Maritime Industry Briefing: Boxship Expansion, Port Infrastructure, and Jones Act Waivers

## Taiwanese Carrier TS Lines Expands Boxship Fleet Taiwanese intra-Asia carrier TS Lines has signed a $168.6 million deal with China's Fujian Mawei Shipyard to build four 2,900 TEU containerships, according to a report from Splash247. The new vessels are scheduled for delivery by May 2029, further expanding TS Lines' fleet as the company looks to capitalize on growing demand in regional trade lanes. 'This latest newbuild order is part of our ongoing fleet renewal and expansion strategy to strengthen our market position in the intra-Asia trade,' said TS Lines Chairman Chen Wen-Tsan. The Hong Kong-listed carrier currently operates a fleet of around 30 ships. ## APM Terminals Expands in Mexico APM Terminals has started the third phase of expansion at its Lázaro Cárdenas terminal in Mexico, Seatrade Maritime reports. The project will add new container handling capacity to the Pacific coast port, which has seen strong volume growth in recent years. 'The expansion will allow us to continue supporting the growth of our customers' business in the region,' said APM Terminals Lázaro Cárdenas Managing Director Maarten Degryse. The terminal operator inaugurated its second phase of development earlier this year, and the latest project is expected to be completed by 2025. ## Jones Act Waivers Could Boost Tanker Sector The Trump administration's recent waiver of the Jones Act - which requires goods shipped between US ports to be transported on American-built, -owned, and -crewed vessels - could provide new opportunities for non-US flag tankers, according to Seatrade Maritime. 'The Jones Act waiver is likely to generate new opportunities for non-US flag tankers in the western hemisphere,' the publication noted, as it allows foreign-flagged ships to transport petroleum products between US ports. This could boost demand for international tanker capacity to help meet domestic fuel supply needs. However, the waiver is a temporary measure, and its long-term impacts on the US maritime industry remain to be seen.