Alok Sharma, head of commercial at Glencore subsidiary Inatech, recently spoke with The Maritime Executive about the outlook for bunkering. Inatech provides software solutions to both bunker suppliers and bunker buyers - giving it a perspective on both sides of the market.

Two countries providing flags of convenience to merchant vessels, Panama and Cyprus, threw up roadblocks to the safe carriage of containerized cargo recently. With more than 80 percent of world cargo being moved on container ships and those ships getting ever larger, any measure that can make these shipments safer must be considered. Sadly, these countries find that some proposed measures are inconvenient.

Despite pending regulations, most shipowners have refused to commit to an onboard ballast water treatment system. Yet port-based treatment has the potential to be a temporary or even permanent solution.

The Panama Canal will implement more sound "green building" practices in future construction in order to improve compatibility with the environment, according to the canal's development authority.