Tag: maritime trade

Much of the world growth is happening in West Africa In West Africa, 22 new ships show how a well-designed container vessel can be an important driver of efficiency and increased reliability. But what can it do for the long-term economic development of developing countries like Ghana and Nigeria? A new study takes a closer look.In West Africa where much of the world's growth is happening, lack of deepwater ports and facilities prevents large ships from calling the ports. Instead, ports are clogged with small ships that spend a lot of time getting in and out, but carry very little cargo.This inefficiency has knock on effects: the longer a vessel spends in port, the greater its transport costs and the higher its emissions of local and global pollutants. This has a detrimental impact on trade in the region, affecting the ability of local businesses and their dependants to prosper and grow.Why size matters for customers and the bottom-lineMaersk Line's new 4,500 TEU vessels - the WAFMAX (West Africa Max) - carry more than twice as much cargo as other ships calling ports in West Africa.They were designed to improve Maersk Line's service offering to customers using the Far East Asia ...

New members joining its ranks during the first quarter of this year InterManager, the international trade association for the ship management industry, has boosted its membership with several new members joining its ranks during the first quarter of this year.Full members joining include ship management company Nigeria LNG and crew manager Nedcon. They are joined by Associate members KVH, Cubisol, Jadran Pismo and Stark Moore Macmillan.Speaking as the InterManager Executive Committee Meeting in Athens today (June 7) InterManager President Alastair Evitt said: "I am pleased to report that InterManager is increasingly receiving applications for membership from a range of shipmanagement and related maritime businesses. I believe the shipping community is becoming more and more aware of the benefits of speaking with one voice on key issues and recognises the role bodies like InterManager can play in representing their interests and speaking out for the industry."Mr Evitt pointed out that incidents like the arrest and criminalisation of Hebei Spirit captain and first officer had highlighted how effectively InterManager can work on behalf of the ship and crew management community and how successfully it could operate with other industry organisations.InterManager New Members : Jadran Pismo is a Philippines-based maritime news portal which ...

Tougher sanctions are putting the squeeze on major Iranian commercial institutions Iran's seaborne trade is withering as sanctions are stepped up against the Islamic Republic, freezing bank finance and deterring many international trade and shipping companies from getting involved in deals, industry sources say.Much of Iran's imports, including food and consumer goods, are transported by sea via container and bulker ships. Oil tankers are used to ferry the country's vital crude oil exports.But U.S. financial sanctions imposed since the beginning of this year to punish Tehran over its nuclear program are playing havoc with Iran's ability to buy imports and receive payment for its oil exports."Tougher sanctions are putting the squeeze on major Iranian commercial institutions," said Alan Fraser of security firm AKE."The net is closing in, and companies will be forced to take ever more elaborate measures to evade scrutiny. Iran's national shipping fleet is coming under ever more pressure as many states attempt to monitor its cargoes, while the role of the central bank as a middle man is becoming increasingly redundant in business transactions," he added.Ship industry players say the move last month by the European Union to embargo imports of Iranian oil was already having an ...