Funding threat hits Rickmers’ Asia orders RICKMERS Group’s ability to fund several unfinished containerships on order in China and South Korea is under threat as companies to which it intends to sell the ships struggle to find finance to complete the deals.Read more: Containers headlines from www.lloydslist.com

Robust growth seen in Asia-Europe box volumes FIGURES from the European Liner Affairs Association for January show a strong recovery in container volumes to and from Europe on most trades compared with the same month in 2009, the lowest point in the downturn.Read more: Containers headlines from www.lloydslist.com

PDZ pays $7m for boxship Malaysian feeder company to finance purchase using a mix of cash reserves and bank borrowing.Read more: Containers headlines from www.lloydslist.com

Changes of pace needed SLOW and extra-slow steaming were born of desperation as first oil prices soared just when many lines had locked themselves into all-in prices, and then cargo volumes collapsed last year.Read more: Containers headlines from www.lloydslist.com

CSCL boss calls for China tonnage tax CHINA Shipping Container Lines chairman Li Shaode has called on the government to reduce taxation on the country’s shipping companies to enhance the competitiveness of the shipping industry, writes Hui Ching-hoo.Read more: Containers headlines from www.lloydslist.com

Box carriers strengthen intra-Asia services TWO Asian carriers have strengthened their presence in the growing intra-Asia container shipping market, confirming plans for the launch of new services, writes Keith Wallis in Hong Kong .Read more: Containers headlines from www.lloydslist.com

Lines in box sale and leaseback talks Carriers in talks with container leasing firms to arrange sale and leaseback deals on their box fleets.Read more: Containers headlines from www.lloydslist.com

Box volumes see strong recovery Latest ELAA figures show growth in January traffic to and from Europe on most tradesRead more: Containers headlines from www.lloydslist.com

Pursuit of green stuff will call time on slow steaming It was always going to be a matter of time before the enthusiasm for slow steaming wore offRead more: Containers headlines from www.lloydslist.com

Box carriers say slow steaming is here to stay SLOW steaming is delivering cost savings for container lines beyond the obvious one of cheaper fuel bills.Read more: Containers headlines from www.lloydslist.com

Asian shippers’ dispute with transpacific lines hots up WHEN the 5,390 teu boxship OOCL Netherlands departed Shanghai for Long Beach via Pusan three days after Christmas, such was the volume of cargo that little of the vessel’s red ship antifouling paint could be seen.Read more: Containers headlines from www.lloydslist.com

Yard renegotiations save Ownership $6.6m GERMAN KG financier Ownership has successfully reduced the price of two multipurpose vessels being built by China’s Jiujiang Tongfang Jiangxin yard.Read more: Containers headlines from www.lloydslist.com

Asian shippers' row with TSA lines hots up Shippers complain of being held to ransom by lines prior to Chinese New YearRead more: Containers headlines from www.lloydslist.com

TSA results offer hope on eastbound routes FIGURES from the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement show the post-Chinese New Year drop in eastbound cargo volumes has not been as severe as fearedRead more: Containers headlines from www.lloydslist.com

No-frills box start-up finds time is right for transpacific launch TIMING is everything. Starting a new container service across the Pacific would have seemed the height of folly a few months ago, given the desperate straits of this particular trade, which has been worst hit of all by the recession.Read more: Containers headlines from www.lloydslist.com