CK Hutchison Deal Deadline Likely to be Extended
CK Hutchison's plan to sell most of its $22.8 billion ports business is unlikely to be finalised anytime soon, with political brinkmanship set to continue, and sources saying that a Sunday deadline for exclusive talks was likely to be extended.The Hong Kong conglomerate's plan to sell the business, which would include two ports along the strategically important Panama Canal, to a consortium led by BlackRock and Italian billionaire Gianluigi Aponte's family-run shipping company MSC, has become politicised amid an escalating China-U.S.
WSC Elects New Chair
The World Shipping Council (WSC) Board of Directors has elected Soren Toft, CEO of MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, as the new Chair of the World Shipping Council Board.“It is an honor to step into the role of Chair for the World Shipping Council and to represent the global liner shipping industry alongside our members. WSC is today a respected voice of liner shipping, engaging with governments and organizations globally,” said Toft.“An ever-changing world presents both challenges and opportunities for our industry as we head into the future…
KPI OceanConnect Concludes First Simultaneous LNG Bunkering Op
Marine fuel services and solutions provider KPI OceanConnect has completed its first simultaneous operation of LNG bunkering in Singapore.KPI OceanConnect conducted the operation for MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company’s Monica Cristina vessel in Singapore, using membrane LNG bunker vessel Brassavola on charter with Pavilion Energy.The operation took place at Tuas Container Terminal, along with loading and unloading procedures, improving efficiency.“KPI OceanConnect is proud to work with industry leaders like Pavilion Energy and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company to accelerate the development o
Shipping CEOs Call for End to Fossil-Only Newbuilds
The CEOs of leading global shipping lines issued a joint declaration at COP 28 calling for an end date for fossil-only powered newbuilds and urging the IMO to create the regulatory conditions to accelerate the transition to green fuels.The only realistic way of meeting the IMO’s 2030, 2040 and net-zero 2050 goals is to transition from fossil to green fuels at scale and at pace, they say.Their joint declaration calls for:• An end date for new building of fossil fuel-only vessels and a clear GHG Intensity Standard timeline to inspire investment confidence…
Container Shipping Giants Maersk, MSC to End Alliance from 2025
Container shipping firms MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Maersk have mutually agreed to terminate, effective in January 2025, their 2M alliance.2M is a container shipping line vessel sharing agreement (VSA) introduced in 2015 " with the aim of ensuring competitive and cost-efficient operations on the Asia-Europe, Transatlantic and Transpacific trades."In a joint statement on Wednesday, CEO Vincent Clerc of A. P. Moller - Maersk, and CEO Soren Toft of MSC said:“MSC and Maersk recognize that much has changed since the two companies signed the 10-year agreement in 2015.
Fleet Cleaner Demonstrates Remote Control of Hull Cleaning Services
Thunderbird 3 named as latest vessel in growing fleet as remote operating control center in Delft begins operations.As hull biofouling and its role in invasive species transfer and carbon emissions due to increased fuel use continue to attract the attention of the IMO and national regulators, Netherlands-based Fleet Cleaner has added to its armory with the introduction of a third specialist hull cleaning vessel. In addition, the company has unveiled a new remotely controlled operation service for its growing fleet of vessels and ROV cleaning craft.Thunderbird 3…
MSC to Acquire Towage Operator Rimorchiatori Mediterranei
Swiss-headquartered shipping giant MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company SA continues to expand with an agreement to acquire towage provider Rimorchiatori Mediterranei.The company announced Sunday a deal through its wholly owned subsidiary SAS Shipping Agencies Services Sàrl to acquire 100% of the share capital of Rimorchiatori Mediterranei S.p.A. from Rimorchiatori Riuniti and a fund managed by DWS’s Infrastructure Investment business.Completion remains subject to the receipt of approvals…
Shipping Industry Working to Reduce Harm to Whales
The shipping industry has been taking steps to reduce its impact on endangered whale populations globally."This is an issue that the shipping industry takes seriously, and has resulted in the implementation of measures that aim to prevent collisions between whales and ships, from reducing vessel speed and rerouting to engaging stakeholders to raise further awareness," trade association the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) said in a statement encouraging the industry to take action.Among steps already taken…
DNV, MSC Ink 100 Vessel Deal for Anti-roll Assist and ARCS
Global container shipping line MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has signed a contract with classification society DNV that aims to address a growing problem within the maritime industry: lost containers at sea.The deal, signed Wednesday at the SMM trade fair in Hamburg, will see MSC implement DNV's new Anti-Roll Assist system and ARCS (Anti-Roll for Containerships) class notation in some 100 vessels, making it the first global liner company to install the application and…
Global Ports Terminates Sale Talks with Shipping Firm MSC
Global Ports Holding Plc said on Tuesday it had terminated talks with Swiss-based MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company which had approached the world's largest cruise port operator to acquire it, adding it was confident about its strategic direction.SAS Shipping Agencies, a unit of MSC confirmed that it does not intend to make an offer for Global Ports, which is owned by Turkish businessman Mehmet Kutman.Shares of London-listed GPH were down 16.7% at 95 pence as of 1115 GMT.(Reuters - Reporting by Shanima A; Editing by Vinay Dwivedi)
Global Ports Gets Takeover Approach from Shipping Firm MSC
Global Ports Holding PLC, the world's largest cruise port operator, said on Wednesday it had received an approach about a potential cash offer from Swiss-based MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company.Shares of the London-listed company closed up 19% at 109 pence and marked their best day in two years after Global Ports confirmed a Bloomberg report that MSC was considering taking a controlling stake in Global Ports.Global Ports, owned by Turkish businessman Mehmet Kutman, said the talks were ongoing and the deadline for the container group to make a firm offer or walk away is July 13.Global Ports, w
MSC to Roll Out Marlink’s ITLink Management Solution
Smart network company Marlink announced it is partnering with MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, the world’s largest container shipping line, to support the shipping company’s digitalization goals, using Marlink’s hybrid network solutions and IT management.Marlink deploys a fully managed hybrid network solution, bundling its VSAT connectivity with L-band backup and global 4G connectivity on 127 vessels, providing MSC with seamless, secure connectivity to run its critical business and crew applications.
U.S. Coast Guard Boards Containership in Connection to California Pipeline Oil Spill
The U.S. Coast Guard boarded a container ship on Saturday in the Port of Long Beach that dragged its anchor close to a subsea pipeline found to be the source of an oil spill off Orange County, California, it said in a press release.The spill released some 3,000 barrels (126,000 gallons) of crude oil into the Pacific Ocean, killing wildlife, blackening the coastline and forcing officials to close beaches south of Los Angeles.In its statement, the Coast Guard said an investigation had determined that the MSC DANIT was involved in the anchor-dragging incident "during a heavy weather event" that impacted Long Beach and Los Angeles ports in January.As a result…
MSC, Shell Team Up to Decarbonize Shipping
Shipping line MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and oil firm Shell have partnered up to speed up the decarbonization of the global shipping sector."The long-term memorandum of understanding will help MSC and Shell to play enhanced roles in the energy transformation of shipping, as developers and early adopters of innovative technologies and fuel solutions," the companies said in a statement.The companies plan to develop a range of safe, sustainable and competitive technologies…
MSC Rolls Out Electronic Bill of Lading Globally
MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company is introducing the electronic bill of lading (eBL) for its customers globally following a successful pilot phase of the independent blockchain platform.The eBL enables shippers and other supply chain stakeholders to receive and transmit the bill of lading document electronically, without any change or disruption to day-to-day business operations, potentially saving the industry billions of dollars, the Swiss-headquartered container shipping giant…
MSC Reaffirms Commitment to Avoid Arctic Shipping Routes
Container shipping giant MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company doubled down on its position to avoid sending its vessels through the Northern Sea Route and urged others to follow suit, citing environmental concerns.“As a responsible company, this was an obvious decision for us,” said MSC CEO, Soren Toft. “MSC will not seek to cut through the melting ice of the Arctic to find a new route for commercial shipping, and I consider this a position the whole shipping industry must adopt.”Running from Murmansk near Russia’s border with Norway to the Bering Strait near Alaska…
As the Seafarer Crisis Continues, MSC Calls for Bulk Carrier Anastasia Resolution
The bulk carrier Anastasia, stuck off the coast of China with crew change request unheeded since mid-2020, has become a rallying point for MSC in urging governments to work together to find a solution.MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company is calling for an urgent crew change solution for the bulk carrier Anastasia, which is stuck off the coast of northern China, and is among dozens of ships in a waiting line near the port of Caofeidian.According to the company, MSC has repeatedly requested that the seafarers onboard should be relieved to return home to their families.
Toft Takes the Helm at MSC
Soren Toft started his new role as CEO at MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company on December 2, 2020, reporting to Diego Aponte, MSC Group President, and Gianluigi Aponte, Founder and MSC Group Chairman.Toft will oversees MSC’s global cargo businesses including ocean liner and logistics. He will also be a member of the board of directors of Terminal Investment Ltd (TiL), the terminals business which is majority-owned by MSC.Soren Toft joins MSC from Maersk, where he served as COO since 2013 and later as a Member of the Executive Board.“With his 25 years of experience in leadership roles at Maersk…
Svitzer Europe Appoints Hellström as Chief Commercial Officer
Svitzer Europe announced that Mattias Hellström has taken up the role of Chief Commercial Officer from December 1, 2020, reporting to Svitzer Europe’s Managing Director, Lise Demant. Hellström has more than 25 years of experience in shipping and towage, and joined Svitzer Europe in 2014 as Managing Director for Scandinavia. His role expanded to cover Svitzer’s important operation in Germany in 2017.During his time as Cluster MD, Mattias managed Svitzer Europe’s acquisition of Port Towage Nordic and its recent expansion of line handling services in Bremerhaven and towage services in Emden…
Maersk to Stop Taking Solid Waste Shipments to China
Denmark's A.P. Moller-Maersk, the world's top container shipping firm, said on Wednesday it would stop accepting solid waste shipments bound for China and Hong Kong from September."We sent out a customer advisory on July 20th, telling customers that solid waste acceptance will be stopped by Maersk into the destinations of Chinese Mainland and Hong Kong, effective September 1st, 2020," the company said in a statement.China began tightening restrictions on scrap commodities as part…
Hapag-Lloyd to Halt Waste Shipments to China
German container shipping line Hapag-Lloyd said it had notified customers it will stop accepting cargoes of solid waste, including scrap metal, bound for China that arrive from September 1 onward to comply with new legislation.China in April passed a law, taking effect in September, that holds carriers and importers responsible for the return and disposal of solid waste that fails to meet import requirements.It plans a blanket ban on solid waste imports by end-2020 for environmental reasons."This legislation is applicable to all solid waste cargo such as waste paper, waste plastics, waste meta
Video: New Container Moves World Record Set in Port of LA
The 18,465 containers moved from the ultra-large container vessel (ULVC) MSC Isabella at APM Terminals’ Pier 400 in the Port of Los Angeles last week set a new world record for most boxes moved during a single port call.The Port of Los Angeles, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, APM Terminals Los Angeles and International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Locals 13, 63 and 94 set the new record total — equal to 34,263 20-foot equivalent units (TEU) — topping the previous world best by 1…
MSC Awarded DNV GL Containership Fire Safety Notation
Classification society DNV GL had awarded a new class notation to mitigate fire risks on containerships to MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company. The notation, announced by DNV GL – Maritime CEO Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen in London, has been implemented on the largest containerships in the world, the 23,000+ TEU MSC Gülsün class.The new FCS notation is targeted exclusively towards containerships. It is designed around a function-based approach, for an enhanced safety level beyond present SOLAS requirements, an increased hazard awareness, and an enhanced ability to detect and fight container fires.