Category: Uncategorized

Ocean Alliance adding Vietnam calls to North America for 2026 The carrier consortium released details of its new network showing a slight uptick in port calls primarily from Southeast Asia and small rotation changes on the US East Coast. Go to journal of commerce

Could the ocean carrier order book be a matter of ‘irrational exuberance’? The feeling that an arms race for bigger ships and a rush for alternative fuels has overtaken purely rational decision making is strong, writes Jeremy Masters. Go to journal of commerce

Clear direction set for LNG amid ongoing regulatory uncertainty: industry group  The LNG market is cementing its position as the alternative fuel of choice for the container shipping industry with significant expansion in ship orders and global bunkering infrastructure, a SEA-LNG report has found. Go to journal of commerce

Norfolk Southern reopening second terminal in congested Louisville Container flows at the railroad’s primary Appliance Park terminal slowed considerably in December and into January after it implemented a new appointment system for truck drivers to pick up import boxes. Go to journal of commerce

Broker Echo buys ITS Logistics to build drayage, intermodal presence The deal will create a company with more than $5 billion in revenue across truckload brokerage, managed transportation services, and port-related offerings. Go to journal of commerce

Evergreen bolsters Asia-West Coast South America links amid capacity surge The carrier has inked a slot charter agreement on a service that is operated by Taiwanese rivals Yang Ming and Wan Hai, as well as Singapore’s PIL. Go to journal of commerce

Supply chain certainty, rather than price, will shape shipping in 2026 As shippers realize that threats to service are not periodic but systemic, their focus on reliability will only intensify this year, writes Peter Tirschwell. Go to journal of commerce

Buyer’s market for US importers belies risks in contract talks Shippers should heed signs that ocean carriers have managed to keep the decline in Asia imports from sinking the market, reflecting a modicum of control and price restraint. Go to journal of commerce

CMA CGM backs off plans to resume Suez transits for Asia-Europe services  Citing “the complex and uncertain international context,” the carrier said proforma voyages through the Suez that were confirmed last month would remain diverted via the Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa. Go to journal of commerce

Indian port flow boosted by infrastructure, technology investment efforts  New Delhi has invested heavily into freight infrastructure modernization through public-private participation and pushed digital logistics solutions along with sweeping policy reforms to ease trade processes in recent years.   Go to journal of commerce

Fast-tracked project schedules boost heavy-lift air freight volumes A drop in air freight charter rates has put the option of project cargoes moving by air back on the table. Go to journal of commerce

Carriers expand MPV fleets with $450 million in new vessel orders The orders come amid continued strong growth in the global wind energy sector as turbines, blades and monopiles provide stable cargo for MPV and heavy-lift operators. Go to journal of commerce

Washington State weighs permanent ban on funding port automation The state senate is considering a new bill that would block state funds from going toward port automation, with longshore workers adding their support. Go to journal of commerce

STB rejects UP-NS merger application as ‘incomplete’ The regulator’s decision was unanimous, but Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern can fix what is deficient in the application and resubmit it at a later date. Go to journal of commerce

MPV, heavy-lift operators ready for UK offshore wind boom after project approvals But rapid development of the record 8.4 gigawatts of new offshore capacity could lead to ship capacity constraints and logistical bottlenecks. Go to journal of commerce

Truckload at a tipping point; intermodal still lagging: J.B. Hunt But the US’ largest intermodal provider said during its fourth-quarter earnings call it is not forecasting a market inflection just yet, citing the “false starts” the industry has seen during the past 18 months. Go to journal of commerce

Egypt opens new semiautomated Red Sea terminal as Suez traffic grows The terminal, developed by a consortium of Hutchison Ports, CMA Terminals and Cosco Shipping Ports, aims to capture increasing east-west trade and is integrated with Egypt’s expanding transport network. Go to journal of commerce

Long Beach considering development of ‘conventional, zero-emissions’ terminal: CEO Noel Hacegaba made the announcement about the possible 1.8 million-TEU terminal during his first State of the Port presentation since taking over as CEO on Jan. 1 following the retirement of Mario Cordero. Go to journal of commerce

Gemini India-Med service the next to plan return to Red Sea/Suez passage The weekly loop, known as the ME11 for Maersk and the IMX for partner Hapag-Lloyd, would join Maersk’s MECL service and CMA CGM’s Indamex among major carriers in resuming transits through the Red Sea and Suez. Go to journal of commerce

‘Imperative’ that truckload carriers watch for any slowing in data center activity Data center construction in the US has more than doubled since 2023, helping to counterbalance slower construction of warehouses, notes Jason Miller. Go to journal of commerce

Egypt opens new semi-automated Red Sea terminal as Suez traffic grows The terminal, developed by a consortium of Hutchison Ports, CMA Terminals, and Cosco Shipping Ports, aims to capture increasing east-west trade and is integrated with Egypt’s expanding transport network. Go to journal of commerce

Canada’s Port of Saint John ready for larger ships, more containers Canada’s eastern-most port has completed the final phase of a project that has added a new berth and increased track capacity for handling intermodal rail. Go to journal of commerce

Shipper-turned-carrier integrates with CargoWise to target forwarder business Tailwind Shipping, which emerged during the pandemic as a vessel operating arm of retailer Lidl, has enabled booking and shipment management tools within CargoWise, the widely used forwarding software platform. Go to journal of commerce