World Maritime News
WMNF 30/04/2025
Rotterdam implements track and trace standard
Rotterdam has become the first major port to implement the Digital Container Shipping Association’s Track and Trace standard into its port community system to improve container tracking. The standard allows cargo owners to know the whereabouts and status of their goods from door to door, regardless of the IT systems or logistics service providers they use. This implementation came through a collaboration between the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure, Portbase (the port community system for Dutch ports) and DCSA as part of the Digital Infrastructure Logistics program of the Netherlands. A future full-scale integration of the DCSA T&T standard in Portbase is expected to ensure export processes are more efficient, reliable and transparent for companies moving their goods through Europe’s busiest port.
Read more: Lloyd’s List
LNG will remain the cheapest fuel through 2035 under IMO rules
IMO and EU regulations make LNG the cheapest ship fuel until 2035, according to consultancy Rystad Energy, which projected VLSFO costs would rise above $1,100 that year. Both International Maritime Organization and EU green regulations will see liquified natural gas remaining the cheapest ship fuel through to 2035, according to an analysis by Rystad Energy. The consultancy weighed the costs of using LNG, very low-sulfur fuel oil and e-ammonia. “The findings reveal that LNG maintains its cost competitiveness under various regulatory frameworks from the present through 2035,” wrote Rystad senior data analyst Junlin Yu and supply chain research vice-president Jo Friedmann. They said the production cost of e-ammonia struggled to compete with fossil fuels even after considering regulatory penalties and production incentives.
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USTR scales back port fee plan targeting Chinese ships, offering relief to domestic exporters
The US Trade Representative released its plan to levy fees on China-built and Chinese-operated ships calling at US ports, which was watered-down from the original proposal. Fees will begin to be assessed after 180 days, will only apply once per voyage, and will not be cumulative. Smaller ships and shortsea shipping are exempt. In a relief to commodity exporters, ships arriving empty will not be taxed.
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Cosco condemns US actions as geopolitical tensions reshape maritime trade
China’s state-owned shipping giant Cosco has strongly criticized recent US trade actions targeting the country’s maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors, calling them “discriminatory” and based on “erroneous” claims. In response to the US Trade Representative’s latest decision concerning the Section 301 investigation into China’s dominance in the maritime industry, Cosco condemned the measures, saying they not only distort fair competition and impede the normal functioning of the global shipping industry but also threaten its stable and sustainable development. The criticism was echoed by major industry groups in China, who voiced unified opposition to what they view as politically motivated trade restrictions. The China Shipowners’ Association strongly protested the US restrictions. The association urged the US to stop investigations and actions and said it would seek to continue talking with the US on levies. The China Association of National Shipbuilding Industry has joined Cosco and CSA’s complaints, accusing the US of unfairly targeting China’s shipbuilding industry with baseless allegations and flawed investigations.
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US trade policies expected to push container shipping demand into decline
Container shipping demand growth will fall into negative territory in 2025 for only the third time in the industry’s history as a direct consequence of US trade policies. This was the frank and sobering conclusion of London-based analyst Drewry’s revised forecast for the liner sector amid Trump 2.0’s continued “America first” campaign rhetoric. As a result, Drewry expects global port throughput, including laden, empty and transshipment liftings, to fall 1% in 2025 on last year, a similar contraction to that witnessed during the pandemic in 2020. The only other time the industry saw traffic volumes slip back year on year since records began in 1979 was in the fallout of the global financial crisis in 2009. While the demand deficit will be similar to that of 2020, Drewry container research senior manager Simon Heaney stressed that the outlook for the sector is arguably even more uncertain now than it was during this period.
Read more: Lloyd’s List