Breakdown in Canadian West Coast Port negotiations as sides dig in
Negotiations in the now four-day-old dockworkers strike at Canada’s West Coast ports broke down on Monday, July 3. With both sides firmly entrenched and issuing strongly worded statements, the prospects of government intervention are being raised while the union strongly insists the issues must be settled at the bargaining table for long-term stability.
The strike began Saturday morning, July 1, impacting more than 30 ports and 49 terminals across British Columbia, including Vancouver and Prince Rupert, which are Canada’s first and third largest ports. The contract expired at the end of March with the union citing issues related to wages, automation, and the outsourcing of work. Negotiations had continued at the end of last week and into the weekend and had been expected to resume on Monday after a brief pause so both sides could get rest after a 33-hour marathon session.
The Maritime Executive
PSA becomes new shareholder of Duisburg Gateway Terminal GMBH
PSA International Pte Ltd (PSA), headquartered in Singapore, has signed agreements to acquire a 22 percent minority stake in Duisburg Gateway Terminal GmbH (DGT). The transaction is subject to the approval of Germany’s competition and supervisory authorities. Upon completion of transaction, PSA will join Hupac, HTS and duisport as shareholders of DGT.
Located in the Port of Duisburg, DGT will be the first 100% climate-neutral inland container terminal located in the European hinterlands.
"We are pleased to have gained an important strategic partner for the DGT company in PSA, which will contribute significantly to the success of the Duisburg Gateway Terminal with its various business segments in Europe, Asia and worldwide. This network expansion strengthens both the competitive diversity and the further diversification of the Port of Duisburg. The topic of supply chain diversification has an increasingly important meaning," says duisport CEO Markus Bangen.
AJOT
Ransomware attack hits Japan’s biggest port, delaying cargo
Japan’s biggest maritime port was crippled by an alleged Russian cyberattack, disrupting cargo as operators rushed to prevent a wider delay in shipments.
Ransomware — used by hackers to lock access to files or systems unless a payment is made — caused a container terminal at the Port of Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture to suffer an outage Tuesday morning, the Nagoya Harbor Transportation Authority said Wednesday. The authority said operations are expected to resume Thursday at 8:30 a.m. local time.
As more Asian ports automate and move away from paper documentation, hackers pose a growing problem to the region’s shipping networks. Cyber criminals have been targeting European ports in recent years, with pro-Russia groups claiming responsibility for an attack on one of the continent’s biggest ports just last month.
AJOT
MPA Singapore, LR MDH drive net-zero shipping across Indian and Pacific Oceans
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub (LR MDH) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on a fleet-specific decarbonisation strategy.
The companies will set up an implementation plan for the ‘The Silk Alliance’ cross-industry initiative to enable zero-emission shipping across the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Both companies aim to enhance their commitment to building collaborations in co-creating the green corridor to try decarbonisation techniques for container ships operating predominantly in Asia in order to achieve considerable emission-saving effects.
Port Technology
Worst summer storm in Netherlands disrupts flights, trains
Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport has canceled more than 300 flights as the heaviest summer storm on record brought transit in much of the northern Netherlands to a halt.
Due to heavy wind gusts of up to 120 kilometers per hour, rain and poor visibility, aircraft can hardly land or take off, a spokesperson for Schiphol said. The weather conditions may lead to further cancellations and delays in operating flights later in the day.
Earlier on Wednesday wind gusts of 146 kilometers per hour were recorded in IJmuiden near Amsterdam, making it strongest ever recorded in the summer, according to RTL Nieuws.
AJOT
Domestic shipping to enter the UK ETS scheme in 2026
The UK government announced today a series of steps for the coming years to expand its Emission Trading Scheme, including for the first time bringing domestic shipping into the program. Experts highlight that it is another example of individual countries taking steps to reduce emissions in the lack of international agreements for industries such as shipping that reach beyond domestic borders.
The announcement that shipping will be required to participate in the program starting in 2026 comes as the International Maritime Organization struggles to reach a consensus at the ongoing International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting. According to the announcement, the UK government chose to put the announcement out now to provide shipping and other industries time to begin planning for the changes that will begin in 2024 and be phased into the program over the next few years.
The Maritime Executive
