Container Shipping News

U.S. steel imports in June totaled 2.441 million tons, falling 11 percent from 2.838 million tons (revised) in May 2013 and 13 percent from June 2012, according to government reporting.

The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) has received a new general cargo vessel of 26,000 deadweight tons in South Korea.

Diana Containerships reported a net loss of $5.0 million in the second quarter of 2013, compared with a net income of $2.2 million in the respective period in 2012.

Mediterranean Shipping Co. has placed so many orders for new container ships recently that its orderbook is the largest among all carriers, according to Alphaliner.

Ocean carriers are likely to retain more of their Aug. 1 general rate increases in the Asia-Europe trade than earlier this year as a result of tightening capacity on that route.

Seaspan reported its net profit in the second quarter of 2013 was $127.2 million, compared with a net loss of $6.7 million in the second quarter of 2012.

Hapag-Lloyd is recommending that shippers to reroute cargo from the Port of New York and New Jersey to avoid delays that the carrier said it expects will continue until mid-September.

A federal court again rejected challenges to the U.S. cross-border trucking program with Mexico, which has seen traffic increase this year but remains small.

The Canadian government needs to devote greater policy attention and resources to Arctic maritime areas, such as Nunavut, the northernmost territory in Canada...

Major container lines have announced rate increases for a variety of trades, as detailed below, slated to take effect in August and September.

TAL International Group reported a profit of $37.9 million for the second quarter of 2013, a jump of 29.4 percent from $29.3 million in the second quarter of 2012.

Costamare reported its profit in the second quarter of 2013 jumped 44.5 percent year-over-year to $30.6 million.

Zim Integrated Shipping Services has enhanced the port coverage of its Asia-Europe service, AEX1.

Yantian International Container Terminals in China has welcomed the inaugural call of the 18,000 20-foot-equivalent-unit Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller, a Triple E vessel.

Effective Aug. 1, Maersk Line will boost rates on its trade from South Africa to the Middle East and Indian subcontinent by $100 per 20-foot container.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Federal Maritime Commission allowing CBP to share its Automated Commercial Environment data with the ocean transportation agency.

Japan’s exports to the United States rose for the sixth straight month in June on a year-on-year basis, surging 14.6 percent to 1.134 trillion yen ($11.34 billion), according to preliminary figures released by the Finance Ministry.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration has awarded $9.46 million in grant funding to 12 shipyards in 10 U.S. states via the Small Shipyard Grant Program.

China’s disputes with the EU and U.S. over solar panel exports are now having a tangible impact on trade volumes.

OOCL reported its total revenue in the second quarter of 2013 was $1.4 billion, dropping 9.8 percent from $1.6 billion in the same period last year.

New container ship deliveries hit 1.275 million 20-foot-equivalent units in the 12 months through June 2013, adding to pressure on freight rates across all trade lanes, industry analyst Alphaliner reported.

Mediterranean Shipping Co. plans to expand its intra-India feeder service by adding a call at the Port of Hazira, a privately operated cargo hub on the west coast.

OOCL has christened its new 13,208 20-foot-equivalent unit vessel, which is the sixth of 10 new mega vessels ordered by the container line from Samsung Heavy Industries.

A U.S. seafood company is using new container technology to open a new market niche: live fish imported from South Korea.

Getting people to try new things, especially expensive new things, isn’t easy. For executive chef Nora Ramos, getting Americans of all ethnic backgrounds to try dishes made from live fish is both an art and a science.

The volume of Hong Kong’s total exports of goods in May dropped 1.2 percent year-over-year, while the volume of imports of goods rose 2.6 percent...

Container shipping lines are expected to post weak second quarter results during the next month, as carriers remain burdened by soft volume and excess capacity, shipping analysts warn.

After more than 30 years as the leader of the Wine and Spirits Shippers Association, Geoffrey Giovanetti will retire on Sept. 1, 2013.

Major container lines have announced rate increases for several trade lanes, as detailed below, slated to take effect in August...

2013 has been a roller-coaster ride for U.S. poultry producers. Exports have increased, but haven’t lived up to early growth prospects as avian flu outbreaks on two continents have wreaked havoc with demand.

Mediterranean Shipping Co. has announced plans to expand its services to and from India.

The U.S. Coast Guard has presented a public service award to the crew of the Panama-flag container ship Hyundai Unity at the Port of Singapore...

Maersk Line has become the latest carrier to unveil freight rate hikes on the westbound Far East-Europe trades in August.

Rising political instability in Somalia and increasing global demands on national navies will continue to be major factors contributing to ongoing piracy activity in the Gulf of Aden in the medium-to-longer term...

The breaking apart and subsequent sinking of the bow and stern sections of the MOL Comfort in the Indian Ocean this month may have been caused by the same structural flaws that caused the 2007 wreck of the MSC Napoli.