The DCN

THE DREWRY World Container Index (WCI) declined for the third consecutive week, easing 1% to $2,216 per 40ft container, due to softer rates on Asia–Europe, Transpacific and Transatlantic trade routes. …

THE COMPETITIVE exemptions available under Part X of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) are not granted unconditionally. In exchange for the right to coordinate pricing and capacity, carriers …

THE MISSION to Seafarers in Melbourne is holding its inaugural Seafarer Session on 28 May, the first in what will be a series of periodic lunches, featuring guest speakers and …

MEDITERRANEAN Shipping Company is riding the rails via a new inland network assembled during the last six months. The carrier claims it can deliver a faster, simpler, and more predictable …

MID WEST Ports in Western Australia has thrown its weight behind a program to help maintain maritime heritage by sponsoring the Batavia Coast Replica Boat Association. The association is the …

PORT of Newcastle says it has marked another milestone as a leader in renewable energy logistics, with the first oversize and/or overmass (OSOM) wind farm movement from its multipurpose terminal …

AUTHORITIES are continuing to search for a crew member believed to have gone overboard from the chemical/products tanker Chem Cobalt in Port Phillip Bay. The 19,990 DWT, Liberia flag vessel, …

It was a short week for some of the country, with some of us trying hard to complete five days of work in four. If you’re anything like me, you’re …

THE AUSTRALIAN shipping community has lost “a true gentleman” with the passing on Sunday [26 April] of Paul Nicholson at the age of 83. Tributes have poured out to ‘Nicko’ …

SUPPLY chain dependencies and fragmented policy settings are constraining progress towards greater renewable energy generation, new research reveals. As global commitments towards net-zero emissions by 2050 intensify, hidden challenges in …

BUSINESSES that withhold fair fuel surcharges, whether due to inertia, confusion, or deliberate pressure, are contributing to conditions that can push transport operators out of the market, an industry expert …

THE 4,308 TEU container ship MSC Acapulco IV is due to arrive back in Port Philip this afternoon, after suffering engine problems off Cape Otway during a scheduled voyage from …

THE MARITIME UNION of New Zealand is furious about revelations the national government is using money ‘saved’ by the cancellation of an emergency towage vessel contract to upgrade an airport. …

AUSTRALIAN rural export volumes rose 6.9% during 2025, driven by strong meat and grain shipments, with export values also lifting sharply early in 2026, the Westpac April quarterly agriculture report …

NEW figures from Inland Rail show total spending with “local companies” on the project topped $660 million at the end of December. Some $130 million was spent during 2025, with …

NEW ZEALAND company Vessev is to debut its leading-edge electric passenger vessels on Hobart’s River Derwent next year, introducing its water-breaking hydrofoils to commuter service. Fly Derwent, a new clean …

MELBOURNE’s Swinburne University of Technology has embarked on a landmark national study to determine the plight of Australia’s road freight sector. Swinburne, in partnership with the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, …

TT LINE’s second new Bass Strait ro-pax Spirit of Tasmania V is expected in Geelong on Sunday, having departed Fremantle at 1345 hours Monday [27 April] after completing regulatory clearances …

AAL SHIPPING has obtained ISO 27001 certification, the internationally recognised standard for information security management systems. The company says the new certification complements AAL’s fully aligned and renewed QHSE integrated …

THE FEDERAL government has signed off on the development of Western Australia’s new Westport container terminal with a combined state and federal commitment of $1.1 billion to the project. A …

Geopolitical disruption and liner shipping have always been uneasy companions. When conflict or instability affects a major trade corridor, the commercial consequences travel fast — rerouting decisions, insurance adjustments, and …

A CRITICAL step in Pilbara Ports final major marine construction phase for the Mardie Project is underway with dredging operations at the Port of Cape Preston West. The dredging for …

NEW Zealand’s KiwiRail is putting in place alternative Cook Strait freight coverage during the forthcoming absence of its Interislander ro-paxes for wet- and drydockings. The company is reactivating NZ Connect, …

INDUSTRY figures have recalled the contribution of former federal transport minister Peter Morris OAM who died on Sunday at the age of 93. Born in Sydney in 1932, Peter Morris …

PACIFIC International Lines (PIL) is moving to enhance its green credentials with two initiatives, one with PSA International and one with ABS (American Bureau of Shipping). PIL and PSA, supported …

SPAIN’S Boluda Towage, now six months into ownership of the former Smit Lamnalco Australia and PNG, has continued its expansion in the eastern hemisphere with the acquisition of Seatrium Group’s …

THE Tasmanian Freight & Logistics Forum in Hobart last week brought together delegates from across the state’s supply chain, with cost pressures a consistent theme across presentations and panel discussions. …

FINNISH maritime technology manufacturer Wärtsilä has launched NTPRO 7, a next‑generation bridge and ship‑handling simulator designed for maritime training. It is expected to enable maritime training institutions to deliver consistent, …

THE GULF crisis has exposed a critical weakness in Australia’s economy: a near-total reliance on foreign-flagged shipping. While this strategy has supported economic efficiency under normal market conditions, this dependency …

THE BALTIC Dry Index (BDI) continued its upward trajectory, closing at 2665 points for 24 April 2026, up from 17 April's figure of 2567. Capesize The market began the week …

MONASH University’s Institute of Railway Technology (Monash IRT) and Rio Tinto have entered into a Master Supply Agreement for railway research and development services for heavy-haul railways in Western Australia. …

MARFLE, Flinders Port Holdings and Hart Marine, recently celebrated two years of collaboration, bringing together advanced fleet performance monitoring and shipbuilding to boost pilot boat operations in Australia. Posted by …

THE MARITIME Union of Australia says it has secured backing from other unions and industry participants to establish a Decom Union Taskforce focused on offshore decommissioning in Australia. Unions from …

The 2026 New Zealand Maritime Pilots’ Association (NZMPA) Conference in Tauranga opened in a way that immediately set it apart. Before any presentations or technical discussions began, delegates were welcomed …

NORWAY’s Klaveness Combination Carriers has taken delivery of the second of three improved caustic soda/bulk carriers (CABUs) specified for the company’s Australian trade. At the same time the third of …

LOGISTICS giant DP World has joined the Maritime Association for Clean Seas (MACS), as part of efforts to reduce plastic waste across global supply chains and support industry-wide action on …

Posted by David Sexton is DCN’s senior journalist and has an extensive career across online and print media. A former DCN editor, he returns to covering shipping and logistics after …

ALL sectors of the logistics industry are reporting difficulties attracting and retaining staff in an increasingly competitive labour market. These pressures extend across the entire supply chain from warehouse operators …

MINING giant Rio Tinto appears to be reshaping the structure and operation of its global marine fleet, with a combination of vessel disposals, towage‑contract consolidation and a fleet‑wide efficiency program …

IT REALLY feels like this week hit fast forward, I’ve been a day ahead (or behind) the entire time and I’m only just catching up. Today definitely has that Friday …

ANOTHER two abattoirs and six cold stores have been approved to export beef to China, the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry says. In a statement to Daily Cargo …

Southern Ports is diversifying trade across its ports, backing growth and resilience with new customers, record investment and technology upgrades. Meanwhile, KMSB’s new Broome floating wharf is boosting northern logistics …

Westport has entered development, with road, rail and marine planning advancing for WA’s new Kwinana container port ahead of a targeted 2032 completion. WESTERN Australia’s new container port at Kwinana, …

Much of Western Australia’s economic future hangs on the ability of its ports to export the minerals and agricultural products it produces. DCN looks at the evolution that is enabling …

AUSTRALIA’S liner trades operate under a unique legislative framework that sets it apart from virtually every other industry in the country. Part X of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 …

A NATIONAL freight workforce resilience package and a national washdown and managed effluent disposal network for livestock are among recommendations presented this week to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Productivity. …

MARITIME Industry Australia Ltd has offered its support for calls for IMO member states to reach consensus on a practical path for the global shipping industry to meet the ambitions …

ECONOMIC growth in Pacific Island nations presents trade opportunities for Queensland businesses, a new strategic report maintains. Prepared for the Queensland government, the Queensland - Pacific Trade and Investment Strategy …

ANOTHER two abattoirs and six cold stores have been approved to export beef to China, the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry says. In a statement to Daily Cargo …

AUSTRALIA’S liner trade operates under a unique legislative framework that sets it apart from virtually every other industry in the country. Part X of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 …