Shipping Search - Archive

As Scale of Trade Grows so the Need for More Technology Matches It

UK – The scale of parcel delivery volumes handled by the country's fleet of couriers these days was simply unimaginable just a generation ago, and the trade is growing. A typical example is home and business delivery group Yodel, which now handles over 145 million parcels from 50 locations.

Heavy Goods Vehicles Heading into the Capital Will Need a Truck Safety Certificate

UK – Transport for London (TfL) has issued more than 8,000 Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) Safety Permits, as part of the Direct Vision Standard since it launched in October 2019. Freight operators are required to obtain a free Safety Permit, which is needed to be compliant with TfL's scheme, before enforcement begins on 26 October.

Staff Announcements Made This Week

GERMANY – Hamburg Süd has announced that Frank Smet, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) will be going into retirement at the end of March after roughly 27 years with the company. Smet, who has been working in the shipping industry for over 40 years, including in Brazil, Chile, Australia and Hong Kong, has been a member of Hamburg Süd’s Management Board since 2012.

Some of the Logistics Items You May Have Missed

DENMARK – Like most maritime nations, and indeed the logistics industry worldwide, female representation is sadly lacking throughout. Now Danish Shipping, the trade and employer organisation for more than 90 ship owners and offshore companies which control 95% of the country's home flagged merchant fleet, want to introduce more women to the maritime sector.

Dubai Takes the Initiative with Own Silk Road Strategy

UAE – At this year's World Economic Forum, Dubai took the opportunity to launch its World Logistics Passport, a major Dubai initiative to boost 'South-South' trade. The initiative links Customs World, DP World, and the Emirates Group to enhance connectivity through Dubai and, through expertise sharing and process development directly between partner countries. A pilot project operational since July 2019 has, it is claimed, increased trade by participants by 10%.

Kidnappings for Ransom Are a Favourite Source of Cash

WORLDWIDE – Despite overall piracy incidents declining in 2019, there was an alarming increase in crew kidnappings across the Gulf of Guinea, according to the International Chamber of Commerce's International Maritime Bureau's (IMB) annual piracy report.

Double Payments to Boost Cleaner Vehicle Sales and Larger Firms and Road Haulage Trucks Eligible

UK – In a move which will please road haulage interests and, as part of the Mayor of London's action to tackle dirty air across the capital, Sadiq Khan has announced a series of measures that will accelerate the move to cleaner vehicles across the capital, which include plans to double payments for his van scrappage scheme to £7,000, with £9,500 also now available to those switching to electric vans.

The Forgotten Industry is Starting to Get Noticed

UK – WeAreTheCity, an organisation that helps promote female talent in the UK, have announced a new category for its annual Top 100 Rising Star Awards. With the help of industry advocate Anna Delvecchio of Amey and CILT UK, WeAreTheCity have introduced a category for Transport and Logistics to this year's proceedings, joining 20 other industry sectors and professions as part of the annual awards.

Canadian Scientists Say This Could Solve an Old Problem

CANADA – WORLDWIDE – Whilst the UK government still considers a formal ban on tyres over 10 years old, and has advised against the use of these on the front axles of commercial vehicles in its latest guide to roadworthiness, the problem of recycling them remains.

Beluga Has Largest Cargo Bay Cross Section of Any Aircraft Worldwide

WORLDWIDE – The BelugaXL specialist freight aircraft has entered into service, providing Airbus with 30% extra cargo transport capacity in order to support the on-going production ramp-up of commercial aircraft programmes.

European and Middle East Freight Partnership

SWITZERLAND – DUBAI – EUROPE – DP World and container terminal operator Swissterminal Holding have entered a strategic partnership, which will see the Dubai based port group take a 44% stake in Swissterminal from this week. The Mayer family, who founded the business, remaining the majority shareholder.

Survey Reveals 2 out of 3 Drivers Agree

UK – When the plans for the high speed rail project HS2 was first mooted it is doubtful that the government of the day realised just how controversial the route might prove. What it certainly should have been aware of however was that, like so many such schemes in the past, costs would run up to levels far higher than the original figures put forward.

EU Cash Backs Autonomous Shipping Trial

NORWAY – EUROPE – Horizon 2020, an EU research programme, has granted funds of over €20 million to a cluster of Norwegian interests to install and test autonomous technology on two vessels in different operational environments. This is one of the largest grants ever given to players from that country.

Brexit Concerns Spurs Logistics Lobby Group Into Action

UK – The latest government proposal regarding bringing forward restrictions on EU migrants deemed to be 'low-skilled', and going against the two year time limited route in Theresa May's original plans, will worsen the severe labour shortage in the logistics sector, according to the Freight Transport Association (FTA).

New Study Estimates Eye Popping Expense to Clean Up Trade

WORLDWIDE – According to a new study by University Maritime Advisory Services (UMAS) and the Energy Transitions Commission for the Getting to Zero Coalition, estimates that the scale of investment needed to decarbonise the international shipping industry could potentially reach an eye-popping, headline-catching US$1 trillion.

Statement Offers to Pay Fair Compensation but No Signs as Yet

DJIBOUTI – Last week we published the latest in an ongoing series of articles regarding the seizure of the Doraleh container freight terminal from the concessionary operator, DP World, by the government or its agents. The article indicated that, for the sixth time, the London Court of Arbitration, agreed referee in the case of contractual disputes, had found against the Djiboutian authorities.

New Boys Weigh in with Revised Freight Calculator and Old Argument

WORLDWIDE – It is not only one of the oldest chestnuts in logistics, but one that would make little sense to an outsider (or a lot of insiders for that matter). The relativity of tonnage set against cubic capacity. Whether you hark back to 80 cubic feet to the imperial ton for a British road haulage outfit, (or the later one tonne equivalent to three cubic metres), or the 1/1 ratio for LCL ocean transport, the system is back under the spotlight for air cargo.

A Chance to Get Up Close and Personal with Those Who Influence the Industry

UK – This year's United Kingdom Warehouse Association (UKWA) National Conference will once again be held at the Hallmark Queen Hotel, Chester, this time on 3-4 March 2020, with the theme 'Next Generation Logistics'.

Similar Technology to That Used in Six Million Dollar Threat in London

US – WORLDWIDE – Those in the world of logistics are getting used to cyber crime stories, many just praying they will not be personally affected. Whilst the case for paying a ransom to pirates who have kidnapped the innocent crew of a merchant ship and are keeping them in appalling conditions is an easy one to be made, when no direct threat to life exists the choice to pay is much tougher to justify.

Shipping Line Cuts Costs Even Further After Reflagging Vessels

UK – The ongoing row regarding the crewing of flag of convenience ferries in British waters and flouting pay and conditions which would not be tolerated on a UK flagged vessel continues to simmer, and is now subject to yet another attack from maritime union the RMT.

Danger Lies Ahead for US - Middle East Relations

IRAN – US – MIDDLE EAST – The world watches with bated breath, as so often the case when the politics in the Middle East turn sour. It is now two weeks since a US drone strike ended the career of General Qasem Soleimani, assassinated in Baghdad. The killing resulted in an immediate response from Iran.

(...but probably didn't yet read)

UK – The first visit to a port in 2020 by the Maritime Minister Nusrat Ghani MP was to take a look at the upgrading under way at the Port of Felixstowe to its RoRo facilities which will give access to larger roll on roll off ships and increase efficiency in handling traffic. The works, which are due to be completed before the end of the Brexit transition period, include the lengthening of the ports No.3 RoRo berth and the replacement of the current hydraulic ramp at No.4 RoRo berth with a larger floating linkspan.

Who is Heading Where This Week

WORLDWIDE – Starting the latest staff changes in the freight and logistics sectors, BIMCO has announced David Loosley as its new Secretary General and CEO, effective in June. Loosley joins from the Institute of Marine Engineering Science & Technology (IMarEST), which he has led for the last eight years.

BIFA Lunch Packs in Common Sense, Humour and a Decent Meal

UK – The first, and for many in the industry the best, of the annual shipping industry award ceremonies, is the British International Freight Association (BIFA) Awards, held today for the 31st consecutive year at the Brewery in Chiswell Street, London. This always proves a place for many rival freight forwarders to meet up in an amicable atmosphere, have a good meal, and talk business.

International Pastoral and Practical Help Available

WORLDWIDE – Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea) has launched a brand new version of its global port chaplains' directory which helps seafarers get quick access to pastoral and practical support wherever they may be in the world.

First Use of Technology Which is Less Invasive and Intrusive

UK – The labour and training provider for ports and port related businesses, Precision Stevedores, has selected the drug testing solution developed by Intelligent Fingerprinting to help support its active employee drug policy at leading UK ports. The test kits available register the use of illicit substances more commonly in use recreationally such as opiates, methamphetamine, cocaine and cannabis.

Bridge Watch May Never be the Same Again

UK – WORLDWIDE – Robosys Automation will launch the latest version of its Voyager 100 series software for commercial vessels at the Maritime Research Institute (MARIN) in Wageningen, Netherlands on 29 and 30 January. Robosys claims this is the first and only software system developed specifically to support bridge watchkeepers and describe it as a 24/7 'Junior Officer of the Watch'.

Maritime Carriage Practices are Evolving for a Cleaner Future

WORLDWIDE – MISC Berhad, Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI), Lloyd's Register (LR) and MAN Energy Solutions have announced that they will work together on a joint development project for an ammonia-fuelled tanker to support shipping's drive towards a decarbonised future.

New Agreement Extends Decade Long Relationship

UK – Two UK-based subsidiaries of International railroad group, Genesee & Wyoming (G&W), intermodal rail freight provider, Freightliner, and container logistics supplier, Pentalver have selected Tideworks, a full-service provider of comprehensive terminal operating system (TOS) solutions, as the intermodal solutions provider for their UK rail and container terminal network.

Non Levy Payers Now to be Included in Scheme

UK – The Association of Employment and Learning Providers (AELP) has stated that 40% of SME's applying for apprenticeship grants are being rejected due to the fact they are not eligible for the government Apprenticeship Levy Scheme by way of simply being too small.

Shipping Executive Brought to Trial in the US After a Decade

US – NETHERLANDS – ITALY – Maria Christina 'Meta' Ullings, the former Senior Vice President of Cargo Sales and Marketing for Martinair and a Dutch national, has been extradited from Italy to the US to face charges for her alleged role in a long-running worldwide conspiracy to fix prices of air cargo. The decision however has sent waves of dissent amongst some in the logistics industry who feel it has elements of a witch hunt.

Logistics Operator Wins Sixth Court Victory but Will Government Pay Up?

DJIBOUTI – UK – DUBAI – If the court battle between DP World, the international ports and logistics operator, and the government of Djibouti over the Doraleh container terminal was a test match series, by now the latter's captain and selectors would have been dismissed, their supporters quit and quite possibly many fans suicidal.

Customs Training Cash to Prepare for Brexit Must be Applied for Immediately

UK – There is definitely a more relaxed mood in the country since the landslide election of a Conservative government, a victory largely based on the premise that at least the spectre of Brexit was about to disappear regardless of individual opinions.

Princess is as Always a Major Supporter of Logistics in Britain

UK – With the news that that Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal will be the guest of honour at the UK Chamber of Shipping's Annual Dinner being held at the London Hilton hotel on 3 February, it is worth considering just what a contribution the lady herself makes to the logistics industry, and indeed to many other spheres of British life.

April Deadline for Change Concentrates Minds

EUROPE – WORLDWIDE – The row over the EU Consortia Block Exemption Regulation (CBER), the device whereby shipping lines are allowed to exchange information and to co-operate so that they can provide 'consortia services' to and from EU ports, continues to brew, with global container carriers firmly in the centre of the controversy.

Slow Negotiations Prompt Industrial Action from Wharfies

AUSTRALIA – It appears that, whilst dock workers in New South Wales press on in the effort to support those stricken by the horrendous bush fires sweeping the region, 4,000 kilometres to the west members of the same workers' grouping, the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), have gone on strike in a dispute over working agreements.

Staff Needed Right Along the Transport Supply Chain

UK – Hotel Football in Manchester will see the Develop Conference from event organisers Talent in Logistics kick off on January 22 and a full list of speakers has been announced to address an event designed to support instructors, trainers, professional training providers and internal training teams who are responsible for developing people in logistics and transport operations.

Hope Springs as Barriers Come Down

UK – The decision to remove the physical barriers put in place to control traffic should the much maligned Operation Brock be instituted, are to be taken down the government said today. It is estimated the removal works, starting on Monday January 13, will take a fortnight, and this action could well be taken as a metaphor for the process of Brexit itself.

(and a suitable anecdote to remember him by)

UK – WORLDWIDE – We start the appointments and departures this week with the sad news of the demise of a stalwart of the UK maritime and logistics insurance industry with the recent death of Peter Lole, who carved out a niche in the industry and was, by all accounts, universally liked by those throughout the shipping sector who had dealings with him.

A Chance to Catch Up on the Smaller Items You May Have Missed

AUSTRALIA –This week's short pieces of freight and logistics news bring an announcement that a three-year project to design, manufacture and test the country's first yellow submarine will begin next month. The fully reconfigurable Australian Research Experimental Submarine (ARES) will be used for hydrodynamic and crew efficiency testing of future submarine designs. A full business case is still being finalised ahead of the kick-off meeting in Adelaide, South Australia, in February.

Legal Whipping Scheduled as Container Lashing Row Intensifies

NETHERLANDS – EUROPE – CANADA – A row is brewing over the so called 'Dockers' Clause', an amendment to the internationally agreed contracts between unions and maritime employers which set out all aspects of work to be undertaken with regard to the loading and crewing of ships.

Great and the Good Gather in Belgium in February

BELGIUM – EUROPE – WORLDWIDE – European Shipping Week will take place this year between the 17th - 21st February and the list of Flagship Conference speakers is a who's who of some of the big hitters in the shipping industry and associated sectors.

Cruise Ports Suffer More than Container and Freight Facilities

AUSTRALIA – Many people throughout the shipping industry will have been concerned at how the horrific chain of bushfires, the worst in history by a country mile, is affecting the logistics sector, and with everybody in the hardest hit areas involved too busy to take to social media or comment, news forthcoming has been sparse.

'Cold Ironing' Does Not Refer to Collars and Cuffs

FRANCE – Rather than being a revolutionary way to press one's shirts, 'cold ironing' is in fact a sensible way to eliminate auxiliary engine emissions from vessels whilst on berth, thereby improving air quality and reducing noise pollution. This week the Port of Dunkirk saw a new such service inaugurated, with the call of the CMA CGM container ship APL Singapura.

Major Changes to HGV Technology Will Be Demanded

UK – The Road Haulage Association (RHA) has published its strategy paper which sets out the Association's approach to decarbonising the freight and logistics sector in the years to come. With the environment a key point of the recent General Election, the paper calls on the new Government to develop a freight roadmap which delivers the stepping stones needed to achieve a net zero carbon future.

UK Freight Forwarder However Contradicts Saying Space is Ever Harder to Find

WORLDWIDE – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released data for global air freight markets showing that demand, measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTKs), decreased by 1.1% in November 2019, compared to the same period in 2018. This marks the thirteenth consecutive month of year-on-year declines in freight volumes.

As New Parliament Gets Under Way Lobby Groups Speak Out on What Concerns Them

UK – A trio of at first glance apparently unrelated stories from around the transport sector together give a flavour of the dissenting mood with regard to working in different branches of the modern logistics industry and beyond.

Useful Guide Published Illustrating Risk and Response

UK – WORLDWIDE – Many companies, particularly those in service industries such as freight forwarding agencies, road and rail haulage outfits and indeed major shipping companies, are choosing to ignore a giant elephant in the room. That is the responsibilities they have to clients, not to mention their own staff, when it comes to that most 21st Century threat, lack of cyber security.

After Nineteen Days Adrift Rescue Comes Thanks to a Perceived Enemy

GULF OF ADEN – As tensions spiral between the two countries comes the somewhat ironic news of a rescue at sea of three Iranian seamen found drifting in the waters of the gulf by a US flagged container ship, the Maersk Kinloss, and who had been left to their own fate by other passing vessels.

'Independent Review Impossible' says ex Deputy Chair of Government's Own Report

UK – Be careful what you wish for seems to be a suitable adage for those proponents of the HS2 rail project after Lord Berkeley, the former Chairman of the Rail Freight Group (RFG), and former Deputy Chair of the Oakervee Review commissioned by the Government to evaluate the future of HS2, decided to issue his own 70 page report evaluating the status of the scheme and his suggestions for its future.

Irish Branch Gains AEO Status to Ease Customs Procedures Concerns

IRELAND – It is a big year for independent freight forwarding group Davies Turner which celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2020. The first bit of good news comes however, not from the Dartford, Kent headquarters, but from Dublin where Davies Turner Ireland (DTI) has been granted Authorised Economic Operator AEO (Type C) status by Irish Revenue.

Deal Agreed on One of Europe's Busiest Facilities

NETHERLANDS – The long vaunted deal whereby APM Terminals had to sell off its Rotterdam container handling facility allegedly at the behest of the European Commission (EC), seems to have been ratified with the signing of a letter of intent with Hutchison Ports.

With War Risk Insurance Policies Already High the Threat of More Revenge Maritime Attacks Has Grown

IRAN – THE GULF – WORLDWIDE – The assassination of General Soleimani, commander of Iran's Quds Force, by an American drone strike in Baghdad last night is likely to have far-reaching consequences all across the region, and will probably affect the future of shipping in the region.

Ship Operators Need to Heed Local Scrubber Restrictions

BAHRAIN – EGYPT – Two more Middle Eastern regions have spoken up on the use of open loop scrubbers to clean the exhaust emissions of vessels in transit. Whilst the Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has said there will be no conditions or restrictions put on fuel oil or open-loop exhaust gas cleaning systems for vessels entering or transiting, the Bahraini authorities have taken a very different line.

Next Decade Likely to See Unprecedented Development

WORLDWIDE – We open the New Year with a look forward to the future of the electrification of trucks. The next decade is likely to see giant changes in the power trains of vehicles right across the commercial spectrum with the advancement of lithium ion battery technology proceeding apace whilst those advocating hydrogen as the source of the electricity search for the technology necessary to make its production ever more affordable in terms of the energy required.