Following up on last fall's successful campaign to include a port performance statistics program in the federal long-term surface transportation bill, the National Retail Federation now leads a coalition of more than 100 groups in sending specific recommendations to the Department of Transportation.

The global idle containership fleet hit a record high in 2015 reaching nearly six times that of the start of that year.

European shipping and offshore interests are pursuing business in Iran with news this week that MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company has resumed vessel operations to Iran, after services were suspended in 2012 in response to trade sanctions.

Ocean freight rates for cargo moving under contracts on the major East-West trade routes saw another reduction in the last quarter of 2015, according to Drewry's Benchmarking Club, a closed user group of multinational retailers and manufacturers who closely monitor their contract freight rates.

With a score of 45.4, the December edition of the Stifel Index has recorded its lowest-ever total, amidst a continued pattern of decline.

Containership reliability was broadly unchanged in November as the average on-time performance across all trades slipped by just 0.8 percentage points against October to 77.2 percent, according to Carrier Performance Insight, the online schedule reliability tool provided by Drewry Supply Chain Advisors.

Iran's Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) has announced plans to order new 18,000 TEU (Triple-E type) container vessels from Chinese yards, according to Iran's Press TV.

Container volume at U.S. ports is expected to grow next year, but at a slower rate of three to four percent, down from five percent in 2015, says ratings company Moody's.