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Shipping

Shipping is the industry concerned with the transportation of goods and passengers by water, encompassing maritime freight, logistics and vessel operations across international and domestic routes. The sector forms a critical component of global trade infrastructure, with more than 80% of world merchandise trade by volume carried by sea. Shipping services are provided by vessel operators, freight forwarders, port authorities and logistics companies, supported by shipbuilding, ship finance, marine insurance and classification societies. The industry is divided into several segments, including container shipping, bulk carriers for commodities such as iron ore and coal, tankers for oil and liquefied natural gas, and specialised vessels for vehicles and project cargo. Major shipping routes include the Suez Canal, Panama Canal, Strait of Malacca and Strait of Hormuz, which serve as chokepoints for global supply chains. The sector is regulated by the International Maritime Organization and governed by conventions covering safety, environmental standards and labour conditions. Shipping markets are cyclical, influenced by global economic growth, commodity demand, fuel prices and geopolitical developments. The industry faces ongoing challenges including decarbonisation pressures, piracy in certain regions, port congestion and the need for digital transformation. Shipping has evolved from sail-powered trade in antiquity through the steamship era to today's highly automated container vessels and supertankers.

Shipping Updates


CMB Tech Vessel
Fortescue accelerates zero-emission iron-ore shipping
22nd June 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Iron-ore major Fortescue and maritime group CMB Tech have signed an agreement for the charter of up to 12 ammonia-capable vessels, which marks a big step towards decarbonising Fortescue's global... 


Recycled cooking oil
BHP explores ship biofuel blend made from cooking oil, animal fat
3rd June 2026 By: Reuters

Australian iron-ore and copper miner BHP and Singapore's Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) have blended biofuel made from used cooking oil and waste animal fat to refuel a cargo... 


Procurement shown to be strategic business function, amid supply chain disruptions – CIPS
20th April 2026 By: Schalk Burger

Global disruptions, including geopolitical conflicts and logistics bottlenecks, have transformed procurement into one of the most strategically important capabilities within modern organisations,... 


Shipper MSC secures 45‑year Lagos port concession with Nigerdock
12th March 2026 By: Reuters

Shipping company MSC has signed a 45-year concession agreement with Nigerian maritime company Nigerdock to develop, operate and maintain a new container terminal at Snake Island Port in Lagos, the... 


MSC Group secures 45-year concession for Snake Island port terminal with Nigerdock and agrees EPC contract with ITB and DEME for development
12th March 2026

MSC Group has signed a 45-year concession agreement with Nigerdock to develop a state-of-the-art container terminal within Snake Island Port (SIP) in Lagos, and finalized an Engineering,... 


Containers on a ship
Three more vessels hit by projectiles in Strait of Hormuz, showing merchant ships remain in firing line
11th March 2026 By: Reuters

Three more vessels have been hit by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, maritime security and risk firms said on Wednesday, bringing the number of ships struck in the region since the Iran... 


An MSC cargo ship
MSC imposes war surcharge on shipments to Africa and Indian Ocean islands
5th March 2026 By: Reuters

Shipping company MSC said on Thursday it would implement a "war surcharge" for cargoes moving to African nations and Indian Ocean islands from the Indian subcontinent and the Gulf countries, after... 


Oil tankers at sea
Ship insurers cancel war risk cover due to Iran conflict
2nd March 2026 By: Reuters

Several marine insurers said they are cancelling war risk cover for ships due to the conflict in Iran and the Gulf. Insurers including Gard, Skuld, NorthStandard, the London P&I Club and the... 


Leading South African law firm, Cox Yeats recognised for its specialist insurance, shipping expertise
Leading South African law firm, Cox Yeats recognised for its specialist insurance, shipping expertise
16th February 2026

South African law firm, Cox Yeats has been recognised for its specialist insurance and shipping capability in the Chambers and Partners 2026 rankings. The ranking strengthens the firm’s vision to... 


Commission refers complaint against shipping companies to tribunal for prosecution
2nd December 2025 By: Sabrina Jardim

The Competition Commission has referred a complaint against eight cargo shipping companies to the Competition Tribunal for prosecution. The commission says the eight cargo shipping companies are... 


A-OSH EXPO Cape Town confirms strong demand for workplace safety solutions
19th November 2025

The Western Cape’s diverse economy, spanning shipping and logistics, vineyards and agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, construction, and high-rise commercial hubs, brings with it equally diverse... 


The iron-ore terminal at Saldanha Bay.
South Africa iron-ore trade route to Europe could be green by 2029, study shows
13th November 2025 By: Martin Creamer

The South Africa-Europe iron-ore trade route could go green as soon as 2029 and scale toward full decarbonisation by 2035, according to a study released by the Global Maritime Forum. The... 


Cape Town’s SeaH4 clinches top honours in the ClimateLaunchpad finale
Cape Town’s SeaH4 clinches top honours in the ClimateLaunchpad finale
4th November 2025 By: Irma Venter

A Cape Town-based startup that is developing an algae-based replacement for fossil fuels has beaten 40 countries to claim the €10 000 top prize at ClimateLaunchpad's green business idea competition... 


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