By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) - Due to continued increased demand, THE Alliance is extending its Asia – North Europe ‘extra loader’ programme with an additional five weekly sailings through to the end of September. Earlier this month THEA members advised shippers that they would introduce the weekly loop commencing this week, lasting for a “limited period of four weeks” and … [Read more...]
COVID-19 Cases Confirmed on Two U.S.-Flagged Ships -Hapag-Lloyd
Hapag-Lloyd has announced positive COVID-19 cases on board two of its U.S.-flagged ships. The German container shipping group said the cases were confirmed on the Philadelphia Express and St. Louis Express, both deployed on its Atlantic Loop 3 (AL3) service. One member on each vessel tested positive for COVID-19, the company said. "The mariners are quarantined and we are … [Read more...]
Containership Demolition Increasing Despite Falling Scrap Prices
By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) - With the containership charter market in the doldrums, demolition sales have picked up, with reports of a number of vessel sales. Among them is the 1998-built 9,600 teu Sine Maersk (pictured above), which has been sold to Turkish breakers and will become the largest containership ever sent for recycling. According to vesselsvalue.com, the … [Read more...]
Carriers Accused of ‘Profiteering from the Crisis’ Get Benefit of the Doubt for Now
By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) - After better-than-expected first-quarter results, ocean carriers have upgraded their financial guidance, despite the impact of the pandemic. However, they are being accused in some industry circles of “profiteering from the crisis”. Container spot rates have soared on the major tradelanes as aggressive carrier capacity management … [Read more...]
CMA CGM Reorganizes Transpacific Trade Network
French shipping group CMA CGM says it is simplifying its transpacific trade network by removing APL from the trade and naming CMA CGM as the group’s exclusive commercial carrier. APL will instead focus on its U.S.-flag service with the United States Government through its fleet of U.S.-flagged vessels. CMA CGM took control of APL as part of its 2016 acquisition of … [Read more...]