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 February
09, 2025
Today’s
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/// Sea Cargo News ///
Port
of Gothenburg achieves record container volume in 2025
A growing range of shipping services,
congestion at Europe’s ports, and an efficient rail connection between the port
and the rest of Sweden.
These are the key reasons why 2025 became a
new record year for the Port of Gothenburg, with 934,000 TEU’s handled for that
calendar year. This represents growth of
4% compared with the previous year and is also the highest full year volume
ever recorded in the Port’s history.
Container volumes at the Port of Gothenburg
are also growing considerably faster than in Sweden’s other ports combined. The
Port of Gothenburg’s ambition is for as large a share as possible of cargo to
and from the port to be transported by rail.
In 2025, container cargo transported by rail
increased by 5% to 529,000 TEU also a new all-time high. The share of
containers transported by rail is now just over 60%.
The Port of Gothenburg’s intra-European Ro-Ro
traffic consists of rolling cargo units loaded onto vessels with frequent
departures to strategically important freight hubs in Northern and Central
Europe, as well as the United Kingdom.
In 2025, 525,000 units were handled, a
marginal increase compared with the previous year. The Port of Gothenburg is
also the largest the vehicle port in the Nordic region and handled 251,000
vehicles during the year.
After three quarters, volumes were down by 9% compared with the same period the year before, but following a strong recovery in the 4th quarter, the decline for the full year amounted to 2%.
The
Port of Liverpool welcomes record ADM shipment from the USA.
The Port of Liverpool has received its
largest ever shipment from ADM, marking another major milestone for the port’s
bulk handling capability and its role in supporting the UK’s food and feed
supply chains.
The vessel, arriving from New Orleans – USA,
measured 229 meters in length and carried over 67,000 metric tonnes of product,
making it the largest ADM consignment ever handled at the Port.
The shipment included a diverse range of
commodities, reflecting the Port of Liverpool’s flexibility in managing complex
bulk cargoes. The shipment is comprised a mixed agribulk cargo, including
maize, high protein soya, soya hull pellets and corn gluten, reflecting the
scale and complexity of modern feed and food supply chains.
Together, these commodities play a vital role
in supporting the UK’s agricultural and animal feed sectors. Handling multiple
product types within a single consignment demonstrates the
Port of Liverpool’s capability to manage
high-volume, varied bulk cargoes efficiently, while maintaining the
segregation, quality control and turnaround times required by customers.
With deep water access, moder discharge
infrastructure and strong onward connectivity, the Port of Liverpool continues
to support customers in moving high volume, essential commodities efficiently
from ship to market.
Mandatory
reporting of lost containers to boost safety
Masters must report promptly if containers
are lost of drifting containers are observed, writes Sofia Pantazopoulou, ABS
Engineer, Regulatory Affairs.
January 01, 2026, saw the entry into force of
amendments to SOLAS Chapter V and Article V, Protocol I of MARPOL, introducing
mandatory reporting procedures for the loss of containers from ships at sea.
These amendments – which apply both to ships
that lose containers and to ships that observe containers lost at sea - aim to
mitigate the navigation hazards and enhance the position tracking and recovery
of such containers.
Despite initiatives to promote proper cargo
parking, accurate weight, proper stowage and securing aboard ship, containers
continue to be lost at sea due to severe weather and ship groundings.
According to data provided by the World
Shipping Council, an average of 1,629 containers were lost each year between
2008 and 2021 (including from the sinking of containerships). However, a
significant decrease has been observed between 2022 and 2024, with the average
number of containers lost per annum reduced to 489.
Such losses result in economic loss and risks
to marine safety from drifting containers as well as pollution, due to
potential release of dangerous substances, plastics and other pollutants.
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO)
has previously put in place initiatives aimed at addressing root-causes of lost
containers, preventing such incidents and assisting in their investigation,
issuing guidelines on stowage.
Under the amendment to SOLAS Chapter V, the
master of a ship involved in the loss of containers is required to promptly
report the incident to other ships in the vicinity, the nearest coastal state
and the flag State. Once informed, the Flat State must report the incident via
the IMO’s Global Integrated Shipping Information System.
An initial report can be prepared even if all
required elements are not available at the time of the incident and the master
must update the report with all required information at the earliest
opportunity.
The number-or estimated number-of lost
containers shall be verified through inspection, and a message marked as
‘final’, containing this verified number, shall be sent to the same recipients.
Under SOLAS Chapter V, if a ship is not
involved in a loss incident but observes containers adrift at sea, the master
of the ship shall also communicate the details by the appropriate means without
delay and to the fullest extent possible to other ships in the vicinity and the
nearest Coastal State.
Shipowners, operators and ship masters need
to be aware of the mandatory reporting requirement of the loss of containers
and to initiate the review and updating of applicable Safety Management Systems
to incorporate the new reporting obligations. They should also ensure that the
crew is adequately trained to respond effectively in the event of a container
loss or its observation at sea.
Maersk
announces blank sailings on NEOBOSSSANOVA and NEOSAMBA services
Maersk has announced blank sailings on its
NEOBOSSSANOVA and NEOSAMBA services connecting East Coast South America with
Europe, citing continued severe weather conditions across South-Western and
Western Europe.
On the NEOBOSSANOVA service, adverse weather
has continued to impact operations, prompting Maersk to slide the
Service at Itapoa to mitigate further
disruption. The first vessel affected will be CMA CGM Rodolphe 608N. The
impacted sailings include voyage 608N, with an estimated departure from Itapoa
on 17 February 2026, and voyage 611s, departing Tangier Med on 9 March 2026.
Similarly, on the NEOSAMBA service, weather
related restrictions have affected vessel transits, leading Maersk to slide the
service at Buenos Aires. The first vessel impacted will be Maersk Laguna 607N.
Affected sailings include voyage 607N, with an estimated departure from Buenos
Aires on 14 February 2026, and voyage 611S, departing Southampton on March 13,
2026.
Maersk said the adjustments are intended to
manage ongoing disruption and maintain service reliability as weather
conditions continue to affect European port operations.
Dual-Fuel fleet in liner shipping surpasses 400 vessels
The World Shipping Council (WSC) has updated
its Dual-Fuel Dashboard, tracking the liner shipping industry’s move toward
renewable and lower emission fuels. As of December 2025, 400 Dual-Fuel
container ships and vehicle carriers are now in operation, up from 218 in 2024.
Another 726, Duel-Fuel ships are currently on order, represent-ing 74% of the
container and vehicle carrier order-book.
In total, 1,126 dual-fuel vessels have been
delivered or are on order, a 28% increase over last year. The investment
exceeds USD 150 Billion. These ships are designed for the energy transition.
They can operate on renewable and near-zero fuels as they become commercially
available, giving the industry flexibility to meet future decarbonization
goals.
The growing dual-fuel fleet highlights the
shipping sector’s ongoing investment in sustainable operations and the shift
towards lower-emission fuels.
IMO
advances wind propulsion framework
BAR Technologies has welcomed the
International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) decision to include wind propulsion
in its draft safety framework for greenhouse gas reduction technologies. The
move follows the 12th session of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Ship Design and
Construction. The IMO committed develop interim safety guidelines for wind
propulsion systems by 2029.
The decision marks a major step in regulatory
progress. It creates a clearer pathway for the safe and commercial deployment
of wind technologies across the global fleet.BAR Technologies said wind
propulsion will play a critical role as the industry works toward the IMO’s
2050 net-zero targets.
John Cooper, CEO of BAR Technologies, said
the decision represents a key milestone for maritime decarbonisation. He said
regulatory clarity will help unlock wind propulsion as one of the most
effective zero-emission technologies available today.
Wind propulsion systems, including BAR
Technologies’ WindWings@, can deliver immediate reductions in fuel consumption
and emissions. The inclusion of wind in the IMO’s safety framework allows
shipowners, insurers and class societies to adopt the technology with greater
confidence. Under the IMO’s draft workplan, wind systems will receive formal
safety guidelines. These will address regulatory gaps that have limited
large-scale adoption in the past.
The 2029 target for interim approval aligns
with growing demand for green shipping corridors and zero-emission-ready
vessels.
The IMO’s work also supports efforts by the
International Wind Ship Association (IWSA) to ensure fair treatment of wind
propulsion in efficiency metrics and financial incentives under the Net-Zero
Framework.
BAR Technologies said wider industry
engagement will be essential to support fair regulation, scale investment and
accelerate the adoption of wind-powered shipping solutions.
50%
of audited planes show recurring snags, Air India tops list: Govt data
Government data showed that 377 of 754
aircraft audited since January last year had recurring defects, with Air India
Group accounting for 191 flagged planes and IndiGo reporting 148 aircraft with
repeat snags.
Around half the aircraft
examined for technical deficiencies across Indian carriers have shown
recurring defects, with Air India Group and IndiGo accounting for the largest
share, according to data tabled in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.
The government said 754 aircraft from six
scheduled airlines were analysed for repetitive snags since January last year.
Of these, 377 were flagged for recurring defects.
IndiGo had the highest number of aircraft
reviewed. As of February 3, 405
IndiGo planes were analysed, and 148 were identified as having repetitive defects,
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol told the House in a
written reply.
Air India Group recorded a far higher ratio.
Of the 267 aircraft checked across Air India and Air India Express, 191 were
found with recurring issues, nearly 72 per cent of the fleet audited. The data
showed that 137
of 166 Air India aircraft had repetitive defects, while 54 of 101 Air
India Express planes were similarly flagged.
Other carriers also featured on the list. Of
43 SpiceJet aircraft analysed, 16 were identified for recurring defects, while
Akasa Air saw 14 aircraft flagged out of 32 reviewed.
Responding to the figures, an Air India
spokesperson said the airline had conducted extensive checks across its fleet
"out of an abundance of caution", which pushed up the number of
observations.
"We have, out of abundance caution,
carried out checks across our fleet. Hence, numbers are higher," news
agency PTI quoted the spokesperson as saying.
A senior Air India executive said the findings
largely relate to lower-priority equipment. Aircraft systems are classified into
categories A to D based on urgency, with most Air India issues falling under
category D.
"In case of Air India, most of the
issues are with category D, which includes items like seats, tray tables,
screens (on the back of seats) and so on. These are not related to the safety
of the aircraft," the executive said.
Alongside airline audits, aviation regulator
DGCA ramped up surveillance activity last year. Mohol said the regulator
carried out 3,890 surveillance inspections, 56 regulatory audits, 84
surveillance of foreign aircraft (SOFA) checks and 492 ramp inspections as part
of planned monitoring.
In addition, DGCA
conducted 874 spot checks and 550 night inspections under unplanned
surveillance.
On manpower, the minister said DGCA had 637
sanctioned technical posts in 2022. To address staffing gaps, restructuring has
been undertaken and the number of sanctioned technical positions has been
increased to 1,063.
Thai Airways Plans Major India Expansion, Adds New
Destinations and A321Neo Aircraft
Thai Airways International has announced an
ambitious expansion of its India operations, with plans to add new
destinations, increase flight frequencies, and deploy its latest Airbus A321Neo
aircraft across key Indian cities, according to chief executive officer Chai
Eamsiri. Currently, the airline operates 78 flights per week connecting eight
Indian cities with Thailand.
This number is set to rise to 100 weekly
flights during the current year, driven by additional frequencies to major
metros including Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata. New Indian Destinations
Planned: As part of its winter schedule, Thai Airways is planning to launch new
services from India to Bangkok from Amritsar, Jaipur and Kochi.
The airline is also evaluating the launch of
flights from Pune starting next year. “We have ambitious plans to put more
capacity in India,” Eamsiri said, highlighting the growing importance of the
Indian market for the airline.
Menzies Aviation wins 15-year ground handling licence at BLR Airport
Menzies Aviation has secured a 15-year licence to provide ground handling services at Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru. The licence was awarded by Bangalore International Airport Limited and will take effect from 1 April 2026, with operations to begin after regulatory approvals.
The company has operated cargo services at
the airport for more than 15 years. Under the new agreement, Menzies Aviation
will deliver passenger, ramp and baggage operations across Terminals 1 and 2.
The licence allows airlines at the airport to access ground handling and cargo
services under one operator.
Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru
handles more than 43 million passengers each year and continues to record
growth in domestic and international traffic. India has reported growth in
passenger numbers, seat capacity and network expansion, according to industry
data cited in the announcement.
As part of the agreement, Menzies Aviation
will start a recruitment programme that is expected to add about 1,000
employees over three years. The company said these hires will expand its
existing cargo workforce of 1,700 staff at the airport. New employees will
undergo training aligned with company safety and operational standards. Menzies
Aviation plans to invest more than US$9.2 million in ground support equipment
at the airport.
The investment will include electric
equipment as part of its sustainability plans and aligns with airport operator
initiatives related to decarbonisation and operations. Charles Wyley, EVP
Middle East, Africa & Asia, Menzies Aviation, said: “Securing this 15-year
licence at one of India’s fastest-growing airports is an important step in
strengthening our presence in a region experiencing exceptional aviation
growth.
We are proud to deepen our partnership with
BIAL by delivering integrated ground handling and cargo solutions for our
airline customers.” Girish Nair, Chief Operating Officer, Bangalore
International Airport Limited (BIAL), said: “We are confident this partnership
will further strengthen safe, efficient, and seamless ground handling
operations at BLR Airport, support our long-term growth and sustainability
ambitions, and deliver consistent value to our airline partners and passengers,
reinforcing our vision of becoming a world-class aviation hub.”
The licence positions Menzies Aviation to
expand its role at the airport as airlines increase operations. The company
said the agreement supports airline partners and contributes to operational
performance at Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru.
Silk
Way West Airlines takes delivery of fourth Boeing 777F
Silk Way West Airlines has received its
fourth Boeing 777 freighter as part of its fleet renewal programme, with the
aircraft arriving in Baku on a direct flight from Seattle The aircraft is the
fourth of six Boeing 777 freighters ordered by the airline and marks continued
progress in modernising its long-haul cargo fleet.
As part of this renewal plan, Silk Way West
Airlines has already phased out two Boeing 747-400 Freighters to improve fleet
efficiency and performance. The remaining two Boeing 777Fs are scheduled for
delivery in 2027, completing the first phase of the fleet renewal programme.
Wolfgang Meier, President of Silk Way West Airlines, said the delivery reflects
the airline’s disciplined approach to fleet development and its commitment to
long-term strategic plans.
He added that replacing older aircraft with
next-generation freighters will strengthen operational performance, support
sustainability goals and prepare the airline for the next stage of fleet
modernisation. The Boeing 777 Freighter offers long-range capability, high
payload capacity and improved fuel efficiency, supporting the airline’s focus
on reliability and operational excellence.
Following this delivery, Silk Way West
Airlines’ fleet now totals 12 aircraft. From 2028, the airline plans to begin
the second phase of its fleet modernisation programme, which includes the
delivery of four Airbus A350 Freighters and four Boeing 777-8 freighters. This
phase, expected to be completed by 2030, aims to replace older aircraft and
support capacity growth, with the total fleet projected to reach 20 wide-body
aircraft.
Singapore
launches voluntary SAF procurement trial with nine companies
Singapore has launched its first trial for the central procurement of voluntary Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) as the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), the Singapore Sustainable Aviation Fuel Compan (SAFCo) and nine companies formalised a framework to purchase SAF through a single national platform.
The initiative brings together the CAAS, the
SAFCo and participating organisations Boston Consulting Group, Changi Airport
Group, DBS Bank, GenZero, Google, OCBC, Temasek, Singapore Airlines and Scoot.
The organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding to trial buying SAF
through SAFCo, marking the first coordinated voluntary purchase under a
national framework.
The MoU was signed at the 3rd Changi Aviation
Summit on 2 February 2026 and was witnessed by Jeffrey Siow, Singapore’s Acting
Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State for Finance.
CAAS established SAFCo in October 2025 to
centrally procure SAF for the Singapore air hub in support of Singapore’s aim
to use 1 per cent SAF for flights departing the country. To support this
target, a SAF levy will be applied to flights departing Singapore from 1
October 2026. SAFCo will aggregate regulated demand and voluntary demand from
organisations as part of a wider effort to develop an integrated SAF ecosystem.
The voluntary trial represents SAFCo’s first
SAF purchase and is intended to test the end-to-end operational, commercial and
accounting processes required for a national-level SAF procurement system. It
will also test the allocation of environment attributes and support the
implementation of Singapore’s national SAF policy.
For the nine participating companies, the
trial provides access to SAF and associated environmental attributes through a
national policy framework designed to ensure transparent emissions reduction.
It is also intended to offer firsthand experience in SAF procurement and
accounting, while allowing participants to leverage aggregated demand to access
SAF with greater certainty compared to individual procurement.
Han Kok Juan, Director-General of CAAS, said,
“We are encouraged by the strong commercial interest. With greater awareness,
we hope more will join. By aggregating regulated and voluntary SAF demand, we
seek to grow a robust and efficient SAF ecosystem to achieve a more resilient
and affordable fuel supply for our aviation sector.”
Tan Seow Hui, Chief Executive Officer of
SAFCo, said, “This voluntary trial is an important step in building confidence
and capability in Singapore’s SAF ecosystem. By aggregating demand and working
closely with airlines, corporate partners and government agencies, we aim to
demonstrate a practical and credible approach to SAF procurement and EA
allocation that can scale over time.”
Global
air cargo volumes rise in January despite China e-commerce drop
Global air cargo volumes rose seven per cent year on year in January 2026, supported by an early Lunar New Year, but the market faced pressure from a decline in China’s e-commerce exports for the first time since January 2022, according to Xeneta.
The increase in demand marked the strongest
growth in global chargeable weight since January 2025 and came at a time when
capacity rose by five per cent year on year.
As volumes grew faster than capacity, the
global dynamic load factor increased by one percentage point to 57 per cent,
indicating higher capacity utilisation across the air cargo market.
A key concern for the air cargo market is the
slowdown in e-commerce exports from China and Hong Kong. China Customs data for
December showed low-value and e-commerce exports fell nine per cent year on
year, marking the first decline since January 2022.
E-commerce accounts for an estimated 20 to 25
per cent of global air cargo volumes, making this trend significant for
airlines and freight forwarders. Also Read - DSV posts strong FY2025
performance as Schenker integration progresses.
The decline was most pronounced on China–US
routes, where e-commerce exports fell by more than 50 per cent for the third
consecutive month in December, following the introduction of the US de minimis
ban. For the full year 2025, China-to-US e-commerce exports were down 28 per
cent compared with the previous year.
An exception was the Transatlantic westbound
corridor, where spot rates rose three per cent year on year despite a decline
in volumes. Xeneta said this was partly linked to a temporary rise in demand
following a US tariff threat on European imports, which was later withdrawn.
Overall, Xeneta said uncertainty around e-commerce demand and ocean shipping
conditions will continue to shape air cargo volumes and rates in the coming
months, with clearer signals expected only towards the end of the first quarter
of 2026.
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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