Shipping Search - Archive

Plan to Simplify International Transport Transactions

EUROPE – WORLDWIDE – Every port in every country puts cargo through many different rules, regulations and laws that complicate a trader's life. Aiming to provide simple and easy-to-use solutions, Maersk has launched its Customs Clearance Brokerage online shipping management platform in seven European countries, Germany, France, Denmark, The Netherlands, Poland, United Kingdom and Spain, with the goal of expanding this offering across the world by the end of 2019.

Long Beach Freight Asset Sold to Australian Corporate Group

HONG KONG – US – Box line and logistics group Orient Overseas (International) Limited (OOIL) has entered into a Sale and Purchase Agreement to sell 100% of the Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT) in the Port of Long Beach, California to a consortium led by Macquarie Infrastructure Partners (MIP), for US$1.78 billion. Karl Kuchel, Chief Executive Officer of MIP, commented:

French Outfit Reinforces German Cargo Network

GERMANY – French freight group Bolloré Logistics has announced the opening of a dedicated aerospace warehouse in the city of Hamburg. The new aerospace hub is located next to the port of Hamburg and a few kilometres from the production sites of the major aircraft manufacturers and OEM suppliers. With direct access to the motorway network, parts can be transported in 5 to 10 minutes to the foot of the production lines.

Your Chance to Beat a Scourge Which Kills Almost Half a Million Annually

UK – ZAMBIA – The UK based transport charity Transaid has gone to war with malaria in Zambia. Having successfully trialled the MAMaZ project in partnership with others last year achieving an astounding 96% reduction in childhood fatalities using Rectal Artesunate Suppository (RAS) medication on every suspected case in conjunction with the charity's Emergency Transport System (ETS), something made possible by the generosity of the UK's freight and logistics sector donations, changes are being undertaken.

One Airport Cargo Cooperation Precedes Another

HUNGARY – CHINA – The Chinese freight initiative commonly known as the 'Belt and Road' has produced yet another cooperation after a recent Forum in Beijing. Budapest Airport has stepped up its efforts to become a major cargo distribution and logistics base for China in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Xi'an Xianyang International Airport.

New Stockholm Deep Water Facility Getting Under Way for 2020

SWEDEN – As we have detailed previously, with the country's newest deep water freight port, the Stockholm Norvik Port, on schedule to open for business in May next year, management group the Ports of Stockholm have this month submitted route applications for the first shuttle train services to carry cargo to and from the new facilities.

Road Haulage Group Criticises UK Authorities But They Are Not Alone

UK – EUROPE – If an ardent Brexiteer wanted an argument to illustrate their cause it seems they wouldn't go far wrong if they pointed out the anomalies which exist for drivers when it comes to vision standards plus low emission and congestion zones. This week the Road Haulage Association (RHA) has illustrated the concerns over anomalies in the UK but this is a situation found across the EU and beyond.

Death of a Veteran Transport Executive

NORWAY – The freight and logistics sector lost another stalwart last week with the news that Norwegian shipping veteran and former ship owner Andreas Kjell Lund Ugland, passed away on April 18 at the age of 93. Born on December 30, 1925, Andreas Ugland was the son of ship owner Johan Milmar Ugland, who first established the family company, Uglands Rederi, in 1930. Upon his father’s death in 1960, Andreas along with his brother Johan Jørgen Ugland assumed control of the company.

Nineteenth Century Ale Marks Historic Voyage

UK – Early next month an unusual item will come up for online auction, an object which acts as a reminder of the pioneering spirit of the nineteenth century adventurers seeking to ensure Britain was at the forefront of attempts to ensure no part of the globe remained unconquered.

Digitalisation of CMR Documents Will Improve Freight Transport Process

EUROPE – Digitalisation is the current buzzword in the world of logistics but has proven to be not just hype with the development of road haulage transit documents over the past few years. Anyone connected with international road freight is familiar with the ubiquitous CMR note and the implications of using such a document.

More Remote Communities to Receive Airborne Emergency Aid

GHANA – US – The UPS Foundation, which leads the global citizenship programmes for freight and parcel delivery giant UPS, and Gavi, the vaccine alliance, has announced support for the expansion of a medical drone network into Ghana. Zipline, a California-based automated logistics company, will use drones to make on-demand, emergency deliveries of 148 high priority products including emergency and routine vaccines, blood products and life-saving medications.

US Indicts European Cargo Ship Owners and Agents on Multiple Charges

US – A federal grand jury in Wilmington, Delaware, returned a six-count indictment, charging Chartworld Shipping Corporation, Nederland Shipping Corporation, and Chief Engineer Vasileios Mazarakis with failing to keep accurate pollution control records, falsifying records, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering.

North Sea Demands Top Quality Protection

UK – NORTH SEA – Gas specialist Centrica Storage, part of the Centrica Group, has become the first offshore operator to have upgraded its personnel protection with Survitec's new Tri-Approved Immersion Suit. It is estimated approximately 3,500 personnel per year will wear the suits during helicopter transits from Humberside Airport to the Rough Gas field in the Southern North Sea.

The Making of a Modern Merchant Sailor

UK – 23 year old Rachel Vassallo from South Shields probably doesn't fit most peoples idea of a merchant sailor, and as her only experience of the sea before she received a Sailors' Society scholarship was crossing the Tyne on the Shields Ferry, a one kilometre, 7 minute trip, she was an unlikely candidate for a career on the waves.

Best Stowage Practices Will Be Published Online After Trial

US – The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and representatives from the Cargo Incident Notification System (CINS) have formed a joint industry project to develop actionable recommendations to help mitigate risks posed from the stowage of dangerous goods on containerships.

New Joint Company Dedicated to Local Trade and Infrastructure Expansion

SWEDEN – EUROPE – Wallenius Lines and Swedish Orient Lines (SOL), have formed a joint shipping company, Wallenius SOL, which will transport forestry products and other goods in a network covering the Gulf of Bothnia, the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. The two Swedish shipping companies say that it is an investment to strengthen the transport infrastructure for the needs of Finnish and Swedish industry. Ragnar Johansson, Managing Director Wallenius SOL, said:

Fishermen Fight of Would Be Hijackers

INDIAN OCEAN – EU Navfor has confirmed that on April 21, two fishing vessels, the FV Adria and the FV Txori Argi were attacked by pirates in the Indian Ocean, 280 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia. News of the attack came after the new leadership of EU NAVFOR Somalia Operation Atalanta co-chaired the 44th Shared Awareness and De-confliction (SHADE) conference, warning all stakeholders to remain vigilant across the high risk area.

Larger Environmentally Friendly Ships Can Boost International Trade

SWEDEN – EUROPE – Wallenius Lines and Swedish Orient Lines (SOL), have formed a joint shipping company, Wallenius SOL, which will transport forestry products and other goods in a network covering the Gulf of Bothnia, the Baltic Sea and the North Sea. The two Swedish shipping companies say that it is an investment to strengthen the infrastructure for the needs of Finnish and Swedish industry. Ragnar Johansson, Managing Director Wallenius SOL, said:

Italian Vessel Owner Lied to Cover Oily Waste Discharges

US – Italian shipping company, d'Amico Shipping Italia, has pleaded guilty to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships by discharging oily waste and other pollutants in US waters and then lying about it. Under terms of the plea agreement, d'Amico will pay a $4 million penalty, of which $1 million will go to projects that support clean-up of marine pollution, preservation of aquatic life, and restoration of shorelines around Newark Bay

Hard Work Minimises Harmful Impact

UK – Shoreham Port, which has both general cargo and commodity handling facilities, as well as a 50 metre long dry dock, has been re-certified as an EcoPort this month, six years after its initial Port Environmental Review System (PERS) certification was awarded in 2013. Presented by the European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) the PERS accreditation means that Shoreham Port continues to be a member of the EcoPorts network, the main environmental initiative of the European port sector.

Meanwhile Gas Sector shows Biggest Hike Again

NETHERLANDS – Figures released by the Port of Rotterdam, and Europe's largest such facility, handling over 460 million tonnes of cargo per annum, show an increase in freight throughput for the first three months of 2019 with 123.9 million tonnes handled, as against 2018 which saw 117.8 million tonnes, a jump of 5.1%.

UK Warehousing Association Helps Find and Offer Storage Space Countrywide

UK – One of the key matters to come under scrutiny during the Brexit debacle has been that of the storage requirements and the available, suitable warehouse space across the country, as more companies envisage the need to stockpile items coming in as freight from Europe with potential problems to future supplies.

Money Available to Improve Scottish Road and Rail Sectors

UK – The logistics sector is set to benefit after the announcement last week of a £5 billion investment package by the Scottish government. £1.7 billion of the cash has been promised for spending on transport infrastructure, including £93 million to dual the A9 and £207 million on a major rail electrification programme. The news, revealed by Michael Matheson MPS, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity for the Scottish Government, was welcomed by the Freight Transport Association (FTA).

Boss Mentions the Elephant in the Room as Takeover Deadline Approaches

SWITZERLAND – WORLDWIDE – Panalpina released its figures for the first three months of 2019 last week, but nobody with an interest in the freight forwarding and logistics operator will have probably taken a lot of notice, for obvious reasons.

Who is Off Where This Week in the Appointments Report

UK – Independent freight forwarding and logistics provider Davies Turner, has announced John Adams to its Ocean Management Team as Head of Trade for Middle East, Indian Sub-Continent, South Africa, and emerging Markets. Adams rejoins the group following seven years at container shipping giant, Mediterranean shipping Company (MSC) and is replacing Todd Moore, who retires this month. Previously, Adams spent five years at Davies Turner in a sales development role.

Snippets from Around the World This Week

DENMARK – The 'bits and pieces' of freight and logistics items you might have missed this week start with the news that the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has supplied a 'sniffer' drone which began operations last week, flying over an area north of The Great Belt, where many large tankers pass when going to and from the Baltic Sea. The drone is checking emissions from vessels in Danish waters to make sure they comply with the sulphur limit.

Road Haulage and Rail Cargo Needs Government Support with New Infrastructure

UK – The National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) has released a new report which recommends that Ministers should ban the sale of new diesel HGV lorries by no later than 2040, news that has split the opinions of key industry associations. The report, 'Better Delivery: the challenge for freight' looks to ensure the UK's logistics industry is fit for the future to better cope with a growing population and increasing demand for goods, leading ultimately to dire effects on the environment, particularly with reference to HGVs and the road haulage sector.

Top Box Shipping Companies Establish Digital Association

WORLDWIDE – After gaining regulatory approval from the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) last month, four container shipping companies, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd and Ocean Network Express (ONE), have officially established the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) last week in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The aim is to create common information technology standards to make the ocean freight transport industry more efficient for both customers and shipping lines.

Delivery and Collection Service to and from the International Space Station

PLANET EARTH AND BEYOND – Time was when the S.S. prefix for a vessel meant steamship. No longer. This week the Northrop Grumman Corporation successfully launched its AntaresTM rocket carrying a CygnusTM spacecraft, named S.S. Roger Chaffee from the NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia. This was the 11th cargo mission carrying supplies headed for the astronauts manning the International Space Station, and a new development enabled the 24-hour late load of critical freight.

Disaster Response Teams Aid Sufferers of Cyclone Idai

SOUTHERN AFRICA – The essential nature of logistics could hardly be summed up better than the efforts to mitigate the tragedy of cyclone Idai, which damaged over 700,000 hectares of crops, and destroyed close to 200,000 homes, by those from the freight community like Danish freight groups DSV and German Deutsche Post DHL (DPDHL).

Worldwide Calculator to Choose Best Option for Cargo

NETHERLANDS – WORLDWIDE – With the incoming measures to restrict emissions from transport of freight by land and sea with Low Emission Zones springing up everywhere, the incoming sulphur cap on marine fuels etc. the next target will surely be the pollution from aviation and air cargo will be a part of that initiative. Around 2-3% of human produced CO₂ comes from aviation.

Last Pleasure Steamer of Her Type Will Become Educational Resource

UK – Few vessels have such a chequered, or honourable, history as the former pleasure steamer TS Queen Mary. No, not that one, although she has carried royalty, this is the vessel built by the William Denny & Brothers yard in 1933 which gave up her name when her more famous cousin was constructed, becoming Queen Mary ll for a time before reclaiming her original title in 1976.

Postal Demands Support New Express Carrier Initiative

RUSSIA – CHINA – Atran Airlines, the Russian air express carrier within Volga-Dnepr Group, has launched a new route linking Xi'an, China, with Moscow, Russia. The first flight was operated by one of Atran's Boeing 737-400SF freighters with further plans for Boeing 737-800BCF deployment to be able to guarantee up to 23 tonnes of cargo capacity per flight. The first flight was operated with the support and cooperation of Russian Post.

Suicide and Depression Blight Sailors to This Day

WORLDWIDE – With mental health one of the issues of the moment maritime charity Sailors' Society is petitioning the International Labour Organization (ILO) to make wellness training for seafarers mandatory in the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). The petition is a key part of the charity's 'Not On My Watch' campaign to combat suicide and depression at sea. The campaign is also calling on maritime companies to donate to the charity's work with seafarers struggling with depression and to run wellness training for their staff.

You Have Until 30 April to Directly Tell All Party Parliamentary Committee Your Views

UK – Back in October last year, at a parliamentary reception held in the House of Commons by the Road Haulage Association (RHA), former transport minister Sir Michael Penning MP gave a promise that he would form an All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) to assist the transport lobby in matters essential to the carriage of freight by road, particularly the logistics industry wide shortage of suitable staff.

Transport Charity Ride Offers Adventure on a Bike

MALAWI – UK – International development agency Transaid is inviting riders from across the transport and logistics industry to saddle up for its next overseas fundraising challenge, Cycle Malawi 2020. Now is the chance for anyone in the freight and shipping sectors to join a very special trip into pastures new.

Derailed Locomotive Provides Base for Latest New Training Aids

UK – Wherever we look in the logistics industry, when staff are required to operate machinery of any type, simulators are springing up all over. At sea, in the air and also, on the rails as freight train drivers learn and polish their craft in safe situations, learning to deal with almost any eventuality they might encounter on the tracks.

New Craft Designed to Travel Through Burning Oil

NETHERLANDS – GERMANY – NORWAY – Safety at sea took a cleaner step forward this month as Dutch headquartered Verhoef, which pioneered aluminium lifeboat design in 1947 and has gone on to lead the industry in freefall craft, is about to mark another milestone. Using an integrated propulsion system from German electric outboard and marine power plant specialist Torqeedo, the first electric-powered freefall lifeboat has passed its drop test, as pictured.

Longer and More Luxurious and Blessed by Tradition

SWEDEN – CHINA – EUROPE – Ferry group Stena Line has seen the latest edition to its growing fleet of RoPax vessels 'float off' at a ceremony in China when the second of its new generation E-Flexer series hit the water. Once again the ship follows Scandinavian heritage with her name, Stena Edda derived from the Norse Edda central medieval collection of poems and divine mythology.

Birmingham Show Gives a Chance to View What's New, Network and Learn - for Free

UK – The days are getting longer, Brexit draws closer (possibly) and, in just a couple of months, the biggest show in the country's freight and logistics calendar will once again open its doors for three days as Multimodal 2019 welcomes visitors from home and abroad to catch up on an eventful year for British shipping interests. Registration is now open for the UK's largest logistics event that brings together businesses and industry leaders from all sectors of the shipping and transport professions.

Stream of Crew Abuses by German Vessel Owner Becomes Too Much for ITF

GERMANY – WORLDWIDE – After criticising the company over past month for its treatment of staff, the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) has launched a targeted operation against German shipping company Johann M. K. Blumenthal, known as Bluships, over its continued refusal to recognise seafarers' welfare and rights.

Some of the Shipping and Logistics Items You May Have Missed This Week

GERMANY – SINGAPORE – Heavy lift air cargo specialist AirBridgeCargo Airlines has transported a record breaking 40 tonne freight shipment when built up via its dedicated 'abcXL' offering. The 8 metre long single spare part weighing net 37.5 tonnes, was trucked from the Belgian plant of maritime construction company Jan De Nul Group to Frankfurt, as part of the transportation organised by freight forwarder Ziegler with final destination Singapore.

Hi and Goodbye to Boardroom and Other Positions Announced This Week

SWITZERLAND – Ahead of its pending merger with Danish freight giant DSV, the Swiss headquartered forwarding and logistics group, Panalpina, has proposed Thomas Kern as its new Chairman of the Board at the upcoming Annual General Meeting, to be held on May 9.

Warehouse Development Aims at Scandinavian Market

DENMARK – It seems a hectic time for Danish haulier and forwarder DSV which, besides currently attempting the major tie up with Swiss freight group Panalpina to form a giant European based logistics and forwarding outfit, is also to develop a new warehouse facility near DSV Headquarters on Zealand in its home territory.

Less Emissions from Gas as Power Source for Ocean Vessels

UK – WORLDWIDE – It is wise to view any 'independent study' with an air of scepticism when it is commissioned by vested interests, but such is often the case in the world of transport when a company or organisation is trying to make a case. Despite this it is pretty well generally accepted that LNG is a cleaner fuel for ocean shipping vessels than traditional marine oils, although these are set to improve with the inception of the IMO sulphur cap next year.

South American Terminal Comes on Stream as Manila Unblocks Box Log Jam

ARGENTINA – PHILIPPINES – The Philippine-based port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI), has announced the official opening of TecPlata, the new container terminal located in Argentina's Puerto de La Plata, which began operations with the arrival of Jacarandá, a vessel from the fleet of Log-In, a Brazilian shipping line which recently signed an agreement with TecPlata.

Government Must Pay Hundreds of Millions of Dollars - but Will They Ever?

DJIBOUTI – DUBAI – The row over the seizure of the Doraleh Container Terminal (DCT) in Djibouti from port and logistics operator DP World has risen to governmental level and last week the London Court of International Arbitration, the body initially approached by the Djibouti authorities to settle the original case it raised, and lost, against the Dubai based port managers, once again decided that the UAE company had been wronged and awarded damages accordingly.

Dutch Group Acquires Multipurpose Vessels and More

NETHERLANDS – As the ocean heavy lift sector rebalances after the demise of Hansa last December we recently saw an agreement between the Dutch Spliethoff group and South Korean outfit BigLift and it is now clearer what has become of some of the Hansa (HHL) fleet of multipurpose vessels and heavy lift ships.

Online Manufacturer Chose Custom Made Option for Distribution

US – German-engineered road, mountain, triathlon, and commuter bicycles made by Canyon Bicycles follow a modern trend and are exclusively sold online, which the makers say cuts out the middleman and offers consumers a technologically-advanced performance bike for 20-30% less cost. When the company was looking to break into the US market it turned to freight specialist SEKO Logistics customised Omni-channel logistics solution, and the decision has led to record sales.

New Operating Centre Will Consolidate Management Functions

FRANCE – SWITZERLAND – With outstanding shares and voting rights of freight forwarding and logistics group CEVA due for settlement as scheduled for 16 April 2019, the company's acquisition by the CMA CGM shipping group is all over bar the shouting. Loss making CEVA passes into French ownership as, by the due date, CMA CGM will hold 97.89% of the assets. The firm will then be delisted from the Zurich Stock Exchange.

Laos is Latest Target for Extending Portfolio of Asian Outfit

LAOS – Road haulage and overall freight provider Kerry Logistics has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding between its subsidiary, KLN (Singapore), and Laos's Sitthi Logistics for the establishment of a joint venture to develop a dry port in the Vientiane Logistics Park in Laos. The move is part of Kerry Logistics' development strategy to seek accelerated growth in ASEAN by developing an integrated Greater Mekong Region platform covering Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos.

Marine Environment Needs Saving and Tanker Shipping Group Steps Up

SWEDEN – One year ago international tanker transport group Concordia Maritime initiated a partnership with Keep Sweden Tidy and organised the first coastal clean-up day last autumn. It also launched an online quiz aimed at spreading knowledge about plastic in the oceans and encouraging everyone to get involved in protecting the marine environment.

US Constructed Workhorses for Connecticut Towing Company

US – Jensen Maritime Consultants, the Seattle-based naval architecture and marine engineering subsidiary of Crowley Maritime Corp., has been awarded the contract to design ship assist and escort tugboats for Moran Towing Corp., a New Canaan, Connecticut tug-and-barge operator on the US East and Gulf Coasts. The new boats will be the latest in a series of seven Jensen-designed tugboats for Moran over the past decade.

New Venture to Investigate Feasibility of Increased Technology for Ships Spares

SINGAPORE – Norwegian classification society DNV GL and all round industry group has been appointed as the lead researcher of the first phase of a new Singapore based programme to study the feasibility of additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D printing, in the maritime industry. In a Joint Industry Program (JIP) initiated by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), DNV GL will team up with ten member companies of the Singapore Ship Association (SSA) to examine how spare parts produced by 3D printers can help the capital-intensive industry to cut costs and downtimes.

Global Report on First Quarter Sees No Hijacks Despite Attempts

WORLDWIDE – Echoing our article last month the latest statistics from the International Chamber of Commerce International Maritime Bureau's (IMB) piracy reporting centre shows clearly that the Gulf of Guinea is now the world hotspot for maritime crime. The first quarter of 2019 saw the region account for all of the worldwide crew kidnappings as 21 crew members were abducted across five separate incidents.

High Court Actions and Doubts About Air Quality Evidence as London Mayor and TfL Accused

UK – The introduction of London's Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) today (8 April 2019) has produced a wave of objections to a measure that many in the capital see as a positive step to try and reduce the undoubted damage caused by air pollution. However the protests from both the road haulage freight sector, and those campaigning against fuel and motoring costs in general, have certainly raised some questions about the way the charges have been implemented.

Recycling Issues Can Lead to Unscrupulous Vessel Reflagging

WORLDWIDE – In 2015 NGO Shipbreaking Platform published a notice 'What a difference a Flag Makes' pointing out the duplicitous methods used by ship owners to allow them to dispose of a vessel, including any and all hazardous components, on the beaches of Bangladesh, Pakistan or India, countries where 70% of the world's fleets of tankers, container ships and cruise vessels meet their end.

DEFRA Issues Guidelines for Endangered Species and their Products but What about Rover?

UK – EUROPE – Of the many contentious subjects which await the outcome of Brexit negotiations is the status of animals coming into and leaving the UK. Whilst thousands of UK citizens hold pet passports on behalf of their animals, the validity of these documents will be in question if the negotiations result in Britain being given 'third country' status. Now the British International Freight Association (BIFA) has further raised the matter of endangered animals, and indeed plants and products made from them, unless a settlement is agreed.

Phytosanitary Control Centre Handed Over to the Authorities

FRANCE – In January we heard from the Port of Dunkirk how the northern French ports were readying themselves for the seemingly never ending approach of Brexit and now Getlink, the operators of Eurotunnel, have revealed the latest step towards ensuring as smooth a transition as possible, no matter the result of the political shenanigans.

Smaller Snippets of Industry News this Week

UK – The weekly update of some of the snippets of freight and logistics news you may have missed (but need to read), starts with the recent tie up between ocean freight heavy lift specialists Spliethoff and Biglift Shipping which has now led the Dutch and German partners to seek an expanded market with the formation of Spliethoff-BigLift UK which will be managed by Jon Gliddon of Shearwater Shipping & Chartering Ltd and Andrew Saunders of Invicta Shipping & Chartering Ltd.

Changes at the Top for Danish Giant

DENMARK – AP Møller - Mærsk has announced Claus Hemmingsen will step down as Vice CEO of AP Moller - Maersk and CEO of the Energy division, having successfully concluded the separation of Maersk Tankers, Maersk Oil and Maersk Drilling as part of the transformation initiated in 2016 to focus Maersk, the world'a biggest box carrier on becoming 'the global integrator of container logistics'.

Asian Headquartered Group Move to Thurrock

UK – Freight and logistics outfit Tigers has opened a new facility in Thurrock, near the deep water Thames side port of London Gateway, to continue with long-term UK investment plans and to meet growing e-commerce demand, despite ongoing uncertainty surrounding Brexit. Tigers has moved its existing Basildon facility to the larger location in Thurrock with the creation of more than 50 jobs, which the company says will establish another flagship location for Tigers in Europe.

Two Locomotives Named with More on the Way

UK – Following the recent agreement between freight and logistics group DB Cargo UK and road haulage outfit, Maritime Transport to increase rail freight capacity with the launch of their Maritime Intermodal initiative, the pair have unveiled two new locomotives, Maritime Intermodal One and Two, during a train naming ceremony at Maritime's recently acquired rail terminal in Wakefield on March 29.

UK Exemplary Compared to Other States

EUROPE – The UK may currently be getting some heavy criticism from its (current) European partners over the Brexit debacle, but figures released by the European Commission today reveal one area in which the country excels, road safety, with the death rate on the roads standing at 28 per million population described in the report as 'excellent' and the best of all the EU states, particularly the Eastern European countries where rates of 96 and 88 in Romania and Bulgaria respectively prevail.

First Truck Arrives in Europe

CHINA – EUROPE – CEVA Logistics has further extended its highway to the west road haulage service between China and Europe, with the freight forwarder's first ever truck from China arriving safely at its destination in Spain.

Twenty Five Percent Hike in Traffic Comes at a Good Time

SWEDEN – Management at the Ports of Stockholm say the future is bright after reporting a 25% jump in container volumes in the first quarter of 2019 as against the previous year. With the new Stockholm Norvik Port, optimistically named the 'Baltic Port of the Future', due to come into service next year it has been designed to offer deeper draughts, longer quays, larger terminal areas and short and easy approach lanes from the bigger maritime fairways, all to accommodate an anticipated surge in freight and passenger traffic.

Two Major International Companies to Work Together

FINLAND – SOUTH KOREA – Technology group Wärtsilä and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) have signed a Joint Development Project (JDP) agreement aimed at establishing a more efficient solution for LNG Carrier and Shuttle Tanker vessels. The agreement was signed on 3 April at the LNG19 exhibition in Shanghai.

COSCO Takes Slots at North Western Port

UK – Peel Ports can claim a Royal Flush this week having received confirmation that Chinese giant COSCO Shipping is to ship via the Port of Liverpool meaning all of the world's top five container shipping lines are all now calling at its north western deep water facilities.

DP World Decision to Invest in River Thames Deep Water Container Port Paying Off

UK – Staff at DP World's deep water container port London Gateway must be 'made up' having heard that the leading European design brand MADE.COM decided last week to go ahead and sign the lease for a new 165,000 square foot distribution centre based at the Logistics Park which forms the hinterland of the Thames side facility.

Classification Society Awards Offshore Supply Vessel Approval in Principle

NORWAY – WORLDWIDE – Classification society DNV GL has presented ShipInox with an Approval in Principle (AiP) for its new small-scale LNG carrier/bunker vessel design. With a length of 92 metres the ship will have a carrying capacity of 6,000 m³, the designers claim the vessel will be the first ever class-approved design based on an offshore supply vessel (OSV). Trond Hodne, Senior Vice President at DNV GL - Maritime, said:

Maritime Facilities Need Both Maintenance and Technological Advances

SOUTH AFRICA – Deep water ports are now an important facility considering the new generation of mega container and other vessels, but they need regular maintenance as the actions of tides and ships tend to silt up the waters, making the depths shown unreliable. One of the world's iconic ports, Cape Town, is about to embark on a dredging programme whilst also taking a look at one of the region's most serious issues, drought.

Parlous State of US Roads Spotlighted in Six Figure, Eight Week Advertising Campaign

US – Year after year the row over the lack of money to repair and reinvigorate transport infrastructure in the country goes on, seemingly without any end in sight. Crumbling highways, collapsing bridges, all evidence of a lack of investment. Now the might of the American Trucking Associations (ATA) is about to focus on humiliating politicians into actually doing something to resolve a situation estimated to be costing the country billions with delays to freight traffic and personal motorists alike.

Infrastructure Studies All Very Well - But When Will the Work Start?

UK – For an organisation whose members embrace every tranche of the commercial supply chain it would seem that the Freight Transport Association (FTA) has its eyes firmly on the roads of Britain of late. At the end of last month the FTA reacted strongly to the announcement that Highways England is to lead a £300,000 study into major improvements to road links between the M65 in East Lancashire and parts of Yorkshire with a rare pat on the back for the initiative.

Algorithm Enables Instant Cargo Quotes

HONG KONG – US – Tigers International Logistics is the launch customer for a new instant freight rate quote engine developed by tech start up Doozee, as Tigers looks to embrace the digital revolution in logistics. Doozee is available in 12 different languages and contains an algorithm for ranking freight forwarders by transit times, reliability, price, and online ratings.

Norwegian Deal Meets European Commission Approval

NORWAY – The sale of Rolls-Royce Commercial Marine (RRCM) to Norwegian group Kongsberg as proposed last July, has now gone through with a value for the maritime technology supplier agreed at £500 million on a cash and debt free basis and with working capital at an agreed level. The deal saw recent European Commission approval with Kongsberg Maritime parent company Kongsberg Gruppen immediately switching the RRCM brand to its own.

John Good Shipping Points Out Some Significant Changes to Box Rotations

ASIA – EUROPE – The container freight sector has seen some enormous changes in the past few years, not least the growth of the 'mega carriers', begun when the world's largest box carrying company, Maersk, announced the Triple E series of ships back in 2011, the giant vessels ordered at a time when economies were in a state of recovery.

Offer Put to Shareholders to Form Giant International Supply Chain Outfit

SWITZERLAND – DENMARK – It seems that flurry of activity at the end of February as the Ernst Göhner Foundation (EGF) sorted out the voting situation at freight and logistics firm Panalpina in the light of a new and improved offer for shares from Danish shipping conglomerate DSV, has borne fruit. Today DSV announced an all share voluntary public tender offer for all publicly held shares of Panalpina after the two agreed terms.

Two International Partners Launch New Venture from Madrid Base

SPAIN – Just a few days after we heard of a tie up between two ocean heavy lift freight operators, and just three months after the insolvency of Hans Heavy Lift demonstrated the pressure on the sector, comes the news that German group SAL Heavy Lift GmbH has today commenced operations with a new venture in Spain together with its business partner Grupo Davila, a shipping company with over a century of history and a strong international presence in South America. Justin Archard, Chief Operating Officer of SAL Heavy Lift, explained: