Beijing: Brazil's state mining firm Vale has claimed that talks with China over allowing its 400,000 dwt dry bulk carriers to call at Chinese ports are “positive”, reports said.

To the ever-growing list of acronyms related to carbon emissions reduction – think GHG, MBM, UNFCCC, CBDR and so on – add MRV, standing for Measuring (or Monitoring), Reporting and Verification, the new concept behind which the shipping industry...

Manila: Shipping activity in Singapore could expand two to three times by 2025 due to continual infrastructure investments and the city-state's growing importance as a trade corridor, according to a Germany-based consultant.

Panama City: Bunkers sales in Panama increased in 2012 according to the latest statistics published by the Panama Maritime Authority (AMP), raising total volume to 3.45m metric tonnes, up 1.78% on the previous year.

The Hague: Freight forwarder Damco has reported major growth over 2012, with an increase in net revenue of 19%, to $3272m from $2,752m in 2011.

While much of Asia continues to celebrate the Lunar New Year leaving shipping somewhat moribund, another tragic, and very possibly avoidable, bulker accident has taken place off the Philippines.

Seoul: A 269 tonne cargo ship has sunk off Ulleng Island in the Sea of Japan, resulting in the deaths of three seafarers.

Hong Kong: Cosco's Hong Kong-listed services unit Cosco International is considering entering the ship leasing market, according to local media reports.

Nigeria: UK-based Eos Risk Management has announced the launch of a new West-African maritime security service, in response to growing pirate activity in the region.

Singapore: The Ocean Sentinels Shipmanagement (OSS) owned 49,000dwt bulk carrier Harita Bauxite has sunk off the Northwestern Phillippines, leaving 1 crewman dead and 14 missing.