WCO and WTO cooperate to facilitate cross-border trade

06 April 2020 The heads of the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO) issued a joint statement on 6 April pledging to work together to facilitate trade in essential goods such as...

PortEconomics portal opens section on COVID-19

04 April 2020 The PortEconomics portal, an initiative of some of the world’s most renowned port economists, has started a section on COVID-19, which contains various analytical contributions on how the crisis affects the port sector....

Cargo storage and distribution problems on the rise

3 April 2020 The revival of Chinese production capacity and the introduction of quarantine measures in several countries around the world brings along serious implications for cargo storage and distribution in ports. Containers that piled up...

Government support measures for shipping and ports

02 April 2020 The Italian government is considering applying its ‘Cura Italia’ package of emergency measures to keep the country’s economy going to the shipping and port sector. Such measures would allow shipping companies and other...

World Ports Sustainability Program sets up COVID19 Task Force with dedicated information portal

Support to include regularly-updated, frequently-asked questions section vetted by experts handpicked from eight global ports, a weekly port economic impact barometer and latest industry updates

UNCTAD publishes technical note on port responsiveness

Based on several documents received from ports that are part of the UNCTAD TrainForTrade Network, the UNCTAD secretariat produced a technical note on port responsiveness to the COVID-19 pandemic. The note contains a series of measures...

IMO relays industry recommendations on facilitation of maritime trade

The International Maritime Organisation has issued an official Circular from the IMO Secretary General to Member States, containing preliminary recommendations to governments and relevant national authorities on the facilitation of maritime trade during the COVID-19 pandemic....

Singapore allows special circumstances for crew changes

The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has relaxed its prohibition on crew changes and has thus become one of the first port administrations in the world to allow limited changes for international crews. In...

Port authorities support port users and suppliers during pandemic

During the last weeks, several port authorities reported that they are providing or considering various support measures to assist port users during the pandemic. The measures include reductions of port fees for essential ferry services between...

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