Shipping

More small ships to West Asia from Apr 15 as freight rates jump 300%: FIEO

With exporters facing a surge in sea freight of up to 300 per cent due to the West Asia crisis, it has been decided to increase the number of small vessels operating between India and Gulf countries from April 15 to help clear consignments, FIEO director general Ajay Sahai said on Monday. In a meeting with the DG (Shipping), exporters flagged issues they are facing due to the crisis, triggered by the US and Israel joint attack on Iran, Sahai said. About 400 exporters participated in the meeting, as the crisis is impacting the movement of containers. "It has been decided to increase the number of Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers (NVOCCs) from April 15 between India and the Middle East countries," the director general of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) said. He said that the war has led to a significant jump in freight due to an additional contingency surcharge being imposed by foreign shippers. "The surcharge ranges between USD 1,500 and USD 4,000. There is

Iran war: How ships are avoiding being targeted in Strait of Hormuz

As attacks intensify around the Strait of Hormuz, several commercial ships are altering transponder signals to claim Chinese ownership or crew in an apparent attempt to avoid being targeted

3 Indian seafarers killed in West Asia; Shipping authority issues advisory

At least three Indian seafarers on board foreign-flagged vessels were killed and one was injured in the Middle East region, the Directorate General of Shipping said on Tuesday as it issued an advisory for maritime operators to assess voyage-specific risks, amid escalated military actions involving the US, Israel and Iran that threaten disruptions of major trade routes. "There have been four reported incidents involving Indian seafarers in the region, resulting in three casualties and one injured seafarer, all of whom were serving on board foreign-flagged vessels," the Directorate General of Shipping said. On Tuesday, American and Israeli airstrikes continued to pound Iran since killing its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Saturday. Tehran and its allies have hit back against Israel, neighbouring Gulf states, and targets critical to the world's production of oil and natural gas. President Donald Trump on Monday said the US has "the capability to go far longer" than its ...

Ships avoid Hormuz as Iran raises threats and conflict in West Asia spreads

The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial chokepoint for energy markets because a fifth of the world's seaborne oil and liquefied natural gas typically passes through each day

Global shipping companies make a beeline to reflag vessels in India

The move is part of a larger strategy discussed by global companies with PM Narendra Modi to base their tonnage in India

India's tryst with shipbuilding: Govt rolls out ₹70,000 crore revival plan

India and Brazil are among countries facing the steepest tariffs imposed by the US

US, China to roll out tit-for-tat port fees on shipping amid trade tensions

Early this year, Trump's administration announced plans to levy the fees on China-linked ships to loosen that country's grip on the global maritime industry and bolster US shipbuilding

Bulgaria arrests Russian ship owner wanted in 2020 Beirut port blast case

Bulgarian authorities confirmed on Tuesday they have arrested a Russian ship owner wanted in Lebanon whose vessel is linked to a cargo of ammonium nitrate at the centre of the massive 2020 port explosion in Beirut. Igor Grechushkin, 48, was arrested at Sofia International Airport on September 6 upon arriving from the Cypriot city of Paphos, according to Zdravko Samuilov, head of the border police at the airport in the Bulgarian capital. Grechushkin, who holds a dual Russian-Cypriot citizenship, did not resist arrest, cooperated, and nothing suspicious was found in his luggage, the police chief said. The arrest, which was first reported by Lebanese officials on Tuesday, was based on an Interpol red notice. Following a court order, Grechushkin was placed in detention for a maximum of 40 days, Samuilov said. Bulgaria has also requested the necessary documents for Grechushkin before he can be extradited to Lebanon. A Lebanese investigative judge issued two arrest warrants through Inter

Japanese shipping major MOL in talks with govt to build ships in India

Japanese shipping major Mitsui OSK Liners (MOL), the world's second largest company in terms of fleet size, is in talks with the Indian government to build ships in the country to become part of India's maritime growth story, a top official said on Tuesday. MOL (India) South Asia Middle East Region Executive Officer Capt Anand Jayaraman said MOL (India) has re-registered 13 ships in India (10 under MOL India and 3 under IFSC) out of its total fleet of 935 vessels. "We are a shipowner company...India is where growth is, and the country has also announced a subsidy scheme for the shipping sector," he said in a media briefing. According to Jayaraman, the 141-year-old company is currently the 4th largest shipowner in India, and it aspires to become 2nd largest shipowner in India. "Aligning with the government of India's push, we are discussing with the government to build ships in India...Shipbuilding is a high capital-intensive business. We will work with shipyards," he said. Jayara

LS passes Merchant Shipping Bill; 2nd to be passed in Monsoon session

A bill to expand the eligibility criteria for ownership of merchant shipping vessels and provide for investigation and enquiries on marine casualties was passed by the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, after a brief discussion as the Opposition continued with its protests seeking discussion on poll roll revision in Bihar. As soon as the Bill was passed, the House proceedings were adjourned for the day amid noisy protests by the Opposition members. Union Minister Sarbnanda Sonowal made opening remarks following which two BJP members Captain Brijesh Chowta and Mukeshkumar Chandrakant Dalal spoke on the Bill, amid sloganeering by the Opposition over the Bihar poll roll issue. The Bill was later passed by a voice vote. This is the second Bill to be passed by the Lok Sabha in the ongoing Monsoon session, which has seen repeated disruptions by the Opposition on various issues. The Lok Sabha on Tuesday passed 'The Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the

JSW Infrastructure bags ₹740 crore project to develop Kolkata port

The project comes with a 30‐year concession period under the government's initiative to privatise ports

US-China tariff truce: Indian shippers see cargo rush, freight rates surge

Indian shippers face double whammy of China rush, Ind-Pak restrictions

Pahalgam attack: Pakistan shuts ports for Indian ships in tit-for-tat move

In a directive issued by Pakistan's Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Indian flag carriers would no longer be permitted at any Pakistani port

India supports first global carbon tax on shipping industry at UN meet

India and 62 other countries on Friday voted in favour of the world's first-ever global carbon tax imposed on the shipping industry by the United Nations' shipping agency. The decision, taken at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) headquarters in London after a week of intense negotiations, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships and promote cleaner technologies. The move marks the first time a global carbon tax has been imposed on an entire industry. Starting 2028, ships will either have to shift to lower-emission fuels or pay a fee for the pollution they generate. The tax could generate up to USD 40 billion by 2030. However, all the funds will be used exclusively to cut emissions in the shipping industry and not for supporting climate action in developing countries. Despite this breakthrough in global climate policy, carbon pricing is expected to reduce shipping emissions by only 10 per cent by 2030, far short of the IMO's own target of at least 20 per cent.

Cordelia Cruises to expand fleet with two ships from Norwegian Cruise Line

With this, Cordelia Cruises, operated through Waterways Leisure Tourism in India, will more than double its current capacity, enabling it to explore new regions

Centre plans to evacuate more thermal coal through coastal shipping

Plan to evacuate more thermal coal via coastal shipping as Railways faces network congestion woes

SaaS firm Unicommerce bets big on Shipway to take on rival Shiprocket

The SaaS firm recently acquired remaining 57.24% in Shipway after securing 42.76% in December last year

Shipping chaos may continue till demand moderates

Since the Houthi attacks on commercial vessels started in the Red Sea towards the end of last year, major shipping lines have been re-routing their vessels around Africa

Greek-owned ship sinks in Red Sea after attack by Iranian-backed Houthis

Following the attacks by the Hamas terror group, tensions have boiled in the Middle East, with key regional actors condemning the humanitarian crises caused by the war, as reported by CNN

Baltimore bridge collapse: Attorneys seek to keep crew from returning home

Attorneys are asking a federal judge to prevent crew members on the cargo ship Dali from returning to their home countries amid ongoing investigations into the circumstances leading up to the deadly collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in March. Eight of the Dali's crew members were scheduled to debark the ship and return home as early as Thursday, according to emails included in court filings Tuesday. The roughly two dozen total seafarers hail from India and Sri Lanka. That would mark the first time any of them can leave the ship since it lost power and crashed into one of the bridge's supporting columns shortly after leaving Baltimore on March 26. In the court filings, attorneys representing the City of Baltimore said the men should remain in the U.S. so they can be deposed in ongoing civil litigation over who should be held responsible for covering costs and damages resulting from the bridge collapse, which killed six construction workers and temporarily halted most maritime