Group items tagged

Biological invasions often result from transfers of organisms during trade activities. In coastal ecosystems, commercial ships are a dominant source of species transfers globally, and ships' ballast water (BW) is a major focus of biosecurity management and policy to reduce invasions. While trade drives shipping patterns, diverse vessel types and behaviors exist such that the quantitative relationship between trade and BW dynamics is still poorly resolved, limiting both science and management. Here, we evaluated a new method to predict BW discharge using trade data, by explicitly considering known BW practices according to vessel and commodity type. Specifically, we estimated the relationship between tonnage of overseas exports and BW discharge volume for San Francisco Bay (SFB), California, as a model system to demonstrate this approach. Using extensive datasets on shipborne exports and BW discharge, we (a) evaluated spatial and temporal patterns across nearly 20 ports in this estuary from 2006 to 2014 and (b) developed a predictive model to estimate overseas BW discharge volume from foreign export tonnage for the whole estuary. Although vessel arrivals in SFB remained nearly constant from 2006 to 2014, associated tonnage of exported commodities more than doubled and BW discharge more than tripled. Increased BW volume resulted from increased frequency and per capita discharge of bulk carriers from Asia and tankers from western Central America and Hawaii, reflecting shifts in direction of commodity movement. The top 11 export commodities (59% of total export tonnage) were transported on bulk carriers or tankers. In a multivariate linear model, annual tonnage of these top 11 export commodities by vessel type were strong predictors of total bay-wide overseas BW discharge (adjusted R2 = 0.92), creating the potential to estimate past or future BW delivery in SFB. Bulk export tonnage provides valuable insights into BW flux, since most BW discharge to ports is driven by

After more than a month of war in Ukraine, the negative consequences for global trade are now becoming clear. According to the latest data update of the Kiel Trade Indicator, the conflict is weighing on the trade data of almost all economies and also clearly on global trade overall (month-on-month, price and seasonally adjusted). Russia's increasing isolation is reflected in an abrupt decline in the number of container ships arriving and departing from its ports. Globally, the number of shipping containers in congestion is increasing again.

The Review of Maritime Transport 2019, released today, shows a dip in maritime trade growth. Trade policy crosscurrents, geopolitics and sanctions, environmental concerns, fuel economics and tensions involving the Strait of Hormuz - a strategic maritime chokepoint - all contributed to decelerated growth in merchandise trade.

Maritime jurisdiction plays an important role in international trade and marine transport. It involves special kinds of rules that vary among different countries and legal systems. Thus, in international maritime jurisdiction, the coordination and settlements of jurisdictional conflicts are vital for the uniformity of international maritime law. This study provides a comparative analysis of maritime jurisdiction in international trade and marine transport. First, it introduces the concept, category, and legal characteristics of maritime jurisdiction based on historical sources. Then, we conduct a comparative analysis of the civil law system, common law system, international conventions, and Chinese maritime jurisdiction provisions, focusing on their differences and the existing legal problems. Among other suggestions for the improvement of the rules of maritime jurisdiction, this study proposes the unification and coordination of maritime jurisdiction, which could impact international trade and marine transport.

The entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world's largest free trade agreement, has injected new vitality into multilateralism and free trade, against a background of global economic and political instability. Its core concept is to liberalize and facilitate trade. Regulation of the shipping market warrants attention. Under the RCEP, the international shipping industry is characterized by a digital development trend in shipping supervision, continuous upgrading of shipping management and supervision capabilities, and more open and transparent shipping market supervision. However, in the process of implementing new rules for shipping market supervision, there are still some challenges, such as logistics risks and loopholes in shipping supply chains, insufficient coordination of shipping supervision among RCEP member countries, and an imperfect legal and regulatory system. This paper therefore suggests that under the RCEP, China should strengthen the anti-risk ability of shipping supply chains, promote coordinated supervision among member countries, strengthen environmental protection, and promote the coordination of digital supervision.

BUENOS AIRES - President Trump and his Mexican and Canadian counterparts sought to put the acrimony of the past two years behind them on Friday as they signed a new trade agreement governing hundreds of billions of dollars in commerce that underpins their mutually dependent economies. Meeting for the first time since the revised North…

- As Arctic ice melts, sea routes will stay navigable for longer periods, which could drastically change international trade and shipping. - This chart shows the location of major oil and gas fields in the Arctic and the possible new trade routes through this frontier.

Boosting Maritime Security & Trade Around The Indian Ocean.

US Pacific ports win back trade from east coast rivals as old normal returns.

To service global trade, today's ships and cargo are smarter than ever.

Russia says high ice melt opens Arctic trade routes.

Canadian ports compete fairly for U.S. cargo: trade minister.

The rescue of all persons in distress at sea - including illegal migrants - is an obligation under international maritime law, as well as being a long established humanitarian duty, says the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS). ICS is the global trade association for commercial ship operators, whose ships are currently involved on a daily basis in the rescue of refugees at sea in the Mediterranean.

A warming climate is opening up new shipping routes through the Arctic Ocean as summer sea ice shrinks. Developing technologies allow mega-ships unprecedented in size and cargo to take to the seas. North America is increasingly exporting oil, shifting global trade patterns.

West Africa Container Trade on its Way to Maturity.

A US cargo ship has been drifting off the coast of China for a month - and it shows the real-world effects of the trade war.

What's at stake if trading at Strait of Hormuz is disrupted?

US - China trade war fallout sees 6.7% container capacity cut on transpacific.

Major Shipowner Trade Associations Agree to Enhance Cooperation.

Greek shipowners accuse TRUMP of launching a trade war.