Ocean Transportation

China Takes Control of Pakistan Port from Singapore

February 28, 2013

China has assumed control of a strategic Pakistani port on the Arabian Sea, as part of a drive to secure energy and maritime routes that also gives it a potential naval base, sparking Indian concern. The Pakistani cabinet approved the transfer of Gwadar, currently a commercial failure cut off from the national road network, from Singapore's PSA International to the state-owned China company on January 30.

Maersk CEO Predicts 'Modest' Growth in Container Shipping

February 27, 2013

Maritime Executive

A.P. Moller-Maersk relied on higher freight rates and cost reduction schemes to lift fourth-quarter profit, but modest growth expectations and concerns about pricing has the Danish shipping conglomerate relying increasingly less on mature shipping markets and turning the focus to emerging markets and its oil business.

Wary of Losing Business Because of Panama Canal, Officials Urge L.A, Long Beach to Upgrade Now

February 27, 2013

Los Angeles Times

Port and city officials have called for expediting planned upgrades at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to stave off the threat of losing cargo traffic when the $5.25bn Panama Canal expansion is completed next year.

Chief Executive of Maersk Focuses on Improving African Infrastructure

February 26, 2013

Supply Chain Digital

The CEO of Maersk Group toured Nigeria, Angola and Ghana in a bid to focus on African infrastructure improvements. As African economies boom, infrastructure improvements become more important to turning the growth into sustainable development, and Maersk is planning to take a role in this transition.

81 Percent of Surveyed Ocean Shippers Look to Cut Costs Through E-Invoicing This Year

February 25, 2013

Inttra

A global study of high-volume shippers and freight forwarders that included four of the top five global logistics providers found that 81 percent of respondents want to receive invoices electronically in 2013.

UK Freight Forwarding Sector Annoyed by Trade Negotiations

February 21, 2013

Handy Shipping Guide

As talks are announced regarding a potential free-trade agreement between the two continental powers, which could simplify and revolutionize the â‚¬450 per annum trans-Atlantic trade there are rumblings in UK freight forwarding circles that another agreement, potentially a precursor to the main agreement and involving the security concerns when shipping goods between the partners, does not appear to hold all that it originally seemed to promise.

UNDP Joins Shipping Industry Initiative in Somalia

February 21, 2013

Supply Chain Asia

Shell, BP, Maersk, Stena and the Japanese shipping companies NYK, MOL and "K" Line have announced their joint collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to support job creation and capacity building projects in Somalia.

DB Schenker to Construct Logistics Centre in Czech Republic

February 21, 2013

TransReporter

DB Schenker Logistics says it has started building a 23.5m euro ($32m) logistics centre in Rudna u Prahy, close to the Czech capital of Prague. The 90,800-square-metre terminal has been designed to meet the most advanced technological, safety and environmental requirements, the company says.

New Container Port Interests Shipping Lines and Manufacturing Companies

February 21, 2013

Bunker Ports

London Gateway, the new container port under construction on the banks of the River Thames, got a huge vote of confidence recently from an important source. The DP World funded operation is already in talks with several leading shipping lines, but the scheme is two-tiered and the plans eventually are to couple the dockside activities directly with a giant logistics park situated immediately behind the wharves.

Gulf Cooperation Council Invests $36bn in Port Development

February 21, 2013

Saudi Gazette

The GCC countries are allocating $36bn to further develop their port infrastructure amid increasing foreign non-oil trade volumes. Saudi Arabia is powering ahead with port infrastructure development with more than $750m allocated to Dammam's King Abdul Aziz Port, which includes the launch of a second high-tech container terminal in 2015 with capacity for 1.8 million TEUs per annum.