Transportation and logistics services

Bulker crashes with container ship in Türkiye

18.09.2023

While maneuvering to anchor, the bulk carrier New Legend collided with the stern of the anchored container ship Elbsun on 17 September in Ahirkapi anchorage, Istanbul, Marmara Sea.

According to Maritime Bulletin's report, both ships suffered damage and remained anchored until 12 p.m. (local time) on 17 September. New Legend arrived from Kerch Strait anchorage in Russia, while the 877 TEU boxship Elbsun arrived at Ahirkapi anchorage on 16 September from Morocco.

Container lines consolidate service networks out of South India as trade expands

11.09.2023

Container lines are rapidly expanding connections out of South India to keep pace with growing trade volumes.

But the concentration of calls at private box terminals operated by Adani Group, which act as alternatives to Chennai Port, is becoming increasingly evident.

HMM has cemented its network with direct sailings out of Adani Kattupalli Port (AKPPL). Its FIM [Far East Asia-India-Mediterranean] service is a major boon for southern India shippers traditionally tethered to transshipment over Sri Lanka’s Colombo Port for mainline connections.

The FIM rotation is Busan, Kwangyang, Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou, Singapore, Port Klang, Kattupalli, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Karachi, Jeddah, (Suez Canal), Damietta, Piraeus, Genoa, Valencia, Barcelona, Piraeus, Damietta, (Suez Canal), Jeddah, Karachi, Mundra, Nhava Sheva, Kattupalli, Singapore, Da Chan Bay and back to Busan.

In addition, CMA CGM has opened a new string out of Adani Ennore Container Terminal (AECTPL) for North Europe and the Mediterranean. The NEMO [North Europe-Mediterranean-Oceania] Service rotates Ennore, Colombo, Malta, Valencia, London Gateway, Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp, Le Havre, Fos Sur Mer, La Spezia, Malta, Pointe Des Galets, Port Louis, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Singapore and Ennore.

“This new call will offer our customers a fast export connection from the main commercial area in South East India to Europe together with a direct import connection from Australia and Singapore,” said CMA CGM in a customer advisory, announcing the Ennore call.

The carrier further noted, “Ennore is also a natural gateway from/to ICD [inland container depot] Bangalore covered with an efficient rail connectivity and will provide a best-in-class service to the fast-growing automotive industry.”

The NEMO competes directly with Maersk’s ME7 Service, connecting South India trade via Ennore to North Europe.

The ME7 port rotation is Ennore, Colombo, Salalah, Algeciras, Felixstowe, Rotterdam, Bremerhaven, Jeddah, Salalah, Colombo and Ennore.

With more call additions, Kattupalli and Ennore have already made sizeable inroads into the Chennai market. According to available data, Kattupalli saw 58,046 TEUs last month, while Ennore handled 59,985 TEUs.

The growing shift of volumes to emerging port locations poses challenges for box terminals at Chennai Port, putting further investment in capacity development there at risk.

CMA CGM halts Mediterranean service as rates sink

06.09.2023

CMA CGM’s new Asia-Mediterranean service has fallen victim to falling freight rates, after just six sailings.

The French carrier has suspended its newly launched Turkey-Libya Express (TLX) service, which commenced in July, calling at Shanghai, Ningbo, Nansha, Singapore, Jeddah, Iskenderun, Malta and Misurata, with ad hoc calls at Lianyungang and Tripoli. TLX had its last sailing on 11 August.

Rates to the Mediterranean have been rapidly deteriorating after holding on to the premium over the Asia-North Europe lane since last year.

Linerlytica observed that supply-side pressure is increasingly negative for Asia-North Europe and Asia-Mediterranean lanes.

The removal of the TLX service will not be enough to tilt the balance, due to record newbuilding deliveries and weak capacity discipline.

Long-haul rates are expected to come under more pressure this month, in the lead-up to the week-long National Day holiday starting 1 October in China.

General rate increases on 1 September helped to lift Transpacific rates, even as Asia-Europe rates continued trending downwards.

Asia-US West Coast rates went up to US$2,136/FEU, up nearly 7% from the previous week, while Asia-US East Coast rates increased about 3%, to US$3,132/FEU.

Asia-Europe rates lost 4%, to US$768/TEU, while Asia-Mediterranean rates fell 6% to US$1,364/TEU.

Linerlytica’s report today (5 September) noted, “Transpacific freight rates rose by US$100 after the 1 September GRI but the rate gains were lower than expected and carriers have already started to cut rates with the outlook turning negative.”

The consultancy noted that several carriers have already withdrawn their Transpacific peak season surcharges (PSS), signifying the early end of the peak season even before the Golden Week holidays in China in October. East Coast and Pacific Northwest rates are under pressure with capacity still in excess supply on these two routes compared to the Pacific Southwest where demand and supply is more balanced.