#Ports&Shipping –The latest IMDO Weekly Shipping Market Review includes the following stories as detailed below.
Container Market: 40ft high cubes to dominate market - High cube 40ft containers are soon expected to overtake conventional 40ft boxes as the main transport equipment in the maritime container fleet, according to Drewry Maritime Research's latest 'Container Census Report'. Figures show high cube boxes represented almost 50% of all containers in use at the close of 2013, growing 7% in the year–outpacing overall container fleet growth of 4.3%.
Regulation: Shipowners call for fair sulphur directive enforcement - Shipowner organisations have called on regulators to implement the upcoming European Sulphur Directive in a "harmonised and realistic" manner. The Directive–set to come into force on January 1st 2015 and which will require all ships in the Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECAs) to reduce the sulphur content of their bunker fuel to a maximum 0.1%.
Irish Economy: Growth revival more broad-based - The Irish economy is expected to rebound strongly in 2014, with GDP growth of 2%, following a contraction of 0.3% in 2013. The latest EY Economic Eye report, produce by Ernst & Young, highlighted the emerging signs of recovery in domestic demand as one of the key positive trends. Domestic demand is expected to contribute positively to GDP growth this year for the first time since the onset of the financial crisis, with consumer sentiment, property prices and mortgage arrears already beginning to show signs of a stabilisation in the domestic economy.
For more on each of the above and other stories click the PDF downloadable IMDO Weekly Markets Review (Week 25). In addition to coverage on Afloat.ie's dedicated Ports & Shipping News section.
