Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry on Saturday welcomed the successful berthing of the second Afghan Transit Trade Ship at Gwadar Port.
The vessel, carrying 20,000 metric tons of Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer, marks another milestone in enhancing regional trade connectivity, said a press release.
He noted that the fertilizer shipment originated from Townsville, Australia and represents the second successful docking under the revised Afghan Transit Trade framework, following the arrival of MV Beyond 2 on February 4, 2025.
“This is part of our sustained efforts to operationalize Gwadar Port as a strategic trade gateway for landlocked Afghanistan,” he said and added, “Gwadar’s growing role in transit trade reflects our commitment in enabling smooth access for Afghanistan to international markets.”
The minister emphasized that the recent decision by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) to replace the bank guarantee requirement with an insurance guarantee for Afghan Transit trade through Gwadar has signifiarly improved the ease of doing business and expedited cargo clearance processes.
He further noted that the arrival of MV ASL ROSE is a strong indicator of increasing international trust in Gwadar’s operational readiness and infrastructure, highlighting Pakistan’s role in promoting efficient and reliable transit trade in the region.
Junaid Chaudhry directed Gwadar Port authorities to ensure quick berthing and seamless unloading of cargo, reiterating that the port is fully equipped to handle rising volumes of transit goods under the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA).
He expressed the confidence that this latest development would help lower transit costs, increase trade efficiency, and reinforce economic ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Moreover, he said, it positions Gwadar Port as a pivotal hub for broader regional economic integration.
Northern Europe ports face worst congestion since pandemic
Container ports in Northern Europe are facing their most sustained operational crisis since the pandemic, with congestion and delays escalating across key gateways including Rotterdam, Antwerp, Hamburg, and Bremerhaven.
The situation, as of 13 June 2025, remains critical, with industry leaders and port authorities warning of continued disruption well into the summer.
A combination of factors is driving the crisis.
Strikes, rail closures, alliance restructures, and record-low inland water levels have all converged to create “multi-layered disruptions that extend far beyond yard congestion,” according to a comprehensive operational breakdown published by Tradlinx.
Danish giant Maersk has announced it will omit Rotterdam entirely from its TA5 transatlantic service beginning 25 June.
At Antwerp, officials have described the current situation as “the worst congestion since COVID-19”, with dwell times now exceeding eight days and terminal capacity at its limit.
Rotterdam is experiencing crisis level disruption, with strikes at APM Terminals Maasvlakte II and Inland barge delays of up to 48-56 hours.
Inland transport is further hampered by critically low Rhine River water levels, restricting barge movements, while rail closures and construction projects are causing additional bottlenecks.
Shipping lines have responded by rerouting vessels, omitting congested ports, and introducing congestion surcharges.
Terminals have also restricted the acceptance of empty containers to manage yard space.
Port of Oakland handles 974,417 TEUS through May
Container volume at the Port of Oakland has continued to perform steadily in May, despite ongoing tariff negotiations and global trade uncertainty.
Year-to-date (YTD) through May, the port handled 974,417 TEUS, a 6 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024.
May container volume totalled 187,389 TEUS, slightly above April’s 185,499 TEUS.
Growth was supported by rising exports and stable import levels.
Additionally, the port recorded 87 vessel calls in May, with an average YTD volume of 2,220 TEUS per vessel.
According to the port, loaded exports rose to 67,327 TEUs, a 4 percent increase over April and d of Green 8.7 percent higher year-over-year (YoY).
Loaded imports were steady at 79,323 TEUs, up slightly from April (78,965 TEUS) but just below May 2024’s 80,035 TEUS.
Despite external pressures, inbound demand and service levels remain stable.
Empty container movements were mixed.
Empty exports declined 19.8 percent YoY to 26,779 TEUS, while empty imports rose 10.1 percent to 13,960 TEUs.
Port of Oakland Maritime Director, Bryan Brandes, said: “Operationally, the port continues to perform efficiently.
Strong export demand and consistent operations have helped keep volumes steady even as global trade conditions remain in flux.”
Last month, the Port of Oakland entered into a new agreement with the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) that allows the port to benefit from renewable energy generated from EBMUD’s wastewater treatment plant in West Oakland.
AD Ports, partners explore methanol export facility
ABU DHABI’s AD Ports has signed a collaboration agreement with Masdar, Advario and CMA CGM to emethanol bunkering and export at Khalifa Port, reports London’s Port Technology International.
The project will provide critical infrastructure to complete the supply value chain and bridge commercial emethanol production with key off-takers, such as CMACGM, thereby supporting the acceleration of decarbonisation.
The collaboration agreement follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2023 between AD Ports Group and Masdar to explore the development of a green hydrogen hub within KEZAD.
Last year, Masdar also signed a strategic supply partnership with CMA CGM to assess the long-term provision of green maritime fuels for the company’s fleet.
This latest agreement aligns with the Abu Dhabi Low Carbon Hydrogen Policy and the UAE’s National Hydrogen Strategy, which targets the scaling up of local hydrogen production to 1.4 million tonnes per annum by 2031 and 15 million tonnes per annum by 2050.
Said AD Ports CEO Saif Al Mazroue: “The signing of this recement marks an important mestone in our journey towards creating a more sustainable and environmentally responsible maritime industry.
“The development of an emethanol facility in Khalifa Port will not only support the growth of the shipping industry but also contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions and the promotion of clean energy sources,” he said.
Faye Al Hersh, head of Green Hydrogen Business Development (UAE), Masdar, said: “Green hydrogen and its derivatives, such as e-methanol, are pivotal in decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors like shipping, helping drive the global shift toward net zero.”
“With over 80 percent of global trade transported by sea, fostering strategic partnerships is essential to establishing robust green hydrogen value chains and ensuring a more sustainable maritime industry,” she said.
AD Ports, ASRY ink three maritime and ports agreements
AD Ports has signed three Heads of Terms (HoTs) with the Arab Shipbuilding & Repair Yard Company (ASRY) for the provision of marine services in Bahrain to collaborate on strategic maritime and ports projects.
These new agreements follow the successful establishment of ASRY Marine, a joint venture between Noatum Maritime, a part of AD Ports Group’s Maritime & Shipping Cluster, and ASRY, which focuses on providing integrated marine services in Bahrain.
The first Head of Terms (HoT) concerns a Joint Venture (JV) to manage dry dock facilities and shipyards.
The JV aims to leverage the capabilities and facilities of each party through their established businesses in this sector.
This agreement seeks to enhance drydocking and shipbuilding capabilities within the GCC and explore opportunities in other regions.
This agreement focuses on creating green ship recycling facilities to promote a circular economy by repurposing parts and minimising waste, thereby reducing carbon emissions.
Green recycling in the shipping industry involves the environmentally responsible dismantling and repurposing of ships, contributing to resource conservation and pollution reduction.
The final HoT signed by AD Ports Group and ASRY relates to exploring joint investment opportunities within ports and terminals.
Through the creation of a collaborative framework and a working group, the parties will draw on their joint expertise to identify prospective areas of development.
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, said: “Following the successful formation of our recent joint venture with ASRY, we look forward to deepening our collaboration across the maritime realm.
“We have already developed strong working ties, and this agreement opens the door to create more value and growth across our operations.
Exploring opportunities to establish green ship recycling facilities is also very important for us, ensuring that vessels are retired in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.”
Beyond the port: How Maersk delivers supply chain resilience from dock to door
North America Inland Services Integrated logistics Depot Demurrage and Detention
In today’s shifting trade environment, delivering cargo to the port is no longer enough.
Businesses demand end-to-end control, resilience and simplicity, especially when the inland leg of the journey presents as many challenges as opportunities.
In the webinar, “Beyond the port: Delivering resilience from dock to door,” we explored how Maersk’s integrated inland strategy helps you navigate complexity, reduce costs and keep you supply chain moving from origin final delivery.
Here is what we covered.
Simplifying inland transport with carrier and multi-carrier haulage
Kate Jostworth, Head of First Mile Product for Maersk North America, introduced two core inland transport services: carrier haulage and multi-carrier haulage.
Carrier haulage (store door): Ideal for customers moving cargo on a Maersk bill of lading, this bundled service combines ocean and inland logistics into a single invoice.
Maersk manages drayage, chassis and terminal appointments, providing predictable costs and reducing the risk of delays.
Since Maersk controls the entire move, detention only begins once the container is delivered to your facility, giving you a smoother and more reliable delivery experience.