World Maritime News
WMNF 2020/06/11
DP World seeks to integrate all terminals with TradeLens
DP World has announced that it has completed the early stages of integration with TradeLens, the blockchain-based container logistics platform jointly developed by AP Moller-Maersk and IBM. It is seeking to connect all 82 of its marine and inland container terminals, as well as feeder companies and logistics divisions with TradeLens. Plans to collaborate with other DP World business units, including the feeder line Unifeeder, have also been initiated. DP World becomes the third major global terminal operator to join TradeLens after PSA International and APM Terminal.
Read more: DP World | Lloyd’s List | JOC
Port of Savannah’s ‘Mega Rail’ project nearly hallway done
The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has essentially reached the halfway mark in a U$ 218 million projects to expand Savannah’s on-dock intermodal rail yard. The ‘Mega Rail Terminal’ is cornerstone of GPA’s vision to quicken transit times to what it dubs the ‘mid-America arc’, which includes beneficial cargo owners in Memphis and Chicago and smaller markets such as St. Louis, Louisville, and Cincinnati and Columbus in Ohio. By building longer and greater number of trains on da daily basis, the GPA believes containers will reach their destinations faster than ever before.
Stephen Morton/GPA
Read more: Lloyd’s List
Alliances outline extensive blank sailings for Q3
Container carriers are extending aggressive capacity reduction programs deeper into the third quarter, a clear signal shipping lines expect a lukewarm recovery from the demand-crushing effects of the COVID-19 crisis. The Alliance said W23, 75 sailings will be canceled through September. It announced a raft of void sailings on the trans-Pacific and trans-Atlantic trades, but only until the end of July. The 2M will suspend its joint Asia-Europe services for the full third quarter, removing 22% of their capacity from the trade. Sea-Intelligence points out that a fortnightly “sweeper” service to be deployed by MSC on both the Asia-North Europe and Asia-Med trades in the third quarter to reduce capacity by 15-18 % instead of 22%.
Read more: JOC
US-China trade war intensifies sourcing shift
As the trade war raged last year, US importers generally moved away from China as an origin point. Although China still accounted for two-thirds of containerized US imports of household goods was an 8.1 % point decreased from 2018. The trend is part of an evolution toward producing in neighboring countries and it looks accelerating this year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “In 2019, we moved a significant amount of our products to Vietnam factories from China”, CEO and president of Havertys Furniture, told Wall Street analysts in February. Vietnam was the leading beneficiary of changing sourcing patterns.
Standard set for smart containers to exchange information
Guidance to how to resolve the problem of interoperability between ‘smart’ containers has been issued by the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA). It has published a set of connectivity interface standards for shipping containers that can be implemented by vessels operators, terminals and third parties to ensure interoperability between smart container devices at the radio interface level. The standards are the first of three planned Internet of Things standards. Future releases will focus on data structure and handling, physical device specifications as well as security and access management.
Read more: DCSA | Lloyd’s List
Ports urged to accelerate pace of digitalization
While ports are well-placed to grasp the potential generated by the latest wave of technological innovation and integration, implementation remains slow and patchy, according to a report released by a coalition of 10 major shipping organization including BIMCO, ICS and IAPH. Among a list of nine priorities to be pursued by the coalition are broader use of single window-based port community systems, harmonization of data, and fostering port data sharing environments.
Read more: JOC | Lloyd’s List
Alibaba offers logistics, finance services to B to B platform
Alibaba on June 2 unveiled offerings aimed at allowing buyers and sellers on its business-to-business platform to instantly add supply chain finance services and logistics, the latter via an integration with the logistics software provider Freightos. The products address two major demands from participants in Alibaba’s ecosystem, which competes with Amazon and has seen a major increase in the North American market the last three years. Amazon has established a US truck brokerage, started its non-vessel operating common carrier business, runs its own intermodal containers, and operates a network of air freighters and final-mile delivery trucks.
Read more: JOC
Danish companies unite for green hydrogen project
A group of Danish companies have formed a coalition to develop a green hydrogen and e-fuels production facility. The project including Maersk, DFDS and DSV Panalpina marks the shipping industry’s direct involvement in the development of zero emissions fuels. Maersk, which has committed to having net zero emissions from its operations in 2050, has singled out alcohol(ethanol/methanol), biomethane and ammonia as zero emissions fuels it would like to explore further. Chief executive Søren Skou said the project is a first step in the massive transformation to produce and distribute sustainable energy and added companies in Denmark can take the lead in this area.
Read more: Orsted | Lloyd’s List1 | Lloyd’s List2 | Lloyd’s List3
Germany targets green shipping in coronavirus stimulus package
Germany wants to earmark € 1billion (U$ 1.13 billion) in spending for shipping and another € 9 billion for hydrogen production projects as part of a national coronavirus recovery fund. The measures are included in a € 130 billion stimulus package unveiled by the German Government to combat the impact of the outbreak. Germany incurred a 2.2 % contraction in gross domestic product in the first quarter of 2020.
Read more: Bundesregierung | Lloyd’s List