The G6 Alliance carriers, comprising APL, Hapag-Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant Marine, MOL, NYK and OOCL, have announced their first batch of six joint Asia-Europe services in the first week of March. Services calling at Japanese ports will start later after consulting the Japan Harbour Transportation Association and labour unions. And the alliance said it will launch a seventh service with direct coverage to Chinese Bohai Bay ports in Dalian and Xingang…

Container shipping lines have been scrambling to add capacity through the launch of new services on the Far East-Mediterranean trades despite projected slack demand this year. Shipping lines are expected to add 30,000 TEU of weekly capacity to the Far East-Mediterranean trade over the next three months, representing a growth of 25 per cent, according to Alphaliner. “These capacity additions could jeopardise the rate restoration efforts of carriers planned from March…

Monday, December 01 ,2003 Dry bulk to give ground to containers: expert A SHIPPING consultant believes the borders between dry bulk and container shipping are about to be breached. Niels Kim Balling, of Econships Ltd, is confident that container shipping is about to gain significant tonnage from the dry bulk sector due to various new operating factors. Mr Balling said: “Dry Bulk spot rates have now reached a new high…

Monday, November 17 ,2003 Bigger, better, faster for TNWA New York express THE New World Alliance (TNWA) of APL, Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) and MOL is to deploy larger, faster vessels on its fixed-day, weekly, all-water, New York Express (NYX) service, which was launched earlier this year. The fleet expansion will increase capacity on TNWA’s NYX service, as well as shorten transit times between key destinations in Asia, Panama, and…

Monday, November 10 ,2003 Expeditors profits climb GLOBAL logistics company Expeditors International said its third quarter profits increased 6 per cent to US$32.5 million. Quarterly net revenues were up 11 per cent to $196.8 million from $177.8 million in the third quarter of last year. Total revenue from operations in six continents, was $711.5 million, up 15 per cent from $620.4 million a year earlier. While revenue from ocean freight…

Friday, October 31 ,2003 GAC clinches long-term contract with Tiens Malaysia GAC Malaysia has won a third party logistics (3PL) contract with Tiens Health Development, also known as Tiens Malaysia, to provide warehouse management and third party logistics services. The long-term contract will see GAC Malaysia provide Tiens Malaysia with integrated, end-to-end services including clearance of inbound sea and air import shipments from Tiens’ regional sourcing markets, transportation of finished…

Monday, October 20 ,2003 PSA operations handle more boxes in September PSA handled a total of 2.31 million TEU in September, both in Singapore and at its other global terminals, a rise of 6.9 per cent over the same month last year. According to company figures, the total can be broken down into 1.53 million TEU for Singapore, an increase of 8.5 per cent year-on-year; and 790,000 TEU for its…

Saturday, October 18 ,2003 MOL expands ECSA/ WCSA services MOL is to expand its east coast South America (ECSA) and west coast South America (WCSA) services. Previously, MOL offered ECSA/WCSA service with its monthly South America/ Oceania service. MOL said it is upgrading frequency to a nine-day interval, in co-operation with Buenos Aires-based Maruba SCA, with a combination of coastal space on MOL’s Asia-ECSA service and Maruba’s Argentine WCSA service….

Tuesday, October 07 ,2003 Shipping and Cargo News Trans-European transport network set for revamp THE European Commission want to revamp the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) to meet the challenges of the enlarged European Union. It has proposed that a series of priority projects, which will cost a total of EUR220 billion (US$258 billion), should be declared to be of European interest. The extension of major routes to future member states…

Tuesday, September 16 ,2003 Delmas and Gold Star strike Asia, West Africa partnership GOLD Star Line (GSL) is to terminate its West Africa Express Service (WAX) joint venture with CMA CGM and CSCL at the end September.As a consequence, GSL and the French line, Delmas, have decided to join forces and operate a joint service between Asia and West Africa. This agreement is an operational agreement and both carriers maintain…

Saturday, September 27 ,2003 – Imports Exports newsIndia-Singapore delegations agree on trade issues DELEGATIONS from India and Singapore agreed to a framework text for various issues during the fourth round of negotiations on their Comprehensive Economic Co-operation Agreement (CECA) held in Singapore. Discussions on trade in goods covered tariff concessions, rules of origin, customs, anti-dumping and safeguard measures, and mutual recognition agreements. On trade in services, there were discussions on…