Industry News

While there is a strong correlation between El Nino and hotter-than-normal summers, the precipitation outlook is uncertain. Some experts suggest above-normal temperatures but slightly drier conditions, while others believe the region will experience normal to cooler-than-normal temperatures. If a super-El Nino develops, it could lead to an extended growing season for Western Canada and reduce...Read More

The Port of Seattle is set to become the first port in the world with three shore power systems for cruise ships. The installation of a third shore power system at Pier 66 will allow ships to connect to electricity while at the dock, reducing emissions and improving air quality by enabling them to turn...Read More

Shippers are increasingly turning to less-than-container (LCL) shipping for their cargo due to slowing outbound Asian containerized volumes and excess inventory at key destinations. Lower ocean rates are making LCL more attractive compared to costlier air cargo delivery, contributing to the growth in LCL volumes. Manufacturing shifting away from China, particularly towards Southeast Asian countries...Read More

Seaspan Corporation highlights the flawed business case for container shipping to achieve its decarbonization targets due to challenges in securing a reliable supply of green fuels. Torsten Holst Pedersen, COO of Seaspan, expressed concerns about the lack of alignment between demand and supply, emphasizing the need to make decarbonization economically viable. In contrast, Maersk expressed...Read More

This year, for the first time, there is a compelling financial argument for dual-fuel LNG ship owners to purchase a portion of the gas they use. LNG has been the preferred alternative fuel for ship orders for quite some time. According to recent estimates from DNV, a leading classification society, there are currently 904 confirmed...Read More

The European Commission has presented a set of five legislative proposals aimed at updating EU regulations on maritime safety and preventing water pollution caused by ships. The proposals seek to align EU rules with international standards, improve enforcement through digitalization, and promote clean and modern shipping. Key elements include enhancing maritime safety regulations, expanding port...Read More

Victoria is preparing to celebrate the second annual Canadian Coast Guard Day on June 3rd. This event honours the courageous men and women who work to protect Canada’s coastal waters. Hosted by the Canadian Coast Guard, the festivities will be held in Victoria’s picturesque harbour, allowing visitors to witness the Coast Guard’s impressive capabilities. Attendees...Read More

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has prosecuted and secured a conviction in a rare case involving injuries to a marine pilot. The incident occurred when the pilot fell over 20 feet from the ladder while disembarking from the Cyprus-flagged cargo ship AAL Dampier in the Port of Fremantle, Australia. AMSA inspectors determined that the...Read More

The Government of Canada is implementing a category-based selection system within its Express Entry program to address labour shortages and promote economic growth. This new system aims to attract skilled workers with specific skills, training, or language abilities that are in high demand in the country. The initial focus of category-based selection will be on...Read More

Vancouver Fraser Port Authority CEO, Robin Silvester, has announced plans to leave the organization after more than 14 years in the role. Robin expressed his desire for a new challenge and to create space for a new leader following the recent federal environmental assessment approval of the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 Project, which has been...Read More

The infilling of sediment in the Fraser River may reduce the available depth of water in the approaches to DP World Fraser Surrey (DPWFS). Consequently, departing vessels may need to wait for sufficient tidal assist to ensure adequate under-keel clearance or must be turned around further out in the middle of the river where the...Read More

In June, significant decisions are expected in the oilseed market, particularly for canola, and the future of bio-based diesel and aviation fuel in the United States. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) submitted its final rule on biofuel blending for 2023-25 to the White House, with the initial proposal receiving criticism for its lack of...Read More

The chief executives and leaders of 12 major ports in the World Port Climate Action Program (WPCAP) have agreed to extend their cooperation with a renewed focus on shore power, new fuels, and green shipping corridors. The agreement, reached at a meeting in Rotterdam, aims to accelerate the adoption of shore power at ports to...Read More

The U.S. Coast Guard has alerted maritime companies about cybersecurity threats posed by a Chinese-sponsored cyber activity group called Volt Typhoon. The group uses a “living off the land” technique to exploit victim networks without detection. The virus blends with normal system activities, bypasses endpoint detection tools, and avoids extensive logging. The Coast Guard advises...Read More

In response to the significant gap between supply and demand in the shipping industry, ocean carriers are resorting to a measure known as “super slow steaming.” The average sailing speed of container ships has decreased by 3.4% compared to April 2019, limiting the supply that the fleet can deliver. Despite this, the global container fleet...Read More

BCIT has opened up basic and advanced courses on Ship Brokering and Chartering and these will be virtual sessions on  June 24th ( Saturday) and July 22nd (Saturday) from 9:00 am. The basic course will focus on an overview of the customary and regulatory business concepts in the marine industry, including freight markets and market...Read More

Don’t miss the Vancouver Maritime Museum’s annual gala: A Night at the Speakeasy – A VMM fundraiser! This year, travel back to the 1920s for cool jazz and even cooler cocktails as we regale you with food and libations for a scintillating evening you won’t forget. The night will feature food and drink stations are...Read More

Transport Canada has released a bulletin outlining recommended measures for Authorized Representatives of cruise ships operating in Canadian waters to mitigate the risks of COVID-19 transmission. While these measures are not mandatory, they are suggested for adoption to ensure the safety of passengers and crew. The bulletin includes guidelines for COVID-19 Management Plans, record keeping,...Read More

Russia is set to begin year-round voyages from the Arctic to Asia along the eastern section of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) starting in 2024. This development has significant implications for global seaborne trade. The decision, made in collaboration with Novatek, aims to launch year-round navigation in the eastern part of the NSR, marking a...Read More

Due to a drought affecting the Panama Canal, draft restrictions are being implemented, impacting maritime traffic. The Panama Canal Authority has announced two draft restrictions, the first starting May 24th and the second scheduled for the following week. The decreased rainfall has led to a significant drop in water levels, with concerns that Lake Gatun...Read More

Ocean Network Express (ONE) has agreed to pay a $1.7 million civil penalty to the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to avoid a formal investigation. The settlement, which was announced publicly, was reached prior to the FMC initiating enforcement action against the carrier. As part of the settlement, ONE will refund or waive the contested...Read More

The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping has unveiled the design of a 15,000 TEU container vessel powered by ammonia. The project, in collaboration with Seaspan, the largest boxship lessor, features a dual-fuel engine running on very low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO) and ammonia. The ship includes an 11,600 cubic meter non-pressurized ammonia...Read More

The Lummi Nation in Washington state, whose traditional territory includes parts of BC, is challenging the federal government’s approval of a controversial marine terminal expansion in the Lower Mainland. The Nation was not consulted on the project and claims that if the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 initiative goes forward, its fishing rights will be gravely...Read More

A white paper by BIMCO and Nautilus Labs proposes reevaluating the practice of “sail-fast-then-wait” (SFTW) behaviour in the shipping industry. SFTW involves vessels travelling at high speeds to arrive quickly, even if the berth is unavailable, to trigger the lay-time clock and maximize demurrage charges. The paper highlights that this behaviour leads to unnecessary fuel...Read More

The Canadian government has announced a CAD 2.5 billioninvestment to renew the Canadian Coast Guard’s small vessel fleet. This investment aims to support the agency’s operations in shallow coastal waters, inland lakes, and rivers where larger ships are unable to operate effectively. The funding will be used to acquire up to 61 small vessels and replace...Read More

Global grain trader Viterra is engaged in discussions to merge with its U.S. competitor Bunge Ltd, as reported by Reuters. The potential merger between the two companies, which would significantly impact the top tier of global grains merchants, is still uncertain and the terms of the deal are being negotiated. Regulators would closely scrutinize any...Read More

As per Transport Canada’s latest bulletin, Canada and Ukraine have signed a reciprocal arrangement for the recognition of certain STCW (Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) certificates. This arrangement shall allow Ukrainian seafarers with valid STCW certificates to apply online for a Canadian endorsement if they intend to work on Canadian-flagged vessels. The...Read More

The British Colombia government has announced funding of up to $25 million in new maritime infrastructure under the umbrella of its StrongerBC Economic Plan. A new B.C. Maritime Industries Strategy, geared mainly to the shipbuilding sector, will chart the course for a more competitive, modernized marine sector with reduced carbon emissions, and creating more highly...Read More

Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)  announced the seizure of 140 kilograms of methamphetamine at the Tsawwassen Container Examination Facility. The shipment was identified based on intelligence provided by the New Zealand Police and New Zealand Customs Service. On March 30, 2023, CBSA officers conducted an examination of a container that was bound for export and...Read More

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, opened funding applications for industrial facilities under the Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program. This $194-million initiative allows for industrial facilities to receive up to $10 million per proposal, directly supporting industry in implementing energy efficiency projects within individual facilities.  The program aims to maximize energy performance,...Read More

This week as part of the Western Group’s 75th-anniversary celebration this week, Kim Stegeman-Lowe, VP People & Sustainability, announced a new funding partnership with the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue (RCMSAR) that will serve to promote and elevate children’s safety on the water through their Kids Don’t Float program for the next three years. ...Read More

Transport Canada has developed two draft Marine Safety Transport Publications (TP’s) for comments – National Pilotage Certificate On-board Training Program Guidelines and the Pilotage Continued Proficiency Plan. All comments and requests for further consultations are to be provided to MSS Pilotage at mss-pilotage-ssm@tc.gc.ca  prior to July 28th, 2023.Read More

The Province of British Columbia’s new Trade Diversification Strategy announced as part of the StrongerBC economic plan focuses on expanding into new markets beyond the US, and specifically targets Mexico, Vietnam, and Taiwan. The strategy focuses on six priority sectors for trade diversification – agrifoods, advanced manufacturing, clean technology, digital technology, forestry, and tourism.  The...Read More

Legislation introduced in the US House of Representatives proposes inspecting cranes made in “foreign adversary” countries before they are used in American seaports. China is mentioned as a significant concern, as it manufactures 80% of the cranes used in US ports. The bill aims to prevent espionage and cyberattacks by checking for security vulnerabilities. However,...Read More

Transport Canada’s Marine Medical Unit is organizing a virtual training seminar lasting 16 hours, specifically designed for Physicians and Nurse Practitioners who seek certification by TC to conduct occupational health assessments on seafarers. The seminar will be led by experts in adult learning, TC occupational health physicians, and other professionals in the health, medical, and...Read More

The West Coast dockworkers’ union and the state of Maryland say the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) should be able to sue ocean carriers that called the Port of Charleston’s Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal, according to briefs filed with a US appeals court that will decide whether the ILA’s lawsuit was legal.  The ILA’s lawsuit claims...Read More

Italy has significantly increased its purchases of Canadian durum wheat, buying 1.09 million tonnes in the first eight months of the 2022-23 crop year, nearly four times the volume compared to the previous year. Algeria is the next largest buyer with 648,400 tonnes. Despite Italy’s mandatory country-of-origin labelling (MCOOL) law, which has been in place...Read More

Kotug Canada, a partnership between Kotug International and Horizon Maritime Services, has entered into a mutual benefits agreement (MBA) with the Sc’ianew First Nation, an Indigenous community in British Columbia. The MBA aims to provide seafarer training, establish an operational base, and create a floating docking facility in support of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project...Read More

Canada’s six largest banks, including TD, RBC, CIBC, BMO, the National Bank of Canada, and Scotiabank, have increased financing for the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion (TMX) by $3 billion to cover the project’s rising cost overruns. The information was sourced by environmental non-profit Stand.earth from a Bloomberg Terminal, and not by Canadian Banks or Finance...Read More

The Gitga’at First Nation and LNG Canada broke ground on a new Marine Emergency Response and Research Facility (MERRF) at Hartley Bay, also known as Txalgiuw. The MERRF will serve as a base for Gitga’at-led marine activities, including vessel monitoring, rescue operations, training, and environmental research.  The facility will also house and display a collection...Read More

According to the shipping association BIMCO, shipowners are expected to scrap twice as many ships over the next 10 years compared to the previous decade. This increase in ship recycling is attributed to tighter emissions control regulations that are pushing carriers to retire and demolish a significant number of vessels. BIMCO’s data shows that in...Read More

The Mark W. Barker, the first U.S. ship built on the Great Lakes since 1983, ran aground in the Detroit River due to an electronics malfunction. The incident occurred early Wednesday near Belle Isle. Fortunately, there were no injuries, damage to the freighter, or signs of discharge. The vessel, owned by Interlake Steamship Company, was...Read More

The potash terminal at the Port of Portland experienced a significant equipment failure when a section of the conveyor system’s catwalk collapsed onto the berth’s deck. This has disrupted the world market for potash, a crucial mineral used in agricultural fertilizer production. The Port of Portland’s potash exports far exceed its grain shipments. The potash...Read More

The operational measure adopted by the IMO, Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII), came into effect at the start of the year. As a result, a large share of the global fleet is expected to reduce sailing speed in order to comply, which would impact asset values. The Clarksons Green Transition team has developed a breakthrough speed-CII modelling...Read More

The production of tank containers has recovered after falling by 30% during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. The International Tank Container Organisation (ITCO) said that demand has recovered, resulting in tank container production reaching a high of 67,800 units in 2022. More freight forwarders have also started transporting tank containers, with 240 companies as of January...Read More

The US lifted a pandemic border control policy brought in under Title 42. The policy, which is part of the 1944 Public Health Service Act, allows American border authorities to quickly turn back migrants, including asylum seekers, at Ports of Entry (POE) to prevent the spread of disease.  However, US Coast Guard has advised that...Read More

The Minister of Transport, the Honourable Omar Alghabra, announced an Interim Order temporarily prohibiting navigation in specific areas of the Ottawa River due to flood conditions. The Interim Order is intended to ensure the safety of boaters and shoreline residents, to protect temporary infrastructure in place, to avoid damage to property, and to allow emergency...Read More

The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) announced two contract awards for the vessel life extension of CCGS Martha L. Black and CCGS Leonard J. Cowley, respectively at the value of $31.5 million and $29.7 million. Both vessels will be dry-docked and enter an extended maintenance period designed to increase their operational life. CCG has awarded  the contracts to...Read More

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is recognizing International Day of Plant Health, observed annually on May 12 by reminding Canadians of the importance of protecting our forests, gardens, farms, and environment from invasive pests and plants. Learn about the invasive species that are in your area and what they look like and report any...Read More

Transport Canada conducted a consultation in March 2022 to gather public input on noise emissions from small boats. The most popular option among the respondents was to create performance standards for both boat manufacturers and operators. The Decibel Coalition, a lobbying group advocating for stricter regulations on boat noise emissions, welcomed this preference. However, the...Read More