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What to watch | Analysis | Opinion | Markets | In other news
What to watch
Fuel barges being taken offline for tank cleaning ahead of IMO 2020 is causing delays and resultant price spikes at top bunkering port Singapore and a loss of business to neighbouring ports.
The countdown to 2019’s big reveal begins, as Lloyd’s List readies for the 10th edition of our now infamous Top 100 listing on December 13. Meanwhile, our sector Top 10s will help build the anticipation over the next two weeks, starting today with the most influential players from the container port sector.
DNG Energy chief executive Aldworth Mbalati believes it has one single customer lined up that could consume about half a million tonnes of LNG annually.
The Lloyd’s List Podcast: This week, we’re crunching the numbers and offering up a market forecast with Lloyd’s List Intelligence’s analytical oracle Christopher Pålsson and our own Editor and regular Podcast host Richard Meade. The pair talk through everything from growth trends to regulatory risk in their consideration of the dynamic trends that will be shaping shipping markets in 2020.
The European Commission has indicated it will extend the Consortia Block Exemption Regulation for a further five years. But European ports and terminal operators say there is insufficient data available to assess abuses.
Analysis
The head of the US marine solutions, energy and logistics company Crowley Maritime says it shines most brightly when there’s a big challenge, whether it be an earthquake, a hurricane or a huge salvage job such as the Costa Concordia. Such challenges bring everyone together, creating a very resilient and capable organisation, Tom Crowley tells Lloyd’s List.
Singapore’s PSA International claims the crown of ‘Top of the ops’ in the container port sector in this year’s Lloyd’s List Top 10 box ports rankings, heading up an Asian top three on an equity teu basis.
DHL’s latest Global Trade Barometer has dropped by a further two points to a new index value of 45, indicating a further trade contraction for the next three months for most major economies — with the exception of India, where ocean freight volumes remain buoyant.
Opinion
What will be the key issues shaping shipping during the next 12 months? Take part in the Lloyd’s List Annual Market Survey and have your say on the big questions that will determine the shipping market outlook for 2020.
Maritime London chairman Lord Mountevans says UK should be ready to seize the opportunity if shipowners move tax jurisdictions.
A survey of 6,000 adults in six countries has revealed a low-to-medium degree of comfort with autonomous transport. It is important to understand what lies behind this perception, writes Richard Clayton.
Our regular round-up of the stories behind the headlines this week eyes up plenty of dark clouds on the horizon for the shipping industry, widespread frustration at the US forcing shipping lines to become de facto policemen, why the Panama flag is on a public relations drive and the strange case of the soyabean cargo saga that is keeping m’learned friends in Canada busy through 2020.
Markets
The trend of downward pressure on long-term contracted ocean freight rates appears to have been broken, or at least temporarily derailed, with marginal increases seen across the board in November, according to digital rates specialist Xeneta.
In other news
Delays in scrubber retrofits and an increase in the scrapping of older vessels should help support the boxship charter market into 2020, according to MPC Container Ships.
China Merchants Energy Shipping is to pocket Yuan521.1m ($74.2m) having agreed to sell two Chinese-built very large crude carriers to Turkish owner Advantage Tankers.
Shipowners’ Club has announced its first general increase in six years, citing ongoing higher-than-budgeted deficits as the reason for the decision.
Velesto Energy sees almost full utilisation of jack-up rig fleet in the third quarter while Icon Offshore struggles to raise charters of its OSV fleet much beyond the 50% level.
CDB Financial Leasing has agreed an acquisition deal that involves two Mediterranean Shipping Company large containerships.
Gothenburg has joined a group of nine other Nordic region ports that have signed a declaration to co-operate, exchange information and share best practice on a range of environmental and climate-related issues.
