RCL’s Q1 profits soar 240 times

Thai intra-Asia carrier Regional Container Lines’ net profit for Q1 2021 grew 240-fold to THB2.94 billion (US$94.19 million), a figure the management described as “phenomenal” as it was more than double the THB1.3 billion (US$43.42 million) net profit for 4Q 2020. Although cargo volume grew by just 6% from Q1 2020 to 517,000TEU, the shortage […]

Rotterdam and Singapore proceed with eBL trials

Singapore and the Netherlands have collaborated since 2019 to explore electronic bills of lading (eBL) on the Europe-Far East trade lane where Singapore and Rotterdam are two major transhipment ports. This trial demonstrated that an eBL issued by one platform could be verified and processed by another digital trade platform, according to an announcement by […]

Wan Hai acquires Capital Maritime’s newbuilding quartet

Wan Hai Lines announced on 14 May that it will purchase four 13,100TEU ships that Capital Maritime & Trading originally commissioned at Samsung Heavy Industries in February. In a Taiwan Stock Exchange filing, the liner operator did not refer to Capital Maritime, but said the original owners are the Marshall Islands-incorporated entities, Chania Container Carriers, […]

Yang Ming to diversify business scope

Yang Ming Marine Transport chairman Cheng Cheng-mount said at an investors’ conference on 11 May that the company wants to diversify into other industries through co-operation and investments. He said that the company suffered losses in recent years and there is a need to maintain financial stability. Cheng was speaking the day before Yang Ming […]

HMM achieves record Q1 earnings

HMM has announced the highest operating profits in its history of US$900 million with a margin of 42%, while the South Korean container carrier has also marked an outstanding 85% revenue growth in the first quarter of 2021, reaching US$2.15 billion. It is important to note that 2021 first-quarter earnings have already surpassed the earning […]

Maersk cancels MED-Gulf sailings

Maersk has announced that the poor schedule reliability and vessel delays, driven by bad weather and local congestion in US terminals, have rendered it impossible to recover its TA6 schedule. The Danish carrier has, therefore, decided to slide the following TA6 sailings: TA6 – Eastbound Week Trade Service Vessel / Voyage First Port / ETD […]

SM Merchant Marine to expand fleet and buy containers with IPO proceeds

SM Merchant Marine plans to use proceeds from its planned initial public offering in the second half of 2021 to expand its vessel and container fleets. The company plans to continue expanding its intra-Asia reach by joining the K-Alliance, a code-sharing arrangement involving South Korean liner operators’ intra-Asia services. Due to this, the company wants […]