Topic
Logistics
Logistics Global Steel Wire seeks fresh Santander terminal concession
Global Steel Wire, a Celsa group company, has applied for a new five-year concession for its steel-handling terminal at the Port of Santander. The application covers 11,700 sq m of land and 171.25 m of berth frontage, with Santander Port Authority opening a one-month competition period. The terminal handled 173,755 tonnes in 2023.
Logistics Veritas Shipmanagement books fresh ultramax pair at COSCO yard, Splash247 reports
Veritas Shipmanagement has ordered two 64,000 dwt ultramax bulk carriers at COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry in Zhoushan, with delivery scheduled for 2030. The order extends a relationship that began in 2023 with four 63,600 dwt vessels. No contract price has been disclosed; Xclusiv assesses standard Chinese-built ultramax newbuildings at around $36m each.
Logistics Seanergy linked to fresh newcastlemax at Hengli as dry bulk orderbook grows
Seanergy Maritime has been linked to a 211,000 dwt newcastlemax newbuilding at Hengli Heavy Industries for delivery in 2029, according to Splash247. The order, if confirmed, would expand Seanergy's dry bulk newbuilding programme from seven to eight vessels, with the broader fleet renewal slate reaching nine ships. Seanergy has already secured charters for three 2027-dated capesizes at floor rates averaging about $23,100 per day.
Logistics SFL Makes Fresh $363m Car Carrier Play With Four LNG Dual-Fuel Newbuilds
John Fredriksen-backed SFL is spending $363m on four LNG dual-fuel car carriers, with delivery scheduled for 2029. Two vessels are already fixed on five-year charters to a major Asia-based carmaker, while two remain open. The order comes as shipyard capacity stays tight into 2030.
Logistics Iran Blacklist Threatens Hormuz Shuttle Tanker Lifeline for Gulf Crude
Iran's blacklisting of 12 VLCCs at the core of the Hormuz shuttle trade threatens a workaround moving roughly one-third of Middle East Gulf crude exports. Three Indian refiners and a global energy major plan to stop using the vessels, and Braemar warns remaining Hormuz tonnage will command higher premiums.
Logistics Keyfield International Enters Dredging Market with $24.7m Vessel Acquisition
Keyfield International has acquired the 2016-built trailing suction hopper dredger Inai Kenanga for $24.7m, about 61% below its $63.7m fair-market value, according to Splash247. The vessel, bought from receiver-managed Inai Rimba, will be held in an SPV with Star Naval 1 and is slated for reactivation in 2027 for dredging and land reclamation projects in Malaysia and Singapore.
Logistics Container shipping urged to move fire prevention upstream, new report says
A new Thetius and Tigris Systems report urges container shipping to screen dangerous goods at the booking stage rather than after loading. Vessel fires hit 250 in 2024, the highest in a decade, and TT Club estimates a major containership fire roughly every 60 days. The report calls for automated document screening, connected data and specialist oversight.
Logistics KNOT Offshore Partners acquires modern shuttle tanker Hedda Knutsen from parent in $113m deal
KNOT Offshore Partners is acquiring the 2024-built shuttle tanker Hedda Knutsen from parent Knutsen NYK Offshore Tankers in a $113m deal, taking its fleet to 20 vessels. The DP2 suezmax is under firm charter to Petrobras in Brazil until 2034, with an option to 2039. The partnership also completed a $225m refinancing with DNB Bank to replace debt due in September.
Logistics DNV: Build fleets that can survive the wrong fuel call
DNV's 10th Maritime Forecast to 2050 urges shipowners to stop betting on a single decarbonisation pathway and instead build fleets that can survive multiple regulatory, fuel and technology outcomes. The report highlights energy efficiency as an immediate strategic hedge while low-GHG fuel markets struggle to emerge. Shippers and operators should expect cost structures to vary by trade lane as regulatory divergence persists.
Logistics IAEA launches global push to bring nuclear power back to sea
The IAEA launched the ATLAS initiative in Washington with 600 participants from over 50 countries to create a regulatory and safety framework for nuclear-powered civilian shipping. Twenty-five countries backed the initiative, and experts expect some nuclear maritime concepts to be ready for deployment in the 2030s, according to Splash247.
Logistics Shippers Face Higher Costs If IMO Net-Zero Framework Vote Fails, Baxter Freight Warns
Tom Isler of Baxter Freight argues freight buyers should hope the IMO's Net-Zero Framework passes in October. A failed vote would not end carbon pricing but would fragment it into multiple surcharges, making costs harder to read, forecast and challenge. The price lands on freight bills either way.
Logistics Strait of Hormuz shipping traffic slightly rises amid Iran-Oman talks
Visible commodity vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz rose to 10 on Wednesday from eight on Tuesday, according to Kpler data reported by Reuters, but remained below the 10-day average of about 15 vessels. Iran and Oman are still working on agreement details, while traffic at the Bab el-Mandeb strait slowed for a second day to 19 vessels.
Logistics Reefer Rejections Hold at 20% as Intermodal Savings Index Hits 33%
Reefer tender rejections remain stuck at 20%–20.5% even as van and flatbed rates ease, driven by summer heat and the structural inability of reefers to shift to intermodal, according to FreightWaves SONAR data. Meanwhile, the intermodal contract savings index has hit 33% above over-the-road trucking—a three-year high—pulling record volumes onto rail, while flatbed capacity loosens and cross-border rail data is watched for tariff signals.
Logistics Autonomous Trucks Are Here: Einride Posts 27% Revenue Jump and 500-Truck Tesla Semi Order
Einride posted a 27% revenue increase in the first half of 2025 after its June IPO, with autonomous driverless hours up about 60%. The company ordered 500 Tesla Semi trucks for its U.S. platform and is deploying 75 electric trucks for Amazon's middle-mile network. CEO Roozbeh Charli expects the growth rate to roughly double in the second half, according to FreightWaves.
Logistics Middle East risk permanently repriced, Paratus CEO tells Splash Singapore
Paratus founder and group CEO Gus Majed told Splash247 that Middle East risk has been permanently repriced, with war-risk premiums, crew terms, charter clauses and alternative routes through Fujairah and Sohar now embedded in the market. Singapore's bunker sales rose to 28.2m tonnes in H1 2026 despite Hormuz disruption. Majed will chair the tanker session at Splash Singapore in September.
Logistics Norfolk Southern, Wabtec Convert 33 Locomotives to AC Traction in Modernization Program
Norfolk Southern and Wabtec Corp. announced a modernization program converting 33 ES44DC locomotives to AC-traction ES44ACMs. The work, performed in Fort Worth and Erie, aims to improve reliability, efficiency and locomotive life, with the first unit shipped this month.
Logistics Ocean Rate Concerns Rise as New Containership Orders Near 40% of Global Fleet
The global containership orderbook has reached nearly 39% of operating fleet capacity, with large mainline vessels dominating the pipeline. Fleet growth of about 4.2% is set to outpace container trade growth of 3-4% in 2026, pressuring ocean freight rates. Feeders and intermediate vessels face less risk due to older fleets and limited replacement, according to FreightWaves.
Logistics Midwest Carrier Behnke Acquires AG Freight, Gains Southeast Outpost Near Inland Port Greer
Michigan-based Behnke Dedicated & Logistics has acquired AG Freight for an undisclosed sum, gaining a Southeast outpost near South Carolina's Inland Port Greer. The deal, with Calder Capital advising Behnke, combines AG Freight's TL, LTL, expedited and drayage services with Behnke's Midwest dedicated trucking and warehousing operation.
Logistics Port Houston container volumes fall 6% in July as import surge cools
Port Houston handled 369,899 TEUs in July, down 6% year over year, as container growth moderated after frontloading earlier in 2026. Loaded imports fell 3% but remain up 5% YTD, with East Asia driving a 10% gain. General cargo surged 42% while steel imports dropped 36%.
Logistics CBSA Seizes 385 Kilos of Cocaine in Commercial Truck at Blue Water Bridge
CBSA officers seized about 385 kilograms of suspected cocaine from a commercial truck at Blue Water Bridge in Point Edward, Ontario, on Aug. 13, according to FreightWaves. The driver was arrested and charged by the RCMP with importing a controlled substance and possession for trafficking. The case highlights ongoing border enforcement, with CBSA reporting more than 4,500 kilograms of cocaine seizures in fiscal 2025-26.
Logistics Port of Oakland reports steady laden volumes in July as imports fall
Port of Oakland saw July total container volume fall 11.4% year over year, but loaded cargo activity remained broadly stable through the first seven months of 2026. The port also welcomed Hapag-Lloyd's resumed WC5 service with the Missouri Express.
Logistics Amazon Moves Parcels by Shinkansen Bullet Train, Launches E-Bike Delivery in Los Angeles
Amazon contracted with three Japan Railway companies to move parcels on Shinkansen bullet trains, enabling same-day delivery from Tokyo to central and northern Japan. The company also launched its first U.S. West Coast e-cargo bike operation in Culver City, California, with Burbank to follow. The moves add rail and bike capacity to Amazon's middle- and last-mile networks.
Logistics Truck Parking as a Driver Perk: Fleets Book Reserved Spots to Cut Turnover
Truck Parking Club is positioning reserved parking spots as a driver-retention tool, using a $150-a-month space to solve a two-hour commute problem for one owner-operator. The network now counts more than 6,400 locations across 50 states and has served drivers from 93 of the top 100 fleets.
Logistics BW LPG India sells another aged VLGC in $64m disposal run
BW LPG India has agreed to sell the 2007-built VLGC BW Birch for about $64m in net cash, adding to a disposal run at the 52%-owned subsidiary of BW LPG. The sale follows the $64m disposal of sistership BW Elm and precedes a $940m newbuild programme of eight panamax VLGCs at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries.
Logistics Höegh Autoliners orders six more Aurora car carriers, raises NOK1.42bn
Höegh Autoliners has ordered six LNG dual-fuel car carriers from China Merchants Heavy Industry and raised NOK1.42bn ($152m) via an oversubscribed share placement to fund the expansion. The firm Aurora programme rises to 18 vessels, with options and reserved slots that could take the series to 26 ships and add almost 237,000 ceu of capacity, according to Splash247.
Logistics Indian Railways Eyes 35 Hydrogen Trains, Targets Cheaper Green Fuel After First Launch
Indian Railways is expanding its hydrogen train programme to 35 trains on heritage routes and pushing to lower green hydrogen costs through offtake assurances. The first train has clocked 2,500 km of commercial operations and is the world's most powerful and longest hydrogen-powered trainset.
Logistics Shanghai-listed Ningbo Marine approves five-ship bulker newbuilding programme
Ningbo Marine has approved five bulk carrier newbuildings in China, adding 342,000 dwt to its orderbook. The programme spans four 65,000 dwt domestic-market ships and one 82,000 dwt kamsarmax for international trades. The expansion builds on a 2024 order for four ultramaxes and lifts the company's newbuild pipeline to nine vessels and 598,000 dwt.
Logistics Medcare Linked to Five-Ship MR1 Tanker Order at China's Anhui Zhongrun Heavy Industry
Greek tanker owner Medcare Shipping has been linked to an order for up to five MR1 product and chemical tankers at China's Anhui Zhongrun Heavy Industry, according to Splash247. The Wuhu-based yard confirmed a contract with an unnamed Greek owner for two firm 41,000 dwt ships and three options. No contract price was disclosed, but market indications value the firm pair at about $96m.
Logistics Euroseas Secures Two-Year Charter Extension for 1,740 TEU Jonathan P at $26,000 per Day
Euroseas extended the charter of its 1,740 teu containership Jonathan P for two years at $26,000 per day, up from $25,000. The deal generates about $12.7m in EBITDA and covers 97% of available days for the rest of 2026, 86% for 2027 and 50% for 2028, according to Splash247.
Logistics Thameslink to Replace Over 60,000 'Ironing Board' Train Seats Across 115-Train Fleet
Govia Thameslink Railway will replace over 60,000 'ironing board' seats across all 115 Thameslink trains, starting in 2027. The upgrade includes new cushions, backrests, first-class seat improvements and seat-back tables on 70 trains, part of wider improvements after public ownership.
Logistics Diana Shipping Sells 1.2M Genco Shares for $32M After Abandoning Takeover
According to Splash247, Diana Shipping sold 1.2 million Genco shares for about $32 million after aborting its nine-month takeover attempt. The sale reduces Diana's stake from 14.4% to 11.62%, with the remaining holding worth roughly $135 million. Genco now owns 44 bulkers, while Diana operates 36 bulkers and has two methanol dual-fuel newbuildings on order.
Logistics Ningbo-Zhoushan Overtakes Singapore as World’s Number Two Boxport
Ningbo-Zhoushan handled 22.9m teu in H1 2026, up 8.8% year-on-year, edging past Singapore's 22.7m teu to become the world's second-busiest container port, according to Alphaliner data reported by Splash247. Shanghai leads with 28.7m teu, while Jebel Ali plunged to 32nd place after Hormuz disruption cut first-half throughput from 7.77m to 3.14m teu.
Logistics Yangzijiang Maritime Moves Into Stainless Chemical Tankers With Taihua
Singapore-listed Yangzijiang Maritime Development has been linked to a 4+2 order for 28,000 dwt duplex stainless-steel chemical tankers at Zhoushan Ningxing Shipbuilding, alongside Taihua Ship Management. Market indications value the firm quartet at roughly $184m and the full six-ship package at about $276m, according to Splash247.
Logistics Container shipping tipped to normalise through Red Sea by year-end
Analyst Lars Jensen says Red Sea container shipping could normalise by end-2026 as MSC restores four Suez services and Maersk accelerates returns. Canal traffic is at its highest since January 2024 but remains 41% below pre-crisis levels, with Houthi attacks and war-risk insurance costs still elevated.
Logistics ADNOC L&S Exercises Options for Two LNG Carriers, Lifting Newbuild Programme to 20 Ships
ADNOC Logistics & Services has exercised options for two 175,000 cu m LNG carriers at Jiangnan Shipyard, adding $444m to its newbuild bill and lifting its LNG newbuild programme to 20 ships. The company has committed around $2.7bn to vessel acquisitions and newbuildings in 2026, including a $1.3bn deal for six VLCCs and five VLGCs.
Logistics Hormuz Shock Sends Jebel Ali Tumbling Out of Global Top 30 Container Rankings
Jebel Ali fell from 10th to 32nd in global container port rankings as the Strait of Hormuz disruption cut H1 throughput to 3.14m teu, less than half of last year's 7.77m teu. DP World shifted 500,000 teu via Gulf road and rail corridors and signed a 50-year deal for a new Fujairah terminal. Ningbo-Zhoushan overtook Singapore for the first time in Alphaliner's half-year rankings.
Logistics Solstad Offshore Wins $62m Petrobras CSV Contract Offshore Brazil
Solstad Offshore has won a two-year, $62m contract from Petrobras for the construction support vessel Normand Valiant, starting in Q4 2026. The vessel will provide accommodation services on the Brazilian continental shelf. The Normand Valiant is owned by Solstad Maritime and chartered to Solstad Offshore under a bareboat arrangement.
Logistics SK Gas Pays Record $5.3m to Jump Panama Canal Queue Amid Drought
SK Gas smashed the Panama Canal auction record with a $5.3m bid to move an LPG carrier northbound on September 1, according to Splash247. The previous record of $4.6m was set only earlier this month. Congestion is worsening as the canal cuts daily booking capacity from 34 to 32 ships in mid-September.
Logistics Iran blacklists 45 tankers over Strait of Hormuz rules amid fresh US sanctions threat
Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority has blacklisted 45 tankers for allegedly violating its rules for transiting the Strait of Hormuz, threatening fines, detention and cargo confiscation. The list includes vessels linked to ADNOC L&S, Navig8 Tankers, Bahri, Klaveness, Stolt Tankers and Sinokor. The move escalates tensions weeks after the US threatened 'the toughest sanctions in history' against Iran.
Logistics Abandoned Vans Lead Deputies to $123K in Brooks Shoes From BNSF Boxcar Theft
San Bernardino County deputies recovered more than $123,000 in Brooks running shoes after a suspected BNSF Railway boxcar burglary near Ludlow, California. Two abandoned vans led to the discovery, and the investigation remains open with no arrests announced.
Logistics Mexican trucking group urges US to clarify B-1 visa revocations
Mexican trucking chamber CANACAR is urging U.S. Customs and Border Protection to clarify B-1 visa revocation rules, warning that inconsistent cabotage enforcement is pulling drivers off cross-border routes. CANACAR estimates 150–200 drivers in Mexicali and roughly 25,000 across the northern border have lost visas in 2026, threatening capacity on U.S.-Mexico lanes.
Logistics English language proficiency joins top five Roadcheck driver OOS violations as CVSA releases 2026 data
English language proficiency entered the top five driver out-of-service (OOS) violation categories in the 2026 International Roadcheck, accounting for 361 OOS orders or 9.1% of the total, according to CVSA data reported by FreightWaves. No-medical-card violations more than doubled to 1,072 (27%), while hours-of-service violations fell to 929 (23.4%). Vehicle-related OOS top five remained unchanged with brake systems leading at 3,379 violations.
Logistics USPS Proposes 6% Peak Season Parcel Surcharge, Adding to Shippers' Cost Pressures
The U.S. Postal Service proposed a 6% temporary surcharge on key parcel services for the 2026 peak season, running Oct. 4 through Jan. 17, 2027. The fee, which requires Postal Regulatory Commission approval, adds to an existing 8% fuel surcharge and follows similar demand surcharges from FedEx, while UPS has yet to announce its fees.
Logistics Tabi Pricing Pressure Index Rises 7 Points, Signaling Broker Power Erosion
Tabi's Pricing Pressure Index rose 7 points to 36 over the past month, signaling a measurable softening in spot freight conditions while brokers and carriers still hold the upper hand, according to FreightWaves. The index draws on more than 1.5 million spot loads monthly. Shippers typically feel the market shift three to four months after brokers.
Logistics MSC Returns to Red Sea as Trans-Pacific Spot Rates Hold Elevated
Mediterranean Shipping Co. has joined other container lines returning to the southern Red Sea despite renewed Houthi attacks, according to FreightWaves. Trans-Pacific spot rates remain elevated, with Asia-U.S. West Coast prices up 1% to $6,826 per FEU and East Coast prices up 2% to $9,576 per FEU. Carrier capacity cuts and China port congestion are supporting rates, while U.S.-Iran and U.S.-China tensions keep the market on edge.
Logistics Truckload Tender Rejections at 13.57% Signal Healthy Freight Market Ahead of Q4 Volatility
Truckload tender rejections have settled at 13.57% after peaking above 17.5% around July 4th, up sharply from roughly 6% in January, according to FreightWaves SONAR data. Spot rates rose 7% from August 22 through late August, showing early seasonal firming ahead of Q4. Craig Fuller and Julie Van de Kamp say the market has a window to set spot-contract mix before volatility returns.
Logistics Deputies Recover $150K in New Balance Shoes After BNSF Boxcar Burglary in California
San Bernardino County deputies recovered more than $150,000 in New Balance shoes after a BNSF boxcar burglary near Barstow, California. One suspect was arrested; the investigation remains open, with the train's route and shipper not yet released.
Logistics Gatik Raises $200M to Scale Driverless Freight to Thousands
Gatik raised $200 million in a Series D round led by Qatar Investment Authority and Koch Disruptive Technologies to expand its driverless freight operations from dozens to thousands of trucks. The company reports 85,000 fully driverless orders, 99% on-time delivery, and more than $600 million in contracted revenue across Texas, Arizona, Arkansas and Canada.
Logistics Bullet Train Project Update: 74 km of Piers Completed on Shilphata-Zaroli Section, NHSRCL Says
According to Business-Today, India's first bullet train corridor is in active construction, with nearly 74 km of viaduct piers completed on the 135.45-km Shilphata-Zaroli elevated section, NHSRCL said. Three mountain tunnels have broken through, and three elevated stations are coming up at Thane, Virar and Boisar. Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw called the progress "a whole new vibe."
Logistics Rail mega-merger revives proposal for new, expanded Atlanta passenger services — and there's a trucking angle
FreightWaves reports that the proposed $85 billion Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger, now before the Surface Transportation Board, has revived a plan to divert freight trains around Atlanta and expand passenger rail. The bypass, backed by Mark Hitchcock of Jacobs Engineering, could improve trucking fluidity in the city and shift commuters off the road.
Logistics RXO Truckload Spot Rate Surge Extends Into Q3, Index Up 43% Year Over Year
RXO's truckload spot rate index accelerated to 32.4% year-over-year in Q2 and 43% year-over-year in Q3 to date, the biggest rate inflation since pandemic-era surges, according to FreightWaves. Contract rates from Cass Information Systems are also climbing, while Schneider National and Werner Enterprises report double-digit increases. Capacity tightening and 29% higher carrier operating costs are shifting leverage toward carriers ahead of peak season.
Logistics Welspun One Targets Year-End Completion for World Trade Center Thane Project
Welspun One plans to complete the World Trade Center Thane project by end of 2026, investing over ₹1,000 crore in 1.2 million sq ft of Grade A offices, retail and Urban Distribution Centres. The project is 30 per cent leased, with Aditya Birla Group and Welspun Group among confirmed occupiers.
Logistics Border Wall Construction Threatens 6,000 Years of History on Private Lands
The US Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Protection awarded billions in contracts for border wall and road construction along a 500-plus-mile West Texas riverfront, putting ancient archaeological sites on private ranches at risk. Archaeologists warn that bulldozers could destroy unstudied sites, including Canta Recio and the Polvo site, even as Big Bend National Park construction is paused after lawsuits.
Logistics Diana Shipping rolls panamax bulker Leto into stronger Cargill fixture at $18,000 per day
Diana Shipping secured a 41% rate increase for the panamax Leto, fixing the 81,297 dwt bulker to Cargill at $18,000 per day from September 10. The charter runs until at least September 1, 2027, and a minimum extension will generate about $6.34m in gross revenue.
Logistics From 600 to 5,000 Packages an Hour: FedEx Unveils $150 Million Delhi Cargo Hub
FedEx plans a $150 million integrated air cargo hub at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, boosting package processing capacity from 600 to 5,000 packages per hour. The facility at GMR Cargo City will strengthen air cargo connectivity across North and East India, supported by government efforts to expand cargo hubs and air freight stations.
Logistics SPM Shipping enters gas shipping with $91m VLGC buy from Dorian LPG
Dubai-based SPM Shipping has entered gas shipping with the $91m purchase of the 2015-built, 84,000 cu m VLGC Clermont from Dorian LPG, according to Splash247. The deal, concluded in August, follows SPM Shipping's moves into capesize and VLCC segments. Dorian LPG has now sold three VLGCs this summer, with reported prices of $81.8m, $87.3m, and $91m.
Logistics Houthi Strike Hits Saudi VLCC Amzan Off Yanbu in Red Sea
A Saudi-owned VLCC, Amzan, was struck by an unknown projectile off Yanbu on August 24, causing a main deck fire but no casualties or pollution. The attack extends the Houthi campaign against Saudi shipping to the key Red Sea crude export route, where tanker calls have fallen by more than a third since a July 20 ban.
Logistics Hormuz compliance clash traps owners between Tehran and Washington
Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority has blacklisted 45 vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, threatening fines, detention and cargo confiscation, while the US warns that complying with Tehran's regime could trigger sanctions. The list includes ships linked to ADNOC Logistics, Bahri, Sinokor and others, with 14 already attacked. The US Treasury expanded secondary sanctions to shipping, targeting five shadow-fleet vessels.
Logistics Container Port Congestion Smashes Covid-Era Record, Removing 4.3m TEU of Capacity
Global container port congestion has climbed beyond Covid-era levels, with 4.3m TEU waiting to berth and removing capacity from circulation. East Asian ports, led by Shanghai and Ningbo, are driving the spike after tropical storms, while Panama Canal transit cuts loom. Freight indices like SCFI and Platts Container Index are accordingly rising.
Logistics IMO Warns Piracy Surge in Gulf of Aden Leaves More Than 90 Seafarers Captive
The International Maritime Organization warns that more than 90 seafarers are now captive after a piracy surge in the Gulf of Aden, with six vessels held following the August 20 hijacking of the Seamull. IMO secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez demands immediate release and calls for renewed naval cooperation and security preparedness.