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 August 07, 2026
Today’s
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/// Sea Cargo News ///
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HMM enters East Africa trade with new GIA service
HMM has strengthened its presence in emerging African markets by launching the new GIA (Gulf–India–Africa) service, marking the carrier’s entry into the East Africa trade.
The new service expands HMM’s global liner
network by connecting the Middle East, India and East Africa through a
dedicated rotation. The move reflects growing demand for containerised cargo in
East African markets, where infrastructure investment, rising consumer demand
and expanding trade continue to attract major container carriers.
The GIA service will
call Jebel Ali, Mundra, Mombasa, Dar es Salaam, Mundra and Jebel Ali.
The rotation provides direct links between
one of the Gulf’s largest transshipment hubs, India’s west coast and two of
East Africa’s busiest container ports.
Mombasa serves as the main maritime gateway
for Kenya and several neighbouring landlocked countries, while Dar es Salaam
plays a critical role in serving Tanzania and regional markets across East and
Central Africa.
The service also strengthens the carrier’s portfolio in emerging markets, complementing its existing global network across Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East.
With the introduction of the GIA service, HMM
further broadens its network coverage while offering customers an additional
direct option for cargo moving between the Gulf, India and East Africa.
PIL
restructures Mozambique and Indian Ocean Islands network
Pacific International Lines (PIL) will temporarily restructure its existing Mozambique Service into three dedicated loops.
According to the company, the revised
structure will improve service reliability, schedule stability and visibility
for customers.
Mozambique Service 1
The Mozambique Service 1 (MZ1) will follow
this rotation:
Singapore – Beira – Singapore
The first sailing under the revised
deployment will take place on 9 August 2026.
Mozambique Service 2
The Mozambique Service 2 (MZ2) will follow
this rotation:
Singapore – Nacala – Maputo – Singapore
The first sailing under the revised
deployment will take place on 13 August 2026.
Indian Ocean Express Service
The Indian Ocean Express Service (IOX) will
follow this rotation:
Singapore – Port Louis –
Reunion – Tamatave – Singapore
The first sailing under the revised
deployment will take place on 6 August 2026.
Arkas and
Turkon add Safaga to Turkey–India service
Arkas Line and Turkon Line have expanded their jointly operated Turkey–Red Sea–India (TRI) service by introducing a new port call at Safaga, Egypt, further strengthening connectivity between the eastern Mediterranean, the Red Sea and the Indian subcontinent, accordig to DynaLiners.
The addition of Safaga forms part of the
carriers’ efforts to enhance regional coverage while offering customers greater
flexibility for cargo moving between Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and India. The
revised network is expected to improve access to Egypt’s Red Sea coast and
provide an additional gateway for importers and exporters serving the region.
Under the revised schedule, the service will
rotate through Ambarli, Izmit, Aliaga, Mersin, Iskenderun, Safaga,
Jeddah, Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Jeddah, Safaga, Iskenderun, Mersin and back to
Ambarli.
Safaga has become an increasingly important
gateway for cargo moving into Upper Egypt and neighbouring markets. By
incorporating the port into the TRI rotation, Arkas and Turkon are expanding
their regional network while providing another option for customers trading
through the Red Sea corridor.
The service continues to connect several of
Turkey’s main export hubs with key ports in Saudi Arabia and India’s west
coast. Meanwhile, the additional Egyptian call is expected to improve cargo
distribution across the region without altering the service’s direct links with
India.
The latest revision reflects the continued
adjustments carriers are making to their service networks as demand patterns
evolve across the Mediterranean, Middle East and South Asia. Network
refinements, including new port calls and revised rotations, remain a common
strategy for improving schedule reliability and strengthening regional
connectivity.
Ukrainian
drones sink Russian-flag container ship Yanina in Black Sea
Rosatom said the vessel was struck by two
Ukrainian naval drones overnight on 1 August while sailing approximately 130
nautical miles from the Russian port of Novorossiysk. These details have not
been independently verified.
FESCO Yanina, IMO 9301304, was operated by
Russian logistics company FESCO, which has been controlled by Rosatom since
2023. The 2005-built vessel had a capacity of 962 TEU and a deadweight of
13,007 tonnes.
According to Rosatom, the ship began to sink
following the attack, forcing its 17 crew members to abandon the vessel. All
crew members were reportedly rescued.
Rosatom claimed that FESCO Yanina was sailing
in international waters and carrying civilian cargo, including frozen food and
construction materials. There was no immediate indication that the ship was
transporting nuclear material or conducting activities connected to Rosatom’s
nuclear operations.
“Such an attack cannot be interpreted as
anything other than piracy and robbery at sea,” said Alexei Likhachev, Director
General of Rosatom.
Zelenskyy confirmed the strike and described
FESCO Yanina as a sanctioned Russian vessel. Publicly available sanctions
information indicates that FESCO is subject to international sanctions,
although it is unclear whether the vessel itself has been separately
designated.
Zelenskyy said the ship was among the
facilities supporting Russia’s war effort.
“Thanks to the precision of our Defense
Forces, it was sent to the bottom,” said Zelenskyy.
Following the incident, FESCO said the group
continued to operate normally and fulfil its obligations to customers. The
company added that the safety of navigation and its crews, as well as the
interests of its customers and partners, remained its priorities.
Ukraine also targets Russian oil refineries
During the same overnight operation, units of
the Security Service of Ukraine struck infrastructure at three oil refineries
in Russia’s Bashkortostan region, according to Zelenskyy.
The targets were located nearly 1,600
kilometres from Ukraine and process millions of tonnes of oil annually, he
said. The extent of the damage was not immediately clear.
Zelenskyy said the attacks formed part of
Ukraine’s long-range campaign against facilities that sustain Russia’s military
operations.
Adani
Ports evaluates potential bid for Associated British Ports
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ)
is considering a potential bid for Associated British Ports (ABP), the United
Kingdom’s largest port operator.
According to reports, ABP operates 21 ports
across the UK. Its portfolio includes the Hull Container Terminal and the
Immingham Container Terminal.
Together, ABP’s ports handle around one
quarter of the UK’s seaborne trade.
The company is currently owned by a
consortium led by the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (34%) and the
Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (33%).
No formal offer has been announced.
Hapag-Lloyd
suspends feeder connections to Odesa region ports
Feeder operators have stopped vessel calls at
Chornomorsk, Odesa and Pivdennyi until further notice.
As a result, cargo originally booked for
these destinations may be discharged at an alternative port. Any decision will
depend on operational feasibility and the relevant safety and security
assessments.
Reni considered as preferred alternative
Hapag-Lloyd is assessing Reni, Ukraine, as
the preferred alternative discharge location for affected cargo where
operationally possible.
The carrier may contact customers directly to
obtain instructions and arrange a change of destination to Reni.
When Reni is not operationally or
commercially feasible, customers may be offered alternative destinations in
Romania or Poland.
Hapag-Lloyd will review these options
individually based on the shipment details and instructions provided by the
customer.
Additional costs charged to cargo interests
Hapag-Lloyd said it continues to assess
alternative arrangements under Clause 17, “Matters Affecting Performance,” of
its Bill of Lading terms and conditions.
The carrier aims to protect affected cargo
and limit further disruption while feeder connections remain unavailable.
Cargo interests will be responsible for any
additional costs linked to storage, onward transportation, changes of
destination or other necessary operational arrangements.
Port of
New York and New Jersey handles 4.4 million TEUs in first half
June brought stronger growth as the port
moved 769,422 TEUs. This represented an 11.9% increase from June 2025.
The port also handled 503,016 loaded TEUs
during the month, up 7.6% year on year. This performance made New York and New
Jersey the second-busiest US cargo gateway for loaded containers in June.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
linked the rise in June volumes to an earlier and front-loaded peak shipping
season. It said changes in US trade policy influenced the timing of cargo
movements.
Airports serve 67 million passengers
The Port Authority’s commercial airports
welcomed 67 million passengers during the first six months of 2026. This marked
a 2% decline from the same period of 2025.
The agency attributed the reduction mainly to
macroeconomic uncertainty and volatile oil prices, which affected airfares.
Spirit Airlines’ decision to end operations in May also affected domestic
passenger numbers at LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International
Airport.
International passenger traffic declined by
4% year on year during the first half. However, domestic travel showed greater
resilience. Domestic passenger numbers increased by 1% in June and by 0.4%
during the second quarter.
Newark Liberty handled 22.8 million
passengers during the first half, up 3% from the same period last year. Its
June traffic increased by 5% year on year.
John F. Kennedy International Airport
recorded a 5% decline in passenger traffic during the first six months.
Meanwhile, LaGuardia Airport served 15.3 million passengers, down 3% year on
year.
PATH records strongest first half since
pandemic
The PATH commuter railway carried 31.4
million passengers during the first half of 2026. This represented a 7.5%
increase from the previous year and its highest January-to-June total since
2020.
Monthly ridership reached 5.9 million
passengers in June, making it PATH’s busiest month since March 2020.
Average Saturday ridership reached a record
144,391 passengers, while average Sunday traffic climbed to 114,146. Both
figures were more than 25% above their June 2019 and June 2025 levels.
Average weekday ridership reached 222,812
passengers. The month’s busiest day was 18 June, when 252,272 people used the
system during the New York Knicks championship parade.
Truck traffic reaches monthly record
The Port Authority’s six vehicular crossings
handled 58 million eastbound journeys during the first half of 2026. This
marked a 1.5% decline from the same period last year.
However, June became the busiest month for
truck traffic in the agency’s history.
Approximately 795,000 eastbound trucks used
the Port Authority’s bridges and tunnels during the month. This represented an
8.5% increase from June 2025.
/// Air Cargo News ///
Cathay Cargo revenue jumps 24% in H1 as
AI boom fuel demand
Cathay Cargo reported a strong first-half performance for 2026, with revenue rising 23.9% year-on-year to HK$13.81 billion as sustained demand for cargo capacity, particularly for high-value technology shipments supporting the data centre industry and artificial intelligence boom, drove growth across its network.
Cargo
volumes increased 8.5% to 869,000 tonnes, while cargo yield climbed 18.1% to
HK$3.06 per available freight tonne kilometre, reflecting disciplined capacity
management and strong customer demand.
“We
delivered both tonnage and revenue growth by leveraging our network strength,
working closely with key customers and applying disciplined inventory
management,” reads the 2026 Interim Results.
The
broader Cathay Group reported a first-half attributable profit of HK$6.24
billion, up 71% year-on-year, on revenues of HK$68.06 billion, supported by
strong passenger and cargo demand, improved HK Express performance and stronger
contributions from associates.
Despite
nearly doubling jet fuel costs in the second quarter amid Middle East tensions,
the Group increased its interim dividend by 30% to HK$0.26 per share. Cathay
said cargo performance reflected sustained demand for capacity across key trade
lanes, with growth supported by its global network, close collaboration with
customers and disciplined inventory management.
The
airline noted that demand for transporting high-value technology products
linked to data centre expansion and AI applications was a major driver of
results during the period. Operationally, Cathay Cargo expanded available
freight tonne kilometres (AFTKs) by 4% to 7.63 billion, while revenue freight
tonne kilometres (RFTKs) increased 4.9% to 4.51 billion.
Cargo
load factor improved to 59.2% from 58.6% a year earlier, and cargo carried rose
from 801,000 tonnes to 869,000 tonnes. Across its network, Cathay Cargo
operated more than 90 return freighter flights each week to over 40
destinations while also utilising belly capacity on passenger services to more
than 100 destinations worldwide.
During
the first half, it increased transpacific freighter frequencies ahead of peak
demand, reinstated weekly freighter services to Bangkok after a decade, added
capacity on the Amsterdam-Paris route, and recorded strong demand for
specialist products including Cathay Pharma, Cathay Secure, Cathay Priority and
Cathay Fresh.
Freight
operations to Dubai and Riyadh, however, remained suspended from March because
of the Middle East situation. Cathay said it remains cautiously optimistic
about the cargo peak season and plans to add freighter services on trunk routes
in line with expected demand while further expanding capacity through
additional Air Hong Kong freighter operations, although it continues to monitor
geopolitical developments and elevated fuel prices.
National Airlines completes longest
cargo flight from Prestwick
Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK) has supported National Airlines in completing its longest-ever cargo flight, transporting a critical aerospace component from Prestwick to Melbourne Airport (MEL), Australia, for a grounded aircraft.
The
nearly 20-hour flight covered 9,849 miles and made use of Prestwick Airport's
unrestricted 24/7 operating environment, in-house cargo handling capabilities
and its proximity to the Prestwick aerospace cluster. The flight was operated
by National Airlines using its new Boeing 777 Freighter, brokered through
Golden Aviation, in response to an urgent aircraft-on-ground (AOG) requirement.
The
component was transported directly from Prestwick to Melbourne. Aerospace cargo
for National Airlines' B777F Jules Matteoni, Chief Executive Officer of Glasgow
Prestwick Airport, said the airport's unrestricted operations, experienced
in-house teams and direct access to an established aerospace cluster enable it
to support complex, time-critical missions at short notice.
He
congratulated National Airlines on the achievement and said the flight is
believed to be the longest commercial cargo flight operated by a Boeing 777
Freighter anywhere in the world. He added that the airport was proud to have
supported the mission and remains ready to handle urgent charter requirements
where speed and flexibility are needed.
Alan
White, Chief Growth Officer at National Airlines, said the mission demonstrated
the airline's ability to deliver mission-critical cargo anywhere in the world
by combining speed, operational excellence and global reach. He said the
airline's flight operations, maintenance, dispatch and ground teams can
position its freighter fleet within hours of a customer enquiry and carry out
time-critical missions with precision.
He
also thanked the Glasgow Prestwick Airport team for its operational flexibility
and specialist support in handling the AOG components and ensuring the mission
was completed on schedule. David Giles, Director of Operations at Golden
Aviation, said the charter required all stakeholders to work together to
arrange the landing, handling, parking, processing, loading, refuelling and
slot approvals over the weekend so the flight could depart as soon as possible
on Monday.
He
said the Prestwick team handled the operation efficiently from start to finish
and ensured the aircraft departed on schedule. He added that the airport's
professionalism, responsiveness and ability to act quickly across all aspects
of the ground handling operation were key to the success of the urgent charter.
Intradco leads first beluga rescue
flight to US homes
Six of Marineland Canada’s remaining 30 beluga whales have completed their journey to new homes in the United States, marking the first phase of a long-planned and tightly coordinated international relocation effort. The move follows the closure of the Niagara Falls marine park in September 2024 and represents a critical step in securing long-term, specialised care for the animals.
The
six whales are part of a large pod that had been living at Marineland, a
now-closed facility that can no longer support their ongoing welfare needs.
Their transfer is the beginning of a multi-stage rescue initiative designed to
ensure stability, expert veterinary oversight, and improved living conditions
for all belugas still at the site.
A
key partner in this complex operation is Intradco Global, the live-animal
transportation specialist under the Chapman Freeborn Group. Intradco is
providing the logistical expertise, equipment, and coordination required for a
relocation of this scale, working alongside veterinarians, regulators, and
receiving facilities to ensure the whales’ safety throughout the journey.
The
whales, four bound for Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and two for SeaWorld San
Antonio, completed their move on July 21, 2026, traveling from Marineland in
Ontario. The whales were moved by road to Toronto Pearson International
Airport, from where they were flown to their final US destinations aboard Qatar
Airways Cargo freighter aircraft.
Marineland
had operated from 1961 until its closure in 2024, after which the facility's
care costs were sustained entirely by donations. When funding began drying up,
caretakers warned Canadian authorities in October 2025 that euthanasia could
become unavoidable without government support, underscoring the urgency behind
the relocation programme now underway.
The
mission was led by Dennis Christen, Global Product Manager for Wildlife,
Zoological, and Marine Logistics at Intradco Global. Christen joined the
company in September 2025, bringing 36 years of hands-on marine mammal
experience from senior roles at Vancouver Aquarium, Alaska SeaLife Center, and
Georgia Aquarium, a background that shaped the operation from its earliest
planning stages.
ePlane signs five strategic
partnerships for e200X at FIA 2026
The ePlane Company announced five strategic partnerships at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 to strengthen the supply chain for its e200X electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. The partnerships cover electrical wiring systems, aerospace-grade fasteners, avionics, composite materials, and modular interiors as the company advances the aircraft towards certification.
The
partnership announcements follow two major milestones for The ePlane Company
this month. At the Farnborough International Airshow 2026, the company unveiled
PT-01, the first full-scale prototype of its e200X eVTOL aircraft, which is
designed for passenger, cargo and emergency medical transport applications.
It
also signed a memorandum of understanding with Apollo Hospitals to jointly
develop an electric air ambulance network in India, with the aim of reducing
emergency response times using eVTOL aircraft. According to the company, the
agreements strengthen the industrial ecosystem supporting the e200X programme.
The
ePlane Company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with SASMOS HET
Technologies to collaborate on the engineering, design and industrialisation of
Electrical Wiring Interconnection Systems (EWIS) for the e200X. The
collaboration is intended to progress towards a definitive agreement and is
expected to include harness architecture, design for manufacturability,
prototype evaluation and certification readiness.
The
companies will also explore mission-critical electronic integrated systems,
including overhead circuit breaker panels, high-voltage power distribution
units, electronic speed controllers and motor controllers. The company also
entered into a strategic partnership with Ankit Aerospace Private Limited to
supply aerospace-grade fasteners for the e200X. The precision-engineered
components are designed to support critical aircraft structures.
The
ePlane Company also showcased its ongoing partnership with HENSOLDT Avionics,
first announced in February 2026. HENSOLDT continues to supply the avionics
suite and flight radar for the e200X, supporting navigation, situational
awareness and connectivity as the aircraft moves towards certification.
The
company has also partnered with Azista Composites to supply composite
materials, including carbon fibre prepregs and glass prepregs, for airframe and
radome applications. The partnership also includes the development of material
specifications based on the e200X programme's requirements.
In
addition, The ePlane Company signed a strategic partnership with AMS Heli
Design to explore modular interior and seating solutions for the e200X. The
interiors are intended to support multiple mission configurations, including
air ambulance, air taxi, cargo and VIP operations using a single airframe.
"These
partnerships reflect the strength and depth of the ecosystem we're building
around the e200X. From wiring and fasteners to avionics, composites, and
interiors, each of these relationships strengthens our path toward a
certifiable, Made-in-India electric aircraft," said Satya Chakravarthy,
Founder and CTO, The ePlane Company.
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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