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Stuart Chirls

Stuart Chirls is a journalist who has covered the full breadth of railroads, intermodal, container shipping, ports, supply chain and logistics for Railway Age, the Journal of Commerce and IANA. He has also staffed at S&P, McGraw-Hill, United Business Media, Advance Media, Tribune Co., The New York Times Co., and worked in supply chain with BASF, the world's largest chemical producer. Reach him at stuartchirls@firecrown.com.
Dec - 2024 -
20 December
Stuart Chirls

Barr to VP investor relations for Norfolk Southern

Norfolk Southern has tabbed investment banker Michael Barr as vice president of investor relations and treasurer.

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Stuart Chirls

Asia-US container rates climb in latest Freightos index

Fears of new tariffs and a strike at East Coast ports combined to push up ocean container rates on Asia-U.S. routes in December.

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19 December
Stuart Chirls

New legislation would require 10% of China imports to move on US ships

Shippers would have to move 10% of all seagoing Chinese imports on U.S.-flagged and -crewed vessels under the terms of proposed bipartisan legislation.

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18 December
Stuart Chirls

Waiting game: Port strike or no port strike?

The International Longshoremen’s Association has the backing of President-elect Trump in its contract fight with East and Gulf Coast port employers, who may yet have the final say.

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Stuart Chirls

Reserve before it’s too late! Houthis mull Red Sea security webinar

The rebel militia that has spent the past year terrorizing Red Sea shipping may be taking a new tack as events unfold in the Mideast.

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17 December
Stuart Chirls

November container flows a torrent at Port of LA

Continuing consumer demand and frontloading by importers in November helped the Port of Los Angeles to double-digit gains in container volumes.

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Stuart Chirls

Near Red Sea, US forces strike Houthi base in Yemen

American military forces protecting Red Sea shipping launched an airstrike against Houthi rebel bases inside Yemen.

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16 December
Stuart Chirls

Fitch upgrades container shipping outlook – but not because of containers

Credit evaluator Fitch Ratings is changing its outlook for global container shipping in a move that could make it easier for vessel operators to issue debt or borrow money.

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Stuart Chirls

Trump again backs longshore union as possible port strike nears

President-elect Donald Trump over the weekend again backed union dockworkers in their fight to block automation technology at East and Gulf Coast container ports.

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13 December
Stuart Chirls

Apparel importers call for labor talks to resume, say port automation ‘vital’ 

The American Apparel & Footwear Association called on port employers and the International Longshoremen’s Association to work out their differences over automation and avoid another strike in January.

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12 December
Stuart Chirls

Trump backs ILA in port labor standoff

President-elect Donald Trump weighed in on the East Coast longshore labor standoff Thursday, urging foreign-based ocean carriers to forgo automation technology in favor of hiring more union dockworkers.

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Stuart Chirls

CPKC, Americold plan to expand Mexico cold logistics

CPKC and cold chain logistics specialist Americold will expand their strategic collaboration to co-development projects in Mexico.

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11 December
Stuart Chirls

Freightos sees trans-Pacific container rates ease

Rates on Asia-U.S. West Coast and Asia-U.S. East Coast container transport fell for the latest week tracked by Freightos but rose by double digits for Asia-Europe/Mediterranean traffic.

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Stuart Chirls

Jaxport adding more global container services in 2025

The Port of Jacksonville is taking on a larger role in 2025 as ocean container lines add the north Florida hub to their global services.

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10 December
Stuart Chirls

US again defeats Houthi attacks on American cargo, military ships

US forces defeated an attack by Yemen-based Houthi rebels on a trio of merchant ships and two destroyers in the Gulf of Aden.

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Stuart Chirls

Container imports to surge ahead of strike, tariffs, NRF predicts

The National Retail Federation forecasts containerized imports to continue to surge through U.S. ports ahead of a possible longshore strike and tariffs planned by the Trump administration.

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09 December
Stuart Chirls

Record rail intermodal, consumer spending signal positive outlook, says AAR

Resilient consumer spending and a healthy jobs market underpinned record intermodal volumes through November, a new report finds, as the U.S. economy enjoys stable footing approaching 2025.

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Stuart Chirls

Tariff threats roil North American container marketplace

A plethora of factors will weigh on container prices in 2025 as shippers manage their businesses in a changing supply chain.

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06 December
Stuart Chirls

Shippers urge longshore union, employers to resume contract talks

As a January deadline nears, a coalition of exporters and importers calls on East Coast port employers and their longshore union to resume bargaining on a new contract.

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Stuart Chirls

Slaying of UnitedHealthcare CEO puts focus on executive protection

After the shooting of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, corporations are being urged to assess safety programs for corporate leaders.

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05 December
Stuart Chirls

Predictions platform says longshore strike not a sure bet

The International Longshoremen’s Association and United States Maritime Alliance aren’t bargaining, but that hasn’t swayed Polymarket bettors wagering against another dock strike.

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04 December
Stuart Chirls

Chicago intermodal no longer a bridge too far for Indiana port

A new four-lane bridge is a key piece of a logistics project aimed at making Burns Harbor a destination for international cargo.

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03 December
Stuart Chirls

Union, employers resume war of words in East Coast port contract dispute

The International Longshoremen’s Association and United States Maritime Alliance make claims and counterclaims amid stalled contract negotiations.

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Stuart Chirls

Container rates buoyed by tariff, strike threats 

Ocean container rates to the U.S. remained steady as shippers maneuver to minimize the effects of higher tariffs and a potential port strike in 2025.

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Stuart Chirls

Maersk seeks ‘flexibility’ with orders for 20 ships

A.P. Moller-Maersk has signed contracts for 20 new dual-fuel container ships set for delivery in 2028-2030.

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02 December
Stuart Chirls

Houthis attack US cargo ships

U.S. Navy warships fought off airborne attacks on a trio of American merchant vessels by Yemen-based Houthi militia.

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Stuart Chirls

Trans-Pacific, East Coast ocean rates strong in late November

Container rates to the U.S. West and East coasts stayed above $5,000 per FEU as tariff talk and labor issues shadowed shippers’ plans.

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Nov - 2024 -
27 November
Stuart Chirls

Criminal probes into suspected subsea cable damage by China cargo vessel

The Chinese bulk carrier Yi Peng is suspected in damage to undersea communications cables in the Baltic Sea.

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Stuart Chirls

US warns of cyberthreat from China container cranes

Maritime transportation could be vulnerable to remote attacks, the U.S. Coast Guard states in a new security directive.

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26 November
Stuart Chirls

Port of LA-Long Beach railroad wins grant for electric locomotives

Port of LA-Long Beach short line Pacific Harbor Line has won partial federal funding toward the purchase of zero-emission locomotives.

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25 November
Stuart Chirls

Mediation for Montreal port labor talks

Terminal operators and ocean carriers at the Port of Montreal have agreed to mediation in bargaining on a new longshore contract.

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Stuart Chirls

Red Sea attacks turn green for Zim investor

Israel’s richest man exits Zim shipping as Red Sea attacks send ocean lines’ profits soaring.

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Stuart Chirls

At RailTrends: Grants, real estate key to short-line rail growth

Short line and regional railroads are polishing their entrepreneurial skills as they prospect for new customers and solidify links to Class 1s.

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21 November
Stuart Chirls

Canada container ports face backlogs, delays

There are some delays as Canada’s top import gateways work off backlogs of containers from labor-related shutdowns.

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Stuart Chirls

Trump tariffs to slow US trade, says analyst 

High tariffs on Chinese imports, promised by President-elect Trump, will likely slow U.S. trade in 2025 as uncertainty hinders investment in reshoring of manufacturing, a trade analyst predicts.

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20 November
Stuart Chirls

Port of LA whittles dwell time despite record container volumes

The Port of Los Angeles posted record container volume in October on resilient consumer spending and a strong economy.

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Stuart Chirls

Zim Q3 powered by spot market, new ships 

Zim saw a decision to leverage its business against spot rates pay off on surging demand in the trans-Pacific trade.

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19 November
Stuart Chirls

US importers urge Biden to step up Red Sea protections

The American Apparel & Footwear Association said the U.S. should do more to protect Mideast shipping as attacks on vessels spur “unsustainable” higher costs and delays.

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Stuart Chirls

Short line CEO says railroads must embrace Uber-like technology to secure future

While railroads for years have talked about growth, the head of a major short line says it’s high time they embraced enterprisewide technology that’s reshaping the transportation industry.

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18 November
Stuart Chirls

Port of Virginia gets new cranes, chassis pool upgrade

Four new container cranes will help the Port of Virginia handle ultra large container vessels at Virginia International Gateway.

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15 November
Stuart Chirls

Unions returning to work at Canada ports 

The Canada Industrial Relations Board ordered port operations to resume in British Columbia and Montreal after lockouts of union dockworkers halted container traffic.

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14 November
Stuart Chirls

Kuehne+Nagel acquires majority share of US-based IMC Logistics

Supply chain services giant Kuehne+Nagel said it has acquired a majority share of IMC Logistics, a marine drayage provider handling 2 million TEUs per year.

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13 November
Stuart Chirls

ILA breaks off East Coast port contract talks

The International Longshoremen’s Association broke off negotiations on a new contract with the United States Maritime Alliance, charging employers want to eliminate union jobs.

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12 November
Stuart Chirls

Ottawa orders end to port work stoppages

Canada Labor Secretary Steven MacKinnon asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order operations to resume at the ports of Montreal, Vancouver and Prince Rupert and send employers and longshore unions back to the bargaining table.

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Stuart Chirls

FreightCar America revenue, deliveries higher in Q3

Market demand for a range of railcar types boosted revenue and deliveries for FreightCar America in the third quarter, and the builder revised its guidance upward for fiscal 2024.

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11 November
Stuart Chirls

Containers halted as Montreal dockworkers locked out

Terminal operators and ocean carriers on Sunday locked out striking dockworkers at the Port of Montreal after the union said the contract proposal doesn’t address scheduling or automation concerns.

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Stuart Chirls

Demand and disruptions fuel CMA CGM Q3 gains

he third-largest ocean container carrier, CMA CGM, saw bottom-line improvement as higher rates on vessel diversions amplified a single-digit volume increase.

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Stuart Chirls

Lockout continues as British Columbia port labor talks break up

Western Canada port employers and their longshore union met separately with a federal mediator Saturday, but the talks ended quickly with no new bargaining scheduled.

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08 November
Stuart Chirls

Lockout looms in Montreal port labor dispute

As a strike by longshore workers cripples container handling, Port of Montreal employers plan to lock out union employees.

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Stuart Chirls

East Coast port contract talks to resume

The United States Maritime Alliance and the International Longshoremen’s Association are scheduled to resume bargaining next week on a new master contract covering 45,000 workers at 36 East and Gulf Coast ports.

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07 November
Stuart Chirls

Montreal port calls on Trudeau to end strike

As a strike by dockside workers disrupts container handling, Montreal’s port chief executive calls on Ottawa to force union employees back to work.

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Stuart Chirls

Lockout stalls more container ships outside western Canada ports

Ships are waiting at anchor after port employers at Vancouver and Prince Rupert on Monday locked out union forepersons after contract talks broke down.

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06 November
Stuart Chirls

Hapag-Lloyd bets big on green newbuilds

Hapag-Lloyd’s dual-fuel-powered container ships will replace older vessels and reduce emissions.

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Stuart Chirls

Reports claim Houthis make Red Sea vessel attacks a $2B business

An extensive study by a U.N. panel found that Yemen’s Houthi rebels are taking in as much as $180 million a month in protection money from shipowners.

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05 November
Stuart Chirls

MSC adds Florida port call

The Swiss container carrier MSC said it is adjusting the port rotation on its United States to South America east coast service.

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Stuart Chirls

Lone container line undeterred by Red Sea attacks

Alone among major liner operators, CMA CGM of France has maintained scheduled voyages between Asia, the Mediterranean and North America ports via the turbulent Red Sea.

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04 November
Stuart Chirls

Montreal port employers pressure striking union

Employers at the Port of Montreal say they will suspend salary guarantees for striking longshore workers who have shut down two container terminals.

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Stuart Chirls

British Columbia ports face shutdown in labor contract dispute

The British Columbia Maritime Employers Association representing ocean carriers and terminal operators plan to lock out union forepersons after the International
Longshore and Warehouse Union rejected a final contract offer.

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01 November
Stuart Chirls

China boosts Matson net in Q4

Ocean shipping and logistics services provider Matson saw improved third quarter profits as higher China and domestic freight rates offset mixed container volumes. Operating income was $227 million for the […]

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Stuart Chirls

Demand, disruptions supercharge ONE results in Q2

Ocean Network Express posted soaring results in the second quarter on strong demand in the major trades, an early peak season in the U.S. and attacks on the Red Sea trade route.

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Stuart Chirls

Maersk Q3 profits rise despite modest container volume gains

The parent of container liner operator Maersk turned in quarterly revenue and profits higher than a year ago as attacks on Mideast shipping led to higher operating costs – and higher rates for shippers.

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Oct - 2024 -
31 October
Stuart Chirls

ONE Q2 earnings: First look

The ONE alliance of container vessel lines posted second-quarter revenue on an early peak shipping season thanks to attacks on a key Mideast route and looming East Coast longshore strike.

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Stuart Chirls

Maersk Q3 earnings: First look

The parent of Maersk container line said strong demand for shipping services and higher ocean freight rates fueled growth across all businesses as it raised estimates for full-year results.

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Stuart Chirls

Trinity Industries Q3 earnings: First Look

Trinity Industries, which builds tank cars, covered hoppers and other freight cars saw lower revenue but higher profits on better railcar lease rates and improved efficiencies.

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Stuart Chirls

ILA says Clean Port grants a ‘big win’ for union jobs

Newly announced federal spending on zero-emission equipment and infrastructure at container ports won the approval of the International Longshoremen’s Association.

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30 October
Stuart Chirls

Millions in funding for key Montreal port commodity

Transport Canada is funneling millions of dollars to expand grain-handling facilities at the Port of Montreal.

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Stuart Chirls

Greenbrier Q4 rolls on higher railcar deliveries

The builder of autoracks, intermodal stack cars and other railcars turned in a strong finish to fiscal 2024 despite challenges in the North American market.

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29 October
Stuart Chirls

International freight drives Q3 intermodal gains

International container volume gains more than doubled domestic traffic in the third quarter, according to the Intermodal Association of North America.

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Stuart Chirls

ONE adds Jaxport-East Asia services

The ONE vessel alliance plans to add a new East Asia string to the Port of Jacksonville’s modernized SSA Jacksonville Container Terminal.

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Stuart Chirls

Savannah container imports up 17%

Overall volume helped maritime terminals of the Georgia Ports Authority to their second-busiest September on record.

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28 October
Stuart Chirls

Dockworkers expand strike at Montreal port

Canada’s second-busiest port is bracing for another protest by 1,200 longshore employees who have been refusing overtime work since Oct. 10.

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Stuart Chirls

DSV posts first pretax profit since 2022

Despite a first-half lull in domestic network demand for logistics services, the world’s largest forwarder saw overall volume growth in the third quarter.

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Stuart Chirls

Zim adds new Mediterranean-US East Coast direct services

Zim Integrated Shipping Services is restructuring its Cross-Atlantic services connecting Mediterranean ports with North and South America.

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25 October
Stuart Chirls

Report says Russia aided Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping

Russia conveyed Iranian data to help Houthi rebels in Yemen attack commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

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Stuart Chirls

East Coast port employers, longshore union to resume contract negotiations

East Coast ocean carriers and terminal operators will resume bargaining with the International Longshoremen’s Association on a new contract in November.

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Stuart Chirls

Hapag-Lloyd revises earnings forecast on Red Sea disruptions 

German transportation provider Hapag-Lloyd reported preliminary nine-month profits and raised its full-year forecast as vessel diversions pushed up shipping rates.

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Stuart Chirls

FEMA awards $2.6M security grant to Port of Long Beach

Funding from FEMA will help protect operations and infrastructure at the second-busiest U.S. container hub.

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24 October
Stuart Chirls

Arbitrator tabbed for CPKC-TCRC rail contract talks

An arbitrator has been appointed to oversee contract negotiations between Canadian Pacific Kansas City and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference.

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Stuart Chirls

New contract in sight for CN, Teamsters

CN and the Teamsters Canada Rail Conference have scheduled mediation for early 2025 as the sides move closer to a new collective bargaining agreement.

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Stuart Chirls

Union Pacific Q3 earnings: First look

Union Pacific Corp. in the third quarter saw double-digit gains for income and earnings on modest carload volume improvement and lower fuel prices.

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23 October
Stuart Chirls

CPKC Q3 earnings: First look

CPKC saw single-digit gains in freight volumes in the third quarter, but the operating ratio climbed as a brief lockout of union employees hit network operations.

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Stuart Chirls

Video: Freighter capsizes and sinks in Dakar after being hit by bulk carrier

A Greek-owned freighter capsized and sank after being hit by a bulk carrier in Senegal’s port of Dakar.

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Stuart Chirls

Port of Long Beach hits record container volumes

The second-busiest U.S. container gateway moved record levels of cargo in September and in the third quarter on diversions ahead of an East Coast work stoppage and continued demand for holiday merchandise.

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Stuart Chirls

Strong ocean container market boosts Maersk guidance

Strong third-quarter volumes have the world’s second-largest ocean container line upgrading its forecast for higher full-year returns.

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22 October
Stuart Chirls

Roaring volume drives record for Port of Los Angeles

An early peak shipping season, strong economy and resilient consumer spending boosted container volume to a record quarter at the Port of Los Angeles.

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Stuart Chirls

CN revenue up 3% on rebound from wildfires, work stoppage 

Canadian National Railway posted third-quarter revenue slightly better than a year ago as operations appeared fully recovered from destructive wildfires and a labor dispute that briefly shut down the railroad.

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Stuart Chirls

Containers lagged ocean shipping gains in 2023, UN report finds

A record number of port calls by container ships presages higher forecast growth for the sector, according to a U.N. report.

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21 October
Stuart Chirls

ONE, DP World box up hope for breast cancer awareness

Ocean Network Express and terminal operator DP World created a message on a dockside canvas during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

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Stuart Chirls

Tariffs ‘a tax on consumers,’ says NRF chief

Importers with the National Retail Federation fear a second Trump administration could hurt business with higher tariffs on consumer goods.

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18 October
Stuart Chirls

Roaring volume drives record for Port of Los Angeles

An early peak shipping season, strong economy and resilient consumer spending boosted container volume to a record quarter at the Port of Los Angeles.

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Stuart Chirls

New Orleans port railroad opens bulk transloading park

Port-owned New Orleans Public Belt Railroad and logistics specialist Heniff Transportation Systems have opened a new state-backed transload facility aimed at dry and liquid bulk customers.

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17 October
Stuart Chirls

Rail a key to 10 million-TEU Charleston forecast

Portwide expansion and upgrades for ship, rail and truck have Charleston, South Carolina, officials eyeing annual capacity of 10 million TEUs for the fast-growing Southeastern maritime hub.

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Stuart Chirls

Union Pacific, Vena powering up railroad’s business

While hedge funds wring savings from other Class 1 railroads, Union Pacific CEO Jim Vena says his line can win new business with service and “operational excellence.”

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15 October
Stuart Chirls

Florida port gets $9.5M in Milton storm funding

SeaPort Manatee near Tampa, Florida, is slated to get millions of dollars in emergency state funding to help recover from the effects of Hurricane Milton.

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14 October
Stuart Chirls

Longshore union halts overtime at Port of Montreal

A partial work stoppage at the Port of Montreal follows a three-day strike earlier this month by union dockworkers at Canada’s second-busiest port.

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10 October
Stuart Chirls

Georgia’s Brunswick port expands ro/ro capacity

The Georgia Ports Authority is positioning the Port of Brunswick to be the leading ro/ro gateway on the U.S. East Coast, investing millions in expansion and harbor upgrades.

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07 October
Stuart Chirls

Ports reopen as union warns on contract talks

Container handling resumed this weekend at dozens of ports on the East and Gulf coasts following a brief strike by dockworkers as the International Longshoremen’s Association and shipping lines prepare to resume bargaining.

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04 October
Stuart Chirls

Analysis: Biden, ILA score wins in port strike, but larger issues remain

President Biden claims a major victory late in his term while the International Longshoremen’s Association negotiates a curious compromise after months of talking tough on the docks.

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03 October
Stuart Chirls

Port strike ends as ILA, USMX agree on hefty wage hike, contract extension

Port employers have come to a tentative agreement with unionized dockworkers on a 61% hourly wage increase, ending the three-day strike that shut down major East Coast container ports.

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Stuart Chirls

1 million TEUs could soon be stalled outside strike ports

While tens of thousands of unionized longshore employees picket at ports along the East and Gulf coasts, the number of container ships waiting outside major maritime hubs continues to grow by the day.

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