JUPITER SEA & AIR SERVICES PVT. LTD, EGMORE – CHENNAI, INDIA.
E-MAIL : Robert.sands@jupiterseaair.co.in Mobile : +91 98407 85202
Corporate News
Letter for Friday March 20, 2025
Today’s
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/// Sea Cargo News ///
Beijing counters Panama’s port takeover
In late January, Panama’s Supreme Court
annulled CK Hutchison’s contracts to run the Cristobal and Balboa terminals on
either sides of the country’s terminals, facilities the Hong Kong conglomerate
has run since 1997.
To the north, since returning to power last
year, US president Donald Trump has made no secret of his ambition to see
Panamanian maritime infrastructure become more aligned with American interests.
The Supreme Court ruling six weeks ago
immediately provoked diplomatic and commercial ripples. Beijing warned of
“heavy prices” and reportedly ordered state firms to pause new Panama projects,
while Chinese customs stepped up inspections of Panamanian imports.
An opinion piece published in state-run China
Daily last month argued the Supreme Court decision was “a textbook
case of how external pressure can corrupt judicial independence and undermine
the foundations of international investment”.
Earlier this week, officials from MSC and
Maersk were called into the Ministry of Transport, while Panamanian newspaper La
Prensa is now reporting that China’s state-run shipping giant COSCO
has ceased all calls at Balboa. Vessel tracking services show no COSCO ships –
or vessels belonging to its subsidiaries – at the port today.
For its part, CK Hutchison’s Panama Ports
Company (PPC) has launched international arbitration seeking at least $2bn in
damages.
In a statement filed March 6, PPC said it has
formally submitted claims under the ICC arbitration rules, accusing Panama of
an “illegal national takeover,” “egregious breaches” of contract and
“manifestly anti‑investor conduct.”
The company warned it “will not give ground”
and “will not accept symbolic compensation,” saying it will pursue “all rights
and damages to which it is entitled.” PPC also said it is pursuing parallel
local remedies and has asked Panamanian authorities to return documents and
materials it says were unlawfully seized during the takeover.
Three ships struck in new Strait of Hormuz attacks
Media reports identify the vessels as:
Mayuree Naree bulk carrier –
Thailand flag, owned by Precious Shipping (Bangkok). Hit by two projectiles
about 11 nm north of Oman; fire and engine-room damage reported.
ONE Majesty container ship – Marshall
Islands registry, owned by Mitsui O.S.K. Lines; operated by Ocean Network
Express Reported struck but damage described as limited; crew safe.
Star Gwyneth bulk carrier –
Marshall Islands flag, operated by Star Bulk Carriers. Projectile reportedly
holed a cargo hold; vessel remained seaworthy.
CENTCOM, which yesterday (10 Mar) reported
that it had eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels, including 16
minelayers, near
the Strait of Hormuz, today issued a warning to civilians noting that the
Iranian regime is using civilian ports along the Strait of Hormuz to conduct
military operations that threaten international shipping.
“This dangerous action risks the lives of
innocent people. Civilian ports used for military purposes lose protected
status and become legitimate military targets under international law.
“CENTCOM urges civilians in Iran to
immediately avoid all port facilities where Iranian naval forces are operating.
Iranian dockworkers, administrative personnel, and commercial vessel crews
should avoid Iranian naval vessels and military equipment.
APM Terminals Pipavav handles Largest Parcel Size
Vessel Call with MV Seaspan Ganges
The vessel call marked a major benchmark for the port’s operational
capability, with the terminal completing 4,512 container moves, equivalent
to 8,454 TEUs, on the 115,000 DWT vessel. The operations were executed
safely and efficiently, achieving an impressive berth productivity of around
120 moves per hour (MPH).
The successful handling of such a large call highlights the terminal’s
robust infrastructure, operational expertise, and strong coordination among
stakeholders. The call was facilitated in collaboration with global shipping
line Hapag-Lloyd AG, which entrusted Pipavav with the handling of the
vessel.
APM Terminals Pipavav expressed gratitude to Hapag-Lloyd for its
continued confidence in the port and for providing the opportunity to manage
this landmark call. The terminal emphasized that the achievement reflects the
dedication of its teams and partners in ensuring seamless operations,
particularly during times when reliability and supply chain continuity are
crucial for global trade.
Located on India’s western coast in Gujarat, Port of Pipavav has
increasingly strengthened its position as a strategic maritime gateway for
Northwest India’s import-export trade. With advanced terminal infrastructure,
deep draft capabilities, and strong hinterland connectivity, the port continues
to play a vital role in supporting efficient container movement and
international shipping services.
The successful call of MV Seaspan Ganges underscores Pipavav’s growing
stature as a trusted hub for global maritime trade, reaffirming its commitment
to operational excellence and its role in facilitating India’s expanding
logistics and shipping ecosystem.
ONE
implements temporary empty container return rules in the Middle East
Ocean Network Express (ONE) is introducing
rules for empty container returns. This follows disruptions in the Persian Gulf
and the Strait of Hormuz. The measures protect vessels, crew and cargo. They
apply to all import shipments into UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait,
Iraq and Oman. The rules are effective immediately and remain in force until
further notice.
Dubai Import Customers – Designated
Return Locations :
Oman – Sohar. Saudi Arabia – Jeddah.
Customers must return empty containers only
to these locations. Local detention and demurrage tariffs apply, according to
local laws.
Import Customers Outside Dubai –
Designated Return Locations :
Oman – Sohar. Saudi Arabia – Jeddah.
If customers cannot return containers to
Sohar or Jeddah, an alternate drop-off is allowed. However, a drop-off charge
applied and must be paid before ONE issues the Delivery Order (DO).
Drop Off Charges : USD 2250 per 20Ft Box and USD 2750 per 40Ft Box
Effective
Dates :
a) Non-FMC Regulated Trades :
March 12, 2026.
b) FMC Regulated Trades (Canada,
USA and Territories) 11-04-2026.
FMC
issues Statement on Strait of Hormuz surcharges
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has
issued a statement on shipping surcharges related to tensions in the Strait of
Hormuz. The Commission said it is closely monitoring the impact on global
shipping conditions.
Compliance and Tariff Transparency
The FMC maintains a public list of tariff
locations for both vessel operating common carriers and Non-Vessel Operating
Common Carriers. Shippers are encouraged to review their carrier’s tariffs.
MSC signs 45 year Terminal deal at Snake Island Port
DP World posts record revenue
DP Worls reported record financial results
for 2025, with revenue rising 22% to USD 24.4 Billion and adjusted EBITDA
growing 18% to USD 6.4 Billion, representing a margin of 26.3%.
Profits for the year increased by 32.2% to
USD 1.96 Billion, while operating cash flow rose by 14% to USD 6.3 Billion.
Return on Capital Employed improved from 8,9% in 2024 to 9.9%.
CNC re-opens Middle East import and export bookings
Equinor
signs bio-methanol supply deal with Wallenius Wilhelmsen
Supporting Shipping Decarbonization – Bio
methanol significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions compared with
conventional bunker fuel. The agreement also supports Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s
goal of offering net-zero logistics services to customers.
Equinor’s bio-methanol is produced using
methanol from its facility at Tjeldbergodden, combined with biogas
certificates from captured biogas and biomass, in line with the EU
Renewable Energy Directive.
Supply Starting in 2026 - Deliveries will begin
in late 2026 at the Ports of Port of Zeebrugge and Port of Antwerp.
Equinor already supplies bio-methanol to A.P.
Moller – Maersk and North Sea Container Line, as the fuel gains
momentum as a scalable solution for shipping decarbonization.
Amazon
Air’s new cargo route to Northeast
Amazon announced the expansion of Amazon Air
to Northeast India with new cargo routes linking Kolkata and Guwahati,
fortifying its logistics infra and connectivity across the region. The addition
of air capacity will improve delivery speed and reliability, enabling customers
across the Northeast to access Amazon’s vast selection of products with faster
delivery. The service will support deliveries across Arunachal Pradesh, Assam,
Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura, through Amazon’s air and surface
transportation network.
By combining capacity with its multimodal
logistics infra, Amazon expects to reduce transit times and increase delivery
speeds by up to five times, bringing customers to a wide selection of products,
from saily essentials to smartphones, consumer electronics, fashion &
beauty and more.
AirCairo
Appoints Aeroprime Group as Cargo GSSA for India & UAE
AirCairo has appointed Aeroprime Group as its Exclusive Cargo General Sales and Service Agent (GSSA) for India and the UAE, expanding their existing partnership where Aeroprime already serves as Passenger GSA in India.
This strategic move aims to strengthen
AirCairo’s cargo operations and market presence by leveraging Aeroprime’s
regional expertise, technology-driven processes, and established trade network.
The collaboration reflects AirCairo’s broader
focus on enhancing both passenger and cargo services while capitalizing on
growing trade flows between Egypt, the Middle East, and the Indian
subcontinent.
DHL
report finds globalisation steady amid US–China decoupling
Globalisation remains at a historically high
level despite rising geopolitical tensions, increasing US tariffs and growing
uncertainty around global trade policies, according to the DHL Global
Connectedness Report 2026 released by DHL and New York University’s Stern
School of Business.
The report is based on more than nine million
data points tracking international flows of trade, capital, information and
people. The report finds that the world’s level of globalisation stood at 25
percent in 2025, matching the record high first reached in 2022.
It measures globalisation on a scale from 0
percent, where there are no cross-border flows, to 100 percent, where borders
and distance have no impact. John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express, said
globalisation continues to demonstrate its value even during uncertain times.
He said countries and companies are not
retreating behind national borders, and that global connections remain
essential to address challenges such as poverty and climate change.
At the same time, the report notes that the
current level of 25 percent shows the world is still far from being fully
globalised, with many international flows having the potential to expand
further if policy constraints are reduced.
Global trade grew faster in 2025 than in any
year since 2017, excluding the volatile Covid-19 period. The report says US
importers accelerated shipments early in the year ahead of tariff increases.
Although US imports later dropped below the
previous year’s levels, rising Chinese exports to markets outside the United
States helped sustain global trade volumes.
Trade in artificial intelligence-related
goods also surged as countries and companies invested in AI infrastructure.
According to WTO figures cited in the report, AI-related products accounted for
42 percent of goods trade growth during the first three quarters of 2025.
DHS
shutdown raises concerns over US cargo operations, warns AfA
The Airforwarders Association has warned that
the ongoing shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is beginning
to pose risks to cargo operations and the wider supply chain, as concerns grow
over staffing shortages at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
The shutdown, which began on February 13, has
already led to more than 300 TSA officers resigning, raising concerns about the
resilience of aviation security staffing across the United States. While the
immediate impact has been seen at passenger checkpoints, the association said
prolonged disruption to TSA staffing could have wider consequences for airport
operations.
It warned that continued strain could affect
cargo processing, airport access and overall airside efficiency. Cargo security
and screening processes remain robust, with strict protocols still in place.
However, freight forwarders rely on stable
and predictable airport operations to move time-sensitive shipments, and any
decline in staffing or operational performance is making it more difficult to
plan capacity, manage customer expectations and maintain reliable supply
chains.
The association cautioned that the longer the
shutdown continues, the greater the disruption to cargo operations will be, and
the more challenging recovery is likely to become.
It also noted that forwarders are already
operating in a complex environment shaped by new tariff measures and ongoing
conflict in the Middle East. The association said the priority should be to
restore stability and predictability for businesses dependent on the movement
of goods. It urged policymakers to act quickly to resolve the DHS shutdown,
ensure TSA personnel are paid and provide a stable policy environment for U.S.
businesses and global supply chains.
Lufthansa
Cargo adopts Jettainer’s IoT tracking for digital ULD management
Lufthansa Cargo has become the launch customer for a new IoT-based ULD tracking solution developed by Jettainer, marking a new milestone in the partners’ long-standing cooperation. The technology will be rolled out across all ULD fleets for Lufthansa Cargo as part of efforts to strengthen digital transparency and operational efficiency. Implementation has already begun.
The announcement was made at the IATA World
Cargo Symposium 2026 in Lima, Peru, highlighting the companies’ joint
commitment to innovation and digital leadership in global air cargo. Jettainer
is responsible for the comprehensive ULD management for Lufthansa Cargo. The
partnership includes the global steering, positioning, maintenance and repair
of an extensive ULD fleet.
This makes it one of the largest dedicated
ULD fleets in worldwide cargo and passenger operations and ensures high
availability across Lufthansa Cargo’s international route network.
The new IoT tracking solution provides
real-time visibility of ULD movements across the global network. Instead of
relying only on fixed airport infrastructure, the system combines stationary
and mobile readers, allowing continuous tracking even at locations with limited
technical setup.
This reduces blind spots and improves
transparency throughout the ULD supply chain. Airlines can access precise
information on the location and dwell time of each unit, enabling faster
responses to irregularities and more data-driven decision-making.
The enhanced insights also reduce search
efforts, help recover misplaced equipment more quickly and improve positioning
and operational control, ultimately strengthening overall fleet performance and
efficiency. “Digital transparency is a key success factor in today’s air cargo
industry,” said Oliver von Götz, VP Global Fulfillment Management at Lufthansa
Cargo.
“By partnering with Jettainer on the rollout
of next generation IoT tracking, we are enhancing visibility across our ULD
fleet and further improving reliability, efficiency and quality for our
customers worldwide.” “Lufthansa Cargo acting as the launch customer for our
next generation IoT tracking solution marks a significant milestone for
Jettainer,” said Dr Jan Wilhelm Breithaupt, CEO of Jettainer.
“Managing a ULD fleet of this scale requires
maximum transparency, reliable data, and intelligent steering. Together, we are
setting a new standard for digital ULD management and strengthening operational
control across the global network.”
Maastricht
Aachen Airport secures PNAO designation for fruit, vegetables, and flowers
Maastricht Aachen Airport (MST) has been
designated as an approved inspection location for products of non-animal origin
(PNAO), a move set to reshape logistics for the European fresh produce market
The certification, granted by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety
Authority (NVWA), allows the airport to conduct official controls immediately
upon a shipment's arrival.
According to the press release, this
eliminates the previous requirement for goods to be transited to secondary
locations for clearance, effectively streamlining the supply chain for
international traders. As the second-largest cargo airport in the Netherlands,
MST is positioning itself as a premier specialist hub.
The ability to perform on-site PNAO
inspections means the airport can now handle a broader catalog of fruits,
vegetables, flowers, and other plant-based products from a wider array of
global origins.
Dean Boljuncic, Head of Commercial
Development at MST said,“Maastricht Aachen Airport is well known for its short
transit times and efficient handling processes—critical factors in maintaining
the quality and shelf life of fresh, temperature-sensitive goods”.
“Enabling on-site PNAO controls reduces
waiting times even further and ensures an optimally safeguarded cold chain for
our customers,” he further added.
This designation follows the 2025
reaffirmation of MST’s status as a Phytosanitary Inspection Centre. By adding
PNAO controls to its existing suite of regulatory approvals, the airport has
solidified its infrastructure to support the complex requirements of the global
fresh produce trade.
The move is expected to reduce lead times by
bypassing the delays associated with bonded transit to inland inspection points
through the use of on-site inspections. Furthermore, by minimising touchpoints
and transit time, the process will enhance product integrity, better preserving
the shelf life of perishables.
Crucially, this approval will also expand
market reach, allowing MST to accept a more diverse range of products and
countries of origin than ever before.
Skye
Air Mobility secures $9 million series B funding
The funding, structured as a $4 million
series B1 and a $5 million series B2, was led by IAN Group’s second venture
fund, IAN Alpha Fund. Prominent investors including AVNM Ventures, Faad
Capital, and Bajaj Capital also participated in the round, signaling strong
market confidence in the future of autonomous last-mile logistics.
The company's proprietary hub-pod-walker
delivery architecture seamlessly integrates aerial drones with ground
logistics, creating a hybrid approach specifically tailored for dense Indian
urban environments.
By recognising that drones are most effective
when working alongside traditional systems rather than replacing them entirely,
according to the press release, Skye Air aims to boost delivery efficiency
while ensuring technology is deployed thoughtfully to prevent job losses.
This infrastructure has already been
stress-tested in high-volume e-commerce logistics, serving major enterprise
clients such as Blue Dart Express, Shiprocket, Flipkart, Tata 1MG, Zepto, and
Frido. “Over the past two years, the startup has successfully completed 3.6
million deliveries while saving over 1,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.
This fundraise marks our transition from
proving the model to scaling the infrastructure," said Ankit Kumar,
Founder and CEO of Skye Air Mobility. Kumar noted that the new capital will be
used to deepen the company's physical AI stack, which connects autonomous
drones, intelligent airspace management through Skye UTM, and AI-powered ground
robotics into a single delivery chain.
"India has a rare opportunity not just
to adopt the global playbook on drone logistics, but to write it for the
world," he added. Also Read - Zipline crosses two million deliveries,
expands to Houston and Phoenix Armed with the fresh capital, Skye Air plans to
aggressively expand its geographic footprint beyond the Delhi-NCR region over
the next 18 months.
The company is targeting operations in five
additional major metropolitan markets like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad,
and Kolkata. The funds will be strategically deployed across three main
priorities: enhancing the core technology stack, executing the geographic
expansion, and building out the foundational physical AI infrastructure
required to support autonomous systems.
This expansion aligns with the growth of
India's drone and logistics sectors. The Indian drone market, valued at $940.6
million in 2024, is projected to reach $3.23 billion by 2030 at a compound
annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.51%.
Notably, the delivery drone segment in India
is outpacing major global markets, boasting a 50.4% CAGR, ahead of China,
Japan, and the USA.
With India's overall last-mile logistics
market expected to nearly double from $5.5 billion to $10 billion by 2030,
drone-enabled delivery is positioned to capture a significant market share as
quick commerce and e-commerce players increasingly prioritise speed,
efficiency, and sustainability.
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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