JUPITER SEA & AIR SERVICES PVT. LTD, EGMORE – CHENNAI, INDIA.
E-MAIL : Robert.sands@jupiterseaair.co.in Mobile : +91 98407 85202
Corporate News Letter for Tuesday August 25, 202
Today’s Exchange Rates
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/// Sea Cargo News ///
Armed men
hijack cargo vessel off Somalia
A cargo vessel has been boarded and taken under the control of eight armed individuals off Somalia, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
The incident occurred 4 nautical
miles south of Mareeyo, Somalia, on 17 August 2026.
Eight armed individuals board vessel
UKMTO said the vessel’s Company Security
Officer (CSO) reported that eight armed unauthorised persons boarded
the cargo vessel and took control of it.
Authorities are investigating the incident.
UKMTO has not provided further information on the vessel’s identity, crew
status or circumstances surrounding the boarding.
The incident has been classified by UKMTO as
a hijacking.
Vessels operating in the area have been
advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO.
Panama
Canal under pressure as containership pays $4 million
A 10,100 TEU containership reportedly paid about US$4 million to secure priority transit through the Panama Canal, as surging demand and renewed water concerns put the key maritime gateway under growing pressure.
The Seaspan Benefactor was reported as the
buyer of the auctioned transit slot, allowing the vessel to move ahead of ships
waiting to cross the Canal, according to The Guardian. Ships were waiting about
10 days for passage at the time. The US$4 million payment was reportedly more
than double the average auction bid over the previous seven days.
The payment was not the vessel’s normal
Panama Canal toll. The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) operates daily auctions
that allow shipowners to bid for priority when congestion and demand are high.
The pressure is coming from two directions.
More vessels are avoiding the Gulf and Red Sea amid fighting involving Iran,
increasing demand for alternative routes. At the same time, falling water
levels and the developing El Niño are raising concerns over the Canal’s ability
to maintain current operating conditions.
Panama Canal tightens draft restrictions
Water pressure is already translating into
operational changes.
The ACP has been reducing the maximum
authorized draft for vessels using the Neopanamax locks, which accommodate the
largest ships transiting the waterway. The restrictions are based on water
levels and projected conditions at Gatún Lake, the reservoir that plays a
central role in Canal operations.
For container shipping, lower draft limits
have a direct consequence. Heavily loaded vessels sit deeper in the water.
Therefore, as the permitted draft falls, ships approaching the limit may have
to reduce the amount of cargo they carry.
This is particularly significant for large
containerships, where even relatively small changes in allowable draft can
affect usable carrying capacity.
For now, however, the situation has not
reached the severity of the water crisis that disrupted the Canal in 2023 and
2024.
Why El Niño matters
The Panama Canal’s vulnerability to El Niño
comes down to one critical resource: freshwater.
Water is essential to the operation of the
Canal’s lock system. At the same time, the water resources supporting the Canal
provide drinking water to more than half of Panama’s population, according to
the ACP.
The authority has been monitoring the
potential return of El Niño since late 2025. In anticipation of an event
developing during the second half of 2026, it maintained Gatún Lake at
historically high levels and introduced preventive water-saving measures.
El Niño can bring reduced rainfall to Panama,
limiting the amount of water replenishing the Canal’s reservoirs. If dry
conditions persist, falling lake levels can eventually force the ACP to tighten
restrictions on shipping.
The risks became particularly clear during
the 2023–2024 drought.
In October 2023, rainfall in the Canal
watershed was 41% below normal, making it the driest October since records
began 73 years earlier. The ACP said the drought caused by El Niño reduced
water availability and pushed Gatún Lake to unprecedentedly low levels for that
time of year.
The authority responded by progressively
reducing reservation slots to conserve freshwater. Planned availability fell
from 25 slots in early November to 22 in December, 20 in January and 18 from
February 2024.
Better prepared this time
There is an important difference between then
and now.
The ACP began preparing for the potential
2026 El Niño well in advance, introducing water-saving measures in late 2025
and strengthening reserves in Gatún and Alhajuela lakes during unusually wet
conditions earlier this year.
The authority said its projections did not
indicate a need to restrict daily transits through the end of 2026, while it
continues to update lake-level projections and monitor the developing climate
conditions.
However, the longer-term outlook remains
important. The ACP has noted that the strongest effects of moderate or strong
El Niño events have historically tended to become more apparent in the
following year. As a result, it is already developing operational projections
for 2027.
Two pressures converge
The immediate challenge for the Panama Canal
is therefore not El Niño alone.
Geopolitical disruption in the Middle East is
pushing more shipping demand towards the waterway just as water availability is
again becoming an operational concern. The reported US$4 million payment by the
Seaspan Benefactor offers a striking illustration of the value shipowners are
placing on avoiding delays under these conditions.
But the key issue for container shipping will
be what happens next.
The Canal is not yet experiencing a repeat of
the 2023–2024 crisis, and the ACP has entered the current period with stronger
water reserves and preventive measures already in place.
Still, if El Niño leads to prolonged rainfall
deficits and Gatún Lake comes under greater pressure, the question will be
whether draft restrictions remain sufficient or whether tighter constraints on
vessel transits eventually become necessary.
For container shipping, that makes Panama’s
rainfall and reservoir levels almost as important to watch as the growing queue
of vessels waiting to cross the Canal.
SITC takes
delivery of new vessel SITC BRAVE
SITC International Holdings has taken delivery of the new vessel SITC BRAVE from HUANGHAI Shipbuilding.
The naming and delivery ceremony was held on
10 August 2026, with representatives from SITC, HUANGHAI Shipbuilding, Saigon
Newport Corporation (SNP) and ABS attending the event.
During the ceremony, SITC Executive Director
and CEO Xue Mingyuan welcomed the delivery of the vessel and thanked the
parties involved in its construction and completion.
Truong Tan Loc, Marketing Director of SNP’s
Marketing Department and Chairman of TCIT, officially named the vessel SITC
BRAVE. Dao Hong Nhung, Shipping Line Relationship Specialist at SNP, served
as the vessel’s godmother.
SITC Shipping President Ji Wenguang and
HUANGHAI General Manager Chang Junde signed the vessel delivery documents on
behalf of the two companies.
According to SITC, the delivery further
strengthens its cooperation with HUANGHAI and adds new capacity to its fleet.
The company said SITC BRAVE will
contribute to the optimisation of its fleet structure and support its plans for
more efficient and environmentally sustainable shipping operations.
Hapag-Lloyd
sets US$1,000 rate increase to North America
Hapag-Lloyd will introduce a General Rate Increase (GRI) / General Rate Adjustment (GRA) on shipments from the Indian Subcontinent, Pakistan and the Middle East to North America.
The new adjustment will apply to shipments to
the United States and Canada from 15 September 2026.
The GRI/GRA will amount to:
US$1,000 per container
The adjustment applies to all containers
gated in full from the effective date and will remain valid until further
notice.
Multiple container types covered
According to Hapag-Lloyd, the GRI/GRA applies
to cargo transported in 20-foot and 40-foot dry, reefer and special
containers, including high-cube equipment.
The geographical origin scope covers
the Indian Subcontinent, Pakistan and the Middle East, while the
destination scope includes the United States and Canada.
Evergreen
joins Southeast Asia-India service
Evergreen will take slots on the Southeast Asia- India SI8/AIS5 service operated by Interasia, KMTC and Wan Hai, according to DynaLiners.
The service connects Indonesia, Singapore and
Malaysia with southern and western India.
Its rotation is:
Jakarta – Surabaya – Singapore – Port Kelang
– Tuticorin – Nhava Sheva – Port Kelang – Jakarta
Evergreen’s participation gives the carrier a
new Southeast Asia-India connection through the existing service.
MacGregor
wins order for six CMA CGM LNG containerships
MacGregor has secured a cargo handling order from Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in India.
The order covers six 1,700 TEU
containerships being built for CMA CGM.
The vessels will use dual-fuel LNG
propulsion. Deliveries are planned between 2029 and 2031.
MacGregor booked the order in its Q2
2026 orders received.
Order covers hatch covers and container
equipment
MacGregor will supply a range of cargo
handling equipment for the new vessels.
The order includes the design and key
components for the hatch covers. MacGregor will also provide the steel
structures and handle hatch cover fabrication.
In addition, the company will supply
solutions for cell guides, deck stanchions and fixed container fittings.
“We are honored to be selected by Cochin
Shipyard for this landmark project,” said Magnus Sjöberg, Executive Vice
President at MacGregor.
“Our ability to provide a complete,
integrated cargo handling system ensures operational efficiency and safety for
these state-of-the-art vessels,” he added.
Project marks milestone for Indian
shipbuilding
The six vessels are designed to run on LNG.
They will also be ready for low-carbon fuels.
According to MacGregor, the project
represents a milestone for the Indian maritime industry.
CMA CGM will become the first major
international carrier to commission LNG-powered vessels from an Indian shipyard.
The newbuildings also support CMA CGM’s
ambition to reach Net Zero Carbon by 2050.
Meanwhile, Cochin Shipyard highlighted the
importance of the project for India’s shipbuilding sector.
“We are committed to delivering high-quality
vessels with sustainable solutions that meet the market expectations of the
future,” said Vijai Hari P, AGM-Business Development at Cochin Shipyard.
He added that the project supports the Make
in India vision and reflects the shipyard’s growing capabilities.
VARYA Tech Private Limited also supported the
agreement. The company is MacGregor’s long-term agent in India and helped
coordinate between MacGregor and the shipyard.
Crew
casualty reported after vessel struck in Strait of Hormuz
A vessel was struck by an unknown projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
The incident occurred on 18 August 2026
during an outbound transit of the strait.
Projectile damages engine room
According to UKMTO, the vessel’s Company
Security Officer reported that an unknown projectile struck the ship.
The impact damaged the engine room
and resulted in a crew casualty.
UKMTO did not provide further details about
the casualty in its initial report. The vessel was also not identified.
The remaining crew members are currently
receiving assistance from the Omani Coast Guard.
No environmental impact has been reported at
this stage.
UKMTO has classified the incident as an attack.
/// Air Cargo News ///
Schiphol cargo handlers arrested as
part of drugs investigation
Four
individuals working in the cargo handling sector at Schiphol Airport have been
arrested as part of an investigation into drug smuggling through the Dutch
airport.
The
CargoHarc team – made up of police, customs and Fiscal Information and
Investigation Service (FIIS) – arrested four men on 11 August as part of
a large-scale investigation into the importation of narcotics via Schiphol
Airport.
The
investigation focuses, among other things, on personnel working within the
airfreight supply chain at Schiphol, according to the Marechaussee, which is
the Dutch gendarmerie.
“Investigators
are examining whether logistics processes at the airport were exploited to
import narcotics,” the Marechaussee said.
“Several
homes and warehouses were searched as part of the investigation, resulting in
the seizure of cash and mobile phones.”
The
Dutch gendarmerie said that it was also working with Belgian police as part of
the investigation and added that a drug laboratory in Belgium had been
dismantled on the same day.
The
people arrested are aged 34, 38, 46 and 48
The
Marechaussee added that it was also working with the FIIS, the Municipality of
Haarlemmermeer, Customs, the Public Prosecution Service, KLM, and Schiphol to
tackle subversive crime and misconduct at Schiphol Airport.
The
names of the individuals and the names of the companies they work for have not
been revealed by the police.
New EU e-commerce rules have instant
impact at Liege
The
new European Union charge for low-value shipments has “profoundly altered the
structure of imports” into Liege Airport.
Figures
released today by the Belgian hub show that in July the number of e-commerce
shipments into the Liege Bierset customs zone fell by 24% year on year after
the EU implemented a €3 charge for parcels with a value of less than €150 at
the start of the month.
Compared
with June, e-commerce shipments are down 41%, the airport said. Meanwhile, the
number of customs declarations is down by 52% year on year.
The
airport said that the charge had led to an immediate reorganisation of
e-commerce flows and had profoundly altered the structure of imports.
While
B2C shipments worth less than €150 have “sharply fallen”, those valued above
that amount have seen a 10% increase, according to a customs source,
“reflecting a shift towards higher-value shipments and a rapid adaptation by
logistics operators”.
Meanwhile,
overall volumes at the airport managed a “solid growth trajectory” in July,
increasing by 4% year on year to 114,064 tonnes, thanks to the “diversification
of its traditional freight operations”. The increase comes despite a 4%
decrease in aircraft movements.
However,
the 4% increase is below the growth rate of 11.3% recorded in the first half of
the year.
“Pharmaceuticals,
data centre equipment and flowers segments actively underpinned the month’s
logistics activity,” the airport said.
“Ongoing
investment in the cold chain confirms Liege Airport’s strategic positioning as
a leading European hub for high-value-added, temperature-sensitive freight.”
Figures
from consultant Rotate suggest that European freighter
capacity declined at the start of July, potentially as a result of the legislation.
The
charge is likely to be followed later in the year by a separate €2 processing
fee, expected in November 2026.
GlobalX and Ascent reach agreement
following legal dispute
Ascent
Global Logistics and Global Crossing Airlines Group (GlobalX) have formally
concluded their 2023 exclusive brokerage agreement, following GlobalX’s
voluntary dismissal of its lawsuit against Ascent which alleged that Ascent had
breached the agreement.
GlobalX
sued Ascent in June, accusing Ascent of breaching the brokerage agreement and
causing it to lose revenue and incur costs.
This
latest development was announced by Ascent Global Logistics in a press release.
The company said that GlobalX voluntarily dismissed its lawsuit against Ascent
in Miami-Dade County, Florida on 4 June.
“GlobalX
has agreed to payment terms for amounts owed to Ascent. In addition, GlobalX
granted a full release of its claims cited in the voluntarily dismissed
lawsuit,” said Ascent.
Ascent
had invested $10m in GlobalX in 2021 and obtained certain shareholder/board
rights, while GlobalX secured the right to receive charter opportunities
through Ascent.
Miami-based
GlobalX’s services include domestic and international ACMI and charter flights
for passengers and cargo throughout the US, Caribbean, Europe,
and Latin America.
GlobalX
had said the investment would be used to accelerate its growth plans with the
planned acquisition of additional A320 family aircraft and to prepare for cargo
charter operations later in 2021.
Ascent
Global Logistics, headquartered in Belleville, Michigan, provides expedited,
time-critical logistics solutions and other direct transportation services.
The
company connects customers to its carrier network and its owned airline via its
digital PEAK freight marketplace, which offers capacity alongside pricing.
Ascent-On-Demand
operated the largest domestic expedited air charter operation in North America,
as well as USA Jet and Rambler Air, airlines in the US with more than 30
aircraft in total.
Chris
Jamroz, executive chairman of Ascent said at the time: “We evaluated entering
the charter air market on our own, and realized we were much better off
partnering with GlobalX instead.”
GlobalX
is still active in the air cargo market, despite declaring February 2024 that
it had decided to focus
on passenger charter operations.
Saudia Cargo begins Dhaka-Frankfurt
route
Saudia
Cargo has launched a scheduled freighter route connecting Dhaka, Bangladesh, to
Frankfurt, Germany in a bid to cater for pharmaceuticals, textiles, industrial
equipment, and e-commerce air cargo demand.
The
service began on 14 August and comprises two weekly flights that Saudia Cargo
said would enhance trade flow and logistics efficiency between Asian and
European markets and help it provide faster air cargo transit times for
shippers and freight forwarders.
Bangladesh
serves as a vital manufacturing and export hub in Asia—particularly for
ready-made garments, textiles, and perishable goods—while Frankfurt represents
one of Europe’s primary logistics hubs and financial centers
In
addition to the new route between Dhaka and Frankfurt, Saudia Cargo has
recently begun operating a scheduled route between Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia and Melbourne, Australia.
Saudia
Cargo and Riyadh Cargo have also signed an interline
agreement with
the goal of offering freight forwarders and logistics partners broader network
access, enhanced routing options, and improved cargo connectivity and
flexibility across key international trade corridors.
These
recent network expansions further support Riyadh Cargo’s long-term ambition to
serve more than 100 global destinations by 2030.
The
airline’s new services are supported by ongoing fleet investments, including a
recent order for four newbuild Boeing
777-200 freighters.
Menzies trials AI-powered cargo
dimensioner at Heathrow
Cargo
handler Menzies Aviation is testing cargo measurement and build-up technology
at its Heathrow operations to see if the technology can create efficiencies in
its operations.
The
trial is being carried out using technology firm CIND’s AI-powered dimensioner
in motion that can scan cargo as it moves through the warehouse.
The
trial will evaluate how automated cargo measurement, real-time visibility and
build-up checks can improve data quality, operational efficiency and
decision-making across the cargo handling process.
The
technology captures key information such as pallet size, weight, stackability
and shipment references, providing “accurate and consistent data at the
earliest stage of cargo intake”, Menzies said in a press release.
The
partners hope this will help reduce manual input, limit errors and improve
planning further downstream.
Menzies
is also piloting CIND’s ContourCheck during Unit Load Device (ULD) build‑up,
which creates a visual model of the cargo as it is being loaded onto a ULD and
instantly checks it against the approved aircraft contour.
“This
allows teams to identify potential contour or overhang issues early, supporting
safer loading, better space utilisation and fewer last‑minute adjustments,”
Menzies added.
“Together,
these technologies are expected to support more efficient warehouse flows,
improved load accuracy, better utilisation of ULD capacity and enhanced flight
safety, while giving teams greater confidence in the quality and availability
of cargo data.”
The
proof-of-concept deployment at London Heathrow is intended to help Menzies
Aviation evaluate the potential for broader adoption across its cargo network.
Rory
Fidler, Senior Vice President Cargo Technology, Menzies Aviation, said: “This
proof-of-concept deployment with CIND gives us the opportunity to test how
reliable, real‑time data can transform the way we plan, load and manage cargo.
“The
learnings from this pilot will help us assess the potential for wider
application across our cargo network, supporting safer operations, smarter use
of capacity and better decision‑making.”
The
development is the second tech-based implementation announced by Menzies in
recent weeks.
Last
week, the company said it was adding a new payment
capability to
its customer portal through a partnership with PayCargo.
The
new Quick Pay capability is available on the Menzies Aviation Cargo Handling
(MACH) portal, with the company hoping it will simplify payments and speed up
the release of cargo.
IAG Cargo expands pharma network to
Kuala Lumpur
IAG
Cargo has expanded its pharma network with the addition of a Constant Climate
station in Kuala Lumpur in response to growing demand for reliable cold chain
solutions.
The
new Kuala Lumpur facility is equipped to handle both active and passive
temperature-controlled shipments and is certified to GDP levels.
In
total, IAG now offers 100 Constant Climate-approved stations, with 13 stations
in the Asia Pacific region.
Explaining
the addition of the new station, Jordan Kohlbeck, head of pharmaceutical at IAG
Cargo, said the new station would enhance the cargo company’s presence in
Southeast Asia and respond to growing demand for specialist handling.
“This
expansion reflects the growing demand for reliable cold chain solutions, driven
by ongoing innovation in life sciences and the increasing need for fast,
temperature-controlled transport of biologics, cell and gene therapies, and
personalised medicines – all of which rely on the speed and precision that air
cargo uniquely provides,” he said.
The
new Kuala Lumpur station is served by a daily flight from Heathrow.
“The
daily Kuala Lumpur-London Heathrow schedule has been optimised to enhance
service quality and reliability. An early morning arrival into London Heathrow
enables same-day connections to a number of key Constant Climate stations
across the IAG Cargo network – helping ensure faster, more secure delivery of
pharmaceutical shipments worldwide,” added Kohlbeck.
The
launch of the new station also follows the launch of the Global
Cargo Joint Business between
IAG Cargo, Kuala Lumpur-based MASkargo and Qatar Airways Cargo.
IAG
Cargo’s Constant Climate service carries pharmaceuticals, such as vaccines,
biotech products, and diagnostic samples, along with other
temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical materials.
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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