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Brexit breaking service links Ireland to Europe

Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Navigation (CLdN) commenced a new service on 24 April linking Ireland and Belgium in a move that will allow truck operators to by-pass the UK landbridge to European destinations after Britain leaves the EU in December.

Customs regulations are due to become mandatory between the UK and the EU from 1 January unless the transition period for negotiating the UK’s relationship with its closest neighbours is extended. It is understood that the extension must be agreed by...

https://container-news.com/brexit-breaking-service-links-ireland-to-europe/

Covid-19 hits East Asia-Southeast Asia container rates

Container freight rates on East Asia-Southeast Asia routes have been weakening since March 2020, as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on supply chains and industrial output has materialised.

The pandemic began in late January 2020, but there was a time lag between then and the increasing lockdowns across the world.

The Shanghai Shipping Exchange showed that as of 24 April, freight rates between Shanghai and Singapore averaged US$165/TEU, a US$14 drop from the previous week. A US$16 drop was...

https://container-news.com/covid-19-hits-east-asia-southeast-asia-container-rates/

OOCL Q1 results a boost for lines or a portent of harder times to come

Initial results for the first quarter released by OOCL could be seen as a boost to lines, which it is generally agreed have manged the downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic well, or as a warning of tougher times to come.

Globally the FBX index shows that rates have remained stable and that the Asia to US West Coast rates have fallen only 1% over the last week, while Asia to Europe rates have recorded a small increase, also 1%.

OOCL, for its part, has released its Q1 figures without more than a...

https://container-news.com/oocl-q1-results-a-boost-for-lines-or-a-portent-of-harder-times-to-come/

MOL launches Coilporter for containerised steel cargoes

MOL Logistics, the non-vessel owning common carrier (NVOCC) unit of Japanese shipping group Mitsui OSK Lines, has launched a proprietary lashing product to better secure steel coils that are transported in containers.

Launching MOL Coilporter, which was jointly developed between MOL Logistics and MOL Techno-Trade, is part of MOL’s wider strategy to expand its NVOCC business.

Customers of MOL Logistics, MOL’s short-sea general cargo shipping unit, Mitsui OSK Kinkai and associated logistics...

https://container-news.com/mol-launches-coilporter-for-containerised-steel-cargoes/

Known unknowns add up to a complex Pacific contract picture

Complexities in managing annual cargo rate negotiations have been exposed by the Covid-19 virus with shippers and forwarders struggling to understand what cargo commitments they can make, while the carriers’ demands must also be kept at a reasonable level.

That then begs the question what is reasonable? And to answer that question you will need to know when and how the Covid-19 crisis will end. That is why minimum quantity commitments (MQC) are front and centre of the contract negotiations...

https://container-news.com/known-unknowns-add-up-to-a-complex-pacific-contract-picture/

GCT New York files lawsuit after Maersk’s terminal move

Maersk is the target of a lawsuit brought by a North American marine terminal operator after the Danish shipping giant cancelled a terminal services deal in favour of moving its boxes through a Maersk-owned site.

The lawsuit said the move will wipe out half of the container terminal’s revenue and put its financial future at risk. But Maersk says its deal allows for an early termination and its settlement offer is “generous,” given the impact of the coronavirus on shipping volumes.

Vancouver-based...

https://container-news.com/gct-new-york-files-lawsuit-after-maersks-terminal-move/

CMA CGM Dalila runs aground in Bayport ship channel

An 8,500TEU CMA CGM container vessel, CMA CGM Dalila ran aground as it strayed from the vessel channel yesterday evening as the ship approached Houston port.

Four tugs were in attendance after the ship ran aground at around 14:45 UTC/GMT on 22 April, the tugs arrived at around 16:30 and managed to refloat the vessel by 18:30 UTC/GMT.

A passing vessel took footage of the ship with the tugs attempting...

https://container-news.com/cma-cgm-dalila-runs-aground-in-bayport-ship-channel/

Seoul sets aside US$382m emergency fund for HMM

The South Korean government has set aside KRW470 billion (US$382 million) in emergency funding for mainline operator HMM as the maritime industry faces another crisis in the form of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The funds are part of a wider KRW1.25 trillion (US$1.01 billion) fund announced by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) on 23 April 2020, to help South Korean ship owners and shipbuilders tide over the crisis, which has disrupted supply chains and shipping demand.

Funds allotted to HMM...

https://container-news.com/seoul-sets-aside-us382m-emergency-fund-for-hmm/

Hapag-Lloyd halves carbon emissions in 2019

Hapag-Lloyd has achieved a cut to its CO2 emissions (per TEU/kilometre) by 50% in the 2019 financial year, compared to the previous year, according to its 2019 sustainability report.

“In 2019, we succeeded in making a lot of progress in all dimensions,” commented CEO Rolf Habben Jansen. “For example, we further reduced our specific CO2 emissions, strengthened our social commitment and made huge investments in the quality of our service.”

Hapag-Lloyd claimed it will support the International...

https://container-news.com/hapag-lloyd-halves-carbon-emissions-in-2019/

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