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DP World Looks at 2018 Achievements

DUBAI – WORLDWIDE – As usual the end of a year gives companies a chance to reflect on their progress, or otherwise, over the past twelve months and port and logistics outfit DP World, which these days favours the description of 'trade enabler', is no exception. For 2018 this meant a deepening of its engagement with some revolutionary new technologies whilst both diversifying its global business portfolio through investments and acquisitions worth $3 billion, and extending support to environmental initiatives around the world.

US Government Shutdown May Lead to Future Port Congestion

US – Not for the first time political shenanigans in Washington are having consequences far beyond the perimeter of the District of Columbia. With the President refusing to sign up for a spending package as his demands for funding to build his Mexican wall go unanswered, large parts of the government are shutting down with hundreds of thousands of government employees likely to go unpaid until the matter is resolved, and the possibility this may affect the port sector.

Cost Cuts Envisaged as Need to Move Other Boxes Negated

DUBAI – GERMANY – WORLDWIDE – DP World has this month formed a joint venture with the industrial engineering specialist group SMS to develop a revolutionary new method of storing containers at the quayside and beyond. Currently the boxes are simply stacked on top of each other but the new system is designed to give each container its own bay in a column of storage spaces allowing 11 high stacks.

Pledge to Utilise Gas for Future Giant Box Vessels

EUROPE – NORTH AFRICA – French headquartered shipping group CMA CGM chose Christmas Eve to announce the first container ship powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) had arrived as part of its fleet some days earlier. The Containerships Nord is, as its name suggests, to enter service as one of its Containerships subsidiary vessels and is the first of four such craft which have been ordered.

Four Stowaways Appear in Court on Christmas Eve

UK – When four men attempted to take control of the RoRo/Container ship Grande Tema on Friday 21 December by threatening the crew this was not an attack off the Somali coast or the Niger Delta. The four stowaways must have indeed boarded the vessel in the Port of Tincan/Lagos, the ship's last call, but they waited until she approached the waters of the Thames Estuary before realising their plan.

A Look Along Some Links of the Supply Chain

WORLDWIDE – A short round up of some of the week's lesser freight and logistics items starts with the news that, following the launch of its Full Assembly White Glove services for heavyweight and bulky business-to-consumer eCommerce products in the US, acquisition of a majority stake in Omni-Channel Logistics to solidify its cross-border eCommerce solution and entering into a global partnership with Hermes Germany, SEKO Logistics has been named a Multichannel Merchant Top 3PL for 2019.

25 Year Agreement to Deepen and Maintain Access Channel

ECUADOR – The government of Guayaquil in Ecuador recently agreed a contract with the Luxembourg-based Jan De Nul Group for a 25-year concession to deepen and further maintain the 95-kilometre long access channel leading to the port of Guayaquil. The port authority of Guayaquil, Autoridad Portuario de Guayaquil (APG) issued a 20-year operating concession for the Container and Multipurpose Terminals in the port to Philippine outfit International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI) until 2027. The dredging is to accommodate a larger class of container and bulk cargo vessels.

Sorry, It's All About the Brexit (Again)

UK – With comparatively little industry news this week as firms wind down for the Christmas break Brexit policy, or lack of, continues to dominate the headlines, nudged briefly into second spot by the drone attacks on Gatwick Airport. Once again freight and logistics lobby groups have felt it necessary to issue a variety of statements on both immigration and no-deal scenario issues.

Self-Employed and Casual Workers are a Traditional Feature in the Supply Chain

UK – The recent spate of victories for the drivers represented by the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) and the GMB Union in their continuing battle with employer Uber to be recognised as employees, rather than self-employed, has ramifications for some road haulage and logistics operations. The GMB Union is hailing the latest in a 'hat trick' of wins when senior judges at the Court of Appeal in London dismissed the passenger carrying 'hail and ride' outfits plea that the contracts in place were a legal construct.

Unique Ships Will Offer Environmentally Friendly Services Between US and Puerto Rico

US – PUERTO RICO – Crowley Maritime Corp. has taken delivery of Taíno, the second of two of the world's first combination container/roll on-roll off (ConRo) ships powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), from shipbuilder VT Halter Marine Inc., of Pascagoula, Mississippi. Taíno will soon join sister ship El Coquí, which was delivered in July, in providing fast and environmentally friendly shipping and logistics services between Jacksonville, Florida and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

US Owned Company Signs Aggregate Bulk Cargo Deal

UK – Freightliner Heavy Haul Ltd, the rail freight carrier now part of the Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (G&W) group of companies, has signed a long-term, bulk rail-haulage contract with Mendip Rail Ltd, a joint venture between two of the UK's largest aggregate/cement producers, Hanson Aggregates and Aggregate Industries (AI).

Government Provides Funding as Revised Common Transit Deal Accepted and EC Permits Considered

UK – A lot to cover as in the past few days there have been several important developments in the quest to settle how Brexit will actually affect the freight and road haulage industries. Matters such as customs practices and transit permits for hauliers visiting the EU as well as immigration, a subject dear to many hearts given the shortage of qualified HGV drivers the country is suffering, are all now openly being discussed.

Push to Grab Traffic from Other Transport Modes

AUSTRIA – EUROPE – Each year the EU holds a Rail Freight Day and earlier this month this gave European Rail Freight Association (ERFA) President Lindsay Durham the opportunity to highlight key priorities for boosting rail freight transport in the coming years. She emphasised the need for cooperation within the sector as the key to unlocking rail's potential and securing its place as the best solution for reducing harmful emissions, decongesting Europe's roads and providing the efficient and competitive services sought by customers.

New Distribution Hub Close to Main Airport

SLOVENIA – It seems Kuehne + Nagel is determined to stay in the forefront of pharmaceutical distribution with the opening of another dedicated pharma & healthcare warehouse, one of the largest within its global K+N PharmaChain network. The freight forwarding and logistics group has taken a strategically located new facility in Brnik, close to Ljubljana Airport.

The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug is Waiting to Get In!

AUSTRALIA – EUROPE – As anyone involved in shipping knows, nobody takes the risk of infection by alien organisms more seriously than the Australians, and with good reason. Having been hit with almost ineradicable infestations historically in the past, the country verges on paranoia with regard to pests entering the island from abroad. An incident this month demonstrates the vigilance and attitude of the authorities with the issue of a warning notice to freight forwarders, importers and customs brokers regarding the elaborately named Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB).

Irish Comedian Hosts Another Glittering Occasion

UK – Thursday December 13 saw the Royal Lancaster Hotel in West London as home to the second annual FTA Logistics Awards where host Irish comedian and television presenter, Dara Ó Briain kept the crowd of over 400 freight and logistics professionals amused as the Freight Transport Association (FTA) honoured those companies and individuals which had excelled in their profession in 2018.

DP World Seized Asset Now a Political Hot Potato as Trump Slates Chinese Policy in Africa

US – AFRICA – DJIBOUTI – The speech made by US National Security Adviser John Bolton at the Washington DC based Heritage Foundation on Thursday (December 13) regarding future US policy in Africa, has been warmly welcomed by port management and logistics outfit DP World which is still locking horns with the government of Djibouti after the state seized the Doraleh container freight terminal from the Dubai headquartered group.

Who is Heading Where This Week

WORLDWIDE – Appointments in the transport and related sectors this week start with that, effective from 1 January 2019, Swissport International will consolidate its existing regional structure from nine to three management regions. These will be EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa), Americas (USA, Canada, Latin America) and APAC (Asia-Pacific).

From Demonstrations to Scrubbers - Items You Might Have Missed

PANAMA – News from around the globe in road haulage, ocean shipping and logistics this week begins with a milestone as the Panama Canal recorded its 5,000th Neopanamax vessel passing through. The container ship COSCO Faith passed from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean carrying freight southbound. The Neopanamax, or New Panamax ships are, as the name suggests the largest vessels capable of travelling through the newly expanded waterway.

Belt and Road Transhipment Cuts Mean Faster Rail Cargo Services

CHINA – UK – As Belt and Road operations begin to take shape the rail freight sector is bringing changes to the attitudes of UK importers, offering land based intermodal services faster than ocean freight at reasonable rates. One company which is evolving new products to offer more competitive services in the field is Davies Turner, which claims the title of the UK's leading independent freight forwarding company and which is upgrading its fixed-day, weekly rail import service for LCL cargoes from China.

Born in Wartime the Warehousing Association Looks Back on 75 Years

UK – Born during the dark days of wartime the United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA) is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2019 and the organisation is seeking comments and memories which illustrate its past from both the freight and logistics community as well as wholesalers, retailers and the warehouse keeping community itself.

AI, Autonomous Vessels and Drones All to be Studied to Improve Performance of Local Ports

UK – One often hears news of the fabled 'Northern Powerhouse', particularly from politicians who talk a good game but then deliver little. Now comes a new programme that aims to pilot smart digital initiatives to boost trade and foster economic growth in North East ports, particularly apt as the confusion over Brexit continues with doubts as to how the country's trade model will perform in future. Freight and logistics may indeed seek routes which avoid the traditional, and often over used maritime facilities further south.

Much Criticised Group is Looking at Working Practices Far from Home

GERMANY – LATIN AMERICA – WORLDWIDE – The Deutsche Post DHL (DP DHL) freight and logistics group has come in for some harsh criticism in the past few years with regard to the way it handles staff relations and its lack of response to such. Now however comes news of hopefully improving relations after the Global union federations, the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) and UNI Global Union (UNI) and the German parcel giant have, throughout 2018, worked towards building a constructive and solution-oriented approach to staff relations, by following the agreed procedure of the OECD protocol first established in July 2016.

Ships Crews Abandoned and Other Sad Tales at Sea from Around the Globe

UK – MOZAMBIQUE – SOUTH AFRICA – WORLDWIDE – It seems that, like buses, you wait for news from maritime charities and three come along at once. That said Christmas approaches and the hardships of others are at the forefront of the minds of many. Sadly it seems the perennial problems of sailors abandoned by uncaring vessels owners, or trapped in ports far from home by circumstances, continue unabated, and it is those charities who are often the only ones which deal with the hardship such crews endure.

Two Million Dollar Fine for Tanker Group in Yet Another Magic Pipe Incident

US – The US Department of Justice has sentenced the Navimax Corporation, incorporated in the Marshall Islands with its main offices in Greece, to a $2,000,000 fine by a federal district court for violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships and obstructing a Coast Guard investigation. This is yet another incident of vessels using a so called 'magic pipe'to illegally discharge oil residues into the ocean to the detriment of the environment.

Special Projects Line Files for Insolvency

GERMANY – Hansa Heavy Lift, the ocean project freight carrier, has become the latest victim of the economic downturn in the global shipping industry, filing for insolvency after years of financial troubles which has seen the Hamburg based heavy freight transport specialist steadily reduce its fleet from 21 vessel in 2015 to 11 as of December 2018.

Middle Eastern Port Aims for Key Position in Belt and Road Initiative

UAE – COSCO Shipping Ports and Abu Dhabi Ports have officially opened the new container terminal at Khalifa Port, the CSP Abu Dhabi Terminal, positioning Abu Dhabi as the regional hub for COSCO's global network of 36 ports and further connecting the Emirate to the major trade hubs along the Belt and Road Initiative, as the port looks to almost double its current capacity over the next five years.

Authority Reaction Inflames Union Anger

PANAMA – The simmering row between the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) and the Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) and its native affiliate, the Union de Capitanes y Oficiales de Cubierta (UCOC), which represents the Canal's tug captains, continues unabated after the ACP reacted in the press to the report issued last week in which it was claimed that fatigue amongst the tug captains, who marshal some of the world's biggest ships through the waterway, was presenting a serious risk.

Sustainable Shipping Initiative Gives Credit to Responsible Vessel Owners

WORLDWIDE – Five years ago the EU proposed that vessels registered in the European Union would have to be dismantled using suitable ecologically friendly and safe certified facilities. As from 31 December 2018, large commercial seagoing vessels flying the flag of an EU Member State may be recycled only in sites included in the European List of ship recycling facilities. However alternatively flagged vessels can be dismantled anywhere and we have often described the appalling conditions that workers, including children, toil under, particularly in south east Asia.

Military Presence Has Dramatically Reduced Hijackings of Merchant Vessels

SOMALIA – UK – INDIAN OCEAN – Over the weekend, the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR), which protects merchant vessels carrying food aid and deters pirate attacks against container ships, tankers and fishing fleets, celebrated ten years of maritime operations. Commanded from its military headquarters in Northwood, London, the European Union Naval Force was officially launched on 8 December 2008. Codenamed 'Operation ATALANTA', after the mythological Greek huntress, it is a naval force generated by EU Member States working collectively, in support of UN Security Council Resolutions agreed from 2008 onwards, to tackle the Somali piracy crisis at source.

Every Year We Witness a Catalogue of Heroism

UK – CHINA – WORLDWIDE – Every year we have the pleasure of announcing the recipients of the International Maritime Organization's Bravery Awards and, during this year's ceremony at the IMO's London headquarters last week the 2018 IMO Award for Exceptional Bravery at Sea went to Mr Zhong Haifeng, who showed incredible courage in a series of underwater dives which resulted in the safe recovery of three people trapped within the hull of a sunken cargo ship.

All to Play for as Several Scenarios Now Possible from No Deal to New Referendum

UK – EUROPE – In a week in which Voyager 2 has 'left the solar system', so the Brexit negotiations also enter uncharted territory. With the clock ticking so the European Court of Justice has ruled today that Britain can revoke Article 50 and cancel Brexit without recourse to the other 27 EU member nations. This on the same day that Prime Minister Theresa May has backed down on having a vote to commend her leaving deal which looked increasingly as if she would lose support and suffer a humiliating defeat.

Announcements of Staff Moves in the Industry

DENMARK – We open this week's shipping and logistics staff update with the news that Maersk Supply Service has announced the appointment of Karl Thorngren as its new Chief Financial Officer, effective April 29, 2019. Currently CFO of Svitzer Australia, Thorngren will report to CEO Steen Karstensen and will be a member of the senior management team in Maersk Supply Service.

Theoretical Lifeboats to Crashing Space Rocket Videos Make for an Interesting Round Up

FINLAND – WORLDWIDE – This week's look at some of the stories you may have missed from the shipping, freight and logistic sectors begins with the news that technology group Wärtsilä has put a novel spin of awakening the world to the threat of climate change by designing a hypothetical lifeboat for use in flooded buildings.

Container Alliances Will Fear Retro Prosecutions Despite Multilateral Authority Acceptance

US – Following the recent shipping industry trend of consolidation and ocean container carrier alliances, the US has signed into law amendments to the Shipping Act primarily designed to address issues related to antitrust matters. According to an analysis by law firm Holland & Knight Partners (H&K), the changes are intended to help protect marine terminal service providers as well as other US marine equipment and services providers, and to preserve investment in domestic shore-side maritime infrastructure.

Bosses from Road Haulage to Food Storage Agree Deal - With Some Reservations

UK – Downing Street somewhat resembled the M25 in the past week or so as a steady stream of visitors were summoned to meetings to hear the government's take on why the Brexit deal on the table is a good option for Britain. Callers included the great and the good from a range of industries, financial services, advanced manufacturing, food and drink and retail, alongside business lobby organisations and trade associations, and the freight, logistics and road haulage sectors were there to represent the entire international supply chain.

Beware - Along with Christmas and Brexit Another Unavoidable Event Approaches

UK – For private motorists and commercial vehicle drivers in London alike, as with Christmas and Brexit the introduction of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is rapidly approaching. To remind drivers of vans, cars and lorries of their upcoming responsibilities Transport for London (TfL) has issued a Guide to the new regulations which come into force from 8 April 2019 (it was to be a week earlier but that was ditched for obvious reasons). Road haulage operators are warned to ensure they are familiar with the details.

Freight Associations and Logistics Interests Have Guided Government Policy

UK – The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has pointed out that from this week, after the government recognised one of the key post Brexit challenges for the industry, namely the potential for a huge increase in demand on customs intermediaries and traders required to complete customs declarations after March 2019, help is at hand to try and mitigate this particular problem.

Panama Canal Safety Culture Increases the Risk of Accidents Says Union

PANAMA – The last time we reported that the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) was not satisfied with safety regulations regarding the tugs required to assist the container ships and tankers through the passage the claims were immediately repudiated by the Panama Canal Authority (PCA). Now comes a report from the union organisation which takes the PCA to task with tiredness, rather than the protocols in place for the physical transfer of vessels as was the case previously.

Sixth Mercy Flight in Place of Gifts for Customers and Staff

SOUTH SUDAN – SWITZERLAND – Swiss headquartered freight forwarder, Panalpina has once again assisted global children's charity, UNICEF, by flying relief aid to Africa to help children in war-torn South Sudan, where the humanitarian needs after years of conflict remain massive. Relief flights at the end of the year have become a tradition for Panalpina, supporting UNICEF much needed work across Africa. Panalpina's CEO, Stefan Karlen, said:

Freight Bookings, Tariff Prices and Secure Spaces Available Instantly

FRANCE – WORLDWIDE – The CMA CGM Group has announced that it has signed an ambitious pilot agreement with Freightos, the global online freight marketplace, which we gave details of in August. The move sees the French shipping giant become the first ocean carrier listed on the site. Online bookings, guaranteed pricing, and secured capacity on CMA CGM China-US trade lanes are available on the platform, with further extension to additional lanes planned in the near future.

Shipping Giant Has Spent a Billion Dollars So Far to Help Cut Pollution

DENMARK – Shipping behemoth AP Moller - Maersk, which under the group brand runs a diverse fleet of vessels, from container ships to tankers and supply craft, has announced plans to reach net Zero CO₂ emissions by 2050 as it looks to accelerating the transition to carbon neutral shipping. To achieve this goal, Maersk says that carbon neutral vessels must be commercially viable by 2030, and an acceleration in new innovations and adaption of new technology is required.

Magnetic Levitation Project Planned as New Intermodal Cargo Option

GERMANY – The interesting development of the latest high tech, modal freight system which we have been following continues as Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT) and Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA), a container terminal operator in the Port of Hamburg, have announced the creation of a joint venture company which will focus on integrating this latest innovation with a view to introducing hyperloop technology into the German rail port. In the future, the new company will look to bring this as an intermodal cargo option to ports, shipping, and logistics companies around the world. Bibop Gresta, chairman and co-founder of HyperloopTT, said:

Ambitious Pair Have to Pedal Through 23 Countries in 231+ Days to Reach Japan

UK – JAPAN – AND ALL POINTS IN BETWEEN – Both the game of rugby and the freight forwarding and logistics industries tend to have big hearts and now the two come together in the latest charitable initiative sponsored by shipping giants DHL.

Single Avoidable Death in Immingham Docks Cost Facility, Shipping and Security Companies Dear

UK – Associated British Ports (ABP), DFDS Seaways, and ICTS (UK) have been fined after a security guard was fatally injured when he was struck by an articulated vehicle. Hull Crown Court heard how, on 9 September 2015, a security guard employed at the container terminal at Immingham Docks, approached an HGV which was entering a gate and walked in front of the vehicle. The guard was not visible to the driver, either on approach to the vehicle or as he walked in front of it when he was dragged underneath as it turned towards a warehouse. He sustained multiple injuries and died at the scene.

Dip Ship Senior Executives Fined

US – Following our report in July that the US Department of Justice had arrested two freight forwarding executives alleged to have illegally agreed freight rates with other logistics competitors comes the news that the pair, Roberto Dip and Jason Handal, have both pleaded guilty for their roles in orchestrating a nationwide conspiracy to fix prices for international freight forwarding services, marking the first convictions in this antitrust investigation.

Audit Tool in Use in Rotterdam as Dunkirk Vastly Expands Liquid Natural Gas Bunkering

UK – NETHERLANDS – FRANCE – The International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), a not-for-profit global alliance of roughly 170 ports and 140 maritime companies and institutes, met in London recently at its at the LNG Ship/Shore Conference and saw the product of an IAPH Clean Marine Fuels Working Group which has developed an LNG bunkering audit tool, already being used to licence operations at Port of Rotterdam.

Taylor Swift Reputation Tour Calls on Airborne Leviathans

AUSTRALIA – NEW ZEALAND – JAPAN – Anyone who has ever had anything to do with the music industry knows nowadays the bigger the star, the larger the entourage, and the more equipment that tends to precede them to the big dates. Taylor Swift recently saw her Reputation Stadium Tour beat her own previous record as the highest grossing tour by a female artist in the US at over $190 million, so when it came to shipping the staging equipment by air throughout Oceania it needed more than something the size of the ill-fated Beechcraft Bonanza which caused the demise of the late Buddy Holly.

New Clause to Ensure Contract Partners Can Cope

NORWAY – UK – WORLDWIDE – Following the extremely costly cyber attacks on the Maersk, Clarkson and COSCO operations this year the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) has gathered together some heavy hitting stakeholders from the legal and logistics sectors to help in drafting its first ever cyber security clause for the benefit of ship owners and other related freight and shipping interests.

everywoman Nominations are Now Open

UK – Nominations have now opened for the 2019 everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards and a new, additional category is being added this year to one of the freight industry's most popular events, which will see some deserving male or female newcomer collecting the Apprentice of the Year Award. Despite the Awards' title men feature also in their own category, with the Male Agent of Change Award celebrating someone who has furthered the cause of women in the industry.