The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has entered into an agreement with global financial institution Citibank for a $700 million loan aimed at revitalizing the Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports in Lagos. The loan – funded by UK Export Finance – will support the rehabilitation of quay walls to enhance landside operations, and deepen droughts to 16.5 m to accommodate larger vessels and increase traffic flow. The loan will fund the
Category: Shipping News
Port of Los Angeles finishes first quarter up over previous year
The Port of Los Angeles handled 743,417 container units in March, a 19% increase over the previous year. It was the eighth consecutive month of year-over-year growth at the nation’s busiest port. For the first quarter ending March 31, local dockworkers moved 2,380,503 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) across Los Angeles marine terminals––nearly 30% more than 2023. It was among the Port’s best first quarter starts, behind only the pandemic import
Hapag-Lloyd Takes Strides in Green Shipping with Methanol Retrofit Contract
Last week’s announcement of Zemba awarding Hapag-Lloyd a zero-emission contract has propelled the Hamburg carrier further into the realm of green shipping innovations. In its latest endeavor, Hapag-Lloyd has inked a deal with Seaspan Corporation to retrofit five 10,100-TEU charter vessels with dual-fuel engines capable of running on methanol. These container ships currently rely on conventional MAN S90 engines. Dr. Maximilian Rothkopf, Hapag-Lloyd’s COO, expressed the company’s commitment to sustainability,
Sea-air cargo into Africa spikes on the back of missile strikes
Intermodal airfreight hub operations serving African imports have found an unlikely ally in the situation south of the Suez, where heightened risk because of attacks on maritime traffic in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, has driven down ocean cargo by as much as 50%. Kenya Airways’ head of cargo commercial, Peter Musola, has explained that the driver of demand in air freight this year has been the increase
Severe Weather Dampens Container Throughput at South African Ports
Severe weather conditions along South Africa’s coastline have led to a significant decline in container throughput, reaching its lowest levels in weeks, according to the latest Cargo Movement Update compiled by the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff) and Business Unity SA (Busa). For the week ending April 12, commercial ports processed an average of 6,180 containers per day, a notable decrease from the previous week’s figure of 8,061
Rain unlocks more traffic through Panama’s Gatun Lake locks
Vessel traffic between the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean, constrained by the worst drought on record in Panama, will be alleviated by the canal’s authority deciding to increase its daily booking slots from 27 to 32. The Autoridad del Canal de Panamá announced the decision in an advisory to the liner trade. It includes a decrease in the draught restriction placed on vessels passing through the Gatun Lake locks — from
Emerging Trends in Vehicle Importation and Transport at South African Ports
South Africa’s importation of electric vehicles (EVs) and the containerization of EV units are two notable trends in the country’s automotive industry, as highlighted by Denzil Reddy of SA Cargo in KwaZulu-Natal. Reddy pointed out a significant increase in the arrival of EVs at the Port of Durban, signaling a growing demand for environmentally friendly vehicles in the market. Moreover, he noted the recent introduction of the first hydrogen vehicle
US Army Corps of Engineers to Reopen Limited Access Channel to Port of Baltimore
The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Baltimore District, anticipates reopening a limited access channel, 280 feet wide and 35 feet deep, to the Port of Baltimore by the month’s end. This channel will facilitate one-way traffic for barge container service and select roll-on/roll-off vessels transporting automobiles and farm equipment. Collaborating with local, state, and federal partners, USACE is actively clearing wreckage along the Fort McHenry Channel, aiming to restore
Peel Ports Group Launches £750M Construction Frameworks for UK and Ireland Ports
Peel Ports Group, the UK’s second-largest port operator, is calling for contractors to bid on two new frameworks aimed at overseeing a significant long-term construction program across its sites in the UK and Ireland, totaling £750 million. The port operator intends to engage contractors for two frameworks spanning up to eight years. One framework will focus on general construction, while the other will address marine construction. These frameworks will encompass
Transnet’s Innovative Water Desalination Plant to Boost Port of East London
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) is set to enhance water reliability at the Port of East London with the development of a pioneering water desalination plant. The R60-million contract has been awarded to the joint venture of Norland Civil Engineers and Contractors and Impact Water Solutions (PTY) Ltd (IWS), trading as Sun Water East London, to construct and operate the solar-powered desalination plant over seven years. TNPA’s acting chief executive,