Shipping Search - Archive

MOL, NYK and K Line to Operate as One Box Carrier from 2018

JAPAN – WORLDWIDE – In a move which not so long ago would have been unthinkable, Japan’s big three container shipping lines have set aside differences stretching back decades to address the problem of overcapacity in the freight market and join forces as one company from July 2017, subject of course to global regulatory approvals. The seismic shock and horror at the collapse of South Korean rival Hanjin recently has seemingly focused the collective minds of the senior executives at Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and pushed them to take drastic action.

Sector Companies an Example to Others

UK – WORLDWIDE – Several UK based freight carriers and logistics companies have been digging deep once again to help people in some of the most remote and dangerous places in the world by committing support and resources to charities helping some of the most disadvantaged people.

Working Party Features Many Top Names from Industry

WORLDWIDE – A UN report released today by the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-level Advisory Group on Sustainable Transport, which consists of some top names from the freight and logistics sector, has said that greater investment in greener, more sustainable transport systems is essential for propelling economic and social development and dealing with critical issues like social and economic inequality and climate change across the world.

Failure of Removal of Toll Booths Prompts Criticism and Obscene Protest Song

UK – The removal in 2015 of the toll booths at the Dartford Crossing which crosses the River Thames east of London was hoped to reduce congestion at the notorious traffic hotspot by giving drivers a clear run along the M25 motorway. By removing the choke point and replacing the booths with an automatic vehicle registration system akin to the charging zone used in London it seemed that the chronic traffic issues experienced at Dartford could become a thing of the past. Unfortunately, things haven’t worked out quite as well as hoped.

850 Million Dollars Designated for Upgrading Works

US – The American Department of Transportation (DoT) has issued its second call for applications to access $850 million in Fostering Advancements in Shipping and Transportation for the Long-term Achievement of National Efficiencies (FASTLANE) grants available under the proposed budget for the 2017 fiscal year. Critics however believe far more is needed to bring the US highway infrastructure, quite literally, up to speed.

Staff Moves in Freight Forwarding and General Transport

AUSTRIA – Some short and sweet appointments in the land of logistics this week starting with freight forwarding group Gebrüder Weiss which has named Markus Jelleschitz as its new Head of Corporate Sales, reporting directly to Management Board Member Heinz Senger-Weiss

Thousands of Vehicles and Trailers plus Real Estate in Half Billion Dollar Deal

NORTH AMERICA – Freight brokerage firm, XPO Logistics has completed the sale of its truckload business to Canadian transport and logistics company, TransForce for approximately $558 million in cash. The divested road haulage operation encompasses approximately 3,000 tractors, 7,500 trailers and 29 locations that were part of the October 2015 acquisition of Con-way Inc. XPO says that it will use the proceeds from the transaction to pay down debt.

Spanish Crew Visit School and Deliver Donated Money

DJIBOUTI – The warships of the EU NAVFOR anti-piracy patrol always graced our pages with articles detailing their actions against brigands preying on the worlds shipping as it passed around the Horn of Africa and through the Red Sea. That battle now has been largely won, or at least deferred, with pirates forced to cease operations all the while the effective patrols are in place. However, sailors in the taskforce also contribute to the local region in more ways than just providing security. During her port visit to Djibouti earlier this week, sailors from Spanish warship, ESPS Relampago, visited the school Couvent de la Nativité, managed by Franciscan Missionaries of Notre Dame.

New 747-8s Deal Boost Flagging Sales of Near 50 Year Old Model

US – Following on from our recent article citing aircraft manufacturer Boeing’s prediction of an expansion in the international air freight market and the concomitant increase in production of cargo carrying aircraft, comes the news that logistics leader UPS has announced that they are ordering fourteen new 747-8 freighters from the Seattle aerospace company. The 747-8 Freighter has 16% more revenue cargo volume than the previous 747-400F model combined with an airport noise footprint around 30% less than its predecessor. Brad McMullen, vice president, Sales, North America and Leasing, Boeing Commercial Airplanes said:

Volga Dnepr Giant Carries Huge Rocket Booster

US – Volga-Dnepr has successfully delivered a huge 31 tonne Atlas V rocket booster to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for the United Launch Alliance (ULA) despite facing a hurricane and the possibility of having a valuable aircraft grounded for a week. Space launches are notoriously expensive and any delay in schedule can run into millions of dollars in additional costs. Therefore, when Hurricane Matthew swept across the Caribbean and into the continental US heavy lift experts Volga-Dnepr agreed to hold the payload inside the cargo hold of its An-124-100 freighter for up to a week if necessary until the storm passed, to ensure the cargo could still be delivered in time for the necessary preparations to be completed ahead of the planned launch date in November.

August Figures Show First Increase for Some While

NORTH AMERICA – According to figures released by the US Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) cross- border freight carried by air and truck increased by value by 0.7% in August 2016 compared to August 2015, resulting in $93.1 billion in total current dollar value of freight moved between the US, Mexico and Canada. August was the first month since December 2014 where the total value of US freight with the two North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners increased from the same month of the previous year.

International Transport Union Accused of Blackmail by Operator

UK – A freighter which had already been detained following a Port State Control inspection by MCA (Maritime and Coastguard Agency) surveyors in Cardiff, Wales, has been issued with a further detainable deficiency notice after it was discovered the crew had not been paid for many months. The Malta-registered Svetlana has been in Cardiff since 8 October 2016. The MCA had suspended their inspection and detained the vessel for a number of deficiencies and returned when the owner claimed to have rectified matters. However, it was then discovered that the Russian, Ukrainian and Bulgarian crew had not been paid wages and a further deficiency notice was issued.

Air Cargo Carrier Expands Portfolio

LUXEMBOURG – NORWAY – Air freight only carrier Cargolux is adding a weekly service on Tuesdays from Oslo to Luxembourg from the 1 November. The destination will be added to the company’s Luxembourg-New York weekly service with the first flight booked to carry fresh salmon which will be distributed to various destinations from the airline’s hub in Luxembourg.

Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme Recognises both Environmental and Safety Compliance

UK – After 8 successful years of operation in London, the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme known as FORS passed last year from TfL into the hands of The FORS Community Project, with the intent to roll out the accreditation to road haulage firms across the country. Now Pentalver, one of the country’s leading container logistics services groups has announced its Pentalver Cannock Limited operation has followed the example of sibling Pentalver Transport Limited and achieved bronze accreditation under the scheme.

UK Department for Transport Scheme Identifies English and Welsh Road Hitches

UK – A £3 million digital road mapping project that aims to improve satellite navigation directions designed specifically for heavy goods vehicles and the emergency services, is set to be released before the end of the year by Britain's mapping authority, Ordnance Survey. A database containing information about 200,000 miles (321,869km) of roadways in England and Wales is aimed at preventing incidents involving HGVs associated with the two regions’ transport infrastructure, such as identifying unsuitably narrow roads and bridges too low for trucks.

However New Apprenticeship Funding Warmly Welcomed

UK - A report by the Freight Transport Association (FTA) released today shows that the ongoing driver shortage in the UK has reduced somewhat, but highlights the sector’s reliance on staff from the European Union. The ‘Driver Shortage: issues and trends’ report calculates that there is a shortfall between the number of registered HGVs and the number of qualified drivers of 34,567 - back to the pre-driver crisis levels of 2012. This is attributed to an increased number of employed truck drivers and rising salaries, on average twice the rate of inflation through overtime and bonuses.

First Stage in Proposed North - South Cargo Corridor

FRANCE – EUROPE – Ekol Logistics and VIIA have just announced the start of a new rail service based on one truck shuttle connection per week from the French Port of Sète to Noisy-le-Sec in the Paris area. The partners say this new freight rail connection for P400 trailers, at up to 4,000mm a full 14 centimeters’ higher than those on the commonly found P386 routes, is the first step in building a North-South rail transport cargo corridor, and the frequency will increase to 2 round-trips per week as of mid-December 2016.

Trade and e-commerce Predicted to Continue to Expand

WORLDWIDE – Hot on the heels of the news that London’s Heathrow is to gain an extra runway, aerospace giant Boeing has issued its biennial World Air Cargo Forecast report predicting that air freight will grow at an annual rate of 4.2% over the next 20 years, with 930 new and 1,440 converted freighters needed to meet market demand by 2035. Boeing projects that the e-commerce market will be one of the primary factors driving such growth, reaching $3.6 trillion by 2020. Additionally, China's express market keeps expanding, with a five-year growth rate of 55% in volume and 39% in revenue.

Recognition for Pallet Firm Two Years in a Row

CANADA – Supply chain specialist CHEP, whose blue pallets are recognised instantly all around the globe, has been named by Canadian Occupational Safety Magazine (COSM) as one of Canada’s safest employers. The company received the Gold Award in the retail and service sector at a gala event in Toronto on October 24, 2016. In 2015, CHEP received a Silver Award from the publication.

Pulled people to safety after fuel tanker crash

AUSTRALIA – In recognition of his bravery during a tragic, multi-vehicle collision earlier this year that claimed the life of one motorist, truck driver Renzo Bruschi has been awarded The Bridgestone Bandag Highway Guardian award for selflessly risking his life to save others. On the morning of May 24 Bruschi was part a ten vehicle pile-up on the Calder Freeway when a petrol tanker carrying thirty tonnes of fuel rolled over. Renzo’s truck was one of around 10 vehicles involved in the crash. Renzo jumped out of his truck and into action without hesitation, running over to assist the driver of the tanker who was calling for help. The 52-year-old said:

Merchant and Military Uses Considered

WORLDWIDE – With autonomous vessels seemingly the future of the international shipping industry, the effects of such cutting edge technology on the worldwide maritime trade remains somewhat concerning to many. In an attempt to alleviate and address some points, Lloyd’s Register (LR) has joined other industry interests to collaborate on a collision avoidance research project, whilst the Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) has launched a pre-study to set the framework on the use of unmanned vessels.

.........and it was beer!

US – Uber owned Otto has announced that its self-driving truck has made its first delivery. And, somewhat ironically, the first load was 51,744 cans of Budweiser beer carried on behalf of Anheuser-Busch. The load was successfully taken along the I-25 from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs autonomously, a distance of 120 miles without any intervention from the driver who monitored the trip from his sleeper compartment.

Larger Trucks Now Eligible for Four Million Pounds of Government Aid

UK – As the London Mayor pushes ahead with plans to severely limit the ability of small road haulage operators to continue to use their limited fleets of HGV’s on the capital's roads by way of ever stricter emissions regulations, the UK government is committing an additional £4 million to the Plug-In Van grant scheme and extending eligibility to larger electric vehicles. Previously only eligible to vans in the ‘N1’ category with a gross weight of 3.5 tonnes or less, the extension of the grant will mean ‘N2’ trucks (3.5 – 12 tonnes gross weight) and ‘N3’ lorries (over 12 tonnes) are now eligible for grants of up to £20,000.

Continued Investment in Facility Aiming for 5 Million TEU Per Annum

MOROCCO – Port operator APM Terminals has announced orders for 12 remote-controlled Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes and 32 Automated Rail-Mounted Gantry Cranes (ARMGs) to equip the new five million TEU APM Terminals MedPort Tangier facility now under construction at the Tanger-Med II port complex. The container terminal will be the second box freight facility operated by APM Terminals at the Tanger-Med port complex designed to serve the newest Ultra-Large Container Ships (ULCS) with capacities up to 20,000 TEUs.

Additional MIllion Dollar Plus Penalties for Greek Shipping Line

US – GREECE – The companies that own and operate the 74,133 dwt Greek bulk carrier, the Gallia Graeca have been ordered to pay a $1.3 million fine for the dumping of oily waste at sea by the US District Court in Seattle. The ship operator, Angelakos (Hellas), and the ship owner, Gallia Graeca Shipping, were found guilty in June 2016 of violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships, Falsification of Records in a Federal Investigation and engaging in a scheme to defraud the United States. The case echoes so many similar transgressions such as the case last month in North Carolina. Speaking of this latest offence US Attorney Annette Hayes, said:

Protests Outside Downing Street Even Before Announcement on Third Runway

UK – The announcement that the UK government has given the go ahead for a third runway to be installed at London’s Heathrow airport has been greeted warmly by the country’s freight and logistics organisations. According to the airport operators, Heathrow is at full capacity and it has long been argued that without the expansion the UKs primary airfreight portal is doomed to choke and be supplanted by international competitors. The Freight Transport Association's (FTA) Chief Executive James Hookham summed up the attitude of the industry when he said:

First Batch of Students Pass Dangerous Goods Examination

CHINA – After the initial ‘Train the Trainer’ course in San Jose, Costa Rica last month FIATA, the association representing the international freight forwarding community, took its dangerous goods instruction course to Beijing last week where 37 students underwent a week of instruction and examination organised by FIATA’s Chinese arm (CIFA).

8 Tonne Li ION Model Capable of Three Shifts on One Charge

EUROPE – The advances in battery technology keep charging forward and changing the capabilities of many materials handling and road haulage options which hitherto would have required the torque and longevity of an internal combustion drive train to optimise performance. Now fork truck maker Hyster has released details of its latest creation, the J8.0XN forklift truck, claiming it is the first time an 8 tonne electric truck can deliver ‘near ICE performance’.

Vessel Sharing Tie Up Pushed Through but Box Carriers Still in Disarray

US – WORLDWIDE – The OCEAN Alliance, the group of four of the world’s largest container freight carriers, has received tacit approval from the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to operate with effect from today. Although it is technically not within the gift of the FMC to outlaw the process of shipping lines joining in such commercial cooperation agreements, it does have the power to ask for further information as to the terms of the deal which automatically delays the inception of any proposal for up to a further 45 days. This is precisely what happened in this case in August with the FMC ‘Stopping the Clock’ until satisfied all was well.

Blaze Continues to Rage into Fourth Day

UK – The Port of Liverpool has suffered a major fire that started on Friday night and is still burning as of midday Monday October 24. The fire started at a scrap metal facility in the Seaforth docks and initially caused concern amongst firefighters and residents about the possibility of toxic smoke billowing from the scene and presenting a threat to health. Local people were advised to stay in their homes and keep windows and doors closed however the fire service has now stressed it no longer considers the fire to present a major hazard to health

New Destinations and Acquisitions Announced

ICELAND – GERMANY – NETHERLANDS – Iceland’s oldest freight and logistics company has announced that it is making changes to its shipping schedules and begun a planned expansion fuelled by acquiring stakes in European companies to extend its market share in key geographical regions. Eimskip has decided to start calling at Bremerhaven in Germany as of December 6 this year, at the same time it will cease service to Hamburg, which since 1926 been one of the company’s regular ports of call.

UK Prime Minister Gets Involved as Security Guards Remain Incarcerated

SOMALIA – INDIA – UK – The sorry story of the fate of the crew of the Omani flagged fishing vessel Naham 3 finally appears to be at an end. After 1672 days in the hands of pirates the 26 remaining hostages from the vessels hijack are being repatriated, having seen 3 of their crew mates die, one during the initial attack and two more during their imprisonment. At the same time it will appear more than a little ironic to many that, whilst the fishing boat crew rightly celebrate, the men taken from the convoy protection vessel Seaman Guard Ohio by Indian authorities, still remain under arrest more than four and a half years after they were first taken.

Tanzania Criticised Whilst the Fate of a Major Player Threatened by Falsehoods

NORTH KOREA – TANZANIA – JAPAN – Two of the more unusual stories arising from the logistics community in the past month, as Tanzania is accused of breaching UN sanctions having apparently reflagged several North Korean ships (an accusation incidentally which the country refutes outright), whilst, as many readers know, last month, Japanese shipper K Line found itself centre stage after employees at APL Logistics started circulating false rumours that the Japanese carrier was facing bankruptcy, completely untrue, and of which details follow.

Plane Crash Kills Former Premier Along with Three Others

CANADA – Former Alberta Premier and past Board Member at Canadian Pacific Railway, Jim Prentice unfortunately died at the age of 60 in a plane crash last week. Prentice was aboard a twin-engine Cessna Citation that crashed shortly after take-off with three other men that also died in the crash, including the pilot Jim Kruk, retired Calgary businessman Sheldon Reid and optometrist Dr. Ken Gellatly, the father-in-law of Prentice's daughter Cassia. Prentice served on CP's Board of Directors from June 2013 to May 2014.

Equity Firm and Channel Tunnel Operator Both Appear Keen

UK – FRANCE – SWEDEN – The Eurotunnel Group has received a binding and irrevocable offer from private equity group EQT Infrastructure II, for the potential acquisition of its subsidiary, GB Railfreight (GBRf), the third largest rail freight operator in the UK. If the offer is accepted, EQT Infrastructure intends to integrate GB Railfreight into its indirectly owned Swedish rail freight firm, the Hector Rail Group, forming an integral part of EQT Infrastructure II’s strategy to create a leading independent pan-European rail freight operator.

New Competence Centres Set Up as Market Opens

GERMANY – IRAN – TURKEY – DHL Freight has announced that in response to improvements in relations between Europe and Iran they are installing two competence centres at their offices in Frankfurt and Istanbul to assist European exporters exploit a market which is seeing a burgeoning expansion of trade. DHL Freight is also offering pan-European part- and full truck loads as well as weekly departures for groupage shipments. Amadou Diallo, Chief Executive Officer, DHL Freight said:

Transport of Critical Medical Supplies Underway by Mini Air Freight System

RWANDA – The proposed use of drones by delivery companies such as Amazon and DHL has received plenty of publicity regarding the feasibility of their use as ‘final-mile’ delivery systems, many versions of which we have looked upon somewhat doubtfully, with the occasional exception when the destination was outside the normal urban environment. Meanwhile, in Rwanda, one company has implemented a drone delivery service that it says will save hundreds, possibly thousands of lives, and which may actually be a feasible solution to a tricky supply chain problem.

Freight Forwarder Contributes Airfreight and Advice on Real World Application

NETHERLANDS – The futuristic mode of transportation which we covered in a story in August is proceeding apace with the news that DHL is providing support for the ground breaking project, carrying the components on board a DHL freighter plane to perform the first tests as part of the Hyperloop Pod Competition organized by American entrepreneur Elon Musk's SpaceX. The Delft Hyperloop is a capsule developed by TU Delft for the rapid transportation of people and goods through tubes

New facility under construction in Aldingen

GERMANY – Austrian headquartered freight forwarding agency and supply chain specialist Gebrüder Weiss held a ground-breaking ceremony for a new logistics terminal at its branch in Aldingen/Tuttlingen in Southern Germany on the 13th of October. The terminal is set to supplement the existing handling facility at the location and represents a €3 million investment for the group and is scheduled for completion in early 2017.

Rivals Join Together to Promote Green Causes Whilst Elsewhere It's Business as Usual

WORLDWIDE – Proving once again that even fierce rivals such as the big players operating the major ports around the globe can work together in a good cause, the third annual joint environmental initiative launched by marine terminal operators APM Terminals, DP World, Hutchison Ports, Port of Rotterdam Authority (PRA), PSA International and Shanghai International Port Group (SIPG) concluded last month following a busy week of green activities around the globe. Meanwhile one participant, Dubai based DP World, continued to strengthen its port activities in the UK.

Generation of Possible Future Fuel from Atmosphere Degenerative Gas

US – The US Government's Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory has made an unexpected breakthrough in converting the greenhouse gas Carbon Dioxide (CO2) into ethanol, a substance that is undergoing multiple reviews and testing as a potential supplement to, or even replacement for, fossil fuels. Conducting an experiment in converting waste emission into fuel, the scientists at Oak Ridge found that making the conversion is much easier and cheaper than they had originally believed possible.

Criminal Attacks at Sea Generally Down

WORLDWIDE – Dryad Maritime has reported cautious optimism after releasing its latest maritime crime analysis which shows an overall reduction of attacks at sea across the world’s traditional ‘hot spots’. The Gulf of Guinea, South East Asia and The Indian Ocean High Risk Area (HRA) have all seen a significant reduction of reported maritime crime against merchant shipping throughout July, August and September of this year according to Dryad's Q3 analysis, though optimism should not pave the way for complacency as the recent attack off the coast of Yemen, technically an act of war as opposed to a crime, so not included in the analysis, will show.

Stena Line Adds New RoRo Vessel Before Christmas

UK – EUROPE – Stena Line has announced that it is increasing sailings on its Belfast to Liverpool route as well as bringing a second RoRo vessel into service on its Rotterdam to Killingholme route in response to increased demand by freight operators and in anticipation of the pre-Christmas boost in tonnage requirements.

Change in Markets Force Redundancies

UK - DB Cargo UK has announced proposed redundancies and changes to its business model in response to rapid and unprecedented changes in the markets it serves. The company is proposing a potential reduction of its workforce by 893 roles across the business, a further downsizing of its locomotive and wagon fleet, and a revision of the number and locations of its operational sites. The cuts represent around 30% of the company’s UK workforce and is attributed to what the company described as: ‘unprecedented challenges with the dramatic decline in core markets such as coal.’ Hans-Georg Werner, CEO of DB Cargo UK, said:

PIA Awards Three Year Cargo Contract to WFS

UK – PAKISTAN – Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has won a three-year contract to provide cargo handling and trucking services for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in the UK. WFS will handle export and import cargo for PIA’s wide-bodied flights at London Heathrow, Birmingham and Manchester, connecting customers in the UK with Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore.

Brambles and The Global FoodBanking Network Sign Three Year Agreement

US – AUSTRALIA – WORLDWIDE – Australian headquartered supply chain logistics giant Brambles, which operates in more than 60 countries primarily through the CHEP and IFCO brands, has signed a three-year agreement with the international non-profit organisation The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN). Through this partnership Brambles will provide supply chain knowledge, in-kind contributions, volunteers and donations to help finance GFN operations, in an effort to reduce hunger, poverty, malnutrition and food waste globally.

Smaller Items Worth a Mention This Week

UK - ABP’s Humber operation will be hosting its first ever recruitment fair at Port House in Hull on Wednesday 19th October. The event has been organised to highlight opportunities within the Humber ports of Hull, Goole, Grimsby and Immingham and will also showcase the benefits of working within the ports and logistics sector. ABP is looking for people to fill a number of specialist vacancies including port operatives, operations supervisors, electrical technicians, engineers, weighbridge operators and crane operators among others.

TfL Announces Results of Pollution Consultation and the Mayor Jumps In

UK—In London the body responsible for the Capitals transport system, Transport for London (TfL), has announced the results for a consultation they launched to investigate ideas from inhabitants on cutting pollution in the city but the findings have engendered criticism from the road haulage lobby toward some of the proposals intended to alleviate the problem.

Transport Charity Calls for Volunteers - What Have You Got to Lose?

UK – FRANCE – International development charity Transaid is calling on transport and logistics industry professionals to once again get on their bikes to raise funds for its life-saving work in Sub-Saharan countries, with the launch of its fifth European cycle challenge. Taking place from 22-25 September, 2017, the industry’s favourite charity is asking for volunteers to revisit the destination of Transaid’s first ever European cycling event back in 2012, asking for up to 50 riders to complete the 240-mile adventure over three days in the saddle, cycling from London to the French capital. Gary Forster, Chief Executive of Transaid, said:

Growing Box Terminal Set to Complete This Year as Bulk Commodity Team Strengthened

UK – The Port of Liverpool of course has a long history and has played a major part in world trade for centuries. Now Peel Ports, the operator, have announced new staff appointments and the arrival of handling equipment that the Peel says will ensure that Liverpool continues to do so. Peel Liverpool has taken delivery of a further six cantilever rail-mounted gantry (CRMG) cranes at its new Liverpool2, £300m deep-water container terminal, due for completion in 2016.

AN-124 Carries Oversized Cargo to Washington

US – RUSSIA – JAPAN – In a deal which makes sense to both parties this July saw plane maker Boeing and heavy lift cargo specialists Volga-Dnepr Group, sign a new agreement for the freight carrier’s subsidiaries, AirBridgeCargo Airlines and Volga-Dnepr Airlines to provide long-term logistics support for Boeing Commercial Airplanes and its partners using Boeing 747-8F and Antonov 124-100 freighters. In addition, Volga-Dnepr Group confirmed its order for the acquisition of 20, 747-8 Freighters, the tenth of which was delivered this week.

Box Handler Proposes Scheme to Port Managers

US – Container terminal operator TraPac LLC has announced it is to almost double the size of its facilities at the Port of Oakland, California. The Wilmington based logistics group is to lease a further 57 acres and two vessel berths on the port’s Outer Harbour. If it goes through, the deal makes TraPac the second-largest freight terminal operator in Oakland. The proposed 14-year lease agreement with the Port becomes final if Oakland’s Board of Port Commissioners approves it at a meeting on October 27. The move seems likely to be approved with Port Maritime Director John Driscoll commenting:

Technology Continues to Spread as Benefits Become Apparent.

AUSTRALIA – WORLDWIDE – A website dedicated to showing dash camera videos shot in Australia has released a video highlighting what it describes as ‘what truck drivers put up with daily’. The compilation, featuring footage over several years, shows how some drivers can be oblivious to something even as huge as a MAN or Kenworth truck. Please bear in mind if you watch the video, these are Aussie truckers, the Queens English it ain’t!

Establishment of Freight Lab Hopes to Generate New Solutions for Dealing with City Supply Chain Delivery Problems

US – The rise in e-commerce has prompted the University of Washington (UW) to set up a new research centre in cooperation with the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) and three industry members, Costco, Nordstrom and UPS, to address issues with urban goods delivery in the supply chain and develop new solutions and ideas to tackle them. The new Urban Freight Lab will investigate high-impact, low-cost logistics solutions for businesses delivering goods in cities and other urban conurbations.

Range of Articles Give Information on How to Stay Healthy Aboard

UK – WORLDWIDE – As a mutual assurance association dedicated to maritime risks of every hue, the Shipowners Club has a vested interest in maintaining the health of crews aboard vessels whether they be container ships or fishing boats. Now the P&I Club is issuing a series of advisory notices to those who man the vessels in whose fate they have an interest via their members, with a view to keeping crews healthy in every respect.

Who is on the Move and to Where as Appointments Announced

LUXEMBOURG – Air freight only carrier CargoLux has announced that Chris Nielen has joined the company as Vice President Sales. Effective since October 3, Nielen joins Cargolux from IAG Cargo where he previously held the position of Regional Commercial Manager, Europe.

Firm Response to Multiple Attacks in Last Two Weeks

YEMEN – Following missile attacks on the USS Mason and the HSV-2 Swift in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait which we reported recently, the US Navy today struck three radar sites controlled in Houthi-controlled territory on Yemen's Red Sea coast. At just after 0400 local time today the guided missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94) launched Tomahawk cruise missiles at the sites which the US Navy said ‘...were used to attack US ships operating in international waters, threatening freedom of navigation.’ Initial assessments show the sites were destroyed. As our previous article stated there are obvious concerns for tankers and merchant vessels carrying freight in the Strait and beyond.

Continued Success for Hong Kong Based Group Includes Green Gong

CHINA – Starting the list of victors in this year’s Payload Asia Awards we have once again seen Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Ltd (Hactl), the largest cargo handler at Hong Kong International Airport, and its added-value logistics subsidiary, Hacis, walk away with honours. Hactl once again won the Customer Choice Award for Ground Handler of the Year, and Hacis repeated its success of 2015, winning the Regional Logistics Provider of the Year in the Industry Choice section. This year, the Group also won in a third category, the Green Award (Customer Choice), recognising Hactl’s continuing strong efforts to reduce its environmental impact.

Gains Supplier Accreditation to the Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space Sectors

UK – US – Seko Logistics has earned a place on the Joint Supply Chain Accreditation Register (JOSCAR) which which caters to the Aerospace, Defence, Security and Space industries. For Seko Logistics, the accreditation will assist in gaining customers in this lucrative sector. Aerospace, defence, security and space currently generate over £50 billion of revenue a year for the UK economy. Dean Townsend, Director of Seko Logistics, said:

Gearbox and Turbo Specialist Cooperate on Class 8 Tractor Development

US – Two companies deeply involved with the production of power trains for commercial freight trucks are collaborating to develop a vehicle demonstrator. The companies, VanDyne SuperTurbo and Allison Transmission, plan to mesh together the performance benefits of VanDyne's mechanically driven turbocharger in combination with Allison's TC10® transmission, in a Class 8 tractor unit.

Buyers Can Avoid Purchasing Misappropriated Equipment

UK – Theft of materials handling equipment can be a nightmare scenario for smaller freight operators, hauliers etc. and the recovery rates for such machinery is woefully low. Loss of a valuable fork truck or similar will either result in a direct cost or a dent in the company’s insurance record, not to mention the inevitable delays and problems inherent with such a crime. Now, in order to help the police and to protect the public, the industry’s foremost trade body, the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) has created an online database where thefts of trucks can be reported. Users simply visit the FLTA website to report a theft, or to check the database to avoid buying a stolen machine.

Port of Houston Looks at Automated Solution Running Silently Above Highway Medians

US – At an event last month attended by the Governor of Texas Greg Abbott, the Port of Houston signed a MoU with the Texas A&M University’s Transport Institute to explore the use of the Institute’s new automated Freight Shuttle System (FSS) as a way to relieve heavily congested roads serving the port. The Freight Shuttle, which has been developed by the institute’s Freight Shuttle International (FSI), is designed to move truck trailers up to 53 ft and all sizes of ocean shipping containers via an emissions-free, electric-powered, freight only, rail transporter which runs on elevated guide ways above the medians of highways, or other rights-of-way, over distances of up to 500 miles.

Old Friendships Maintained During the Barren Years Lead to Written Agreement

US – CUBA – The Port of New Orleans has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Cuba in the expectancy of expanding trade and commercial opportunities between Louisiana and the Caribbean nation, as well as calling for joint marketing and information sharing efforts to meet those objectives. Relations between the US and Cuba has recently begun to thaw after the decision by President Barack Obama in December 2014, to overturn the trade embargo and normalise relations with the Caribbean nation. Port of New Orleans Chief Operating Officer Brandy Christian, said:

Steady Demand for Conversions Anticipated with Rise of e-commerce

US – The Farnborough International Airshow in July was viewed as a success by the Boeing organisation and amongst the orders placed with the plane builder was an order for four 767 passenger airplanes to be converted into freighters for an anonymous customer. That order has now been expanded to nine aircraft and the purchaser revealed as global provider of outsourced aircraft and aviation operating services, Atlas Air Worldwide, based in Purchase, New York.

$1.5 Million Penalties but Once Again No Admission of Guilt

US – The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has reached a compromise agreement with Norwegian car carrier Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics (WWL) and its Korean corporate affiliate, Eukor Car Carriers, (Eukor), over allegations that the two shipping companies participated in certain space charter agreements with other ocean common carriers, in violation of the Shipping Act. For the alleged antitrust activities the FMC collected a combined $1.5 million in civil penalties and as is to be expected these days in the light of previous judgements, neither WWL nor Eukor admitted to any wrongdoing.

American Road Hauliers Opposed to Tolling Plan

US – Rhode Island has been given government approval to introduce a truck-only tolling programme in order to fund, in part, the replacement or reconstruction of the bridges throughout the state. The plans have not gone over well with local industry organisations with both the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and the Rhode Island Trucking Association (RITA) having been vocally opposed to the proposal since it was first introduced.

Latest Death Has Raised Feelings as Children Await Asylum Decisions

FRANCE – UK – The Road Haulage Association (RHA) inform us that the French military are finally being deployed to carry out security checks on trucks bound for the UK from Calais, something for which the Association has been campaigning for nearly eighteen months. Feelings in the region are running high after the latest fatality, an Eritrean man run down by a British driver, allegedly as he placed barriers on the carriageway of the A16 motorway to slow drivers and gain access to the vehicles as they decelerated.

FIATA and IATA Ratify Their Agency Programme

IRELAND – WORLDWIDE – The FIATA Airfreight Institutes 95th meeting in Dublin this week saw FIATA President Huxiang Zhao, in the company of IATA’s Senior Vice President for Industry Distribution and Financial Services, Aleks Popovich, publicly sign the cooperation agreement for the launch of the IATA FIATA Air Cargo Programme (IFACP). The programme, which we covered in some detail in July, brings to fruition the work started in 2012 with IATA, representing air carriers, and international federation of freight forwarders representatives FIATA, joining forces to review, refine and re-engineer the existing Agency Programme.

Busy Terminal Means More Handling Capacity Needed

UK – Anyone who travels regularly on Britain’s roads, particularly in the vicinity of the major container ports, will be familiar with the blue and white livery of Maritime Transport which shifts an average of over 10 loads a week on each of its 1,500 road haulage vehicles. The multimodal logistics group has grown through acquisition with the purchase of DHL Container Logistics in 2010 followed by the takeover of Roadways Container Logistics four years later making the company, formed after the buy-out of Maritime Haulage in 2001, the largest container transport group in the country.

Liquefied Gas is Now a Viable Alternative to Marine Oils with 'Complete Supply Chain Solution'

US – GAC Bunker Fuels (GBFL), the GAC Group’s bunker trading and brokerage arm, has entered a strategic partnership with REV LNG and REV LNG Marine to deliver LNG bunkering services to ship owners and operators trading in North America. GBFL says the alliance will offer a complete LNG supply chain solution in North American ports, in response to growing demand for LNG as a marine fuel. LNG provides a viable alternative to low-sulphur marine gas oil for vessels sailing in the current North American ECA (Emissions Control Area), enabling them to reduce emissions well below the mandatory 0.1%. By 2020 or 2025, LNG will also provide a solution when the global sulphur cap of 0.5% comes into force.

Two Major Incidents off Yemeni Coast - One Involving US Destroyer

SAUDI ARABIA – YEMEN – UAE – Merchant vessels in the region should be aware of the recent attacks, firstly on a vessel in the Bab al-Mandab, sometimes known as ‘Pirate Alley’ the shipping lane that links the Suez Canal and the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. It seems the stakes for would be kidnappers have been raised somewhat with last week’s news that the October 1 attack was an act of war, not a venture for illegal gains. The attack seemingly involved the long running war between the powers in the area, particularly disparate Yemeni forces and the Saudi and UAE military.

Truck Shuttles and Northern RoRo Ferry Ports Both Witness Growth

UK – FRANCE – BELGIUM – An upswing in trade for two cross Channel services recently as Eurotunnel reports numbers of freight transits still growing, with Truck Shuttle traffic increasing for the eleventh consecutive month compared to the corresponding period in previous years. Freight traffic saw an 11% increase compared to the month of September 2015, with 136,590 vehicles transported. For the period January-September 2016, there has been a 12% increase in traffic compared with the same period of 2015, and RoRo rival P&O Ferries also had good news.

International Civil Aviation Organization Prompts Moves Toward Neutral Growth

WORLDWIDE – Government, industry and civil society representatives have taken an historic step to control CO₂ emissions from the international aviation sector. Under the leadership of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), an agreement was reached by the association's 191 member states to implement the Carbon Offset and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), a global market-base measure (GMBM) scheme developed to achieve the global aspirational goal of carbon-neutral growth from 2020 onwards. ICAO Council President Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, said:

Car and Truck Shipments Now Extend Across the Region

MIDDLE EAST – Greek shipping firm, Neptune Lines has launched a new RoRo shipping service to ports in the Middle East. With a modern fleet of Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) vessels and broad operational expertise, Neptune Lines operates in over 30 ports in 20 countries in the Mediterranean and the Black Seas and, as of July 2016, also serves the Middle East.

A Busy Seven or so Days for the HR Departments

WORLDWIDE – SINGAPORE – More Maersk staff moves included in this week’s round up of who’s going where in the worlds of freight forwarding, logistics shipping etc. but we start with the news that in Singapore First Ship Lease Trust has announced the resignation of Esben Poulsson as an Independent Director and Member of the Audit and Risk Committee and the Remuneration Committee, stating that ‘he had been at odds with the Chairman and certain Independent Directors, on a number of issues and on several occasions’.

Qualification Can Equate to More Efficient Freight Transit Times

US – SAUDI ARABIA – Given the restrictions of the Jones Act, a subject which still prompts controversy almost a century after its adoption, foreign shipowners welcome any chance of being accepted as bona fide suppliers of ocean borne transport. DKT Allseas, as agents for the line, advise us that heavy lift RoCon carrier and tanker operator Bahri, the National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (NSCSA), announced this week that its vessels are now enrolled in the United States Coast Guard's QUALSHIP 21 programme, which recognizes foreign flagged vessels with a high quality of operations and maintenance. Less than 10% of the ships that call at US ports meet QUALSHIP 21 eligibility requirements.

Improved Safety and Environmental Matters and Continuing Sponsorship for America's Road Team

US – Lots of road haulage news concerning Volvo Trucks this week, mainly due to the interest aroused at the American Trucking Associations (ATA) Management Conference & Exhibition in Las Vegas, Nevada which closed this week. Firstly the company is to develop an advanced heavy-duty tractor-trailer concept delivering increased freight-hauling efficiency and corresponding reductions in carbon emissions. This will be funded with $20 million in federal cash from the US Department of Energy (DoE) under its SuperTruck ll programme, matched dollar for dollar by Volvo.

900 Trailers Accommodated on Popular Route

DENMARK – Danish headquartered shipping and logistics group DFDS, has finalised the new building order of two RoRo cargo vessels from Chinese shipbuilder, Jinling Shipyard, for delivery in the beginning of 2019, with options for four additional ships. The order is part of DFDS’ ongoing fleet renewal to accommodate the growth of its freight customers, increase operational efficiency and reduce the environmental impact.

Some Smaller Items Telling What Those in the Industry are Up To

SOUTH AFRICA – The Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has commenced a multi-million rand port infrastructure rehabilitation project at the small domestic seaport of Port Nolloth on the north-western coast of South Africa. The project is aimed at improving infrastructure for offshore activities and forms part of efforts to develop the country’s marine transport and manufacturing industry in line with the South African government’s Operation Phakisa initiative. The primary Transnet infrastructure at Port Nolloth consists of an L-shaped concrete deck on pile jetty which includes a landing quay with a length of approximately 67 metres and a useable area of 1450 m².

Major Road Infrastructure Upgrade Prompts Changes

UK – IRELAND – Seatruck Ferries, the freight only RoRo ferry operator, has added significantly to its carrying capabilities with the recent amendments to its services. Seatruck, a subsidiary of the Danish based Clipper Group, has added a fourth vessel to its expanding Liverpool – Dublin service whilst introducing a larger vessel on the Heysham – Dublin daily service in anticipation of the opening of the M6 link, on October 31, which will connect junction 34 of the M6 directly to the Port of Heysham, completely bypassing the current bottleneck in Lancaster.

Insurers Add to Debate as Trial Period Comes to an End

UK- WORLDWIDE – Last Saturday saw the end of the three-month settling-in period which the International Maritime Organization (IMO) decreed as a sensible amount of time for shippers globally to become conversant with their responsibilities under the revised mandatory SOLAS regulations which decree that all packed containers must have a verified gross mass (VGM) before being loaded aboard a ship, no matter from where the cargo was being exported. Now Robert Keen, director general of the British International Freight Association (BIFA) which represents forwarding agents in the UK, has commented on how things have turned out, saying: