Two major Maersk-owned companies, APM Terminals and towage unit Svitzer, are hit by strikes and threats of walkouts in Rotterdam and key Australian ports, respectively. In Rotterdam, the biggest port in Europe, there is a risk that the strike could spread to other vital ports.

Port of Rotterdam hit by 24 hour strike 

Rotterdam port workers prepared for more strikes

Union issues strike notice against Svitzer

The EU's proposal to introduce a scrapping tariff for ships calling in EU ports, to help pay for responsible shipbreaking at approved yards, looks to be back on the table as part of the EU's maritime agenda for 2016.

EU to launch proposal for controversial scrapping fund

NGO: Sustainable scrapping will collapse without fund

A look at the EU's maritime agenda in 2016 

The market for project cargo and heavy lift is challenging, even though early 2015 seemed to indicate that this niche shipping segment - unlike the bulk sector as a whole - was headed out of the crisis.

BBC Chartering: The project cargo market collapsed

Thorco Shipping gets new equity injection from owners

Thorco owners: Still complete confidence in the carrier

The crisis in the international dry bulk industry looks bottomless, with frequent crisis indicators emerging triggered by uncertainties surrounding the slowdown of economic growth in China.

Sellers of large bulk vessels under severe pressure 

Deutsche Bank: Bulk crisis will force carriers to scrap 

Analysis: 2016 could kick-start wave of Chinese bulk bankruptcies 

India's coal import in serious dive

The World Bank cuts growth projections for 2016

Wrist Ship Supply, former affiliate company of collapsed and controversial bunker supplier OW Bunker, is betting big on increasing its volumes in Asia, most recently by hiring former APM Terminals CCO Martin Gaard Christensen to head its Asia office.

Former APM Terminals CCO joins Wrist Executive Board

Wrist Ship Supply upscales growth plan in Asia