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What to watch

There are early indications that the transition to lower-sulphur marine fuels is progressing more smoothly than anticipated in the world’s largest bunkering ports, with reports that low sulphur fuel oil already comprises half or more of all sales and is widely available.

Rates are trending higher in the Atlantic, with the US set to expand LNG exports as more projects come online. Shipping demand in the Pacific has comparatively weakened this winter following the collapse of the east-west arbitrage in late October.

Lloyd’s List has been celebrating award winners in Greece. Although it is primarily a shipowning market, other awards are directed at service sectors and more general types of achievement within the maritime world.

The Lloyd’s List Podcast: How do the Greek shipowners feel this year has gone and what’s keeping them up at night when they look to 2020? The podcast lands in Athens this week for the annual sequined festival of camp showbiz excess and shipping excellence that is the Greek Shipping Awards. Joining Lloyd’s List editor Richard Meade to dissect the fortunes of shipping’s most vibrant of markets are our Athens correspondent Nigel Lowry and London-based reporter Anastassios Adamopoulos.

Analysis

Carriers started to implement additional bunker surcharges from December 1. Early indications are that they are helping to support freight rates.

Norton Rose Fulbright’s global head of transport Harry Theochari takes top slot in this year’s Top 10 law list in recognition of his contribution in elevating the London-based shipping specialist onto the global stage.

Opinion

From the News Desk: Who has a place at the Lloyd’s List top table? Our weekly view of the stories and trends shaping the shipping industry.

What will be the key issues shaping shipping during the next 12 months? Take part in the Lloyd’s List annual market survey and have your say on the big questions that will determine the shipping market outlook for 2020.

Markets

Trade disputes are intensifying around the globe to the extent that trade economists have coined the new acronym, FTDs, to refer to free trade disagreements.

In other news

Gas carriers owner Petredec is to exercise its option to build two 22,000 cu m handysize ethylene carriers at Jiangnan Shipyard in China.

Port of Montreal has secured financing for a new container terminal.

Amsterdam-based Titan LNG has commissioned Norwegian shipbroker Fearnleys to run a newbuilding tender for the third LNG bunker barge to join its fleet in light of increasing demand for the fuel from ocean-going vessels in northwest Europe.

The port of Gothenburg’s container terminal will operate exclusively on renewable energy beginning in 2020.