July 2026

Recruitment Platform Targets Officer Shortage

A new artificial intelligence-based recruitment platform is aiming to help shipowners address the growing shortage of qualified merchant marine officers by accelerating candidate screening while maintaining verification and safety standards. Glasgow-based maritime technology company The World Yacht has launched COMPETIQ, an AI-powered interview platform that uses live avatar interviewers to conduct first-stage interviews, verify candidate identities and qualifications, and assess applicants against role-specific criteria. The platform is designed to help employers recruit ... [+]

Coal Surges on China Imports, Aids Panamax Market

Global coal shipments rose 14 percent year over year in June, helping lift panamax freight rates as stronger Chinese import demand combined with continued energy supply disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz, according to BIMCO. The shipping association said coal shipments to China jumped 41 percent from June 2025 as ... [+]

Market Signals: Freight indexes Point to Early Peak

EDITOR’S NOTE: Freight Business Journal North America’s Peak Season Forecast 2026 in the July-August issue brings together leading market analysts and logistics executives to examine whether the current freight rally has staying power, the indicators they are watching most closely, and what shippers should expect during the balance of the ... [+]