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UASC: Shipping Alliances Will Stifle Smaller Operators

01/10/2014 12:03

UASC President has projected a bright outlook for major box shippers who have been struggling with depressed freight rates and overcapacity ever since the global financial crisis of 2008.

However, small-scale shipping companies might get muscled out of the business by the shipping alliances such as Ocean Three, comprised of UASC, CMA CGM, and China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL), or the 2M alliance of Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC), which according to Hinge will lead to decreased volatility in freight rates.

“Modern, big ships carry more cargo using less fuel, and this makes it more difficult for [smaller competitors] to be in the trade.

If you are in a group and cancel one of your five or six departures during low seasons, you will still be OK as the other departures will still have a full cargo and cater to the needs of your customers.

But if you only have two departures and stop one of them, you are dead,” saidHinge.

Hinge concluded by issuing a note of warning, saying that the journey to recovery is not going to go without any hitches.

“It was a good year, but economic recovery is still sporadic, and until consumers feel confident enough to go out and buy things they don’t really need, we can’t talk about a sustained recovery in container shipping,” he said.

World Maritime News Staff, October 01, 2014

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Ship Sails from Africa with Malaria, 1 Dead

The Center for Disease Control (CDC), along with local and federal officials, responded on Wednesday to a report of illness on a ship at the Port of New Orlean

Local EMS transferred three of the ship’s crew members to a local hospital.The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (DHH) confirmed a positive test result later in the evening for malaria in the patient being treated at a New Orleans-area hospital. DHH shared this information with CDC and local officials.

The other two patients had mild symptoms and are being assessed. Another ill crew member disembarked in the Bahamas two days ago, where he was diagnosed with malaria and later died.

Malaria is spread by mosquitoes and does not spread from person to person. Approximately 1500-2000 cases are reported every year in the United States, almost all in recent travelers.

The ship’s itinerary included Matadi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in addition to other ports. Based on a hospital’s request, CDC conducted testing on the crew member who died, and the results showed that this crew member was negative for the type of Ebola that is causing the current outbreak in West Africa. Ebola is not suspected as a cause of the other crew members’ illnesses. No crew members had known exposures to Ebola.

CDC will continue to work closely with the hospital and local health authorities.

Seismic Survey Ops to Continue in the Kara Sea Despite Sanctions

Dolphin Geophysical received confirmation today from the Export Control Division of the Norwegian Foreign Department that the recently announced seismic contract in the Kara Sea is not subject to the current trade restrictive measures against Russia.

Atle Jacobsen, Dolphin CEO, quoted; “Dolphin is extremely appreciative of the prompt reply and clear guidance from the Norwegian Authorities on this difficult matter. This ruling paves the way for us to continue to provide our powerful solutions to the increasingly important high-end Russian marine seismic market”.

On 5 September, Dolphin was awarded a 3-month contract to conduct 3D seismic survey operations in the Kara Sea utilizing a 16-streamer wide tow array.

gcaptain.com/seismic-survey-ops-continue-kara-sea-despite-sanctions/