First major industry events cancelled
With many countries around the world in lockdown, event organizers are bracing themselves for another year without live events. Two major shipping events have already been cancelled or postponed. Read more
Nearly 50 rigs were scrapped last year
Nearly fifty drilling platforms were scrapped in 2020, which is significantly more than in previous years, reports the French financial services provider Kepler Chevreux.Read more
Wallenius Wilhelmsen takes 9 vessels out of cold layup
Wallenius Wilhelmsen will reactivate up to 9 of its 16 vessels that are currently in cold layup. Reactivation will take place during the first quarter of 2021 and the reactivated vessels will replace capacity currently...Read more
France and UK reopen border for freight traffic
Transport companies and trade associations are relieved that the border between England and France is reopening for freight traffic. However, it will take days before all the trucks that have accumulated on the British side...Read more
Pandemic drives up vessel operating costs
PRESS RELEASE – Vessel operating costs have risen at their fastest pace in over a decade this year due to higher insurance cover premiums and Covid-19 related expenses. Yet, they are expected to moderate in...Read more
Machinery volumes to decline as Caterpillar’s sales fall by 23%
Industrial manufacturer Caterpillar is shipping out a lot less machinery as a result of the pandemic. Third-quarter sales have fallen by 23% to USD 9.9 billion, compared to USD 12.8 billion in the third quarter...Read more
Pacific Drilling latest rig operator to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
New York-listed Pacific Drilling is the latest rig operator to file for a voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the US to get out of a major debt. Several other rig operators have made a similar move...Read more
Recession not as bad as initially feared
Although the global economy is still predicted for a recession in 2020, the intensity of it is now lower than previously anticipated, analysis of the IMF projections by shipping consultant SeaIntelligence shows. Compared to June,...Read more
“Traditional freight forwarding now requires additional services”
The Covid-19 pandemic is forcing freight forwarders to expand their services in order to secure contracts. “We have to rethink how we handle project forwarding and offer additional services like engineering”, said managing director Maria...Read more
Breakbulk Europe cancelled for 2020
Breakbulk Europe has been cancelled for 2020. “Government regulations impose a ban on all events and exhibitions with 1,000 or more participants until 31 October 2020, which means it is impossible to deliver the event...Read more
Throughput port of Rotterdam falls sharply, but less than feared
Throughput in the port of Rotterdam decreased by 9.1 per cent in the first half of the year compared with 2019, amounting to 218.9 million tonnes. Container throughput was only 3.3 per cent down on...Read more
DHL CEO: “We have navigated our company through this crisis very well”
DHL has regained its confidence for 2020 after performing well in the second quarter. The company has issued profit guidance of between EUR 3.5 and 3.8 billion, which is just slightly lower than the operating...Read more
Maersk ships millions of masks to North America… by air
Maersk Special Project Logistics (SPL) has shipped 53.3 million N95 facial masks from Asia to North America between April and May. Not wit its container vessels, but by air, using multiple full Boeing 747-400F and...Read more
Bolloré extends air bridge between Europe and Africa
PRESS RELEASE – Against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, Bolloré Logistics is extending its special weekly cargo freight service between Europe and West Africa until 31 July 2020.Read more
Geodis delivers 13 million masks using an Antonov aircraft
PRESS RELEASE – Geodis has transported 13 million masks from China to the US using an Antonov AN-124, the world’s second-largest aircraft. The shipment of personal protective equipment (PPE) arrived at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International...Read more
“Substantial segments of German fleet endangered in existence”
The German shipowners association VDR warns that the pandemic has an even bigger impact on the country’s shipping industry than the financial crisis of 2008. “Substantial segments of the German merchant fleet are foreseeably endangered...Read more
Wallenius Wilhelmsen books USD 285 million loss in first quarter
A combination of the pandemic and slower markets have seen Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s volume drop by 20 percent. As a result, the carrier’s sales declined by 18% and the company booked a net loss of 285...Read more
Boskalis so far beats Covid-19
Despite the inevitable negative impacts of the pandemic and oil crisis combined, Boskalis is “cautiously confident” about the rest of the year now Covid-19 restrictions are stabilizing. The company ended the first quarter above expectations...Read more