French-based shipping giant CMA CGM has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with French electric utility company ENGIE to promote liquefied natural gas (LNG) as the marine fuel for container vessels of the future.

The agreement will result in a joint technical and economic study on LNG as a fuel for boxships, as well as a study about the engineering necessary for fueling these types of vessels.

Farid Salem, Executive Officer of the CMA CGM Group, stated: “Liquefied natural gas has many environmental advantages. It is undoubtedly the fuel of the future of the maritime shipping industry that will progressively substitute heavy fuel oil over the next few decades. CMA CGM wishes to be a pioneer in this area. And with the agreement with ENGIE this allows the company to move one step closer.”

The usage of LNG reduces CO2 and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions, while eliminating sulfur oxide (SOx) emissions.

In addition, the “PERFECt” project, launched by CMA CGM in 2015 in partnership with DNV GL, GTT, ABB, Caterpillar, and OMT, aims to construct a large capacity container-ship which would use a combined gas and steam turbine system to power the ultra large vessel.

California port of Oakland and stevedore operator TraPac reached a lease agreement for additional 57 acres and 2 berths on the Outer Harbor port.

TraPac is waiting for approval of its expansion plan on October 27, 2016. For now the  stevedore operator handles 20 % of container cargo going through  the Oakland Port, operates  2 vessel berths and 66 acres.

Under new project TraPac would have 4 berth and 123 acres in total for cargo handling. According to the port authorities  the operator  will invest to renovation and modernization of this new Oakland terminal under its control.

Also TraPac already operates in ports of Los Angeles and Jacksonville, Florida.

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Panama Canal Reconstruction Is Not Over

T​he next in queue for expansion is the Corozal Container Terminal. The Panama Canal Authority has recently announced the Request For Proposals ​to develop the Pacific Entrance of the Panama Canal. The project will include the construction, financing and design of the terminal. The competition now is among 4 pre-qualified operators from different countries,​ and one of them will get a right to handle it after. Terminal's capacity was estimated as 5 million TEUs a year.

The Corosal Terminal reconstruction will include more than 2 km linear dock and 120 ha. area with port facilities, warehouse and container yard.

Project competitors have time until February 3 to present their proposals.

Due to the growing economic development in Vietnam, Japanese shipping company NYK line decided to implement a twice-monthly RORO service connecting Hai Phong, Vietnam and Laem Chabang, Thailand. It is assumed that the new car transport service will improve NYK line's position in the current shipping market, including recent report about company's biggest loss for the past time.