Ports News

The Los Angeles and Long Beach seaports employer group and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 26 extended their contract to November 20 and plan to continue negotiating a new labor agreement covering about 2% of workers at the busiest US container port complex.The Pacific Maritime Association and the union representing about 250 maritime watchmen at the ports are negotiating with assistance from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.Union watchmen control and inspect truck and employee entries at terminal gates…

After its first year of transatlantic service, NEOLINE's wind-powered cargo ship demonstrates the potential for substantial fuel savings, while technical issues highlight the challenges of bringing sail propulsion into mainstream commercial shipping.For all the discussion surrounding shipping's decarbonization, the commercial equation for alternative propulsion technologies remains relatively straightforward: How much does the technology cost, how much fuel can it save, and how…

The Panama Canal expects to announce the pre-qualified bidders for a project to build and operate two new container terminals by the end of this year, Administrator Ilya Espino said on Wednesday, advancing a tender process linked to one of the world's most strategic trade corridors.Speaking at the Houston International Maritime Conference, Espino said the canal authority has evaluated initial proposals, and the shortlisted companies will next receive a request for proposals, moving…

"Between January and October, coal shipments to India dropped 7% y/y due to the increased cost of imports. Thermal coal demand has remained strong, particularly from the power sector, but domestic mining has not kept pace, forcing power plants to draw down inventories. In contrast, coking coal demand growth has eased following a decline in steel production amid low margins,” says Filipe Gouveia, Shipping Analysis Manager at BIMCO.The cost of imported coal has increased due to a weaker rupee and higher coal prices.

Jody Peacock concluded his service as Chief Executive Officer of Ports of Indiana effective November 1. On that date, Ports of Indiana Chief Operating Officer Dave Parrott and Chief Financial Officer Erica Jackson began serving as the organization’s interim leadership team. Commission Chairman Steven Stemler is taking an active role working with them to lead Ports of Indiana during the interim period.“On behalf of the Commission, I thank Jody for his more than 25 years of service to Ports of Indiana,” said Stemler. “Dave and Erica bring strong experience and a deep commitment to our ports.

Dutch maritime technology company PortXchange is expanding its EmissionInsider platform with emissions forecasting, scenario modelling and AI-assisted decarbonization planning tools to help ports assess the environmental impact of their operations and future investments.The planned upgrade will also introduce multimodal emissions monitoring, bringing together emissions data from vessels, trucks, rail movements and cargo-handling equipment, the company said.The expanded platform will comprise four connected products: Emission Report…

On October 27, 2026, the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) Awarded $41,414,928 in Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) Grants to Corn Belt Ports. MARAD continues to invest in the four modern, sustainable, rural, regional, multimodal, inland, partnership ports in the Heart of the Corn Belt. Since 2003, a total of $143 million has been invested by MARAD in eleven rural port infrastructure projects (See attached slides for more background information).“The regionalization of the ports in the Heart of the Corn Belt is paying off…

StormGeo, part of Alfa Laval, has acquired Portchain, a provider of berth alignment software connecting terminals and carriers through shared, real-time port call data. The acquisition adds port call coordination to StormGeo’s Voyage Intelligence, creating the foundation for a new approach to Just-in-Time voyage optimization at scale. The goal is to connect decisions about route and speed with the latest information on berth availability and terminal plans, helping operators respond…

Dockworkers in 22 countries will strike on Friday, protesting against war and the use of ports for arms exports in action organisers say could disrupt over 40% of Mediterranean cargo and snarl over $2 billion worth of freight.The strike, originally called by dockworkers' unions in Italy, France, Greece, Spain's Basque Country, Turkey and Morocco, is now backed by more than 25 unions in 113 ports.The protest is expected to target major shipping hubs across Europe and beyond, including Hamburg…

The Maritime Administration has approved a deepwater port license application for the $8.2 billion ST LNG project, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on Wednesday.The project could further expand US liquefied natural gas export capacity. President Donald Trump's administration has promised to ease permitting in a bid to speed up energy infrastructure development.The ST LNG deepwater port, set to be built about 10.4 miles (16.7 km) offshore Matagorda, Texas, will include four 2.1 million tonnes per annum liquefaction plants for a combined production capacity of 8.4 mtpa…

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) congratulates the 35 award recipients of the Maritime Administration's (MARAD) Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) grants from the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) application cycle.This year, the mainstay port industry grant program, administered by MARAD under the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), will invest $498 million to upgrade America’s ports in 19 states. A few project examples funded by this round of awards include:Relocation…

Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor has been awarded $11.2 million through the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD) Port Infrastructure Development Program (PIDP) to modernize its cargo handling, including the specialized equipment needed to support future international container service. The grant is part of a $498 million investment to modernize 35 port projects across 19 states and strengthen America’s supply chains.The Burns Harbor Container Handling Modernization Project will fund a mobile harbor crane…

The Port of Oakland will soon begin construction on critical infrastructure improvements across the Oakland Seaport, including upgrades that will enable Matson Terminal to transition to a 100% zero-emission cargo-handling equipment fleet. Once complete, Matson Terminal will be the first marine terminal at the Port of Oakland to achieve this milestone, supported by new charging and electrical infrastructure. The Port celebrated the start of construction today alongside California…

Seven Japanese companies have agreed to develop an integrated ammonia fuel supply chain and build four ammonia-fueled car carriers, establishing a commercial bunkering operation in Japan's Chubu region to support the vessels when they enter service in 2030.The agreement brings together shipowners NYK Line and Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (“K” LINE), shipbuilders Imabari Shipbuilding, Shin Kurushima Dockyard, Nihon Shipyard and Kyokuyo Shipyard, as well as energy company JERA.The project encompasses green ammonia procurement…

Shipping through Romania's Black Sea port of Constanta was stable and grain exports had increased by end-September, the port authority said, despite a spike in marine insurance premiums driven by increased attacks on cargo vessels.In September, London's marine insurance market widened the area in the Black Sea it lists as high risk, as Russia's war in Ukraine escalated, with only the territorial waters of Georgia, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey exempted.The Black Sea is a vital route for grain…

Mammoet Canada Eastern Ltd., Port of Argentia Inc. and Argentia Capital Inc. (ACI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to advance plans for a floating dry dock and marine repair facility at the Port of Argentia in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.The proposed development would combine Mammoet's heavy lifting, transport and marine engineering capabilities with the port's existing infrastructure, creating additional capacity for vessel maintenance, repair and industrial services.Central to the project is the Tugdock Submersible Platform (TSP)…

The fourth edition of the Port Entrepreneurship International Congress (PEIC) concluded in Valencia, Spain, attracting more than 650 participants from the international maritime, port and logistics sectors, marking record attendance for the event.Organized by Opentop, Valenciaport's open innovation hub, the October 20–21 congress brought together startups, technology developers, port authorities, logistics companies and investors to explore emerging technologies and opportunities for collaboration.International participation accounted for 45% of attendees…

The Port of Los Angeles recorded its lowest emissions per container on record in 2025, continuing a two-decade decline in air pollution even as container throughput remained near historic highs.According to the port's newly released Inventory of Air Emissions, diesel particulate matter (DPM) emissions declined 2% in 2025 compared with 2024, while nitrogen oxides (NOx) fell 4%, sulfur oxides (SOx) decreased 5% and greenhouse gas emissions dropped 3%. The NOx reduction brought annual…

Ports should begin preparing for advanced nuclear technologies, including nuclear-powered ships, floating power plants and small modular reactors (SMRs), according to a joint report from Lloyd's Register (LR) and the British Ports Association (BPA).The report, Advanced Nuclear Technology Use Within Port Environments, examines how nuclear technology could support growing port energy requirements while creating opportunities in shipbuilding, vessel maintenance, industrial power…

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments) and OMERS have agreed to sell their combined 63.9% stake in Associated British Ports (ABP) to a fund managed by IFM Investors, in a deal expected to close in the first half of 2027.Under the agreement announced on October 21, CPP Investments will sell its entire 33.9% holding, while OMERS will dispose of its 30% stake in the UK ports operator.IFM Investors is a global asset manager, founded and owned by Australian pension funds and the UK pension fund…

Trade activity across the Houston Ship Channel region continued to expand in August and September 2026, with strong growth in foreign cargo exports, vessel traffic, container throughput and steel imports, according to Port Houston's latest Monthly Trade & Market Report.The Houston Ship Channel region handled 22.3 million short tons of foreign cargo in August, an 18% increase from 18.9 million tons in August 2025. Exports drove the growth, rising 24% to 17.8 million tons, while imports remained essentially unchanged at 4.55 million tons.Through the first eight months of 2026…

Critical infrastructure has never been more connected. Across ports, energy networks and industrial facilities, operators have access to unprecedented volumes of operational data generated by sensors, surveillance systems, satellite imagery, connected equipment and digital monitoring platforms. Every day, these technologies provide valuable insights into the performance, condition and security of critical assets. Yet despite this growing visibility, one challenge continues to persist.The problem is no longer collecting operational data.

German defense contractor Rheinmetall and Swiss shipping company MSC have won an auction to acquire Romania's Mangalia shipyard for approximately $155 million (€138 million), with plans to develop the facility for both commercial and military shipbuilding.The acquisition, expected to be completed within a few weeks, will be jointly funded by the two companies, Rheinmetall said.The shipyard, located south of Constanța, will be developed into a dual-use facility serving domestic and international markets…