IT'S all happening in shipping this week!
We all saw those containers fall off the Mississippi while it was alongside at Port of Long Beach earlier this week. Someone even told me they weren’t sure if the video was real or AI-generated, it's getting really hard to tell nowadays! (I mean… have you seen those talking podcast dogs?). Personally, I couldn’t wait to tell my almost 13 year old that the “estimated” number lost overboard was around 67 (or “6 7”. If you know, you know. 😉) On a serious note, the number of containers lost overboard has increased to 75. As the salvage continues, we all know that it’s nothing short of a miracle that no one was seriously hurt.
Over in South Korea, shipbuilding labour unrest has hit new heights (literally) with the head of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries’ union climbing a 40m crane at the Ulsan yard to protest stalled wage negotiations. The dramatic crane protest has already disrupted operations at the yard, halting block-turnover work and threatening wider production delays at one of the world’s biggest shipbuilders.
Closer to home, the Australian freight market is feeling turbulence. Spot and contract rates are diverging, with carriers adjusting capacity at short notice. Scheduling volatility will continue through Golden Week, with port omissions and bad weather adding to the disruption. It’s tough for everyone, even the best-run services feel the ripple effects, so shippers should brace for more volatility in the weeks ahead.
What else is happening out there?
💠 NYK warns of fraudulent payment scams targeting customers
💠 PSA Mumbai set to claim title as India’s largest container terminal
💠 Ernst Russ partners with Eimskip on new boxship builds in China
💠 White House launches task force to crack down on tariff evasion
💠 Smaller containerships in high demand among newbuild orders
💠 Shipowners slam reports of steel giant POSCO eyeing HMM takeover
💠 Cargo freighter runs aground in Arctic waters en route from China
💠 China continues “land-based Suez Canal” to link Europe and Asia
💠 First vessel calls at KMSB’s new floating wharf
💠 Medlog grows in NSW with new Intermodal Rail Facility in Minto
💠 Sydney–Melbourne rail line to close for 67 hours this weekend
💠 Wan Hai 503 finally reaches its Port of Refuge
💠 CMA CGM Mermaid allides with pier at Estonian port
💠 Truckers block Mexico’s Lázaro Cárdenas port over delays
💠 Shanghai holds top spot as busiest container port in H1 2025
💠Wallenius Wilhelmsen wins major auto logistics contract
Hover over image to enlarge
Please let me know what I have missed!
Today’s picture features a familiar visitor to Fremantle’s Inner Harbour - the Jogela. Measuring 255m in length and 37m wide, she was built in 2014 at Jiangsu New Yangzijiang Shipbuilding in Jingjiang, China. Formerly known as the Emirates Asante, the vessel has a capacity of 4,957 TEU.
Have a great weekend everyone!