World Maritime News
WMNF12/11/2025
Port fee pause will cover foreign-built vehicle carriers, USTR confirms
The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has confirmed that foreign-built vehicle carriers will be included in the one-year suspension of U.S. port fees, starting November 10, 2025. This move offers significant financial relief to operators who were previously paying up to $1 million per U.S. port call. The decision is part of a broader U.S.-China trade détente, with both countries agreeing to suspend port fees on a reciprocal basis.
Read more: Lloyd’s List
Container terminal decarbonisation: job done?
While the broader shipping industry’s decarbonisation efforts have slowed, APM Terminals has demonstrated that container terminals can reduce emissions relatively easily. By adopting electric equipment and renewable energy, they have already achieved significant reductions in emissions. This success offers a hopeful model for other sectors within maritime logistics.
Read more: Lloyd’s List
Tonnage tsunami: can ports withstand the ULC surge?
Global ports are bracing for a surge in ultra-large container ships (ULCs), with the fleet expected to double over the next five years. These vessels, many exceeding 18,000 TEU, are straining port infrastructure — including berth depth, crane reach, and yard space. The cascading effect of vessel deployment is pushing mid-sized ships into secondary trades, overwhelming smaller ports. There is a growing mismatch between theoretical terminal capacity and real-world operations. Irregular ULC arrivals disrupt yard planning and landside logistics. In regions like Europe and Africa, infrastructure limitations and geographic constraints exacerbate the issue. Experts suggest shifting from mega-port expansion to a regional distribution model — using major hubs like Rotterdam for transshipment and smaller vessels for final delivery. This could cut carbon emissions by 40–60% while improving efficiency. However, unless ports adapt quickly, the industry risks chronic congestion and vulnerability to future disruptions.
Read more: Lloyd’s List