This category covers the latest developments in the ports and shipping sector, including maritime transport, vessel charters, shipping agreements, port operations, and logistics. It features news on commercial shipping activities, low-carbon and alternative fuel vessels, global trade movements, and strategic partnerships shaping the maritime industry. The section highlights how ports and shipping contribute to international trade, energy transport, and the transition toward sustainable and efficient maritime operations.
Global container shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd has agreed to acquire ZIM, Israel’s de facto national shipping line, in a landmark deal valued at over $4 billion. The heads of agreement have been reached, and ZIM’s board approved the transaction, which will see the company delisted from the New York Stock Exchange after Hapag-Lloyd purchases all issued shares.
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China now dominates global shipbuilding orders, but South Korea is fighting back in high-end vessels such as LNG carriers, as rising geopolitical tensions reshape the maritime industry and global supply chains.
In 2025, Chinese shipyards secured 63 percent of global new vessel orders, far ahead of South Korea’s 21 percent and Japan’s 5 percent, according to London-based Clarkson Research Services. Chinese state data placed the figure even higher at 69 percent, underscoring Beijing’s tightening grip on global shipbuilding.
Container shipping rates from East Asia and China to the US edged lower this week as cargo volumes remain soft, despite carriers increasing the number of blank sailings. Supply chain advisory firm Drewry reported that spot rates from Shanghai to major US ports declined slightly due to subdued demand. Ahead of factory closures for the Lunar New Year, carriers announced 57 blank sailings over the next two weeks on transpacific East and West Coast trade lanes, significantly higher than in previous years. Analysts expect spot rates to continue a modest decline in the coming weeks.
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APM Terminals, the terminal operating arm of A.P. Moller – Maersk, and Eurogate are negotiating a €1 billion expansion of their joint container terminal in Bremerhaven, a move aimed at increasing operational efficiency, competitiveness, and sustainability at one of Europe’s key North Range ports.
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The Trump administration has released a comprehensive Maritime Action Plan aimed at rebuilding the United States shipbuilding industry and strengthening the broader maritime sector, funded in part through port fees on cargo arriving aboard China-built vessels. The levies, introduced under Section 301 following a U.S. investigation into China’s alleged unfair shipping practices, were expected to generate an estimated $3.2 billion annually before both countries agreed to pause the measures for 12 months amid escalating trade tensions.
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Nine months into operations, Seascale Energy has gained significant momentum as a marine fuel procurement platform focused on scale, transparency, and efficiency in the bunker industry. Launched in May 2025 as a joint venture between Cargill’s Pure Marine Fuels (PMF) and the Hafnia Bunker Alliance, Seascale Energy was created to offer a future-ready approach to marine fuel procurement.
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Erik Thun Group has officially launched its latest product tanker, Thun Resolve, the newest vessel in its R‑class “Resource Efficiency” series, designed for top-tier performance, sustainability, and crew safety. The launch took place at Shipyard Ferus Smit BV in Leer, Germany, at 11:00 CET and was attended by IMO (International Maritime Organization) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, who leads global maritime safety and environmental protection efforts. The ceremony also included Brigit Gijsbers, Deputy Director-General for Civil Aviation and Maritime Affairs in the Netherlands, who served as the vessel’s Godmother, highlighting Erik Thun Group’s commitment to responsible, future-ready shipping.
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The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is set to complete the sale of Danube Logistics, the operator of Moldova’s Giurgiulesti International Free Port (GIFP), to Romania’s state-owned Port of Constanta, marking a significant development in Black Sea and Danube regional trade. The transaction, expected to close imminently, follows the signing of a Share Purchase Agreement (SPA) on 31 December 2025 for the sale of 100 per cent of EBRD’s shares in ICS Danube Logistics to Romania’s National Company Maritime Ports Administration SA Constanta. Approval of the SPA was announced by the Port of Constanța on 12 February 2026, confirming that the Romanian port authority will become the sole owner of Danube Logistics.
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Australia and the Philippines have strengthened their maritime partnership by reaffirming mutual recognition of seafarer certificates, a move aimed at reducing administrative barriers and supporting smoother shipping operations and bilateral trade between the two countries. The agreement is expected to enhance maritime logistics while improving protections and career mobility for seafarers operating across both jurisdictions.
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Hong Kong’s commerce chief summoned the Panamanian Consul General in the city on Friday to protest a court ruling that annulled CK Hutchison’s contract to operate two ports at the Panama Canal. The move follows warnings from China’s Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office that Panama could face “heavy prices” over the decision.
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Kongsberg Maritime has been selected by Consórcio Marenova to design and equip four methanol- and ethanol-ready handy-size product tanker newbuilds for Petrobras Transporte (Transpetro), strengthening Brazil’s fleet renewal and future-fuel shipping capabilities. The vessels will be constructed by Consórcio Marenova, a joint venture between Ecovix in Rio Grande and MacLaren in Niterói, and will be operated by Transpetro.
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Dockworkers across Italy disrupted port operations after unionized labor staged a 24-hour strike protesting the alleged “militarization” of ports and the handling of arms and military cargo, forcing several container ships to remain offshore or divert to alternative anchorages. Reports indicate that vessels operated by ZIM and MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company were among those affected.
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China has instructed its state-owned firms to pause negotiations on new projects in Panama following the Central American nation’s decision to nullify CK Hutchison Holdings Ltd.’s contract to operate two strategic ports along the Panama Canal. The directive comes amid Beijing’s growing response to Panama’s move, which it views as influenced by U.S. interests.
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Port workers at Bangladesh’s Chittagong Port have launched an indefinite strike in protest against the decision to lease the New Mooring Container Terminal (NCT) to foreign terminal operators, including UAE-based DP World.
The non-stop work stoppage is being led under the banner of the Chittagong Port Protection Struggle Council, which opposes the handover of NCT management to a foreign entity. According to the council, the strike has brought port operations to a standstill.
Italy’s port operations are set for disruption as dockworkers prepare for a nationwide strike on February 6, 2026, raising concerns across the European maritime and logistics sectors.
The Genoa-based grassroots dockworkers’ union Unione Sindacale di Base (USB) has announced a 24-hour international general strike that will involve port workers and the wider maritime sector at ports throughout Italy. The planned action is expected to affect cargo handling, vessel turnaround times, and related port services, potentially creating delays in regional supply chains.
