Maritime

Blockchain to be deployed by VAKT to smooth the post-trade process

Through the continued development of automated processes, U.S. Customs and Border Protection foresees the day when paper export manifests will no longer be necessary.

In a wide-ranging speech, the deputy director-general of the WTO, Alan Wolff, sets out the challenges and issues for the body. But he’s generally optimistic on the future of world trade.

After several days of dithering in the Philippine Sea, tropical storm Tapah (also called Nimfa) has transformed into a typhoon. It has also started accelerating towards southern Japan and Korea.

Ports, terminal operators and shipping lines are striving to improve the flow of information.

If not enough 0.5% low sulfur fuel is available after Jan. 1. 2020 ships may resort to using more expensive 0.1% sulfur fuel used today in emission control areas.

According to an MSI analyst, a key mainline container trade hardly bumped this summer – and the forward outlook for carriers is less than upbeat.

This week, VLCC tanker rates are rising, whereas both trans-Pacific box rates and Capesize bulker rates are slipping.

Dip Shipping will pay a criminal fine to settle an antitrust violation charge as part of an ongoing U.S. Justice Department forwarder price-fixing investigation.

The Port of Savannah’s expansion plans will benefit shippers — so long as infrastructure needs outside the port are met.

MOL continues its foray into experimenting with LNG with an innovative LNG-powered tugboat; meanwhile, MOL’s LNG-bunkering business signs deals around the world.

Three marine terminal operators had approached the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission about forming a joint terminal services and stevedoring operation in the ports of Savannah and Charleston.

Customs and trade facilitation chapter supported at CSCMP Edge 2019.

Chao’s influence over budget cuts could also affect national security, lawmakers allege.

Danish logistics conglomerate DSV is now one of the world’s leading forwarders after completing the acquisition of Panalpina in August.

Australia is linking its interior to its coasts and its export markets by building a giant railway to the main seaports. But someone forgot to link the railway to the northern port.

Ship operators who engaged in “reprehensible,” “dishonest and predatory” behavior by forcing crew to work without pay get their ships banned from Australia.

The drone attacks in Saudi Arabia are reverberating across the ocean shipping business. Part II: the impacts on the crude tanker segment.

The drone attacks in Saudi Arabia are reverberating across the ocean shipping business. Part I: the impacts on non-tanker shipping segments.

Executive director and governor report volume records and expansion opportunities.

The AgTC asked the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission to extend the comment deadline to Oct. 31, calling the rule “the most relevant and far-reaching initiative taken by the FMC in many years.”

The Express Association of America said additional industry participants in Customs and Border Protection’s Section 321 pilot will “enhance” the agency’s capability to target illicit products.

With oil prices climbing 20%, bunker and BAF costs are expected to follow suit after Saudi drone attacks

IMC Companies added its eighth regional trucking branch with the addition of a new drayage and intermodal provider in the Pacific Northwest, The third-party logistics and intermodal trucking provider said […]

Japanese ship owners have called — very, very politely — upon the Panama Canal Authority to give greater consideration to the shipping industry when hiking canal tolls.

Carriers are set to withdraw more Asia-Europe sailings in Q4 as excess capacity drags on freight rates.

Founder and CEO of Farmbox Direct works to eradicate food deserts by shipping fresh fruits and vegetables to consumers.

DB Schenker’s head of Americas says uncertainty arising from events such as the U.S.-China tariff war means shippers will increasingly need to source from multiple countries and adjust inventory.

Data confirms that U.S. importers are increasingly opting to bring Asian cargoes into East Coast ports.

The Port of Brunswick reopens to restricted traffic as the investigation into the capsizing of the car carrier continues.

The Federal Maritime Commission welcomes container shipping industry’s comments on recommendations to bring clarity and fairness to the assessment of demurrage and detention fees.

Tokyo-based ocean ship classification society ClassNK is boosting its cybersecurity capabilities by setting up a cross-sectional team of marine and security experts.

Higher transport costs are a price worth paying to cut carbon emissions, says a U.K. government energy czar. Ship owners beg to differ.

Port of Los Angeles says it would take seven Vietnams to make up for the loss of business from China trade war.

The International Energy Agency now believes implementation of the new fuel rule could be “much smoother than expected.”

Georgia Ports Authority touts record volumes and expansion projects during State of the Port event.

CSX needs to be more proactive if wants to compete with trucks, CSX’s chief said.

Digitalization and automation are increasing the risk of cyberattacks, say intelligence agencies, but many shipping companies are refusing to act.

Yantai Port in northern China and the Brazilian miner Vale have signed a so-called strategic cooperation framework to promote the sale of Vale’s iron ore. It is the second such deal for Vale in recent months.

Larger ships now calling as liner services have to reach Southeast Asia ports for East Coast discharge.

Truck capacity across the English Channel could be cut to 50% for up to three months, resulting in two day queues for drivers.

U.K.-based technology firm sees 2019 as pivotal year for logistics-focused technology.

Two ships trapped in the Port of Brunswick since September 8 when the vehicle carrier Golden Ray capsized, have been allowed to leave, a prelude to a possible reopening of the port.

U.S. rail volumes are down nearly 4% year-to-date amid a 6.6% decline for coal and a 4% drop for intermodal.

BIMCO, ICS, INTERCARGO and INTERTANKO call on charterers, bunker suppliers and nation states to “double their efforts” to ensure a smooth transition to low-sulfur fuel.

The National Association of Manufacturers wants Capitol Hill lawmakers to pass another long-term extension of the bank’s charter before its Sept. 30 expiration.

China’s Finance Ministry on Sept. 11 announced the first round of exemptions of U.S. goods from Chinese retaliatory tariffs. The exemptions will be effective from Sept. 17 to Sept. 16, […]

Dry bulk spot rates have pulled back from recent highs, while trans-Pacific container rates have held their gains.

Future attacks could be far worse than the $10 billion ‘NotPetya’ attack in 2017 that hobbled Maersk and cost FedEx $300 million.

Shippers responded to the last round of tariff increases on imports from China by front loading containers into U.S. ports in July, the National Retail Federation said. After bottoming out […]

Attorney Richard Luthmann received a four-year prison term and was ordered to pay $500,000 in restitution for defrauding businesses in the U.S. and overseas.

Almost all companies required to conduct due diligence to determine the countries of origin for conflict minerals used in their products did so last year, according to a Government Accountability […]

Final investment decisions for new global LNG export plants are surging, a negative for future thermal coal demand.

But a failure to secure a no-deal Brexit could scupper their plans to reshore manufacturing.

The Coast Guard said four men trapped inside the hull of the car carrier Golden Ray have been rescued through a hole cut in the bottom of the ship.

More than 24 hours after the car carrier Golden Ray capsized, Coast Guard rescuers have made contact with 4 trapped crewmembers.

A Treasury Department official reaffirmed on Sept. 8 the Trump administration’s denial of temporary waivers that previously allowed countries to import Iranian crude oil under U.N. and U.S. sanctions.

A NAFTA binational antidumping and countervailing duty dispute panel on Sept. 4 issued a decision upholding the U.S. International Trade Commission’s (ITC’s) finding that imports of softwood lumber from Canada […]

Digitalization comes with its share of problems and it is vital for businesses to understand what the technology means before they go ahead and adopt it within their operations.

Healthy container throughput growth suggests they might be.

Roll-on, roll-off cargo vessel Golden Ray capsized early Sunday morning, Sept. 8, leaving the Port of Brunswick with 24 crewmembers aboard. Search continues for four missing members.

Halifax and the region hit with heavy winds as potent post-hurricane system leaves 300,000 without power and knocks down a construction crane.

U.S. ports will see a rush of ships as they reopen, but Bahamas port sees severe damage.

The U.S. container shipping industry is eager to weigh in on recommendations produced and approved by the Federal Maritime Commission that promise to bring clarity and fairness to the assessment of demurrage and detention fees.

CMA CGM expects an even better second half to the year following its acquisition of CEVA Logistics.

According to Euronav, the derivatives market in low sulfur fuel oil is not deep enough to provide a viable IMO 2020 hedge – but it will be soon.

Inspections of a sample of 500 ocean containers found large numbers with misdeclared cargo, improper stowage or placarding.

Freeport Harbor in the Bahamas is open following Hurricane Dorian, but initially is expected to handle self-geared ships.

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission on Sept. 6 unanimously approved a set of recommendations to bring about fairness in the way demurrage and detention fees are administered by ocean carriers […]

Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control warns that companies providing bunker services must be careful not to violate the Iran sanctions, but there are exceptions.

Vice President Mike Pence on Sept. 5 in London made the case for a post-Brexit U.S.-United Kingdom trade agreement, asserting that such a deal could triple or quadruple bilateral trade. […]

But trade associations call for more certainty as political impasse continues.

Tanker major Euronav has revealed new details on its strategy to counter IMO 2020 risks.

Maersk and Ports America onboard with app designed to optimize fraught process of picking up boxes.

Port reports early arrivals and diversions ahead of hurricane’s arrival in Atlantic Canada as forecasters warn of “severe impact.”

Delays, diversions and weekend gates as ports get back to normal schedules.

SONAR provides real-time data on Dorian’s progress and forecast, along with likely and actual impacts to transportation and energy infrastructure.

Tech firm will team up with provider of pricing data to container industry to get carriers on time.

A white paper released Sept. 4 by Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., raises concern with the ability of the federal government to combat trade-based money laundering (TBML) and suggests that a […]

Does container shipping have a drug problem? After a string of busts in the U.S. in recent months, attention has now switched to the U.K., where authorities have seized 1,279 […]

Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned 16 entities and 10 individuals, as well as 11 ships, which it identified as participants in an Iran-controlled “oil-for-terror” shipping scheme.

Using “crowd-solving” and prizes, Sea Freight Labs hopes to help shipping companies find better and faster solutions to challenges.

The beleaguered dry bulk shipping sector is nearing its post-financial-crisis peak. Is it sustainable?

At least 15 scheduled sailings from Asia are being temporarily culled due to the Chinese national holiday.

Labor unions claim the effect on jobs is not being properly considered.

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire on Sept. 3 stated a shared commitment for their countries to work constructively on a solution to international taxation […]

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers arrested a 24-year-old woman on Sept. 2 at the Port of Lukeville, AZ, for attempting to smuggle 53 pounds of methamphetamine from Mexico to […]

Companies like Safe Bulkers are booking their ships at considerably higher rates, yet investor interest remains muted.

Resit Tavan, owner of Istanbul-based Ramor Dis Ticaret Ltd., will spend 27 months in jail for conspiring to export U.S. marine equipment to Iran.

Although consumption rates in Europe have remained durable and kept cargo demand reasonably buoyant this year, the U.S.-China trade war and ‘Brexit’ are casting dark clouds over the European economy […]

Forwarders and ocean carriers are betting a major holiday in Asia and seasonal inventory building at U.S. retailers will provide a boost to container shipping rates. Despite the short-term bump, […]

USPS’ impending exit from Universal Postal Union could send international air parcel rates soaring

Sixth largest container shipping firm cites Asian demand for fresh food as prompting the move.

South Florida’s customs brokers and forwarder employees begin returning to their offices, with the region mostly avoiding the damaging effects of the hurricane.

Northeast Florida readies for Hurricane Dorian, Uber and Lyft offer free rides, Georgia ports remain closed and UPS issues pickup and delivery advisory.

The price of new IMO 2020-compliant low-sulfur fuels is already 30% higher than fuels currently in use, but costs will rise further as the Jan. 1 deadline approaches, says consultant

The BIS Office of Export Enforcement has “revealed schemes” by Pakistani entities attempting to acquire U.S. technologies to support the country’s nuclear program.

OFAC has added two Taiwan entities and another in Hong Kong, as well as their managers, to its list of sanctions for illicit ship-to-ship transfers of fuel to North Korea.

The London-based startup is helping ships to optimize their port docking time, allowing them to sail early and save on fuel by sailing slower.

Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, HMM and OOCL have announced plans to impose penalties on shippers.