Shipping Search - Archive

Campaign Highlighting Covid Risk Begins to Come to Fruition

AUSTRALIA – In an Australian-first, NSW Health will provide Covid-19 vaccinations to a small number of foreign seafarers on board vessels that transport gas between Australian ports in an effort to reduce the risk of the virus entering the community. The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) sees this initiative as a small win having campaigned relentlessly for increased Covid-19 measures, but finds that more needs to be done to protect seafarers in the ongoing pandemic.

Final Details of Deal Approved

EUROPE – ASIA – The deal set up in February which saw Swiss group Kuehne+Nagel acquire the assets of the Chinese headquartered Apex International Corporation has been finalised after all closing conditions, including the receipt of unconditional regulatory approvals from the competent authorities, were satisfied.

New Destinations on Cargo Routes

EUROPE – US – MIDDLE EAST – French shipping and logistics group CMA CGM, is accelerating the development of its air freight division CMA CGM AIR CARGO, by adding three new destinations: Dubai, Beirut and Istanbul. They will complement its existing Airbus A330-200F-operated services to and from Liège, Chicago, New York and Atlanta.

Vigilance Needed to Avoid Clever Scams

WORLDWIDE – The International Transport Intermediaries Club (ITIC), indemnity insurer for transport professionals, has issued a number of warnings on the increasing prevalence of documentation fraud and advises that members implement robust systems and controls to ensure that they minimise any exposure.

Inland Waterborne Zero Emission Logistics Becoming a Reality

FRANCE – IKEA France is to set up a new logistics warehouse at the port of Limay-Porcheville. As the winner of a call for projects organised by HAROPA-Ports of Paris, IKEA now has a 16 hectare site at the river-sea port that will allow it to set up a logistics warehouse at Limay. This new customer distribution centre will aim to boost IKEA's growth in addition to promoting its goal to develop its activity on the basis of sustainability.

Another Huge Cache of Weapons Seized As Shots Fired in Strait of Hormuz

NORTH ARABIAN SEA – As the situation in Gaza deteriorates, with talk of all-out war between Israel and Hamas our picture shows a huge cache of arms seized from a 'stateless dhow' by US forces, a parcel of munitions which poses several questions.

Doubts Raised Over Potential Crime Sites in New University Study

UK – Whilst both the government and the respective proponents of the eight new Freeports to be established in England by the end of the year enthusiastically support the schemes, a note of caution is advised by a new study.

New Deal to Improve Safety and Routing Options

WORLDWIDE – NORWAY – StormGeo, a global provider of weather intelligence software and decision support services, has increased its partnership with Ocean Network Express (ONE), the sixth largest container carrier in the world. This cooperation will look to give ONE access to a wider range of ship routing services, with the aim of ensuring the safety of its fleet, maintenance of its operating schedules and close monitoring of all related performance criteria as it works toward its supply chain goals.

Artificial Intelligence Makes Working Safer and Easier on A14 Project

UK – The A14, the road which carries vast amounts of freight traffic from Britain's busiest container port at Felixstowe to the Midlands, has been the bane of many truck drivers for decades. Now Highways England is crediting artificial intelligence (AI) for a huge boost in both safety and productivity at the conclusion of the latest upgrade works.

However Security Training Needed as Lobby Group Responds to Government Survey

UK – Last week saw the government's recent consultation on a 'New Plan for Immigration' close for submissions. Amongst those replying in detail was the Road Haulage Association (RHA) whose members have a special interest given the problems of migrants smuggled aboard import trailers.

Port Group Concentrates Rotterdam Activities

NETHERLANDS – APM Terminals (APMT) has agreed to sell off its Rotterdam terminal operations (APMTR) to Hutchison Ports Netherlands B.V., a subsidiary of Hutchison Ports. APMTR is located adjacent to Hutchison Ports existing ECT Delta terminal in the Maasvlakte area of Europe's largest port. It has 1,600 metres of deep-water quay serviced by 13 ship-to-shore gantry cranes.

Transport and Logistics Award Finalists Announced

UK – Having just witnessed a year like no other, the logistics profession has been thrown into the limelight for its role in ensuring life and society continue as normally as possible in the circumstances accompanying a deadly pandemic. Now the opportunity to celebrate those who have continued to achieve throughout comes with the announcement of finalists for the 2021 Amazon everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards.

Some of the Freight News You May Have Missed

US – In another holiday shortened week our picture shows one of the crew from the fishing vessel Nobska being hauled into a US Coast Guard rescue helicopter last Friday after the wheelhouse and bow were engulfed in flames when the 100 foot stern trawler was working off Cape Cod.

More Cooperation Between Software and Logistics Companies

US – As autonomous vehicles and systems continue to spread across every transport mode comes the news that two companies, from very different heritages, are again collaborating to lift the process of escorting and positioning the largest container ships and tankers into a new era of technological control.

Vessel Capacity of 200+ TEU Will Take Trucks and Pollution Off the Roads

SWEDEN – This month sees the start of the first inland waterway cargo barge shuttle service in Sweden intended to reduce congestion on the crowded road network in the region, as well as substantially reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Services are scheduled to commence before the end of May, with two sailings each week.

Two Decade Relationship Extended Again

UK – The Port of Tyne has been awarded a long-term, strategic import and export logistics contract with Tetley following a competitive tendering process. The contract covers the movement of thousands of tonnes of raw tea plus finished product each year.

Those Appointments and Departures in Brief

WORLDWIDE – UK – Mark Dickinson has been re-elected as General Secretary of Nautilus International to serve a five year term of office to 2026. Dickinson’s candidacy was unopposed. This will be his fourth term in the role.

California Test Bed for Latest Technology

US – XPO Logistics has partnered with Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) to test Daimler's battery-electric commercial trucks under real-life operating conditions in California.

Opening of Airfreight Division Adds Another Mode to Portfolio

EUROPE – Global logistics company Samskip has established a dedicated air freight business, adding significant new options to a service portfolio that already includes rail, road, shortsea and inland waterway links throughout Europe and global cargo logistics solutions.

Some Benefit for Starving Airlines

WORLDWIDE – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released its March 2021 data for global air cargo markets showing that air cargo demand continued to outperform pre-Covid levels (March 2019) with demand up 4.4%. March demand reached the highest level recorded since the series began in 1990. Month-on-month demand also increased albeit at a slower pace than the previous month with volumes up 0.4% in March over February 2021 levels.

Consortium Selected to Begin Reconstruction Project

FRANCE – Last month we told how HAROPA - Port Le Havre was investing in communication technology and now one of the names mentioned in its 'Smart City' consortium, that of energy giant Siemens, has come up again with regard to an even bigger project at the Normandy port.

Brexit, Covid and Climate Change All on the Agenda

EUROPE – The Belgian based European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) is getting its ducks in a row with a series of conferences across the continent with a view to assessing how its members will react to the current and future changes being brought about by events such as the pandemic, climate change and Brexit.

Maritime Workers Feel Resentment After Commitment Shown During Pandemic

WORLDWIDE – Talks on setting a new minimum wage for seafarers around the world broke down last week at the International Labour Organization (ILO), after seafarers' unions made the decision to shut down pay discussions calling it a 'slap in the face', when ship owners representatives demanded that the industry ditch the established practice of using objective ILO minimum wage calculations before they would approve any pay rise.

Current Tenant Set to Double Uptake

UK – DP World has announced that one of the largest occupiers at its London Gateway Logistics Park, which lies in the hinterland of Britain's newest deep water container port, will more than double its onsite capacity by exercising an expansion option in its lease agreement.