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Cargo Service Capacity Increased by 60 Percent

UK – WORLDWIDE – There have always been complaints from forwarding agents and road haulage operators that, where freight is shipped alongside passengers, carriers often prioritise travellers during peak seasons, so as to maximise their profits.

The Weekly Industry Staff Announcements

WORLDWIDE – XPO Logistics has announced the senior leadership team for the intended spin-off of the company’s logistics segment. The spin-off will result in separate businesses with clearly delineated service offerings: XPORemainCo, a global provider of less-than-truckload (LTL) and truck brokerage transportation services; and NewCo, a contract logistics provider.

Some Relevant Items That Never Made the Headlines

UK – The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has granted the British Standards Institution (BSI) approval for UKCA product marking. This new marking is required for placing relevant regulated products on the market in England, Scotland and Wales from 1 January 2021. BSI will also continue to be a Notified Body for the Northern Ireland market.

Simultaneous Legislation by the EU Threatens Chaos

UK – EUROPE – Back in November we wrote of the potential problems faced by anyone in the US importing goods, due to the restrictions being imposed by the Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Prevention Act (STOP Act). The legislation was designed to curb the trafficking by post of illicit substances. Now it seems those affected are facing a 'double whammy'.

RoRo Landing Facilities Improved on Key Route

UK – Ferry landing points often throw up a myriad of hitherto unseen problems. As RoRo ships change routes and find themselves in different harbours, so the anomalies can prove both costly and time consuming.

Name Change from March

NORWAY – DNV GL, the assurance and risk management company, will change its name to DNV on 1 March 2021. The move comes after a comprehensive review of the company's strategy as it positions itself for a world in which many of DNV's markets are undergoing fundamental change.

Latest Ship is 'A Swiss Army Knife'

GERMANY – WORLDWIDE – The offshore renewables sector is about to welcome a new contender in the rapidly expanding market for offshore wind. With Harren & Partner's addition of the versatile jack-up vessel Wind Lift I to its fleet, the launch of SAL Renewables confirms a position as a specialised provider for offshore wind services and installation.

Taiwanese Box Carrier Announces Joint Venture

FRANCE – TAIWAN – The Yang Ming Marine Transport group, after a forty year agency agreement with CLB Liner, part of the French NAXCO group, has formed Yang Ming (France) SAS, a joint venture with that group, to expand the Taiwanese line's investment in the French market.

'Pirate' Reportedly Inebriated

US – The US Coast Guard station at Key West has long been at the forefront of the battle to protect the seas around America's shores. From drug cartels to the agents of hostile foreign states, the 'Coasties' in southern Florida need to be ready for anything. As a result, they were the perfect people to deal with a recent vessel hijacking.

Not Everyone is Happy However After Months of Service Issues

UK – The news that the Hutchison Ports managed Port of Felixstowe has been selected as part of the government's 5G Trials and Testbeds Programme met with mixed reactions when it was announced.

Work Ceases as Row Continues to Simmer

AUSTRALIA – It appears the ongoing row between the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and the A P Moller Maersk group is continuing unabated. According to the union last year Maersk Supply Service sought to have its members paid international rates, something that was dismissed out of hand.

Award Winners to be Announced by Video

UK – Despite the disappointment of not being able to celebrate the event as a live, and always entertaining celebration of industry achievement, for the 2020 British International Freight Association (BIFA) Awards there will still be an opportunity to witness the announcement of the winners.

Available Technology Enables Safer High Racked Storage Options

UK – With pressure growing on warehouse keepers to maximise the use of space the only option for many, to avoid extra rental costs, is to go up, that is to increase racking heights and optimise what they have available.

Latest in Series to Make Maritime Operations Safer

UK – WORLDWIDE – Health and Safety is often sniffed at by cynics but at sea risks are ever present, and good practice is required every step of the way to ensure the safety of ships, crew, dockers and lightermen etc.

Plans To Offer Training Across North America and Europe

US – UK – XPO Logistics has announced it is entering into a new partnership with Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) to further the company's stance against human trafficking. To this end the company is donating $25,000 in corporate sponsorship to help fund TAT's efforts to eradicate trafficking by training commercial drivers to recognize potential traffickers and victims, as well as encouraging their drivers in the United States and Europe to undertake training courses.

Battle to Upgrade Industry's Green Credentials

UK – WORLDWIDE – With the decarbonisation of the maritime sector taking such a major place in the global fight against climate change, Lloyd's Register (LR) has taken a significant step toward the administration and implementation of its Maritime Decarbonisation Hub, launched in October 2020 and dedicated to the cause.

Some Bits and Pieces You May Have Missed During Lockdown

UK – Altrad Services UK, which operates a 1,460 strong vehicle fleet servicing the energy industries has apparently seen drastically improved driver behaviour, slashed incident rates and almost halved costs from fines and repairs following the installation of telematics data technology from Trakm8. Matthew Hammond, Head of Fleet, Plant and Equipment at Altrad Services, said:

Staff Appointments and Departure News This Week

US – The first round-up of appointments for 2021 was meant to start with President-Elect Joe Biden’s nomination of former Mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg, to the role of Secretary of the US Department of Transportation, but continuing on from the 2020 trend of astounding events, current Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has announced her resignation in the wake of Trump’s response over the insurrection of the US Capitol by pro-Trump rioters.

A Double Assassination and Billions of Dollars to Say the Least

PERSIAN GULF – The seizure of a South Korean owned tanker off the coast of Oman on Monday continues to concern and frustrate a variety of stakeholders. When military forces reportedly from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard boarded the 17,500 dwt Hankuk Chemi they apparently issued just a few minutes warning.

UK Freight Transport Lobby Group Release Study

UK – If it has achieved nothing else the Covid-19 pandemic has at least focused attention on the logistics industry and its essential nature to such as politicians and the mainstream press. Now a new report from one of the industry lobby groups takes a look at how the pandemic has affected logistics businesses and the steps they have taken to overcome the panoply of challenges.

History Repeats Itself on River Thames

UK – How history repeats itself. A century or so ago the middle stretches of the River Thames were home to dozens of wharves serviced by a fleet of countless barges carrying commodities of every type. Now with a universal call for sustainability and lower emissions, water borne freight is again making an overdue comeback.

Change of Tack as Acquisitions Become the Aim

US – WORLDWIDE – Changing times for SEKO Logistics which has seen its key shareholder since 2015, New York-based private equity firm Greenbriar Equity Group LP become a minority investor with Charlotte-based middle market buyout and growth equity investor Ridgemont Equity Partners stepping up to add the 3PL and global freight forwarder to its portfolio.

Staff Changes and Upgraded Digital Systems for Major European Freight Hub

NETHERLANDS – Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is restructuring its Cargo Division, bringing it into its new Aviation Business Development Division under the umbrella of business unit Airport Operations and Aviation Partnerships, from the first of March 2021.

Immediate Acceptance of the Importance of the Entire Supply Chain

UK – Peter Ward, CEO of the United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA) must be thinking, along with the rest of the country, if only the government had reacted as decisively and rapidly to the Covid-19 crisis as they appear to have done today.

Meanwhile Freight Rates Also Hold Up

WORLDWIDE – With the pandemic wreaking havoc in the airline industry only the levels of freight carried have maintained anything like normal, and even increased levels.

Meanwhile e-commerce Changes Delivery Status

UK – The head of the United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA), CEO Peter Ward, has called for the government to confirm 'essential worker' status for all those operating in the logistics sector without delay.

Employment Holds the Key to Prosperity

UK – Nobody could accuse the companies behind the bid for a new Freeport on the banks of the River Thames of being slow off the mark or lacking in enthusiasm with regard to the proposed scheme. With Brexit out of the way the hype is building around a development which its supporters say could transform the economy and employment prospects of the region.

Meanwhile Agents Get Advice to Prevent Wildlife Trafficking

UK – WORLDWIDE – Now that the UK has finally left the European Union it has proved necessary for the British International Freight Association (BIFA) to issue an upgraded version of the organisation's Standard Trading Conditions (STC) which every reputable UK freight forwarding agent uses as a basis for their core business.

Professional Mariners Union Sums Up the Mood of the Industry and Raises Some Concerns

UK – EUROPE – Considering the importance of the event many stakeholders have seemed somewhat reticent when it comes to passing comment on the quality of the deal under which Britain finally exited the EU.

New Year Also Welcomes Decarbonisation Initiative

FRANCE – SPAIN – CROATIA – A busy start to 2021 apparently for some European ports, leading off with the news of the development of a major dry bulk terminal at the Port of Le Havre.

Major Sell Off of Logistics Business Completed

UK – It was back in March 2020, just as the country entered its first major lockdown in an attempt to stop the virus in its tracks, we reported that Swiss headquartered freight forwarding giant Kuehne + Nagel was selling off its British contract logistics interests to another industry behemoth.

Jones Act Regulations Now Extend to Offshore Energy Production

US – Any overseas company which had hoped that the centenary year of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, the 'Jones Act' might mean a loosening of the regulations which insist upon domestic shipping being carried on US built, crewed and maintained vessels, will have had hopes dashed by the latest legislation.