World Maritime News
WMNF 2020/11/26
UNCTAD issued REVIEW OF MARITIME TRANSPORT 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the global interdependency of nations and set in motion new trends that will reshape the maritime transport landscape. UNCTAD’s REVIEW OF MARITIME TRANSPORT 2020 issued 12 November raises nine points of legacies. 1) A paradigm-risk management and resilience-building are becoming new policy and business mantras 2) Accelerated shift in globalization patterns and supply chain designs 3) New consumer spending and behavior 4) A strengthened case for digitalization and dematerialization 5) A significant increase in the use of electronic trade documentation 6) Standards and interoperability becoming more important 7) Cybersecurity becoming a major concern following increased cyberattacks 8) Adjustments in maritime transport to adapt to the new operating landscape 9) A greater need for systemic and coordinated policy responses at the global level.
Read more: UNCTAD
Container line profit soar as service plunges
Higher rates and lower fuel costs resulted in the robust profits of container lines in the third quarter. Maritime analysists are expecting the industry to achieve an operating profit of between U$ 11 and 14 billion for the full year. But frustration is building among their customers that are finding space in short supply, a lack of equipment, and global schedule reliability that in the third quarter tumbled to 65% down almost 15 percentage points year over year.
Read more: JOC1 | Lloyd’s List | JOC2 | JOC3 | JOC4
Carriers levy congestion surcharges on Chines reefer imports
China has actually overtaken the US as the number one global importer of frozen and fresh food with imports up over 40% this year versus 2019. The US is the top supplier of perishable food to China with exports up 146% thus far for 2020. Pork is the leading commodity fueling China’s reefer imports. Much of China’s domestic production comes from small farmers, which can affect reliability, food safety and quality. Combined with rising demand from a growing middle class, China’s pork and poultry consumption are also on the rise. Carriers including CMA CGM and MSC are imposing congestion surcharge on reefer cargoes into Tianjin’s Xingang in northern China due to tougher customs inspections on frozen food to prevent COVID-19 infections.
Container lines set path to standardize facility coding
Two non-profit organizations in the container shipping industry said 17 November they have standardized codes used to identify a range of containerized facilities, part of a broader goal of establishing a common language for the sector. The harmonization of such facilities, developed by the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) and Bureau International des Containers (BIC) should theoretically make it easier for cargo owners, logistics companies and equipment providers to coordinate shipments and assets between the various systems they use.
Read more: JOC
IMO approves new emission measure for ships amid criticism of climate complacency
IMO members approved the combined technical and operational measure as a new short-term greenhouse gas emissions reduction measure. However, many made it clear they believe it is not ambitious enough. IMO secretary general Kitack Lim has acknowledged that the new short-term carbon emissions reduction measures agreed this week are not perfect, but stresses they are important building blocks. That has not been enough to fend off criticism that the agreement falls well short of expectations, and nor will it hold off calls from those seeking stronger regional approaches.
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Lloyd’s List1 | Lloyd’s List2 | Transport and Environment
UK places maritime in 10-point green plan for net zero emissions
The UK government has pledged financial support for research projects to develop a zero-emission maritime sector. It is part of a £12 billion program announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson which he says is a “global template for delivering net zero emissions” by 2050.
His 10-point plan, which sets out a green industrial revolution to tackle climate change, includes £20 million (U$ 26.5 million) for shipping. There is also a pledge to quadruple the amount of offshore wind power capacity within a decade. The UK will host the United Nations COP 26 climate summit in Glasgow in November 2021.
Read more: Lloyd’s List | FT