#Ports&Shipping –The latest IMDO Weekly Shipping Market Review includes the following stories as detailed below.

Container Market: Global container throughput accelerates - Global container throughput growth accelerated in December according to the Flash Container. Throughput Index of the Rheinisch-Westfälisches Institut für Wirtschaftsforschung (RWI) and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL).The index improved significantly in December from a revised 117.9 to 119.9, its highest reading since
publication began two years ago.

Infrastructure: Record quarter for Panama Canal as dispute lessens - The Panama Canal has registered record throughput tonnage for the first quarter of the fiscal year, some 4.8% higher than forecast. The Canal handled 87.7m Panama Canal Universal Measurement System tons in the first quarter, between October and December, registering 3,450 vessel transits.

Container Market:Hapag-Lloyd and CSAV push on with merger proposal - The proposed merger of two container lines to form the world's fourth largest line took another step forward last week according to Trade Winds as a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was agreed upon by Hapag-Lloyd and CSAV.

For more on each of the above and other stories click the downloadable PDF IMDO Weekly Markets Review (Week 4). In addition to coverage on Afloat.ie's dedicated Ports & Shipping News section.

#ShippingReview - Over the last fortnight Jehan Ashmore has reported from the shipping scene where the stricken tanker Hellesport Charger which lost main engine power off the Clare coast was aided by tugs at the mouth of the Shannon.

Irish Ferries ro-pax Cartour Epsilon returned to Dublin-Holyhead route duties which also marked the inaugural launch of the new direct Dublin-Cherbourg route linking the capital and the continent.

Ardmore Shipping takes delivery of a pair of tankers, raising the fleet total to 10 vessels and with a further 11 ships on order.

Brittany Ferries order its largest ever cruiseferry, a 52,000 tonnes giant powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) which is to enter service on the Cork-Roscoff route in 2017.

Manx operator, Elann Vannin Line which attempted to launch a Douglas-England service has confirmed it will not be able to start in March.

#ManxLink - Captain Kurt Buchholz, founder of Ellan Vannin Line, has said that he has given the government a week to come back with a response to his application. He has indicated that if port authorities don't come back with the answers he wants, then: 'We might lose interest in proceeding further'.

He added: 'The government's slogan "Where you can" is a big joke.'

Captain Buchholz said an announcement will be made on Thursday this week about EVL's plans for a roll-on, roll-off daily cargo service between Douglas and Heysham, which he had hoped to launch at the end of March - and about its proposals for a TT passenger service.

The IOM Today.com  has more on this story, click here.

#NewTankers - Ardmore Shipping with its financial headquarters based in Cork, has taken delivery this month of two tankers, raising the fleet total to 10 vessels and with a further 11 ships on order.

ArdmoreSeavantage, a 49,999 dwt IMO 3 Eco-design MR product and chemical tanker was completed from SPP Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., South Korea. She is operating under an existing charter arrangement with the Vitol Group.

The second vessel taken into delivery by Ardmore is the 2006-built Ardmore Seamariner. The 45,726 dwt MR product tanker built by Minami Nippon Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. in Japan vessel was acquired by the company in October last year.

Ardmore Seamariner is being upgraded to Eco-mod class in conjunction with its scheduled intermediate survey. Upon completion of the drydocking, the vessel will begin a three-month time charter at a rate of $16,050 per day.

With 10 vessels currently in operation and the company's order for 11 Eco-design MR product and chemical tankers will see latest newbuilding, Ardmore Seavanguard delivered next month.

#Ports&Shipping –The latest IMDO Weekly Shipping Market Review includes the following stories as detailed below

Tanker Market: Crude tanker earnings surge - All segments in the crude tanker market reported significant increases in daily earnings last week, according to Lloyd's List. The Baltic Exchange reported record or near-record earnings on all 10 major tanker routes which it studies, with older tankers even taking advantage of the rates surge and gaining employment as opposed to being sold for demolition.

Container Market: Top lines lost $16 per TEU from 2008 – 12 Recently released research from consultancy Dynamar has revealed the top 20 container shipping lines each lost on average $16 per TEU during the five year period 2008 -12, according to Seatrade Global. In a reflection of the severity which the global economic downturn had on demand for shipping, figures showed the top 20 operators only made an average net profit per TEU in two of the five years.

Piracy: Lowest level in six years -The number of piracy at sea attacks worldwide fell to a six year low of 264 last year, according to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB). This has largely been attributed to the steep decline in Somali piracy, with 15 incidents recorded in 2013, down from a high of 237 in 2011.

For more on each of the above and other stories click the downloadable PDF IMDO Weekly Markets Review (Week 3). In addition to coverage on Afloat.ie's dedicated Ports & Shipping News section.

#Tanker- The stricken tanker MV Hellesport Charger which lost main engine power off the Clare coast at the weekend is currently under tow at the mouth of the Shannon.

As previously reported, the 16,000dwt chemical oil tanker which had been drifting offshore and carrying 15,000 tonnes of caustic soda was initially given assistance from Naval Service OPV LÉ Aisling (P23) at the request of the Coast Guard.

The vessel had departed Corpus Christi, Texas bound for the Aughinish Alumina plant near Foynes, from where the tug Celtic Rebel joined another tug, the Thrax in the towage operations.

#Tanker- The stricken tanker MV Hellesport Charger which lost main engine power off the Clare coast at the weekend is currently under tow at the mouth of the Shannon.

As previously reported, the 16,000dwt chemical oil tanker which had been drifting offshore and carrying 15,000 tonnes of caustic soda was initially given assistance from Naval Service OPV LÉ Aisling (P23) at the request of the Coast Guard.

The vessel had departed Corpus Christi, Texas bound for the Aughinish Alumina plant near Foynes, from where the tug Celtic Rebel joined another tug, the Thrax in the towage operations.

#Ports&Shipping –The latest IMDO Weekly Shipping Market Review includes the following stories as detailed below.

Container Market: Global statistics for November In line with market expectations - Container Trade Statistics' latest aggregated volume survey showed that November's global containerised exports declined 4.72% from October to 10,384,800 TEU. Despite the monthly decline November's volumes were up 5.47% year-on-year, indicating that prospects for a sustainable container volume recovery remain quite encouraging.

Technology: Robotic ship debate re-opens - The debate regarding robotic or driverless ships has come to the forefront of the industry's mind once again after the Financial Times reported that aerospace and marine engineering giant, Rolls-Royce, was calling for a "public debate on the switch from crewed cargo vessels to autonomous ships as part of a wider drive by industry to use advanced automation technology".

Infrastructure: Panama Canal construction disputeA severe dispute has broken out regarding the construction of the improved. Work began in 2007 on the expansion, creating a new lane and third set of locks to double the canals capacity,to date the overall project is 72% complete. However severe cost overruns for the European consortium, Grupo Unidos por el Canal (GUPC), have meant they are threatening to stop work from the 20 January unless a payment of $1.6bn is made by the Panama Canal Authority (ACP).

For more on each of the above and other stories click the downloadable PDF IMDO Weekly Markets Review (Week 2). In addition to coverage on Afloat.ie's dedicated Ports & Shipping News section.

#ShippingReview - Over the last fortnight Jehan Ashmore has reported from the shipping scene where the drifiting bulk carrier Abuk Lion raised the alarm due to engine failure.

Following the dramatic rescue of Abuk Lion, the Port of Cork took over the final tow of the stricken vessel to the harbour.

As competition intensifies between Ireland-France ferry operators, Celtic Link Ferries launch improved sailing schedule for 2014.

Newcomer LD Lines launch on the continental (Ireland-France-Spain) routes saw the ro-pax ferry Scintu make a maiden inbound sailing between St. Nazaire and Rosslare.

2013 proved to be another good year for Isle of Man Ship Registry, securing an increase in gross registered tonnage of more than twice the growth rate of the world's fleet during last year.

#ManxShipping – Last year proved to be another very good year for the Isle of Man Ship Registry, securing more ships from new owners with a corresponding increase in gross registered tonnage of more than twice the growth rate of the world's fleet during 2013.

Recently released statistics by Clarkson's, which monitors world shipping fleets, show that the Isle of Man has now moved into 14th place in the table of world registers by tonnage, which places it ahead of Germany for the first time in its history.

The Isle of Man register has grown by 7.4% in tonnage terms, which is more than twice the rate of growth of the world fleet at 3.6%. This is a significant increase not only in tonnage terms but also in the increasing global influence of the Isle of Man's register.

For much more the Isle of Man.com has a report.