Singapore Maintains Rank as World's Top Maritime Hub
Singapore has held onto its status as the world's top maritime hub for the ninth consecutive year, according to a recent index report.The Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development Index Report, jointly published annually by Chinese state news agency, Xinhua, and global maritime data provider, the Baltic Exchange, has ranked Singapore as the global leading maritime center every year since the report's inception.The city state scored 94.88 out of a possible 100 points, while second on the list was maritime professional services stronghold, London, with 83.04 points.
Two Massive Container Ships Collide
Maersk Line's 292-meter (958-foot) Safmarine Meru and the 318-meter (1,043-foot) Northern Jasper operated by Germany’s Norddeutsche Reederei H. Schuldt GmbH & Co collided off the coast of China late Saturday with one catching fire, but the crews of both vessels are safe. The collision took place in opens seas 138 miles east of the Chinese port of Ningbo, south of Shanghai. “The collision caused severe damage to the Safmarine Meru and a fire broke out. The Safmarine Meru’s crew of 22 people abandoned the vessel shortly after,” Maersk Line said. Firefighting was initiated Sunday morning local time. While there is no visible fire, there is smoke and firefighting continues. The Chinese authorities are on the scene and Maersk Line is cooperating with same,” Maersk Line said.
Ningpo Port Truckers Strike, Disrupt Freight
Thousands of truck drivers went on strike over salary and haulage rates in the eastern Chinese port of Ningbo this week, and a logistics firm said on Friday the industrial action was disrupting operations at the world's sixth busiest port. In a statement on its official microblog account, Ningbo Port Co Ltd said the strike had started over trucking rates but declined to give further details. The company said it was taking measures to ensure that operations at the port, China's third busiest, were not disrupted and to ensure losses were kept to a minimum. Local media reported the strike began at the Beilun area of the port and that it started with a few hundred drivers and escalated on Thursday to a few thousand, who clashed with police.
