CaroTrans, a global non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) and ocean freight consolidator, has announced a new Northern Europe service connection with the addition of a direct Atlanta-Gothenburg LCL service. The service has a 21-day transit time, and a Gothenburg-to-Atlanta service will soon follow.

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) has unveiled a new recognition program for clean operators that will help them to get ahead of the pack for transit bookings. The ACP calls the new system "environmental premium ranking."

Citing a rising demand for logistics across the Southeast Asia region, Dachser USA Air & Sea Logistics has announced new offices in Vietnam, Hong Kong and India. Dachser USA, a U.S.-based subsidiary of Germany's Dachser SE, said the new locations have been set up in Hanoi, the New Territories of Hong Kong and Mumbai.

An in-depth analysis of Q3 container shipping costs revealed positive trends for the container carrier segment, according to Xeneta, a market intelligence company for containerized ocean freight. However, the market remains unpredictable, with the 'Hanjin Effect' ebbing away, Xeneta says.

South Korea's finance minister has announced the government plans to support orders of 250 or more vessels by 2020 to help local shipbuilders. The government plans to establish a state-backed ship financing company with an initial capital of 1 trillion won ($871.73m) to help improve the financial health of Korean shipping companies.

The Stifel Logistics Confidence Index - which measure logistics industry outlook - remained below the neutral mark in October at 49.4, but once more noted a slight improvement against the previous month, according to global logistics researcher Transport Intelligence. In a sign that the bankruptcy of Hanjin Shipping has had little overall effect upon the container shipping industry, the October Sea Freight Confidence Index remained unchanged from September, at 49.0 points.

The current downturn in the offshore industry has put offshore supply vessels into layup, operators into receivership and shipbuilders into a tailspin, industry professionals say. It has meant layoffs for thousands of mariners, but it's also having an impact on officers in a different way: a shortage of sea time.

In hopes of offering shippers a more comprehensive service on Asia-Australia trade, Evergreen Line has announced a new joint North East Asia-Australia Express (NEAX) service. The Taiwanese container transportation and shipping company is teaming up with Orient Overseas Container Line, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, "K" Line and YangMing Marine Transport Corp.

Hanjin Shipping's European routes services have completely halted, the company said last week, and a Seoul court overseeing its receivership process has approved winding down four of its European units.

A new deepwater port is planned for Arkhangelsk in the north of European Russia, according to Northern Shipping Company Arkhangelsk, a Russian shipping company. The new deepwater hub will be suitable for year-round handling of large capacity vessels and will be situated 55 kilometers (34 miles) north from Arkhangelsk near Mudyug Island, in the northern part of the Sukhoye Morje Bay, says NSC Arkhangelsk.