Ships for America
In early February, for the past 30 years, New York’s shipping elite have gathered at what is known as the “HACC NACC” event, a one-day conference arranged jointly by the Hellenic American and Norwegian American Chambers of Commerce.
Not surprisingly, matters related to National Security and Economic Protectionism dominated the 202 program- titled “Staying Afloat in a Dangerous World”. The tone for the day was set by the Keynote Address Senator Mark Kelly (Democrat – Arizona), delivered virtually due to “a lot of things going on in Washington DC”, in the words of Dan Tadros, Chief Operating Officer of the American Club, moderating the Keynote Session.
Brazil’s Itajaí box terminal in $42 mn expansion
The investment will be for the acquisition of new equipment and the expansion of the storage area, aiming at strengthening operations and attracting new shipping lines to the terminal.
JBS Terminais will invest $22 million to increase capacity to 500,000 teu annually by purchasing new equipment, including two new mobile harbour cranes. The remaining $20 million will be invested in expanding the storage area by 12.5 percent.
Since JBS Terminais took over the management of the container terminal, several shipping lines have resumed operations at the port.
MSC was the first to return in September with its ‘Carioca’ service, which connects the Far East with the East Coast of South America. And Hapag-Lloyd has re-established its ‘SAT’ service, linking the East Coast of South America with the West of South Africa.
In Luanda, ad ports launches operations
AD Ports Group’s expansion into Angola follows the signing of a 2023 framework agreement between the company and the Angolan government.
AD Ports Group began operations, in partnership with Angola’s joint venture partners Unicargas and Multiparques at the Noatum Ports Luanda Terminal, the largest port in the country. Under the terms of a 20-year concession agreement signed with the Luanda Port Authority in April 2024, AD Ports Group holds an 81 percent stake in the multipurpose terminal venture and a 90 percent stake in the logistics venture with Unicargas.
The company has committed to investing around $250 million through 2026 to modernise the terminal and develop Noatum Unicargas Logistics, a joint venture offering integrated logistics, transport, and freight forwarding services for regional and international clients.
“This marks a significant milestone for AD Ports Group as we begin operations at Noatum Ports Luanda Terminal and Noatum Unicargas Logistics,” said Mohamed Eidha Al Menhali, regional CEO of AD Ports Group.
In Turkey , longest cargo sail ship launched
The world’s longest wind-powered cargo ship was launched in Turkey, offering a promising way to slash carbon emissions from merchandise trade. The 136-meter (450-foot) Neoliner Origin was floated at the Turkish port of Tuzla, and will now undergo six months of fitting-out.
Designed by French company Neoline and built by Turkish shipyard RMK Marine, the ship can carry 5,300 tonnes of freight over long distances thanks to its two masts and 3,000 square meters of sails.
With about 90 percent of world trade going by sea, the maritime transport sector is responsible for about three percent of greenhouse gas emissions, according to the International Maritime Organization. The ship will leave Turkey during the summer of 2025 for the French Atlantic port of Saint-Nazaire, then will begin its first rotation toward North America, serving the French island of Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, the US port of Baltimore and Halifax in Canada. The project received support from France’s public investment bank (BPI) and the French shipping company CMA-CGM.
EU maritime transport
Maritime transport plays a crucial role in sustaining trade, economic growth, connectivity, and accessibility, while also contributing to energy security and job creation. However, increased transport demand for the maritime sector comes with additional environmental impacts on the atmosphere and marine ecosystems. According to the report , which gives an update on the environmental performance of the sector and an assessment of efforts to make it more sustainable, some progress has been made but reducing emissions remains a challenge.
Activities like shipping of cargo, containers, commercial fishing, tankers, and cruise ships, as well as port activities, remain significant contributors to a wide range of environmental challenges, with the whole sector accounting for 3-4 percent of the EU’s overall carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, a share that needs to decrease.
Red sea crisis drives Maersk to third most profitable ever year
AP Moller – Maersk reported a 65 percent increase in EBIT for the full year 2024 of $6.5 billion compared to $3.94 billion in 2023. The company reported annual revenues of $55.48 billion for 2024 up from $51.07 billion in the previous year.
The improved financial results, according to Maersk its third best ever, were driven by increased container demand and higher freight rates due to the security situation in the Red Sea which saw all major container lines rerouting Asia – Europe/Med and Asia – US East Coast services via the Cape of Good Hope adding 10 – 14 days to transit in each direction.
Donald’s China tariffs fail to make an impact
Chinese import volumes have remained strong and there has been rising congestion at both ports in China and the US and the expectation remains that this is not about to change.
The imposition of 10 percent tariffs on all Chinese imports into the US was, according to the BBC’s Ross Atkins, an attempt to prevent US consumers being “ripped off by the rest of the world”, and for America to be self-reliant.
It is questionable whether tariffs of 25 percent already in place since 2018 have had any impact, with the latest port congestion data showing that delays are occurring in China and the US.