By Michael Grey* As a story in May in the general press, it all seemed a bit of a laugh. The deep-sleeping Norwegian in his pretty cabin on the Trondheim Fjord, oblivious to a “huge” ship running ashore a few feet from his bedroom. He required an urgent call from his neighbour to alert him […]
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By Michael Grey* “She’s not answering the helm!” It was a call to chill the heart of any watchkeeping officer, at least in the days when there was a man on the wheel to react with such alarm. It happened to me just once, but in the middle of the Straits of Gibraltar, with lots
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By Louis Martel* The United States has a long history of implementing protectionist trade policies, often realizing in hindsight that such measures ultimately hurt Americans. The latest example is the Trump administration’s proposal to impose exorbitant port fees on Chinese-built vessels that dock at U.S. ports – a shortsighted policy that is poised to have
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By Michael Grey* “Unfriendly natives” – it said, recalling a previous visit, but the Old Man, worrying about the reaction of the pilot, demanded that the Third Mate erase this scurrilous observation, even though he subsequently agreed with its accuracy. It is not the first time they have featured as a source of seafarers’ exasperation,
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By Michael Grey* Do seafarers have any human rights, in an era where worthy folk are always shouting about this supposed entitlement for those who live safely on land? You have to wonder, when you learn about some of the disgraceful treatment meted out by the authorities around the world to those who have aroused
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By Michael Grey* With everyone slowing down to save both the planet and fuel we should not be surprised that the expeditors among us are more anxious than ever to cut corners to make up for all those lost hours on passage. Some are undoubtedly sensible, such as becoming more expert at timing an arrival
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Portage, Indiana – Officials welcomed the new ocean vessel Federal Indiana to Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor this past Monday, marking the ship’s first visit to its namesake state. Launched in 2024, the Federal Indiana is owned and operated by Fednav, Canada’s largest bulk shipping company. The vessel is 200 meters long and 24 meters wide, the largest
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Global goods trade is projected to post a 2.7% increase in 2024, up slightly from the previous estimate of 2.6%, economists at the World Trade Organization said in an updated forecast. The volume of world merchandise trade is likely to increase by 3.0% in 2025; however, rising geopolitical tensions – notably in the Middle East
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BIMCO’s Documentary Committee has adopted the AUTOSHIPMAN agreement in response to a growing number of remotely controlled ships. The AUTOSHIPMAN agreement provides a standard contractual foundation for third-party ship managers to deliver services for the operation of remotely controlled or fully autonomous ships. Remotely controlled ships are currently used primarily in inland waterways and coastal
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The St. Lawrence Seaway today announced its September performance figures, with 23.6 million mt (metric tons) of cargo shipped since the beginning of the navigation season. While overall tonnage is slightly down compared to the previous year, specific commodities demonstrate positive trends that underscore the Seaway’s vital role in North American supply chains, with indications
Growth continues in key commodities on St. Lawrence Seaway Read More »