Shipping Search - Archive

London Conference Will Review Major Project Developments

UK - Next week sees a two day UK Infrastructure Conference (UKICE) at the home of the Institution of Civil Engineers in London to review and discuss the latest updates to the National Infrastructure Plan and the impact of the Chancellor's Autumn statement on major projects throughout the country. The event has already attracted more than 200 delegates and 47 speakers from Government and those others involved but it is important for the road and rail freight haulage lobby to monitor and comment on the situation.

Speedier Traveller Throughput Will Clear Access Road Congestion

UK – Construction company, ISG has been awarded a £4.5 million project by the Port of Dover to carry out extensive remodelling works to the ground floor of the existing passenger handling building, Phase 2 of the facility’s two-year Traffic Management Improvements project, which will see the Port demolish a number of buildings within the Eastern Dock area in order to create an additional 11 lorry lanes totalling over 5 kilometres in length. The project will enhance on-site capacity for vehicles arriving for RoRo ferry services and help to reduce freight and passenger traffic volumes around the Port of Dover approach roads.

Sometimes New is Cheaper Than Trying to Recycle Everything

UK – Sometime when one operates a busy distribution facility it can be easy when having a major facilities swap to try to utilise as much of the materials handling equipment as possible. As the following case shows however whether a freight and logistics terminal or a busy manufacturer sometimes a complete rethink can prove more profitable. Automotive components distributors First Line strip incoming loads from shipping containers then stow within a racked consolidation area before being broken down and allocated a warehouse location.

Roadshow Emphasises Cost and Time Savings to Potential Customers

UK – There is something very special about witnessing the birth of a completely new port wherever in the world it occurs. Some of our staff have had the privilege of observing the building of facilities at Ngqura, in South Africa and across parts of China and now London, formerly home to the largest and most productive docks in the world, is poised to once again bid to become the most important port in Europe. The move away from conventional freight and the rise of container shipping broke the traditional mould and although labour relations are often blamed for the demise of the city as a key import and export point, it was in fact the inexorable rise of the box lines upon which the fate of the capital as the UK’s major logistics centre was predicated.

Now RHA Steps Up to Fund Industry Promotion Body

UK – News today that the Road Haulage Association (RHA) is to fund the appointment of a member of staff to support the work of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Freight Transport. The APPG brings together MPs and peers, regardless of party, with experts and campaigners to promote freight transport issues and provide a forum to discuss challenges and opportunities facing the industry in all its forms.

From Propping up Buildings to Low Cost Hotels Those Boxes Just Keep on Giving

WORLDWIDE – We have often written in the past about the use of shipping containers above and beyond their original purpose. Here we highlight some of the latest developments with assistance from guest contributor Bill Hinchcliff, regional sales manager for container sales and leasing group ConGlobal Industries who reviews the growing trend to accept the humble box as a cheap but acceptable base for numerous diverse construction projects.

Bumper Order in Every Sense for Marseille Port

SWEDEN – FRANCE – Trelleborg Marine Systems has been awarded the biggest ever contract of its type to supply France’s largest port, the Port of Marseille, with approximately 700 SeaGuard foam fenders and accessories, including chains and anchors, to equip 39 of the ports’ quays with protection to accommodate the diverse range of vessels which come to berth at the port. These include Ro/Ro car ferries, container ships, cruise ships, bulk freight carriers and even larger vessels such as tankers of various types.

Sports Competitions Can Require a Unique and Complex Supply Chain

EUROPE – EHF Marketing GmbH, the marketing arm of the European Handball Federation has signed a new partnership with freight forwarding group Kuehne + Nagel. The agreement will see K+N become the Official Logistics Partner of the Velux EHF Champions League, providing Europe’s premier club handball competition with logistics services through its global network throughout the coming season.

Prestigious Large Company Award Goes to Latin American Chief

US – The prestigious International Business Woman of the Year Award from the Organization of Women in International Trade has this year gone to a member of the freight community. Carmen Taylor, Managing Director of Latin American Sales at American Airlines Cargo was presented with her trophy at a ceremony of the South Florida chapter of the organization which recognizes outstanding women for their significant contribution to enhancing international trade and business through professional and community activities.

Energy Support Group Selects Hong Kong

HONG KONG – WORLDWIDE – A.R.T. Logistics, a specialist multimodal project logistics company, has opened its global headquarters in Hong Kong. The company works with large multinational companies in the oil & gas, power generation and mining sectors in Central Asia, Mongolia, Russia, Belarus and has offices in Frankfurt, Lithuania, Russia, Kazakhstan, the company also has representative offices in Europe, US and Africa.

Environment Agency Boss Insists Economic Improvements Must Fund Progress

EUROPE – Today sees the release of the latest annual transport report presented in the European Parliament’s Transport Committee by the European Environment Agency (EEA). Despite the introduction of Euro standards’ for road haulage vehicles, buses and cars alike these have failed in their objective to cut real nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions to the levels proposed in EU legislation although they have made substantial improvements to air quality overall. The report also highlights the carriage of freight as a major contributor to the problem.

Transec 2012 a Resounding Success

UK – This year’s two-day conference, exhibition and workshop, Transport Security Expo 2012, closed its doors earlier this month on a successful tenth anniversary event with a record turnout of over 3000 attendees. Six hundred delegates attended the Expo’s three focused conferences in the maritime, aviation and public transport arenas which reflected on the safety and security concerns across the transport industry with air and ocean freight shipping sectors well represented.

Trio of Experts Gain Recognition for Innovation

UK – NEW ZEALAND – EAST AFRICA - Earlier this year in an innovative move, container sales and freight and logistics inland services provider Pentalver got together with specialist car shippers Autohub of New Zealand and the Japanese Export Vehicle Inspection Centre (JEVIC) to create a seamless ‘drop-off’, one-stop service, complete with price guarantees, to simplify the process of shipping vehicles to certain markets. The partners launched the UK’s first Vehicle Pre-Clearance Facility for New Zealand and other destinations in a bid to capitalise on the growing export market for second-hand cars.

Full Range of Services Now Available via Airport Facility

UK –F.S. Mackenzie, a UK member of the network of freight forwarders which comprise the Famous Pacific Shipping (FPS) Group, this month opened its fifth office, located at East Midlands Airport’s cargo terminal. This new office will provide a full range of air and ocean forwarding services to local customers and other members of the FPS network, with particular emphasis on the company’s well-established NVOCC services, Mackenzie currently offers import and export LCL (less container load) services to and from over one hundred and twenty global ports.

Indians Consider Options Whilst Freight Vessels Stiffen Defences

INDIA – SOMALIA – It is well over two years since we reported the hijack of the bitumen tanker Asphalt Venture and the subsequent retention of seven of her crew after the ships subsequent release despite the payment of ransom. The pirates stated at the time that only the release of pirates held captive in India would secure the freedom of the 3884 dwt freighter as they were ‘angry’ at the deaths of their cohorts who were reportedly killed by the Indian Navy. Now the Indian Shipping Minister has come under attack from Kerala Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy over the unanswered demand.

All Employees Made Aware of Potential Savings as Schenker Wins Nestle Contract

GERMANY – BELGIUM – SRI LANKA – WORLDWIDE – News from logistics group DB Schenker in the past few days gives details of a new supply chain contract awarded by Nestrade SA, a 100% Belgian subsidiary of Nestlé, for the freight company to operate some supply chain services importing and re-exporting to emerging markets and providing multimodal business solutions. Meanwhile at Schenker’s head office in Essen a ‘Green Day’ was declared to reinforce the environmental improvements undertaken so far and those possible if employees concentrate on them.

No More Money for Box Carriage Envisaged

DENMARK – WORLDWIDE - According to his latest interview Maersk CEO Nils Andersen says the AP Moller Maersk group is to move away from the traditional shipping business with little or no investment in the container freight fleet for the next five years. The daily press seems to consider this as some sort of exclusive from the owner of the world’s largest container carrier whilst industry analysts mock their naivety. The decision to segregate the group into four groups of more or less equal size has been on the cards since the downturn in box cargo three or four years ago, too late to prevent Maersk Line investing heavily in the new series of Triple E vessels.

Scottish Based Agency Achieves First British HELM Accreditation

UK – WORLDWIDE - As governments tighten up ever more on standards at work, many people are finding they can only access employment by staying abreast of current legislation and ahead of rivals in terms of the qualifications they hold. A major review of practices within the global shipping industry aimed at raising standards in the ocean freight and passenger sectors means that revisions in force since January 2012 regarding the IMO’s International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (the STCW Convention) requires training bodies to be fully certified for the education of crew members globally.

London Gateway Gears Up to Prove its Supremacy over Coastal Rivals

UK – A statement released this week by a leading multimodal freight transport, container storage and handling company may send a slight shiver down the backs of port executives North and South of the Thames as the company concerned confidently predicts that its new services via Britain’s latest port at London Gateway will reduce road and rail haulage miles for thousands of shippers when it opens in Q4 2013, saving fuel and emissions for importers and exporters throughout the UK. With the new deepwater access to a point adjacent to the M25 shipping companies will doubtless be negotiating hard for their chance to exploit the geographical advantages of a terminal so close to London.

New Report Keeps the Dangers in the Public Eye and Presses for More Action

UK – Earlier this month we publicised a new initiative from the Mineral Products Association to inform both HGV drivers and cyclists on how to avoid accidents between the two. With many MP’s signed up to the All Party Parliamentary Cycling Group getting involved in the problem and the Times newspaper’s Cities Fit for Cycling campaign this week saw the publication of the London Assembly Transport Committee's report on cycling in the capital, ‘Gearing up – An investigation into safer cycling in London” and, as pressure on road haulage operators mounts to ensure all precautions are taken to maximise safety, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) has also now spoken out to reinforce the message.

Korean Built Vessel Joins Greek Fleet

GREECE – SOUTH KOREA – The key to responsible shipping and vessel operation these days is to ensure that liner owners invest in the latest technology making their ships as environmentally friendly as is feasible. In no vessel type is this more important than the tanker sector and the latest acquisition by Consolidated Marine Management of Piraeus, the King Gregory, the first of two medium-range IMO II & III-class oil/chemical tankers recently commissioned, certainly lives up to expectations as Kostas Vlachos, Consolidated’s Chief Operating Officer, explains:

Financially and Environmentally Damco Hails its Technology a Winner

WORLDWIDE – Never ones to do things by halves Damco, the logistics subsidiary of the AP Moller Maersk empire has had its global team of 50 supply chain developers working on more than 200 projects so far during 2012 and claims to have identified more than $160 million in savings to its customers. The freight forwarding company is using a new network optimization tool which it says enhances its end-to-end supply chain management platform to provide the utmost in cost savings to clients whilst simultaneously decreasing carbon emissions and enhancing overall supply chain design.

Who Has Switched Positions and Companies This Month

FRANCE – Road haulage and shipping and forwarding group Norbert Dentressangle has announced the appointment of two new Executive Board members, former Managing Director of Norbert Dentressangle Logistics UK, Malcolm Wilson switches roles to be MD of the Group’s Logistics Division whilst Luis Angel Gomez has a new job as MD of the Transport Division. The Norbert Dentressangle Executive Board will now consist of these two plus CEO Hervé Montjotin and CFO Patrick Bataillard.

Another Success for EU Anti Piracy Force

SOMALIA – Over the past couple of years it seemed at times that every day we had another tragic tale to tell of pirate successes, ransoms paid, container and general cargo vessels hijacked and, at the worst of times the need to report the death of innocent crew at the hands of brigands. The increase in security measures, the adoption of the recommended Best Management Practices, vessels advising the authorities of their routes, the carriage of armed security personnel and, not least, renewed efforts by the world’s naval forces, has made such reports thankfully a comparative rarity.

SOUTH AFRICA – Port operators Transnet Port Terminals (TPT), a division of state-owned freight transport and handling company Transnet SOC Limited, made history this week when it took delivery of three new ZPMC tandem lift ship-to-shore (STS) cranes from the Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Company, the first of their kind at any shipping facility in Africa. The new equipment is intended to revitalise the Durban Container Terminal (DCT) which the company hopes will result in improved efficiencies and reduced service times for vessels calling at the terminal. TPT’s Acting Chief Executive, Pru Archary said:

CEO Speaks but Unions Say with Forked Tongue

GERMANY – SWITZERLAND – WORLDWIDE – Today two press releases regarding Deutsche Post DHL were published almost simultaneously yet the tone of the two could hardly be more different. The first is an interview with CEO Frank Appel, available in both text and video format, in which the DP DHL boss expresses his views on the current trends in freight and logistics, speaking at length about the most lucrative markets open to the group. The second statement simply outlines the case brought before the German government today accusing the multinational of breaking a host of employment regulations and actively working against pro union activity in numerous poorer countries.

New Development Cements Company Foundations in Region

AUSTRIA – The country’s oldest established freight forwarding and logistics outfit, Gebrüder Weiss has broken ground at a ceremony celebrating the start of construction of the firm’s new headquarters in Lauterach, which is expected to be completed in 2014. The company has invested around €28 million in the project and Gebrüder Weiss Management Board Member Wolfram Senger-Weiss was enthusiastic when speaking about the project, saying:

Ferry and Shipping Group Subsidiary Provide Dive Support

ANGOLA – A multipurpose support vessel of Fairmount Marine, Rotterdam headquartered specialist ocean towage and heavy lift subsidiary of French shipping and ferry group Louis Dreyfus Armateurs, has supported Angolan maritime provider Octomar Serviços Maritimos in the underwater maintenance of the drilling rig, Transocean Rather. The Fuji hosted and assisted a diving team of Octomar for the duration of the job, which lasted six weeks, off the coast of Angola.

Shipping Delicate Cargoes Needs a Specialist Touch

UK – SWITZERLAND – Freight forwarding groups often need to employ specialist divisions to ensure the correct carriage of delicate and expensive items and Anglo Pacific’s Fine Art shipping division recently transported Swiss born artist Christina Niederberger artwork from her London base to a gallery in Switzerland, for her solo exhibition which take place in December. Niederberger first commissioned Anglo Pacific’s services ten years ago and the company has since transported all of her work. Ms Niederberger commented:

Fifth NSW Distribution Hub for Schenker

AUSTRALIA – DB Schenker in Australia is now looking back on fifty years of successful development having grown from a small office for air and ocean freight to one of the country’s leading providers of integrated logistics services and the group’s success has been marked with a recently established new logistics warehouse and operations centre in Greater Western Sydney. The Erskine Park Distribution Centre was officially opened on the 15th November by New South Wales Premier and Minister for Western Sydney, Barry O’Farrell, and Dr Thomas Lieb, Chairman and CEO of Schenker AG. The facility employs 80 people and is the freight and logistics company’s sixteenth facility in Australia and, for Schenker Australia Pty Limited, the fifth distribution hub in New South Wales. Dr Lieb said:

Precise Location of Crew Lost Overboard thanks to New Technology

UK –WORLDWIDE - Merchant shipping interests will wish to know that maritime technology and training providers Marine Management Training and Security (MTS) and marine communications and navigational equipment specialists, Telemar UK, have launched a new personal locator beacon system, the individual position indicating rescue beacon (IPIRB), which will help locate and identify marine casualties more quickly in the hope that every effort can be concentrated more efficiently on rescue and saving lives. Dave Pressley, General Manager of Telemar Scotland which will be the distributor of the IPIRB in the UK, said:

Luxembourg Carrier Restructures for Future

LUXEMBOURG – QATAR – Just eighteen months after acquiring a 35% holding in freight only air carrier Cargolux for an undisclosed sum Qatar Airways has today confirmed it will be disposing of its holding in the European airline. Albert Wildgen, who joined the Cargolux Board of Directors three months after the original deal in September 2011, also announced his decision to step down from his post as Chairman at the next meeting of the Board of Directors on 30 November 2012.

US Digital TV Client Opts for More of the Same

US – Digital television service provider, DirecTV has awarded a new four year contract to freight forwarding and supply chain operator Kuehne + Nagel to manage its U.S. warehousing operations and inbound international transportation. This contract is both a renewal and expansion of the existing six year strategic relationship. Two additional distribution centres will be opened in Illinois and Texas to further improve customer service to DirecTV customers and to lower logistics costs.

Pointless Tragedies are a Daily Event

US – UK - WORLDWIDE – One of the saddest thing about publishing a logistics and shipping based publication is the number of tragic stories, most unsuitable for printing, which arrive every single day via e mail. The most common of these are tales involving freight train incidents which most people wouldn’t realise occur with a horrifying monotony across the globe. The main reasons for not publishing these stories is simply a lack of relevance to our purpose – the fact that the trains carry cargo is incidental to the human interest story, therefore not in our brief.

CHaINA Victories Announced

CHINA – The Global Supply Chain Council announced the winners of its 2012 CHaINA Awards earlier this month at an awards ceremony in Shanghai with the seventh annual awards recognising the achievements of diverse companies across Asia. The ceremony took place during CHaINA’12 Live, a supply chain and logistics event and honoured a range of third party logistics (3PL) providers, brand owners, IT associated groups and on line retailers.

Dachser Opens Port Elizabeth Office

SOUTH AFRICA – With many of the European based freight and logistics eyeing the BRICS countries as the place to be comes the news of another player expanding in South Africa. German cargo group Dachser recently opened a fourth branch office in Port Elizabeth, extending its established network of country offices in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. Detlev Duve, managing director of Dachser South Africa says that this is another development directly related to the continuous growth in the logistics industry in the Eastern Cape since the inception of the Port of Ngqura, (also known as Coega) and the extension of services has been planned for some time.

Schenker Introduces New Products

WORLDWIDE – Schenker Limited, the freight division of the global services provider DB Schenker Logistics, can now offer e-Business solutions for all modes of transport from one single portal. The company says that the eSchenker portal is able to be specifically combined to suit customers’ logistical needs for cargo shipped by any method to provide an optimal solution. It also aims to simplify the completion of routine procedures such as export bookings, monitoring inbound/cross trade shipments, simple or advanced tracking and statistical reporting. David Harrison, Commercial Director Schenker Limited said:

Offshore Cranes to be Built in Sunderland

UK – AUSTRIA – In a world where ever increasing energy costs are affecting every household in the UK developments like the Cygnus gas field are of great importance. Cygnus is the sixth largest gas field in the southern North Sea and the largest discovered within the last twenty five years in the Southern basin. In August, following a UK Government decision to allow more new large shallow water gas fields, the field operator GDF Suez signed contracts initially worth £375 million, including over £335 million destined to create jobs in the UK many in the logistics sector.

NEO opens an Istanbul Office

TURKEY – A European member of the Global Charter Alliance which launched earlier this year has opened a new office in Istanbul to provide a local sales and customer contact point covering Turkey and Central Asia and will be led by an experienced boss well versed in the ways of the local air cargo and freight forwarding. NEO Air Charter will also provide flight supervision for any company charters originating or terminating in the region, and will handle relations with local charter airlines.

UK and EU Politicians Somewhat Shaky on Policy as Bank of England Downgrades Growth

EUROPE – So they blinked. The EU put its controversial Emissions Trading Scheme on hold, and don’t be surprised if it sinks without trace during the one year ‘suspension’ announced a couple of days ago by EU Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard. Other publications have pronounced surprise at the retreat, they obviously missed our piece in August which predicted this U turn which we saw as an obvious result of the massed ranks crying ‘Trade Restriction’ from all corners of the world. Now the UK road haulage community waits to see if, as we expect, the pressure from freight interests persuade the Chancellor to drop proposals to up fuel duty in January.

Joint Venture to Open Cargo Warehouse in Tokyo

JAPAN – Following the formal opening of its new London Heathrow air freight HQ logistics group DB Schenker has extended its property portfolio with the acquisition of a ten year lease for a build-to-suit warehouse in the greater Tokyo area via its Japanese cooperative company Schenker-Seino Co Ltd. The new cargo centre is aimed primarily at customers in the electronics and consumer trades, particularly overseas groups looking to expand their Japanese operations.

From Pirates to Terrorism-Transec 2012 Opens Today

UK - Today sees the opening of Transport Security Expo 2012 which even more than usual is relevant to the freight and logistics sectors as the industry responds to the pirate activity around the African coastlines and beyond and the ever present threat from international terrorism.

Shipping Groups Honoured for Employment Practices

US – Two top freight and intermodal logistics provides have been placed on the G.I. Jobs 2013 Top 100 Military Friendly Employers. Schneider National has made the list for the seventh consecutive year and this year the company is ranked 12th on the list. CSX has also been recognised as number two on the list and make the ranking table for the third consecutive year.

German Group Criticised Again for Employment Practices

GERMANY – TURKEY – Postal and logistics group Deutsche Post DHL has announced its third quarter results which saw the company’s Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT) fall 6.5% from €646 million in 2011 to €604 million despite showing an increase of 5.7% to €13.8 billion in revenues during the third quarter compared to the previous year. This news comes as the company’s Chief Executive Officer Frank Appel defended the company's decision to dismiss workers in Turkey as the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) released a report of an investigation into what it claims are illegitimate sackings to prevent unionisation of the freight company’s workforce. Speaking on the company’s financial matters Appel said:

Perishable Commodity Hike Benefits Other Sectors

SOUTH AFRICA – A well known phenomena amongst ocean freight providers such as the major container lines to and from China is the withdrawal at certain times of the year of regular services as seasonal peaks and troughs affecting local trade cause a reduction in traffic flow. Every winter since 1999 Virgin Atlantic Cargo say that they have restarted their daily Cape Town freight service to coincide with the peak season demand for the country’s fresh produce and the extra capacity is welcomed, not only by the exporters of perishable goods, but also by general cargo customers.

Register Your Interest Here

UK – EUROPE - Interested logistics and supply chain specialists have just a few more days to register their interest in tendering for a large contract managing the freighting of around 13,000 pallets containing about 250 product lines across Europe. The request comes from United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA) member Gideon Hillman Consulting which is looking for a suitable candidate to handle the outsourced logistics on behalf of a client.

International Transport Workers Federation Meet in Canada

CANADA – WORLDWIDE – The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is meeting in downtown Toronto this week to set the global agenda for transportation worker union rights around the world, in the rail and road freight and passenger transportation sectors. The conference is to study and discuss issues like privatization, deregulation, logistics and supply chains on a global scale, and how they all impact workers’ lives and workers’ rights.

Liebherr Secures Another Order

IRELAND – NEW ZEALAND – It seems the Port of Tauranga just can’t get enough of equipment purchased from Liebherr having just ordered another batch of container moving equipment from the materials handling group. In May we reported the sale of two super post Panamax cranes and now the North Island port has settled on three of Liebherr’s SC350T straddle carriers from the company’s County Kerry operation.

Safety Paramount as Industry Illustrates Advantages of Law Change

UK – Last week, prompted by a Department for Transport (DfT) commissioned report by the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) the department launched a Consultation on the question of the permitted speeds of heavy trucks travelling on A roads prompting both the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and the Freight Transport Association (FTA) to make their respective organisation’s positions on the matter clear.

Italian Purchases Well Known to Italian Freight Forwarders

ITALY – Paris headquartered GSSA organisation, ECS Group, has announced the acquisition of three Italian founded companies; Air Transport Consultants Spa (ATC), Airfreight and Data Processing Srl (ADP), both honoured by their home country’s freight forwarding association, and cargo handling company (a support agency for customers of ATC and ADP), Airline Logistics Srl (AirLog). Speaking of the expansion to his organisation Bertrand Schmoll, President of ECS Group, said:

New Company Will Arrange Door to Deck Staff Movements

WORLDWIDE – Global shipping, logistics and marine services group, GAC and crew travel specialist Griffin have joined forces to create G2 Crew Services to provide fully integrated door-to-deck transportation services for joining crew. This joint venture aims to provide a total transportation package for crew members joining ships worldwide, including the 'last mile' between their arrival airport and their vessel. The company combines the expertise of Griffin with the contact and resources of the GAC network. The agreement was signed by Griffin's Executive Chairman Simon Morse and GAC Group President Lars Safverstrom. Morse says:

Another New Route for Cargolux

LUXEMBOURG – GHANA – Cargo only carrier Cargolux announced this week that it has operated its first airfreight service with the Boeing 747-8F to Ghana on 6 November 2012. The new freighter will be used on the weekly Cargolux service between Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Accra (Ghana) and Luxembourg, where the company carries a variety of freight, including heavy machinery for the mining and oil industries as well as perishable goods including flowers, fruits and other foods. Marwan Traboulsi, Chairman of Cargolux’s partner Air Ghana, said:

From Shanghai to Seventeen Offices Countrywide

CHINA – Austrian headquartered freight and logistics company, Gebrüder Weiss has recently held a celebration dinner, commemorating twenty years since it established its first branch in Shanghai, China. About 250 guests were invited to this event, including some of the company’s board members, in addition to customer from all over China, representatives of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce and of the Consulate General as well as guests from the group’s international network, from branches in China and the Austrian management team who witnessed A colourful supporting programme with a traditional dance performance, Chinese drums and a fascinating shadow play.

Swiss Group Staff Cost Reductions to Aid Profitability

BELGIUM – SWITZERLAND – Freight forwarder Panalpina’s operations at Brussels airport are the latest to obtain official Good Distribution Practice (GDP) certification which sets standards for the transportation and storage of medicinal products for human use, including levels of temperature and hygiene. This news came as Panalpina announced the precise details of a mixed set of third quarter results as anticipated last month with its air cargo performance impacting negatively on its figures despite a strong showing in its ocean freight and logistics divisions.

Maiden Voyage for 16,000 TEU French Giant

CHINA – FRANCE – The world’s largest containership sailed on her maiden voyage with a first load of freight from Ningbo, China yesterday (Wednesday 7th November). The Marco Polo is at 16,000 TEU currently the biggest box carrier and is the first of a series of three similar dimension vessels that will all be named after great explorers. The delivery of the two next vessels is expected in 2013.

BIFA Celebrates Twenty Third Year Rewarding Excellence

UK – Cynics often comment that trade awards ceremonies trot out the usual suspects in terms of vested interests winning every or alternate years so it is refreshing to note that once again the same criticism cannot be made of the British International Freight Association (BIFA) 2012 Freight Services Awards which this year includes a finalists’ shortlist with no less than one quarter of new forwarding and logistics suppliers names appearing amongst the nine categories.

BTS Figures in Full Here

US – CANADA – MEXICO – Last week saw the latest freight trade figures from the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) showing that trade using surface transportation, which includes freight movements by truck, rail, pipeline, mail, other modes of transport, and goods moving into Foreign Trade Zones, between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners, Canada and Mexico, up by 2.6% in August 2012 compared to the previous year, a total of $82.5 billion (unadjusted for inflation).

Who is going When and to Whom Across the Globe

WORLDWIDE - Staff movements in the freight and logistics fields this month include several key appointments in the rail and general cargo sectors. If you have notices of any senior management changes or appointments send them to Rakhi Gadher at facilities@handyshippingguide.com  

Second Handling Unit as Amsterdam Targets Greater Market Share

NETHERLANDS – Amsterdam Airport Schiphol will have a second equine handling centre from December, with the launch of a joint venture between freight handling agent Aviapartner and Dutch equine transport specialist European Cargo Services (ECS). The new facility, currently under construction, will be a self-contained unit sited within the existing Aviapartner handling centre, located in the centre of Schiphol’s cargo area, and only 30 metres from the nearest freighter parking stand. Gerard Kervezee, Aviapartner’s Manager – Commerce for the Netherlands commented:

Two Agencies Give Approval to Shipowners Protection

UK– WORLDWIDE - The Shipowners’ Club, which provides Protection and Indemnity (P&I) marine liability insurance to over 33,000 small and specialist vessels globally including barges, dry cargo, and tankers, has announced that it has received its first interactive ratings assigned by two leading credit agencies, Standards & Poors (S&P) and A.M. Best, after deciding to apply for an interactive assessment earlier this year.

French Group Expands its Multimodal Logistics Range

ASIA – EUROPE – THE AMERICAS – Following a raft of acquisitions, including the recent purchase of the freight forwarding activities in India and Sri Lanka of Sri Lankan conglomerate John Keells Group, Norbert Dentressangle has now officially launched Red Ocean Connect, a containerised ocean cargo network providing door-to-door FCL and LCL services between Asia, Europe, and North and South America, after the successful launch of its airfreight network Red Sky Connect.

Multimodal Transport Needed to Return Precious Cargo

US – SPACE – Following its first and successful freight resupply mission, whose launch we covered last month, the SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft returned to earth from the International Space Station (ISS), safely splashing down approximately 250 miles off the coast of Southern California. Dragon departed the station with 1,673 pounds of return cargo including hardware, supplies, and a GLACIER (General Laboratory Active Cryogenic ISS Experiment Refrigerator) freezer packed with scientific samples. Dragon is the only craft capable of returning a significant amount of supplies to Earth, and this mission marks the first time since the space shuttle that NASA has been able to return research samples for analysis.

Severn and Dartford Tolls Under Review ..... or Not

UK – Following the announcement this week that opinions are being sought on the future toll collections on the vital M25 Thames Crossing links at Dartford/Thurrock, road haulage outfits will wish to know that the Freight Transport Association (FTA) has this week welcomed the report released by the Welsh Government, called ‘The Impact of the Severn Tolls on the Welsh Economy.’ The FTA said that there is finally room for further discussion over the relaxation of tolls at the Severn Crossings, and the fact that the debate has begun in earnest. Many observers however view the move as simply a smokescreen whilst a National Road Pricing policy takes shape.

Government Involved in Latest Series of Truck Tests

UK – BOC, compressed and liquefied natural gas (LNG) providers and part of the Linde Group which has transformed itself from a fork lift and supply chain support operation to a major gas engineering and supply group, has teamed up with multimodal logistics specialists, the Stobart Group to quantify the benefits of low-carbon LNG as fuel for the freight company’s fleet of trucks. The two organisations are taking part in a £23 million demonstration programme coordinated by the Government’s Technology Strategy Board (TSB) which aims to encourage road haulage operators in the UK to buy and use low-carbon commercial vehicles.

New Initiative Launched with MPs Support

UK – Time and again we come back to the recurring tragedy seen on Britain’s roads, particularly in urban areas, of cyclists being injured and often killed by trucks as both contest their place on the highway. The road haulage lobby arguing that cyclists often ride in the dangerous blind spots which all commercial vehicles have whilst cyclists point to unreasonable behaviour by the drivers.

Hadron Collider Spins Off a Practical Result for Shippers

UK – WORLDWIDE – Two years ago, following the discovery of live explosive devices aboard US bound passenger planes, ink cartridges loaded as freight in the hold of a UPS aircraft the Handy Shipping Guide was bombarded by journalists from around the globe wanting to discover more about security procedures, particularly with regard to cargo loaded in the belly of passenger planes.

Less than Truckload Service to Link China with Vietnam

CHINA – VIETNAM - Kerry Asia Road Transport (KART) is the road haulage service arm of freight group Kerry Logistics which controls an ASEAN wide road transport service connecting China (Shanghai, Shenzhen, Kunming) to the ASEAN countries (Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore) and this week the company launched a new scheduled twice-weekly trucking service connecting Shenzhen and Hanoi, through its comprehensive network.

Airline Outsources to Largest Group in Field

UK - Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has won the contract to provide freight handling facilities for British Airways World Cargo (BAWC) at London’s Gatwick Airport. From the start of next month around half of the existing BAWC team will transfer to WFS at the site whilst the remainder are to be offered positions by the airline at London Heathrow.

IRELAND - UK – Liebherr has reinforced its reputation in Britain’s second busiest container port with the announcement this week that it has received an order to supply four more of the company’s Megamax ship to shore container cranes to Associated British Ports, Southampton. The securing of this contract comes on the back of a new UK ship to shore productivity record which was set by a Liebherr megamax ship to shore crane at the Port of Southampton. On the 17th October the Liebherr cra After Record ne moved a total of 651 freight containers, which equates to over 54 containers an hour in a 12 hour shift.

Air and Ocean Cargo Divisions to Join Road Haulage in German Facility

GERMANY – Danish freight forwarding group DSV has unveiled plans to construct a €60 million logistics facility in Krefeld-Fichtenhain, Germany in conjunction with real estate developer Habacker. The new project will mean the consolidation of several arms of the group covering road haulage and air and ocean cargo movement within the 80,000 square metre facility. Peter Fog-Petersen, Managing Director, DSV Road, Germany was enthusiastic about the development which will mean a new home for DSV facilities currently located in Neuss, Mettman, Duisburg, Nettetal, Düsseldorf and Willich, saying that combining the three divisions into one facility would strengthen DSV’s market position in North Rhine-Westphalia.

Millions of 'Crudely Concealed' Cigarettes in Trucks

UK- A case stretching back over two years ended this week when two men received jail sentences and one was found not guilty. Road haulage distribution manager Barry Richard Wood, 45, from Maidstone in Kent and Romanian truck driver Romulus Boca, 32, received terms of six and a half and three years respectively for their parts in attempting to smuggle millions of cigarettes through the Port of Dover hidden in the backs of two lorries.

Hampshire Based PSP Expands with Cowes Facility

UK – Logistics specialist PSP has opened a new office on the Isle of Wight, making it the only freight forwarder with an office on the island that customers can visit. The offices are in the premises of Acclaim Parcels, based in Cowes and the company has appointed native islander Michelle Navin to head up the office, which the agent hopes will provide worldwide freight solutions for local businesses and consumers. PSP’s Managing Director, Frank Dixie commented:

Play Along with Volvo Trucking Game and Gebruder Weiss Puzzle App

WORLDWIDE – Apparently games are the new black where those involved in the road haulage and freight and logistics industries are concerned with both the Volvo Group and Gebrüder Weiss entering into the vast and competitive games market with Volvo producing a truck simulation game testing the players’ reactions and demonstrating the company’s vehicle fleet, and Gebrüder Weiss creating a strategic puzzle game in the form of a sliding block brain teaser, both calculated to attract players thereby reinforcing the companies brands.

Giant Airborne Cargo Consignments Require Specialist Gear

UK – AFGHANISTAN – Once again we follow the Volga-Dnepr Airlines’ freighter, IL-76TD-90VD, from the East Midlands to Bagram, Afghanistan, this time delivering its cargo of diesel generators weighing over 35 tonnes. The oversized power generators, designed and manufactured by Dale Power Solutions, were placed in special shipping containers and rolled into the cargo cabin directly from the airside tarmac using a new wheeled loading system designed by Volga-Dnepr.

Vessel Blown Up by European Union Forces as Hostages Released on Opposite Coastline

NIGERIA – SOMALIA – INDIAN OCEAN – It has been confirmed today that the 7 crew members of AHTS Bourbon Liberty 249 have been released after pirates boarded the vessel and abducted them on the 15th of October. The crew of six Russians and one Estonian are said to be ‘feeling well’ and will return to their own countries to be reunited with their family and friends after undergoing medical and psychological checks by the emergency unit in Nigeria provided by vessel owners, Paris-based offshore marine service providers Bourbon. Pirates and those opposed to conditions in the Niger Delta, which they blame entirely on foreign energy groups, often target smaller oil support vessels such as anchor handling tug supply vessels like Liberty 249, a contrast to the opposite African shoreline where container and bulk freight vessels are the favoured prey.

Hard to Reach Inland Destinations are First Target

SOUTH AFRICA – Container shipping line Safmarine has introduced a new forum aimed at assisting its customers in finding solutions to challenges in business. Held earlier this month, the focus of the inaugural Safmarine Business Link forum was on the logistical challenges of importers in South Africa’s landlocked Gauteng Province. According to Dieter Veening, Safmarine's Southern African Sales Executive:

Report offers Hauliers a Chance to Judge the Judges

UK – The Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain have marked the 80th year of commercial vehicle regulation by reinforcing their commitment to the promotion of road safety and fair competition. Acknowledging the substantial changes in road haulage since 1932 when the inaugural report was written, Senior Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell drew comparisons with the work of the present day commissioners. Remarking on financial challenges and the pressure on resources, Mrs Bell renews the traffic commissioners’ objective, by saying: