#Ports&Shipping –The latest IMDO Weekly Market Review includes the following stories as detailed below.
Irish Ports: Container shipping volumes rose by 9% in Q3 2014 - As previously reported on Afloat.ie, container shipping volumes Lo/Lo, rose by 9% in Q3. Ro/Ro experienced a 6% growth and Break Bulk volumes grew by 16%. This is in contrast however to total traffic volumes through Irish ports which fell by 3% overall in Q3, when compared to the same period last year.
Container Market: Record price drop on Asia-Europe routes - Box prices on the Asia-Europe trade fell nearly 21% this week representing the largest ever weekly decline on the route and effectively eroding recommended increases by carriers at the start of November. Last week's Shanghai Containerised Freight index shows that prices between Asian and European ports fell 20.5%, or $241, to $934 per TEU.
Shipping Lanes: Egypt hires German firm to bore transport tunnels under Suez Canal - Egypt will use machines made by a German firm to bore at least four tunnels under the Suez Canal, part of an $8 billion project to expand the waterway that the government hopes will raise revenues and foreign currency reserves.
International Shipping: Maersk Line plans fresh wave of megaship orders worth $1bn - Maersk Line will defend its position as the world's leading container carrier with a fresh wave of orders for ultra large boxships (ULCs). The liner giant is poised to splash out close to $1bn on its first order for mega size vessels since placing a ground breaking order for "EEE"-class vessels three years ago.
For more on each of the above and other stories click the IMDO Weekly Markets Review (Week 47). In addition to dedicated coverage on Afloat.ie's Ports & Shipping News section.