Shipping Search - Archive

After Crew Take to the Boats Once Again Italy is Left Literally Holding the Babies

EUROPE – NORTH AFRICA – MIDDLE EAST – As 2014 fades away it seems one of the biggest problems facing Europe in the New Year will be the continuing flood of displaced people fleeing war and poverty stricken hot spots from across the Mediterranean. This week we have witnessed another cargo vessel, steering and main engine locked by the crew before they abandoned ship, leaving between 6 and 700 migrants to their fate.

Job Related Crime Reported Inside Chinese Carrier Leads to Board Level Dismissals

JAPAN – In our last round-up of appointments in the freight and shipping industry for 2014, we start with container and bulk cargo carrier NYK, which has announced changes to its senior management, with current Representative Director and Executive Vice President, Tadaaki Naito taking up the role of President, succeeding Yasumi Kudo, who becomes the new Chairman. Kudo replaces Koji Miyahara, who will become a Director and Board Counsellor of NYK. These appointments will come into effect on April 1, 2015.

Stentorian Tones of the European Commission Somewhat Blunt a Potentially Good Idea

EUROPE – The European Commission can at times be the strangest of creatures, it somehow has a way of taking up a cause which seems at first perfectly reasonable, and then, principally through the tone of its subsequent deliberations, manages to raise the hackles of even the most Europhilic individuals. Such is somewhat the case with the EC’s decision a few days ago to adopt new rules designed to improve EU-wide traffic information services for road users, including both private motorists and professional freight haulage outfits.

NVO's Trade Only Groupage Approach Profits with Expansion into Germany

GERMANY – NVO Consolidation, one of the fastest growing consolidators in Europe, is seeing in the New Year in style by announcing it is to open a new office in Hamburg from January 1, 2015. This key new location extends thegeographical coverage of NVO Consolidation’s existing offices in Rotterdam, Antwerp and Manchester and further enhances the company’s operations in its all-important European market. The company’s focus is on ocean LCL consolidation for the freight forwarding industry and it maintains a strict policy of neutrality by selling services to freight forwarders only.

Violation of Sherman Act Continues to Cost Cargo Groups Dear

US – Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) has become the third shipping line to resolve allegations that it violated the Sherman Act by conspiring to fix prices, allocate customers and rig bids of international ocean shipping services for RoRo cargo, such as cars and trucks, to and from the United States and around the world. NYK agreed to plead guilty and to pay a $59.4 million criminal fine for its involvement in the conspiracy, bringing the total agreed-upon fines in this investigation, to over $135 million.

African Intermodal and Logistics Coverage 'More Comprehensive'

FRANCE – AFRICA – CHINA – WORLDWIDE – Despite the tendency to harmonise freight services with other container lines there is still room for shipping lines to go it alone as evidenced by CMA CGM’s latest news. The French box carrier has announced details of its rejuvenated EURAF 1 and EURAF 2 services which will see twelve of the company’s 2,600 and 3,500 TEU vessels serving Africa from Western Europe in a move it says will enable customers to utilise the group’s bespoke intermodal solutions and logistics expertise throughout the continent.

Naming Ceremony Leaves Just Three more Newbuilds Remaining from Thirty Ship Order

TAIWAN – Whilst Europe was digesting its collective Boxing Day feast the Far East saw the Evergreen Group holding the naming ceremony for Ever Lunar, the seventh and latest of the newbuild L type vessels to be constructed by the CSBC Corporation in Evergreen’s home base of Taiwan. The new container vessel, with a capacity of 8,508 TEU, will be delivered in January and join Evergreen Line's Far East - Arabian Persian Gulf (APG) service.

Goods Vehicles and Private Cars Affected as Motorway Charging Becomes the Fashion

HUNGARY – With road tolls currently the target money spinner for countries around the world looking for a quick and sure source of revenue, the rush to ensure maximum income from as many road goers as possible has, at times, looked almost obscene. The UK has seen yet another shift in collections at one of the country’s major choke points, the Dartford Crossing on the M25 motorway, with the introduction of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) replacing both cash and electronic tag payments as the barriers have been removed, a system that doubtless will produce a handsome profit for the French owned operators from the fines produced from those ignorant of the new rules, not least from haulage operators unused to that part of the road network.

Shippers Representatives Ask for a Close Eye to be Kept on New Partnerships

WORLDWIDE – 2014 will be remembered as the year of the container shipping alliance, with most of the major box carriers involving themselves in agreements of one sort or another with direct competitors in an attempt to rationalise schedules and employ tactics utilising economies of scale. Some pushed the envelope too far, the ill-fated P3 which was to see the world’s top three freight container lines join together to share capacity under a single management office, was a step too far for the Chinese regulators in what many felt was simply a protectionist move.

West Coast Row Runs Into its Eighth Month as Employers Turn to Outside Help

US – Things traditionally slow down everywhere over the Christmas period and it seems the West Coast docks dispute negotiations, a labour confrontation which has plagued shippers with ocean freight containers arriving and departing at ports from San Diego to Seattle since the existing employment contract terms expired in July 2014, is likely to continue into the New Year at a similar leisurely pace.

South African Tribunal Shoots Down Air Cargo Carrier with Another Huge Fine

SOUTH AFRICA – The current air cargo cartel case underway in South Africa is approaching the finish line after the country's Competition Tribunal handed out the final penalty in a four-year long lawsuit that stems from the now infamous dawn raids which saw numerous high profile cargo airlines and air freight carriers have their offices invaded by several antitrust commissions in countries around the globe. After news that the Luxembourg company is still one of several facing civil claims from another convicted freight forwarding cartel operator, airline Cargolux has been hit with yet another financial penalty.

Giant Cranes Shipped Open Hatch After Study of Individual Problems with Draft and Height

CROATIA – UKRAINE – GERMANY – RUSSIA – Another truly international effort saw a large project freight forwarding assignment undertaken recently when Saint Petersburg headquartered Dealex Transport chartered a vessel from Hamburg based break bulk specialist Hansa Heavy Lift to carry a consignment of cranes from the Croatian city of Split to Yushny in Ukraine.

Thousands of Tonnes of Luxury Cargo to Stock the World's Tables at This Time of the Year

FRANCE – WORLDWIDE – According to that most Gallic operator CMA CGM, the third largest container shipping line in the world, Santa Claus is in fact not Scandinavian and riding a sleigh, but French and sailing a box vessel across the seven seas. In the past few months the company says it has travelled the world’s oceans to deliver more than 15,000 tonnes of great festive French products: chocolate, wine, Champagne or perfumes, to fill stockings and tables around the globe from Montreal to Montana or Shanghai to Stockport for Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

34,000 Tonne Tweendeckers will Sail Between Europe and US Gulf/East Coast/Mexico

UK – GERMANY – EUROPE – US – MEXICO – As part of its liner agency agreement with Hamburg headquartered MACS Maritime Carrier GmbH & Co., Hull based John Good Shipping can now offer its shipping customers a new Multipurpose Service between UK/North West Continental Europe and the US Gulf/Mexico – US East Coast from January 2015. The Service will employ the 34,000 dwt open-hatch/box-shaped Multipurpose Container Vessels, Amber Lagoon and Purple Beach both of which have a lifting capacity of 110 tonnes. The new service will accept Break Bulk, Unitised Cargo, Rolling Stock, Steel Products, Project Freight and Bulk Parcels as well as container traffic.

First Applications to Join EU Recycling Scheme Received

EU – CHINA – WORLDWIDE – With environmental concerns and policies becoming ever more important to all industry stakeholders there remains one giant elephant in shipping’s living room, the disposal of vessels long past their best. Five years ago we illustrated the horrors of ship breaking on the Indian subcontinent and elsewhere in South Asia using suitable video evidence, and we told of the walls of silence surrounding an industry within an industry where ecological worries are often simply ignored in the name of profit.

Famous Name Signed Up by Freight Forwarder After Lengthy Requirement Study

SPAIN – As any football manager will tell you it’s great to end the year with a big name signing (transfer windows permitting) and it’s exactly the same for freight forwarders and supply chain companies. So this week has been particularly satisfying for Ceva Logistics which has signed a three year contract worth almost €2 million per annum with Ludendo Commerce Iberia, to manage the handling, storage and delivery of its products in Spain. A subsidiary of the French Group Ludendo, the company is best-known in Spain for its Poly toy store chain and similarly in the UK for its Hamleys store.

Environmental Crimes by Greek and Italian Operators Mean Millions of Dollars in Fines and Possible Long Prison Terms

US – The Chief Engineer from the 75,600-dwt bulk cargo ship Trident Navigator, has been convicted by a federal jury in New Orleans of environmental crimes, obstruction of justice and witness tampering, whilst in a different trial, Italian Shipping firm Carbofin, pleaded guilty to environmental crimes for concealing vessel pollution. In the two cases, the ships were both found to have utilised a bypass system, known as a ‘magic pipe’, to discharge sludge, waste oil, and machinery space bilge water into the sea in contravention of maritime regulations.

Good and Potentially Bad News for Channel Tunnel Operator

FRANCE – UK – Groupe Eurotunnel has reason to celebrate this week, but the operator of the Channel Tunnel must have hoped there would have been more good news as it awaits the decision of the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) in the matter of its MyFerryLink subsidiary. According to French sources, namely Natacha Bouchart, Mayor of Calais, speaking at the final Town Council gathering of the year, the decision as to the legality of the RoRo passenger and freight ferry service will not be released until mid-January, despite loud, semi-official whispers that an answer would be forthcoming ‘before Christmas’.

Despite International Transfer Agreements Delays in Charges and Insufficient Evidence Result in Overturned Sentences

SEYCHELLES – SOMALIA – DENMARK – Three Somali nationals found guilty of piracy by the Seychelles Supreme Court have had their sentences overturned after the island nation’s Court of Appeal found that there was ‘insufficient evidence to prove that they were indeed pirates’. This decision comes after both France and Denmark were found, on separate occasions and in separate decisions and unrelated to the Seychelles ruling, to have violated the rights of Somali nationals who had been arrested on piracy charges.

Competition and Consumer Commission Appeals Against Court Antitrust Decision After Dismissal on Technical Grounds

AUSTRALIA – The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has not quite finished its antitrust proceedings against air freight carriers, after appealing a decision made by the Australian Federal Court to dismiss the case against Air New Zealand and PT Garuda Indonesia, over allegations that the two cargo carriers colluded with other airlines to fix fuel and security surcharges on air shipments around the world.

In a Week When Thousands of Wreaths were Delivered to Graves Patriot Award Goes to Personnel Supervisor

US – It is true to say that nobody supports their country’s military veterans more enthusiastically than American trucking companies, particularly the larger outfits. The Con-way group employs nearly 2,700 military service veterans, including members of the National Guard and Reserves, and this month an employee of the less than truckload (LTL) subsidiary, Con-way Freight, was presented with the Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Patriot Award. David Nieder is Personnel Supervisor at the road haulage outfit’s Marshfield, Missouri service centre having been put forward by a colleague.

UK Group Supports Winning Dutch Search and Rescue Craft

UK – NETHERLANDS – WORLDWIDE – Originally formed over forty years ago, Essex based marine IT management specialist Servowatch is celebrating the company’s part in assisting the Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution (KNRM) in winning last month’s prestigious KNVTS Ship of the Year Award for its revolutionary new search and rescue boat, Nh1816. Based alongside the River Blackwater the Maldon headquartered group was involved in the project from the outset as KNRM required a vessel with an ‘exceptionally high level’ of automation and systems integration to assist in aiding merchant vessels and private craft which get into trouble. CEO Wayne Ross explained:

Volvo Series Tells Tales of the Highway

NORTH AMERICA – Volvo trucks has introduced the second in its series of ‘Welcome to My Cab’ series with a video of Tim Baumgartner, owner of a heavy-duty towing operation, and his award-winning ‘Freedom Flyer’ a patriotically themed Volvo VNL. The project aims to show Volvo trucks in the best possible light and the Oregon based road haulage operator certainly delivers.

Picture Worth a Thousand Words as Three Thousand Tonne Pieces Installed

PANAMA – We here at the Handy Shipping Guide love a good picture but today's truly stands out with the installation of the first gate for the new locks on the Atlantic side of the Panama Canal. Expected to be completed in the next couple of days, the steel gates are moved using self-propelled motorised wheel transporters (SPMTs) with more than 400 wheels each. Panama Canal Administrator Jorge L. Quijano, said:

North African Country the Latest Region for Expansion

ALGERIA – French headquartered freight forwarding and automotive supply chain logistics specialist Gefco, is expanding its North African network by establishing a base in Algeria which will manage containerised cargo for industrial clients from Algeria to countries in the Mediterranean and China, as well as managing the distribution of new vehicles to dealers for PSA Peugeot Citroën. Jean-Paul Ornano, Managing Director of Gefco Morocco and the Group’s Area Manager for North Africa, said:

Free of Charge Charter Flight to Aid Stricken Victims

SWITZERLAND – LUXEMBOURG – WEST AFRICA – Once again a member of the logistics community has stepped forward to help transport vital supplies to the areas of Africa worst hit by the current Ebola outbreak. Last year freight forwarding outfit Panalpina donated a relief flight to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) ‘Forgotten Crisis’ campaign in the Central African Republic when the idea of an aircraft charter seemed the most appropriate way to help. With the renewal of the partnership this year Panalpina has again joined forces with UNICEF in a similar mission carrying air cargo to relieve some of the suffering in Sierra Leone, currently the country most affected by the disease.

Engineers Video What You Need to Do to Properly Check Out a Forty Foot Box

DENMARK – WORLDWIDE – Maersk Container Industries (MCI) is the A.P. Moller - Maersk Group subsidiary which develops and manufactures dry containers, reefer containers and refrigeration machines for Maersk Line, and has the responsibility that boxes are made fit for purpose and remain so during their working life. So part of the duties which an MCI test engineer has is to test all types of containers, possibly to destruction, so why not have a little fun doing so?

Shipping and Express Delivery Portfolio Suite Now Available at 287 Store Locations

SOUTH AFRICA – UAE – In another acquisition this week by a Middle Eastern logistics group, Aramex, the freight forwarding and express delivery outfit, has purchased the master franchise for the PostNet brand in South Africa. PostNet is South Africa’s largest privately-owned counter network in the document and parcel industry. The transaction involves a 100% buyout of the business from current owner OneLogix Group for $16.5 million.

UASC Ventures Further into Europe as Expansion Continues

SWITZERLAND – UAE – Having already somewhat expanded its interests in European trade by forming a container shipping alliance with French group CMA CGM in the Ocean Three tie up (along with China Shipping), and subsequently with German carrier Hamburg Süd, Middle Eastern headquartered United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) has entered landlocked territory by opening its own representative agency in Switzerland as from New Year’s Day 2015.

Road Haulage Still the Target to Aim for as Government Invests in Infrastructure

UK – The annual Rail Freight Group (RFG) Christmas Lunch is considered by many in the multimodal community as one of the highlights of the year and, with almost 800 guests attending from RFG member companies and their invited guests last week, the 2014 event was no exception. Not only did those attending manage to raise £5,500 for Shelter, the RFG’s ongoing chosen Christmas charity, but they were able to hear Mark Carne, CEO of Network Rail, give a strong statement of support for the rail freight industry.

Second Ship of Type for Power Group Charter

JAPAN – US – K Line, the Japanese container shipping and bulk freight carrier claims a better knowledge than most about the transport by sea of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), having established a foothold in the fledgling industry over thirty years ago with the delivery of its first LNG tanker, the SS Bishu Maru way back in 1983, since when it claims to have developed both knowledge of the industry and network to suit. The company has now ordered a newbuild ship and says its goal is to develop further in the field and simultaneously develop a more stable earnings structure adopted as part of its newly reformed, medium term management plan ‘Bridge to the Future’.

Sensor System to be Supplied to Major Furniture Group

US – I.D. Systems, headquartered in New Jersey has, through its Asset Intelligence subsidiary, signed up one of the world's largest furniture makers to deploy its VeriWise™ Track and Trace trailer management system on a fleet of approximately 2,300 trailers. The VeriWise Track and Trace system provides real-time GPS location data, via cellular communications and web-based software, to improve the security and efficiency of freight transportation fleets. The system is designed for quick, flexible installation on virtually any type of trailer, with patented power management technology and claims exceptionally long, maintenance-free battery life.

Maritime Unions Will Closely Monitor Crewing Levels from January 2015

WORLDWIDE – The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), the organisation which draws together the views and campaigns of unions involved in the shipping and logistics fields and beyond, is getting set for 2015 changes in the determination of safe manning of vessels, which come as a result of new International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements. Historically crew levels on freight and passenger ships can vary widely, often influenced by the flag state but over the past three years the IMO has redefined the concept of safe manning of vessels and as a result, as from January, conditions should change.

Singapore Joins in the Rush to Punish Carriers for Cartel Behaviour

SINGAPORE – JAPAN – Having issued a round of Proposed Infringement Decisions (PID) in April earlier this year, the Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) has penalised 10 freight forwarders and their Singapore subsidiaries a total of more than S$7 million for infringing the country’s Competition Act by collectively fixing certain fees and surcharges, and exchanging price and customer information in relation to the provision of air freight forwarding services for shipments from Japan to Singapore. One company managed to get off scot free, as we predicted in our previous article, now correctly identified as DHL having instigated the investigation by applying for leniency with the CCS. Totalling over S$7.15 million, the CCS imposed the following financial penalties:

Inaugural Run for China/Spain Service

CHINA – SPAIN – Having covered the approximately 13,000 kilometres between China and Spain, the first freight train to directly link the two countries has arrived at its final destination in Madrid after completing the test run of a planned regular service which would become the longest railway route in the world. Laden with over 1,400 tonnes of goods, the train took around 21 days to reach Adif’s Madrid Abroñigal railway logistics terminal in Spain, where it will now prepare for the return leg, carrying some of Spain’s more famous exports including wine, olive oil and cured ham.

Who Has Gone Where in the Industry of Late

UK – Longstanding CEO of the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA), Roger Williams, is to hand over the majority of his duties in the New Year. Having served as CEO for over 15 years, Williams will continue to work for UKWA until July 31, 2015. A successor has yet to be announced.

Several Major Players Extend Abilities Home or Abroad

SPAIN – SINGAPORE – UK – Expansions this week for freight and logistics groups in overseas locations whilst a road haulage outfit and the UK’s leading port operator extend operations at home. Firstly SDV, part of the French Bolloré Group, has formed its own subsidiary company headquartered in Valencia, Spain. After a long term partnership with Tiba, the two will be brought together, along with another Bolloré subsidiary Isamar to unify SDV’s operations under one name.

StreetScooter Start Up Project to be Acquired to Expand Environmental Deliveries

GERMANY – Freight and logistics group Deutsche Post DHL has agreed to acquire StreetScooter GmbH, a former start-up that is committed to the mission of developing affordable electric vehicles. Subject to antitrust approval the company will also acquire the development and production rights to vehicles as well as the employees of StreetScooter GmbH which is a spin-off of RWTH Aachen and a consortium of approximately 80 industrial companies in the automotive industry and related sectors.

WFS and ATA Italia in Joint Marketing Venture

ITALY – With air freight growing in the country last year by 1.5% and with expectations of a further 2.5% jump this year Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) has signed a co-operative agreement with ATA Italia to jointly market their respective cargo, ramp and passenger ground handling services to airline customers in Italy. The agreement, signed by Olivier Bijaoui, President and CEO of WFS, and Mario Sisto, President of ATA Italia, will enable the two companies to provide a full range of ground handling services to airlines at Italy’s major airports. WFS and ATA Italia will also jointly explore other business development opportunities in Italy.

New North American Facility Brings Together Headquarters Based Teams

NORTH AMERICA – As economic times get harder so too does the trucking business, and therefore the truck manufacturers have to guarantee more to customers to back up their normal service levels. For road haulage operators keeping a wagon on the road to haul the freight is the prime objective and they need to know they can get assistance 24/7 in case of difficulties. Now Volvo Trucks has opened its new North American Uptime Center, bringing together key resources to ensure that customers’ trucks keep moving throughout the US and Canada.

Chinese Collaboration Constructs Box Carrier for French Line

FRANCE – CHINA – The latest addition to the CMA CGM fleet has just been launched with the delivery of the CMA CGM Litani, a 10,622 TEU container ship, the third in a series of twenty eight box vessels from 9,400 TEUs to 10,900 TEUs which will be delivered from now to the third quarter of 2016. Each vessel of this one-of-a-kind series will be named after a famous river of the world.

IATA Publishes Risk Mitigation Guide

WORLDWIDE – We have written several pieces regarding the safe transport of lithium – ion batteries by air, pointing out the high number of unexplained incidents when fire has occurred during carriage, and of course there was the infamous case of the smoking Boeing Dreamliner’s which we examined in some depth last year. Now the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has published the first edition of its Lithium Battery Risk Mitigation Guidance for Operators, a free online guide designed to outline potential strategies both cargo and passenger airlines may wish to consider when transporting lithium batteries.

Outrage at Senseless Murder as Cry Goes Up Against European Court Ruling

SINGAPORE – VIETNAM – FRANCE – SOMALIA – WORLDWIDE – There is a tangible sense of disgust this week as details of another crewman murdered aboard his ship by pirates comes out. Despite falling numbers of incidents, particularly in the Indian Ocean, other areas of the world are still witnessing regular attacks and on December 7 the bulk freight vessel the M/T VP Asphalt 2 laden with 2,300 tonnes of bitumen, was attacked by pirates who boarded the ship.

ASEAN Discussions Expected to Result in Rise in Bilateral Traffic Throughout Asia

ASIA – PHILIPPINES – Recently ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) member states have held several rounds of trade talks with China, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Australia and India to establish a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and aim to conclude the negotiations by the end of 2015. As a positive indication of future trade growth, this initiative is expected to significantly benefit the further development of Intra-Asia trades. Additionally, for fear of losing out to the PRC which joined ASEAN as ‘10+1’ in 2010, Hong Kong is negotiating a Free Trade Agreement of its own which should be in place by 2016.

New Compliance Programme to Protect Panama from Wide Ranging Threats

PANAMA – With the shipping world keeping half an eye open to happenings centred around the Panama Canal as the new lock gates are readied to ensure ever larger container ships and bulk freight carriers can use the waterway, the management body responsible, the Panama Maritime Authority (PMA), has become the first port state to use Pole Star’s PurpleTRAC sanctions compliance and risk management service as part of its wider port risk management strategy and as a precaution against the outbreak of Ebola.

France Faced with Thousands of Euro's in Penalties

EUROPE – SOMALIA – The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has ruled that France has, on two separate occasions, violated the rights of Somali nationals who had been arrested on piracy charges, after hijacking French registered vessels off the coast of Somalia in 2008. This ruling by the ECHR means that the nine Somalis involved in the two cases, are set to receive thousands of euros each in compensation.

New Territory for Traditional Courier Company

UK – The hanging garment business in the UK is a fast growing sector, and according to the British Fashion Council, is larger than the publishing, car manufacturing and chemical industries in the UK. With more and more high profile designers exporting garments from abroad and opening specialist stores in the UK, it is a sector braced for even further growth. With this in mind a Midlands based express courier service has joined the swelling ranks of freight and logistics companies turning their attention to the trade.

Legal Requirements for Fork Lift Trucks May Often be Ignored Through Ignorance of Company Responsibilities

UK – One of the things which every transport operator has to bear in mind are the safety and brake checks required for an HGV fleet, without regular servicing and evidence of such a road haulage company can lose its operating licence in the blink of an eye. What, however, is in store for the same company as regards the reliability and safety of its fork trucks? Surely there are no formal checks in place for such vehicles not moving freight on the open road? Beware this attitude as a recent case before the Court has evidenced and ignore regular checks at you peril.

As Formal Instruction Takes a More Important Role So Standards Must Rise Accordingly says SfL

UK – Skills for Logistics (SfL), which is designed to direct more and better people into employment in the transport and supply chain fields, has come up with a way to hopefully raise the standard of training for those chosen to instruct HGV drivers in their Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) courses. Two companies which are amongst the first to receive the endorsement are freight forwarder and road multimodal transport group Norbert Dentressangle and training provider, AIM Commercial Services.

People Who Moved Jobs in the Logistics Sector Recently

GERMANY – CHILE – With CSAV and Hapag Lloyd officially merging their container shipping businesses, Michael Behrendt, who spearheaded the deal with the Chilean ocean freight company, has been named as the new Chairman of Hapag Lloyd’s Supervisory Board, replacing Dr Jürgen Weber, who has stepped down from his position as previously agreed. The former CEO of Hapag-Lloyd, Behrendt, will take over the role with effect immediately.

Santa Comes Early for Cargo Carriers and Directors

BRAZIL – Over a year after handing down fines against four air freight carriers and seven individuals involved in a price fixing conspiracy, Brazil’s antitrust authority, the Administrative Council for Economic Defence (Cade) has lowered the penalty it imposed against ABSA Cargo Airlines, American Airlines, Alitalia and four individuals involved in the international air cargo cartel case, after an investigation found inconsistencies and contradictions when the fines were initially levied. Commissioner Ana Frazão, explained:

Vessel Sharing Arrangement Gets Ready to Sail

WORLDWIDE – The tacit agreement made between the world’s two largest container shipping lines back in July 2014 appears to be taking shape. The P3 network which the two, Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A. (MSC) had hoped to form with CMA CGM was shot down by Chinese regulators a month previously but the new 2M vessel sharing arrangement (VSA) has now been accepted worldwide and details of the sailing schedules are being released.

European Commission Steers Toward Truck Manufacturers with Ongoing Investigation and Towage Companies also Examined

EUROPE – After some years of activity chasing down freight and logistics collaborators, and nearly four years after visiting the offices of a number of well-known companies in the truck manufacturing sector, the European Commission has informed several heavy and medium duty truck producers that it suspects them of having participated in a cartel in breach of EU antitrust rules. Though the EU’s watchdog did not name the companies it believes were involved in the cartel, Volvo, Daimler, and Paccar have confirmed that they received notices from the European Commission with Volvo anticipating a hefty fine.

If True Across the Board Fare Increases would be Due to Lack of Preparation as the Doom Mongers Shout the Odds

UK – EUROPE – Suddenly, after six years of discussions and legislation, parties involved in the shipping sector, specifically the RoRo cross Channel trade, have woken up to the possible effects of the new European Union sulphur emission rules coming into force at midnight on New Year’s day. The Emission Control Areas (ECAs) in the English Channel and the North Sea, as well as the US and Canada and the Baltic, mean the maximum content of sulphur allowed in marine fuels used in the ECAs will be 0.1%, compared to the current limit of 1% today.

Second Win in Three Years for Pentalver Whilst MSC Bag Two in a Row

UK – Container transport, storage and supply company Pentalver has been crowned Global Freight Awards Supply Chain Partner for 2014 alongside Allport Cargo Services, having previously held the title in 2012 for its supply chain partnership with logistics specialist Autohub New Zealand and international inspection company, JEVIC. This year it was the box company’s collaboration with Dixons Retail and Damco which caught the judges’ attention and the startling pronouncement that the cooperation resulted in Dixons Retail’s detention penalty fines being reduced from nearly £1 million to only £300 in 2013.

Final Sanction to Join Two Companies from Different Continents

WORLDWIDE – After months of waiting for regulatory approval from relevant competition authorities around the world, the path is now clear for Hapag-Lloyd and Compañía Sud Americana de Vapores (CSAV) to join forces to become the world’s fourth largest container shipping company. In gaining approval from the remaining authorities, China and Ukraine, over the last couple of days, all condition precedents were fulfilled and the main processes of integrating CSAV’s container business into Hapag-Lloyd’s organisation are expected to be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2015.

Legal Action Started in US and Germany Against Guilty Airlines in Price Fixing Cartel

GERMANY – US – Schenker, the freight forwarding and logistics arm of Deutsche Bahn, is seeking a total of around $2.5 billion in damages, from air cargo carriers found guilty by the US Department of Justice, the European Commission and other international antitrust authorities for operating a global price fixing cartel. As we pointed out back in August, when Schenker announced that it had filed a complaint in New York, this matter is steeped somewhat in irony with the pot speaking ill of the kettle after Schenker found itself at the mercy of competition commissions the world over having taken part in the activities of the infamous ‘Gardening Club’ antitrust scandal.

New Venture Intended to Exploit Growing Export Market

MYANMAR – THAILAND – We have catalogued before the number of freight forwarders and logistics groups entering the former Burmese market, and also some of the problems associated with that country* but now a player from neighbouring Thailand has chosen to establish a base in the country. This week saw the Leo Myanmar Logistics Company Limited open its Rangoon (Yangon) office in a move which the company believes to be the first such incursion by a Thai company.

Scottish Group Increases Oversize Vehicle Fleet by a Third

UK – The Government’s ten year trial of longer semi-trailers which we first announced in 2011 proceeds apace and one road haulage company which has enthusiastically backed the scheme has now increased its current longer semi-trailer fleet by a third, taking its total fleet involved in the government trial to fifteen. Carntyne Transport, logistics specialist and part of the Russell group based in Glasgow, is operating the trailers on their contract with Nampak Plastics Europe Ltd, a leading manufacture in High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic bottles for the food and drink industry.

However Doubts Cast as to What the Money will Achieve if the Talking is Finally Over

UK – Representatives from both the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and the British International Freight Association (BIFA), which represents the forwarding community, have welcomed the government’s announcement that it is to invest £15 billion in the country’s road infrastructure. Both organisation’s however tempered their enthusiasm with notes of caution, perhaps unsurprised that such news comes out in the run up to a General Election.

List of Candidates Closes in February for Seven Categories of Women Serving Their Chosen Industry

UK – The Freight Transport Association (FTA) is once again sponsoring the FTA everywoman Transport & Logistics Awards and the clock is ticking for those who want to be nominated or wish to nominate possible candidates for the 2015 Awards. The Awards began as a way of celebrating the hard work and achievements by women in the sector, and the FTA says it hopes that they will continue to uncover inspirational role models, improve the image of the industry, and demonstrate that the support and development of female talent is taken seriously within the sector.

Channel Tunnel Site Works Pay Back Some Local Community Debt in Environmental Terms

UK – One of the factors always to be considered with any major British civil engineering project is the impact on the environment and often one encounters cynicism, unfortunately often justified, from objectors to any large development scheme. It is however encouraging when one compares projects such as Dawei Port in Myanmar which has seen the eviction of innocent natives and serious doubts over the lack of environmental controls to, such as DP World’s London Gateway. Both major container ports yet the Thames side facility has been created under a spotlight, with clear intent to not only repair any environmental damage, but to create even more habitat for various species indigenous to the area.

Another First for Liebherr as RL-K 7500 Ships to Asia

GERMANY – ASIA – As the size of everything from container vessels to oil recovery rigs gets ever larger, so too does the equipment designed to handle their manufacture and maintenance and the past few weeks have seen crane maker Liebherr undertake works previously unheard of at its test stand in Rostock. Four giant cranes were required in tandem to lift a new RL-K 7500 subsea crane, weighing in at 665 tonnes, onto its transportation device bound for Asia before its outfitting aboard a specialist vessel.

Super Ice Class Vessels Employed on Scandinavian - Western Europe Route

UK – SWEDEN – FINLAND – GERMANY – BELGIUM – John Good Shipping, one of the UK’s oldest established maritime agencies, has announced a new partnership with Swedish Orient Line (SOL) following its appointment as UK Liner Agent for their new service between Finland and Tilbury, UK. From December 1, SOL will significantly increase its range of Ro/Ro services from the already established Finland-Germany route, to include both the Benelux and the UK. Served by two modern 1A super ice class vessels, each with a capacity of 2,774 lane metres, the route will open up opportunities for customers to ship trailers, project cargo and a wide range of new and used vehicles in both directions.