On January 9, the UK’s Maritime & Coastguard Agency faced a challenging night due to a severe winter storm, classified as a bomb cyclone. With wind gusts reaching 99 mph, 24 containers fell overboard, prompting extensive search efforts. Shipping operations were disrupted, affecting services to the Isle of Wight and cross-channel routes.
The World Shipping Council (WSC) reported that in 2024, 11.39% of inspected freight deliveries contained defects, up from 11% previously noted by the IMO. Issues included misdeclared dangerous goods and inadequate packaging. WSC President Joe Kramek emphasized the importance of proper labeling to ensure safety for ships and the environment.
Allcargo Terminals in Kolkata, West Bengal has expanded its CFS capacity to handle over 1,200 TEU of rice monthly, boosting throughput by 25%. Equipped with reach stackers and qualified staff, the facility offers same-day transit-to-port solutions. Plans for a conveyor belt system aim to streamline cargo handling, ensuring efficient operations for customer demands.
Maersk’s surprising decision to shift container ships from Felixstowe to London Gateway in 2025, in partnership with Hapag-Lloyd, aims to boost industry schedule reliability to 90%. This move will consolidate Asia-Europe and Middle East-Europe trade at the new port, impacting the longstanding 2M alliance with MSC.
For the second time this year, a cargo vessel in Rotterdam collided with a bridge, causing containers from MSC and Maersk to fall into the River Maas. Officials suspect the captain misjudged the clearance. Five containers were lost, some floating towards another bridge. The incident raises concerns about vessel safety in the area.
Nearly five months after the fatal collision of the containership Dali with Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, the offloading of the vessel has been completed in Norfolk, Virginia. The vessel arrived in June with 4,800 containers out of its full capacity of 10,000 TEUs. Repairs are underway before it departs for the Far East.[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-pWhdFGXVs[/embed]
The container shipping segment is undergoing rapid changes, with MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company leading the way. Surpassing competitors, MSC has achieved a 20% market share and is on track to reach over 7 million TEU by 2025. Strategic acquisitions and capacity additions have propelled MSC to the forefront of the industry, with analysts predicting further growth and shifts ahead.
The container shipping industry has seen a decrease in containers lost at sea, thanks to efforts in managing parametric rolling and improving container safety. A project by the Netherlands’ Marin institute aims to enhance transportation safety, providing valuable data and education to mariners. With only 221 containers lost out of 250 million transported in 2023, the industry continues to prioritize safety measures.
The International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) of the World Bank will arbitrate a case involving Montecon shareholders and the Uruguayan state over container movement rights at Montevideo Port. Neltume Ports protests the exclusivity granted to TCP, operated by Katoen Natie, alleging a breach of free competition laws. Montecon seeks damages up to $600 million, citing violations of Investment Promotion and Protection treaties. President Lacalle Pou defends TCP investment for economic growth.
In Port-Au-Prince, the UNICEF aid container loaded with essential supplies was looted by gangs amidst a humanitarian crisis causing hunger and malnutrition. The unelected Prime Minister has promised to resign once an interim council is formed. Hospitals struggle with shortages, leaving many without access to basic healthcare and nutrition.
Residents in Rotterdam witnessed a German vessel, the Monika Deymann, getting stuck under the Willemsbrug bridge, losing containers into the Nieuwe Maas. The incident caused damage to the bridge and waterway, prompting a response from local authorities. This is not the first time such accidents have occurred, with previous incidents in 2020 and 2022.
Ocean Network Express (ONE) is investing in methanol dual-fueled containerships, part of a $20 billion fleet and operations strategy. The vessels, to be delivered in 2027, will have a capacity of 13,000 TEU and feature state-of-the-art technologies for fuel efficiency and GHG emissions reduction. The move aligns with ONE’s sustainable goals.
Schedule reliability in the shipping industry saw a decline in November 2023 due to security challenges in the Red Sea and delays at the Panama Canal. Asian-based carriers, Evergreen and Wan Hai, showed significant gains while Maersk and MSC experienced declines. Late vessel arrivals also saw an increase in average delay.
