This year has been a challenging one for tanker freight rates, while the dry bulk and container markets have been experiencing decade highs with elevated rates not seen before in maritime. What is more, there should be persistent concern regarding the drivers behind this adverse evolution from the summer of 2020 till today.

A digital twin virtually reflects real-world entities and their context, maintained through a continuous exchange of information. Compared to a digital shadow, the information flow of a digital twin is two-way, meaning that data-driven decisions and insights can be used to influence entities and their operations. In a recent survey, we found a variety of application areas in the port sector, ranging from infrastructure management to cargo handling and inventory management.

Humans are unequivocally warming the planet, and that’s triggering rapid changes in the atmosphere, oceans and polar regions, and increasing extreme weather around the world, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns in a new report.

Since 2018, Indonesian fishermen have regularly reeled in autonomous, glider-like vehicles operating as far south as the Java Sea—part of China’s longstanding undersea vehicle research program first declassified in 2021. Over the past decade, details have sporadically emerged about China’s unmanned (UUV) and autonomous undersea vehicle (AUV) projects, but questions linger about which kinds of vessels the Chinese defense industry may be developing, and how the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) might use them in a future conflict.

Image courtesy COSCO

One hundred companies control 60 percent of the ocean economy. Can they work with policymakers, scientists and civil society to lead the sustainable way?

Imagine full truck loads with a pick-up in Oss, The Netherlands and delivery in Lyon, France. A local driver moves the trailer from the pick-up address in Oss to a designated hub near the highway. The trailer then autonomously moves (electric) from this hub to a designated hub in Lyon. Rosa Thuis had a critical look at the possibilities of autonomous semitrucks.

On 17 November, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC75) gave preliminary approval to the compromise agreement for the package of technical and operational measures to address greenhouse gas emissions from ships in the short run.

China is stockpiling every kind of commodity at a “mind-blowing” rate, with the country’s imports propping up an overall fall in trade volumes globally, bulk terminal operators and shippers were told last week at a virtual conference organised by the Association of Bulk Terminal Operators (ABTO).

ESPO is sitting this month with Mr. Victor Schoenmakers. Beginning of this year, the Port of Rotterdam said goodbye to Victor as Director Corporate Strategy after a long-standing career in the port. We look back at his long career in the port sector. We also asked for his views on the decarbonisation and digitalisation of the transport and logistics chain, as well as his plans for the future. As former Chair of ESPO, he also shares with us some good memories and gives us some good advice.

A new ILO analysis of the labour market impact of COVID-19 reveals a “massive” drop in labour income and a fiscal stimulus gap that threatens to increase inequality between richer and poorer countries.

As the European Commission sits down to discuss proposals for a new 2030 emissions target in time for the State of the Union address tomorrow (Wednesday Sept 16), more than 150 European businesses, investors and business networks, including Microsoft, IKEA, Deutsche Bank, Unilever, H&M, Google, EDF, Signify and Apple are calling on EU leaders to back the ambition set out in the European Green Deal and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030.

The disproportionate effect of the pandemic on young people has exacerbated inequalities and risks reducing the productive potential of an entire generation, according to the International Labour Organization.

Sauer Compressors‘ 3-stage air cooled starting-air compressors

With the new 3-stage air cooled compressors of the Levante series, Sauer Compressors offers highly reliable and low-maintenance starting-air compressors, thus setting the worldwide standard.

The 16th edition of the International Maritime Exhibition and Conference for Commercial Shipping, Shipbuilding, Offshore Energy, Ports, Inland Waterways and Oceanography NEVA 2021, the key event of the Maritime industry will be held in the Expoforum Convention and Exhibition Centre on September 21-24, 2021.

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The market of the PRC is becoming one of the main markets for Russian companies participating in foreign trade. At the same time, those of them who seek to enter the premium Chinese market should take one important aspect into account – Chinese legislation strictly controls the import of goods from foreign countries. Also, China imposes very strict requirements to the customs clearance of exports to China. In order to comply with them, Russian exporting companies need actual nuances tested by practice, not only knowledge of the legislation.