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MSC ship in danger of sinking after two typhoons lash Zhoushan

An MSC ship is sinking in Zhoushan port after stormy weather disrupted repairs on the vessel. Vessel-tracking data shows that the 2006-built 8,401 teu MSC Silvana VIII, which MSC deployed on a Far East-South America service, had arrived at the Guojiayou Island shipyard district in Zhoushan on 22 June for repairs. When Typhoon Bavi lashed Zhoushan on 11 July, MSC Silvana VIII left the dock and moved to the other side of the channel off Daishan, but appeared to have grounded on some rocks. The engine room and several cargo holds of MSC Silvana VIII were subsequently flooded, while the vessel's stern became increasingly submerged. Around 3,000 tonnes of bunker fuel were reportedly pumped out to lighten the vessel and prevent oil leaks. As the MSC Silvana VIII sank deeper into the water, salvage operations reportedly became increasingly challenging. Ongoing vessel traffic in the busy Zhoushan area complicated the salvage efforts, which were held back again when Typhoon Dolphin, made landfall yesterday. The exact cause of the grounding, the extent of structural damage below the waterline and the next stage of the salvage operation remained unconfirmed. The incident also raised concerns regarding the vessel's maintenance and survey compliance in view of its age, including questions concerning its survey history and class status. The vessel was reportedly tracked more closely during the 24 hours preceding the latest reports as the situation deteriorated. MSC has not issued a public statement on the incident. Maritime authorities and salvage experts were expected to assess condition of the MSC Silvana VIII, the environmental impact and potential oil spill risks before determining further recovery measures.

Expeditors: 'No signs of slowing demand from AI hyperscalers'

DHL Group coined 'smart industrial growth' during the current earning season. As far as data centres are concerned, all eyes are on what may happen if... actually... the financing boom outruns physical reality? We looked at that topic in detail yesterday, after some scary regulatory-related news emerged earlier this week from the US. At the same time, Expeditors - one of the top performers during the current earning season - answered in writing, its usual way, some key questions from investors.

Vietjet Air Cargo selects Group Concorde for Japan and Indonesia

Vietjet Air Cargo has selected Group Concorde to provide sales agency (GSA) services covering Japan and Indonesia. The new tie-up started in August and will see India-headquartered Group Concorde represent the airline's commercial interests in the two countries and drive sales, customer engagement, and market development to support the airline's cargo growth strategy across the Asia Pacific region. Japan and Indonesia are both significant contributors to regional air cargo volumes, the companies said in a press release. Vietjet Air Cargo offers customers from the two countries access to cargo capacity and connectivity through Vietnam into wider Asia-Pacific and international markets. Praveen Narayanan, vice president - Asia Pacific, Group Concorde, said: "Both markets play an important role in the Asia-Pacific air cargo landscape, and this appointment reflects the trust Vietjet Air Cargo has placed in Group Concorde. Our teams in Japan and Indonesia are committed to delivering dedicated service, building stronger connections with our customers and identifying new opportunities for sustainable cargo growth. "We look forward to working closely with Vietjet Air Cargo to strengthen its presence in these markets and create greater value for our customers and partners across the region." The new Vietjet contract is the second win announced by Group Concorde in recent months. In June, the company said that it had been appointed the cargo sales agent for My Freighter across the UAE, Philippines Cambodia and Myanmar.