered into an agreement with STX Shipbuilding to buy a pair of bulk carriers for $97.6m, the Jakarta Post reported. Upon delivery, the vessels will be deployed on a time-charter contract and are expected to increase Samudera's capacity to meet the demand for bulk carrier services. Samudera currently operates 20 vessels.

Over the past three weeks Crowley Liner Services has transported more than 400 head of cattle, plus sheep and bison, from the United States to Havana, Cuba - the first shipments of livestock direct from the U.S. in more than 40 years. Gulfport, Miss., and Port Everglades and Jacksonville, Fla. bulls, 12 bison, and one shorthorn sheep. 140. Jacksonville on August 9 and arrived in Havana yesterday. and plenty of water to drink. handler was present onboard the ships during each voyage. The animals were purchased from various U.S. export exception to the Cuban embargo. were worked out during the U.S. held last year in Havana. handle additional livestock shipments for the foreseeable future. well as for U.S.-Cuban trade," said Crowley Vice President Jay Brickman. planning.