World Maritime News
WMNF 03/04/2024
Developing nations still affected by supply chain disruptions
Developed economies may be settling into the new geopolitical realities and disruptions affecting supply chains, but this is not always the case for less-developed countries. According to the UN Conference on Trade and Development, small island developing states are the most affected by disrupted supply chains, which will hold a forum in May to address the issues facing less-developed nations. Hosted by Barbados, the Global Supply Chain Forum will focus on the vital role of global supply chains in promoting economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction.
Read more: Lloyd’s List
Hub port performance critical to Gemini success
Hub port performance is going to be “absolutely key” to the success of the Gemini Cooperation between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd as they develop their new network model. “The partners aspire to provide a best-in-class network with unrivaled schedule reliability and competitive transit times,” said Drewry senior ports and terminals analyst Eleanor Hadland. “But to achieve this, the planned network will cut the number of port calls on each main line loop and rely instead on a small number of hub ports that will be used to tranship cargo onto high-capacity scheduled services that link to other regional gateways.”
Read more: Lloyd’s List
ONE’s ambitions throw down gauntlet
Ocean Network Express plans to increase its fleet capacity to 3m teu by 2030. While the goal is ambitious enough and will require the carrier to increase its capacity by more than 700,000 teu on top of its existing order book in just over five years, it will also put it on a collision course with some time partner Hapag-Lloyd, which is determined to keep its place in the pantheon of container lines. Under their current fleet deployments, Hapag-Lloyd ranks fifth in the world in terms of capacity deployed with just over 2m teu. ONE comes in not far behind with 1.8m teu. But ONE has a larger orderbook nearly twice the size of Hapag-Lloyd’s. The rankings will swap when current orders are delivered, putting ONE above its German rival. However, this alone will not put ONE into fifth place, as Evergreen’s order book is bigger than both put together and when delivered, will push the Taiwan-based line into fifth place behind Cosco, followed by ONE, then Hapag-Lloyd.
Read more: Lloyd’s List
Maersk and MSC overcharging cargo owners for EU ETS, says T&E
Four major liners, including Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Company, are likely to make significant windfall profits by overcharging cargo owners for EU Emissions Trading System costs, according to a Transport & Environment (T&E) analysis. Profits from ETS surcharges are likely to outstrip these shipping companies’ actual ETS costs, T&E found after analyzing 560 single journeys by 20 vessels, each operated by Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM, and MSC.
Read more: Lloyd’s List | JOC
Shipping welcomes ‘genuine’ MEPC progress
Industry groups welcomed progress made by the the International Maritime Organization last week as the UN agency reaffirmed its commitment to introduce greenhouse gas curbs aligned with its net zero strategy. The IMO agreed on a tentative ‘net zero framework’ outline for future work on a carbon price and fuel standard for shipping at Marine Environment Protection Committee 81, with potential additions to Marpol pollution regulations. The talks set the stage for future work on mid-term measures to help shipping reach its climate targets in the decades to 2050, in line with last year’s revised GHG strategy.
Read more: Lloyd’s List
Topics on the Baltimore bridge collapse
Rescuers are searching the Patapsco River for six missing people after the Maersk-chartered boxship Dali lost power and crashed into a Baltimore bridge. All crew members, including two river pilots, have been accounted for, and no pollution has been reported. The six people who fell from the bridge are thought to be road workers fixing potholes on the bridge. A mayday call from the ship came in time for officials to clear the bridge of cars.
Ocean carriers are diverting ships to other ports in the Northeast US. At the same time, CSX Transportation plans on rare north-south intermodal trips between those ports to handle containers that would otherwise go through the Port of Baltimore. The moves come as shippers scramble to determine their best options immediately after the Baltimore port’s closure.
Read more: Lloyd’s List | JOC1 | JOC2 | JOC3