Shipping Search - Archive

Marine Environment Protection Committee has a Busy Week

WORLDWIDE – When considering the work of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) it is often easy to be critical from a variety of standpoints. Having any level of control over the global management of shipping is without doubt a daunting task, particularly considering the size of the industry, every facet of which has some degree of influence or other throughout the hallowed halls on London's Albert Embankment.

Scandinavian Collaboration on Break Bulk Shipment

NORWAY – ABU DHABI – Logistics outfit Greencarrier has been telling the history of a particularly complex heavy lift freight forwarding project the Gothenburg headquartered group was first tasked with back in June. A truly Scandinavian mix saw the company's Danish office asked to coordinate and plan the shipment of break bulk cargo from Halden in Norway to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates on behalf of Hyundai Heavy Industries.

Consultation Ends in December as Yet Another Kent to Essex Crossing Mooted

UK – Like buses, it seems that no sooner does the call come for one Lower Thames crossing than a proposal comes along for two. With plans being finalised for the new motorway tunnel that will connect Kent, Thurrock and Essex beneath the River Thames, and as we told in an article earlier this month, Highways England have put a request to anyone who uses the current crossings between Dartford and Thurrock to give their views on a decision which has major ramifications for the road freight industry.

Long Term Base for Oilfield Services

UK – Peel Ports has joined forces with oilfield services group, ASCO, in a long-term strategic partnership aimed at supporting the energy sector in Great Yarmouth and promoting future sustainability and logistics services for the port. The 12-year partnership will officially commence from January 2019 and will see ASCO assume operational responsibility for two additional berths at Peel Ports Great Yarmouth.

Thwarted Attempt Leads to Reprisals off Somalia

SOMALIA – On October 28, EU NAVFOR military personnel seized an active Pirate Action Group (PAG) whaler and destroyed it. This followed a sustained period of surveillance after a piracy attack was conducted against the Hong Kong-flagged Bulk Carrier KSL Sydney. EU NAVFOR says that it is committed to disrupting such pirate groups wherever and whenever the opportunity arises and Sunday morning was one such occasion.

Port to Door as Box Terminals Link by Rail

SPAIN – This month saw the commencement of a new freight train service linking Barcelona with the Miranda Container Terminal (TCM) in Miranda de Ebro. The new route will boost intermodal traffic as the terminal serves an area covering Alava, Burgos, La Rioja, Santander, Palencia and Asturias and beyond. The run is managed by Synchromodal Network Global Services (SYNERGY) a new logistics subsidiary of Hutchison Ports and headquartered at the group's Barcelona Container Terminal BEST.

If There Is a No Deal Brexit All Bets Are Off

UK – The budget received a mixed response from a variety of players in the logistics industry as representatives from various factions responded to Chancellor Philip Hammond's pre-Brexit financial adjustments. Whilst the response was mixed from both the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and the Freight Transport Association (FTA) one prominent campaign group was less than complimentary.

Dutch Political Demands Prompt Climate Change Action

NETHERLANDS – When a 2017 report from the Dutch National Environment Agency proposed that EU climate change policy was ineffective, the reaction was for the bulk of the country's politicians to back a new Climate Law setting ambitious targets of 49% CO₂ reduction by 2030 compared to 1990 levels and a 95% cut by 2050, with a future carbon neutral electricity policy. The Port of Amsterdam has moved beyond its shipping and logistics portfolio of late with a variety of Green initiatives and the political impetus has now engendered a further expansion.

A Change in Government Policies Needed to Reduce the Problem

UK – WORLDWIDE – With environmental concerns high on the agenda for many shipping and associated businesses: the 2020 sulphur cap to reduce emissions: the giant gyres of plastic waste which haunt the oceans; plus a variety of urban pollutions from noise to congestion, the problem of food waste in the supply chain is very much in the spotlight. With growing concerns regarding the logistics of food importation once Britain leaves the EU, a new British report claims current policies are both inefficient and misguided.

Employment News Throughout the Logistics Industry

UK – A long serving stalwart of the shipping industry starts the weeks freight and logistics staff news as, after 31 years with the Chamber of Shipping, Terry Cooper is retiring from her role as Executive Assistant to the President to the CEO. Cooper has had a long and illustrious career with the Chamber, having served six Director Generals/CEO and 29 Presidents, and supporting the development of the Maritime Labour Convention. Shirley Rice has already taken up her new role to succeed Cooper.

Supply Chain Stories Out This Week

UK – We start the week's catch up of items you may have missed in the world of logistics with the news that, working in partnership with GB Railfreight, road building specialist Hanson will run three trains a week from its quarry in Shap, Cumbria down to its newly restored railway siding at Ashton-in-Makerfield. The company has invested £250,000 to ensure rail freight can be run into the depot after a decade long break and reduce its dependence on road haulage services.

Buoyancy Required to Float Hull

ROMANIA – AUSTRALIA – ANTARCTIC – The birth of a ship is always of interest to the maritime community and the latest project for the Unique Group's Buoyancy & Ballast division certainly had the 'wow' factor. Firstly the vessel is an icebreaker but the nature of floating the unfinished hull to enable it to be towed for finishing makes this one such high profile.

Offer to Shareholders Unhappy with Development Plans

SWITZERLAND – FRANCE – WORLDWIDE – The situation regarding the future of Ceva Logistics took yet another turn this week when French container shipping line CMA CGM offered CHF30 to all Ceva shareholders not happy about their future stock after changes to the administration of the company were announced.

Global Supply Chain Network Expands with New IT Deal

WORLDWIDE – E2open, a provider of cloud-based, on-demand software for supply chains, has announced its acquisition of INTTRA, the ocean shipping network, software and information provider. The combination of INTTRA's ocean carrier and shipper network with E2open's business network will aim to create a unified global logistics and supply chain network. E2open and INTTRA will join efforts to strengthen the connections and streamline the information flow between manufacturers, suppliers, shipping service providers, ocean carriers and all the participants in global trade.

Confidence Post Brexit Spurs Multi Million Pound Investment

UK – German-owned freight operator, DB Cargo UK, has opened its new £6 million steel logistics centre in the West Midlands. Over the past 12 months the company has more than doubled the size of its existing facility in Knowles Road, Wolverhampton, which receives imported steel as rail freight from the Netherlands and Sweden. DB Cargo says it sees the project as a major vote of confidence in the UK's continuing ability to trade and attract inward investment post-Brexit.

Public Service Information Notice Plans Paperwork if the Worst Happens

UK – The government has today published a Public Service Information Notice aimed at all British road haulage operations and which addresses the problems of RoRo freight traffic with the EU in case of a no-deal outcome to the current negotiations. The paper is designed to alert the logistics supply chain to the possible requirement for new paperwork after the exit from the EU. Here we publish the Notice in its entirety.

Lunch, a Famous Host and a Chance to Network in the Heart of London

UK – The British International Freight Association (BIFA) Awards will once again this year be held at the Brewery, in the heart of the City of London with a luncheon ceremony on Thursday 17th January 2019 and hosted by Dame Kelly Holmes. With the date fast approaching the finalists have now been announced and there is still a chance to get tickets for one of the most anticipated events in the shipping and logistics calendar.

Forbidding of Safety Talks by EU is 'Ridiculous'

UK – EU – Having commissioned its own study of the effects of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union on airlines flying to and from the UK, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has called for urgent action by the UK and the European Union to put in place contingency planning for the continuation of air freight and passenger services in the event of a 'no-deal Brexit', and to move much faster to bring certainty to three critical air transport issues.

Cleaner Fuel Will Figure Largely in the Future for Freight and Passenger Carriers

US – Crowley Maritime has christened its Commitment Class combination container/roll on-roll off ship, El Coquí, which is among the first of its kind to be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG). The RoRo/LoLo ship is a key new component in Crowley's supply chain transformation in the US mainland-Puerto Rico trade. The incoming 2020 sulphur cap is likely to mean ever more freight and passenger vessels switching to gas as a fuel source.

Search and Rescue Recognises the Most Worthwhile in the Industry

NORWAY – WORLDWIDE – There are award ceremonies and award ceremonies. Whereas most of those appertaining to the world of transport and logistics laud, quite rightly, the efforts of the best in the industry, there is another sibling ceremony which takes into consideration an aspect which deals with the altogether more serious side of the shipping business, saving life at sea.

Two Major Players Sign Up to Prove Complicity Over Emissions

WORLDWIDE – So let us say you are a major bulk or container shipping line, about to be bound as from January 2020 by the incoming sulphur cap imposed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). You have decided on the method each of your fleet is going to use to ensure you cut emissions and reduce the sulphur oxides (SOx) your vessels produce. Who however will take your word, particularly at a time when such mandatory policies have been proved to have been circumvented on the road by the likes of VW, Audi et al?

When Will Logistics Sector Get Clarity and Competence?

UK – The National Audit Office (NAO) has today published a report 'The UK border: preparedness for EU exit' and the conclusions in the event of the much deprecated no-deal scenario are less than flattering for the government. In short, the NAO says the increase in Border Force staff levels needed to cope with all the envisaged problems of a considerable rise in the need for the examinations of people, trailers and freight, equates to around to just 1% in real terms as against 2014 levels, and the logistics community, particularly the road haulage sector, has not reacted favourably.

Refrigerated Boxes as Part of Larger Order

US – SWITZERLAND – WORLDWIDE – Just a week after announcing it is to fit 50,000 of its dry cargo containers with the TRAXENS tracking and condition reporting system, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the world's second largest box carrier, has placed an order for 5,000 refrigerated containers leased through SeaCube Containers LLC and equipped with the latest atmosphere control technology by Carrier Transicold.

Khashoggi Affair Linked to Hyperloop Boss Resigning

UAE – Oh what a tangled web we weave. Following the resignation of Sir Richard Branson as Chairman of Virgin Hyperloop One (VH1) with a statement that the company 'needs a more hands-on Chair', there is controversy that his departure has more to do with the recent events at the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Turkey than the construction of the revolutionary modal transport system with potential to carry passengers and freight at speeds up to up to 300 metres per second.

Excellence in the Industry Acknowledged

UK – The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) has announced the winners of this year's Annual Awards for Excellence 2018. Professionals, organisations and operators from across the worlds of logistics and transport came together at the Royal Lancaster Hotel on Thursday 18th October, to celebrate exceptional contributions that have been made to the profession throughout the year at the prestigious CILT Annual Awards for Excellence 2018.

Latest Survey Suggests if You Want to Save the Planet - Go Online

UK – As part of Government's Green GB Week, parcel price comparison site ParcelHero last week launched a new study asking whether home deliveries still carry the crown as the greenest form of shopping. A report in 2009 found home deliveries produced significantly less CO₂ emissions than shopping by car. But with increasing concern about the impact of NOx and particulates, the report examines the latest moves in the UK's logistics sector to maintain the position of home deliveries as the greenest option.

Political Interest to be Stimulated by Those in the Know

UK – A parliamentary reception this week in the Terrace Pavilion at the House of Commons gave the opportunity to the Road Haulage Association (RHA) to speak directly to a cross section of MPs on the problems currently facing the British road freight industry and try and formulate ways to ensure that this most vital section of the country's supply chain remains viable, particularly post-Brexit.

Scourge of Rogue Employers Continues Along the Logistics Supply Chain

UK – WORLDWIDE – There is of course nothing whatsoever 'modern' about slavery. That two-word term has however entered the vernacular promoted by the improvements in communication which often illustrate to the public the appalling conditions under which many people are forced to work, many of them children, and usually considered a situation which exists solely in the third world. When the industries concerned are landlocked they can more easily come under the public gaze, but now maritime union Nautilus International has highlighted a problem it insists exists on British waterways and along the UK's wider supply chain.

ITF Says Conditions at Box Handling Facility are Unsafe and Unacceptable

AUSTRALIA – Anyone even remotely connected with the shipping industry understands the term Flag of Convenience. The expression has an inbuilt bias, bringing either thoughts of thriftiness from shrewd ship owners or lamentable safety standards and bypassing of labour regulations dependant on your standpoint. Now a new term has crept in to the logistics vocabulary, 'Port of Convenience', and the latest container handling facility condemned as such by transport unions is located in the Melbourne port.

Opinions of Freight, Road Haulage, Rail and Shipping Sectors in Submissions to House of Lords

UK – Over the past few months a succession of some of Britain's biggest companies, as well as a wide range of trade associations, have been submitting their own opinions on the Brexit conundrum to the political powers that be. The views expressed include formal written submissions to the House of Lords EU Internal Market Sub-Committee from logistics operations and the likes of the UK Chamber of Shipping, the Road Haulage Association (RHA), the Freight Transport Association (FTA), the Rail Delivery and Rail Freight Groups as well as such as DPD and Wincanton.

Funding Results in Revelation of New Materials Handler

US – SPAIN – Much has been made of lately regarding whether hydrogen fuel cells have a place in the future of the freight and logistics market but it seem the ever present impetus in the State of California to drive the environmental agenda has created a new development for one major fork lift truck manufacturer with a major regional port as a customer.

More Controversy as Campaigners Say Scheme is 'Expansion by the Back Door'

UK – Gatwick Airport has set out an ambitious vision for the future with the publication of its draft master plan, which looks at how the airport might grow in the longer term as the airport, which lays claim to be the UK's second largest airport, looks to better compete with rival Heathrow in terms of both passenger and air freight traffic.

Bits and Pieces from Around the Globe Over the Past Few Days

TURKEY – Shipping and logistics group Maersk's cargo handling subsidiary, APM Terminals, has reached an agreement with its current partner SOCAR to pass over ownership of the largest container terminal in the Aegean region at Izmir Aliağa whilst still maintaining management of the facilities there. The terminal, to be named Petlim Container Terminal, is the third largest in Turkey, with a capacity of 1.3 million TEU per year.

Safety Lobby Attacks Proposals to Dilute European Commission Initiative

EUROPE – A letter delivered this week to the European Parliament's Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) from a group of safety experts, consumer groups, transport police, environmental campaigners, city authorities, cyclists and road accident victims, strikes out at the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (ACEA) which accuses it of trying to weaken the European Commission's proposals on new vehicle safety measures. The proposals, whatever final form they take, will impact on road haulage operators as changes to truck design figure prominently.

Results of New English Roads Communications Contract Thus Far Published

UK – Highways England, the body responsible operating, maintaining and improving England's motorways and major A roads, signed a contract this year with technology group telent handing over all future operational National Roads Telecommunications Services (NRTS) in a deal worth £450 million and now the communications specialist has issued a progress update.

Privately Owned Container Handling and 3PL Company Ties Up 50 Year Deal

UAE – US – UAE based port operator and logistics company, Gulftainer, has signed a 'sister' port agreement between the Department of Seaports & Customs of the Government of Sharjah, UAE and the Diamond State Port Corporation (DSPC), a corporate entity of the State of Delaware, twinning the organisation's after a deal putting the Port of Wilmington under the direct control of the privately owned Middle Eastern port management and third party logistics (3PL) group had been completed.

More Services Announced Despite Sanctions by Neighbouring Arab States

QATAR – CHINA – NORTH AMERICA – Qatar Airways Cargo, the state owned flag carrier, has commenced freighter services to Macau, the airline's fourth freight destination in Greater China. Alongside the launch of the new twice-weekly services to Macau, the carrier has also introduced transpacific cargo services, providing direct flights over the Pacific from Macau to North America, resulting in reduced flight times and faster services for customers. Ironically it may be the country's diplomatic isolation from many of its Arab neighbours which is fuelling the Qatar's national carrier's expansion.

Company Trucks to Run Exclusively on Non Diesel Alternative to Reduce Greenhouse Gases

UK – The latest ten gas powered commercial vehicles which Waitrose trialled last year have obviously proved successful as news comes that the John Lewis Partnership announces that it will phase out all diesel-powered road haulage heavy trucks from its fleet by 2028, in favour of low-carbon biomethane-powered versions, which should cut HGV emissions by over 80%. The move will see the company roll out over 500 new state-of-the-art Waitrose & Partners and John Lewis & Partners delivery trucks powered by 100% renewable biomethane fuel, which significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Swiss Box Line Rolls Out New Smart Technology to Watch Boxes Throughout the Supply Chain

WORLDWIDE – Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has announced that it will equip 50,000 of its dry cargo containers with smart technology in the coming months as it looks to enhance supply chain management for shippers through unprecedented visibility of dry cargo flow from door-to-door, adding efficiency, safety and predictability. The TRAXENS technology, which both MSC and CMA CGM decided to adopt in 2016, and which we gave full details of, including an explanatory video earlier this year, is now being fully rolled out across the Swiss group's fleet.

New Key 2019 Updates Now Available

WORLDWIDE – Air freight executives should be aware that the latest tranche of dangerous goods regulations (DGR) and cargo standards manuals from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) are out for 2019 and they contain some key updates which shippers and forwarders should certainly be aware of. Contents of the new editions include:

Oily Water Discharges Avoided if Seawater Lubrication Systems Used Where Possible

EUROPE – Canadian headquartered Thordon Bearings has signed sales and distribution agreements with St. Petersburg-based Industrial & Marine Projects (IMPRO) and Tallinn's Marine Ecology Equipment (MEE), in a development that anticipates the introduction of more stringent pollution rules for European waterways. The appointment of new distributors for Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Russia and Azerbaijan coincides with concerns that more should be done to reduce the impact of oil pollution in the ecologically sensitive Baltic Sea and Caspian Sea areas.

Terrorism Included with Air Quality and Safety Issues

UK – Road haulage operators countrywide should note that the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) revealed the new FORS Standard at its annual Members' Conference. The new FORS Standard is the fifth iteration of the document, and sets out the requirements operators must meet if they wish to become FORS accredited. The revised edition addresses the need for air quality improvements and sets out requirements to help operators mitigate against threats of terrorism. Provision is also made for a broader range of operations and vehicles, including powered two-wheelers, and new requirements for bus and coach operators.

Colossal Reactors Carried by Road Convoy and Heavy Lift Vessel

ITALY – The Port of Venice has handled its largest ever load, a colossal project freight forwarding job consisting of two hydrocracking reactors, each weighing 1,535 tonnes and measuring 60 metres long. Made by heavy engineering equipment manufacturer, ATB Riva Calzoni, the reactors are, according to the company, amongst the largest ever made in the petrochemical sector and bound for its destination, the first Nigerian refinery in private hands and owned by Dangote Refining.

Faulty Component Problem Spreads to More Manufacturers

WORLDWIDE – With the €800 million fine levied on Audi by German authorities this week the total costs for the Volkswagen group have now apparently topped €27 billion in the aftermath of the emissions scandal. Now another vehicle manufacturer, Volvo, has stated that some of its own diesel engines have a different emissions problem, a faulty component which has already cost one engine maker dear, and this one may have very serious effects for the car and commercial vehicle producer as it is believed to have implications for many road haulage trucks, particularly in Europe and the US.

Another Technological Maritime Wave from Household Names in Transport and IT

WORLDWIDE – Rolls-Royce and Intel have announced their intention to collaborate on designs for 'sophisticated intelligent shipping systems' that will aim make commercial shipping safer. The sea can be a hostile environment with dangerous ocean conditions having resulted in 1,129 total shipping losses over the past 10 years, mostly due to human error. Enabling a vessel to better navigate and detect obstacles and hazards in real time, requires the crew to have the information they need to make smart and potentially lifesaving decisions, something the two partners hope to provide with it new service as the sector looks towards automation.

State of the Art London Gateway Warehouse to Handle Reefer Trade and More

UK – The commitment which French container line CMA CGM made back in February to take a long term lease, via its international freight forwarding and logistics solutions subsidiary, on a brand new state of the art, multi-temperature warehouse at DP World's deep water port London Gateway on the banks of the River Thames, has seen work commence with a ground breaking ceremony last week.

Cutting Pollution a Central Plank in Policy at Clean Maritime Council Inaugural Meeting

UK – The government inspired Green Great Britain Week which is running between 15 - 19 October has largely gone unnoticed by much of the general public, but the first day of the initiative, designed to inform the populace of how environmental improvements can benefit employment as well as improve general health, saw the first meeting of the Clean Maritime Council, a body charged with devising a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the shipping and waterborne logistics sectors to improve air quality on and around our waterways, ports and shipping lanes.

Freight Forwarders and Hauliers Alike Continue to Complain

UK – It is now over four months since Hutchison Ports installed its nGen terminal operating system (TOS) at the Port of Felixstowe, a system which it had already fitted in 25 of its managed ports worldwide. The ongoing delays and problems ever since have been well documented, vessels diverted to other ports, road haulage drivers facing long waits to collect or deliver containers, sometimes without the benefit of basic facilities.

Rubber Tyred and Automated Rail Mounted Gantry Purchases

IRELAND – CANADA – FINLAND – UAE – Two major orders for European port crane manufacturers reported as Liebherr Container Cranes in Ireland announces it has secured an order for the supply of 10 electric rubber tyre gantry cranes (ERTGs) to Montreal Gateway Terminal Partnerships (MGTP), meanwhile Finnish rival Konecranes is to supply 54 Automated Rail Mounted Gantry (ARMG) cranes to Abu Dhabi Terminals.

Once Again the Transport Industry Shows Its Worth

UK – UGANDA – FRANCE – INDONESIA – News on the charity front this month as, once again the freight and logistics sector steps up to help those in need overseas. The disastrous earthquake and tsunami that struck Sulawesi Island at the end of September 2018 has elicited a response from someone in the air cargo community, but we start with news from the transport industry's best supported charity, Transaid.

Logistics Consultant Takes a Hard Look at Leaving the EU

UK – As part of our series of articles on Brexit we have been looking at the opinions of those involved in negotiations with government in an effort to ensure that solutions to a raft of problems pass initially through the hands of those best equipped to understand them. This week we are grateful to Andrew Thorne from specialist global logistic consultants KTF Stone for his personal analysis of the current situation as it faces small and medium sized enterprises.

Bilateral Commitment to Share Space on Maritime Routes Extended

WORLDWIDE – Container shipping lines Hapag-Lloyd and the Ocean Network Express (ONE) have concluded a Bilateral Strategic Feeder Network Cooperation Agreement, which has already started on the first trade. The collaboration is looking to combine the strengths and competitive advantages of both companies and aims to provide the market with a superior feeder network.

Shipping Industry Insights This Week

SWEDEN – POLAND – This week the round-up of some of shipping and logistics smaller news items begins with the announcement that freight and passenger RoRo ferry company Stena Line has introduced a new RoPax vessel on the route between Karlskrona and Gdynia making this the fourth such craft on the service. The Stena Nordica has capacity for 450 passengers with 1,950 metres of vehicle lanes and will make the trip between Sweden and Poland in ten and a half hours.

Staff Moves Announced This Week

SINGAPORE – The World Shipping Council (WSC) has announced Tim Wickmann as its new Managing Director, Asia. Wickmann served most recently as CEO of MCC Transport, the intra-Asia arm of Maersk Line, and has worked in various leadership positions in international liner shipping for the last three decades. He will be based at the WSC Asian office which will be located in Singapore.

DP World Cocks a Snook at Somalia and Djibouti

SOMALILAND – Global port management group and provider of freight and logistics facilities DP World, has begun construction work on the development of the multi-purpose Berbera port in the Republic of Somaliland, with a special ground-breaking ceremony to mark the occasion.

UKWA House of Lords Reception Offers Opportunities for Comprehensive Update

UK – As London basked in Autumn sunshine, the House of Lords was a fitting setting for a reception held by the United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA) on October 11, as it brought together some of the great and the good of the logistics industry, including many whose roles are inextricably linked with the current Brexit negotiations. The meeting demonstrated perfectly both the state of the talks, and the diverse opinions held even in this industry environment, with incoming President Baroness McIntosh admitting to have been on the opposite side to the incumbent Lord Brabazon (who actually stood down in July) in the matter of Britain's exit from the EU.

Belgian Hub Aims for Top Five Spot Within Two Years

BELGIUM – Liege Airport and AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC) have signed an historic 10-year lease agreement which will aim to bring the scale of cooperation between two companies to the next level of development, boosting the air freight volumes of ABC to and from the airport and with the hopes of placing Liege Airport among the top 5 cargo airports in Europe by 2020.

MSC Launches New Spanish Track Borne Service

SPAIN – The world's second largest container shipping line, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), has extended its intermodal logistics offerings by announcing the launch of a new rail freight service to connect Spanish agricultural producers and other exporters to international markets.

New Purchase Means Flexibility and Transparency for Shippers

POLAND – NETHERLANDS – P&O Ferrymasters says rising customer demand for freight transport between Poznan in Poland and Europe's busiest port at Rotterdam has prompted the purchase of 150 huckepack trailers for its intermodal train service on the route. The huckepack cargo units, which have the flexibility of being able to be switched between train and road haulage trucks, are all fitted with telematics systems which will enable customers to track and trace their shipments in real time through dedicated web portals.

Unsolicited Offer Pushes French Group to Extend Stock Holding and Support 3PL Management

FRANCE – SWITZERLAND – WORLDWIDE – Marseille headquartered container shipping line CMA CGM, which took a 24.9% share in third party logistics outfit Ceva in April, says it supports the decision of the Swiss operations board of directors to refuse the unsolicited offer it has received to acquire the company from an unnamed bidder. The French group received approval to increase its holding in the 3PL to 33% with immediate effect.

Much Criticised Company Permitted to Develop Flagship Facility

PHILIPPINES – International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), a company that has of late been heavily criticised by transport unions for its labour practices at its facilities around the world, has been given the go ahead for capacity improvements at the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT), the port operator's flagship operation, by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

Tunnel Proposition to Ease M25 Congestion Will Suit Road Hauliers - Except for the Cost

UK – Highways England has launched the next phase of statutory consultation for the planned Lower Thames Crossing which ultimately aims to relieve congestion at the existing Dartford Crossing. The multi-billion pound road link beneath the River Thames will connect Kent, Thurrock and Essex through the longest road tunnel in the country in a project that the Government says is the largest single road investment venture in the UK since the M25 was completed more than 30 years ago. Freight and road haulage groups are pressing for urgent completion of the scheme.

Logistical Location and Energy Efficiency Essential Components of New Plant

BELGIUM – The Austrian petrochemical company Borealis has announced that it is to build a new production plant on its existing site in Kallo, in the Antwerp port area. The propane dehydrogenation (PDH) plant will use the very latest technology in terms of sustainable production and energy efficiency and is scheduled to start up in the first half of 2022. In July Borealis implemented the international energy management standard ISO 50001, assisted by DNV GL in an initiative which took 4 years to come to fruition, and says it will now be able to cut over 360,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually.

Autonomous Multimodal Future Receives Guidance from a Raft of Authorities

US – As we witness continuous advances in the field of road borne autonomous vehicles, both in private cars and commercial vans and trucks, the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) has released new Federal guidance for automated vehicles, advancing its commitment to supporting the safe integration of automation into the broad multimodal surface transportation system. 'Preparing for the Future of Transportation: Automated Vehicles 3.0' (AV 3.0) builds upon, but does not replace, voluntary guidance provided in 'Automated Driving Systems 2.0: A Vision for Safety'. Secretary Elaine Chao, said:

Freight Awards Deadline Extended - But Hurry

UK – The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has extended the deadline for entries to its annual Freight Service Awards, giving those logistics outfits that missed out on the opportunity to enter their nominations to all modal, general and specialist categories, an extra week, as well as waiving the limit of three categories per member.

Cargo Offering Now to Include Live Shipments

DUBAI – flydubai Cargo has announced that it will begin to offer live animal transportation across its network. The announcement follows flydubai Cargo's successful transportation of two Saluki Dogs and seven Falcons for a recent competition held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Many middle-eastern airlines traditionally allow tame birds of prey to travel in the cabin with their owners. The latest project was undertaken in association with the Department of Culture and Tourism- Abu Dhabi to support the UAE's participation at the event.

Turkish Political and Economic Crisis Affects Choices of Suitable Modes of Transport

UK – TURKEY – As a specialist freight forwarder with a long history of doing business with the country, John Good Shipping is one of the few logistics operations qualified to speak on the current difficult situation in which Turkish importers currently find themselves. Indeed the currency imbalance which now exists between Turkey and its regular trade partners is having an effect far beyond those who deal directly with the country.

Misconceptions Cleared Up by Joint Statement from Registries and Ship Owners

WORLDWIDE – More controversy around the incoming mandatory sulphur cap on marine fuels as ordained by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and due to come into force on the 1 January 2020. In August a bevy of industry stakeholders, including the Registries of the Bahamas, Liberia, Marshall Islands and Panama, together with BIMCO, INTERCARGO and INTERTANKO, heavy hitters all, co-sponsored and submitted a document to the Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) 73 meeting taking place 22-26 October 2018.

Multilingual Helpline to Aid Depressed Crew

WORLDWIDE – The pressures of working at sea, often for months at a time with crewmates who may not come from ones country or ethnic background, often not even sharing a common language, can have a serious effect on otherwise healthy individuals. Depression and even suicidal thoughts can occur when miles from home away from loved ones and such problems pose a risk beyond the affected individual. Now Singapore based ship management group Synergy has launched a new counselling service aimed at improving mental health support for sea and shore-based maritime personnel.

Not Just Road Haulage Groups Which Have to Undertake Mandatory Equipment Examinations

UK – Whilst any road haulage outfit worth its salt ensures that its vehicles are subjected to the regular mandatory checks, from the daily walk round to scheduled maintenance, the same outfits can be remiss in another area which has the potential to make them vulnerable to expensive claims and fines, and even the possibility of sanctions against the logistic company's directors, up to and including imprisonment. All cargo handling operations of any size, from retailers to freight forwarders, make use of the ubiquitous fork lift truck, but how many are aware of the regulations which require them to undertake Thorough Examinations at least annually?

Ship Owners Told to Prepare Implementation Plans

WORLDWIDE – As is so often the case when we see a major change appertaining to maritime policy, the introduction of the sulphur cap regulations, which come into force from 1 January 2020, will see some ship owners properly prepared with all vessels compliant, whilst others, be they container carriers, cruise ships or tankers, will be scrabbling to ensure they are ready in time. Whilst some vessels are switching to LNG and others fitting scrubbers, many will simply switch to higher grade fuel, but there are still steps to take beforehand.

Container Ships and Bulk Carriers Alike Pay the Price for Dirty Bottoms

WORLDWIDE – When the hull of a vessel becomes covered with a variety of flora and fauna such as the oft seen barnacles, the effect on a modern container or bulk vessel in terms of fuel efficiency can be remarkable when a hull is heavily fouled, a problem recognised over 150 years ago when William Froude, of the Institution of Naval Architects first investigated the effect with his experiments in 1872 and reported to the Admiralty some two years later.

News from Around the Globe This Week

UK – The announcement this week that Simply Asset Finance has been granted the second tranche of its asset finance facility from the British Business Bank, some £60 million, will come as good news to UK SMEs. The company has facilitated more than 1,000 finance agreements to the tune of around £100 million in the past year after being established just 17 months ago. Transport is a key investment area for the company and loans support the freight and logistics sector through lending to road haulage outfits and the like for new equipment.

Who is Heading Where and When

WORLDWIDE – This week staff relocations in logistics, shipping and transport start in the States as railroad giant Genesee & Wyoming (G&W) has announced a series of changes to its senior management team, starting with Michael Miller, who has been promoted to President, North America, effective immediately. The heads of G&W's seven North American operating regions and Chief Commercial Officer, North America, now report to Miller, who previously served in the Chief Commercial Officer role since joining G&W in 2010.

Maritime Transport for 2017 Examined in Detail and Future Prospects Examined

WORLDWIDE – Seaborne trade expanded by a healthy 4% in 2017, the fastest growth in five years, while United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) forecasts similar growth this year, according to its Review of Maritime Transport 2018. While the prospects for seaborne trade are bright, the report warns of the downside risks such as increased inward-looking policies and the rise of trade protectionism which are weighing on the outlook for shippers and bulk and container shipping lines alike.

Krakatoa Breathes Fire Down Again Upon a Stricken People

INDONESIA – News of a new horror for inhabitants of a country so terribly wounded by the earthquake and subsequent Tsunami which struck the Palu region on September 28, and which now has been subject to a continuous series of eruptions from Mount Anak Krakatau, witnessing around 160 such events in the past two days. The volcano, better known to European readers as Krakatoa, is the formation left after the cataclysmic occurrences when it was the scene of one of the most destructive volcanic events in recorded history, with well over 36,000 deaths when it erupted in 1883.

Largest Marine Simulation Facility in Place By Next Spring

UK – In February we revealed the government was putting £15 million into the training of extra cadets destined for senior maritime roles, a pledge supported by leading container and bulk shipping lines, one of the beneficiaries being Solent University's Warsash School of Maritime Science and Engineering. Now technology group Wärtsilä has been selected to provide a full scope of marine simulators for a new facility at the Southampton site which will be the largest marine simulation training centre in the country. Syamantak Bhattacharya, Dean of the Solent University's Warsash School, commented:

Freight and Warehousing Bosses Speak Out on Latest Brexit Plans Affecting the Industry

UK – Freight associations have been speaking of the recent government announcement that there will be an investment of £8 million for customs training and automation to support the extra demand for customs brokerage services in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal in March 2019. Although the news was broadly welcomed, the country's leading organisation representing forwarding agents, to whom the announcement is most relevant, the British International Freight Association (BIFA) sounded a note of caution, and indeed opprobrium at the way the message was delivered. Robert Keen, Director General, said:

Lotta Bottle for Ugandan Drinks Company

GERMANY – UGANDA – Outsize and heavy lift air cargo and project forwarding specialist, Volga-Dnepr Airlines, has organised and operated a charter flight for its customer, LS International Cargo, delivering a Krones bottle-filling machine and additional equipment on board one of its twelve gigantic An-124-100 freighters.

Short Sea Box Traffic Gets Another Boost

BELGIUM – UK – With Brexit approaching global logistics company Samskip, has launched a new twice weekly short sea container service between the Port of Antwerp in Belgium, and Associated British Port's (ABP) Port of Hull in the North of England. Departing from Antwerp on October 12, a 508 TEU vessel will sail from Associated Terminal Operator's (ATO) multimodal facility, and will arrive at the Port of Hull on October 14. In July Samskip transferred its Icelandic service to the Hull facility from the opposite side of the Humber at Immingham.

Autonomous Equipment to Supplement Workforce

US – EUROPE – A cynic might read something more into the latest press release from freight outfit XPO Logistics. Plagued of late by criticism over staffing policy, and specifically targeted by unions, the US headquartered freight group has announced it is to introduce 5,000 intelligent robots throughout its logistics sites in North America and Europe.

Specialist Analysts Look at Market Rates

UK – WORLDWIDE – VesselsValue, the online site which quotes current, historical and future market rates for craft ranging from containerships, dry and bulk tankers and gas carriers to superyachts, has released its analysis of worthwhile investments in the tanker market which it says offers offer the most promising investment overall, as most large crude tankers still have significant upside remaining based on an analysis of expected market trends over the next several years.

Civil Aviation Report Published Showing Economic Impact of Air Travel

WORLDWIDE – The global air transport sector supports 65.5 million jobs and $2.7 trillion in global economic activity, according to new research by the Air Transport Action Group (ATAG). The report, Aviation: Benefits Beyond Borders, explores the fundamental role civil aviation plays for today's society and addresses the economic, social and environmental impacts of this global industry. Launching the report at the ATAG Global Sustainable Aviation Summit in Geneva, ATAG's Executive Director, Michael Gill, said:

Digital Control Aims to Cut Supply Chain Costs

WORLDWIDE – One of the major problems facing the ocean container shipping lines is the plethora of empty boxes which need repositioning to different ports around the world. The cost for carrying empty, as opposed to loaded, containers has to be met by someone, so it naturally gets passed on to shippers by way of extra costs. When Johannes Schlingmeier completed his doctoral thesis about empty container repositioning he included an analysis of such equipment data for around 56% of the global fleet.

Campaigners Delighted by Ninth Successive Tax Announcement

UK – FairFuel UK, the organisation launched in 2011 by long term industry stakeholder Howard Cox backed by both the Freight Transport Association (FTA) and the Road Haulage Association (RHA) has expressed satisfaction at the government's decision to freeze fuel duty for the 9th consecutive year. The organisation has in the past called the Treasury 'disingenuous' for saying such an increase was necessary to fund the NHS.

Competitors Compete with Machines Over Four Times Larger than Before

GERMANY – WORLDWIDE – It has often been our habit to look doubtfully on the ability of drone technology to play a significant part in freight and logistics processes, a view which has mellowed somewhat over time as the remotely controlled devices, on land, under the water and in the air, have found niche positions in the international supply chain.

Businesses and Public Alike Will Welcome Early Christmas Present

UK – Both the general public and the road haulage community will be grateful for an early Christmas present if they have to enter Wales by road, with the permanent removal of the tolls at the two Severn Crossings on December 17. The government is fulfilling a promise made in July 2017 to scrap tolls completely on the key link between England and Wales and is estimated to save regular motorists more than £1,000 per year and have an economic boost to the Welsh economy of an approximately £100 million each year, a fact that will delight freight and logistics groups in the region.

Ice Class Vessel Used as Trial for Alternative Ocean Freight Option

ARCTIC – Last week the world's largest container shipping line, Maersk, completed its trial crossing using the Northern Sea Route after its 3,596 TEU ice-class box carrying vessel, the Venta Maersk, called at the Port of Saint Petersburg in Russia, on September 28. The voyage prompted some comments from the environmental lobby as melting ice and technological advances see the traditional ocean freight routes extended.

Global Port News as Nigerians Go Back to Work and US Dockers Walk Out

INDONESIA – The horrific events in the country after an earthquake and subsequent tsunami left hundreds dead and many missing and homeless, has devastated the Port of Palu in Sulawesi after two major shocks measuring 6.1 and 7.7 on the Richter scale centred near the central Sulawesi town of Donggala and the provincial capital of Palu brought a large part of the country to its knees and created a logistical nightmare.

FIATA Congress Honours the Youth in the Industry

INDIA – UK – WORLDWIDE – The 92nd FIATA World Congress in Delhi was the scene where the four regional finalists in the organisation's Young International Freight Forwarder of the Year competition, the YIFFY, had to present their 6,000 word dissertations outlining an import and export shipment from their native country, live to the panel of judges.

Bets Placed on Either Side by Governments, Ports and HGV Makers

WORLDWIDE – Even before Elon Musk described the concept of hydrogen becoming the principal vehicular fuel of the future as 'silly, mind bogglingly stupid and fool cells' a debate was raging over the practicality of the odourless, colourless and highly flammable gas, set against the battery powered cars and road haulage trucks of the future produced by the likes of the Tesla boss' company.

Financial Results Reveal Jump in Turnover and Dividends After Four Company Purchases

UK – It seems the group policy of selective acquisition being practiced by freight and logistics management outfit Xpediator is working rather well according to its latest pronouncements. Interim results published last week showing finances for the six months to June 2018 demonstrate a doubling in earnings due to the influx of new revenue streams. Xpediator has snapped up a string of freight forwarders including Anglia (AFGL) and Benfleet Forwarding operations and import specialists ISL.