Karl J. Pojer has been appointed the new ceo of Hapag-Lloyd Cruises, the German luxury and expedition cruise operator and a wholly-owned subsidiary of TUI AG. With immediate effect, 58-year old Pojer is taking charge of the cruise line's business development, operations, marketing, sales and distribution, product management, tourism as well as corporate communications.

Germanischer Lloyd (GL) has signed a classification agreement with Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) for the construction of five 18,400 teu containerships ordered by China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL).

Samsung Heavy Industries Ningbo has signed a letter of intent with Greek owner Evangelos Marinakis for the construction of two 52,000dwt MR tankers with two more options.

Carnival, the world's largest cruise company, issued its second warning of sinking profits in less than three months as revenues fell and voyage cancellations increased in the wake of a series of major mishaps on its ships. Shares were down nearly 13% in London after the company said full-year revenues, which were expected to be flat, would fall 2-3%, while earnings would also be hit. The expectations were also reduced in March when Carnival downgraded its hopes for revenue growth for the year. The company operates 101 ships under a number of brands across the world, including P&O, Cunard and Costa Cruises. It suffered a major blow in 2012 when the Costa Concordia ran aground with thousands of passengers on board off the coast of Italy - claiming 32 lives. More at money.aol.co.uk/2...

Hapag-Lloyd, the world's sixth largest carrier, has announced it will increase the rates for westbound Asia-Europe trade by US$1,000 per TEU with effect from July 1. Additionally, the carrier plans to impose a peak-season surcharge of $500 per TEU for sailings from Asia to north Europe between August 1 and September 30, according to the carrier's statement. For Asia-Mediterranean routes, the company will also impose a peak season surcharge of $650 per TEU from June 10 to August 31.

Guangzhou: Guangzhou Shipbuilding International (GSI) has received an order for another two 50000dwt product tankers from Golden Stena Bulk, a joint venture between Indonesia’s Golden Agri Resources (GAR) and Stena Bulk. Golden Stena Bulk has ordered four 50,000 dwt product tankers at GSI in February. The vessels will be delivered in 2014 and 2015, with the price for each vessel set at $40m. [17/05/13]

Weihai-based Sanjin Shipbuilding announced that the company has received a four plus four 36,000dwt bulk carrier order from German company H. Vogemann. The eco bulk carriers claim efficiencies of 15%, and are due to be delivered from the end of 2014.

Hapag-Lloyd published first-quarter results on Wednesday, May 15. It halved its adjusted loss before interest and taxes to 53 million euros ($69 million) but said competition remained challenging and rates had come under more pressure since April.

Hamburg Sued, Germany's second-largest shipping group, said on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 it did not expect to resume merger talks with rival Hapag-Lloyd any time soon after talks were broken off on the form and details of a combination. "No agreement has been reached on important points to date," Hamburg Sued said in a statement, adding it did not expect talks to be restarted in the foreseeable future. Separately on Wednesday, tourism group TUI AG, which holds a 22 percent stake in Hapag-Lloyd, said it would have "appreciated" a merger between Hapag-Lloyd and Hamburg Sued, but it now sees an initial public offering of its stake as a more probable option. With a combined fleet of more than 250 ships, a merged entity would have given the companies much-needed global scale to survive low cargo volumes as Europe battles with economic recession. Hamburg Sued also said its sales increased by 15 percent last year compared to 2011, while earnings were still "not satisfactory". The group did not publish a 2012 profit figure.

Neptune Orient Lines Ltd. (NOL), Southeast Asia’s biggest container-shipping company, said it will add more fuel-efficient ships this year to pare costs as a vessel glut continues to damp freight rates, Bloomberg reports. The shipping line will take delivery of 14 vessels this year, Neptune Orient said in a statement yesterday. It added 10 ships last year and sold some of the older ones. Neptune Orient has said cost cuts and new ships will help improve performance in 2013 after posting three annual losses in four years. The carrier has also sold its Singapore headquarters as shipping lines struggle with overcapacity and a slump in demand caused by Europe’s economic downturn. More at www.businessweek....