Maersk orders 20 dual-fuel container vessels | DC Velocity
Maersk, the Danish ocean freight and logistics giant, has signed agreements with three shipyards to build a total of 20 container vessels equipped with dual-fuel engines capable of running on either methanol or liquefied natural gas. This move is part of Maersk's fleet renewal plan, aiming to decarbonize its operations by delivering vessels with lower emissions.
The first of these dual-fuel vessels is set to be delivered in 2028, with the final delivery scheduled for 2030. This new capacity will enable Maersk to haul 300,000 twenty foot equivalent units (TEU) using environmentally friendly fuel options. The vessels will vary in size, ranging from 9,000 to 17,000 TEU, allowing for flexibility in the company's network operations.
New Vessels and Charter Contracts
Alongside the new vessel orders, Maersk will also proceed with chartering methanol and liquefied gas dual-fuel vessels to replace existing capacity, totaling 500,000 TEU. The company has finalized these charter contracts with various tonnage providers.
The shipyards contracted to build the vessels are Yangzijiang Shipbuilding and New Times Shipbuilding in China, as well as Hanwha Ocean in South Korea.
AI Innovation in Procurement
Dun & Bradstreet and IBM have collaborated to create a generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) assistant for procurement teams. This AI tool, known as "D&B Ask Procurement," leverages vast datasets to provide intelligent recommendations, assisting in faster data-driven decision-making and risk mitigation across supplier networks.
According to IBM and Dun & Bradstreet, the AI assistant utilizes IBM's watsonx Orchestrate and watsonx.ai technology, connecting to Dun & Bradstreet's business data for advanced reasoning capabilities and autonomous decision-making.
Asia Pacific Air Cargo Growth
Asia Pacific markets continue to drive significant growth in worldwide air cargo, contributing 56% of the global year-on-year increase in tonnages. This region's dominance has propelled Asia Pacific's share of global outbound tonnages to 41%, surpassing other regions.
The Asia Pacific region's rapid growth is fueled by general cargo and special cargo categories, particularly e-commerce traffic and high-tech products. Major airports like Hong Kong, Dubai, Shanghai, and Tokyo have been key contributors to outbound growth, while other regions have experienced declines due to various challenges.
Global Trade Challenges
A survey conducted by Descartes reveals that rising tariffs and trade barriers are the primary concerns for logistics and supply chain leaders globally. This challenge is intensified by supply chain disruptions and geopolitical instability, emphasizing the need for resilience through compliance, technology, and strategic planning.
The survey, part of the "2024 Supply Chain Intelligence Report," underscores the complexities facing organizations in navigating evolving trade policies and regulations.
Schneider's Acquisition and Partnership
Schneider National Inc. has announced the acquisition of Cowan Systems LLC for $390 million and related real estate assets for $31 million. Cowan Systems is a dedicated contract carrier offering a range of logistics services across the Eastern and Mid-Atlantic regions.
This strategic move will bolster Schneider's dedicated fleet, solidifying its position as a major player in the transportation industry. The acquisition aligns with Schneider's ongoing efforts to expand its dedicated services and enhance its market presence.
Amazon's Investment in AI
Amazon has deepened its collaboration with Anthropic, an artificial intelligence developer, by investing an additional $4 billion in the company. The partnership focuses on developing specialized machine learning technology, including the AWS Trainium chip, to advance AI capabilities.
Anthropic's AI models are available on AWS's Amazon Bedrock platform, catering to a wide range of customers for generative AI applications. This collaboration aims to push the boundaries of AI innovation and empower customers with advanced AI tools for various applications.
