Maersk Line, CMA CGM and MSC are in a better position to battle through the transpacific rate war thanks to their stronger economies of scale, according to new research.

Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) will stop applying bunker, piracy or Suez Canal surcharges separately to freight charges on the Asia-Europe and Mediterranean trade from next month.

US west coast box port rivals Long Beach and Los Angeles have again seen contrasting monthly fortunes for container throughputs.

Although slow-steaming continues to be a contentious issue with shippers, more is on the way as fuel prices remain stubbornly high and ocean carriers can no longer absorb the bill, due to the parlous nature of their finances, according to the latest Container Insight report from analyst Drewry.

The Kenya Ports Authority has substantially progressed construction of Mombasa port’s 1.2m teu capacity second container terminal as part of its continued efforts to expand capacity ahead of demand.

THE answer to the question whether the recent rate hikes on the Asia-Europe and Asia-Mediterranean will hold appears to have been answered as rates fell on both trades last week.

MAERSK Line has announced it will again increase Asia- north Europe rates for both dry and reefer cargo by US$500 per TEU from April 15.

SINGAPORE shipping group NOL' s container shipping arm APL is temporarily replacing some of the vessels operating its Far East-Middle East (WAX) service with larger 9,200 TEU newbuildings.

OOCL will increase rates for westbound traffic from Asia to Europe, starting April 15.

Isabella Shipping has begun its Tex-Col Express service, which offers U.S. Gulf exporters direct service between Port Freeport in Texas and Cartagena, Colombia.