Both companies acknowledged the positive steps towards stability but emphasized the fragility of the situation and the ongoing security risks in areas like the Red Sea and Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. Thus, both announced plans to continue routing via the Cape of Good Hope, despite ceasefire.

CMA CGM has stated that while the ceasefire is a welcome development, the safety of its seafarers, vessels, and customers’ cargo remains the top priority. As a precaution, the company will continue to use alternative routes, including the Cape of Good Hope, for the majority of its network. Adjustments may be made on a case-by-case basis as the situation evolves.

Similarly, Maersk has confirmed that its operations will also continue to route via the Cape of Good Hope due to persistent security risks in the region. The company highlighted its commitment to ensuring stability and predictability for its customers’ supply chains and noted that its East-West network, set to launch on February 1, 2025, will rely on this routing.

In 2025, Shaanxi Province will focus on creating an economic circle based on China-Europe international railway freight. This project will integrate logistics, trade, finance, and industry, marking an important step in promoting regional development and opening up to the global market.

In 2024, the China-Europe railway routes transported 524,000 TEUs, an increase of 21.9% compared to the previous year. The newly operational Kazakhstan terminal at Xi'an International Port significantly improved logistics efficiency with Central Asia. The province's total foreign trade grew by 12.3%, with trade with Central Asia soaring by 48.1%.

In 2025, Shaanxi plans to further enhance the quality and efficiency of its free trade zones, develop comprehensive bonded areas, and strengthen international cooperation platforms. Efforts will also focus on expanding markets in Central Asia, West Asia, and Russia, while advancing digital trade, service trade, and overseas warehouse construction.

Additionally, the province will work to implement the outcomes of the China-Central Asia Summit and host major international events, such as the Eurasian Economic Forum and the Forum on International Cooperation for China-Europe Freight Trains. These initiatives will solidify Shaanxi's role as a key logistics and trade hub in the region.

Ocean Alliance of CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen and OOCL has announced the latest product line-up for 2025.

As the initial cooperation period nears its end, all partners have agreed to extend their collaboration for at least an additional five years, until 2032. This decision will make Ocean Alliance the only container shipping grouping remaining the same after February 2025, when the new structure of the alliances will take effect.

A small containership docked in Turkey’s main container port lost stability and rolled onto its side this morning, December 23, during the loading operation. Port officials are working to contain the damage and clean up from the vessel.

The vessel named Amnah (5,200 dwt) was loading containers at the Ambarli Port in Istanbul when it started listing toward the dock and eventually rolled onto its side. The incident was reported at 0400 local time and in the videos crewmembers can be seen on the deck.

Turkish officials reported there were 15 crew aboard and that five jumped into the water and swam to safety. The other ten were rescued from the vessel. One crewmember suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital.

The ship was built in 1996 and was operating until recently for Russia’s Fesco shipping company. Databases reflected it transferred owners to a company in Belize as of October 2024 and is managed from Turkey. The ship is registered in Comoros.

Officials believe the vessel was improperly loaded causing it to lose stability. They reported an investigation would be undertaken to determine what happened during the loading process.

A containment boom was strung around the vessel to prevent pollution.

A Soviet-era product tanker has gone down in the Russian-controlled Kerch Strait, spilling fuel and leaving one seafarer dead.

According to Russian transport agency Rosmorrechflot, the aging river-sea tanker Volgoneft 212 sank in a wintertime storm Sunday about five nautical miles outside of the Kerch Strait. Waves in excess of 25 feet were forecast by Russia's meteorological agency, according to TASS. A video taken by a crewmember shows that the aging vessel broke up in the storm, and the bow could be seen floating away from the bridge deck.

Of the 15 people aboard the 212, at least one has been confirmed dead. Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations reported that twelve people were rescued, implying that two seafarers remain missing. Two of the survivors were said to be in serious condition.

The tanker was carrying about 4,300 tonnes of mazut, a uniquely Russian and Central Asian residual fuel oil produced from low-quality feedstocks. The amount of pollution is not known, but a breakup would release a substantial quantity of petroleum at once from at least one cargo tank and several fuel tanks.

Russian authorities are investigating the incident as a possible criminal safety violation.

A second tanker from the same operator's fleet, the Volgoneft 239, ran aground just off Taman at about the same time as the sinking of the 212. The grounded ship was located close to shore, and though initial reports suggested it was sinking, it remained afloat. Conditions on scene were poor and the crew were determined to be in no danger, so SAR authorities opted to leave all crewmembers aboard the 239 until the weather improved.

Volgoneft 212 was more than five decades old, and had recently received major modifications in a yard period. According to ABC, her hull had been cut in two amidships - typically a prelude to lengthening to increase cargo capacity.

A large fleet of Soviet-era tankers and bulkers still ply the waters of the Black Sea, providing low-cost transport along the coasts and inland waterways. These aging vessels have repeatedly broken up and sunk in heavy weather in recent years, including one in 2021 that was smashed by modest swells while at anchor.

In 2007, another aging Volgoneft tanker - Volgoneft-139 - broke up under similar circumstances in Kerch Strait.