Carrier partnerships on Asia-Europe trades could ring in a ‘disastrous’ 2012

Dec. 30 | The recent formation of alliances on the Asia-Europe lanes can intensify competition, prolong the rate wars, and bring about a disastrous 2012 for box lines, warns analyst Alphaliner. “These developments forebode that the unrelenting rate war on the...

NOL chairman Cheng Wai Keung to retire

Dec. 30 | NOL Group, the parent company of container line APL, announced on December 29 that its chairman, Cheng Wai Keung, will retire after its annual general meeting scheduled in April 2012. Cheng will be replaced by Kwa Chong Seng, who will be appointed as...

COSCON, CSCL increase cooperation on Asia-Europe and Mediterranean trades

Dec. 30 | COSCO Container Lines (COSCON), the shipping line of China COSCO Holdings, will expand its space swap with China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL) on the Asia-Europe and Asia-Mediterranean trades in 2012. Through this cooperation, COSCON can enlarge port...

Improved liner business predicted next year

Dec. 29 | International carriers operating in the Philippines forecast a slightly better business climate for 2012 compared to this year. “We believe international shipping will significantly pick up in 2012,” a high-ranking official of an international shipping...

Pilotage fee compromise deal struck at Mindanao port

Dec. 29 | The Philippine Liner Shipping Association (PLSA) and the United Harbor Pilots Association of the Philippines (UHPAP) have agreed on a compromise deal that will resume suspended vessel services at the Port of Cotabato, also known as Polloc Port, in Mindanao...

Hanjin orders for 2012 hit $4.9B

Dec. 29 | Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction-Philippines (HHIC-P) has booked $4.9 billion in new ship orders for 2012. According to the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), HHIC-P is earmarking $1 billion for construction in additional areas as well as...

More seats for Manila-KL run

Dec. 29 | The Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) has awarded additional seat entitlements for the Manila-Kuala Lumpur route to three budget carriers. Approved were the respective petitions of Cebu Pacific, Zest Air and Air Philippines for extra seat entitlements of...

CKYH strikes deal with Evergreen Line to hike Asia-Europe sailings

Dec. 28 | CKYH-the Green Alliance announced it has forged an agreement with Taiwan’s Evergreen Line to increase sailing frequency, improve transit time and widen port coverage on the Asia-Europe and Asia-Mediterranean trade lanes from the second quarter of 2012. CKYH...

Indonesian ship owners call for freight tax cut

Dec. 28 | The Indonesian National Shipowners Association (INSA) is seeking the abolition of the government’s 10 percent value-added tax (VAT) on freight delivered by local carriers. INSA said domestic shipping lines also pay a 10 percent tax on locally purchased...

Shipping confidence up despite overtonnage, eurozone fears—survey

Dec. 28 | Ship owners, managers and charterers expressed a small increase in industry confidence and in optimism about making major new investments in the next 12 months, according to a shipping confidence survey conducted in the three months ended November 2011...