Shipbuilding production levels have remained at record high levels for two consecutive years (2010-2011), and 2012 is forecasted to remain close to 2011 levels, said a report by Drewry Maritime Research. But it said that could tail off in 2014 and beyond, because over-tonnaging and large operating inefficiencies mask the true levels of fleet under-utilization. The order book is dominated by bulk carriers and containerships, two areas facing the worst over supply, the report said. "The immediate prospects for the shipbuilding industry are therefore bleak," Drewry said.

October air freight demand was 3.5% below the previous year level and declined 2.2% compared to September, said the International Air Transport Association. The freight load factor weakened to 46.1%, from 46.7% a year ago, it said. "Slowing world trade and weak business confidence are affecting demand for air travel," said IATA Director General Tony Tyler: "The rapid decline in freight traffic is outrunning the industry's ability to respond" by reducing capacity.

Current fire protection regulations for cargo airplanes are inadequate, said the National Transportation Safety Board, issuing three recommendations to reduce the impact of in-flight fires. The NTSB said the Federal Aviation Administration should require active fire suppression systems in all cargo containers or compartments of cargo aircraft. It also recommends improving early detection of fires within cargo containers and pallets and said cargo containers should provide better fire resistance. In three fire-related accidents involving cargo aircraft in the past six years, the "fires quickly grew out of control, leaving the crew with little time to get the aircraft on the ground," said NTSB Chairman Deborah Hersman. "Detection, suppression and containment systems can give crews more time and more options. The current approach is not safe enough."

The Federal Maritime Commission released a notice of the filing of the following agreement under the Shipping Act of 1984. Interested parties may submit comments on the agreements to the Secretary, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, DC 20573, within 10 days.

The Agricultural Marketing Service released the Ocean Shipping Container Availability Report (OSCAR) for the week of Nov. 27 - Dec. 4. The weekly report contains data on container availability for westbound transpacific traffic at 18 intermodal locations in the U.S.¹ from the eight member carriers of the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (WTSA).² Although the report is compiled by AMS, it covers container availability for all merchandise, not just agricultural products.

Surface trade among the U.S. and Canada and Mexico was 0.1 percent lower in September 2012 than in September 2011, the Department of Transportation said, citing Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The trade totaled $77.7 billion, according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS). It said this is the first year over year decrease since November 2009.

The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) gave notice of applications for special permits, applications for modifications of special permits and actions on special permit applications under procedures governing the application for, and processing of, special permits from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR Part 107, Subpart B).

Federal Maritime Commission said the following have filed applications for a license as a Non-Vessel-Operating Common Carrier (NVO) and/or Ocean Freight Forwarder (OFF)-Ocean Transportation Intermediary (OTI) pursuant to section 19 of the Shipping Act of 1984. The FMC also gave notice of the filing of applications to amend an existing OTI license or the qualifying individual for a license. Interested persons may contact the Office of Transportation Intermediaries, Federal Maritime Commission, Washington, D.C. 20573, at 202-523-5843 or at OTI@fmc.gov.

The U.S. Postal Service is revising Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) 601.10 to adopt new mandatory marking standards for packages with mailable hazardous material that align with revised Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration requirements, it said in a Federal Register notice for publication Nov. 28. The changes also include terminology and categorization changes needed to respond to the pending elimination of the “Other Regulated Material (ORM)” category and the partial elimination of the “consumer commodity” category by the DOT.

The State Department announced that the Shipping Coordinating Committee will conduct an open meeting at 10 a.m. ET, Dec. 18 to prepare for the 56th session of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Sub-Committee on Fire Protection (FP 56) to be held at the IMO Headquarters, United Kingdom, Jan. 7-11, 2013. The coordinating committee will meet at the offices of the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services, 1611 N. Kent Street, Suite 605, Arlington, Va. 22209. Matters to be considered include (1) Development of measures to prevents explosions on oil and chemical tankers transporting low flash point cargoes; (2) Development of requirements for the fire resistance of ventilation ducts; (3) Review of fire protection requirements for on-deck cargoes; (4) Development of requirements for ships carrying hydrogen and compressed natural gas vehicles.