Part of the 9/11 Act requires that 100% of cargo containers entering the US need to be scanned and screened. A GAO(Government Accountability Office) report stated the following “"uncertainty persists over how DHS and CBP will fulfil the mandate for 100 percent scanning given that the feasibility remains unproven in light of the challenges CBP has faced implementing a pilot program for 100 percent scanning.”

Initially the requirement for 100% screening was for 6 ports but the scope has been recently trimmed back to one individual port.

DHS (Department of Homeland Security) and CBP (US customs and border control)…

2011 was a very successful year for Antwerp port, Europe’s third largest box port. Break-bulk cargo increased by a phenomenal 14.8% in 2011.Ro-Ro shipments increased 13.3% in the same period and overall shipping container volume grew by an impressive 2%

In 2011, the port of Antwerp handled 186.4 million tonnes of freight, an overall increase of 4.6% when compared to 2010. The container and liquid bulk volumes for 2011 have set new records for this busy port.

To view the full press release from the port of Antwerp please clicks here.

Six ocean liners, based in the Far East, have announced that they are forming a shipping alliance, called G6. The firms participating in this shipping alliance are OOCL, Hapag-Lloyd, Nippon Yusen KK, Mistsui OSK lines Ltd and Hyundai Merchant Marine Co.

This consolidation or resources is in reply to over capacity and reduced rates on the Asia-Europe line, which are now at loss making levels, according to analysts.

In terms of volume this container shipping alliance will contain more than 90 ships and nine services calling at more than 40 ports in Europe, Asia and the Mediterranean.

The alliance…

The Shanghai Containerised Freight Index(SCFI), a component of which measures spot container rates from Asia to Europe, plummeted to a 2011 low last week, to $490 for the Asia-Europe component.

On the other side of the Index spot rates to the United States remained relatively stable. Unfortunately economic instability in Europe combined with the advent of larger capacity ships on the Asia-Europe route has resulted in the spot rate plummeting into freefall since August. In fact the SCFI for Asia-Europe id down a dramatic 6.3% since January.

Further mergers and joint ventures look like a viable option for…