Tropical Shipping Boosts Canadian Service

US-based Tropical Shipping will launch a container shipping service from the Canadian Port of Halifax today.

The transporter's 1,118 TEU containership Vega Omega will sail from Halterm International Container Terminal in Canada to Florida, The Bahamas, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

Kim Holtermand, Halterm’s Chief Operating Officer, said that “the terminal can meet both Tropical Shipping’s performance needs in 2017 and plan for extended operations in 2018 through 2019 when Tropical will take delivery of larger capacity vessels.”

Tropical Shipping's 15 vessels provide direct service to Florida and the Caribbean.

Antwerp Port Reported Record Cargo Volumes in 2016

The Antwerp Port Authority​ revealed the statistics of 2016 freight turnover, it's been more than 214 million tonnes of cargo.

The container freight volume rose by 4.1% - more than 10 million TEU. Such figures were reached mostly due to expanded Antwerp - Hamburg - Le Havre service, as well as trade with Far East during last years.

However the RORO shipping rates have declined by 1.9% (export is 16.5% less and import +9.5$).

In general, all the figures are showing that Antwerp port has been visited by bigger and larger vessels. In comparison with 2015, it's been 138 vessels more welcomed at Antwerp port.

NYK, Kline and MOL shipping lines will join their operations 

Three Japanese carriers decided to merge their container liners and international port operations. This will happen to make profit on a regular basis even when market is poor. New joint venture will be formed this July and will start operating the common service in April, 2018. Alliance's top priority is to restore profitability and the ordinary income level for every of these carriers. The routes will remain the same: Europe-North America, Asia-North America, Asia-Europe.

Taiwanese carrier Wan Hai Lines and Japan company K Line will provide new direct container service in the south-east Asia route between Thailand and Belawan. New service will be available from January 7, 2017. 

The total effective capacity of two containerships on the route will be 1400 TEU. Wan Hai and K Line will offer 1 vessel each. 

New service will have 14 days round trip schedule and the following port rotation: Bangkok – Laem Chabang – Singapore – Port Klang North Port – Belawan – Singapore – Laem Chabang – Bangkok.

Stockholm Terminal Sets Container Record

The container terminal at Frihamnen, Sweden has set a new record for the number of transported containers.

The total number of containers in 2016 will be around 54,000 TEUs, exceeding the previous record of about 51,000 TEUs. 

Ports of Stockholm stated: “It is extremely positive that the number of containers has increased at Frihamnen as we are simultaneously building a new freight port that in the future will account for a major portion of the supply of goods to the rapidly growing Stockholm region.” 

The container terminal at Frihamnen is being used by the world’s second largest container shipping company, MSC, as well as Team Lines, TransAtlantic Container and Unifeeder.