This week saw the final approvals tick in for Maersk which can now complete its acquisition of Hamburg Süd.

Maersk Line will close acquisition of Hamburg Süd this week 

Meanwhile, the Danish carrier was not as fortunate in volumes, as China's Cosco overtook Maersk Line in the third quarter whereas reliability rose.

Maersk Line's schedule reliability improved in October 

Maersk Line and MSC pull reliability in opposite directions 

Declining container rates pressure Maersk's business plan

During an official visit to Singapore, Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen addressed the maritime sector. The shipping industry needs to deliver under the framework conditions that the government has provided, he said.

Danish prime minister heads to Singapore with maritime agenda

Also in Singapore, CEO Jeremy Nixon gets ready for the launch of the new, major Japanese container partnership Ocean Network Express. The carrier must find its place among the giants, he tells ShippingWatch in an interview.

Jeremy Nixon: ONE must find its place among the mega-carriers 

Shipping organization ICS has set a concrete target and a new year as a deadline for its CO2 plan. The members must submit their stance on the proposal, which is inspired by a Japanese proposal and suggests 2060 as the new deadline.

ICS working toward 2060 as shipping's climate deadline 

A new EU proposal for a screening mechanism of strategic acquisitions in maritime companies in Europe seems to be directed at particularly China's acquisition activity.

EU proposal to weed out unwanted Chinese acquisitions 

Make sure to read:

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Next generation to take over CMA CGM chairmanship after Q3 

Danish Ship Finance: What shipping will look like from 2018 and on 

Shell accused of complicity in murder and terror

I.M Skaugen prepares new claim against MAN in fraud case 

English Edit: Gretchen Deverell Pedersen