CMA CGM has canceled the Chittagong leg of its BIGEX (Bangladesh-India-Gulf Express) service, citing “operational constraints,” according to a company notice. Although the decision means that Chittagong will no longer be offered as a direct call, it will still be open for transhipment services via other lines, the announcement said.

Sluggish exports + operational challenges are behind the latest reshuffle: The Chittagong call was intended to leverage opportunities as clothing importers sought to diversify away from Chinese suppliers, but Bangladesh’s export market has slowed amid global economic headwinds. Accordingly, CMA CGM has struggled to find the volumes necessary to make the call viable, the Loadstar reported. Operational challenges due to inherent draught and vessel size restrictions at Chittagong were also factors in the decision.

Maersk + One looking for newbuild ship orders: Danish shipping firm A.P.Moller Maersk (Maersk) has reportedly put out a request for proposals to build up to 15 3.5k TEU boxships, according to shipping analyst Alphaliner, Splash reports. Maersk has also ordered a series of 9k TEU ships and a total of 25 methanol-duel fuel ships to join its fleet by 2027, not including the rumored 15 extra mentioned by Alphaliner. Alphaliner has also reportedly claimed that Japan’s Ocean Network Express (One) is looking for up to 10 more 13k TEU container vessels. One is also looking for shipyards with conventional tonnage and for variants with methanol duel-fuel propulsion, according to the outlet.

IN OTHER MAERSK NEWS- The shipping giant’s first large methanol boxship was launched from a dock at Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI): This vessel is the second of Maersk’s order of 25 dual-fuel ships, developed to be capable of running on green methanol. It’s the first box ship from an order of twelve 16.2k TEU ships Maersk ordered from HHI, Seatrade Maritime reports. The company placed an additional order of six 17k TEU ships in November 2022. The delivery of all 18 ships is expected between 2024 and 2025. In June, Maersk ordered six mid-sized containerships with a capacity of 9k TEU from Yangzijiang Shipbuilding in China. These ships are expected to be delivered in 2026 and 2027. The company’s approach involves purchasing only new ships capable of running on green fuel, in line with its commitment to eco-friendly fuels and sustainability.

China has saved USD 10 bn by importing oil from sanctioned nations, Reuters reports, citing calculations based on data from traders and ship trackers. Sanctions imposed by the United States and other countries on Iran, Russia, and Venezuela have helped reduce oil import costs for Chinese refineries, increasing the amount of oil they process. China imported some 2.77 mn barrels of crude oil per day from Iran, Russia, and Venezuela during the first nine months of 2023, Reuters adds, citing data by tanker trackers Vortexa and Kpler. The three countries accounted for 25% of China’s imports during 1H 2023, resulting in lower imports from the Middle East, West Africa, and South America.

Tags: