Ocean carriers have become the standard for connecting trading partners from different geographies, especially when large volumes of freight must be sent over significant distances. Freight costs on carriers are among the lowest available, making these remarkable ocean liners the preferred choice for shipments that are not adversely impacted by a longer transportation time – anywhere from 10 to 30 days. However, maintaining these lower costs has been a challenge in an asset-heavy, highly competitive industry that requires considerable financial investment – not just in the ships themselves, but in fuel and carriers as well. This may be one reason why many major carriers have expanded their services to also incorporate freight consolidation, warehousing, and truck and rail service, so shipments can literally now be made door-to-door rather than port-to-port.

Japanese Shipping Giants NYK and MOL Suspend Transit Through Strait of Hormuz

Two of the world’s largest shipping operators, Japan’s NYK Line and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, have suspended all vessel transits through… Read More

SC Line Enters New Era Linking U.S. and Cuba

Peter Buxbaum 5:00 AM  9/28/2015

On September 20, the roll-on/roll-off (ro/ro) vessel Caroline Russ berthed at the Cuban port of Mariel, completing the first regular… Read More

Construction of Crowley’s New LNG-Powered ConRo Ships Progresses

Haylle Sok 5:00 AM  9/25/2015

The construction of Crowley Maritime’s first two liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered liner ships have taken major steps toward completion. Construction… Read More

AAL Canada Launched in Vancouver

Haylle Sok 4:00 AM  9/24/2015

AAL, a global breakbulk and heavy lift operator, announced the opening of a new office in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada…. Read More

Hamburg Süd Adds Carrier Transicold XtendFRESH Technology to Reefer Container Fleet

Peter Buxbaum 6:00 AM  9/22/2015

Hamburg Süd, recently added 400 refrigerated containers equipped with Carrier Transicold’s XtendFRESH atmosphere control system to its fleet. The ship… Read More

MOL Opens Rotterdam World Gateway

Peter Buxbaum 7:00 AM  9/16/2015

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. announced that its new joint venture container terminal, Rotterdam World Gateway (RWG), located at Maasvlakte 2… Read More

Ocean Three Alliance Carriers Consolidate Asia-Europe Routes

Haylle Sok 7:00 AM  9/15/2015

Ocean Three Alliance partners, CMA CGM, CSCL, and UASH, announced the consolidation of two Asia-Europe routes, aiming to reduce capacity… Read More

Ocean Carriers’ Operating Margins Down in Second Quarter But Up Over Last Year

Haylle Sok 6:00 AM  9/15/2015

The average operating margin of 14 large container shipping companies slipped in the second quarter of 2015. Margins averaged 5.2… Read More

Evergreen Orders Ten 2,800 TEU Class Vessels from Imabari

Peter Buxbaum 8:00 AM  9/14/2015

Evergreen Group signed an order last week with Japanese shipbuilder Imabari for ten 2,800 TEU class B-type vessels.  These are… Read More

Traffic Jam in San Francisco Bay Said to be Easing

Haylle Sok 4:00 AM  9/14/2015

A backlog of container ships crowding San Francisco Bay is fading, the Port of Oakland claims. The port recently reported… Read More

Intermarine Adds Heavy Lifter Industrial Grace to Fleet

Haylle Sok 6:00 AM  9/11/2015

Intermarine, LLC, the breakbulk, project, and heavy lift carrier, announced the addition of the Industrial Grace to its global fleet…. Read More

More Ultra-Large Ships for ‘Mega’ Ocean Three Alliance

Haylle Sok 3:00 AM  9/10/2015

China Shipping Container Lines Co. (CSCL) reportedly intends to buy 10 ultra-large ships for $1.5 billion to help the company… Read More