Maritime Transport Services News

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (“USTR”) issued a detailed notice on April 17, 2025, regarding actions and proposed actions in response to China's alleged targeting of the maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors for dominance. The measures, USTR argues, will “disincentivize the use of Chinese shipping and Chinese-built ships, thereby providing leverage on China to change its acts, policies, and practices, and send a critically needed demand signal for U.S.-built ships.” Below, we break down the key elements of the notice and their potential impacts.

VesselBot has highlighted the significant financial exposure for major container shipping lines under the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) proposed Section 301 service fees targeting China's maritime sector.USTR is proposing to impose fees and restrictions on international maritime transport services related to Chinese ship operators and Chinese-built ships, as it has found China’s acts, policies and practices to be unreasonable and to burden or restrict US commerce.Of the global container fleet of approximately 6…

The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS) and RMI (formerly Rocky Mountain Institute) are launching Katalist, a not-for-profit ‘book and claim’ registry designed to accelerate the shipping industry’s decarbonization journey.Regulations to reduce the carbon intensity of the marine industry are being introduced by both the EU and the IMO. Katalist aims to accelerate the process by connecting shipping companies adopting lower emission fuels with cargo owners…

The Clean Energy Marine Hubs (CEM Hubs) project has welcomed the government of Greece, a nation that represents 20% of global shipping.The initiative aims to accelerate and de-risk the production, transport and use of low-carbon fuels that will be transported by shipping for the world.Greece joins the governments of Brazil, UAE, Canada, Norway, Uruguay and Panama, as supporters of this first of its kind cross sectoral public-private platform.Other new partners include ABS, Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub…

Qatar Gas Transportation Company (Nakilat) and its group subsidiaries announced their financial results for the first half of the year ended 30 June 2024, with a net profit of QAR 829 million ($227 million) for the first half of the year ended 30 June 2024, an increase of 7% on the corresponding period in 2023.In 2024, Nakilat achieved significant milestones in its fleet expansion project. The company signed contracts to build six advanced gas carriers, including two LNG carriers and four modern LPG/Ammonia carriers.

CMA CGM announced it has finalized its acquisition of two container terminals in the Port of New York and New Jersey as the France-based shipping and logistics group grows its supply chain presence in the United States.The company announced in December 2022 that it struck a deal to acquire the Bayonne and New York terminals from Canada's Global Container Terminals (GCT). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed, but media reports indicated the deal could be worth around $3 billion."Through this strategic investment…

CMA CGM, one of the world's largest container shipping lines, said on Tuesday that it has agreed to acquire two container terminals at the port of New York and New Jersey from Global Container Terminals (GCT), which will extend its presence in a crucial hub for trade.The deal comes after French-based CMA CGM last month said it expects a pullback in shipping markets to accelerate in the fourth quarter due to high energy prices and flagging consumer spending, resulting a drop in its profitability following an earnings surge in the past year.Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Shipping group CMA CGM has agreed to acquire the Fenix Marine Services (FMS) container terminal at the port of Los Angeles in a deal worth around $2 billion that will extend its presence in a crucial hub for transpacific trade.CMA CGM currently has a 10% stake in FMS and it is to buy the remaining 90% from investment fund EQT Infrastructure III on the basis of an enterprise value of $2.3 billion, CMA CGM and EQT said on Wednesday.France-based CMA CGM, one of the world's largest container shipping lines, expects to pay out around $1.8 billion for the 90% stake and will finance the deal from its

The Panama Maritime Authority, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama, has renewed the Agreement on Maritime Transport between the governments of China and Panama.The agreement took effect July 20, 2021, at the end of the renewal process between the Panamanian and Chinese authorities. However, in order to avoid interrupting its implementation it was considered that from May 17, 2021, until its entry into force, both parties would continue to benefit from its provisions."The agreement renewal will be extended to five years…

Shipbuilding group Austal announced Friday that its Vietnam yard opened in 2018 has delivered its first vessel fully constructed at the Vung Tau shipyard.The 94-meter high-speed catamaran A.P.T James was officially handed over from Austal Vietnam to the National Infrastructure Development Company (NIDCo), to be used for maritime transport services on the Trinidad and Tobago ‘sea bridge’ route between the islands.The Auto Express 94 vehicle-passenger ferry was designed at Austal Australia and features the company’s signature raked bow and optimized hull design.

Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company (ASCO) has hosted a meeting with the guests from the United States of America.The meeting was attended by Robert Sekuta, former US Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Azerbaijan in 2015-2018, former Read Admiral Ron MacLaren, director of the US Joint Reserve Forces, and Afghan Niftiyev, Director of the Caspian Research Center.ASCO Chairman Rauf Veliyev informed the guests about crucial projects implemented in Azerbaijan for the development of the transport system in recent years. Thanks to the implemented projects, our country is rapidly becoming a major transit and logistics hub.During the meeting…

CMA CGM will retain the only Containerships brand for its intra-European operations, giving up MacAndrews, which had already erased OPDR."Containerships: from April 1st, 2019 a single brand resulting from the union of two experts of intra-European transport CMA CGM reinforces its strategy aimed at densifying its regional coverage to the benefit of its clients," said a press release from MacAndrews.According to the French container transportation and shipping company, by joining the forces of two recognized experts of intra-European multimodal transport, the CMA CGM Group will create and develop an Intra-European leading brand, combining unique maritime and inland solutions with complementary regional footprints.Acquired by the CMA CGM Group in 2018…

The European Union and Singapore signed three agreements to take their political, trade, and investment relations to a new level as the landmark trade deal aims to remove import duties and taxes and improve market access for services providers, investors and firms.“European shipowners welcome the fact that the EU and Singapore show their commitment to free, fair and rules-based trade at a time that protectionism is on the rise”, said European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA)’s Secretary General Martin Dorsman, “The EU-Singapore FTA text contains the liberalisation principles of international maritime transport services.”“Shipping needs global trade to exist and global trade cannot exist without an efficient shipping industry.

The CMA CGM Group announced it will merge its subsidiaries MacAndrews and OPDR effective January 1, 2018.,  in line with the Group’s strategy to develop its intra-regional activities Headquarters will be located in Hamburg. The union between these two companies specialized in intra-European transport enables the CMA CGM Group to strengthen its multimodal offer in Europe, particularly thanks to the complementarity of the geographical zones covered today by MacAndrews and OPDR, iCMA CGM said. MacAndrews will bring together the strengths of the two subsidiaries and will be characterized by: a presence in 16 countries, 36 agencies, 595 employees (310 OPDR / 285 MacAndrews) and 18 services. Acquired by CMA CGM in 2002, MacAndrews is the oldest shipping company in Europe.

European shipowners have worryingly followed the negotiations thriller of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA, and feel very relieved today as the Belgian regional authorities reached an agreement. “We welcome the outcome after the lengthy and intense negotiations”, said European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA) Secretary General Patrick Verhoeven. This trade agreement between EU and Canada will greatly benefit the maritime transport sector. “More and smoother trade means more and better maritime transport operations, shipping being the main vector of trade. The agreement importantly also ensures open market access with regard to international maritime transport services.

The African economy has become one of the most promising global growth markets. Shipping is taking care of the largest part of international trade and in Africa this is even more the case due to less developed land infrastructure. European shipowners strongly believe that maritime services are enablers of trade and development, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. This is the core message European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA) sent earlier this week in a letter to EU Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmström, inviting her to include maritime transport services in the EU Africa agenda. “Efficient maritime transport is critical to the region’s trade and economic growth.

European shipowners welcome the European Parliament’s INTA Committee recommendations to the European Commission on the ongoing negotiations of the Trade in Services Agreement between some of the world’s leading economies. In it MEPs acknowledge the crucial role shipping plays as the lynchpin of global trade and call for improved access to third-countries. MEPs also ask the parties to address and remove current restrictions on maritime transport services and to strive for reciprocity. EU companies are very often hindered in accessing certain market segments abroad, which in the EU, in contrast, are open to foreign companies. "We are very pleased with the references to shipping and to the need to liberalize foreign markets…

The European Commission has sent to Greece a set of proposals to ensure that state support to the maritime sector in Greece complies with EU state aid rules. In particular, the Commission found that current provisions may breach EU state aid rules by allowing shareholders of shipping companies to benefit from favourable tax treatment that should be reserved for maritime transport providers. Similarly, the Commission is concerned that favourable tax treatment is also extended to maritime sector intermediaries and operators of ships, which do not provide maritime transport services. The Commission acknowledges the importance of maintaining a competitive maritime transport sector in the EU.

Maersk Line Jordan rolled out its new ME5 service, which directly connects Aqaba to South India and the Western Mediterranean. The ME5 service aims to improve maritime transport in the Kingdom, with direct calls to Aqaba from key global logistical hubs and faster transit times under the strictest reliability standards, says a press release from the company. This will solidify Aqaba's presence on the global logistical map by securing more reliable and efficient maritime transport services, which will have a lasting positive impact on Jordan's national supply chain and will help underscore Aqaba's position as a viable trade and investment hotspot.

SpeedCast International Limited announced that it has been awarded a multiyear contract from Arab Maritime Petroleum Transport Company (AMPTC), a provider of maritime transport services of hydrocarbon substances in the Middle East region. SpeedCast will provide satellite network connectivity for AMPTC’s entire fleet of vessels. SpeedCast will provide each AMPTC vessel with end-to-end VSAT services that enable corporate networking, Internet access, voice communications, and crew welfare services.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar TD has announced the publication of the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013. The Bill is one of the Minister’s legislative priorities and is part of an overall objective to update and enhance the national maritime legislative code, and ensure the safety of maritime transport services. The importance of ship registration is that it confers Irish nationality on ships, allowing them to fly the Irish flag and register ownership. The new Bill will provide a basis for the introduction of an updated and modernized ship registration system in Ireland. Among the new categories of vessels for which the Bill proposes registration are fishing boats less than 15 meters in length overall…

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar TD has announced the publication of the Merchant Shipping (Registration of Ships) Bill 2013. The Bill is one of the Minister’s legislative priorities and is part of an overall objective to update and enhance the national maritime legislative code, and ensure the safety of maritime transport services. The importance of ship registration is that it confers Irish nationality on ships, allowing them to fly the Irish flag and register ownership. The new Bill will provide a basis for the introduction of an updated and modernized ship registration system in Ireland. Among the new categories of vessels for which the Bill proposes registration are fishing boats less than 15 meters in length overall…

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) held its Annual General Meeting in Oslo from June 5-7 at the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association (NSA). National shipowners’ associations from Europe, Asia and the Americas, representing all sectors and trades and over 80% of the world merchant fleet, considered pressing international issues of concern to global shipowners and operators. Matters discussed included the challenges associated with the implementation of new International Maritime Organization (IMO) environmental regulations and industry preparations for the entry into force of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Maritime Labor Convention.