Category: Shipping News (Page 7 of 23)

Maersk signs MoU with City of Yokohama and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical

December 28, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Yokohama, Japan, December 27 – AP Moeller – Maersk A/S B (London: 0O77) announced today that the company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the City of Yokohama and Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (MGC). This collaborative agreement will focus on the development of green methanol bunkering infrastructure in Yokohama as Maersk’s 16,000 TEU green methanol-powered container vessels will be delivered since 2024. It also highlights the parties’ shared commitment to sustainable initiatives and the transition towards a greener future.

Maersk has an ambitious target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2040 throughout its entire business. For shipping, it will equip its 25 container vessels with dual-fuel engines capable of sailing on green methanol. The successful implementation of this initiative heavily relies on the establishment of port bunkering infrastructure for methanol worldwide.

The City of Yokohama oversees the Port of Yokohama, which includes the Minami-Honmoku container terminal operated by APM Terminals Japan. The port stands as Japan’s deepest water berth, boasting a total length of 1,600 meters and a draft of 18 meters. It features advanced STS cranes, capable of reaching out up to 24 rows. Since the opening of Yokohama Port in 1859, it has served as a pivotal gateway to Japan and Asia. As part of its commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, Yokohama is at the forefront of developing Japan’s green shipping corridors.

The collaboration will focus on examining operational feasibility and developing port facilities required for green methanol bunkering at the Port of Yokohama. Through joint efforts, the partners seek to drive innovation, foster safety, and accelerate the adoption of sustainable methanol solutions in the maritime industry in Japan.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including expected delivery dates. Such statements are based on current expectations and projections about our future results, prospects and opportunities and are not guarantees of future performance. Such statements will not be updated unless required by law. Actual results and performance may differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including those discussed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Hahn Air partners with Air Moana

December 25, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Hahn Air welcomes Air Moana in its leading partner portfolio. Its flights are available in major GDSs under the Hahn Air Technologies X1 code. Travel agents in 190 markets worldwide can book the domestic airline from French Polynesia via the standard reservation process and issue tickets on the insolvency-safe HR-169 document.

Air Moana is a domestic carrier based at Papeete Faa’a Airport (PPT) in French Polynesia. It was founded in 2021 and it currently serves seven destinations with a fleet of two ATR72-600 aircraft.

More information about Air Moana and other Hahn Air partners is available under Partner Carriers.

Ethiopian Airlines and Citigroup Sign $450M Loan Agreement

December 25, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Ethiopian Airlines, Africa’s largest carrier, today announce a landmark USD $450 million loan agreement that will finance five new Boeing (NYSE: BA) aircraft: three Boeing 737-8 and two Boeing 777F Cargo.

The loan will be secured against the value of the five planes and has been arranged exclusively by Citigroup (NYSE: C) Corporate Banking and Export Agency and Finance teams. It is guaranteed by the Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM).

The five new aircraft will bolster Ethiopian Airline’s fleet to 150 in total and delivery of all the aircraft will be completed in the U.S. state of Washington in December. The new arrivals will help Ethiopian serve all its destinations by accelerating its expansion throughout the world and will further bolster Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics Services’ position as Africa’s largest cargo network operator. Ethiopian Airlines has ambitions to grow its fleet to over 270 aircraft by 2035.

Forward-Looking Statements

Maersk launches new weekly service to the Port of Rades, Tunisia

December 20, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Port of Rades, Tunis, 20 December 2023 – AP Moeller – Maersk A/S (Copenhagen: MAERSKb) is proud to announce a new transport solution connecting the growing Tunisian market to its mainliner services to and from Europe, Middle East and Asia. The new weekly service started recently and is operated with a dedicated ro-ro vessel between the Port of Rades and the connecting hub port of Cagliari in Italy. Furthermore, the weekly service offers the best connection between Morocco and Tunisia.

The ro-ro vessel is leaving the port of Tunis Rade, Tunisia every Friday evening, calling the Cagliari, Italy on Saturday and connecting with our hub port in Tangier, Morocco on Thursday.

To ensure seamless and reliable logistics in Tunisia, Maersk has established a wide range of value adding services for customers including the availability of a bounded warehouse, airfreight, less than container load cargo (LCL) as well as supply chain and 4PL solutions. Other integrated logistics services enhancing customer satisfaction include customs service, inland transportation, insurance, depot services and cold chain logistics.

Forward-Looking Statements

LATAM orders five additional Boeing 787 aircraft

December 20, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

LATAM Airlines Group SA (ADR: LTMAY) announces an order for five more Boeing (NYSE: BA) 787 Dreamliners to continue advancing its commitment to be more efficient and sustainable. The purchase ranks the South American airline group as the largest operators of Dreamliners in Latin America.

With this order, together with the already scheduled deliveries of this model in the upcoming years, LATAM group will reach a total of 46 Boeing 787 airplanes. Representing an increase of 20 airplanes of this model compared to the pre-pandemic fleet, this investment reinforces the group’s commitment to have one of the most modern and efficient fleets in South America.

Additionally, LATAM group has decided to equip the next Boeing 787s it receives with GEnx engines by General Electric (NYSE: GE) Aerospace Division, becoming the first airline in South America to have these engines known for their high performance and efficiency.

The GEnx engine family has more than 50 million flight hours since entry into service in 2011 and is the fastest-selling, high-thrust engine in GE history with nearly 3,000 engines in service and on backlog, including spares, according to data from its manufacturer.

Forward-Looking Statements

Finnair acquires six leased aircraft & repays part of pension loan

December 19, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Finnair Oyj (Helsinki: FIA1S) executed a rights issue of 570 million euros in November 2023. Thanks to the strengthened balance sheet and cash funds resulting from the rights issue, Finnair has now purchased six previously leased A321 aircraft from BOC Aviation. Finnair will spend in excess of 200 million euros on the transaction, and its positive impact on both profit before taxes and cash flow will be in excess of 20 million euros per year over the next few years.

Finnair has also repaid an additional tranche of 120 million euros of its 600-million-euro pension premium loan in December in addition to the previously planned 100-million-euro instalment. The December instalment, including interest, totals approximately 230 million euros, after which the remaining loan amount is 280 million euros, to be repaid during May 2025 at the latest. The impact of the additional loan repayment of 120 million euros on profit before taxes will be approximately 3 million euros in 2024 in the form of lower net interest costs.

In connection with the rights issue announcement in autumn 2023, Finnair supplemented its financial targets, which were based on the assumption that e.g. the company’s cash to sales ratio would remain at 30 per cent over time. As a result of the aircraft purchases and the loan repayment, Finnair’s cash to sales ratio is close to but still exceeds the target of 30 per cent.

These measures are a part of Finnair’s strategy implementation and support reaching financial targets by the end of 2025. In addition, these measures will contribute to reaching Finnair’s target of reinstating shareholder distributions, based on the 2024 result, starting from spring 2025.

Forward-Looking Statements

Eve Air Mobility hosts customer advisory board

December 18, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Melbourne, Florida, December 18, 2023 – Eve Air Mobility (NYSE: EVEX) held its Customer Advisory Board meeting last week at its headquarters in Melbourne, Florida. Customers and partners from 12 companies and nearly every continent came together to discuss the aircraft, operations, ecosystem readiness and services and solutions.

Eve’s Customer Advisory Board includes a wide variety of operators including fixed-wing and rotorcraft operators and lessors, all with the objective of co-creating the Urban Air Mobility (UAM) ecosystem. The discussions included optional items and vehicle configuration and passenger cabin experience. In addition, attendees also received a program and product update from Eve´s leadership.

Eve also took the opportunity to highlight its worldwide sales and support network which includes a broad customer support infrastructure. Eve’s customers will also benefit from Embraer’s global service and support network which includes 10 existing services centers and 66 third-party service centers around the world.

Forward-Looking Statements

Major Wellington rail projects to take a leap forward this Christmas

December 17, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

December 18, 2023 – KiwiRail will make significant progress on several major rail projects around the Wellington region this Christmas, taking advantage of the annual network shutdown to work without interruption.

The Wellington region’s rail network will be closed to commuter trains from 26 December 2023 to 7 January 2024, with the Wairarapa Line staying closed until 14 January. Nearly 1,000 people will work on rail maintenance and projects across the network, with several sites operating 24/7 to maximise productivity.

KiwiRail Chief Capital Planning and Asset Development Officer David Gordon says that while important maintenance will be carried out during the shutdown, most of the planned activity relates to the Wellington Metro Upgrade Programme – a $700 million programme of works to upgrade existing rail infrastructure and build capacity to support Greater Wellington Regional Council’s plans for rail.

The complex re-signalling work at Wellington Railway Station will continue, alongside much-needed work on various tracks, foundations and platforms. This project is a major step towards modernising Wellington’s rail network and will improve safety in what is New Zealand’s most complex railway junction.

Round-the-clock work on the Kapiti Line will see the completion of the last major portion of the Plimmerton Station upgrade project. The upgrade, which includes adding a third track and platform at the station, will allow commuter trains that currently run from Wellington to Porirua to be extended to Plimmerton, helping with capacity at peak times. Bridge 23 (just north of Paekākāriki) will also be replaced.

KiwiRail will conduct maintenance on the Hutt Valley Line, largely between Ava Station and Taitā Station.

On the Wairarapa Line, renewal work will begin inside the Maoribank and Remutaka Tunnels to update the original track from 1955, and the old wooden bridge (Bridge 56) near Matarawa will be replaced. Capacity-building upgrades will start with work on a new passing loop at Woodside Station and the Fitzherbert St level crossing in Featherston.

Turkish Airlines to become largest operator of Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines

December 15, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (LSE: RR, ADR: RYCEY) today announces Turkish Airlines will order 100 Trent XWB-84 engines and 40 Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-97 engines. This will make Turkish Airlines the world’s largest operator of Trent XWB engines.

The Trent XWB-84 powered A350-900’s, Trent XWB-97 powered A350-1000’s and Trent XWB-97 powered A350F will be delivered between 2025 and 2033. The engines health and maintenance will be covered by the Rolls-Royce comprehensive TotalCare service.

This substantial order will complement the airline’s existing fleet, adding to the 40 Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84 A350-900’s already in service and on order, and 26 Trent 700 powered A330’s.

Forward-Looking Statements

Virgin Atlantic increases capacity to the USA for summer 2024

December 15, 2023 / WIL BALDWIN

Virgin Atlantic is delighted to announce plans to increase capacity to its heartland in the USA, adding frequencies from London Heathrow to both New York JFK and Boston for summer 2024. These new services complement the airline’s recent announcements of increasing Miami services from 11 flights per week to twice daily year-round and a new seasonal summer service from Manchester to Las Vegas.

Next summer, the airline will offer a record number of flights between London and New York, with a seventh daily flight to JFK, and together with Joint Venture partner Delta, will offer ten daily services to the Big Apple, an increase of 11% compared to summer 2023.

In a further boost to its East Coast flying, Virgin Atlantic will also operate a second daily flight to Boston. Complementing Delta’s daily service, Boston will be served with three flights a day.

Customers on both Virgin Atlantic departures will experience flying on the airline’s newest aircraft, the A330-900neo, and A350-1000, increasing the number of Upper and Premium seats by 23%. Upper-Class passengers looking to treat themselves can also benefit from booking the A330-900neo innovative Retreat Suite, which comprises of two spacious exclusive suites at the front of the Upper Class cabin. Elsewhere, passengers travelling with Joint Venture partner Delta will be able to enjoy its new and enhanced Delta One product.*

*There may be occasions that some ad-hoc Boston and New York services are substituted for an alternate aircraft type.

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