Recently announced movements among maritime giants show a focus on the United States.
Northern Stevedoring Services provides import and export links with international markets and have services out of the ports of Townsville, Mackay and Gladstone.
Commerical manager Mitchell Smith noted the recent USD20billion commitment by French conglomerate CMA CGM into US maritime, transport, logistics and supply chains over four years.
The company already has a significant presence in the US with operations in 40 states and a workforce of 15,000 who manage more than five million shipping containers a year.
The company said it planned to significantly expand its presence by growing the US flagged fleet.
They would also expand the capacity of key container ports on both coasts, develop state-of-the-art warehousing across the country, and establish a significant air cargo hub in Chicago.
This would result in 10,000 new American Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of CMA CGM Group, said in Shipping Australia.
It was indicative of the policies encouraging domestic production and manufacture in the US said Mr Smith said.
“Maritime companies looking to align with one of the largest players in international trade are setting up shop in the US.
“The industry is following the lead to encourage increased trade and activity in the US.
“It’s a direct result of the regulatory and trade conditions designed to encourage commercial activity stateside including ship building in the US.”
In other developments in the maritime industry, Mr Smith noted the increased commitment to ship building in Inda where the Government planned to increase Indian flagged ships by more than 1,000 over the next decade.
It was a move to increase sovereign capacity driven by goals including boosting economic growth, saving on freight costs and securing a larger share of global maritime trade, Mr Smith said.