Shipping Search - Archive

And Now Dover Considers a Congestion Charge for Lorries

UK – The eyes of the Freight Transport Association (FTA) are currently firmly fixed on the county of Kent. This week the Road Haulage Association (RHA) was critical of the government spending around £3 million on renting space at Manston Airfield in case it was necessary to implement 'Operation Stack', in which lorries park up along the M20 motorway due to problems at the Channel Ports of Dover and Folkestone. The FTA has put a different view but also, at a meeting of the Dover District Council tonight, Councillor N A G Richards will ask:

Noise, Temperature and Pressure Essential to Easy Transit

ISRAEL – RUSSIA – Volga-Dnepr Airlines latest project air freight shipment saw the Russian cargo airline ensure the well-being and safe delivery of two Southern White Rhinos from Tel Aviv, Israel, to their new home in Russia, where they will now reside in one of the largest zoos in the country, at Rostov-on-Don in the far north west near the Ukrainian border. The zoo actively participates in international programmes for the preservation of rare and endangered animals.

Plans Continue Despite Massive Union Opposition to Company Practices

PAPUA NEW GUINEA – As expected South Pacific International Container Terminal (SPICT), a subsidiary of global operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), has commenced container handling operations at the Lae Tidal Basin (LTB) despite protests from unions which saw demonstrations in November last year calling on the Minister of Transport, Wesley Nukundj to cancel the 25 year contract they say will cost 1,000 jobs at the ports of Lae and Motukea.

State of the Union Speech is Supposed to Herald Details of Funding

US – Not for the first time discussions of how to upgrade sagging US infrastructure are at the top of the agenda for many senior transport officials and executives, and much of this can be attributed to President Trump who promised a detailed proposal on the matter after campaigning on it up to his appointment a year ago. Earlier this month the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus (PSC) released a report of proposed solutions for improving America's infrastructure. Created in January 2017, the PSC is comprised of 48 Members of the House of Representatives evenly divided on both sides of the political aisle.

Start Up Digital Incubator Created in Marseille

FRANCE – Digitalisation is of course a major buzzword in the freight and logistics industry at the moment and now the world's third largest container shipping line, CMA CGM, has taken an innovative and radical step to ensure it keeps up with the game by creating 'Ze Box', a 'start up, digital incubator' with the concept of centralising new talent in the group's home city and making digitalisation one of the pillars of the group's development.

Thousands of Pounds per Day Spent on Unsuitable Location

UK – Having met with Transport Secretary Chris Grayling and Transport Minister Jesse Norman last week to discuss a variety of matters, particularly the well-known shortage of talent in the sector and a post-Brexit Land Transport Agreement, Road Haulage Association (RHA) chief executive, Richard Burnett was also keen to raise the subject of suitable parking facilities for commercial vehicles.

DP World Chairman and CEO Talks to Political Leaders

SWITZERLAND – DUBAI – WORLDWIDE – As the world's senior political figures gathered in Davos for the latest World Economic Forum annual meeting one company making the most of the chance to put forward freight and logistics interests as the future of world trade came under scrutiny was international ports group DP World. Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem used the sidelines of the gathering to meet the great and the good, including sessions with with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, Angolan President João Lourenço and Peruvian Prime Minister Mercedes Aráoz to discuss areas of mutual interest and to explore trade issues and infrastructure opportunities.

European Lifting Equipment Makers Detail New Orders

FINLAND – GERMANY – DUBAI – AUSTRALIA – Two of Europe's biggest manufacturer's of maritime and cargo handing cranes announced significant orders this month. German outfit Liebherr sold another of its mobile harbour cranes to Aussie port specialist Qube Ports, the eighth such unit to the same company, whilst Finnish headquartered Konecranes have received an order for one of its specially adapted, easy to assemble CXT Explorer units, based on shipping containers, from UAE based mobile crane hire firm Johnson Arabia LLC.

(Plus a Chance to Get Recognition for Your Best Commercial Drivers)

UK – Innovate UK, the government organ charged with turning potential new technologies into commercial success stories, is to deliver an update on the £20 million government Low Emission Freight and Logistics Trials (LEFT) at the Microlise Transport Conference this May. LEFT includes electric vans and trucks, as well as hydrogen dual-fuel vehicles, as part of a multi-million pound programme to cut emissions and improve air quality. Various consortia ranging from sectors including freight forwarding, commercial vehicle body builders and electric truck makers are taking part in the trials, operating these advanced technologies in real-world scenarios while capturing data.

Union Says Drivers Forced to Sign New Contracts at Reduced Pay Rates

UK – Once more DHL finds itself at the centre of an industrial argument as the GMB Union accuses the DHL/UK Mail operation of the 'appalling treatment' of its employees. UK Mail was spawned from the original Business Post operation and was acquired by Deutsche Post DHL in 2016. The company specialises in courier services and parcel carriage and has contracts with blue chip operations such as M&S, House of Fraser, 02, Ebay and Argos. This is neither the first time that the German owned freight and logistics behemoth has been accused of unfair practice nor the first time a UK operated subsidiary has had a run in with the GMB.

Appointments and Departures This Week

UK – This week's staff movements throughout the freight forwarding, shipping, logistics and road haulage sectors start with the news that Tony Berkeley, ever a thorn in the side of any European government administrator or rail operation that he considers deserves sanction, and Chairman of the Rail Freight Group (RFG), has announced his intention to retire from that role at the RFG Annual General Meeting in November 2018. In the meantime however, he will continue his work for RFG including in Brussels as a Board Member of the European Rail Freight Association and ALLRAIL.

Some Smaller Itemss from Around the World You May Have Missed

GERMANY – IRELAND – This week's review of some of the smaller stories in the freight and logistics industry starts with a RoRo shipping update as the completed hull of the new Irish Ferries cruise ferry, W B Yeats, named at a ceremony at the shipyard of Flensburger Schiffbau Gesellschaft by Ms. Rikki Rothwell, was launched stern first into the water. Painted in familiar Irish Ferries livery a previous article told how the new vessel earned its name in an online competition that attracted nearly 100,000 entries.

Merchant Shipping Groups Caution Against Sea Mines, Missiles and Other Weaponry

RED SEA – YEMEN – Whilst the threat of pirate attacks in the India Ocean has dwindled of late, thanks to better on board security, the adherence to Best Management Practices (BMP4) and, not least, the continuous vigilance of both European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) and the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF), alas new threats to the container ships and tankers that regularly ply the waters in the busy offshoot that passes through the Gulf of Aden toward Suez have increased due to the conflict in Yemen.

Pulse Fishing Practice a Contentious Environmental Issue

FRANCE – UK – In what many in the UK will view as typical of their Gallic neighbours, the Ports of Calais and Boulogne have today been blocked due to industrial action taken by French fisherman protesting pulse fishing, leading to cross-Channel sailings to be temporarily suspended. Having said that, anyone familiar with the practice is likely to see the point being made. Road Haulage Association (RHA) Chief Executive Richard Burnett, said:

Councils Falling Behind on Road and Bridge Repairs According to RAC

UK – According to a report published by the RAC Foundation, almost 3,500 council-maintained road bridges in Great Britain are substandard, but with restrictions on budgets, only a relative few will have the necessary maintenance work carried out on them within the next five years. A separate report looked into the council budget shortfalls when it comes to the UK's road network, suggesting that the government should introduce a more dynamic road user pricing system that takes into account a driver's circumstances instead of relying on the existing model, which is based on raising funds through fuel duty, vehicle excise duty, and the HGV levy, to raise much needed funding in order to maintain the UK's road infrastructure.

Fifteenth APM Event Scheduled for March

SINGAPORE – Numerous stakeholders are expected to attend the forthcoming 15th Asia Pacific Maritime (APM) event, scheduled for 14 to 16 March 2018 at the Singapore Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre. As well as being Southeast Asia's most established maritime, workboat and offshore exhibition and conference, APM is aiming to enable visitors to network with a wide range of industry contacts. New this year is the series of six thematic networking sessions tailored to bring together shipping executives, international companies and buyers from Asia with similar interests to forge new partnerships.

New Ultra Cold Services Designed to Attack the Air Cargo Market

SOUTH KOREA – SPAIN – Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) has started its first ‘Ultra-Freezer’ service from Busan, Korea to Barcelona, Spain, which will transport cargo at -60ºC, some way below the limit of regular reefer containers, which is normally set between -35ºC and -40ºC. With this new ultra-freezer service, HMM says that it can provide a premium shipping service on highly profitable items that have normally been moved as air freight, such as raw tuna and sea urchin, through its ocean cargo container services.

New 15,000 Facility Near London's Heathrow Airport

UK – International freight operation the Gefco Group has opened its third Life Sciences and Healthcare dedicated temperature-controlled warehouse. The facility is based in close proximity to London Heathrow airport. This site complements Gefco Forwarding warehouses' which the logistics group has previously established in Frankfurt, Germany and Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Croatian Government Bail Out Allowable Under EC Rules

CROATIA – The European Commission has found Croatian plans to grant Uljanik shipyard a State guarantee for a €96 million loan are in line with EU State aid rules. The measure will allow the company to meet urgent liquidity needs while preparing a restructuring plan, whilst competition distortions are limited. Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said:

Scottish Firm Continues Transfer of Containers to the Tracks

UK – Rail freight operator, DB Cargo UK has extended its intermodal contract with Scottish outfit Malcolm Logistics until 2020. Having signed an initial three year deal with the well-known road haulage and logistics group in 2014, both DB Cargo and Malcolm Logistics have agreed to continue the partnership for a further three years, running until August 2020, in a deal worth £21million.

A Round Up of Several Stories from the World of Global Airfreight

NETHERLANDS – A maximum number of 500,000 Air Traffic Movements (ATM) until 2020 has been agreed between Schiphol Group, the local community, airlines, and the Dutch Government but Thursday will be a key day for the future of movements from the Amsterdam airport with a debate in the Netherlands Parliament to discuss the paucity of slot allocations which are said to have caused some freight operators to switch to alternative hubs. The imposition of IATA's '80/20' regulation which insists 80% of cargo is carried by bona fide freighter aircraft, as opposed to in the belly holds of passenger planes, is apparently at the heart of the problem.

Sector Targeted Again by Hackers

UK – Anyone with a computer these days is liable to be attacked by cyber criminals and the logistics sector has been updating its protection measures following last year's two massive incursions into systems at Maersk and Clarkson's. Now the British International Freight Association (BIFA), which has as its contacts the core of the UK's shipping and forwarding profession, is warning of an innocent looking email potentially containing a virus aimed specifically at its members.

Rolling Cargo Offering to Complement Existing Container Trade

AFRICA – EUROPE – Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has announced the introduction of its new RoRo West Africa Service for rolling, project and break bulk cargo. This new roll on - roll off service, which complements the container shipping line's existing dedicated container services, will start on February 19, from Le Havre, France.

DP World Funding Partnership Platform for India

INDIA – Global port specialist DP World, and Indian fund manager the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF), have created an investment platform to finance ports, terminals, transportation, and logistics businesses in India. The platform will invest up to $3 billion of equity to acquire assets and develop container freight and other logistics related projects in the sector. Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO, DP World, said:

Dedicated 6,500 Kilometres Flight Forms Base of Climate Neutral Logistics Project

CHINA – FINLAND – As part of an international cooperation DHL Global Forwarding has moved two giant pandas from Chengdu, China to Ähtäri, Finland via climate neutral transportation, the German headquartered freight and logistics group says the carbon emissions for the flight are offset through a climate protection project. The male, Huá Bào, or Pyry by its new Finnish name, aged four, and the female, Jín Bàobào, or Lumi, aged three, arrived at Helsinki-Vantaa airport in Finland on January 18 on their own dedicated charter flight.

Parole Period Over the Island Reverts to Caribbean Second Class Citizen

US – PUERTO RICO – As with other contentious issues such as gun control and abortion, the 1920 Merchant Marine Act aka the Jones Act, as ever has bitter rivals amongst its supporters and detractors. Last week saw the home team batting as the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation discussed the 'State of the US Flag Maritime Industry' during which congressional and maritime leaders stressed what they consider the essential application of regulations that ensure domestic transport by water is only carried on American built freight vessels, crewed by US citizens.

Disharmony in the Industry Over the Sandhurst Treaty

UK – FRANCE – The so called 'Sandhurst Treaty', signed last week by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Theresa May, has stirred up some conflicting views from members of the logistics community as the UK confirmed it will contribute a further £44.5 million to policing the international border in the Pas de Calais. Whilst the Freight Transport Association (FTA) has wholeheartedly welcomed the move, the Road Haulage Association (RHA) has expressed a diametrically opposing view.

Logistics Sector Must Stay Abreast of Hacking Guidelines

NETHERLANDS – WORLDWIDE – As we have been pointing out for some time 2018 is the year when the shipping and forwarding, and indeed the logistics sector in general, needs to get to grips with the ever growing threats posed to cyber security. These threats pose a real ability to completely disrupt the supply chain and to strike at the continuity of all global businesses. Next month a forum dedicated to investigate the potential threats and look at the latest thinking on prevention rather than cure.

A Smorgasbord of Global Events in the Past Seven Days

JAPAN – The three container shipping lines merger to form new joint venture company, Ocean Network Express Pte. Ltd., (the ONE network) which we covered in July last year, has received official sanction after Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) announced that with this week's South African agreement, they have now received all necessary merger approvals from local competition authorities in all regions and countries where such approvals are required.

Who is Heading Where This Week and Beyond

UK – Maritime UK has established a Taskforce to address fairness, equality, and inclusion within the maritime sector. The Taskforce will make a series of recommendations and utilise best practice from other sectors that have taken similar action. Sue Terpilowski, Managing Director of Image Line Communications and President of Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA UK) has been named to Chair the Taskforce.

Annual Review Sees Some Radical Changes in Results

UK – In the opinion of the majority of road haulage and British freight executives, the ongoing driver shortage is by far the most significant challenge facing the road transport sector in 2018, and is highlighted as a growing cause for concern amongst logistics operations according to the findings of Paragon Software Systems' annual UK customer survey. Almost half of all respondents (46.4%) stated that the lack of drivers and other skilled workers across the industry was the biggest barrier to success, up by over a third (36.8%) when compared to the previous year's results.

Minimal Inside Body Storage Prevents Problems Associated with Tail Lifts

US – The ArtLift (Art of Lifting) system produced by Actuall in the Netherlands is now available in the US via National Fleet Products which markets cargo lifting equipment, loading ramps and other aftermarket accessories for commercial vehicles. Compared to hydraulic or pneumatic systems, the ArtLift is extremely lightweight, but it boasts a 440-pound lifting capacity that accommodates more than 98% of common freight. A powerful 12-volt electric motor provides the needed torque to smoothly rotate a worm gear that effortlessly lifts appliances, furniture, industrial equipment, and a variety of other conventional and unconventional cargo items to a height of up to 3.28 feet.

Another Memorable Event at the BIFA Celebrations in London

UK – This week saw the much anticipated event which lies at the very heart of the UK freight forwarding and logistics community, the British International Freight Association awards, once again held at The Brewery, in the commercial heart of the capital, and, as so often in previous year's, the event proved one which will live long in the memory of all those fortunate enough to attend, and for a variety of reasons.

Union Expresses Displeasure Despite Guarantees of Enforcement

UK – The UK government has warned employers that all seafarers working in UK waters must be paid at least UK minimum wage rates. Amid rising concern of unfair competition, following reports that some ships registered abroad were underpaying their workers in UK waters thereby undercutting UK crews, employers failing to pay at least National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage will face fines of up to 200% of the underpayment, public naming and, for the worst offences, criminal prosecution. Business Minister Andrew Griffiths said:

Dunkirk Movers Freight - from Fruit to Energy

FRANCE – This week saw the country's third largest port hold its annual conference to review performance in 2017 and look forward to the future developments in Dunkirk. The Calais – Dunkirk hub is best known for its RoRo passenger and freight ferry services, but there is so much more to the north eastern neighbour as is evidenced by the type and amount of freight moving through what is the leading French port for commodities from containerised fruit and vegetable to ore and coal imports, with the country's largest LNG terminal and leading rail facility.

Commanding Officers to Face Criminal Charges

US – JAPAN – The US Navy has announced that the former Commanding officers of the two US warships involved in the fatal collisions in Asian waters last year, the USS Fitzgerald and the USS John S McCain, will face criminal charges, under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), including dereliction of duty, hazarding a vessel, and negligent homicide.

Sino and Japanese Airlines Top Transpacific Thrift Table

US – WORLDWIDE – According to a report by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), Hainan Airlines and All Nippon Airways (ANA) ranked first in overall fuel efficiency among transpacific carriers. The study analysed 20 airlines operating nonstop flights between the mainland United States and East Asia and Oceania. The difference in efficiency performance between two co-leaders and the least fuel-efficient carrier, Qantas Airways, was 64%, the widest gap identified in ICCT studies to date.

(and This Time You Don't Have to Fly to Africa - So No Excuses Please)

UK – As some of us abandon our New Year's resolutions, international development charity Transaid has the solution to keep those with lofty fitness goals motivated, with the launch of its biggest ever cycle challenge. Inviting riders from across the industry to saddle up and take on an epic 972-mile journey from Land's End to John O'Groats in 2019, Transaid is throwing down the gauntlet to mark its 20^th anniversary, with celebrations set to begin in September 2018 and continue into 2019.

Rail Authorities Aim for High Capacity Improvements to Cut Noise and Emissions

GERMANY – The country's rail authorities, which have been much criticised both before and following the Rastatt incident, appear to be moving on long awaited improvements to the network of tracks which will facilitate the ensure the possibility for the wider use of the standard European 740-metre long freight trains which currently only a reported 11% of German trains can access due to physical restrictions of various types.

Death Toll Expected to Rise as Only 3 Bodies from 32 Crew Recovered

CHINA – The Iranian operated Suezmax tanker that had been burning at sea and which we reported on last week, finally sank in the East China Sea over the weekend. Carrying around 136,000 tonnes of ultra-light gas condensate, authorities in China say that at about noon local time on Sunday 14 January, a large explosion occurred on board the afflicted vessel Sanchi, causing the fire to break out, sending plumes of black smoke with flames reaching up to a height of 200 metres. By about 15:00 local time, the tanker had fully sunk and as a result, a large amount of oil was burning on the surrounding surface.

All Praise the Spirit but Concerns as to Whether it Can Achieve its Objectives by 2050

UK – The Transport for the North (TfN) partnership, having today launched the Draft Strategic Transport Plan for the North, the scheme to redesign infrastructure throughout the North of England, is holding a series of consultations in the region to take on board the reactions and opinions of those living and working in the areas affected prior to release of the full plan later in the year. The consultation stretches over 13 weeks up to Tuesday April 17^th, but already the plan has received a lukewarm reception from many in the freight transport and road haulage community.

Spending on Sea Crossings for 2018 Onward - To, From and Within Britain

UK – EUROPE – Discover Ferries, an organisation which represents ten of the companies which serve the British market, has released an overview of what some of its partners are up to by way of extending and improving services and says there have been in excess of £1 billion of investments announced for new ships, port and service facilities in the next four years. These include national and international ferry links and cover a range of freight and passenger RoRo and RoPax services.

New ATB Will Service Alaskan Communities

US – Crowley Fuels LLC, a subsidiary of Crowley Maritime, has announced that it has signed a construction contract with Bollinger Shipyards to build a new Alaska Class 100,000-barrel-capacity articulated tug-barge (ATB) to transport multiple clean petroleum products in the Alaska market. The Alaska-class vessel will be built at Bollinger Marine Fabricators Shipyard, in Amelia, Louisiana, with an expected delivery scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2019. The contract with Bollinger includes an option to build a second ATB. Crowley's marine solutions group has been contracted to provide vessel construction management services in the shipyard from final design phase through to delivery.

MSC Adopts Worldwide IMDG Code Training System for its Staff

UK – SWITZERLAND – WORLDWIDE – When, as is the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), you are running a fleet of 460 container ships taking freight to over 300 ports worldwide, one has to ensure that staff in all your offices are on the ball when it comes to processing the documents and competently handling the 2.75 million TEU of cargo in your care. Protocols have to be particularly stringent when hazardous items are involved and one must seek the highest quality standards and training to ensure chemical cargoes are properly managed.

Employers Must Have a Policy to Ensure Safety in the Workplace and On the Road

UK – Long term readers will know we have been banging on about the perils of mixing alcohol or drugs with the carriage of freight for almost a decade. Most modern HGV drivers are aware that drinking anything the day before they are on the road has the potential to deprive them of what, these days, is likely to be a very good livelihood in the road haulage industry. In 2009 we illustrated the advantages of Alcolock's and similar devices which simply prevent anyone under the influence from starting a vehicle.

CILT Team with Gartner Again to Examine Your Views

UK – WORLDWIDE – As Brexit looms ever closer comes an opportunity for anyone whose daily grind includes forming a link in the supply chain to have their say, and perhaps even influence the future of logistics. For the third consecutive year the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) has teamed up with US based technology research and advisory group, Gartner, in a collaboration which intends to discover and examine the latest trends and challenges facing the supply chain sector, from manufacturer through the world of freight and transport, to end user.

A Round-Up of What is Happening in Shipping Around the Globe

UAE – WORLDWIDE –This week global port and logistics specialist DP World marked its 10-year public listing on Nasdaq Dubai with a ceremonial event at the Dubai Financial Market (DFM), attended by DP World Group Chairman and CEO Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, His Excellency Essa Kazim, Governor of the DIFC and Chairman of DFM and Hamed Ali, CEO of Nasdaq Dubai. Now the group has released a short video showing highlights last year for the port and logistics group.

Global Appointments and Departures in the Professions Announced This Week

US – Once again we must begin the week's staff appointments and departures in the freight, shipping and logistics sectors with the news that the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has announced the death of its President and Chief Executive Officer, Jim Johnston, who passed away after more than a year-long battle with lung cancer. Johnston, who has served as OOIDA President and CEO since 1974, died at his home in Grain Valley, Missouri.

Automotive Specialist Moves Into Moroccan Market

FRANCE – SPAIN – MOROCCO – Acquisitions in the freight sector continue the pattern of the past couple of years as logistics group Gefco announce the purchase of Spanish company GLT, a Europe-Morocco transport specialist. Gefco says that the acquisition is of strong strategic value with the hopes of strengthening the company's presence in the region at a time which it says is a period of fast-growing trade between Europe and Morocco in the Automotive and Retail and Fashion industries. The agreement between GLT and Gefco is subject to approval by relevant regulatory authorities.

Giant Aircraft is a Step Into the Unknown and - Despite the Look - is Not a Heavy Lift Plane

FRANCE – EUROPE – One hopes that, in time, the choice of name for its latest innovation will not be a source of regret to the plane makers as the first structurally complete airframe for the new Airbus BelugaXL rolled out from its assembly hangar in Toulouse, France, this month. Whether referring to the critically endangered species of whale or sturgeon, or the innovative German heavy lift and special project freight group which foundered in 2011 after pirate attacks on two of its vessels resulted in murder, the title might be considered to court disaster.

UKWA Summit Looks at Cities as Brexit, Driver Shortages and Pollution Controls Exacerbate Things

UK – Food security and the continuing integrity of the produce supply chain is a subject which we necessarily keep coming back to. The 'Feeding London 2030' study, released by the United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA) a year ago, was an eye opener for many, and now, having realised the extent of the potential logistics problems countrywide, the latest UKWA event, to be held at The British Museum in London on February 6, will be a 'Feeding Cities' Summit, organised by the UKWA as a direct response to the new National Infrastructure Commission study on the future of the UK freight industry, as announced by The Chancellor.

Snow Ploughs and Salt Spreaders to Suit Your Situation

UK – Although we tend to think of snow and ice in December (White Christmas and all that) in fact February is often the month we see the worst of the weather, and so it is predicted for 2018. In Wales they know all about freezing conditions, and Newtown based Contact Attachments, which has been designing and manufacturing forklift truck attachments from there for over 40 years, is pointing out that the time has come to ensure all workplaces remain operational, particularly if you are running a road haulage or freight outfit with operations in an exposed yard.

Berlin Exhibition Extends from the Field to the Supermarket Shelf

GERMANY – WORLDWIDE – The ability to ship food and fresh products around the world has become an integral, and essential part of the economies of many countries. This applies to both exporters and importers and, with the rapidly changing technologies involved in the chilling and freezing of foodstuffs of every kind, the twenty fifth Fruit Logistica event has become even more crucial than ever for shippers, buyers, freight forwarding agents and container shipping companies alike.

Global Ship Losses Analysed by Marine Insurers

WORLDWIDE – As the Iranian operated Suezmax tanker Sanchi continues to burn at sea, the area she was stricken in has been identified as the leading region for maritime accidents. Marine insurance group Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) has been analysing data from the Lloyd's List Intelligence casualty statistics which reveal East/South East Asian waters as the top worldwide hotspot for shipping losses. The 34 ships lost in this region in 2016 account for 40% of global losses of 85 ships for the period. Although the main losses were freight and container vessels, passenger ships are also included in the totals.

Government Call for Evidence and Route Forward Prompts Study for Discussion

UK – A research project to support improved digital connectivity for customers commissioned by the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB), on behalf of its Future Communications and Positioning Systems Advisory Group, has prompted a report from the German headquartered group LS telcom via its London based subsidiary, looking at improving cross-industry involvement on the implementation of digital connectivity across the entire UK rail network. The research study proposes a 3 to 5-year technology roadmap, and identifies commercial deployment models for improving high-speed mobile internet connectivity for passengers, as well as passenger and freight train operations.

Piracy Incidents Down Again with Armed Guards Aboard Potential Targets in Dangerous Waters

WORLDWIDE – Attacks against freight and passenger vessels remain in decline as the world's Naval forces maintain a vigil in the Indian Ocean and armed personnel accompany likely targets through suspect waters. According to the latest annual report from the International Chamber of Commerce's International Maritime Bureau (ICC IMB), a total of 180 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported to the IMB Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) in 2017, the lowest number of incidents since 1995, when 188 reports were received.

Fire May Rage for Up to a Month

CHINA – SOUTH KOREA – The superheated, blistered hull of the Iranian tanker Sanchi which has been burning off the Chinese coast since Saturday January 6 has been drifting south east from the point where the Panamanian flagged vessel collided with the bulk grain carrier CF Crystal near Shanghai. A video (warning - there is some bad language in the film) shows the intensity of the fire during which the 32 crew are feared to have perished.

Despite Stringent Measures Some Violence Toward Truckers Continues

FRANCE – UK – Road Haulage Association (RHA) chief executive Richard Burnett today had the chance to reveal on national television the true state of play with regard to the continuing migrant problems faced by drivers in the front line when en route to the UK. Speaking on the Victoria Derbyshire programme, the RHA boss was keen to make the point that although the problem may have dropped below the gaze of the media, it certainly hasn't gone away.

John Good Shipping Says a Better Public Image Must be Supported by Effective Apprentice Schemes

UK – An industry crying out for new talent at every level, logistics needs to solve its own recruitment problems using innovative means. Besides the obvious need to raise the profile of an industry which remains a mystery to many of the job seeking general public, this can also be achieved with an aggressive approach to training, and there are those in the shipping and forwarding community who seem to be getting it right. The John Good Group may have begun work in the 1830's but in 2014 it reinvigorated its approach to new staff with a national apprenticeship programme.

3PL is Seemingly Not the Way for Turkish Founded Company

SWEDEN – TURKEY – WORLDWIDE – It seems Ekol, the freight forwarding and logistics group founded in Istanbul in 1990 has, like many other companies in the industry, plans to expand internationally. This however is no 3PL outfit, owning six RoRo vessels and two ports and now, just a couple of months after extending its presence in France, comes the news that this month the 'Ekol Nordics' brand will be launched in Sweden. This will be the sixteenth country in which the group has established its own operations.

Extra 777's Sold as TIACA Signs Up Forwarding and Logistics Agencies

TURKEY – US – SOUTH AMERICA – Following the purchase of two Boeing 777 freighters just last month, Turkish Airlines has announced a new order for three more of the large cargo jets as part of its ongoing plans to further expand the carrier's freight business. The 777 Freighter is the world's longest-range twin-engine freighter and is based on the 777-200LR (Longer Range) passenger airplane. The jet can fly 4,900 nautical miles (9,070 kilometres) with a full payload of 102 tonnes. M. İlker Aycı, Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee of Turkish Airlines, commented:

Berkeley Worries Failure to Act Will Mirror the Decline of the Canals

UK – EUROPE – Anyone familiar with the views of Tony Berkeley, Chairman of the UK Rail Freight Group (RFG) and a Board Member of the European Rail Freight Association (ERFA) and of ALLRAIL (and dare we say Member of the House of Lords), will be unsurprised by his latest comments regarding the state of rail freight in Europe, particularly in the aftermath of the Rastatt Tunnel collapse which threw much of the system into chaos. Berkeley poses the question, 'do we want rail to survive and grow, or wither as the canals did 150 years ago? ' And in the light of past performance by the authorities, he may have a point.

From Autonomous Road Haulage Trucks to Robot Fork Lifts - Logistics Technology is Moving Apace

UK – WORLDWIDE – Anyone who has followed the freight trade press in the past year will know that 2017 ushered in a more serious attitude to automated materials handling in the supply chain. With the development of more, and more affordable, robot products there is a revolution in the field which, having already gained a strong presence in the pick and pack, ecommerce, home delivery parcels market, is now finding a foothold in a wider arena. Add to this the furious growth of the autonomous commercial vehicle sector and the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and these are topics which need addressing by any logistics executive worth his or her salt.

Transport of Essentials Will Feature This Month

UK – Despite all the hype and prevarication Brexit is happening, and the long term effects on freight and the supply chain cannot even be guessed at as yet. Each sector however needs to be as prepared as possible for all manner of potential outcomes, and ensuring a constant supply of essentials, particularly foodstuffs, has therefore assumed an even greater importance than hitherto. Now the newly branded HVAC & Refrigeration Show will feature a particular focus on food logistics.

Removing VAT Will Not Affect Most and Stakeholders Want Firm Date for Promised Cancellation

UK – Today marks a somewhat historic occasion for both private motorists, and van and heavy goods vehicle road haulage operators, as it heralds that most unusual of occurrences - a reduction in road tolls on a major route! However for most freight trucking firms there will currently be no actual financial benefit whatsoever, as the charges are simply now exempt of VAT. As from 8 January there will be a reduction in tolls across the board for motorists heading across the two Severn Bridges in a westbound direction (there is no charge for the return journey).

Things You May Have Missed as You Recovered from the New Year Celebrations

INDIA – We start a quick, and quiet, week's run-down of some smaller items in the world of shipping, freight and logistics with a road haulage item from the subcontinent. As well as being Chairman and Managing Director of Intercontinental Consultants and Technocrats Pvt Ltd. (ICT) headquartered in New Delhi, Kiran Kumar Kapila is also the chair of the Geneva based International Road Federation (IRF) which promotes better roads worldwide.

Time to Consider the Breadth and Effect of Chinese Policy on Transport, Trade and Ports

CHINA – WORLDWIDE – As the New Year creeps in, with staff in shipping and forwarding offices slowly getting back into the swing of things after the excesses of Christmas for many, it is a good time to take a look at what is likely to occur within the global freight industry in 2018. Whilst we saw piracy morph into cyber crime as the leading threat to the industry last year, 2017 proved to be when the sector started to really take note of China's avowed 'Belt and Road' policy.

Freight Forwarding and Logistics Executives Mingle with Shipbuilders

CHINA – Attendance figures are in for the recent Marintec Conference and Exhibition held in Shanghai in December and this, the 19^th incarnation of a definitive event in the Asian, and indeed world, shipping calendar. Visitors this year numbered over 65,000, up 5% against the 2015 figure, the last time the event took place in China. 2,100 exhibitors occupied 90,000 square metres seeing a scattering of freight forwarding and logistics interests pass through amongst a steady stream of those centred on the physical end of the maritime sector

UK Transport Sector is the Slowest Payer of Any Industry

UK – MarketInvoice, which provides a range of financial products from its London and Manchester based offices, has come up with a new study, the results of which will come as little surprise to those operating throughout the shipping, freight forwarding and road haulage sectors. The conclusion of looking at some 80,000 invoices as they are processed is that the transport industry is at the bottom of the heap when it comes to settling its bills, a result of which is damage being caused to the very people who cannot afford it, small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Classification Society Passes Maritime Exhaust Gas Cleaning System Checker

UK – WORLDWIDE – Chelsea Technologies, actually based in West Molesey, which produces a range of sensors for the maritime industry, has achieved certification from ClassNK the Japanese based classification society, for its Sea Sentry wash water monitoring system, which oversees a 'scrubber' working to clean exhaust gases. Assuming agreement with vessel's flag state, scrubbers are a permissible way to control sulphur oxide emissions for both freight and passenger vessels burning fuel oil.

Chinese to Compete with US for Latest Transport Mode

US – CHINA – WORLDWIDE – If Elon Musk wasn't the boss of Tesla then his ideas might not be taken as seriously as they are. His success in the field of electric and autonomous vehicles has however drawn great interest from road haulage and freight companies in his proposed development of a full blown HGV rig, a semi-trailer powered by electricity which we have covered in some detail previously. However, up to now, many have looked sideways at his intercity Hyperloop system, not perhaps it seems, those who matter.

Government Considering Alternative Revenue Streams and Emissions are in Its Sights

UK – The news that Transport Minister Chris Grayling is 'considering' a scheme to introduce pay per mile technology for heavy good vehicles was slipped out just before Christmas when he denied that a similar system for private motorists was being looked at by the government during a BBC interview. The revelation has however prompted an immediate response from freight transport and road haulage interests.

It Seems Lower Level Crimes Are Not Worthy of Attention

UK – There has been a press backlash over the past few days regarding the Metropolitan Police Service decision to not investigate some crimes which they deem to be not worthy of their time and resources. Now the Road Haulage Association (RHA) has pointed out the potential effect to transport companies which are victims of 'lower-level, higher volume' crimes such as vandalism, vehicle crime and fuel theft which the new Met new crime assessment policy downgrades.

Irish Ferries Ship Ready for 2020

IRELAND – GERMANY – The world's largest cruise ferry in terms of capacity is to be built by Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesselschaft & Co.KG (FSG) for the Irish Continental Group (ICG), owners of Irish Ferries. The RoPax (or possibly RoRo*) vessel will accommodate 1,800 passengers and crew, with capacity for 5,610 freight lane metres, which provides the capability to carry 330 freight units per sailing. Overall, it will effectively be a 50% increase in peak freight capacity compared to the incumbent vessel on the route, MV Ulysses and is another vessel to be built by the German yard for the operator.

Record Level of Cargo on UK - Continental Route

UK – BELGIUM – RoRo operation P&O Ferries finished 2017 with yet another record in a year which provided the company with several other significant milestones in terms of trade. The Tilbury - Zeebrugge route saw an increase of 4.3% in freight volumes with 185,908 units carried over the 12 months to 31 December. The company operates two ferries on the route, the 20,000 tonne sister ships Norstream and Norsky each sailing 12 times a week in total on the eight hour crossing.

Second Major Sale by Liquidation Agency

GREECE – French container shipping line CMA CGM now has a stake in the Port of Thessaloniki following a successful bid by the German led consortium to acquire the 67% stake in the facility owned by the Greek liquidation agency, the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF). Bidding in April came from DP World and International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), as well as the eventual winners, a cooperation between Deutsche Invest Equity Partners, Belterra Investments and CMA CGM's ports division, Terminal Link.