By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – A new superport is set to be created in north-west Europe after the Belgian ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge announced today that they will formally merge. Talks between the…
Zeebrugge
Ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge Agree to Merge
The ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge have reached an agreement to join forces through the merger of the two ports. The unification is expected to take about a year to…
Antwerp and Zeebrugge will merge – creating a superport to rival Rotterdam
A new superport is set to be created in north-west Europe after the Belgian ports of Antwerp and Zeebrugge announced today that they will formally merge.
Talks between the municipal authorities of Antwerp and Bruges began in 2018 and unification will put the superport within touching distance of nearby rival, Europe’s largest container hub, Rotterdam.
Last year, the two ports handled 13.8m (Antwerp, 12m teu, and Zeebrugge, 1.8m teu).
Meanwhile, although the figures for Rotterdam, which had...
https://theloadstar.com/antwerp-and-zeebrugge-to-merge-creating-a-superport-to-rival-rotterdam/
Unaccompanied ro-ro traffic up at Tilbury as vision for Thames freeport is unveiled
Port of Tilbury owner Forth Ports said there were clear signs that cross-Channel sea freight was increasingly moving to unaccompanied shipping options, as shippers and their forwarders seek greater supply chain resilience.
The company reported it had seen a 20% year-on-year increase in unaccompanied freight volumes between Tilbury and Zeebrugge in December through its recently opened Tilbury2 terminal, leading P&O Ferries to add an additional vessel to cope with the higher …
The post Unaccompanie...
Asia-North Europe rates pass $10,000 – wait till it’s our turn, say forwarders
Record high spot rates from Asia to North Europe and predictions of huge hikes for annual contract rates could lead to a rush of cancelled orders for next year.
Retailers in Europe are already nervous about new partial lockdowns stymieing their sales, and the enormous sea freight rates and surcharges they are being billed is significantly adding to their concerns.
“We are certainly starting to see customers cancelling, as the rates are …
The post Asia-North Europe rates pass $10,000 – wait till...
https://theloadstar.com/asia-north-europe-rates-pass-10000-wait-till-its-our-turn-say-forwarders/
Maersk and MSC drop Felixstowe from transatlantic service and head for Liverpool
2M partners Maersk and MSC are swapping Felixstowe for Liverpool on their TA2/NEUATL2 transatlantic loop from the end of the year, in order to “provide stability to the service”.
The last sailing from Felixstowe will be by the 8,822 teu MSC Athens in week 51, with the first sailing from Liverpool by the 6,478 teu Maersk Sembawang planned for the following week.
“After careful evaluation of our network covering North Europe to/from …
The post Maersk and MSC drop Felixstowe from transatlantic...
More ro-ro services a welcome post-Brexit boost for Irish exporters to Europe
Irish exporters looking to reduce reliance on the post-Brexit UK landbridge for shipments to continental Europe were given a fillip this week by plans for more direct ro-ro services.
Belgian ro-ro operator CLdN is set to double the frequency of its Cork-Zeebrugge con-ro service to offer Irish exporters two sailings a week.
“We will deploy larger vessels or add more frequency to match demand to and from Ireland and will react immediately …
Shipping lines changing course with UK-Europe services as Brexit looms
Alterations to shortsea container and ro-ro sailing schedules between the UK and continental Europe are taking place as shippers look to secure supply chain continuity as the Brexit transition period approaches its climax.
Speaking to a parliamentary select committee earlier this week, CEO of the UK Major Ports Group Tim Morris noted the arrival of multiple services.
“A number of new sailings have come on, with some elements of change as shippers try …
The post Shipping lines changing course...
https://theloadstar.com/shipping-lines-changing-course-with-uk-europe-services-as-brexit-looms/
Importer fury as UK port congestion means boxes may be stranded for weeks
UK container imports offloaded at Antwerp, Rotterdam and Zeebrugge could be stranded for weeks before they can be relayed back, potentially missing out on the Christmas market.
Ships diverted from the heavily congested hub ports of Felixstowe, Southampton and London Gateway have mostly discharged their UK imports at the Benelux ports, but now carriers are struggling with their relay options.
Moreover, Antwerp and Rotterdam are reported to be “very full” across all …
The post Importer fury as UK...
https://theloadstar.com/importer-fury-as-uk-port-congestion-means-boxes-may-be-stranded-for-weeks/
Supply chain radar: Maersk leads or lags Cosco?
Let’s set the record straight: an orthodox Loadstar Premium investment analysis of China’s vast Cosco grouping is doomed well before rolling the dice.
Unlevel playing field
We mildly criticised Maersk’s and CMA CGM’s bullishness recently in the wake of their interims, yet those headline financials that are published in English for Cosco – to be found on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange for the seven listed entities – shine a narrow light on …
The post Supply chain radar: Maersk leads or lags Cosco?
https://theloadstar.com/supply-chain-radar-maersk-leads-or-lags-cosco/