World Maritime News
WMNF 05/03/2025
A third of shipping will run on ammonia, MAN predicts
MAN Energy Solutions has hailed promising test results on the rollout of its ammonia engines, which are set to go on sale at the end of 2026. The German engine maker said more than 300 single-cylinder and full-scale engine tests in the past 18 months had showed NOx emissions down 40%-50% compared with diesel and CO2 equivalent greenhouse gas emissions down by 90%. Compression, combustion and expansion characteristics were similar to those of existing dual-fuel engine technology, and there was no variation in performance between cylinders, thanks to innovative engine control software. MAN head of two-stroke sales Christian Ludwig said he expected ammonia would eventually power one-third of global shipping and methanol about a quarter. But Ludwig said MAN would not rush the engines to market, despite the promising test results, so as not to jeopardize safety.
Read more: Lloyd’s List
Opportunity seen in India-Europe container trade
The India-Europe trade is booming, but India is looking to reap more trade benefits in its shipping sector. Despite overall capacity on the trade lane increasing by 24.1% and the average vessel size rising from 9,833 teu to 11,332 teu after the completion of the latest round of liner alliance re-alignments, there is still a lack of capacity on the trade lane. The major European-based carriers CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Co. control 83.8% of all capacity on the trade. MSC recently went solo, taking a 29% market share. Meanwhile, New Gemini Cooperation partner Hapag-Lloyd accounts for about one-fifth of the capacity on the route. Meanwhile, minor players in the container trade comprise only 7% of capacity, with the Indian National Line Shipping Corporation of India, which has downplayed the container sector in recent years, making up 0.9% of available tonnage with just one 9,034 teu vessel. Thus, India has announced plans to set up a new domestically-owned container carrier called Bharat Container Line, with an initial fleet of 100 vessels, as the government seeks to gain greater control over its export shipments. The line will initially focus on Asia, West Asia and Red Sea routes before expanding to Europe, Africa and the Americas.
Read more: Lloyd’s List
DCSA opens the door to non-carriers
The Digital Container Shipping Association is opening up to stakeholders across the container value chain to solve “a broad spectrum of industry challenges.” The DCSA+ Partnership Programme will launch on March 5, giving new partners access to the tools and insights available to DCSA members. The association said the new program will be opened to cargo owners, feeders, freight forwarders, technology providers, and terminals. Chief growth officer Mariana Bock-Losada said the program was “about more than just accelerating the adoption of digital standards — it’s about making them work for the entire industry.” “By expanding engagement beyond ocean carriers, we are enabling a more diverse group of stakeholders across the value chain to actively participate in shaping and implementing digital standards, complementing the important work carried out by our members over the past few years.”
Read more: Lloyd’s List