Mark Slade now in Canada – for DP World 
DP World has appointed Mark Slade as its new vice-president for freight forwarding in Canada. He’ll be based in Vancouver and will lead the development of the group’s forwarding operations in Canada. Slade brings nearly 30 years of industry experience with him, having held... more
Rail shippers gathering in Chicago
The North American Rail Shippers Association (Nars) will hold its annual meeting from 7-9 May at the Swissôtel in Chicago. Under the theme of ‘A Time for Resilience’ the event will gather leaders from the shipping, regulatory, supplier and carrier sectors to exchange insights... more
Less is more 
Hydrogen-powered small vessels in place of lorries. Could running autonomous hydrogen-powered small vessels be an economically viable option? A research group from the German University of Münster has concluded that, under certain circumstances, it could – though only beyond a... more
OCP and Maersk strengthen collaboration
OCP Group and Maersk have signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance their collaboration and develop sustainable, resilient supply chain solutions. The agreement supports OCP’s international expansion, particularly through its business unit entitled specialty products... more
Address root causes
Steel corrosion threatens sustainability goals. Hidden environmental costs – German corrosion protection specialist Steelpaint warns of the substantial CO₂ emissions caused by steel corrosion. Inadequate protection, it says, results in more emissions than the entire aviation... more
Port congestion intensifying
Global study by maritime data platform Beacon. The maritime data platform Beacon has analysed the latest developments in 88 ports worldwide. Whilst 2023 saw 34 of these experience only slight deterioration, with additional waiting times for ships of up to two hours, five hubs... more
Container shipping will be hit hardest – Bimco
Bimco’s chief shipping analyst, Niels Rasmussen, has warned of major consequences following the USA’s announcement of new import tariffs. US import tariffs will rise by nearly 25%, significantly raising costs for businesses and consumers on around 80% of imports. Key US... more
Freight sector under pressure – VNL
VNL has published its second-quarter 2025 outlook on freight transport developments. The ‘Austrian Supply Chain Pressure Index’ shows a 30% increase, indicating heightened supply risks. In road freight, new customs regulations and a persistent driver shortage are raising... more
Driver shortages worsening
The IRU’s 2024 global truck driver shortage report shows 3.6 million unfilled positions in 36 countries, similar to 2023 levels. However, structural concerns are rising, particularly the widening age gap. The proportion of drivers under 25 fell by 5.8% year-on-year, while... more
Milwaukee welcomes first international vessel
Port Milwaukee welcomed the Singapore-flagged ‘Patagonman’ as the first international vessel of the 2025 season on 30 March. The ship arrived after unloading cargo in Canada (Sault Ste Marie ON), following its transit through the St Lawrence Seaway, which reopened on 22 March.... more