Shipping Search - Archive

MSC Will Utilise Responsibly Sourced Blended Oils

NETHERLANDS – Following successful trials with biofuel blends earlier this year, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has decided to continue bunkering responsibly sourced biofuel blended oils on a routine basis with the use of biofuel in its vessels calling in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Solar Energy Builds Greener Supply Chain

DUBAI – DB Schenker has opened its first fully solar-powered logistics centre in Dubai with an area of 33,000 m². The regional distribution centre, DLC II, is located in the logistics area of Dubai South, in the immediate vicinity of Al Maktoum International Airport, and will become a central regional logistics hub in the Middle East for DB Schenker's customers.

Industry Generosity is Saving the Lives of Kids Across Africa

ZAMBIA – UK – WORLDWIDE – The World Health Organization (WHO) has commended logistics charity Transaid's live-saving transportation project in Zambia, which has helped to dramatically reduce severe malaria mortality in children under six years of age, reporting it as being 'feasible, safe and effective in hard-to-reach communities'.

Giant Machine is Latest Project Freight Forwarding Job

UK – GERMANY – There is nothing (yet everything) boring about the latest project freight forwarding consignment completed by specialist transport outfit Fracht. The shipment involved the carriage of a 515 tonne tunnel boring machine Mary from the recently completed River Humber utility tunnel to its home in Germany.

New Design Flexitank to Hold Temperature Controlled Liquids

UK – WORLDWIDE – Having consolidated the brand under one new banner in October Hillebrand, the specialist in the forwarding, transport and logistics of beverages, is launching what it calls a revolutionary 40 foot flexitank, enabling customers to transport non-hazardous liquids across the world more sustainably and in temperature-controlled conditions.

Multi Million Pound Cash Injection Makes Jobs Safe Over Christmas

UK – The latest shenanigans at Stobart Logistics, a group rescued from imminent administration on Friday when the offer of a £55 million cash injection from main shareholder and former owner DBay Advisors was accepted by shareholders, underscores the complexity of a business which began life as a one truck outfit hauling fertiliser in the 1960's and which has grown inordinately ever since.

New Film Sets Out Case for Future Infrastructure Investment and First UK Future Mobility Zone

UK – Whilst the national press this week is making much of the demands and hopes for the 'Northern Powerhouse' in the run up to the General Election, another region is making its voice heard with a new film that promotes transport infrastructure development, something of immense importance to the freight and logistics sector.

Matter Referred to Federal Court

US – The American Trucking Associations (ATA) has hailed a decision by the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit that held the trucking group's lawsuit with regards to Rhode Island's truck only tolls could proceed in federal court.

Just in Case You Missed Anything

TURKEY – The weekly look at some logistics items you may have missed starts with the news that Danish headquartered shipping and freight forwarding group Martin Bencher has opened an office in Istanbul. The company says the new base in the Turkish financial capital gives them enhanced access to Asia, Europe and North Africa.

Pre-Christmas News in HR Throughout the Industry

WORLDWIDE – This week's round-up of staff changes and appointments starts with the renewal of Kitack Lim's appointment as Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for a second term of 4 years, from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2023. His re-appointment was approved at the IMO Assembly meeting earlier this week.

Securities and Accounting Swindle puts Two More in the Dock

US – The former Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Celadon Group, a publicly traded transportation and trucking company headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, were charged by way of an indictment, for their alleged role in a complex securities and accounting fraud scheme that resulted in a loss of more than $60 million in shareholder value.

Sighs of Relief as Multi Million Portfolio of Vehicles Arrive Safely

US – CANADA – SAUDI ARABIA – There must have been a huge sigh of relief recently in the offices of Cosdel International Transportation, a Rock-it Cargo company, when the last batch of 447 high end vehicles, successfully transported to Riyadh over the past few months, arrived safely.

New UN and IMO Project Targets Scourge of the Oceans

NORWAY – WORLDWIDE – Anyone who has seen the detritus gathered around the corners of wharves and docks, or seen the miles of discarded nylon gill nets which can kill fish and other creatures as they drift the oceans, will welcome a new global project to prevent and reduce marine plastic litter from shipping and fisheries. It has been launched by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) together with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Initial funding for the project is from the Government of Norway.

Variable Bunker Costs Post Cap Addressed

WORLDWIDE – As part of a series of initiatives aimed at bringing greater transparency to fuel costs resulting from the new IMO 2020 low-sulphur regulation, maritime advisory, statistics and research group Drewry has published its first low-sulphur reference bunker index tracker.

Logistics Group Flushed with Success by New Contract

EUROPE – Freight forwarding and supply chain group CEVA Logistics has been awarded a multi-year contract to provide the central and northern European regional logistics services to Ideal Standard, Belgium-headquartered bathroom solutions group, and a familiar name all over Europe.

Less Than Six Months to Complete Multi Million Pound Addition

UK – The Port of Tyne has completed a multi million pound container terminal extension. Completed in just under 6 months, growth of 25% in container volumes in the past five years has seen the port invest substantially to extend its 20 acre container terminal.

Global Shipping Forum and Research Centre Launched

CHINA – UK – Lloyd's Register (LR) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China's biggest shipbuilding group, China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC), to jointly study, research and develop marine equipment and technology.

Just One Tranche from Huge Order to Speed Container Operations

UK – Three of the eight giant ship to shore cranes ordered by Peel Ports arrived this week at their new home on the eastern bank of the River Mersey having made the long sea voyage from China aboard the specialist transporter vessel Zhen Hua 25. The cranes are part of work on the second phase of the Liverpool2 project to provide additional capacity for growing volumes of cargo.

(and it Looks Pretty Bleak)

UK – Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the warehouse, not a vehicle was stirring - due to a growing shortfall of 59,000 HGV drivers. A tenuous lede at best but, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) says that it is confident that the logistics sector will deliver Christmas on time this year despite the industry facing severe staff shortages.

Extended Global Stretch for Specialist Outfit

DENMARK – SINGAPORE – WORLDWIDE – It seems since its acquisition by DP World in August last year Aarhus headquartered short sea cargo and container feeder specialist Unifeeder has not allowed the grass to grow under its feet. With a plethora of new services, including some emanating from its parent company's port terminals, the company has now itself acquired a 77% stake in The Feedertech Group, a Singapore based feeder and short sea operator.

Hopefully a Shameful Trade Can be Controlled After Government Signs Up

INDIA – UK – WORLDWIDE – It is ten years to the day since we published an article deploring the terrible practices employed by ship breakers on third world beaches such as Alang in India, and over twelve years since the Indian Supreme Court made an order regarding how the problems of this deadly trade could be controlled. Now it seems someone may actually be taking notice.

Pledge to Accept Responsibility for Sustainable Development Goals

SPAIN – WORLDWIDE – This week sees the start of COP25 in Madrid, the UN Climate Change Conference which runs until December 13. With fisheries and aquaculture supporting 10-12% of the global population, marine ecosystems and coastal areas are at the very top of the agenda, and this naturally brings ocean shipping into the debate from the start of the discussions.

Union Worries Over Potential Problems

WORLDWIDE – There can surely be nobody associated with the ocean shipping sector who remains unaware of the incoming mandatory sulphur cap which will come into force in less than a month at the start of the New Year. Now however a genuine concern as arisen prompted by members of the maritime professionals' union, Nautilus International which may leave crew member open to prosecution.

Contribution of Women Celebrated as Nominations Open

UK – WORLDWIDE – What is traditionally a UK only event goes global this year as the 2020 everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards will include an International Inspiration Award, awarded to a woman working outside of the UK and Ireland who is a role model for women in her community.

Rail Terminals an Essential Part of Environmental Transport Evolution

UK – Many companies which originally had a strong foothold in the UK transport market as traditional break bulk cargo and container road haulage operations have diversified over the last few years into the rail sector. The writing has been on the wall for some time as regards box carriage by road, with all the major ports developing their own rail cargo service links.

200 Million Cases of Bottled Goods on the Move

UK – Jigsaw, the transport solutions company and part of EV Cargo, has secured a multi-year transport and distribution agreement with beverage bottler Refresco. The contract will see 200 million cases of soft drinks and beverages transported annually from ten UK manufacturing and distribution sites direct to customers and for warehousing.

Maritime Architect Grateful for Indemnity Insurance

UK – WORLDWIDE – Thomas Miller, which manages such maritime insurance luminaries as the UK P&I Club and TT Club, also numbers some perhaps lesser known names within its portfolio of companies, one of which is the International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC), which specialises in indemnity insurance for professionals associated with the transport and logistics industry.