Hapag-Lloyd and Ocean Network Express (ONE) say Asia-South Africa services are disrupted by an outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among crew on board two container ships transiting from China. The vessels are currently anchored under quarantine guidelines near Hong Kong. ONE said an increase in COVID-19 infections in South Africa has also disrupted port operations in Durban, causing vessel delays to ships operating its South Africa Central service. The two carriers confirmed...

An expected surge in offshore wind turbine installations has led two carriers to sign agreements worth a potential $2.3 billion for the construction of up to eight turbine installation vessels. New York-listed Scorpio Bulkers and Norway’s Offshore Heavy Transport (OHT) said in recent days they saw an increasing number of opportunities in the offshore wind sector. David Morant, managing director of Scorpio Bulkers, said during an analysts' conference call Tuesday that offshore wind turbine...

Carriers face the potential of taking drastic action — including permanent cuts in capacity and increased scrapping — if there is a prolonged downturn in demand caused by successive outbreaks of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), maritime consultancy Drewry said Tuesday. “The Band-Aid of blank sailings won't cut it,” Drewry research manager Simon Healey told a webinar audience. Healey said a lengthy downturn, potentially of five years, would see “withdrawal of capacity on a more...

* Investors waiting for new indicators on crude price -analyst PMI data from Europe, U.S. could give oil market direction * Crude prices post worse quarterly loss since late 2015 (Updates prices) By Keith Wallis SINGAPORE, April 3 (Reuters) - Oil futures dipped on Monday as a higher U.S. rig count indicated rising shale output and stoked worries about global oversupply, while a stronger dollar also pressured prices. International benchmark Brent futures slipped 15 cents, or 0.3 percent, to...

Oil futures dipped in early Asian trade on Monday on worries about global oversupply after a higher U.S. rig count pointed to rising U.S. shale production, while a stronger dollar also put pressure on crude. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures CLc1 fell 5 cents to $50.55 a barrel by 0012 GMT after settling 25 cents higher in the previous session. International benchmark Brent futures LCOc1 slipped 11 cents to $53.42 a barrel. The March contract closed the previous session down 13 cents...