$22.8bn Hutchison ports deal makes time for Chinese investor

After troubled months and long overruns, buyers discuss inviting ‘major strategic investor’ to placate regulators.

A new major Chinese investor may join BlackRock and MSC’s bid to purchase CK Hutchison’s port interests, the seller said in a filing on Monday.

A Reuters report claims that COSCO Shipping is looking to join the consortium of buyers.

The latest announcement from CK Hutchison noted the expiry of the exclusive negotiation window with the consortium, but said the company remains in communication with potential buyers to invite a “major strategic investor” from China to join as “a significant member of the consortium”.

Hutchison said there would need to be changes to both the structure of the sale and the membership of the buyer consortium in order for a transaction to be capable of being approved by all relevant authorities. 

One of the largest deals in the sector’s history, the $22.8bn buyout of Hutchison’s ports by a consortium led by MSC’s Terminal Investment Limited (TiL) and US investor BlackRock has faced snags in multiple jurisdictions since it was announced in March. 

The deal became the focus of geopolitical tensions, particularly around the sale of ports on either side of the Panama Canal after US president Donald Trump vowed to “take back control” of the Canal from Chinese interests. Hong Kong’s leader added to resistance to the deal from Beijing, and Chinese authorities announced an investigation into the sale. Authorities in Panama said earlier this year that they planned to file lawsuits over the renewal of Hutchison’s port leases in Panama in 2021.

Related:AD Ports expands into China

The CK Hutchison deal was initially due to conclude on 2 April, 2025.

CK Hutchison said it “has stated on several occasions that it will not proceed with any transaction that does not have the approval of all relevant authorities.”

The shape of the transaction proposed in March excluded any of the group’s ports held under Singapore-listed Hutchison Ports Holding Trust, including all of its ports in China. The divestment of Hutchison’s 90% stake in Panama Ports Company was separated from the sale of Hutchison Ports and its 80% stake in 43 international ports.

Hutchison received several offers for its Panama ports ahead of the deal’s announcement, a local port operator told Seatrade Maritime News earlier this year. Now that the exclusivity period with the BlackRock-TiL consortium is over, the opportunity arises for other investors to make offers on Hutchison’s port assets.

On top of the geopolitical significance of major international ports changing hands, the eventual owner of Hutchison’s ports will be of keen interest to the container shipping market. The transfer of Panama Ports Company and other major global ports from the market neutrality of Hutchison to an investor with an interest in a container line, such as MSC, could present a buyer with a strategic advantage over its competitors. Carrier-owned terminals have been more commonplace in recent years as container lines invested post-pandemic profits into strategic assets.

 

 

Chinese ports container volumes up 6.9% in H1

Cargo throughput and container volumes saw steady growth in H1 against a backdrop of Trump’s tariffs and an unstable trading environment.

According to the data released by China’s Ministry of Transport for the period January to June 2025 China's ports handled a total cargo throughput of 8.9 billion tons, a year-on-year increase of 4%.

Domestic trade throughput rose by 5.0% year-on-year, while foreign trade throughput increased by 1.8%. Container throughput reached 170 million teu, up 6.9% compared to the same period last year.

In the first six months, the top ten ports by container throughput were Shanghai Port, Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, Shenzhen Port, Qingdao Port, Guangzhou Port, Tianjin Port, Xiamen Port, Suzhou Port, Beibu Gulf Port, and Rizhao Port.

Improved volumes came against a backdrop of sharp changes in US import tariffs by President Donald Trump which a one point reached 145%.

The US tariff adjustments in the first half led to a decline of China-US cargo volume, however, the demands from ASEAN and the EU remained robust trend, which effectively offset the shortfall in US-bound shipments. 

In terms of cargo throughput in the first half, the top 10 ports were Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, Tangshan Port, Shanghai Port, Qingdao Port, Guangzhou Port, Rizhao Port, Suzhou Port, Tianjin Port, Yantai Port, and Beibu Gulf Port.

 

Former MLC Balaram Patil Urges Centre to Revoke DG Shipping Circular 31 of 2025 Posted on July 29, 2025 by Jaspal Singh Naol

 

Former MLC Balaram Patil Urges Centre to Revoke DG Shipping Circular 31 of 2025

Calls it an “Economic and Humanitarian Crisis” for Indian Seafarers

Maritime News, Mumbai, India: Former Maharashtra MLC and President of the Global Seafarers Union of India (GSUI), Balaram Patil, has written a detailed letter to Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal, urging immediate revocation of DG Shipping Circular No. 31 of 2025. The move comes as part of rising nationwide unrest among Indian seafarers and maritime unions, who have termed the circular “discriminatory, anti-labour, and economically disastrous.”

The Contentious Circular 31: What It Says

The circular, issued by the Directorate General of Shipping, restricts the recruitment of Indian seafarers via RPSL agencies to those holding Certificates of Competency (CoCs) from only a few countries that have bilateral agreements with India—namely Malaysia, UAE, South Korea, Sweden, UK, and Iran.

Limited exceptions are made for Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Ireland, provided the seafarers physically completed their training there and their documents are authenticated online.

This effectively excludes thousands of Indian seafarers holding valid CoCs from IMO white-listed nations such as Panama, Honduras, Liberia, Cook Islands, Belize, and Gabon, triggering massive job uncertainty.

GSUI’s Warning: “Livelihoods at Stake”

In his letter, Patil warns that thousands of Indian seafarers—many from coastal and economically disadvantaged communities—stand to lose their only source of income, potentially leading to:

• Inability to pay home and education loans
• Families forced into poverty and homelessness
• Disruption of children’s education
• Collapse of RPSL agencies and allied service industries
• Closure of maritime training institutes affiliated with foreign flags
• Loss of millions in foreign currency remittances to India

“If the government cannot provide jobs, it has no right to remove existing ones,” Patil writes, calling the circular “unilateral, unconstitutional, and dangerously out of touch with ground realities.”

Legal and Constitutional Questions Raised

The GSUI has already filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court, calling the circular a violation of:

• Article 14 – Right to Equality
• Article 19(1)(g) – Right to Practice Any Profession
• Article 21 – Right to Life and Livelihood

Patil also pointed out that DG Shipping may have overstepped its jurisdiction, stating that international maritime certification issues fall under the purview of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Politicizing the Issue: ₹25,000 Crore Maritime Budget vs. Mass Job Losses

Patil questioned the irony of the situation where the Centre announced a ₹25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund (MDF) in the 2025–26 Union Budget to boost India’s global maritime stature, while simultaneously threatening to displace its own workforce.

“On one hand we talk of becoming a shipbuilding superpower. On the other, we’re making thousands of trained seafarers unemployable without a plan for transition,” the letter says.

Recommendations Submitted to MoPSW

Patil has made the following demands in his letter to MoPSW:

1. Immediate suspension of Circular 31 to prevent further damage.
2. Formation of a Joint Review Committee involving MoPSW, DG Shipping, unions, legal experts, RPSL agencies, and affected seafarers.
3. Structured verification and recognition of CoCs from IMO white-listed countries.
4. A grace period or requalification program for those already employed.
5. Action against fraudulent training agents, not the workers.
6. Transparent policymaking through stakeholder consultations.
7. Diplomatic resolution via IMO and bilateral channels, not unilateral bans.

GSUI: “This Is a Human Crisis”

GSUI’s National Coordinator, Gaurav Porwal, reiterated that this fight is far from over. “We are witnessing a systematic erasure of seafaring livelihoods. India must choose compassion over circulars,” he said. The union also warned of nationwide protests if their demands are ignored.

 

Seafarers Plan Peaceful Mass Protest in Mumbai on Thursday or Friday

 

Seafarers Plan Peaceful Mass Protest in Mumbai on Thursday or Friday

Maritime News, Mumbai, India: The Global Seafarers Union of India (GSUI) has announced a peaceful but firm Gherao (encirclement) of the Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) office in Mumbai, likely to be held on Thursday or Friday this week, in protest against the controversial Circular No. 31 of 2025.

The planned demonstration is expected to draw hundreds of Indian seafarers, their families, maritime union representatives, RPSL agents, and allied workers, all demanding the immediate rollback of the circular that has jeopardized the careers of thousands of Indian sailors.

“A Fight for Survival, Not Just Protest” – GSUI

Speaking to the media, Gaurav Porwal, National Coordinator of GSUI, said:

“This protest is not against regulation—it is against arbitrary policymaking without consultation. We will gherao the DG Shipping office to remind them that seafarers are not voiceless. Circular 31 is pushing hardworking Indians toward poverty and unemployment.”

The gherao will also be supported by families of affected seafarers, union volunteers, and former political representatives including GSUI President and former MLC Balaram Patil, who recently sent a detailed representation to the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, demanding a rollback of the circular.

Protest Highlights: What the Seafarers Demand

At the heart of the protest is DGS Circular 31 of 2025, which restricts employment of Indian seafarers holding Certificates of Competency (CoCs) from countries not in bilateral agreement with India. Those affected include seafarers certified by Panama, Honduras, Belize, Liberia, Gabon, and others—all IMO white-listed countries.

GSUI’s protest will focus on the following key demands:

• Immediate suspension of Circular 31
• Recognition of CoCs from IMO-compliant foreign countries
• Protection of seafarers’ livelihoods and rights under Article 21 of the Constitution
• Consultative policymaking, not unilateral decisions
• Grace period and requalification path for impacted workers
• Crackdown on fake agents, not qualified seafarers

Wider Support Growing

Various unions, maritime training institutes, RPSL agencies, Seafarers and legal experts have come forward in support of the GSUI-led movement.

“This is not just a policy error—it’s a national maritime labour crisis in the making,” GSUI stated.

Will DG Shipping Respond?

So far, DG Shipping has maintained that the circular was aimed at ensuring maritime safety and tackling certification fraud. However, the lack of stakeholder consultation, absence of transition time, and sudden disqualification of thousands of seafarers have drawn widespread criticism.

All eyes are now on DG Shipping headquarters in Mumbai, as the seafarers prepare to march peacefully—but with unwavering resolve—later this week.

 

 

 

Ukrainian Drones Target Putin’s Navy Day

Ukrainian drones targeted St. Petersburg on Sunday, Russian authorities said, forcing the airport to close for five hours as Vladimir Putin marked Russia's Navy Day in the city, despite the earlier cancellation of its naval parade due to security concerns.

St. Petersburg usually holds a large-scale, televised navy parade on Navy Day, which features a flotilla of warships and military vessels sailing down the Neva River and is attended by Putin.

Last year, Russia suspected a Ukrainian plan to attack the city's parade, according to state television.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Sunday that this year's parade had been cancelled for security reasons, following first reports of its cancellation in early July.

Putin arrived at the city's historic naval headquarters on Sunday by patrol speed boat, from where he followed drills involving more than 150 vessels and 15,000 military personnel in the Pacific and Arctic Oceans and Baltic and Caspian Seas.

"Today we are marking this holiday in a working setting, we are inspecting the combat readiness of the fleet," Putin said in a video address.

The Russian Defence Ministry said air defence units downed a total of 291 Ukrainian fixed-wing drones on Sunday, below a record 524 drones downed in attacks on May 7, ahead of Russia's Victory Day parade on May 9.

Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region surrounding St. Petersburg, said that over ten drones were downed over the area, and falling debris injured a woman. At 0840 GMT on Sunday Drozdenko said that the attack was repelled.

St. Petersburg's Pulkovo airport was closed during the attack, with 57 flights delayed and 22 diverted to other airports, according to a statement. Pulkovo resumed operations later on Sunday.

Russian blogger Alexander Yunashev, part of an official group of reporters travelling with Peskov, said Peskov had told him their flight from Moscow to St. Petersburg had been delayed by the drone attack for 2 hours on Sunday.

(Reuters - Additional reporting by Anton Kolodyazhnyy; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)

 

 

U.S. Coast Guard Warns on Declaration of Inspection

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a Safety Alert following a recent oil spill on the Delaware River.

The Alert says the incident starkly underscored the critical need for effective communication when completing the required Declaration of Inspection (DOI) prior to an oil transfer in accordance with Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), §156.120 (33 CFR 156.120).

Prior to the incident, the facility person in charge (PIC) filled out their section of the DOI and sent the checklist in a bucket hoist to the barge PIC who subsequently completed their portion.

The two PICs never met in person nor exchanged any words throughout the DOI preparation process. The investigation revealed that a significant causative factor to the cargo tank overfill and subsequent discharge of at least 100 barrels (4,200 gallons) of oil into the Delaware River was the lack of direct communication between the PICs.

To reduce risk and potential environmental harm when transferring hazardous liquids, 33 CFR §156.120(w) lists critical items that must be reviewed and addressed prior to cargo operations. The pretransfer conference required by these regulations allows the vessel and facility representatives to share and validate information. As a best practice, these conferences should be conducted face-to-face (in-person or virtual), ensuring that PICs agree about the information being exchanged and the procedures to be followed.

As result of this incident the Coast Guard strongly recommends the following:

• Vessel and Facility Operators conduct a safety standdown with their PICs to review the requirements and emphasize the necessity of effective communication when completing the DOI prior to commencing all transfers.

• Vessel and Facility Safety Officers conduct unannounced visits to transfer evolutions to observe and validate compliance with 33 CFR Subchapter O requirements.

 

 

Nakilat Ready to Order 25 Korean-Built LNG Vessels

Nakilat has launched the first financing package with the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) for 25 conventional Korean-built LNG vessels that will be fully owned and operated by Nakilat.

The partnership represents a pivotal step in Nakilat’s long-term strategy to expand its LNG carrier fleet and to support QatarEnergy’s LNG expansion project. The agreement underscores the strong economic ties between Qatar and the Korea, while enabling Nakilat to secure financing for the construction of new vessels at leading Korean shipyards.

KEXIM’s participation, as a Korean government-backed financial institution, represents a strong endorsement of Nakilat’s project. It provides a layer of financial assurance, contributing to secure necessary funding for Nakilat’s Ship building requirements despite global market volatility and geopolitical risks.

Renowned for its rigorous standards, KEXIM undertakes thorough financial, technical, and legal due diligence before committing to any project. Its involvement serves as a catalyst, encouraging broader participation from other financial institutions in future debt tranches.

The collaboration also builds on a strong precedent, as KEXIM was the initial financier for Nakilat’s first round of fleet financing in 2006, which included 25 LNG carriers.