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UK Authority to Investigate All French Deal

UK – FRANCE – The Office of Fair Trading (OFT), the UK's consumer and competition authority, this week referred the completed acquisition by rail freight provider, Groupe Eurotunnel S.A. of certain assets of former RoRo ferry operator, SeaFrance S.A. to the Competition Commission for further investigation, due to concerns the merger could substantially reduce competition in the provision of cross channel transport services.

Schiphol Announces Tonnages Whilst Port Improves Rail Facilities

NETHERLANDS – Amsterdam has historically had an amicable battle with nearby Rotterdam to be top dog in the local freight business and both air and sea cargo sectors have made some headway this month in the ongoing tussle to be recognised as not just local, but international, leaders in their field. Schiphol, the country’s primary air hub, reported improved cargo throughput figures in the three months July-September, the best quarter in 2012 to date, with a total of 373,988 tonnes.

Fair Fuel UK Continues to Press for Reduction in Diesel Price

UK – As our recent article stated road freight interests were well represented when the FairFuelUK campaign group met with Chief Secretary of the Treasury, Danny Alexander on the 29th of October to discuss the impact of Fuel Duty on the UK economy. Along with the Chief Executive of the Road Haulage Association (RHA) Geoff Dunning, the campaign group delivered a copy of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) report on which the discussion is based on. Dunning said:

New Zealand Considers Imposing Stricter Cartel Legislation

NEW ZEALAND - WORLDWIDE - In a move which will be viewed with trepidation by some shipping interests, particularly the major container lines, last month the Minister of Commerce asked the New Zealand Parliament Commerce Committee to consider proposals to transition international shipping to a normal competition regime governed by the Commerce Act 1986. In effect what this means is that the protection enjoyed by the lines to avoid prosecution under anti trust legislation would be removed. This would mirror decade’s old changes which we have witnessed in the disbanding of the old style conference agreements, their evolution into Transoceanic Agreements and the resultant pig's breakfast of legislation regarding what is a cartel dependent on which route one's freight is destined to take.

A Round Up of How the Big Box Carriers are Fighting Back

WORLDWIDE - Up, Up and Away seems to be the anthem which the major container shipping lines are playing at the moment as once again the cycle of rate rises begins to attempt to compensate for the continued overcapacity available to shippers, particularly on the Asian routes to Europe. Virtually every carrier is increasing charges on 20 foot and 40 foot boxes after the last round of such increases was slowly eroded as the lines scrabbled for business. As we have pointed out previously rate increases only work if those imposing them maintain the will to hold them, as soon as one line starts to offer cuts to increase their share of the trade the floodgates can open and the mad scramble to take on cargo, even if only to reduce losses, can begin.

Tractor and Crane Purchase as TPT Invest in Efficiency

SOUTH AFRICA – Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) have celebrated an historic moment this month when their East London multi-purpose terminal took delivery of its first R70 million Liebherr mobile crane, which comes at the end of a three month period during which the group’s Durban RoRo and Maydon Wharf Terminal equipment fleet has been bolstered by the procurement of 27 haulers, tractors which ferry containers and unaccompanied trailers around the yards, representing a further investment of just over R52 million.

Berkshire Company Beats Larger Opponents to the Title

UK – MJC², a Berkshire software house based in Crowthorne, has won an award for IT Innovation at the Containerisation International awards ceremony in London on October18th. Up against multinational, multi-billion pound organisations, the company won the award for its work in the field of container logistics planning and recently collaborated with the Spanish office of freight liner operator China Shipping to come up with a port operations solution that would both save costs and cut pollution. Julian Stephens, Technical Development Manager at MJC² said:

Essex Hosts First Transport Help UK Meeting for Instruction and CPC Accreditation

UK – The Haywain Premier Inn in Fobbing, Stanford-le-Hope SS17 9NR will host the first of potentially a series of two day Transport manager / Operator seminars being hosted by Transport Help UK Ltd., an organisation devoted to training and representing road haulage operators and truck drivers, guiding them through the maze of responsibilities which now fall upon those in the industry and assisting with problems with the Traffic Commissioners when things go awry.

Qantas Has Work to do to Ensure Recent Deal a Success

AUSTRALIA – Documents disclosed by national air carrier Qantas have revealed the size of the task on hand to turn newly 100% acquired subsidiary freight carrier Australian air Express into a truly profitable unit. We told earlier this month how the swap of controlling shares with Australia Post meant Qantas now owns 100% of the ailing cargo company but figures now show the scale of decline in the subsidiary’s fortunes over the past year.

New Vessel Squeezes Into London

UK – LUXEMBOURG - NETHERLANDS – BELGIUM – The thousands of truck drivers who pass over the Queen Elizabeth Bridge which links Essex to Kent will be familiar with the sight of the occasional CLdN or Cobelfreight RoRo ferry moored or passing beneath them but it was the turn of the pool of London on Friday to witness the christening of the group’s latest giant freight ferry which will carry road haulage traffic over to the Continent. In a scene nostalgic to many the vessel dwarfed passing river traffic as she made her way to her rendezvous.

Questions to be Answered as Potentially Lethal Consignment Goes Missing

UK – The case this week of anti tank weapons being stolen from a consignment en route from Longtown, Cumbria to Didcot in Oxfordshire this week raise an old question with regard to the security of intermodal shipments in the rail freight versus road haulage debate. Whilst we are constantly bombarded with environmental arguments as to why the tracks outperform the highway the question of ensuring cargo arrives intact at it destination is nowadays hardly mentioned.

Annual CILT Excellence Titles Awarded

UK – Last week saw the presentation of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Annual Awards of Excellence 2012, held at the Hotel Grosvenor Square in London. More than a dozen awards relevant to the freight industry were handed out with stiff competition in all of the categories. A full list of winners and runners up is available on the CILT website.

Second Major Sale of Assets for OHL

US – XPO Logistics, a non-asset based 3PL group has announced that it has acquired the operating assets of Turbo Logistics Inc., the freight brokerage division of Ozburn-Hessey Logistics (OHL). The cash purchase price was $50 million, excluding any working capital adjustments, with no assumption of debt. The acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive to earnings. Bradley Jacobs, chairman and chief executive officer of XPO Logistics, said:

Petitions and Protests Produce Discussions

UK – Following the tabling of a motion for a Bill on a change in the way fuel is invoiced to customers and the subsequent announcement of progress in further legislation to charge foreign trucks using British roads there is more good news for UK road haulage operators with confirmation that campaign group FairFuelUK, and Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Danny Alexander, are due to meet on Monday 29th October at 4pm to discuss the impact of Fuel Duty on the UK economy.

Several Executive Changes as Businesses Shake Up Top Jobs

FRANCE – As part of a governance change at freight and logistics group Geodis the Board of Directors have decided that Pierre Blayau, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since January 2001, is now to become Chairman. At his proposal, Marie-Christine Lombard has been named Chief Executive Officer, effective from 24th October 2012. Lombard was previously Chairman and CEO of TNT NV. Jean-Louis Demeulenaere, former CEO of Geodis, is leaving the company to pursue new projects.

Seminar Reviews Changes plus Finance and Impediments to Foreign Business

UAE - The United Arab Emirates has taken huge strides in recent years to turn itself into a major international trade hub. The point was certainly well made at the recent three-day trade facilitation seminar in Dubai where delegates were told the UAE had seen its foreign trade grow to just over $250 billion in 2011 - four times the world average. This 23% increase in growth was achieved despite the global economic slowdown and existing impediments, causing the seminar to reflect on the availability of finance and how the changing face of logistics, with the introduction and expansion of multimodal freight options, expanding container shipping opportunities etc.,had influenced and accelerated the development process.

Results of Scheme Monitored by Institutional Investors Worldwide

SCANDINAVIA – One aim of all the major shipping lines is to reduce carbon output, and hopefully be recognised for their efforts. Bulk freight carrier Norden A/S which operates one of the world’s largest fleet of Handymax and Panamax dry cargo vessels has just received such recognition by achieving seventh spot in the Carbon Disclosure Project’s yearly and latest assessment of climate change disclosure practises, the NORDIC Top 10 Index, which includes companies from Sweden, Finland, Norway and Denmark.

Thermal Ceramic Product Lighter Than Mineral Fibre

WORLDWIDE – The latest product from Morgan Thermal Ceramics has been approved for use in a wide range of vessel types where structural divisions are a prerequisite including freight ferries, naval vessels, tugs, barges, cargo and even cruise ships. The FireMaster® Marine Plus Blanket is certified to all International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS),and is a lightweight fire insulation that provides weight savings of up to 30% compared to traditional mineral fibre fire insulation products.

Tropical Storm Upgraded Whilst Another Brews in Atlantic

CARIBBEAN - Seafarers are warned that tropical storm Sandy has been awarded category one hurricane status following an increase in wind speed in the eighteenth such storm this season. The eye of the hurricane is looking likely to pass over the centre of Jamaica, the first time since 1988 this has happened. Meanwhile in the general press little regard has been given to tropical storm Tony which has formed in the open Atlantic, of little comfort to the crews of freight and passenger vessels in the region to say nothing of smaller fishing boats.

German Carrier Moves Giant Gas Storage Tanks

MALAYSIA – KUWAIT – Regular readers will know we are always suckers for a decent photograph and the picture here shows a project freight forwarding job undertaken a few weeks ago by heavy lift specialist shipping line Rickmers-Linie whose nineteen thousand tonne vessel Baltic Winter recently completed the transportation of three LPG storage tanks, each weighing 475 tonnes, from Kuantan in Malaysia to Shuaiba in Kuwait.

All Vehicles above Twelve Tonnes Affected RHA Satisfied

UK - Under Secretary of State for Transport, Stephen Hammond, issued details of the HGV Road User Levy Bill to be debated in the House of Commons late today. The Bill will introduce charges for all HGV’s that weigh 12 tonnes and over for using the UK road network including road haulage vehicles registered overseas. The levy is designed to be cost neutral for UK hauliers, through offsetting reductions in Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) payments and the requisite changes to VED will be included in the Finance Bill 2014.

Freightliner Scores in League Table Whilst Investing in New Equipment

UK –Rail freight operator Freightliner Ltd has recently unveiled two new rail head gantry cranes at the company's Southampton Maritime Terminal, the culmination of a £9 million investment by the group. A ceremony celebrated the launch of the new cranes and 40 years of operations at the rail freight terminal where guests from the field of container shipping and beyond witnessed both cranes being named and the Mayor of Southampton, Councillor Derek Burke, launching the first official box lifted.

Two New Contracts go to K + N

EUROPE – US – WORLDWIDE - Freight and logistics provider Kuehne + Nagel has announced two successful contract negotiations this week having been selected to coordinate and manage the shipment of 26 Maserati GranTurismo racing cars from Europe to the overseas destinations of the Maserati Trofeo World Series championship in California and Shanghai and being appointed by FlexLink, manufacturers of flexible, modular conveyors and industrial automation equipment, to supply all the group’s multi modal shipping requirements for consignments emanating from Poland to international destinations.

Confirmation of Quality for CHEP USA

US – Providers of pallet and container pooling services, Chep USA, has achieved certification as an ISO 9001:2008, Quality Management Systems compliant organisation, accredited by the Standards American Registrations Authority (SARA) of Pleasanton, California. Achieving ISO 9001 certification means that Chep USA was benchmarked against other mature businesses and found to have a best-in-class quality system. Skip Miller, Chep Vice President of Global Quality, said:

Times Getting Harder for Hijackers as Gang Retains Hostages

SOMALIA – IVORY COAST – NIGERIA - Back in December 2010 we reported the taking of the Orna, a 28,000 tonne Panamanian flagged freighter in a small arms and rocket propelled grenade attack in the Indian Ocean, followed by the sad news last month that one of the Syrian crew had reportedly been murdered by his captors and another hostage maimed when the ship’s owners prevaricated over the matter of a ransom. Now it appears the vessel, together with most of her crew, has been released after the payment of a quarter of a million pounds to the pirate gang holding them.

TT Club sponsored FIATA Title Goes to South African Candidate

US – SOUTH AFRICA – WORLDWIDE - The prestigious Young International Freight Forwarder of the Year title from the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) has been presented this year to Daniel Terbille, an account development executive at UTi (South Africa). The award is presented in recognition of forwarding excellence and was established by FIATA with the support of TT Club to attract talented young individuals to a career in freight forwarding and logistics. It also rewards the young winners with additional valuable training opportunities. Industry insurance association the TT Club has been a sponsor of the award since its inception and is firmly committed to the importance of individual training and development within the global freight forwarding community.

Port Terminal Group Roll Out New Electronic Booking System

SOUTH AFRICA- The success of pre advice systems when processing export containers which was introduced at the Ngqura Container Terminal in the Eastern Cape in October 2009 and Pier 1 and Pier 2 at the Durban Container Terminals two years later, has meant the roll out of a similar process at the Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT) and the Cape Town Agri RoRo Terminal (CTAR) after a one month trial period. The system is intended to speed road haulage operations and for general box freight shipping lines are able to pre-advise Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) of their container details using one of two technology platforms, either the computerised NAVIS terminal operating system, or Electronic Data Interchange (EDI).

New Series Aimed at Assisting Ship Operators with New Environmental Legislation

WORLDWIDE – Almost two years ago to the day we wrote a fairly scathing article with regard to the inordinate amount of time it was taking to properly address the scandal of untreated ballast water, how Lloyd’s Register was attempting to prepare ship owners and operators for potential legislation, and made reference to the devastating, and irreversible effects untreated water could have, and indeed had already inflicted on, localised environmental systems.

Fuel Initiative to Clarify Fuel Cost Basis and Long Awaited Truck Stop

UK – Two important pieces of news this past week courtesy of the Road Haulage Association (RHA), one of them relevant to all who have an interest in road carried freight – and that of course means everybody from operators to consumers. Robert Halfon, Tory MP for Harlow is preparing to table a Private Members Bill with the intention of making fuel pricing more transparent. Mr Halfon wants all fuel receipts to show precisely how the bottom line is constructed separating fuel duty as well as VAT to illustrate exactly who is taking what from the motorist’s pocket. Whilst putting down his motion for leave to introduce the Bill Mr Halfon said:

Schenker Plan for Future Expansion and Consolidation in China

CHINA – With an eye to the future DB Schenker has joined the growing trend for freight and logistics companies to ensure consistency in their service levels in developing markets by this week opening a company academy to train up employees of the future. The group view is that there is a growing need for qualified employees in China whilst competition from other industry competitors is increasingly being felt whilst staff turnover in the Chinese market is traditionally relatively high. Speaking at the launch of this new initiative Dr. Thomas Lieb, Chairman of the Management Board and CEO of Schenker AG, said:

France Line MD Marie Shortlisted for yet Another Award

UK – Once again the Managing Director of international road haulage and freight forwarding company France Line International Transport Ltd, Marie Boyer, has been shortlisted for an award by a membership organisation dedicated to women's development and success, the Jo Cameron’s Achievers Academy for Women, previously named the Network of Aspiring Women. This year, Boyer has been nominated in the Women’s Champion category after winning the Woman in Transportation award in 2011. Aside from expanding France Line’s services between the UK and France and growing France Line’s customer base, turnover and staff, since July 2009, Marie has been a steering member of the networking group Women in Logistics UK, she commented:

Essex Based Woodland Wraps Up Packaging Contract Again

UK – Whilst many in the industry are pulling their horns in comes good news from freight forwarding outfit Woodland Logistics who have just invested in a fleet of 15 new Mercedes Benz Actros tractor units and 24 Lawrence David trailers to facilitate the renewal of a five year road haulage contract with one of the UK’s leading packaging manufacturers, Cepac Limited, based near Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

After Heathrow Acquisition Comes New Eastern European Office

POLAND – Following its recent acquisition of the Heathrow forwarding arm of AWLI group Inc., Priority Freight, a logistics service provider specialising in time critical deliveries across Europe, is now underlining its commitment to the service of established and potential customers by investing in a Polish business entity based in the region of Lower Silesia in Wroclaw, Poland to be known as Priority Freight Sp z.o.o. The move is part of the company’s ongoing strategy of expansion in Europe designed to strengthen its freight service offering to the industrial sectors. Priority Freight Group Managing Director, Neal Williams said:

Breakdown Engenders Anger as Fear of Winter Strikes

CANADA - Once again the inhabitants of a hard to reach outpost are fighting to ensure their future after a vital freight link has been broken. The story mirrors previous situations like those on Flinders Island and even the Channel Isles and inhabitants of the remote coastal community of Rigolet in Northern Labrador have literally demonstrated their concerns following the failure of their lifeline, the cargo vessel Northern Ranger which broke down last month.

Heathrow Sees Schenker Establish a Bigger Base Whilst Enlarging Existing Offerings

UK – POLAND – ISRAEL – Schenker Limited, the UK arm of the global services provider DB Schenker Logistics and a familiar name in forwarding, formally opened its new head-quarters building at London Heathrow on the 8th October. Board members, customers, key suppliers and a team from developers of industrial property SEGRO, joined the DB Schenker team to celebrate the completion of the 9,900 square metre facility, which will also be the main airfreight hub for the UK. The building is part of the development group’s Portal Site adjacent to the main cargo terminal and which houses other notable’s such as Rolls Royce and Andy Gulliford, SEGRO’s Chief Operating Officer said:

When Orbital Means More than the M25 Motorway

US – INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (ISS) – NASA managers, Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) officials and international partner representatives recently launched the first contracted cargo resupply flight to the International Space Station under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract. The vessel, for even in the relatively new parlance of freight in space, that is what it is, launched from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida with cargo which included ice cream for the ISS crew.

Half of Company Net Revenue Dependant on Air Cargo

SWITZERLAND – Panalpina has revealed the damage done to the company’s profitability by a particularly weak September when its air freight volumes were substantially down. The group will publish detailed financial results and an outlook on the 2nd November but on Friday CEO Monika Ribar issued a statement saying:

New Product from Jungheinrich Available

UK– When it comes down to it materials handling is what the freight business is all about and recently specialist manufacturer of fork trucks and other essential equipment Jungheinrich announced the launch of a new range of manoeuvrable and compact electric-powered pedestrian operated stacker trucks. The new EJC 110/112/212 models can lift loads up to 1,200 kilograms to heights of 4.70 metres and thanks to the 3-phase AC motors the trucks are fitted with, the trucks are particularly energy efficient.

One South African Dispute Ending Does Not Make a Financial Summer

SOUTH AFRICA – Whilst most eyes around the world have focused on the tragic killings carried out during the bitter miners strikes of late the effect of the road haulage industry stoppage which has plagued the country in the past three weeks can be gauged by the dramatic influence on the rand when the transport workers dispute was finally resolved yesterday. The news stopped the currency’s recent slide but came too late to reverse the decisions of influential credit agencies Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s, both of whom downgraded the country’s long term currency ratings as more labour disputes spread to other industrial sectors.

This Months Top Appointments in the Transport Field

WORLDWIDE – An irregular look at who has gone where and why in the fields of ocean and air freight, road haulage, logistics container and bulk shipping etc. If you have any relevant staff movements or appointments you wish to alert the world to then e mail them in to Rakhi Gadher at facilities@handyshippingguide.com and let a quarter of a million people in on the story. As usual we reserve the right to edit as we see fit so please, not too many unwanted adjectives telling us how wonderful they are.

Plans Apparently Relying Largely on Staff Position Buyouts

US – Earlier this week, international logistics corporation FedEx announced programmes targeting an annual profitability improvement of $1.7 billion during the next three years, with a significant portion of the benefits, as much as 75%, achieved by 2015. The bulk of this extra money is apparently to come from improved figures at FedEx Express which has lagged behind FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight of late. The worrying note for the labour force will be that there appears to be no plain speaking as yet relating to jobs in the speech to FedEx Corporation’s 2012 Investors and Lenders Meeting by Frederick W. Smith, FedEx chairman, president and chief executive officer who said:

Aussie Court Fines Top Sixty Eight Million Dollars

AUSTRALIA - Emirates SkyCargo has become the tenth air freight carrier to settle in the Australian Courts in the matter of anti trust activities with regard to fuel and security charges upon which it colluded with others to artificially raise costs to prearranged levels and illegally setting inflated fuel and Customs charges landing itself with a total bill of A$10 million. The airline effectively traded as a cartel with others between 2001 and 2006 when shipping cargo between Australia and other countries including Indonesia.

Liebherr Reveals latest Innovation

GERMANY – WORLDWIDE - The first CAL 64000-1500 Litronic®, a heavy lift offshore crane developed by Liebherr-Werk Nenzing GmbH, is now ready for operation. The crane is installed on the ‘Innovation’, a vessel belonging to HGO InfraSea Solutions, which was christened in Bremerhaven on 3rd September. The machine is capable of lifting an astounding 1,500 tonnes of freight at a maximum working radius of 31.5 metres. Even at a working radius of almost 46 metres the crane is still capable of lifting 1,000 tonnes of cargo.

Trelleborg Opens in Sao Paulo

BRAZIL – Earlier this week, developer and manufacturer of oil and marine hoses for the offshore oil and gas industry, Trelleborg, officially opened its new, state-of-the-art facility in São Paulo, Brazil. The specialised production of hoses for surface and deep water applications will allow the organisation to continue to develop its platform for local presence in the region and growth in Brazil’s booming offshore oil industry.

Just Five Months to Hit the Magic Number

UK – THAILAND – Steel sheet producers SSI UK has recently achieved a major milestone having exported over one million tonnes of freight through PD Ports owned Teesport. A 64,000 tonne shipment earlier this week bound for Thailand on the Yasa Eagle took the total of steel slab exported via the port over the magic number.

Maersk Reveals Five Year Plan for APM and Energy Sector

DENMARK - WORLDWIDE - Whilst other bulk and container shipping groups sweat out the concerns centred on oversupply of vessels the biggest fish in the pond, A.P. Moller Maersk, shows that its diversification strategy is in full swing with plans afoot to grow the freight handling subsidiary APM into the world's biggest port and inland terminal operator by 2016 and huge expectations for its energy sector. Speaking at the Group’s Capital Markets Day, Group CEO Nils S. Andersen said:

Operation Atalanta Has Another Success

INDIAN OCEAN – The waters around the Socotra archipelago which are regularly plied by container vessels and bulk freight tankers alike are sometimes referred to as ‘pirate alley’ given the number of hijacks attempted close to the Yemeni ruled island group but there will be one less criminal gang able to operate in these waters following another successful manoeuvre by the forces of Operation Atalanta this week.

Winners Both North and South Collect Plaudits

UK – IRELAND - Winners in the annual Export & Freight Transport & Logistics Awards 2012 were recently unveiled at a glittering ceremony at the Ramada Hotel in Belfast and a full list of winners is now available. Big winners were Stena Line Freight which collected Irish Sea Shipping Line of the Year 2012, best European Haulier was Carna Tansport of Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan whilst NMC Haulage of Dungannon, Co. Tyrone picked up Haulier of the Year. Stena collected the award for their RoRo Ferry services which cross the Irish Sea and Frank Nieuwenhuys, Stena Line’s freight commercial manager, UK & Ireland said:

Hactl Honoured by Local Management Association

HONG KONG – Air freight handlers Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) won two training and development awards in the Awards for Excellence in Training and Development 2012, organised by the Hong Kong Management Association (HKMA). The awards were announced at this year’s Susan Yuen Memorial Lecture and Dinner, which took place on 3rd October, attended by senior executives from HR and management of Hong Kong companies.

Damco to Acquire Pacific Network Global

AUSTRALIA – CHINA – Damco, the global freight forwarding and logistics arm of Danish container and bulk shipping giant Maersk, will acquire Australian headquartered Pacific Network Global Logistics (PacNet), supply chain providers and freight forwarders in China and Australia. Damco has been looking to strengthen its overall presence in Australia in the segments where PacNet is active for some time.

DHL Aims to Try Out New Marketing Techniques

WORLDWIDE – Freight and logistics behemoth Deutsche Post DHL is stepping up its online marketing activities by commissioning creative specialists in digital marketing, Razorfish, to be the international lead agency in the development of a comprehensive new digital strategy. Wolfgang Giehl, Senior Vice President of Corporate Brand Marketing at Deutsche Post DHL, on explaining the aim of the new partnership, said:

Versatility Essential for the Modern Port

US – In early 2012, a state of the art Liebherr Mobile Harbour Crane, type LHM 550, marked the 40th delivery to the North American market, of these machines 32 were delivered to the United States and eight to Canada. The Swiss managed group says that since 2006 a stable upward trend has been evident, especially in the United States as since then more than 20 Liebherr Mobile Harbour Cranes have been put to work handling cargo comprising almost every type of freight for North American companies.

Moscow Hub Delivers Automobiles in Motor Show Season

RUSSIA – GERMANY – Moving vehicles by air is both a tricky and expensive method of transport and therefore only top of the line automobiles, or those that need to arrive very quickly and in pristine condition ever use the air freight option yet September was a record month for the carriage of motor cars by Russia’s AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC). The airline, which is part of the Russian Volga-Dnepr group, safely delivered twenty cars from its hub at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport to destinations in Europe, North America and Asia that are served by ABC’s scheduled Boeing 747 freighter flights.

Riverbed Settle for Con-way Service in Singapore

SINGAPORE - Menlo Worldwide Logistics, a subsidiary company of the Con-way Inc. group which encompasses road haulage and a range of supply chain services, has achieved a bit of a coup this week acquiring the contract to handle warehousing and freight distribution services for Riverbed Technology in the South East Asian city state adding a new regional distribution center in Singapore to the technology company’s two existing locations in the United States and The Netherlands.

Trade Show Minutes from M25 Opens Tomorrow

UK – With the inaugural Totally Logistics South 2012 starting tomorrow, place are still available for this event. Register online or at the door and you can receive free parking, free entry, free show catalogue and a free lunch and coffee. Held ten minutes from the M25 at FIVE, Farnborough, the show aims to help logistics professionals optimise operations by putting them face-to-face with leading providers of cutting-edge solutions for the supply chain.

Dutch Courage Needed to Ship Goods to Chinese Beer Capital

UK - NETHERLANDS - CHINA - Project cargo and break bulk specialist Tuscor Lloyds loves a challenge and when a crowded factory dispatch department needed to move awkward freight quickly Tuscor Lloyds’ projects team was called in to transport eight heavy cable reels from the manufacturers in the North of England to Qingdao in China, a town famous for its beer. The question for Tuscor Lloyds’ project managers was how to ship heavy conventional cargo quickly and efficiently to China from the UK? The answer is to move it on a container vessel, with its stable sailing schedule and timed arrival in destination, the shipment timescale can be confidently predicted. Tuscor Lloyds organised for the cable reels to be picked up and transported to the Port of Rotterdam.

Settlement Reached in Acrimonious Disputes

CHILE – The stevedore strike which we reported in detail last month is reported to have ended. Unconfirmed reports from the country state that the dispute which commenced on the 24th September in San Antonio Port has reached a conclusion after extended negotiations. Freight operations are reported as returning to normal.

Crowley Acquires Jarvis to Expand Portfolio of Services

US – Providers of project solutions, transportation and logistics services, Crowley Maritime Corporation has announced that its recently acquired Houston based, freight forwarding, export packing and logistics company Jarvis International Freight Incorporated, which will transition into the company as a new branch of Crowley Logistics, offering project logistics and global freight management services to a wider array of industries and in more geographic locations operating under the name Project Logistics and Global Freight Management.

Continued Expansion in Asia for German Group

VIETNAM – Freight and logistics provider Dachser is continuing to pursue its global expansion by establishing a joint venture in Vietnam, the principal shareholder being Dachser Far East in Hong Kong. The range of services provided by Dachser Vietnam Co. Ltd, extends from air and sea freight business to customs clearance and a wide variety of other logistics services. In the short term the company plans to employ a staff of 20. The head office and first branch office is located in Ho Chi Minh City. The opening of a second branch office in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi is planned for the end of the year. Thomas Reuter, Managing Director Dachser Air & Sea Logistics, said:

Fuel of the Future or Dead End? Freight Market Will Decide

WORLDWIDE – With all the eyes of the shipping world focused on economic and environmental sustainability the cost and type of powering their ships has meant owners of both bulk and container vessels looking at the use of liquefied natural gas as the possible fuel of the future. Now, after releasing a snapshot earlier this year of its latest findings, Lloyd’s Register has released ‘LNG fuelled deep-sea shipping – Outlook for LNG bunker and fuelled newbuilding demand up to 2025’, a study it undertook to better understand the future demand for LNG as a fuel and to help refine and deliver its portfolio of gas-technology services. Hector Sewell, Head of Marine Business Development for Lloyd’s Register said:

Technology Allows an Extra Sweet Two and a Half Tonnes

AUSTRALIA – The Queensland government has granted a special permit to sugarcane growers for the use high-tech flotation tyres on trucks which will allow faster haulage of sugarcane to the mill. Representatives of sugarcane growers in Australia, Canegrowers, had been lobbying the Queensland Government to allow use of the special type of flotation tyres, which carry heavier loads on the road while providing minimum soil compaction in the field. Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson and Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett announced the decision last week. Emerson said:

Transaid Raises £100,000 in a Weekend Cycle Challenge

AFRICA – UK – FRANCE – The big guns of the UK transport industry turned out in force this weekend to support international development agency Transaid, the charity founded by Save The Children and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK) to improve the lot of those less fortunate in Africa, particularly with regard to training professional freight truck and service vehicle drivers. The brave, forty strong, team raised more than £100,000 by completing a 326 km London to Paris cycle ride starting on Friday 5th in London and ending in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower on Sunday evening.

Innovative Technology Provides Cheaper Alternative for Peters and May Customers

UK – US – ITALY – Any experienced project freight forwarder knows how tricky the shipment of extremely valuable, yet vulnerable and hard to handle, private yachts can be but now specialist boat transporter Peters & May, in conjunction with Marine Invest, has signed an exclusive agreement securing the use of the patented and Veritas verified Flat Rail system in the UK, Italy and the US. This new system will allow Peters & May to ship yachts between 13 metres and 16.5 metres on a 40 foot container flat rack instead of the traditional method of shipment which can sometimes prove uneconomical for yachts in this size

Importers Want JACOFF to Quit Jerking Around

NIGERIA – Once again one senses that internal squabbles for power are more important than service to the customer as the latest crisis for freight forwarding in the country continues. Only in Nigeria could a serious amalgamation of interests to collect the latest in Government decreed profiteering schemes call it self by the no doubt unintentionally humorous acronym ‘JACOFF’

Transnet Warns of Stoppage as Force Majeure hits Energy Sector

SOUTH AFRICA – The widespread unrest in South Africa continues to grow following over fifty deaths in the past two weeks during disputes which have hit several industrial sectors. The transport union SATAWU has given notice to rail freight operator Transnet of a one day strike on an indeterminate day in a week or so to support the road haulage truck workers strike we reported on recently.

FTA Publishes Findings at Glasgow Conference

UK – The Scottish Supply Chain Conference, held recently in Glasgow saw the publication of a report on the state of logistics in Scotland by the Freight Transport Association in conjunction with leading law firm DWF-Biggart Baillie. The Scottish Logistics Report which examines if the country’s multi modal supply chains are fit for purpose was commissioned by FTA’s Scottish Supply Chain Forum (SSCF) the industry’s representational body in Scotland, which includes stakeholders of all parties to the supply chain, including shippers, logistics service providers, road and rail haulage operators, air and water carriers, infrastructure and facility providers and non-governmental organisations.

Aussie Budding Star Mechanics Get the Chance of a Freebie

AUSTRALIA – The Australian Trucking Association (ATA) is looking to give a leg up to three budding stars of the workshop by helping to send young truck mechanics - sorry, service technicians - to the Technical and Maintenance Conference in Melbourne. Open to workers under 25 years old, employers will need to explain why the service technicians deserve to attend the conference which will be held on the 15th to the 17th of October.

Giant Project Forwarding Contract needs to use Multimodal Methods for Success

PANAMA - Geodis Wilson, the freight forwarding and heavy lift division of the Geodis Group has been awarded a $50 million contract by Italian steel manufacturer Cimolai to manage the transport of 16 lock gates, each weighing more than 4,000 tonnes, for the expansion of the Panama Canal. Ocean freight will be by way of STX PanOcean vessels and on the road haulage the huge structures will be carried using self propelled modular trailers (SPMT’s) whilst for inland water transport the Belgian group Sarens will utilise their own barges.

Unions Will Check Conditions on Flag of Convenience Vessels

INDIA – BELGIUM – MALDIVES - WORLDWIDE - Next week it will be ports in India which will receive visits from a group of trade union officials for the next phase of activity spearheaded by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF). Running from Monday the 8th October until Friday the first South Asia ‘maritime week of action’ will target freight and passenger vessels which are not up to standard and cargo handling facilities which are unsafe or abusing workers rights whilst road haulage will be the focus of a demonstration in Brussels.

TIACA Event Engenders Promises of Cooperation

US – Ray LaHood, U.S Secretary of Transportation, is a busy man but one who is usually worth listening to and on Tuesday he acknowledged that he was aware that air cargo, an industry valued at $60 billion annually which delivers 35% of world trade by value (in excess of $5 trillion a year) yet which has traditionally struggled to find recognition with lawmakers and politicians. Mr LaHood assured delegates attending the 26th International Air Cargo Forum & Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia that the US Government now has its eye on the ball and was committed to helping the air freight community achieve the objectives of the forum’s organisers, the International Air Cargo Association (TIACA), recognising the vital importance of air freight to both employment levels and the economy.

RHA Dinner Hears Praise from London Commissioner of Transport

UK – On Tuesday the Road Haulage Association’s annual lunch took place in London’s Connaught Rooms where the Commissioner of Transport for London, Peter Hendy CBE lavished praise on the industry particularly with reference to the efforts which hauliers put in to maintain the supply chain during the recent Olympic Games, ferrying freight throughout the capital despite the restrictions imposed on operators by the restriction of some key roads. The Commissioner said:

Recognition for Utilising Best Practice on New Vessels to Conserve and Protect the Environment

GREECE – Despite current economic horrors nobody can separate the nation from its historic maritime roots and devotion to the development of its shipping industry in the modern world. Now, after months of close work with classification society Lloyd’s Register, Greek ship owner’s Neda Maritime Agency has joined an elite group of ship operators who have certified their systems and processes against the ISO 50001 standard, demonstrating the employment of best practice for efficient energy use and conservation throughout its bulk freight and tanker fleet. The Piraeus based company had previously achieved certification against a number of internationally recognised HSQE standards and Neda's Technical Director, Costas Mitropoulos said:

Asian Road Show Designed to Demonstrate East Anglian Ports Abilities

UK – The Port of Felixstowe is the major port for trade between the UK and the rest of the world and claims to be currently the only port in the country capable of handling multiple mega container vessels simultaneously. The port is also building its third rail terminal to accommodate the growing demand for rail freight and with the battle between Felixstowe, Southampton and the London Gateway development for primacy in box handling tonnage and TEU numbers warming up the Suffolk port launched its Asian customer road show in Hong Kong yesterday designed to attract shipping interests utilising the services of Caroline Wilson, the newly appointed British Consul-General to Hong Kong and Macao, making her first public appearance in her new role at the event. Ms Wilson said:

Harlequin Delivers a Bigger Breakfast

UK – The British Government’s trial of larger, yet no heavier, trucks is continuing as more road haulage operators dip their toes in what for some may prove a lucrative field, offering as it does the opportunity to deliver more freight with little or no extra cost. The longer trailers have not seemed to meet the opposition which a suggested increase in tonnage carried ever does, albeit when these are accompanied by more axles to mitigate environmental damage, which speaks volumes for the knowledge and attitude of the average British protestor. The latest body to take advantage of the longer trailer initiative is Harlequin Logistics which has introduced some 15.65 metre trailers to its Kellogg’s operation.

Rapid Take Up of New Technology Means Increased Safety and Security and Decreased Emissions

WORLDWIDE – The actions of a group of freight terminal operators at the ports of New Jersey and New York typify the way the global body of those handing container and bulk cargoes are investing to improve the safety, security and environmental imprint crucial to the daily business of ensuring shipping times and costs are minimised whilst maintaining the highest of standards. The consortium, known as Sustainable Terminal Services Inc., were recently joined by the Ports’ Authority Board of Commissioners to introduce full Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology for the identification of all road haulage operators’ trucks working in the area.

Union Official Freed After Months of Incarceration

MOROCCO – A triumph for the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) this week as all the serious charges, which included sabotage and endangering national security, held against Moroccan trade unionist Said Elhairech have been dismissed leaving only one minor charge against him. He is now free with his innocence proven after helping ships’ crews who were left stranded following the demise of freight and passenger ferry company Comarit-Comanav and continued pressure from a coalition of unions. ITF general secretary David Cockroft commented:

Qantas Drops Star Track and Picks up Option on Joint Venture

AUSTRALIA – Following on from what we reported earlier this year, Qantas announced that it has reached an agreement to sell its 50% stake in the still excruciatingly named road haulage company, Star Track Express to Australia Post making Australia Post the sole shareholder in the express freight and logistics provider. Qantas has also acquired 100% of the air freight business Australian air Express from Australia Post. The investment is subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals with the transaction expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Trucks Burnt Out in Dispute Over Pay

SOUTH AFRICA – The wave of industrial action sweeping across South Africa is affecting the freight sector badly, particularly the road haulage industry as strike action by drivers has turned ugly. Last month, the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) announced that after discussions lasting three months, wage negotiations with the Road Freight Employers Association (RFEA) at the National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight and Logistics Industry (NBCRFI) had reached a deadlock.

DSV Continue on a Well Trodden Path

DENMARK - MIDDLE EAST – AFRICA – ASIA – CZECH REPUBLIC – A busy week or two for global logistics group DSV with two major acquisitions for the Danish group which has always gained market position with a policy of snapping up likely candidates. The road haulage turned all round shipping specialist has now agreed to take over Swift Freight, a Dubai based forwarder whilst also agreeing terms with AWT Čechofracht a.s. to purchase certain aspects of the Czech Republic headquartered group.

They Do Not Make Lorry Drivers Like They Used To

US - Taking a truck the breadth of the country is never an easy feat, when the equipment needed to ensure safe and successful passage includes planks, shovels and ‘skidding boards’, and the lorry only has a measly 40HP out put and the route involves transiting areas with absolutely no made up roads, plus one is carrying a full load of freight, the task becomes positively Herculean.

Government Approves Bulky but Effective Immersion Wear

ARGENTINA – WORLDWIDE – The Pilmic company, an Argentinean based safety concern tell us it has come up with the ultimate in immersion suits and has received approval for the product from the Prefectura Naval Argentina (PNA) effectively the country’s coast guard service and part of the interior and national security defence systems. The suit certainly appears to offer a high value safety option for merchant and private sailors and the like particularly in regions where hypothermia presents a very real hazard.