Porti & ambiente — le notizie raccolte

Lawmakers move to overturn strict vessel limits with billions at stake for shipping September 21, 2026 Lawmakers in theU.S.House of Representatives approved a resolution to overturn a federal waiver that allows California to regulate emissions from oceangoing ships docking at the state’s ports and impose costly fees on operators that don’t comply. In a near party-line vote (216–211) on 15 September, the Republican-led chamber voted in favor of the resolution, known as aCongressional Review Act, introduced in August by Rep. Vince Fong, R-Calif. If passed by the Senate and signed by the President, it would nullify the waiver that went into effect in October 2023. Approved by the Biden administration, the waiver gives the California Air Resources Board (CARB) the ability to impose strict emissions standards on at-berth containerships, reefers, roll-on/roll-off vessels, and tankers. CARB’s regulation requires vessel operators to cut diesel emissions by plugging into the electrical grid at berth, installing state-approved technology, or pay into a remediation fund. Ships that can’t comply face penalties of approximately $50,000 per vessel per day. Related:Are UK and Cyprus Ministers in synch over decarbonisation? “The costs don’t stay with shipping companies – they ripple through the supply chain and ultimately reach American consumers,” Fong said in introducing the resolution. California’s finance department estimated the total compliance cost to vessel operators, ports, and terminals to be $2.3 billion through 2032, while cost savings – in the form of health benefits – were estimated at $2.64 billion. Momentum for the resolution was likely boosted by soaring gas and diesel prices in California and throughout the country and was a common theme when the resolution was debated on the House floor before it was passed. “I am supporting this resolution today for a simple reason, and that is that it will stop gas prices from getting even higher in California. We simply can’t afford it,” said Rep. Kevin Kiley, I-Calif. “Prices are approaching $6 [per gallon] on average statewide, far more than any other State. We have the highest cost of living in the country, and Californians cannot afford more to be piled on.” The resolution was backed by the American Petroleum Institute, Western States Petroleum Association, and the National Association of Manufacturers.Seatrade Maritime Newsreached out to vessel operator representatives for comment. Democrats, unsurprisingly, opposed the measure. “How is encouraging ships to burn more expensive diesel going to help the families across America struggling with Trump’s affordability crisis?” questioned Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif. Related:Growing US momentum for nuclear power in maritime “The war of choice in Iran that the President initiated has caused prices to spike. The other day, I was driving by a gas station and saw diesel fuel at $8.99 a gallon. It is easier and cheaper for ships to plug in at the dock, and the only people who will benefit from this resolution are the oil and gas companies.” Read more about: John Gallagher US Correspondent Based in Washington, D.C., John Gallagher covers regulation and legislation affecting the maritime sector for Seatrade Maritime News. John has specialised in reportage of the US transportation industry for the past 30 years, having previously worked as Washington correspondent for US-basedFreightWaves, Americas correspondent for UK-based maritime business publicationFairplay, and covering the US trucking and rail industries forRail Business,Traffic Worldand theJournal of Commerce. John began his business reporting career in 1993 covering the radio, TV, and cable industry forBroadcastingmagazine. Subscribe and get the latest industry news, analysis and more straight to your inbox.

Transpacific spot rates have soared 325% since the Strait of Hormuz conflict began in February and Xeneta doesn’t rule out breaching record Covid levels September 21, 2026 Sharp increases in freight rate levels on the Pacific trades could be followed by another attempt to raise rates in early October as carriers look to capitalise geopolitical disruption. BothDrewryandXenetaare forecasting higher spot rates on the Pacific, but Drewry believes this is due to efficient capacity management by the carriers. In contrast Xeneta argues that there are a number of drivers, including geopolitical challenges and Dynamar points to congestion caused by climate events. Xeneta chief analyst Peter Sand said: “Carriers are seizing the opportunity while the market is hot, adding capacity into US East Coast ahead of what could be a turn in the market within the next two to three weeks. Offered capacity on the Far East to US East Coast trade is 6-7% higher in September than in August.” Drewry’s Container Capacity Insight monitor, however, said that nine sailings have been cancelled for the coming week, an increase from eight cancellations the previous week. Related:CU Lines makes size jump with 14,000 teu container ship order “Drewry expects rates to rise slightly next week [week beginning 21 September] amid impending pre-Golden Week demand and continued capacity management by carriers.” In its latest spot rate report, published 17 September, Drewry said Shanghai to Los Angeles spot rates increased 5% week-on-week to $7,712 per feu. Rates to New York saw a 7% rise to $10,394 per feu. The consultant expects further rate increases in the run up toChina’s1 October Golden Week. Meanwhile, Xeneta reported in its weekly rate newsletter that the spot rates to theUSWest and East coasts were, “Just 18% and 11% [respectively] short of the all-time high set during the Covid-19 disruption.” As bunker prices are driving fuel surcharges to new highs, “Surpassing the pandemic peak cannot be ruled out, which would be an extraordinary market development.” If the record is broken Xeneta believes it will be for charges to the US East Coast, however Sand argues that even if it is not, “the fact we are even discussing the possibility demonstrates how sensitive critical ocean container shipping trades are to geopolitical forces and how a regional conflict in the Middle East can have major implications at a global level.” According to Xeneta attractive Pacific spot rates have seen carriers add capacity, in a bid to increase revenues before the market turns in the next two to three weeks, with offered capacity up 6-7% this month compared to August. “We should expect one more freight rate push at the start of October as shippers rush cargo out of Asia ahead of the Golden Week shutdown, before rates start to soften, or at least the pace of growth will slow,” said Sand. Related:Container peak season still ongoing, port congestion hits new high In addition to the economic fundamentals Dynamar analyst Darron Wadey highlighted the importance of weather-related disruptions that have had a lasting effect on the Pacific trades. A series of typhoons has disrupted operations, that outlasted the immediate impact of the storms. Xeneta analyst Destine Ozuygur reported that there was 1.1 million teu at anchor around three Chinese gateways at the end of August. Average delays are expected to reach in excess of four days during this month; some 3.25 million teu was more than 10 days late with just 6% of Asia to Europe capacity meeting its scheduled arrival time last month. “Each week of disruption often requires 1-3 weeks of recovery depending on port size and carrier strategy,” commented Ozuygur, and with four storms in quick succession there was little time for terminals to recover. Moreover, Dynamar’s Wadey pointed to the increasing effects of El Niño on the draught at thePanama Canal, a critical chokepoint. “The Panama Canal restrictions will also have an influence on the flow of goods,” said Wadey, “Redirecting trade flows to the US West Coast can only be a temporary solution otherwise congestion could appear in those gateways.” Related:Shipping going ‘gangbusters’ but volatility comes at a price Congestion will mean that ships become floating warehouses, as was the case during the pandemic, said Wadey. “As we know, storage costs money and ships are perhaps the most expensive warehouses around,” he added, “This would already result in elevated rates were everything else to remain equal.” Wadey, however, acknowledges that there has been “something of a rush” to beat various US trade measures that are either coming in or expiring in the near future. According to Dynamar any slow down in the rate surge through Golden Week will be a mere “blip” in the broader context as the US looks at transhipment ports in terms of tariff charges. Additionally: “A month after Golden Week ends, the 12-month truce on Chinese-built ships being charged to call US ports, and vice versa, comes to an end,” said Wadey. He added that the disruption in the Middle East is affecting Europe and Africa too: “To borrow [a phrase] from popular culture, we really are seeing everything... everywhere... all at once. That makes any form of prediction or planning nigh-on impossible unless someone, somewhere, takes a lead.” Read more about: Nick Savvides Europe correspondent Experienced journalist working online, in monthly magazines and daily news coverage. Nick Savvides began his journalistic career working as a freelance from his flat in central London, and has since worked in Athens, while also writing for some major publications including The Observer, The European, Daily Express and Thomson Reuters. Most recently Nick joined The Loadstar as the publication’s news editor to develop the profile of the publication, increase its readership and to build a team that will market, sell and report on supply chain issues and container shipping news. This was a similar brief to his time at ci-online, the online publication for Containerisation International and Container News. During his time at ci-online Nich developed a team of freelancers and full-time employees increasing its readership substantially. He then moved to International Freighting Weekly, a sister publication, IFW also focused on container shipping, rail and trucking and ports. Both publications were published by Informa. Following his spell at Informa Nick joined Reed’s chemical reporting team, ICIS, as the chemical tanker reporter. While at ICIS he also reported on the chemical industry and spent some time on the oil & gas desk. Nick has also worked for a time at Lloyd’s Register, which has an energy division, and his role was writing their technical magazine, before again becoming a journalist at The Naval Architect for the Royal Institution of Naval Architects. After eight successful years at RINA, he joined Fairplay, which published a fortnightly magazine and daily news on the website. Nick's time at Fairplay saw him win theSeahorse Club Journalist of the Year and Feature Writer of the Year 2018 awards. After Fairplay closed, Nick joined an online US start-up called FreightWaves. Subscribe and get the latest industry news, analysis and more straight to your inbox.