World Maritime News

World Maritime News (115)

December 10, 2025

MSC’s ascent rewrites power balance and risk in container shipping MSC’s rapid fleet expansion through secondhand purchases and newbuildings has made it the clear leader in container shipping, surpassing Maersk. Over the past five years, MSC added 1.8 million TEU via secondhand ships and has a 2.2 million TEU orderbook, creating a large capacity gap. Competitors are responding with defensive ordering, pushing the global orderbook to 34% of existing fleet capacity, especially for large vessels.

World Maritime News (114)

November 26, 2025

Divergence on net zero could reshape global shipping routes The IMO failed to adopt a global Net-Zero Framework, leading carriers to favor regions with lower carbon prices. Regional carbon pricing and frameworks will create complexity for shipowners, potentially reshaping global shipping routes. Geopolitical, energy security, and economic factors have slowed maritime decarbonization, according to GCMD CEO Lynn Loo. Cargo owners with strong sustainability goals will exert significant influence o

World Maritime News (113)

November 12, 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

World Maritime News (112)

October 29, 2025

Why DP World built a 10,000 teu berth for ships that don’t yet call in the Philippines DP World has built a new berth at Manila South Harbour capable of handling 10,000 TEU vessels—well ahead of current demand. This strategic investment reflects confidence in the Philippines’ transition from an import-driven economy to a regional trade hub. Strengthening export ties with Japan, Thailand, and Indonesia under the “China plus one” strategy is expected to reduce trade imbalance. Despite US tariffs

World Martime News (111)

October 15, 2025

Beijing issues detailed rules for reciprocal port fees targeting US-linked vessels China has released detailed rules for its new port fees targeting US-linked vessels, in response to US levies on Chinese maritime interests. The fees apply to ships with 25% or more US ownership and will gradually increase from Yuan 400 ($56) per net tonne to Yuan 1,120 by April 2028. Ships built in China or arriving empty for repairs are exempt. Shipping companies must file declarations at least seven days befor

World Maritime News (110)

October 01, 2025

Expect higher trade costs, slower growth and more volatility, says UNCTAD The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) warns that the maritime shipping industry is entering a period of high volatility, rising costs, and slower growth due to geopolitical tensions, trade policy uncertainty, and fragile supply chains. Seaborne trade growth is expected to slow to just 0.5% in 2025, with a modest 2% annual growth projected through 2030. Geopolitical instability is causing longer shipping rout

World Martime News (109)

September 17, 2025

U.S. tariff maze could become even more difficult after court ruling On August 29, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that former President Donald Trump's tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) are illegal. The case is now heading to the Supreme Court, and the outcome could significantly impact U.S. importers and the container shipping industry. Potential Positive Impact (if IEEPA tariffs are struck down): Up to $200 billion in tariff refunds could boost U.S.

World Maritime News (108)

September 03, 2025

Port call data reveals China’s trade pivot as tariffs turbocharge rerouting China is significantly restructuring its global trade routes in response to rising tariffs and geopolitical tensions. Data from port calls shows a decline in Chinese exports to the US, while direct shipping connections to emerging markets—especially in Southeast Asia and Africa—are increasing. This shift reflects a broader realignment of global supply chains, with China deepening ties with non-Western economies and bypa

World Maritime News (107)

July 23, 2025

IMO must reward ZNZ fuels and avoid double tax ICS argues Draft IMO regulations suggest ships may be rewarded for using zero or near-zero carbon (ZNZ) fuels, but shipowners argue this should be guaranteed. The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) urges the IMO to approve its Net Zero Framework (NZF) and integrate the EU ETS to avoid double taxation. ICS believes that early tax revenues will be sufficient to fund rewards, given the limited ZNZ fuel availability between 2029 and 2033. Uncertai

World Maritime News (106)

July 09, 2025

Rerouting leads to increase in containers lost overboard Rerouting ships around the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the Red Sea has led to an increase in the number of containers lost at sea. In 2024, 576 containers were lost, more than double the 221 lost in 2023, but still below the 10-year average of 1,274. Despite the increase, the loss rate remains very low at 0.0002% of the 250 million containers transported. Mandatory reporting of container losses to the International Maritime Organization (I

World Maritime News (105)

June 25, 2025

Focus on boring decarbonisation solutions, not future fuels, say shipowners The article discusses the shipping industry's approach to decarbonization, emphasizing the importance of efficiency improvements over investing in future fuels, such as ammonia, methanol, and hydrogen. Key points are as follows: - Shipping is already highly efficient in terms of emissions per tonne of cargo carried. - Significant investment in future fuels is questioned due to a lack of clarity and high costs. - Ship

World Maritime News (103)

May 28, 2025

EU rules a game changer for fully electric ferries, says Kongsberg According to marine technology firm Kongsberg Maritime, EU green regulations are making fully electric shortsea shipping a real possibility. Strategy and business development vice-president Oskar Levander said rewards from selling overcompliance with the FuelEU Maritime standard had changed the game, alongside the new EU Emissions Trading Scheme costs and cheaper batteries. Levander estimated the annual cost of a 2,000 lm ro-pax