By joining the dots in global trade, it is possible to understand how ships perform and how owners deploy them, writes Will Fray, Director, MSI. Read more at Xinde Marine.
Month: May 2025
Shipping industry to seek USTR port fees rejig on size, ownership
Shipping industry stakeholders plan to seek a raising of ship sizes to 85,000 dwt for exemptions from the US Trade Representative’s proposed fees for China-built ships, if they are owned and operated by non-Chinese companies, several market participants said.
A quarter of the VLCCs involved in US trade in 2024 were China-built, according to UK-based shipping consultancy MSI. Read more at S&P Global.
Listed liner operators sail longer, faster and further – and have higher emissions
The 10 largest stock-listed container lines have higher emissions, sail longer, faster and further than the comparable 10 non-listed carriers, according to data from MSI. Using the MSI SEASCAPE platform it is possible to benchmark fleet operational performance by ownership. Read more at Xinde Marine.
Dry bulk gloominess remains in 2025, but brighter times could be ahead
Chinese iron ore and coal demand, which drives so much bulk activity, remains soft. MSI director Will Fray said much of 2024’s success (until the fourth quarter, anyway) was driven by the stockpiling of Chinese inventories. Read more at Lloyds List.
Many tipped 2025 to be the year that elderly bulk carriers finally went to the breakers.
Despite big questions remaining on the timing of this big scrapping surge seemingly always over the horizon, MSI director Will Fray is in no doubt it is coming.“If we have a disastrous market, yes, we’ll start to see scrapping increasing,” he said. Read more at Lloyds List
New IMO fuel penalties could raise $1trn over a decade, MSI says
Consultancy’s new MSI SEASCAPE platform calculates that carbon levies will add 82% to bunker costs by 2035. Its new SEASCAPE market analysis, vessel performance and asset valuation platform crunched the numbers on new carbon levies proposed in April. Read more at TradeWinds.
The offshore-energy market: expert insights on growth and trends
Some oil & gas experts predict continued steady growth in the market, while others are more cautious – partly because of current geopolitical uncertainties. Maritime operators in the sector are keen to predict the market’s direction and anticipate changes and challenges that will confront them. PartnerShip asked Todd Jensen, Senior Offshore Energy Market Analyst at MSI for his insights on market trends, vessel fleets, offshore-wind power and decarbonization. Read more at Bourbon Partnership
Shipowners pushed to order newbuilds as busy yards extend delivery time
Orders for 46 new containerships have been reported this week.
MSI MD Dr Adam Kent noted at a recent industry conference that stricter environmental regulations and longer waiting times for newbuilding completions were pushing shipowners to place orders despite the economic uncertainties. Read more at The Loadstar.
Chemical and product tanker fleets face rebalancing
MSI senior analyst Bonita Nightingale, speaking at the International Chemical & Product Tanker Conference 2025, noted the chemical tanker market, having enjoyed elevated earnings through 2022–2024, faces a softer outlook. Read more at Riviera.