Some of the Chinese ships U.S. authorities allege have helped North Korea evade trade sanctions sailed from ports like this, in Linhai, China, a depressed shipbuilding town.

Citing the increased threat of a bomb being smuggled on board an aircraft bound for the United States, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issued on Monday an emergency order requiring stricter scrutiny of air cargo.

The Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP ISC) has released its annual report for 2017 highlighting that there was a 19 percent increase in the number of incidents over 2016 figures.

A.P. Moller-Maersk and IBM have announced their intent to establish a joint venture to offer blockchain technology to the global shipping industry. The jointly developed platform will be built on open standards and will address the need to provide more transparency and simplicity in the movement of goods across borders and trading zones.

Overall, 2017 was a good year for the ocean shipping industry. Operating margins for most carriers improved, driven by robust demand, positive inventory developments and higher rate levels.