MSC beats Maersk in schedule reliability

Swiss-Italian carrier MSC was the most punctual in November 2022. For a long time, the honor was assigned to Maersk, now having to content itself with second place.

MSC, spearheaded by Danish national Søren Toft, continues unprecedented fleet expansion having acquired secondhand vessels with combined capacity of more than 1 million teu since August 2020. The carrier thus cements its position as the world’s largest player.

Just before Christmas, the group completed a billion-dollar acquisition of logistics operator Bolloré Logistics. The deal was among the biggest in logistics in 2022, a ranking shows.

• New figures: MSC surpasses Maersk in schedule reliability

• MSC completes billion-dollar deal in Africa

• Carriers dominate list over biggest splurges in logistics in 2022

Maersk’s green vessels are coming

During the holiday, Maersk has taken a big leap on the road towards completing net-zero emissions target by 2040. On Thursday, Dec. 29, a shipyard in South Korea reached steel cut milestone on the major ocean-going container vessels able to sail on green methanol.

Ships are due by 2025 and play a crucial role in Maersk’s green transition. By next year, Maersk is receiving a smaller, methanol-fueled feeder for deployment on Scandinavian routes.

Additionally, Søren Skou resigns as CEO of the Danish shipping major from the turn of the year, giving an in-depth interview with British business media Financial Times as a send-off.

• Maersk’s large methanol-fueled ships now under construction

• Søren Skou is not worried: ”Whether it’s jeans or sneakers, I think there will still be a global trade”

• Maersk opens new cold storage facility in Saudi Arabia

2023 bodes well for tanker carriers

Whether the new year looks promising or not depends entirely on the segment you operate in.

Several analysts predict the upswing to continue for tanker carriers, which might experience renewed tailwinds when the EU shuts down seaborne imports of refined oil in February.

Bulk carriers have a lot riding on China’s reopening, while container carriers are likely looking at a difficult year, analysts predict.

• Carriers might face tough year: ”Recession and shipping doesn’t mix well”

• Time charter rates finally follow crashing freight rates

• Eagle Bulk is optimistic for 2023

Read further...

... into DFDS’ large scale acquisition, the decline of Danish-flagged ships, Fjord Line’s struggle with expensive gas bills and Norwegian shipping billionaires.

• DFDS buys Northern Irish logistics firm in major transaction

• Fewer ships fly the Danish flag for first time in years

• Carrier quits expensive LNG and replaces engines on two ferries

• Shipowning shown as prominent in new poll of Norwegian billionaires

English edit: Simon Øst Vejbæk