Cargo volumes at the Port of Long Beach dropped by 8.2% in May, with the port handling 639,160 TEUs as tariffs impact global trade. The nearby Port of Los Angeles also saw a year-over-year dip, moving only 716,619 TEUs—a 5% decline. At Long Beach, imported goods were down 13.4% to 299,116 TEUs, and exports slid 18.6% to 82,149 TEUs. The only category to rise was empty containers, which increased 3.2% to 257,895 TEUs. The Port of Los Angeles reported similar trends, with loaded imports down 9% and exports off by 5%. Executive Director Gene Seroka said May marked the port’s slowest month for cargo movement in over two years. However, a short-term tariff rollback is expected to drive a rebound in trade. After a 145% U.S. tariff on Chinese goods halted many orders in April, activity resumed when the rate dropped to 30% with a 90-day pause lasting through August 12. (See more at: gcaptain.com “U.S. West Coast Ports See Sharp Decline Amid Tariff Impacts…” by Mike Schuler, 6/17/2025)

‍

A fire broke out on the cargo ship Wan Hai 503 off the coast of Kerala, India, after a powerful explosion earlier today. The incident prompted 18 of the vessel’s 22 crew members to evacuate, according to initial reports. Authorities say four crew members are currently unaccounted for. The Singapore-registered ship was traveling from Colombo, Sri Lanka, to Nhava Sheva port near Mumbai.  Rescue efforts are ongoing, with the evacuated crew being moved from life rafts to Indian Coast Guard vessels. The cause of the explosion on the Wan Hai vessel remains unknown, however experts believe dangerous goods, possibly undeclared, may have been stored below deck in a forward cargo hold. (See more at: seatrade-maritime.com “Wan Hai vessel explosion forces crew to abandon…”by Nick Savvides, 06/09/2025)

‍

The 135-meter-long container ship NCL Salten ran aground only meters from a cabin in Byneset, Norway. The 862 TEU feeder vessel was traveling approximately 16 knots when it ran aground during the night. The cabin’s owners were asleep at the time and only became aware of the vessel in their front yard after being alerted by neighbors. Johan Helberg was awakened by his neighbor ringing the doorbell. It was only then that he looked out the window and saw the massive ship looming outside. The Cyprus-registered ship had 16 crew members on board. (See more at: gCaptain.com, “Container Ship Runs Aground Just Meters from Seaside Cabin….…” by Malte Humpert, 05/22/2025)

‍

Transport Minister and Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini announced this week that construction on the controversial bridge over the Strait of Messina, meant to link Sicily with mainland Italy (and Europe), could commence later this year.  The project’s timeline depends on government approval in the coming months.  The bridge is set to become the world’s longest suspension span at roughly 2 miles, surpassing the Canakkale Bridge in Turkey and is expected to be completed by 2032, according to Webuild CEO Pietro Salini. The project, which also includes 40 kilometers of road and rail infrastructure, new train stations, and a business hub in Calabria, carries an estimated total investment of 13.5 billion (EUR).  The bridge’s design has undergone several revisions, including an increase to its height, to allow passage for cruise ships beneath the span. (More at: CDE News, “Italy Plans to Begin Work on Messina Bridge…” 20^th May 2025)

‍

Aurora Innovation, Inc., a software company developing autonomous driver technology, completed its first successful, totally driverless freight haul in early May. The company transported frozen products between Houston and Dallas using a truck without a driver. According to Aurora executives, this event signals the launch of consistent commercial driverless service on highways in Texas. Aurora’s President, Ossa Fisher, said, “It was an awesome moment…We have tested this thing for years and millions of miles.”

Elsewhere, Plus, a tech company focused on building AI-driven trucks, conducted a successful test of its autonomous virtual driver on a closed track in Ohio.  The SuperDrive enabled tractor performed several maneuvers. Tim Daly, chief architect at Plus, was happy to report, “It was totally smooth, and it was amazing.” Per Morning Brew, more than 10% of freight shipped in the US will be autonomous by 2035, creating a cost-per-mile savings up to 42% should a trucking company automate its entire fleet.

Delays in Antwerp may signal the onset of broader disruptions, as analysts caution that Chinese cargo originally intended for the U.S. could be rerouted to northern Europe, placing additional strain on already congested ports and potentially leading to significant bottlenecks by mid-June.  Industrial action across Belgium brought the country’s key port of Antwerp to a near halt this week, exacerbating vessel congestion in northern Europe, where delays have already been persistent in recent weeks. While northern European terminals have already faced disruption since early March, the scale of vessel queues seen in Belgium marks the most severe congestion thus far in 2025. (See: Lloyd’s List, “Calm before the storm? European port congestion…” by Linton Nightingale, 5-1-2025)

‍