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China Building 62% Of New Ships Ordered Globally
maritime gateway
China Building 62% Of New Ships Ordered GloballyChina has cemented its position as the world’s top shipbuilding nation as it secured orders for 3,454 out of a total of 5,735 vessels in the current global orderbook. This represents an orderbook share of 62.42% or a total of 175.4 million gross tons, according to information provided by Greek shipbroking services provider Intermodal.  China, Japan and South Korea dominate with combined orders of over 90% of the world’s orderbook. South Korea ranks second with an orderbook share of 21.39% or 687 ships, while Japan is placed third with a share of 8.83% or 651 units. The Asian nations’ dominance in shipbuilding is supported by the rise in clean fuel-powered ships. As Offshore Energy reported in late December 2024, the world’s dual-fuel fleet surged to 2,119 vessels. The increase seems to be prompted by a tightening regulatory landscape and solid financing opportunities.  Moving to the US shipbuilding, the orderbook is a small fraction of the total, counting 52 units of about 245,000 gross tons primarily consisting of tugboats and passenger/cruise vessels, Intermodal shared. “However, the U.S. has significant potential for expansion, bolstered by robust investment capabilities, international partnerships (such as with CMA CGM), military shipbuilding expertise, and cutting-edge technologies, combined with the government commitment to grow the national shipbuilding industry. The developments in the shipbuilding market are set to attract significant attention in the coming years,” Nikos Tagoulis, Senior Analyst at Intermodal, believes. “While China, South Korea, and Japan remain dominant forces, the USA, Vietnam, and India are positioning themselves as emerging players, poised to challenge the status quo and strengthen their market presence.”  The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) concluded in January that China’s ‘targeted dominance’ in maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors is ‘unreasonable’ and ‘burdens or restricts U.S. commerce’. Ambassador Katherine Tai, who is the principal trade advisor, negotiator, and spokesperson on U.S. trade policy, said that China is building more than 1,700 ships per year, while the US constructs less than five vessels annually.   In late February 2025, USTR proposed a measure to charge a fee of up to $1.5 million for Chinese-built vessels entering US ports in an attempt to curb China’s dominance in maritime. This measure, along with several others, targets Chinese ship operators and Chinese-built vessels and promotes the transport of US goods on domestic vessels. Last week, US President Donald Trump also proposed a ‘sweeping’ plan to revive US shipbuilding, pledging renewed efforts to strengthen both military and commercial vessel production while speaking to the US Congress. He unveiled the establishment of a brand-new Office of Shipbuilding in the White House and the introduction of special tax incentives for shipyards to ‘bring back’ manufacturing to US shores, “where it belongs”.  Following Trump’s announcement, French shipping giant CMA CGM revealed its intention to invest $20 billion over the next four years to strengthen the U.S. maritime transport and logistics, boosting the maritime economy and fostering shipbuilding capabilities. The shipping player said it intends to foster U.S. shipbuilding capabilities, expand port infrastructure, grow logistics networks, and develop air cargo services through the latest investment.  In the context of the proposed tariffs, China’s foreign ministry held a press conference on March 7, 2025, explaining its position on the issue. The government said that the new US plan could only negatively affect global supply and industrial chains but not necessarily revitalize the United States’ shipbuilding industry.
port-and-ship
Mar 17, 2025
India’S Port Sector To Expand 4-7% In 5 Years: Report
maritime gateway
India’S Port Sector To Expand 4-7% In 5 Years: ReportIndian port industry will grow at the rate of 4-7 per cent over the next five years, supported by rising imports, a decline in freight costs, and the normalization of global supply chains, according to a report by Motilal Oswal. As per the report, the cargo traffic is expected to grow at a steady annual rate of 3-6 per cent, with utilization rates stabilising at approximately 55 per cent over the medium term. Transshipment, which currently accounts for about 25 per cent of India’s container throughput, remains a critical segment, with key ports like Chennai playing a pivotal role in facilitating this segment. According to the report, between the Financial Year (FY) 2023 and FY28, India’s ports are expected to increase their capacity by 500-550 MTPA annually, driven by continued growth in petroleum, oil, and lubricants (POL) handling, as well as coal and containerised cargo. The report added that the growth of ports will be driven by an increase in the handling of petroleum, oil, lubricants (POL), coal, and containerised cargo. India’s ports currently manage 95 per cent of the country’s export volumes and 70 per cent of its export values, showcasing the sector’s critical role in facilitating trade. With a coastline stretching approximately 7,500 km and 20,275 km of national waterways across 24 states, India’s ports benefit from a strategic location in the Indian Ocean. This positioning is aligned with 80 per cent of the global maritime oil trade, which enhances the country’s potential to become a dominant player in the maritime sector. The Indian ports infrastructure includes 13 major ports and 205 non-major ports.In FY24, major ports handled 819 MMT of cargo, and in the period from April 2024 to January 2025, this number stood at 699 MMT. Overall, the sector operates with a capacity of 2,604 MTPA, but this is expected to expand significantly in the coming years, the report added. The report also highlights the distinct roles that major and non-major ports play in India’s port ecosystem. Major ports, which are managed by the central government, are primarily located near industrial hubs and handle a wide range of cargo types based on regional demands. In FY23, non-major ports saw a 7.6 per cent increase in cargo traffic, outperforming the 4.7 per cent growth observed at major ports.The report adds that both major and non-major ports will play crucial roles in driving the overall development of the sector. The growth in cargo traffic, along with improvements in port infrastructure and operations, positions India’s ports to remain a key enabler of trade and economic growth for years to come, the report adds.
port-and-ship
Mar 17, 2025
Next Month’S Colombo Port Eoi Causes Anxiety In The Shipping Sector
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Next Month’S Colombo Port Eoi Causes Anxiety In The Shipping SectorGovernment plans to commence work on two key projects in the Colombo Port, the West Container Terminal II and the North Port to be operational by 2030 and 2035 respectively have triggered concerns from the industry which believes it could cause a huge demand and supply imbalance and, the move is way ahead of its time. The EOIs will be restricted to the top 10 shipping lines, as feasibility studies on both these works have already been completed. It was noted that the East Container Terminal (ECT) has taken so long to complete and as a result authorities believe it is imperative to commence work on these now. The ECT will commence with 50 per cent capacity. Deputy Ports Minister Janitha Kodituwakku said that they have already carried out the feasibility study on the North Port and the WCT II. Detailed drawings of the WCT II breakwater have already commenced, the deputy minister said, adding that construction of this will also be part of the EOI. He noted that the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) spends much financing on the construction of the breakwater which forms a large expense compared to the building a terminal. However, Shippers’ Academy Founder/CEO Rohan Masakorala said “it’s too early” to call for EOIs for these projects. In fact, he noted the industry’s expectations are for the completion of the ECT and commencement of Adani-run West Container International Terminal (WCIT). He observed that anyone taking over terminal operations will build the terminal alone and that these long-term plans need to be given time to be carried out and be based on the demand and supply. Moreover, this new move has become a hot topic of concern within the industry as most within and outside the country are said to be querying about it. Other industry experts point out that surging ahead with increasing capacity ahead of time is likely to create a pricing war as the throughput capacity at the Colombo Port by the end of 2026 is likely to increase to approximately 14 million TEUs with the ECT and WCIT becoming fully operational, in addition to the JCT, SAGT and CICT that are fully operational. Hambantota Port is also expected to generate a terminal capacity of 2 million TEUs by the same time. Based on the Asian Development Bank study that concluded in 2019 the demand for the Colombo Port is expected to be around 8.8 million TEUs per annum. As a result of the huge demand and supply imbalance, terminal operators are bound to wage a price war to enhance their share of the capacity utilisation, SLPA sources point out. This action of increasing capacity by calling for EOIs is expected to result in the gradual demise of the SLPA-managed ECT and the JCT, industry officials point out.
port-and-ship
Mar 17, 2025
Indian Railways Loaded 1,465 Mn Tonnes Of Freight In Fy25
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Indian Railways Loaded 1,465 Mn Tonnes Of Freight In Fy25Indian Railways loaded 1,465.371 million tonnes (MT) of freight in FY 2024-25, up from 1,443.166 MT in 2023-24, the Ministry of Railways said. The Railways has set an ambitious target of loading 3,000 MT freight by 2027. “Indian Railways is steadily progressing toward its ambitious target of 3,000 MT freight loading, achieving 1,465.371 MT in FY 2024-25,” the ministry posted. The movements of freight and passenger trains have gone up significantly in the past 11 years, with more than 34,000 km of new railway tracks laid across the country. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently said the Railways has registered robust production figures for the financial year 2024-25 (up until January) in locomotives, coaches, and axles manufacturing. “The IR has marked steady growth in the manufacturing of coaches, locomotives, wheels, and axles. During the financial year of 2023-24, 1.98 lakh wheels were manufactured, which has now increased to 2.43 lakh during the financial year of 2024-25, up until January 2025, registering an increase of 23%,” the minister said. Citing figures for locomotive production, the minister said, compared to the 1,235 locomotives produced during 2023-24 until January, the Railways had manufactured 1,346 locomotives during 2024-25, registering a rise of more than 9%. In 2023-24, 5,169 coaches were manufactured, which increased to 8,805 in 2024-25, registering an increase of 12%. Production of axles went up 7% from 77,636 units to 83,275 units in 2024-25. The ministry said over a decade, the Railways has registered a five-fold increase in women loco pilots. In 2014, there were only 371 women locos, while in 2024 there were 1,828 in service.
port-and-ship
Mar 15, 2025
Centre Speeds Up Work On 8 Road, And Railway Projects Under Pm Gatishakti
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Centre Speeds Up Work On 8 Road, And Railway Projects Under Pm GatishaktiThe 89th meeting of the Network Planning Group (NPG) evaluated 8 infrastructure projects in the Road, Railway, and Metro sectors to enhance multimodal connectivity and logistics efficiency in alignment with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.  These initiatives are expected to boost logistical efficiency, reduce travel times, and deliver significant socio-economic benefits across regions. The four projects evaluated in the road sector include the development of a two-lane highway from Darugiri to Dalu section in Meghalaya. The project involves the development of the existing road into a two-lane highway with a paved shoulder along the Darugiri to Dalu section of NH-62 (New NH-217) in Meghalaya. This 136.11 km-long stretch passes through East Garo Hills, South Garo Hills, and West Garo Hills, significantly enhancing regional connectivity. Given its strategic location, this corridor is essential for facilitating cross-border trade and regional economic development. The second project pertains to the construction of a four-lane tunnel connectivity across River Brahmaputra between Gohpur and Numaligarh. The project involves the construction of India’s first-ever road tunnel beneath a major river. The four-lane tunnel under the Brahmaputra will reduce travel time from 6.5 hours to just 30 minutes, shortening the distance from 240 km to 34 km. This twin-tube, unidirectional underwater tunnel will enhance connectivity to Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, and other northeastern states. The widening and improvement of the existing carriageway to four lanes of the Kaliabor-Numaligarh section was also taken up for evaluation. This project aims to upgrade the existing highway from two lanes to four lanes along the Kaliabor-Numaligarh section (NH-37/NH-715) in Assam. Covering 85.67 km across Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, and Golaghat districts, the project incorporates wildlife-friendly measures such as an elevated corridor and wildlife crossings to protect Kaziranga National Park’s biodiversity. The fourth road projects involve the construction of a two-lane highway from Mayjilar to Jaisalmer with Jaisalmer Bypass Link Road. Spanning 138.177 km, this project in Rajasthan includes brownfield and greenfield stretches along NH-11 and NH-70. It aims to improve regional connectivity, boost tourism, facilitate defence movement, and enhance road safety. The three projects of the Ministry of Railways that were taken up include the third- and fourth-line expansion on Badlapur-Karjat route. The 32.460 km-long brownfield project addresses increasing passenger and freight congestion along the Mumbai-Pune-Solapur-Wadi-Chennai corridor. Enhancing connectivity between key commuter hubs and freight transit points, this project will benefit towns including Badlapur, Vangani, Shelu, Neral, Bhivpuri, and Karjat. The second railway project involves the construction of the fourth line from Nergundi to Cuttack with a flyover at Nergundi. The 15.99 km-long brownfield railway infrastructure project in Odisha aims to decongest existing rail lines, facilitate freight movement, and ensure smoother operations along a key corridor serving Paradip Port, Talcher coalfields, and major steel and power industries. The third railway project covers the construction of a doubling line from Haridaspur to Paradip. The 74.09 km-long brownfield project in Odisha will enhance freight transportation capacity and logistics efficiency, facilitating seamless coal transportation from Talcher Coalfields to Paradip Port while supporting industrial expansion in the Angul-Jharsuguda cluster. The Rajkot Metro Rail Project was also taken up for evaluation. This is a greenfield urban transport initiative aimed at reducing congestion and providing a sustainable mode of transport in Gujarat’s Rajkot. Covering 41.11 km, the project integrates seamlessly with existing urban infrastructure, ensuring multimodal connectivity with regional rail, city bus services, and intermediate public transport such as autos and cycle rickshaws.
port-and-ship
Mar 15, 2025
Voc Port Surpasses Last Year’S Container Traffic
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Voc Port Surpasses Last Year’S Container TrafficV O Chidambaranar Port at Tuticorin has surpassed 7,47,363 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit) of container traffic handled in the 2023-24 financial year on March 12, 2025, 20 days ahead in the current financial year, and registered an annual growth of 7.52%. The port was honoured with award of excellence as the 3rd best container port among ports handling more than 5,00,000 TEUs of containers in India by the ministry of ports. NICDC Logistics Data Services (NLDS) in its Logistics Data Bank Annual Report 2024 highlighted that the port’s DBGT container terminal is ranked as the top performer among southern region ports. Recently, the port announced various concessions for container vessels on vessel-related charges and shifting charges to attract more volume. Port authority chairperson Susanta Kumar Purohit said the port witnessed more than 30 ad hoc calls from various container lines and holds immense potential to attract more volumes upon completion of dredging and widening of its entrance mouth in a couple of months.
port-and-ship
Mar 15, 2025
Volvo Trucks Launches First Road Train For Logistics
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Volvo Trucks Launches First Road Train For LogisticsVolvo Trucks introduced its first ‘Road Train ‘in India. A more extensive freight transport system, popular in countries such as Australia and the United States, uses a single truck to pick up multiple trailers in one run. The initiative, also the result of a collaboration with logistics major Delhivery, is a giant leap toward modernising the country’s freight transport system, making operations more efficient and catering to the ever-growing needs of e-commerce and supply chain logistics. The Road Train aims to revolutionise long-distance freight movement in the nation. Road Trains are a concept adopted in countries such as Australia, Canada, and the United States. They allow a single truck (tractor unit) to pull multiple trailers in a train-like road configuration. The system transports more in one go, using less fuel. Considering the prospects for this system to mitigate the vast logistics demand in India, which is expected to triple in the next decade, Volvo Trucks has customised this concept to keep up with the Indian market needs. The volumetric part of the Volvo Road Train system is the heavy-weight class Volvo FM 420 4×2 tractor unit. An industrial-strength machine conceived to meet the challenges of moving lengthy cargo in diverse environments. The deployment of the Road Train system is further underpinned by the strategic partnership between Volvo Trucks and Delhivery, one of India’s leading logistics service providers. In the first phase, we will deploy these advanced tractor-trailer combinations on routes between major hubs- Nagpur and Bhiwandi. Due to the high freight traffic in this corridor, this serves as an ideal testing location to collect and analyse data to assess system performance in real-world environments.
port-and-ship
Mar 15, 2025
Mormugao Port Adds New Harbour Cranes
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Mormugao Port Adds New Harbour CranesThe sorely felt need for mobile harbour cranes at the Mormugao Port was finally met with the arrival of two Liebherr mobile harbour cranes, each with a lifting capacity of 125 tonnes, from Germany. Along with the arrival of the harbour cranes aboard the MV Charlie, the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) initiated discussions with two container feeder operators for shipping links to either Mundra port in Gujarat or Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala. Both these ports are operated by Adani Ports. According to MPA officials, it will take 15-20 days for the two mobile cranes to be set up and operationalised, and another three months for the feeder service to commence from Mormugao. The cranes will be operated at berths 10 and 11, which MPA handed over to Delta Ports Mormugao Terminal Pvt Ltd as part of a 30-year lease. Mormugao Port used to handle containerised cargo earlier and even hit around 38,000 TEUs per annum. However, the port’s harbour crane broke down in 2020, and the feeder service for the container cargo also stopped operations as there was no harbour crane to load container cargo. The ministry for ports, shipping and waterways (MoS) asked MPA to procure a 100-tonne mobile crane as part of a tender to redevelop berths 10 and 11 under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.
port-and-ship
Mar 15, 2025
Iit Hyderabad, Goa Shipyard Sign Agreement To Incorporate Ai Into Shipbuilding
maritime gateway
Iit Hyderabad, Goa Shipyard Sign Agreement To Incorporate Ai Into ShipbuildingGoa Shipyard Limited (GSL) signed an MoU with IIT Hyderabad to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into shipbuilding, aiming to enhance vessel design, shipyard security, and operational efficiency. The agreement, signed on March 10, also involves technology partners Neer Interactive Solutions, the Center for Geospatial AI and Digital Twins (CGDT), and Andhra Mahila Sabha (AMS) Arts and Science College. The collaboration will see GSL using AI-driven generative design and geospatial technologies to improve the accuracy and speed of ship construction while strengthening safety protocols. In 2020, GSL partnered with IIT Goa for research and product development using similar technologies. GSL has been modernising its infrastructure with AI-based predictive maintenance, automation in ship design, and smart manufacturing processes. The shipyard, which comes under the ministry of defence, specialises in constructing offshore patrol vessels, fast attack craft, and frigates for the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. It is currently building two indigenous warships with stealth features and improved endurance for long-range maritime operations. GSL previously deployed AI for optimising production cycles, improving quality control, and reducing turnaround times. GSL has expressed a keen interest in digital twin technology, which could allow the shipyard to create a virtual, dynamic replica of a vessel, continuously updated with live data for better decision-making. IIT Hyderabad has pioneered work in deep learning models for industrial automation, real-time geospatial analysis, and digital twins. The Center for Geospatial AI and Digital Twins (CGDT), part of IIT Hyderabad, specialises in integrating AI with geospatial intelligence, enabling real-time monitoring of infrastructure and industrial processes. Neer Interactive Solutions, a deep-tech firm specialising in AI-driven design solutions, has worked on advanced simulation models for aerospace and defence industries. GSL chairman and managing director B K Upadhyay and IIT Hyderabad director B S Murty spearheaded the discussions that led to the formal tie-up. The initiative is expected to enhance India’s maritime capabilities by integrating AI-driven efficiency into shipbuilding. By combining GSL’s shipbuilding expertise with IIT Hyderabad’s AI research and the technical capabilities of its partners, the project aligns with India’s push for self-reliance in defence manufacturing, said GSL officials.
port-and-ship
Mar 13, 2025
India’S Trade Deficit Likely Narrowed To $21.5 Bn In February: Report
maritime gateway
India’S Trade Deficit Likely Narrowed To $21.5 Bn In February: ReportIndia’s trade deficit likely narrowed to $21.5 billion in February, down from $23 billion in January, according to a report by Union Bank of India. However, the report also noted that the geopolitical risks, especially concerns over tariffs, will continue to influence trade dynamics. It said “Merchandise trade deficit likely narrowed in Feb 25 to $21.5 bln vis-a-vis $23.0 bln a month ago”. The report suggested that the reduction in the merchandise trade deficit was mainly driven by a moderation in the Non-Oil-Non-Gold (NONG) segment, supported by seasonal factors during the quarter. Despite this improvement, the report added that the extent of recovery in trade balance may be limited due to growing concerns over new trade restrictions and tariff increases following the change in the U.S. administration. The oil trade deficit is also expected to have narrowed in February, supported by a fall in global Brent crude oil prices. Brent crude dropped to USD 74.95 per barrel in February from USD 78.35 per barrel in January. A notable trend was the decline in oil imports from Russia, which fell 14.5 per cent month-on-month to 1.43 million bpd, the lowest level since January 2023. As a result, Russia’s share in India’s total oil imports dropped to around 30 per cent in February, a sharp decline from the 2024 average of approximately 38 per cent. Although crude oil prices eased in February, the report noted that the impact on imports might be delayed since contracts are signed in advance. This could explain why India’s oil import bill declined in January compared to December, even though prices and volumes had increased sequentially. Gold imports are estimated to have risen to 70 tonnes in February, up from 40 tonnes in January. This increase was likely driven by seasonal demand during the marriage season. Additionally, investment demand for physical gold remained strong due to pressure on riskier assets like equities. The report highlights that with ongoing global economic uncertainties under Trump’s second term, the demand for gold as a safe-haven asset is expected to persist. Looking ahead, the report noted that the geopolitical risks, particularly concerns over trade tariffs, will continue to shape India’s trade performance in the coming months.
port-and-ship
Mar 13, 2025