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.

A massive Iranian oil tanker was ablaze and leaking fuel in the East China Sea on Sunday after colliding with a large Chinese cargo ship, Iranian and Chinese officials said.

DNV GL has published the Maritime Forecast to 2050 which analyses the impact of the changing global energy system on the shipping industry through to 2050.

To stay ahead of competing ports and technological developments, automation has been heralded as inevitable. Major transshipment hubs and aspiring ports bet their future on automation, which raises the impact cyber risks could have in the long-run.

Shanghai Yangshan Deep-Water Port's Phase IV container terminal started its trial operations last week. The 550-acre, $1.8bn facility is the latest expansion of the Port of Shanghai's complex on Yangshan Island, which has deeper water than the port operator’s mainland terminals.

There were no piracy incidents reported to ReCAAP ISC this month, and the period from January to October was the lowest over the last 10 years, reports the agency.