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Who is Up To What and Where

UK – Freight forwarding group CEVA Logistics says it is further driving its sustainability agenda by migrating its entire company car fleet to fully electric vehicles by 2025. No petrol or diesel cars will be permitted to be sold in the UK post-2030, and the company aims to have its entire fleet of more than 220 cars moved to all-electric vehicles before 2025.

Acceptance of Perceived 'Historic Mistake'

EUROPE – UK – The powers that be within the EU are somewhat reminiscent of miners listening to the creaking of failing pit props in the darkness as acceptance slowly grows regarding Britain's departure from the Union.

Meanwhile Union Says Government Policy on the Industry Not Fit for Purpose

UK – Working in partnership with Deloitte the latest report from the Rail Delivery Group sets out to outline the importance of rail freight to the UK, both in terms of financial and environmental benefits.

German Cargo Carrier is a Persistent Serial Abuser of the Rules

EUROPE – The European Commission (EC) has fined railway companies Österreichische Bundesbahnen (ÖBB), Deutsche Bahn (DB) and SNCB a total of €48 million for breaching EU antitrust rules.

Digital Trade Corridor Looking to Open Up New Markets

RWANDA – WORLDWIDE – Global ports operator, DP World has launched DUBUY.com, a global wholesale eCommerce platform which it hopes will accelerate global trade. The new product is available first in Rwanda with plans to expand across Africa and around the world.

Who Is Going Where in Shipping and Beyond

WORLDWIDE – GERMANY – In preparation for its spin-off from Daimler AG and its independent listing on the Frankfurt stock exchange planned for late 2021, Daimler Truck AG is announcing the composition of its new Board of Management and a series of significant management and organisational changes, set to take place as of July 1.

No Escape for Price Fixing Cargo Carriers

AUSTRALIA – The Australian Federal Court has approved a payment plan for airline PT Garuda Indonesia Ltd (Garuda) to pay a A$19 million penalty the Court previously ordered relating to a long-running Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) action against a global price fixing cartel in the air cargo industry.

Digitalisation of the Shipping Sector Takes Another Step Forward

WORLDWIDE – Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is officially introducing the electronic bill of lading (eBL) for its customers around the world, following a successful pilot phase, using a solution on an independent blockchain platform WAVE BL. We described in January how most of the larger box lines were dipping their toes in the digitalisation waters.

Staff and Culture Remain in Situ

UK – One of the transport industry's best known, and well-loved names, Peter Lole Insurance Brokers, has been acquired by independent insurance firm, Macbeth, the second purchase made by the Thames Valley chartered broker in the past 18 months.

New Conglomerate Likely to Be in World Top Three

DENMARK – KUWAIT – Just two years after the acquisition of Swiss-based Panalpina, Danish transport and logistics company DSV has once again announced another huge takeover, Agility's stand-alone Global Integrated Logistics (GIL) business. The combination is expected to create a top-three global freight forwarder based on revenues.

Hydrogen, Electric Charging Points and Safe Truck Parking Required Now

EUROPE – The European Clean Trucking Alliance (ECTA), a coalition of key players in the continent's road freight industry, is urging the European Union (EU) to accelerate the transition to clean trucks by scaling up the availability of infrastructure and strengthening the CO₂ standards to enable emission-free road transport.

Acquisition Sees Loyalty Transferred Seamlessly

UK – AFRICA – Menzies Distribution Group (Menzies) has become the latest supporter to sign up as a corporate member of Transaid, the international development organisation committed to improving global road safety standards. The company has pledged its support for an initial three-year period, just months after it acquired Bibby Distribution (now Menzies Distribution Solutions), one of Transaid's founding members.

Battle Against Pollution is On

WORLDWIDE – Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Mitsui) has become a Strategic Partner of the Maersk Mc-Kinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS), a not-for-profit international research and development centre dedicated to the decarbonisation of the shipping industry.

HGV Makers Face Up to the Future Realities of Road Haulage

SWEDEN – WORLDWIDE – The thoughts and policies of the Volvo Group offer an insight into how the truck manufacturers around the world are facing up to the climate change initiative.

Pandemic and Brexit Influence Market

UK – A new survey released by trade group Logistics UK, in partnership with accountancy firm CBW, shows almost a third of industry leaders are more likely to undertake Merger & Acquisition (M&A) activity in Q1 2021 than they were 12 months ago.

What Is Happening Around the Globe in Logistics

UK – SINGAPORE – Strategic Marine has developed its latest crew transfer vessel (CTV) to meet demands from the offshore wind industry, the Strat Cat 27 (SC27) was designed with a reduced environmental footprint in mind and in conjunction with UK headquartered BMT. The vessel is offered with two superstructure options for either 24 or 12 technicians.

Politicians Asked to Take Sensible Steps to Mitigate Risk to Maritime Community

AUSTRALIA – The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), probably not the most favoured group amongst the country's politicians, is clearly running out of patience with the government over its inaction when it comes to dealing with the Covid pandemic in maritime matters.

All Reported Safe as Ship Severely Damaged

CHINA – A major disaster was narrowly avoided this week when a RoPax ferry suffered a major fire whilst docking in the Chinese port of Weihai.

Now Action is Needed to Promote New Technologies and Transport Modes

UK – Despite what would seem initially a paradox, the freight and logistics sector has wholeheartedly backed the drive to reduce the transport industry's emissions. The reasons of course are not entirely magnanimous. The commitment is driven by factors such as customer demand, all businesses wishing to present a cleaner image to the world, and the fact that retooling the industry might actually lead to newer equipment and higher profits.

From China to Tahiti - with a French Connection

CHINA – TAHITI – Our photograph gives some idea of the scale of the problem in shipping a heavy lift barge weighing in at over 400 tonnes from Taicang, China to Papeete, Tahiti.

Major Players Investigate the Practicalities of Toxic Product

WORLDWIDE – When it was first proposed as a marine fuel the mention of ammonia certainly was a cause for raised eyebrows in many quarters. Here we are talking about a substance which is toxic in the extreme and which would require new technologies and new attitudes to ensure its success.

Faster Transits Promised Using Chinese Rail Hub

EUROPE – ASIA – Following our coverage a year ago of logistics group cargo-partner's intermodal service between Europe and China, the Austrian company has revealed more details of its service offering which is based on a rail and ocean interchange.

Internal Political Wrangle Does Not Inspire Confidence

UK – With the release of the report on UK Freeports by the International Trade Committee the tone from some quarters is less than enthusiastic. The policy was always to prove controversial when promoted by a government which has a track record of previously proposed transport policies about as popular as a European Football Super League (think ferry companies with no ships, parking for post Brexit traffic, Smart motorways which aren't etc.)

Landscape is Changing for Freight Delivery Systems

UK – HONG KONG – WORLDWIDE – The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the landscape of logistics and now Transport Intelligence (Ti) has prepared a new report, Global e-commerce Logistics 2021, assessing what it describes as a 'phenomenal year of growth'.

The Latter Day Suez Crisis Meant Careful Planning for Container Terminals

SPAIN – After the calamitous situation in the Suez Canal when the container ship Ever Given blocked all passage for a week last month, many will wonder how the problem of missed port slots and vessels queuing outside the harbours of the world has been managed.

Another Introduction for Old Technology

UK – US – SWEDEN – Joining a plethora of others we have reported previously as promoting wind powered vessel technology comes a consortium including Hampshire based simulation-driven marine engineering consultancy BAR Technologies, Minneapolis headquartered Cargill, which has a swathe of interests including shipping, and Swedish Yara Marine Technologies which develops and implements emission-reduction technologies in the maritime sector.

New Paper Lays Out Proposals

UK – The Road Haulage Association (RHA), whose members so often have the finger pointed at them when air pollution is discussed, is calling for Government to show coordinated leadership by creating a well-considered, evidence-based national decarbonisation roadmap that fully takes account of the needs of users and the environment.

Another Case at Sea Raises Questions of Medical Security

AUSTRALIA – To date the country has seen under 1,000 deaths attributed to Covid with over 26,000 recovering from the disease. Compare this to the UK where the pandemic has claimed over 150,000 lives from almost four and a half million known to have been infected and one can see why, once again, the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) is upset at the latest headlines.

Two Years On and Through the Pandemic Events Continue to Inform and Educate

UK – As the flannelled fools take to the pitches the British International Freight Association's (BIFA) Young Forwarder Network (YFN) has passed the milestone of 50 events just two year's after the launch in March 2019. And this despite the bulk of the time being plagued by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Four Parties Failure to Notice Positive Test Costs Dear

UK – WORLDWIDE – The International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC), which provides indemnity insurance for many in the fields of transport, including the maritime sector, has highlighted the importance of thoroughly checking the results of crew Covid-19 tests in a recent case handled by the insurer.

A Glimpse Into the Thoughts of Those Involved with Project Cargo

BELGIUM – WORLDWIDE – AntwerpXL, the event dedicated to breakbulk, heavy lift and project cargo, has released its first Trends Report ahead of its return in December 2021. The report, shows the result of a survey of the opinions of senior decision makers from a range of business types across the breakbulk supply chain.

Record TEU Volumes Recorded in Wake of Pandemic

US – The global pandemic has had a massive impact on all levels of business throwing those whom love to analyse traffic volumes into confusion. This week the Port of Oakland provided a snapshot of how exactly container shipping is presenting an unfamiliar picture.

Companies Pair Up to Provide Combined Service Option

US – UK – Marine robotics company Ocean Infinity and geotechnical drilling experts Gregg Drilling, a subsidiary of Alaska Native Corporation Sealaska, have formed a Joint Venture (JV) to provide geotechnical services to offshore markets in traditional and renewable energy field developments and cables.

Extra Money Announced by Government and Welcomed

UK – The British International Freight Association (BIFA), the trade association that represents UK freight forwarding and logistics companies, says that it welcomes the news that the government is increasing incentive payments to companies that hire a new apprentice.

Intermodal Option Offers New Possibilities and Less Emissions

TURKEY – The Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) is by its status as the second largest container shipping line in the world, usually considered as only that, an ocean box carrier. These days however the lines between land and sea are blurring with the onset of truly intermodal transport as a one stop offering.

Who is Heading Where Along the Supply Chain

WORLDWIDE – SWITZERLAND – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Willie Walsh has officially taken on the role of Director General of the organisation. He succeeds Alexandre de Juniac.

Some Small, but Perfectly Formed, Logistics Items

WORLDWIDE – Following our recent story regarding the continued presence of asbestos in merchant vessels, we were contacted by Mesothelioma.com, a body dedicated to providing the latest medical information on the horrible disease and educating on the dangers of asbestos exposure, plus helping those who are affected and advising on legal matters.

Voyage Times Cut with New Vessels

SWEDEN – BALTIC SEA – Ferry group Stena Line has added 186 metre long Visentini RoPax vessel Stena Livia to its Baltic Sea fleet. The ship has space for 115 trailers on its 2,250 lane metres and will join sister vessel Stena Flavia on the Nynäshamn-Ventspils route from mid-April.

Government Outfit Signs Up with Net Zero Carbon Remaining the Target

UK – With transport as a whole being the UK's second largest emitting sector of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), two thirds of which are related to road transport, efforts to counter the problem are being stepped up.

Company Says it Aims to Process 1 Million Tonnes a Year

UK – WORLDWIDE – Whilst the world and his wife concentrates on beating the coronavirus pandemic there is another curse on humanity which kills even more persistently. With over 95% of the people living on planet Earth in areas where air quality is unsatisfactory 9,000 souls are expected to succumb to pollution every single day.

More Environmental Initiatives from Truck Maker

SWEDEN – WORLDWIDE – The production of steel needs copious amounts of energy to produce it and historically this has only been possible utilising vast quantities of fossil fuels, usually coal, oil and gas. Now the Volvo Group and SSAB have signed a collaboration agreement on research, development, serial production and commercialization of the world's first vehicles to be made of fossil-free steel.

Truck Prototype Engenders Interest

EUROPE – Having toured the continent with its prototype demonstration vehicle Volta Trucks, which has realised the concept of producing a true HGV powered exclusively by electricity, now the company is studying seriously where to turn out the finished article for sale.

More Contributions Will be Gratefully Received for Difficult Solo Challenge

US – UK – Who better to sponsor an unassisted attempt to row the North Atlantic than a company which specialises in maritime survival tech? Former Royal Marine Dave 'Dinger' Bell must have been delighted when the Survitec brand Crewsaver stepped up to offer him an array of specialist equipment, some of which has been designed specifically for the treacherous crossing, to help keep him safe.

Focus Now on Modern Technology Projects

UK – One of the most iconic names in shipbuilding is celebrating its 160th anniversary this week. Founded on 11 April 1861 by Sir Edward James Harland and Gustav Wilhelm Wolff, the heritage of Harland & Wolff includes work on some of the most iconic ships, including the famous RMS Titanic, RMS Olympic and HMHS Britannic, right through to the SS Canberra for P&O and the Myrina, the first supertanker built in the UK.

National Interest Project Should Employ Resident Citizens Says MUA

AUSTRALIA – ANTARCTICA – The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) has made no secret to its strong opposition to the chartering by the Australian Antarctic Division of the supply ship MPV Everest, which is owned by Luxembourg-based Maritime Construction Services and registered in the Bahamas, placing the operation's management in foreign hands.

Freight Forwarding Association Boss Advises Members on Liabilities

UK – EGYPT – WORLDWIDE – As the dust, or rather the sand, settles on the blockage of the Suez Canal for six days last week so the operators of the vessel involved, Evergreen Marine Corp, announced a General Average, prompting the most influential of the UK professional bodies involved to remind its members of the necessary course of action they need to take.

Half of New Build Vessels Shown to Still Contain the Hazardous Material

WORLDWIDE – There can be very few people unaware of the long term health risks associated with the use of asbestos, hence the widespread banning of using the material in a plethora of places and processes where it would previously been the first option.

Now Technology Roll Out Moves Ahead

FRANCE – Historically the relationship between ports can be a difficult one. Where they exist in relatively close proximity there is always the competitive tension of securing and retaining services from an assortment of shipping lines, plus of course the on shore support services from a raft of suppliers.

Snippets of Industry News as Easter Approaches

UK – Multimodal, the event probably most keenly missed by many in the shipping and logistics communities for the past 21 months, has confirmed it will finally aim to host its Event and Awards later this year. Dates to remember are 19-21 October 2021, with a special treat being the announcement that once again host for the Awards will be the inimitable Kevin Keegan.