Author: Ruth M
Shenzhen, China – September 16, 2025 – COSCO Shipping Holdings, through its subsidiaries, has announced plans to establish a high-end logistics hub in Yantian, Shenzhen, in partnership with Shenzhen Port Logistics Group and other stakeholders. The move is set to bolster the Pearl River Delta’s role as a global maritime and logistics gateway while enhancing integrated supply chain solutions for regional and international trade. The new entity, Shenzhen COSCO Shipping Smart Supply Chain Co., Ltd., will be a joint venture with a registered capital of CNY 1 billion (approx. US$140 million). The shareholding structure will comprise: Scope and Facilities The…
Panama City, Panama – September 2025 The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has unveiled a major step toward sustainable shipping with the official launch of a “NetZero Slot”, a new category within its transit reservation system designed to accelerate efforts in maritime decarbonization. The initiative, announced this month, introduces a special transit slot that rewards and prioritizes vessels demonstrating significant emissions reductions, either through the use of alternative fuels, advanced energy-efficient technologies, or verified carbon-neutral operations. According to the ACP, the NetZero Slot is intended to both incentivize shipping lines to adopt cleaner practices and align the Canal’s operations with international…
Cotonou, Benin – The Autonomous Port of Cotonou (PAC) has launched an ambitious modernization programme aimed at transforming the facility into a state-of-the-art maritime gateway for West Africa. The initiative is designed to enhance efficiency, boost cargo handling capacity, and secure Cotonou’s position against rising competition from neighboring ports. The port, which already serves as a key entry and exit point for trade with Niger, Burkina Faso, and northern Nigeria, is targeting both infrastructure upgrades and digital transformation to meet growing demand in the region. Strategic Infrastructure Upgrades As part of the modernization plan, PAC is investing in: Digitalisation and…
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania – President Samia Suluhu Hassan has unveiled a bold plan to integrate Tanzania’s Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) with the upgraded Kigoma Port on Lake Tanganyika, a move she says will unlock unprecedented trade opportunities for western Tanzania and the wider Great Lakes region. The initiative, which forms part of Tanzania’s multibillion-dollar SGR expansion programme, is anchored on the 506-kilometre Tabora–Kigoma section currently under construction by Chinese contractors CCECC and CRCC. Once complete, the line will directly connect Kigoma Port to Dar es Salaam, enabling seamless cargo movement between the Indian Ocean coast and inland waterways serving…
Norwegian authorities have seized a Russian fishing vessel after it reportedly remained in port beyond its authorized period, raising fresh maritime tensions between Oslo and Moscow. The incident occurred in Tromsø, where the trawler had been undergoing routine maintenance. According to Norway’s Directorate of Fisheries, the vessel exceeded the permitted time frame for foreign-flagged fishing vessels in port, triggering enforcement action under Norway’s strict maritime and fisheries regulations. Coast Guard officials boarded the ship earlier this week and ordered it detained pending further investigation. Norwegian law allows for fines, confiscation of catch, or even the impoundment of vessels if operators…
September 11, 2025 – A CMA CGM-operated containership made contact with a quay wall and a gantry crane during maneuvering operations in the Port of Hamburg, Germany. The incident occurred along the Elbe River and has prompted investigations by local port authorities. The Incident The vessel, identified as the CMA CGM Ermitage, was transiting the Elbe when it reportedly took evasive action to avoid a smaller yacht crossing its path. In the course of the manoeuvre, the ship struck the quay wall and brushed against a shore-based gantry crane. Port officials confirmed that while there was structural damage to the…
September 11, 2025 – Nigeria’s Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has renewed calls for the removal of the war risk insurance surcharges imposed on vessels calling at Nigerian ports, describing them as outdated, discriminatory, and economically unjustified. Speaking at an industry forum this week, the Minister stressed that Nigeria’s maritime environment has improved significantly in recent years, citing increased security patrols in the Gulf of Guinea and coordinated regional anti-piracy measures that have reduced incidents of vessel attacks. Legacy of High-Risk Classification War risk premiums were introduced more than a decade ago when Nigeria and the wider…
September 11, 2025 – Offshore engineering group Saipem has been awarded a $1.5 billion engineering, procurement, construction and installation (EPCI) contract by Turkish Petroleum Offshore Technology Center (TP-OTC) for the third phase of development at the Sakarya gas field, Turkey’s flagship offshore project in the Black Sea. The award covers new subsea infrastructure, a floating production unit (FPU), and a major export trunkline, consolidating Sakarya as the largest gas development project in Turkey’s history. Scope of Work Saipem’s scope includes: The works will be executed in ultra-deep waters of up to 2,200 meters, demanding advanced pipelaying and subsea installation technology.…
Berlin, September 10, 2025 — As the shipping industry braces for the rollout of the European Union’s FuelEU Maritime regulation, compliance strategies are under intense scrutiny. While vessel pooling has emerged as a favored option among some stakeholders, digital solutions provider ZERO44 is warning that pooling alone is no “silver bullet” for meeting the regulation’s stringent greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity targets. FuelEU Maritime, which came into effect in January 2025, requires ships calling at EU ports to progressively reduce the GHG intensity of the energy they use, starting with a 2% reduction compared to 2020 levels. The targets will tighten…
Beira, Mozambique – In a strategic move that underscores the growing importance of digital infrastructure in African maritime logistics, Sedna Africa, in partnership with Nokia, has begun the deployment of a dedicated private mobile network at the Port of Beira. The initiative, undertaken in close collaboration with terminal operator Cornelder de Moçambique, marks one of the most ambitious digitalization projects for Mozambique’s second-largest port and one of Southern Africa’s most critical trade gateways. A Strategic Trade Hub Undergoing Modernization The Port of Beira has long served as a vital maritime artery for both Mozambique and its landlocked neighbors — Zimbabwe,…