Shipping Search - Archive

Fifth Month of Dropping Volumes

WORLDWIDE – The latest figures from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) show that global air freight posted a 2.7% contraction for September compared to September 2010. This is a further deterioration from the 2.4% decline recorded in August and means that air cargo demand has dropped for the fifth consecutive month.

TIACA Warns of consequence for court decision

FRANKFURT, GERMANY - Night-time flight bans at major airports will come at a high economic and environmental price warns The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) as the trade body steps up calls for the Federal German court to overturn the decision by the Hesse Administrative High Court in Germany to ban night flights at Frankfurt Airport earlier this month.

Second Multimodal Facility Opens

UK – Felixstowe-headquartered Maritime Transport has opened a new, rail-connected logistics hub at Tilbury, the company’s second new rail freight development in as many years and it’s first move in the planned development of a network of ‘portcentric’ facilities to provide greater support to customers and their international supply chains.

BACA Select Volga-Dnepr Yet Again

RUSSIA – UK – WORLDWIDE – For the third year running this month saw Volga-Dnepr, with its fleet of specialist AN-124-100 and IL-76 ramp freight carrying aircraft and the world’s largest transporter of outsize and heavyweight air cargo, voted ‘Best Cargo Charter Airline’ at the Baltic Air Charter Association’s (BACA) prestigious annual awards.

FTA Cough Up But This Means YOU!

UK – MADAGASCAR - WORLDWIDE – If you are involved in the freight and logistics sector, whether a freight forwarder, cargo handler or simply floating around somewhere in the supply chain and you, or someone in your organisation, possesses an adventurous spirit your help is needed with the latest money raising scheme for transport charity Transaid. Fundraisers who take part in the nine day cycle event in June 2012 will travel across Madagascar's diverse north-east coast, a lush tropical paradise with all manner of rare and wonderful flora and fauna.

Private Security Personnel Will Be Licensed to Carry Arms Aboard British Flagged Ships

UK – SOMALIA – WORLDWIDE – Speaking on the BBC’s Andrew Marr show this morning Prime Minister David Cameron has revealed that the UK is to take a much harder line with regard to the scandal of pirate gangs attacking shipping in the Indian Ocean. The PM described the current policy of releasing alleged pirates due to lack of will to prosecute as ‘ludicrous’ and revealed he has sanctioned the use of armed guards on British flagged freight, container and passenger vessels transiting the danger zone.

Express Freighters Australia and Atlas Expected to Continue Normal Flight Patterns

AUSTRALIA – WORLDWIDE – As we foretold two months ago the Qantas dispute has become increasingly strife ridden and today (Saturday) the airline has announced a moratorium on all domestic and international passenger services until further notice. The airline assures us that freight operations by cargo carrying subsidiaries Express Freighters Australia and Atlas will be unaffected but just how much cargo travels by way of scheduled passenger flights is uncertain and presumably relies on routes and volume. Other branches of the company, QantasLink, Jetstar and Jetconnect are also not involved in the dispute.

Russian Rail Auction Over Almost Before It Began

RUSSIA – So the man with the money won against the guy with the influence. That appears to be the interpretation as the bidding for Freight One, the rail cargo arm of Russian Railways, went immediately to Vladimir Lisin, widely touted as the richest man in Russia with a net worth estimated at around $24 billion, and the boss of transport group Universal Cargo Logistics Holding (UCLH), who won control of 75% of the company (less two shares) with his first bid.

International Control Centre Will Monitor Global Event

SPAIN – IRELAND – TRANSWORLD – All of the major shipping players like to demonstrate their craft by supporting high profile events and DHL have announced they will be supplying the full range of freight forwarding and venue logistics services for the 11th Volvo Ocean Race, the world’s premier round-the world yacht race starting in Alicante, Spain, on the 29th October. Using a combination of container, air cargo and road haulage services DHL will endeavour to guarantee the smooth running of the event by way of its various business units.

Development of the Subcontinents Infrastructure Vital to Growth

INDIA – Following our story last month that the Asian Development Bank were to lend Indian Railways up to half a billion dollars for rail infrastructure development it seems everybody now wants to hand over cash to aid the country’s rail freight links. The World Bank has now agreed to lend $975 million for the development of the much lauded Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor.

French Road Haulage Operator Continues Development in Other Sectors

FRANCE - UK – WORLDWIDE – Some freight transport organisations, particularly road haulage operators, develop an iconic status simply by the volume of their vehicles or containers travelling a country’s roads (Eddie Stobart fans step forward). Norbert Dentressangle is another logistics group which tends to impress itself on the observer’s mind simply by constant brand awareness and (to the British eye) a certain quirkiness in the name.

More Training Needed to Avoid Fatalities in the Supply Chain

UK - WORLDWIDE – The phrase ‘out of sight, out of mind’ was conceived long before the advent of the shipping container but could have been coined for the invisible happenings within 20 and 40 foot boxes. This week comes a timely reminder from freight mutual insurance experts the TT Club that loading a shipping container safely requires a high degree of competence from freight professionals if potentially fatal accidents are to be avoided.

RZD Shows Its Cultural Side as Freight One Sale Starts

RUSSIA – SPAIN -Two contrasting events in the next few days take place this week in the world of the country’s rail transport. The long awaited auctioning off of three quarters of Freight One, Russian Railways (RZD) cargo carrying subsidiary, proceeds today with all eyes fixed on the two main contenders, Vladimir Lisin, boss of Universal Cargo Logistics Holdings (amongst other things) and Vladimir Putin’s old judo buddy Gennady Timochenko who heads up the Gunvor oil group.

Cory Complete Heavy Lift Movement

UK – KENYA – Logistics specialist Cory Brothers has just completed a project freight forwarding contract by shipping a specialist vessel from Pembrokeshire to Kenya for commercial boat builder Mustang Marine. Our picture shows the Nahoda II, a 22.4m pilot boat which will be used by the Kenyan Port Authority in the Port of Mombasa, being winched aboard one of Belgian headquartered OXL’s heavy lift vessels.

Lobbying by FTA Helps Head Off Restrictions as New Polish - UK Service Opens

UK – POLAND -The Freight Transport Association (FTA) say a threat to the future growth of the UK’s rail freight market has been avoided following news that the EU’s Non-Road Mobile Machinery Directive has been altered to allow more flexibility to produce railway engines. Although the Directive has yet to be ratified officially the ‘flexibility package’ now included, which could see a maximum of sixteen locomotive engines and a further ten extra engines available just for the UK market, has been written in to the text.

Rise in Income Despite Unstable Markets

UAE – Freight and logistics group Aramex, which transferred from the NASDAQ in 2002 to trade on its native Dubai Financial Market, has revealed third quarter figures demonstrating a jump in revenue of 19% to AED 651 million with a net profit up 3% to AED 48 million. The group trades in fifty six countries and Fadi Ghandour, Aramex founder and CEO, admits that some of the company’s traditional markets in North Africa and the Middle East are proving difficult at the moment saying:

New Company Pledges Neutrality

GERMANY – WORLDWIDE – There is a new player in the air charter market with the launch of specialist Neo Air Charter by Adnan Duran (former Director of Business Development for Chapman Freeborn Airchartering Group), as Managing Partner and the company has pledged it will deal exclusively with freight forwarders. Duran says Neo is fully operational, and has already fixed a number of charters for well-known forwarders and will work exclusively through freight agents, serving all charter markets including automotive, relief, ships’ spares, AOG, military, projects, oil and gas, power generation, and livestock and bloodstock.

Koch Addresses House of Representatives Committee on Port Futures

US – A statement given on the ‘Economic Importance of Seaports’ yesterday by Christopher Koch, President and CEO of the World Shipping Council (WSC), covered many points which will be of interest to freight forwarders and other logistics professionals who have any stake in the American commercial transport market. Despite the proposed subject, interests from road haulage and rail freight sectors will find points valid to their concerns as well as deep sea container shipping groups.

When Will Flag Nations Commit To Action?

SOMALIA – WORLDWIDE – Following open letters between the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and SHAPE’s Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, US Navy Admiral James Stavridis, the ITF have today welcomed the Admiral’s comments regarding future policies for dealing with the ever worsening piracy situation both in the Indian Ocean and across the world. As we pointed out in a previous article in which we interviewed NATO’s Rear Admiral Ort there has been a lack of will when it comes to prosecuting those who hijack freight and other vessels with impunity and are the scourge of modern shipping.

Paint and Monitoring Companies Join Forces

WORLDWIDE – Every sizeable company in the shipping and logistics industries are dedicating some resources to improving their environmental performance and now two organisations in entirely separate fields have joined forces in a bid to deliver demonstrable and transparent improvements in performance, efficiency and environmental emissions for the global shipping fleet.

New Centre of Excellence for Mooring Design Experts

INDIA - Trelleborg Marine Systems is typical of many manufacturers and suppliers so often found in the freight sector where logistics companies often observe, and indeed use, a product essential to the handling of cargo through the supply chain on a daily basis whilst hardly noticing it. The Trelleborg group produces a range of items, mainly based on advanced polymer technology, ranging from damp proofing to wheels but the Marine subsidiary is primarily known for its docking and mooring range which safeguards the hulls of ships as they bump up against quays around the globe.

$230,000 Stolen Yet Again Says Union

PHILIPPINES - UK – GERMANY – In an incredible story the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) tell us that a case in which they had become involved has taken yet another bizarre twist with a container ships crew being robbed of their wages not once or twice but THREE times. Earlier this month a routine inspection of the freighter, the Gibraltar flagged Philipp, apparently revealed evidence of a double book keeping scam showing that crew had received into their banks $230,000 less than the amount shown as being paid in wages.

US Scheme Champions Those Who Help to Clean Up Trucking

US- The SmartWay partnership, pioneered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a collaboration with private sector partners intended to clean up the commercial transport sector, primarily the movement of freight by road haulage. This month those individuals within the logistics sector who have promoted the cause have been honoured by being made ‘SmartWay Champions’.

More Cash for Those Countries in Trouble

EUROPE – For a body which has failed to ever produce audited accounts the EU seems very keen on distributing cash to promote greater union in the Community. The latest announcement from Brussels last week promised €50 billion in investment - €31.7 billion of which is to improve private and freight transport infrastructure. The commission further stated that it believed €500 billion would be needed by 2020 to realise a true pan European transport infrastructure, including €250 billion for removing bottlenecks and completing missing links in the core network.

Tight Market Means Cargo Handling Facilities Have to be Up to Scratch

UK – Whilst many in the freight and logistics industries look toward the future with some trepidation it seems the country’s port operators realise that to survive they must invest and make their locations of interest to as many as possible. We recently saw how Felixstowe was investing in deep water terminals to enable the port to compete with European rivals as well as the developing London Gateway scheme being constructed on the Thames.

Radlett Enquiry Should Not Reopen Say Council

UK – Once again the controversy which inevitably surrounds logistics developments, particularly intermodal terminals, is back in the news. The development of the old Radlett aerodrome in Hertfordshire as a strategic rail freight interchange was dismissed by Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, as we reported in July but swiftly followed by an appeal in the High Court by developers HelioSlough.

Cargoitalia Open New Specialist Division

ITALY – WORLDWIDE – All freight air carrier Cargoitalia says it has seen a dramatic increase in the company’s charter work including ACMI (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance & Insurance) contracts and has responded by the establishment of a new division, Cargoitalia Ondemand, to cope with the growth in the sector. The all cargo company has appointed newly-promoted Giacomo Sciuto to head up the operation.

Must not fuel inflation warns trade body

UK – The British Road Haulage Association has warned that it predicts that fuel prices will be pushed even higher over the coming weeks as a result of a weakened Pound, resulting in the costs of oil increasing in the last six weeks, and that this increase will see UK inflation figures rise if not dealt with by the British government.

Multiple skiffs make attack

RED SEA - A maritime security alert has been issued for the southern Red Sea after a vessel reportedly came under attack by three groups of five to ten skiffs on three separate occasions in quick succession at 0600 local time on 20 October.

Get your ticker overhauled

AUSTRALIA - To coincide with National Safe Work Australia Week, BP Plus – in cooperation with the Australian Trucking Association - is offering free heart health checks to its transport customers.

Hactl continues to invest for success

HONG KONG – Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Ltd’s (Hactl) SuperTerminal 1 – the world’s largest independent air cargo handling facility – will migrate to a totally new cargo management system in December 2011, following almost three years’ development and a HK$240million (USD31million/EUR22million/GBP19million) investment.

Company continue to blaze trail

AFGHANISTAN / IRAQ / MONGOLIA – Specialist freight service providers Move One Logistics have announced the opening of three new facilities in Asia to help provide their customers with improved services in some of the most difficult operating regions on Earth.

New Train Shipments Clinch Decision

BILBAO / SPAIN - Rickmers-Linie, the German liner specialist for project cargoes and heavy lifts, will be making regular monthly calls at the Port of Bilbao in Northern Spain. The decision has been prompted by increased demand for specialist services at the port, including a major contract Rickmers has won to ship high-speed trains built by Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) from Bilbao to Dammam in Saudi Arabia.

VP flies in to mark occasion

LONDON, UK – American Airlines Cargo division has celebrated 20 years of flying directly between London Heathrow and the USA with a reception for more than 100 of its key cargo customers. Vice President Cargo, Joe Reedy flew into the UK capital to mark the event and spend time with the carrier's biggest cargo supporters.

Three mile effort raises money for charity

LEEDS / UK - A team of 32 colleagues from South and West Yorkshire Mercedes-Benz dealer Northside Truck & Van demonstrated how to run a mighty Actros tractor unit without burning a single drop of fuel – by pulling it for three miles across Leeds!

More Money Needed to Encourage Modal Shift

SCOTLAND – The UK’s Rail Freight Group (RFG) has warned the Scottish Government that its climate change targets are threatened by Spending Review plans which the body claims leave no obvious or adequately funded grant mechanism for achieving freight modal shift from road to rail.

Replacement of Obsolete Equipment Now Proceeds

AUSTRALIA – Refrigerated container builders Klinge Corporation have completed the final part of a $10 million contract with the Australian Defence Force (ADF) with the completion of two training courses for the introduction into service of 185 new 20’ and 10’ refrigerated container systems. Known as “fridges” to the ADF cook/operators and maintainers, these new pieces of equipment were first contracted in September 2007.

New Agreement Reached

NORDIC / BALTIC STATES – Motor manufacturer Ford has signed a new agreement with DHL Supply Chain for the handling of spare parts in the Nordic region and the Baltic States. The agreement covers the supply of 23,000 different spare parts and will be managed at DHL Supply Chain's distribution centre in Örebro, Sweden.

But Security Measures Mean Less Success for Pirates

Worldwide – Worldwide piracy attacks are at a record high according to the latest report from the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Maritime Bureau (IMB).

Maintains Commitment to Global Customer Base

LUXEMBOURG / WORLDWIDE - Luxembourg cargo airline Cargolux has announced that they are expanding their service offerings to include two new air freight services, one of which will become one of the company’s longest routes.

No end in sight for Greek woes

GREECE - The Panhellenic Seamen's Federation (PNO) has announced that its members are on strike until 0600 local time Wednesday the 19th of October. During this period no ships will be allowed to set sail from any Greek port or harbour.

Kuehne and Nagel objections overruled

NEW ZEALAND – Following on from its successful prosecution of a number of major companies in the air cargo business for their involvement in a freight rates cartel the New Zealand Commerce Commission has been granted clearance to proceed with its prosecution against Swiss logistics giant Kuehne + Nagel.

Conference will discuss Security Issues facing industry

NAPLES / ITALY - Studio Legale Lauro has announced that their Shipping and the Law 2011 conference will be held in Naples, Italy on Monday 24 October. The event is designed to bring together the leading figures in Italian shipowning, finance and maritime law with an international community of experts in shipping, ports, finance, shipbuilding, offshore, finance, risk management, cruise & ferry, dry cargo and energy sectors to debate and discuss pressing industry issues.

Blasts Bipartisanship Politics

USA – The US Secretary for Transportation, Ray LaHood, has called for the divisions that beset the American Congress to be put aside and for members of both the Republican and Democratic parties to work together to pass legislation that will see $50 billion in infrastructure spending for roads, bridges, rail and airport projects and additionally provide work for tens of thousands of Americans.

Memorandum with Slovakians on integration

RUSSIA / SLOVAKIA – Russian Railways (RZD) and Slovak Republic Railways (ZSR) have signed a memorandum of cooperation concerning the development and modernization of Slovakia’s transport infrastructure.

IFCO Partners with Forgotten Harvest to support Food Bank

DETROIT, USA – Leading pallet and Reusable Plastic Container (RPC) management provider IFCO has announced that they are partnering up with Forgotten Harvest, an organization that relieves hunger in the Detroit metropolitan community by rescuing surplus, prepared and perishable food and donating it to emergency food providers. The agreement will see IFCO providing Forgotten Harvest food rescue with RPCs from their freight platform pooling business to use in the charity’s delivery system.

Increased Manufacture Delivers Rewards for China Freight Experts

CHINA - Agility has been awarded a five year contract by Henkel China to be the exclusive logistics partner for its “Project Dragon” program, which is designed to streamline Henkel’s manufacturing in China to cover growth over the next 10 years and deliver significant economies of scale in the company’s manufacturing and supply chain processes.

Shippers Burdened with Costs for Fear of a Passenger Backlash

INDIA – To the foreign observer it sometimes appears that officials in sub continent decide rail freight tariffs by the turn of a card or the roll of a dice. From today Indian Railways will impose an across the board ‘Busy Season’ surcharge of 10% which will only exclude container borne cargo and automotive products shipped in certain types of rail wagons. The charge is in addition to a rise in the ‘Development Surcharge’ first introduced in 2007 at 2% to replace a ‘safety surcharge’ and which will now jump to 5%.

When Will a Cohesive, Practical and Positive Action Plan to Deter Pirates be Formulated?

ITALY – SOMALIA – WORLDWIDE – The past two days have seen the Palazzo Colonna in Rome host the ‘2011 IMO World Maritime Day Parallel Event’ held by the International Maritime Organization which focused on this year's World Maritime Day theme - "Piracy: orchestrating the response". Sadly it seems all it managed to actually do was focus how impotent the forces of law and order are currently in the face of the pirate threat, particularly with regard to bulk freight and container shipping.

DRS Opens Up the Parts of the UK Other Companies Cannot Reach

UK - Direct Rail Services (DRS) tells us it has launched a ‘revolutionary’ new service from PD Ports’ Teesport container terminal utilising a unique freight wagon that can transport high-cube boxes to areas of the UK previously inaccessible by rail. The service began on Monday last and will offer five days a week carriage from the Teesport rail head container hub and the Stobart Group’s Widnes Intermodal Rail Depot.

Garments and Accessories is a Two Way Trade with Asia

ASIA – Luxembourg headquartered Logwin AG, a logistics provider with around 250 offices and global agents, is another supply chain group extending its activities throughout Asia. As we reported a couple of days ago, other freight forwarding groups are taking a keen interest in the development of fashion production in the region and it is this trade that Logwin are turning their attention to.

Hamburg Sud Adds to Fleet, Changes Routes and Checks on Emissions

GERMANY –US –SOUTH AMERICA– Having just christened the Santa Rosa in Argentina this week yet more news from German container line Hamburg Süd as the box carrier announced that the Santa Catarina, seventh and latest in the company’s series of ten new 7,100 TEU freight vessels, will make an inaugural call to home ground when she docks on Sunday at the Burchardkai terminal in the evening before sailing again from Hamburg late Monday evening. The remaining three vessels in the series are due for delivery by summer next year.

BRI Opens Up in Brazil

BRAZIL – UK - British/Canadian freight forwarder Bellville Rodair International (BRI) has decided to open its own office at Porto Alegre, in the state of Rio Grande Do Sul which the company says shows its commitment to the developing Brazilian cargo market. Terry Walpole the BRI Chairman confirmed the latest addition to the groups twenty plus offices saying:

PDF Appeal for Assistance

UK - The Professional Drivers Foundation (PDF), the group which aids commercial vehicle drivers in the road haulage industry who have suffered misfortune, tell us it has had an exceptional amount of requests for help in the first nine months of 2011. This has led to Foundation funds sinking to an all time low and in order to continue to support those in the profession, which it does by providing financial assistance and/or retraining, it needs support from anyone who can help.

Technology Both Old and New Aids Crew - But Others Not So Lucky

SOMALIA – WEST AFRICA - THAILAND -Following our earlier piece the full story of the rescue of the eleven man crew of the hijacked freighter Montecristo emerged today after a statement to the BBC by Captain Gerry Northwood regarding the role of the British Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship Fort Victoria. Apparently it was a combined effort by British and American forces deployed in the area by NATO which resolved the situation after the bulk carrier was seized around 600 miles from the Somali coast on Monday.

APM Will Run Gothenburg Box Operation

SWEDEN – DENMARK – Maersk subsidiary APM Terminals say the Hague based port management operator will take on responsibility for the Skandia Container Terminal at Sweden’s busiest harbour in a 25-year lease that includes investing $115 million in infrastructure improvements over the first five years. Gothenburg is the largest and busiest Nordic port and the only port in Sweden with the capacity to receive the world's largest cargo vessels with a 14.2 metre draft and also claims the broadest range of shipping routes within and outside Europe. The 24 -26 rail shuttles departing each day mean a direct, environmentally sound tie up with the 11,000 freight vessels calling annually.

Hugo Boss Contract Won by Asian Group

CHINA – Kerry Logistics, one of the largest freight and supply chain groups based in Asia has won a contract from leading fashion house Hugo Boss to manage the Greater China distribution of its range of premium fashion and luxury goods. The new contract will provide for logistics services through two distribution centres; one in Hong Kong for Taiwan, Macau and Hong Kong markets and one in Shanghai for the mainland China market.

Panalpina Opens Third Branch This Year

INDIA – SWITZERLAND – Freight forwarding group Panalpina today reinforced their growing presence in the subcontinent by opening a branch in Ludhiana, Punjab just two weeks after making a similar investment in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Customers at the new offices will be able to access the full panoply of the supply chain provider’s cargo services including access to an extensive global air cargo network and international ocean ports.

Cargolux Take Delivery After Contractual Hold Up

LUXEMBOURG – US - The initial order for the first two Boeing 747-8 Freighter aircraft which were due to be delivered to Europe’s largest all cargo airline Cargolux last month will now take place in the next 48 hours after contractual issues between Boeing, GE and Cargolux related to the performance of the aircraft and the engines were resolved today.

Free of Charge Software Speeds Customs Clearance

US – As predicted UPS has extended its UPS Paperless (SM) Invoice to shippers of larger cargo consignments after successfully trialling it for up to three years on small package shippers in ninety countries world wide. The process increases the pace and efficiency of customs clearance procedures concerned with international air freight movements and the new capability to electronically process shipments is currently available through UPS Internet Shipping and UPS CampusShip(R) software. It will be available through UPS WorldShip(R) in January.

No reports of casualties amongst crew

SOMALIA – Reports are coming in that British special forces have stormed and liberated an Italian cargo ship that had been hijacked by Somali pirates.

Ten Year Trial Means Two Metre Longer Lorries

UK – Following the consultation concluded recently the Government announced today they will allow an increase in lorry dimensions in order to reduce the amount of road haulage movements by increasing the volume of freight it is possible to load per truck. The Department for Transport is allowing a ten-year trial of up to 900 trailers at an increased length of 2.05 metres, and 900 at an increase of one metre. The longer lorries will operate within the existing weight limit of 44 tonnes and Roads Minister, Mike Penning commented:

TIACA Forecasts Massive Taxes and a Prejudicial Market with No Environmental Benefits

EUROPE - TIACA, The International Air Cargo Association, is calling for other freight and passenger associations, businesses and governments to intensify efforts to bring about a review of the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) after the European Advocate General of the Court of Justice (CJEU) recommended that the inclusion of international aviation in the scheme is compatible with international law. TIACA points out that the scheme appears to be in violation of international law and treaties and is likely to create massive aviation taxes whilst bestowing no environmental benefits and possibly even increasing carbon emissions.

Six Down and Four More to Go for German Shipping Line

ARGENTINA – GERMANY – Yesterday (10th October) saw the christening of the container vessel Santa Rosa, the latest in a series of box ships each with a slot capacity of 7,100 TEU and fitted with 1,600 reefer container plugs apiece, built for Hamburg Süd. The new addition is the sixth vessel in a series of ten identical ships which are some of the largest ever built for the freight carrier all due for delivery by the summer of 2012.

Essex Based Fuel Carrier Maintains its Standards

EUROPE – UK –The European Transport Training Association Award, the EuroTra Safety and Innovation Award sponsored by Volvo Truck Sweden is given in recognition of an outstanding effort by an organisation which has made a diligent effort to improve safety within the European road transport and logistics industry. This year’s award has gone to UK based fuel distributor Suckling Transport for the haulier’s consistent policy of pursuing improvements in this area in a section of the industry where safety is paramount.

K + N Take the Middle Ground

GERMANY - In line with Kuehne + Nagel’s strategy to further expand its European overland network and to establish a European hub & spoke system, the company has entered into an agreement to acquire Carl Drude GmbH & Co. KG, located in Hauneck, Bad Hersfeld for an undisclosed sum. Drude, established in 1894, operates a freight and logistics centre specialising in hub operations for international groupage networks.

Logistics Industry Bodies Align Behind Campaign

UK – The row over the price of fuel continues and shows no sign of abating. This week it is the British International Freight Association (BIFA) the trade association and voice of UK freight forwarders, urging its members to support the FairFuelUK campaign saying that ongoing uncertainty over fuel prices is one of the biggest concerns of its members, which, in the UK, pay the highest diesel taxes in Europe. BIFA Director General, Peter Quantrill commented:

$55 Million Investment in Southern Air

US – Southern Air Holdings Incorporated, the specialist ACMI global air freight cargo carrier, announced on Friday it had received a further $55 million cash injection from Oak Hill Capital Partners, which has been the company’s majority investor since 2007. The money will be used to support the completion of Southern Air’s fleet renewal and the company’s continued growth. Concurrent with this new investment, Southern Air has renegotiated its credit agreements, including extending its long-term debt maturities to 2015.

Breakbulk Event Offers ISO Accreditation

US – Visitors to the Breakbulk Americas freight event in New Orleans this month (details HERE) have one last chance to sign up for the Certificate of Achievement in Project Cargo Management two-day training course. Logistics and supply chain staff must hurry to apply for a place in this ISO accredited business education course designed to prepare them for the pitfalls and roadblocks that emerge during a complex forwarding assignment.

Fairmount again Demonstrate the Power of the Super Tug

BRAZIL – US – NETHERLANDS – Anyone who has ever been involved in towing a car, or worse a truck loaded with freight, knows that it can be a delicate operation; the guy at the back controls all the braking yet often with little visibility. Imagine then having to pull something weighing tens of thousands of tonnes for thousands of miles across the ocean and you have some idea of the difficulties that face heavy lift and towing logistics specialist Fairmount Marine on a regular basis.

Maersk and CMA CGM Have Different Approaches to Hard Times Ahead

WORLDWIDE – Two press releases today from two of the world’s largest container shipping giants show the difference in attitude they have toward the parlous state of the economy and any uncertainty with regard to the tonnage levels of freight the box carriers will see in the coming years.

Five Strong Committee Will Search for a Solution

US – With at least one of the major transport unions responsible for the nation’s rail freight service having voted for strike action from midnight, President Obama has stepped in to help settle a dispute involving several of both large and small railroads. The President has signed an executive order to form a special negotiating board of five individuals, all with extensive experience in labour disputes. A strike by the railway engineers could prove disastrous for freight and logistics concerns at a time when the economy is under severe pressure.

Freightliner and RMT Are at it Again Over Pay and Conditions

UK - RMT, the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, announced last night that they will be taking a ballot amongst their management grade members at Freightliner Intermodal to vote on industrial action, and potentially a strike, to fight for what they term ‘a fair increase in rates of pay and improvements to conditions of service’. Freightliner has a virtual monopoly on rail freight container transport out of the main cargo rail terminal at the Port of Southampton and is the country’s largest haulier of boxes by rail, moving 20% of the country’s maritime import containers.

MD Marie Boyer Honoured

UK - Marie Boyer, the dynamic MD of France Line International Transport Ltd. the ‘French Road Freight Specialist’, was the winner of the Woman in Transportation category at the Network of Aspiring Women Awards 2011 which took place last Friday 30th September 2011 in Birmingham.

New Technology May Enhance Safety Reaching Remote Airstrips

US - INDONESIA – Although not strictly freight related the current cooperation between aircraft manufacturing giant Boeing and Lion Air, primarily a passenger rather than cargo carrier, may have greater implications for the carriage of goods than people in years to come. Between them the two are pioneering the use of precision navigation technology in South Asia with the introduction of Required Navigation Performance (RNP) flight operations. RNP enables airplanes, using global positioning systems, to fly precisely predefined flight paths without reliance on ground-based navigation stations.

IATA Figures Released Whilst They Criticise EU over Carbon Emissions

WORLDWIDE – As if to underline his recent speech in Hong Kong which criticised the European governments’ stance on emissions trading in a difficult economic climate, Tony Tyler, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Director General and CEO announced depressing global air freight and passenger traffic results for August this week showing cargo levels shrank year on year by 3.8%, double the pace of July’s 1.8% decline. Comparisons of July to August more clearly indicate the slowdown. The total passenger market fell by 1.6% in August compared to July. International markets declined by 1.8%, while already weak domestic markets shrank by 1.0% and the total cargo market fell by 1.3%. Mr Tyler commented:

Move 'em, Up, Move 'em Out, Move 'em In (Apologies to Rawhide Fans)

WORLDWIDE – The past month or two has seen lots of movements in the appointments and departures field to catch up on so here are the ones we know of within Shipping Lines, Freight Forwarders, Road Haulage providers and Logistics specialists.

Companies Have a Debt to Their Staff Says GEFCO

FRANCE - WORLDWIDE – In the modern world freight and logistics providers have to take account of the factors which can enhance or damage their credibility and the brand they present to the world. Alongside the need to be seen as green comes the necessity of demonstrable fairness to employees, particularly as companies within the cargo sector often have to have a global presence in many countries not known for their harmonious labour relations.

A Chance to Partner DHL - But Everything Comes at a Price

UK - EUROPE – WORLDWIDE – DHL, part of German logistics group Deutsche Post DHL, has good news and bad news this week. First the bad news, as from the 1st January 2012 DHL Express will increase the price for its international express freight products by 3.5% for UK customers whilst the domestic rates will rise 5%. DHL Express adjusts its prices annually, taking into account inflation and rising costs in the 220 countries that it serves. Price adjustments will vary from country to country, depending on local conditions, and will apply to all customers where contracts allow.

How Do You Lose Several Trains?

BULGARIA – Every freight or logistics operation of any size has had the occasional problem with stock going missing from a consignment. Sometimes even the odd pallet truck is forgotten and left on a vehicle, sometimes a van or lorry will be stolen. None of this comes remotely near to the situation which Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ) finds itself in after a recent asset survey revealed a shortfall of ‘around 1000’ rail freight cars.

Mack and Renault Names Will Stay as Volvo Starts to Resemble an Autocracy

WORLDWIDE – As from the 1st January 2012 there will be a major global change in the organization of Volvo’s truck division which collectively is the second largest producer of heavy trucks worldwide. Responsibility for all product development and production of trucks and engines will be placed in two new central organizational units together with the sales and marketing of all of the truck companies in three regional units all under the direct control of CEO Olof Persson. Names familiar to the road freight haulage industry will remain but management functions will be centralised.

New Regulatory Measures Still Fall Well Short

UK – Last week in London freight and passenger interests witnessed the first ever Marine Accident Prevention & Investigation Conference and the event gave Nautilus International senior national secretary Allan Graveson an opportunity to express, in the strongest possible terms, the lamentable lack of investigation of major maritime accidents despite a well established framework of international regulation.

Deadlock Over Wages Will Mean More Stoppages

AUSTRALIA – The Qantas management accused members of the Transport Workers Union (TWU) of Australia of cynical tactics in their protest regarding a renegotiation of a new enterprise bargaining agreement. The recent stoppages targeted freight terminal operations as well as passenger holiday traffic. For their part union officials claimed company executives had received millions of dollars in salaries and bonuses.

Air Cargo Cartels May Suffer Yet More as Class Actions Proceed

US – JAPAN – WORLDWIDE – The continuing fines arising from the various freight forwarding cartels around the globe over the past decade now appear to be a major source of income for some governments. In the latest round the US authorities have imposed penalties on a group of Japanese logistics companies which have all pleaded guilty to anti trust activities concerning cargo movements which occurred from at least 2002 until late 2007.

Government Asked to Invest as Free Market Stalls Under the Sea

UK – On the same day which the Rail Delivery Group, which brings together all of Britain’s train operating companies, announced its Initial Industry Plan (Proposals for Control Period 5 and beyond) the European Commission warned Britain and France that it would consider EU Court action if the two failed to open up both freight and passenger services through the Channel Tunnel link to competition from other member countries. The Plan sets out how the industry could build on recent improvements in cost efficiency and cut the cost of running the railway by £1.3bn per annum by 2019. The claim is, as well as significant improvements for passengers, it would accommodate an increase of 30% in rail freight tonne kilometres, equivalent to 15,000 cargo trucks by conventional road haulage.

Safmarine Brand Will Remain as Maersk Acts

WORLDWIDE – As everybody in the container freight industry knows, the A P Moller Maersk subsidiary Safmarine continues to operate independently whilst often sharing routes and cargo services with Maersk Line. Now economy of scale has demanded that the smaller box line sees its management and internal support functions integrated into the offices of its big sister.

Handy Shipping Guide Targeted in Shipping Scam

UK – WORLDWIDE – Handy Shipping Guide has been contacted by several individual importers lately in what is yet another internet scam. A company calling itself Handy Shipping Express has been e mailing or posting fake airwaybills containing details of consignments which simply do not exist. This fake freight forwarder says in an e mail that goods can be released on payment of various sums (in the latest case ‘10 milion rupiahs’) and that the cargo is ‘a gift’.

Chongqing Now Twice Weekly From Amsterdam's Schiphol

NETHERLANDS – CHINA - Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has further strengthened its freight connections with China and Hong Kong, following the launch of China Southern Airlines’ twice weekly B777F cargo services to Chongqing. Chongqing is a major centre for the production of PC's and laptops, and is home to manufacturing plants of nine of the world’s leading brands. The area’s fast-growing industry is fuelling economic growth that is producing strong consumer demand for imports, as well as providing export traffic.