JUPITER SEA & AIR
SERVICES PVT. LTD, EGMORE – CHENNAI, INDIA.
E-MAIL : Robert.sands@jupiterseaair.co.in Mobile : +91 98407 85202
Corporate News
Letter for Monday September 15,
2025
Today’s
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/// Sea Cargo News ///
CULines expands South Asia network with two
new shipping services
CULines
has strengthened its South Asia connectivity with the launch of two new
services, the CSX and CWS, aimed at meeting growing customer shipping demands
between China and the Indian subcontinent. The CSX service began
operations on July 27, while the CWS service commenced on August 4.
Both
services link major Chinese ports—including Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen,
Nansha, Shekou, and Hong Kong—with key South Asian hubs such as Singapore, Port
Klang, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, and Karachi.
Enhanced
Connectivity: The CSX service rotates through Qingdao – Xiamen –
Nansha – Port Klang – Nhava Sheva – Mundra – Port Klang – Qingdao, providing a
direct connection between southern China and South Asia.
The CWS
service follows the route Shanghai – Ningbo – Shekou –
Singapore – Port Klang – Nhava Sheva – Karachi – Mundra – Port Klang – Hong
Kong – Shanghai, extending CULines’ reach to central China, Singapore, and
Pakistan.
These
launches reflect CULines’ ongoing strategy to optimize its network and adapt to
the evolving transport needs of shippers in the region, reinforcing its
commitment to seamless, reliable trade links between China and South Asia.
Vizhinjam port sets record with 16.95m draft vessel during Onam
Vizhinjam
International Port has set a new benchmark by handling a container vessel with
a draft of 16.95 meters, the deepest ever recorded at the port and the
second-largest ship to call at an Indian port.
The
vessel MSC Virginia, which had earlier arrived from Mundra Port with a draft of
16 meters, departed for Spain after loading approximately 5,000 TEUs of cargo
at Vizhinjam, increasing its draft to 16.95 meters.
The
achievement came as a symbolic gift of Onam to Kerala. Previously, the
deepest vessel handled at Vizhinjam had a draft of 16.8 meters. With this
operation, the port has now successfully managed 17 vessels with drafts
exceeding 16.5 meters, underlining its capacity to accommodate the world’s
largest container ships.
Vizhinjam’s
natural draft depth of 18 to 20 meters positions it as one of India’s premier
deep-water transshipment hubs, further boosting its profile in the global
maritime community.
DGMA to blacklist 86 foreign vessels over abandonment of Indian seafarers
The
Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) is set to blacklist 86
foreign vessels for their role in the abandonment, detention, and arrest of
Indian seafarers, in what officials describe as a decisive step to safeguard
seafarers’ rights and India’s reputation as a major global crew supplier.
Under a draft proposal issued on September 5, Recruitment and Placement Services License (RPSL) holders will be barred from recruiting, deploying, or engaging Indian seafarers on these vessels.
Companies will also be required to ensure that Indian crew currently on board are signed off at the earliest port of call and repatriated safely with full settlement of wages and entitlements.
RPSL
firms linked to these ships must submit detailed reports on seafarers deployed,
their employment records, repatriation status, and pending wages with
documentary proof. Failure to comply will attract strict action,
including suspension or cancellation of licences, blacklisting of agencies, and
legal proceedings.
India strengthens Central Asia outreach via strategic Chabahar Port in
Iran
India is
ramping up its Connect Central Asia policy with renewed focus on the Chabahar
Port in Iran, amid evolving global trade dynamics and shifting diplomatic
alignments.
National
Security Advisor Ajit Doval held a phone conversation with his Iranian
counterpart, Ali Akbar Ahmadian, yesterday to discuss regional developments and
bilateral cooperation, including progress on the Chabahar project.
The
Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar, located on the Gulf of Oman, is
considered a key trade gateway, offering India direct access to Afghanistan and
Central Asia while bypassing Pakistan.
In May
2024, India signed a 10-year agreement with Iran to equip and operate cargo and
container terminals at the port.
According
to India’s Shipping Ministry, a total of ₹400 crore has been allocated for
Chabahar since FY 2016-17, with ₹201.51 crore already spent. The port saw a 43%
rise in vessel traffic and a 34% increase in container traffic during 2023-24.
Analysts
note that Chabahar’s strategic relevance has grown as China scales back
investments under its Belt and Road Initiative, including elements of the
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, citing debt and security concerns.
This
could reduce Pakistan’s leverage in regional transit discussions involving Iran
and India.
Chabahar
is increasingly being seen as a linchpin in India’s efforts to strengthen
economic and strategic ties with Central Asia, enhancing trade connectivity in
a rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape.
PIL launches QwiikPay, a new integrated payment solution in PocketPIL
Pacific
International Lines (PIL) has introduced QwiikPay, a new digital payment
solution embedded within its booking platform, PocketPIL. Developed in
collaboration with Qwiik, a Singapore-based shipping agency platform, QwiikPay
aims to make payments faster, easier, and more transparent for exporters.
The
service is being launched first in Indonesia this month and will gradually be
rolled out across PIL’s global network. With QwiikPay, exporters can: View
invoices in real-time, Make secure local payments directly within
PocketPIL, Enjoy faster cargo release and service delivery.
By
eliminating the friction of manual local payment processes, QwiikPay enables
real-time payment settlements, enhancing operational efficiency and improving
customer experience.
“QwiikPay underscores our commitment to customer-centric digital innovation and our ongoing efforts to simplify the shipping journey for our users,” PIL said in a statement
HSBC: US port fee regime could cost COSCO, OOCL over $2.1bn in 2026
Chinese
state-backed shipping majors COSCO and its Hong Kong-listed subsidiary Orient
Overseas Container Line (OOCL) could face a combined bill exceeding $2.1bn
under the looming US port fee regime, HSBC has warned.
The
United States Trade Representative (USTR) is expected to roll out new port
charges targeting Chinese-linked tonnage from October 14, although final rules
are still awaited. Customs & Border Protection is said to be working on the
fee collection system.
Analysis
suggests COSCO may incur around $1.5bn in additional costs in 2026—equivalent
to 5.3% of projected revenues—while OOCL’s bill could reach $654m, or 7.1% of
its forecast revenues. The bank’s model is based on a fee of $600 per feu on a
10,000 teu vessel, more than a quarter of the current Shanghai–US West Coast
spot rate.
To
mitigate the hit, COSCO and OOCL are expected to lean on Ocean Alliance
partners CMA CGM and Evergreen, deploying more Korean and Japanese built
vessels on the trans-pacific trade, while Chinese built tonnage is shifted else
where. Carriers are also exploring
alternative routings through Mexico, Canada and Caribbean hubs – moves already
visible in newly announced Mexico services.
HSBC
cautioned that such network reshuffles could tighten available capacity, with
operators holding onto older non-Chinese built vessels rather than scrapping
them. Nearly 93% of the global fleet over 20 years old falls into this
category.
OOIL,
OOCL’s listed parent, has already acknowledged the “relatively large impact” of
the impending charges. The realignment extends beyond containers, with
chartering decisions in tanker and dry bulk markets also being reshaped as
Chinese built ships divert to other regions.
Wallenius Wilhelmsen secures $100m logistics contract in Australia
Wallenius
Wilhelmsen has secured a major logistics contract in Australia with a leading
automotive manufacturer, a deal expected to generate more than $100 million in
revenues. Under the three-plus-one-year agreement, the Oslo-listed RoRo
and logistics group will provide vehicle processing services across Melbourne,
Brisbane, and Perth.
Pia
Synnerman, Chief Commercial Officer at Wallenius Wilhelmsen, said the
partnership would give the customer “better oversight of its logistics” while
reinforcing the group’s own growth ambitions in Oceania. The deal comes as
the company continues to strengthen its footprint in the region through
integrated shipping and land-based logistics services.
Earlier
this year, Wallenius Wilhelmsen sold its stake in Melbourne International RoRo
& Auto Terminal (MIRRAT) to Australian Amalgamated Terminals, a subsidiary
of logistics giant Qube. Despite the divestment, the company confirmed it will
continue to use the terminal for its operations.
The
latest agreement underscores Wilhelmsen’s strategy to expand its rold as a
comprehensive logistics provider in Oceania, a market of growing importance for
global automotive supply chains.
New cargo safety report finds over 10% of shipments flagged for
deficiencies
Despite
misdeclared cargoes making more and more headlines, leading to deaths and
vessel losses, new data published today shows more than one in 10 shipments
have deficiencies, an alarming upward trend.
The
World Shipping Council (WSC), liner shipping’s lobby group, has released a new
report summarising deficiencies found in government cargo inspection
programmes, reviving a data series that the International Maritime Organization
(IMO) discontinued last year.
The 2024
report shows that 11.39% of inspected cargo shipments were found to have
deficiencies, up slightly from the IMO’s final 2023 figure of 11%.
These
include misdeclared and undeclared dangerous goods, incorrect documentation,
and improper packing – all of which can lead to serious safety incidents,
including ship fires.
According
to Lloyd’s Register, such misdeclaration ranks as the third-largest cause of
containership accidents. Undeclared heavy boxes placed aloft can render a ship
in trouble, driving excessive rolling, stack stress and box losses. Even more
deadly, improperly declared chemical cargoes risk thermal runaway and
explosions at sea – events crews are neither trained nor equipped to tackle.
The WSC
has submitted its consolidated results in a paper to the IMO’s sub committee on
carriage of cargoes and containers meeting, which starts today.
One Air’s scheduled freighter services underway
One Air
Boeing 747-400 Freighter
A One Air
Boeing 747 Freighter flew from Hong Kong to the UK’s East Midlands Airport on
September 4 with a full payload of 109 tonnes – marking the launch of the
company’s first ever scheduled freighter flights.
Operated
on behalf of affiliated sales arm Air One, the four-times-weekly service is
aimed at time-sensitive cargo such as e-commerce and electronics. The company
said the launch of scheduled operations marked the “start of a new chapter” for
the business.
Flights
depart Hong Kong late in the evening, arriving at East Midlands early the next
morning for onward distribution across the UK via Swissport’s road feeder
services, including to hubs such as Heathrow, Manchester and Birmingham.
Air One
operated over 3,000 747F charter flights between January 2020 and August 2025,
linking Hong Kong with 35 destinations worldwide and transporting over 300m kg
of cargo. The company has now established a permanent Hong Kong office under
director Far East Spencer AuYeung.
Air One
chief commercial officer Peter Scholten said: “Launching scheduled services is
a significant step in AIR ONE’s development and adds a third pillar to our
service portfolio alongside wet lease and charter operations.
“Hong Kong
has always been a vital market for us, and this new route provides the
foundation for a broader scheduled operations strategy. By 2026, Air One plans
to expand frequencies from Hong Kong and add further routes to its network.”
Air One,
the customer-facing brand of Air One International Holdings, is a global
network of cargo airlines and aviation companies offering flexible airfreight
capacity through long-term charters, ACMI solutions and scheduled services.
The group
manages the commercial activities of subsidiary airline AeroTransCargo SRL
(Moldova), as well as its affiliated partners, RomCargo Airlines (Romania) and
One Air (United Kingdom). Combined, this represents a widebody fleet consisting
of 11 Boeing 747-400 Freighters and now the first 777F.
Air One
operates through a network of offices in London, the UAE, and Hong Kong.
Cargo worker dies in tragic Sydney
Airport incident
A cargo
worker at Qantas’ Sydney International Freight Terminal at Sydney
Airport on Sunday lost his life after being struck by a vehicle.
The man, who has not been named but is thought to be in his 40s, died at the scene despite the best efforts of paramedics. The incident is not being treated as suspicious.
Sydney
AirportIn a
statement, Qantas Freight said: ”Qantas Freight is deeply saddened to confirm a
serious incident occurred at the Sydney International Freight Terminal
yesterday, in which a worker tragically lost their life.
"Our
deepest condolences go to the individual’s family, friends, and colleagues. We
are working with the Sydney terminal team and authorities to provide support
and ensure privacy is respected during this difficult time.” The company said that the terminal remains
open, but service disruption is expected as the company works through a
backlog, with high-risk cargo being prioritised.
"The
immediate priority is the wellbeing of our people," Qantas Freight said.
"Support services have been made available to all team members, and we
continue to provide resources to those who need them." The company added: "Our teams are
focused on minimising impacts and maintaining service continuity."
Etihad Cargo sees revenues improve
Etihad Cargo saw its revenues increase in the first half of the year, while cargo volumes also improved but by a lower amount. The Abu Dhabi-headquartered cargo business reported a 9% increase in revenues to $551m, while cargo volumes were up by 1% to 322,000 tonnes.
Photo:
Etihad CargoStanislas
Brun, chief cargo officer, Etihad Airways, said: “These results demonstrate
that Etihad Cargo is delivering sustainable performance by focusing on premium
products, agile network planning and close partnerships with our customers.
Adaptability and customer-centricity remain central to our success.”
During the
first half, the carrier also expanded its cargo capacity by 8% year on year
with the addition of a sixth Boeing 777 freighter
operated by Atlas Air as well as extra belly-hold space.
Etihad's
overall operating fleet increased by 13 to 106 aircraft by the end of the first
half.
The
airline also deepened its strategic partnership with China’s SF Airlines,
establishing a metal-neutral Joint Business Agreement that integrates
operations and capacity across key trade corridors.
"This
has introduced a weekly Shenzhen–Abu Dhabi freighter service and expanded
frequencies on the Abu Dhabi–Ezhou route, raising weekly capacity between the
carriers to approximately 630 tonnes,” the cargo business said in a press
release.
Etihad
Cargo achieved an 89.6% year-on-year improvement in its Delivered As Promised
rate through "continuous service reliability".
The
overall airline generated a net profit of $306m, up 32%, on a 16% rise in
revenues.
This
capacity expansion has allowed its network to increase to nearly 90 routes.
Etihad also unveiled an agreement for 28 Boeing 777X and 787 twinjets in the
second quarter.
Last year,
Etihad was the world's 23rd largest cargo carrier, according to IATA WATS report statistics.
Etihad
recently told ACN that it planned to add widebody freighters to build up its freighter capacity ahead of the arrival of the 10 A350Fs it has on order with
Airbus.
In total,
Etihad plans to eventually operate a fleet of 13 freighters (10 A350Fs and
three Boeing 777Fs) once deliveries are complete, seven more than the six
freighters it currently offers.
FedEx opens new Istanbul air hub
FedEx
opens new Istanbul facilityFedEx has
opened a new “global air transit facility” at Istanbul Airport as Turkey
emerges as a “global air cargo powerhouse” and a key hub for cross-border
e-commerce. The facility measures 25,300
sq m and provides air gateway functions, integrated customs clearance teams and
office support. Technologies on offer at the facility include an automated
sorting system, security screening, and capabilities to handle dangerous goods.
It has
three-times the sorting capacity of FedEx’s previous facility, being able to
process up to 7,000 packages per hour. Additionally, there are three automated
x-ray machines equipped with artificial intelligence to ”further enhance the
speed, accuracy, and security of shipment screening”.
In a press
release, FedEx stressed the importance of Istanbul at “the crossroads of east
and west”.
“Situated
at the intersection of Europe, Asia, and Africa, Istanbul is uniquely
positioned to serve as a strategic logistics hub,” FedEx said. ”This new
facility connects Turkey with 30 weekly FedEx flights to and from key markets
in the US, Europe and the Middle East and provides capacity for future network
growth through the region.
”The
location further integrates the global FedEx air network into the FedEx road
network, one of the largest in the region, linking 45 countries and handling
1.3m shipments weekly.”
The
express firm added that Istanbul Airport was last year Europe’s busiest air cargo hub and handled nearly 2m tons of cargo, up 24% year on year.
“This new
facility in Istanbul is a strategic move for FedEx, further integrating our
global air and ground networks and delivering the scale and flexibility our
customers need in a dynamic trade environment,” said FedEx chief operating
officer Richard Smith.
“It is
also a key step in unleashing the power of our combined networks to create
long-term value and capture growth in the global airfreight market.”
Selahattin
Bilgen, chief executive officer, iGA Istanbul Airport, said: “This major
investment strengthens our position as a key player in global cargo and
e-commerce operations and supports our long-term vision of becoming a
world-leading airport in air cargo, with a targeted handling capacity of over
5m tons.
”It’s a
great pleasure to welcome FedEx as a strategic partner in our ambitious growth
plans, and we look forward to building on this collaboration in the months and
years ahead.”
DHL Express speeds up Helsinki
operations with new facility
DHL
Express’ new Helsinki facilityDHL
Express Finland has opened a new logistics centre at Helsinki-Vantaa
Airport (HEL) that will help speed up aircraft loading and unloading.
The
express firm said its new facility at HEL has direct access to the airport
apron to enable shorter aircraft loading and offloading times, while it is
also equipped with an automated sorting system capable of processing 6,500
parcels per hour.
It will
more than double the firm’s current operational area.
The 16,000
sq m facility also has 90 direct loading bays with electric vehicle
charging, advanced x-ray scanning technology and will utilise geothermal
heating, solar panels, and energy-efficient technologies to be carbon neutral.
”The new
gateway represents the largest investment in DHL Express’s history in Finland —
totaling approximately €100m in new facilities and technology in the
Aviapolis area,” DHL Express said.
The new
facility will handle international, European, national, and local parcels
transported via air or road, ranging from urgent to less urgent deliveries.
The first
customer deliveries from the facility are set to begin in October 2025.
“The new
gateway is designed to meet the needs of Finnish business. It enables more
efficient and environmentally friendly operations and provides our staff with
modern and comfortable facilities. This investment supports growth and helps
Finnish companies reach international markets,” said Oktay Nuri, managing
director at DHL Express Finland.
The new
Helsinki gateway is part of an extensive DHL Express network infrastructure
improvement programme. A corresponding gateway facility is currently being
built in Munich, and a new Nordic Express hub was opened in Copenhagen in 2023.
In Finland, a new 5,000 sq m express terminal was completed in Pirkkala in
2019.
I hope you have enjoyed reading the above
news letter.
Robert Sands
Joint Managing Director
Jupiter Sea & Air
Services Pvt Ltd
Casa Blanca, 3rd Floor
11, Casa Major Road,
Egmore
Chennai – 600 008.
India.
GST Number :
33AAACJ2686E1ZS.
Tel : + 91 44 2819 0171
/ 3734 / 4041
Fax : + 91 44 2819 0735
Mobile : + 91 98407
85202
E-mail : robert.sands@jupiterseaair.co.in
Website : www.jupiterseaair.com 1Branches : Chennai, Bangalore,
Mumbai, Coimbatore, Tirupur and Tuticorin.
Associate Offices : New
Delhi, Kolkatta, Cochin & Hyderabad.
Thanks to : Container News, Indian Seatrade, Cargo Forwarder Global & Air Cargo News.
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