A new weekly feeder service between Hong Kong and Taiwan is being launched as TVL Marine returns to liner shipping.

The service is aimed at strengthening short-sea connections within Asia and meeting growing demand for intra-Asia cargo flows.

- Focus on regional trade

The new route provides shippers with another regular option for moving containers between Hong Kong and Taiwan — two important logistics hubs in the region.

- Sea-air logistics is also in focus

TVL Marine also sees potential in the growing sea-air segment, where cargo is transported by sea for part of the journey and then transferred to air freight.

This model can offer businesses a balance between the lower cost of ocean freight and the speed of air transport, particularly for time-sensitive cargo.

For Asian logistics, the launch reflects a broader trend: regional shipping networks are becoming increasingly important as companies look for more flexible and diversified supply chains.

The container ship Seaspan Benefactor paid around $4 million for priority transit through the Panama Canal — more than double the average price paid at such auctions during the previous week.

The reason is growing congestion. Due to the crisis in the Middle East, some cargo flows are being redirected to alternative routes, putting additional pressure on the Panama Canal.

Neopanamax vessels may now wait around 10 days for transit — the longest waiting time since May.

The situation is further complicated by draft restrictions caused by lower water levels, as well as scheduled maintenance works.

The Panama Canal allows shipping companies to bid for priority transit slots at auction and move ahead of the regular queue. Today, the price of such urgency is already measured in millions of dollars.

For the shipping market, this is another reminder: disruptions on one major trade route can quickly affect others, leading to longer queues, higher transportation costs and less predictable delivery times.

When planning shipments, it is once again worth building in extra time and closely monitoring developments along key shipping routes.

Gulftainer has introduced a new dedicated feeder service linking the UAE with Iraq through the Port of Umm Qasr.

Operated under its shipping division GT Lines, the new route will connect the Iraqi market with UAE port gateways and, through them, with regional and global logistics hubs.

A key feature of the service is the integration of maritime connectivity with inland logistics infrastructure. GT Lines will deploy its own vessels, while cargo operations will be supported by Iraq Commercial Terminal and the nearby Umm Qasr Logistics Centre, located adjacent to the terminal.

The logistics centre will provide warehousing, container storage, cargo consolidation, customs support and other value-added services designed to accelerate cargo flows. This integrated model reduces supply chain fragmentation and provides cargo owners with more predictable access to international markets.

The new service strengthens the role of Umm Qasr as Iraq’s primary maritime gateway and enhances the country’s connectivity with East Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, Africa and other global markets through Gulftainer’s network.

For Iraqi traders, the service delivers improved cargo visibility, more reliable schedules and direct access to containerised logistics solutions via the UAE.

For Gulftainer, the launch represents another milestone in its long-term partnership with Iraqi port authorities and supports the development of a comprehensive UAE–Iraq trade corridor. As regional trade continues to expand, feeder services such as this play a vital role in connecting local economies with global shipping routes.

Norway has allocated funding in its budget to begin preparatory work on the Stad Ship Tunnel — the world’s first full-scale tunnel designed specifically for maritime vessels.

The project involves building a tunnel through the Stad Peninsula measuring approximately 1.7 km in length, 50 m in height, and 36 m in width. Its purpose is to provide ships with a safer route around Stadhavet, one of the most difficult and hazardous stretches of Norway’s coastline.

The significance of the project goes far beyond conventional port infrastructure. In effect, it will create a protected maritime corridor through solid rock, reducing shipping’s dependence on storm conditions, improving the regularity of coastal services, and lowering risks for passenger, cargo, and service vessels.

The project had previously been questioned due to rising costs, but after redesigning, the budget was reduced. The new state budget includes initial funding for preparatory works, and construction could begin as early as 2027, provided government support continues.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has proposed additional import tariffs on 60 economies worldwide following investigations into insufficient enforcement against goods made with forced labor.

The proposed tariff rates are 10% or 12.5%, depending on the level of import controls and the commitments of each jurisdiction toward the United States. The measures could affect nearly all imported goods from the targeted economies, including products from some of America’s largest trading partners.

For the container shipping industry, this adds a new layer of uncertainty. Extra tariffs may reshape sourcing patterns, trigger a wave of early cargo shipments before any measures take effect, and redirect container flows between Asia, Europe, North America, and alternative manufacturing hubs.

In the short term, the most likely impact is higher volatility. Shippers may revise procurement strategies, shipment timing, and inventory allocation. For container carriers, this could mean changing load factors on key routes, empty container imbalances, and more complex capacity planning.

In the medium term, some importers may speed up supplier diversification. However, relocating production and adjusting logistics networks takes time, so the initial impact is more likely to be a redistribution of trade flows rather than an outright decline in trade volumes.

The tariff threat adds further pressure to global supply chains. For shipping, it is becoming increasingly important to monitor not only cargo volumes, but also trade policy, customs regulation, and carriers’ ability to quickly adapt their networks.