Shipping Search - Archive

Foxx has a Hard Act to Follow and Safety Will Continue to be the Watchword

US – 42 year old, Anthony Foxx, was confirmed as Secretary of Transportation yesterday by a unanimous 100 – nil Senate vote. Foxx succeeds Ray LaHood and is likely to continue his predecessors aggressive safety campaigning. The incoming Secretary has experience of transport and logistics in both passenger and freight sectors, having introduced both streetcar and light rail programmes whilst mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, and played a part in both the construction of a runway at his local international airport, and the construction of a multimodal freight centre. Road haulage dignitaries welcomed Mr Foxx’s appointment with American Trucking Association’s CEO, Bill Graves, saying:

As EU Commission Clears Virgin and Delta Merger Things Move Swiftly

US – UK – With the news last week that the proposed joint acquisition of Virgin Atlantic by Delta and Virgin Group had been ratified by the EU Commission things moved swiftly on the cargo front with the two air carriers announcing their first joint cargo agreement. The Commission's investigation confirmed that in all markets the combined entity would continue to face competition from several strong competitors, notably British Airways and American Airlines after the proposal was put before it on May 15. Now Virgin Atlantic Cargo and Delta Cargo have entered a multi-year freight handling agreement in which Delta Cargo will provide cargo handling for Virgin Atlantic at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and Boston’s Logan International Airport, effective Aug. 26, 2013 and July 15, 2013, respectively.

Foreign Secretary Tells Californians Restrictions Must Go if Traditional Markets are to Flourish

US – EUROPE – Yesterday in Southern California the Foreign Secretary, William Hague gave a speech to the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, a popular public forum for global issues, and the British American Business Council, whose members include some of the world’s largest multinational companies, in which he outlined the necessity for the Transatlantic Trade Accord, recently proposed at the G8 summit, was essential if the European and American markets were to retain anything like their traditional positions in terms of world commerce. With the rapid rise of Asian economies Mr Hague feels that any hindrance to trade between the two economic blocs would have an attenuating effect on both their commercial futures. His speech in full was as follows:

Two Examples of Longevity in Man and Machinery

UK - US – Life for the driver of a big rig out on the road is something that demands both intelligence and stamina if one wishes to survive in the profession over time. For the machinery which handles the thousands of tonnes of freight which pass through a busy warehouse, the going can be even harder than the life of a road haulage professional and recently we have heard of two cases where longevity of both man and machine have proved exceptional in their respective roles within the logistics trade.

MOL Ship Sinking by Instalments

INDIAN OCEAN – A full ten days after she split in two whilst in transit the aft part of the container vessel MOL Comfort finally sank today leaving shipping insurers with a major headache. Besides the fact that a tally of boxes lost will still need to be made, the rear of the ship contained tanks topped up with 1,500 tonnes of fuel oil.

Global Operator Supports Care of the Less Fortunate with Social Programme

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Global marine terminal operator DP World has launched ‘DP World in the Community’, a Corporate Responsibility programme that gives its Dubai Head Office employees time off work away from their normal UAE container shipping duties to get involved in voluntary community activities beyond the world of freight and logistics. Kathryn Wightman-Beaven, Director - Global Corporate Responsibility, DP World, said:

Alternative to Air Freight Proposed by Geodis Wilson

EUROPE – ASIA – Geodis Wilson, the freight forwarding and heavy lift division of the Geodis Group, has announced the expansion of its Asia-Pacific operations to include domestic rail cargo services in China, with multimodal intercontinental services between China and Europe also planned. Kim Pedersen, Executive Vice President of Geodis Wilson said:

Spanish Face the Inquisition for Infringing Treaty's Labour Competition Regulations

SPAIN – EUROPE - As the financial noose tightens across the continent so we are seeing more cases of state intervention and assistance coupled with restrictive practices in terms of trade and employment. So far this week we have reported on the EU Commission’s concern over the involvement of French and British governments in tariffs for rail traffic through the Channel Tunnel and their enquiries to the German authorities regarding cross subsidisation of transport. Now it is the turn of the Spanish to face the inquisition over the curious arrangement in which certain of the countries ports are not free to choose the teams of freight handlers working within them.

CEO Schlanger Shares his View of a Business which is New to Him

US - WORLDWIDE - Anyone checking out Marvin O Schlanger’s career will note that shipping freight is not something which features heavily amongst his past employments. Last October however, Schlanger took over the reins of Ceva Logistics from former CEO John Pattullo, and last week found himself being questioned on stage at the 11th annual eyefortransport 3PL Summit in Chicago, and found himself being asked to comment on, what is for him, a new sector of industry.

Appeal Court Decision Awaited After ATA Speaks Out at House Committee Hearing

US - In a direct attack on the judgement of the Federal Motor Carrier Administration (FMCSA), Steve Williams, Chairman and CEO of Maverick USA, a truckload and logistics provider and representing the American Trucking Associations (ATA), called the changes in road haulage drivers Hours of Service, due to become law on July 1st, a ‘1930’s Band Aid approach’ and a ‘solution in search of a problem’, and said that a recent examination and replication of FMCSA’s regulatory impact analysis (i.e. its cost-benefit analysis) conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), found the agency’s assessment to be fundamentally flawed and unreliable.

Web Browser Based Management System Stays Ahead of the Game

UK - NetFreight’s web-based freight management and Customs processing package is now available ‘in the cloud’ following an extension of the alliance between its developer Impatex, and freight industry hardware specialists Albacore Systems. Launched in 2005 and acquired by Impatex in 2007, NetFreight was designed as a browser based system, operating either on a user’s in-house server, or on an external, hosted server.

GAC Shifts its Scottish Operations Facility to Shetland Capital

UK – Dubai headquartered international freight forwarding and logistics group GAC has, unsurprisingly given its Middle Eastern pedigree, long been involved in the energy production sector. Now, to ensure the company's specialist offshore and tanker agency teams, link more effectively in the region, GAC UK has relocated its Shetland operations to larger facilities at Greenhead Base in the Shetland Islands' capital and main port, Lerwick.

Logical Invention Makes 220 Litre Units Stackable

UK – Sometimes there comes along an innovation which simply makes one scratch one’s head and wonder why nobody ever thought of it sooner. As anyone used to working in a busy freight consolidation warehouse will understand, loaded 210 litre steel drums can pose handling problems in small quantities but nothing like the waste of space when they have to be moved or stored when empty.

New Unit Dwarfs Angel of the North

UK - GERMANY - IRELAND – Yesterday saw the latest Liebherr gantry crane arrive at the Port of Tyne’s container terminal at Tyne Dock, South Shields, but anyone wishing to see the finished item towering above the quayside may have to wait a little longer. Unlike the recent delivery from China of five quay cranes into the port of London Gateway, the new arrival will appear more like a Meccano set initially as it consists of 124 separate parts from Ireland and Germany which will take two days to unload and a further eight weeks for the specialist team from Liebherr to assemble a crane which, at 70 metres, will tower a full 11 metres above the Tyne bridge and dwarf the Angel of the North’s mere 20 metres.

Unions and Operators Compile a Report of Use to Anyone in a Materials Handling Environment

WORLDWIDE – Earlier this month the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) released a ninety six page report which takes a look at the dangers associated with working in a modern shipping container terminal, something well worth reading for anyone who finds themselves in any way associated with health and safety matters in a freight or materials handling environment, not just within a deep water port scenario.

Day of the Seafarer and Sea Sunday both Celebrate and Remember Those Who Work on the Ocean

WORLDWIDE – Today marks the third international Day of the Seafarer, an official United Nations observance day, whilst the 14th July will see churches holding a Sea Sunday to consider and assist all seafarers. This year, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is celebrating today with a social media campaign calling on all supply chain partners, including those beyond the shipping and maritime sector, to help highlight the sheer diversity and scale of products used in everyday life that travel by sea, and to recognise the importance of the people that deliver them, more than 1.5 million seafarers. In his annual Day of the Seafarer message, IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu said:

Rwanda Losing Out on the Road as Tanzania Takes Steps to Curb Illegalities at the Ports

RWANDA – TANZANIA – EAST AFRICA – According to a recent study, Rwandan road haulage firms have steadily lost market share against its neighbours over the past five years despite an increase in trade volumes within the East African Community (EAC). The report, named ‘Rwanda’s Road Freight Industry Competitiveness Study’ commissioned by the Ministry of Trade and Industry with support from TradeMark East Africa, attributes high road tolls in neighbouring countries, especially Tanzania, as the main reason why the local trucking industry has seen a decline in its share of the road freight market. Theodore Murenzi, the Secretary General of Rwanda Truckers’ Association, said:

Competition Commissions have their Work Cut Out this Year

ROMANIA – BULGARIA –LITHUANIA – CHINA – The EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas will not have to be concerned that his workload will diminish when the Eurotunnel and DB Schenker matters covered in our story this week are resolved. The European rail freight sector is throwing up all manner of situations which the Commissioner will take an interest in as national and European interests clash.

Lloyd's Register Unveils Two More Crucial Guides This Month

UK - SOUTH ASIA - WORLDWIDE – Lloyd’s Register can always be trusted to produce information relevant to all parts of the shipping and shipbuilding industries, and this month is no exception with two guides becoming available to download covering both an overview the construction of vessels throughout South Asia, and a set of new Rules for Floating Offshore Installations operating at a Fixed Location (FOIFL) which includes new sections on floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facilities.

As AV Dawson Sees off the First Seventy Five Years it Continues to Plan for the Future

UK – A profile of multimodal outfit AV Dawson provides a microcosm of the way many successful freight and logistics businesses are changing to ensure continued success in an ever changing world. Formed seventy five years ago as literally a one horse road haulage outfit the company has stayed close to its Teeside roots, yet developed in ways which current Managing Director Gary Dawson’s forebears could never have imagined.

Latest Way to Explain and Educate the Industry

DENMARK - UK - WORLDWIDE - Games are increasingly seen as opportunities to get a message across, particularly to the younger members of the freight and logistics community, and we have outlined this trend in previous stories with accompanying links and videos. This month there are two more such products revealed, one available now from shipping industry giant AP Moller Maersk and the other later this year sponsored by the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) and numerous logistics leaders such as CHEP, Norbert Dentressangle, CILT, Skills for Logistics and the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA) and still seeking a multimodal partner.

EU Slams Governments and Regulator

UK – FRANCE – GERMANY – EUROPE – Prior to its eventual inception in 1984 the Channel Tunnel was the subject of controversy literally stretching back centuries, often symbolising the sometimes turbulent relationship between the two countries at its eventual entry and exit points. Now, and seemingly for the next few years at least, a number of disagreements between various stakeholders, including three governments, the EU and Groupe Eurotunnel to name but a few, looks set to mean that cross channel services for rail and road freight, both via the undersea link and on the Ro/Ro ferry services which ply the nearby routes, and rail infrastructure throughout the continent, will be subject to complex legal arguments.

Permission for Yet Another Judicial Review Sought by Local Authority

UK – After a High Court judge last week refused St Albans City and District Council permission to apply for Judicial Review in the matter of the proposed Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) at the site of the former Radlett Aerodrome on Park Street, the Council has now lodged a request with the High Court to have its initial application reconsidered. The Judicial Review application sought to quash the decision by Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles to not re-open the Park Street Inquiry and conjoin it with the Colnbrook (Slough) Strategic Rail Freight application appeal.

Yet Another Air Freight Scandal Continues After Bureau's Judgement

CANADA – INDIA – WORLDWIDE – As a further investigation in India into unfair competition begins, the Canadian Competition Bureau has announced that Cathay Pacific pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy under the Competition Act and was fined CA$1.5 million by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice for its participation in an air cargo price-fixing cartel relating to navigation surcharges that it imposed on international air freight shipments to and from Canada between April 13, 1999 and August 14, 2003. John Pecman, Commissioner of Competition, said:

Extra Capacity for Flights Into Philippines and Oman from Two Leading Airlines

UAE – PHILIPPINES – LUXEMBOURG – OMAN - From 1st October 2013, Emirates SkyCargo is to increase its cargo capacity to the Philippines with daily non-stop flights to Clark International Airport, located in the province of the Pampanga in Central Luzon, 80 kilometres to the north of Manila. Clark International Airport will become Emirates second destination after Manila, to which Emirates has been operating flights since 1990, and due to the demand, has continued to increase its flight frequency on the route to its current triple daily, non-stop air freight service.

Norwegian Triumvirate Presses Case for Collaboration from Industry Stakeholders

NORWAY – WORLDWIDE – Any regular reader will know of the recent, intensive efforts made by ships designers and builders around the globe to maximise hull efficiency, a factor which can often reduce fuel use and emission production to rival the technological strides being made in engine design and other factors. Hull and propeller optimisation when designing container vessels and other shipping has become the Holy Grail for shipyards wishing to gain orders for ever larger freight carriers.

Open Consultation on Definition of Driver for CPC's Whilst DSA and VOSA Merge

UK – Road haulage and freight transport interests welcomed the news this week that their views are being taken into consideration with regard to changes being made to the requirements for certain classes of drivers to obtain Certificates of Professional Competence (CPC’s) whilst the austerity measures being pushed through by government are about to affect the regulatory bodies which are responsible for the road transport sector.

80 Year Old Company Continues to Expand - but at a Cost

US – Less than truck load (LTL) carrier Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL) which provides nationwide cargo services as well as international forwarding services, has introduced ‘modest increases’ to its domestic road haulage rate tariff with the actual percentage hike dependent on various factors including routes and distance. Reports put the average increase however at just below 5% with the tariffs affected ODFL 559/555, 670 and the 505 Canadian tariffs. A company statement says the increased income is necessary to pay for higher road tolls and to offset the rising costs of new equipment and insurance, while preserving competitive wages and benefits for all its employees, none of whom are believed to be unionised. Todd Polen, Old Dominion’s Vice President of pricing, commented:

Taiwanese Group Penetrates Further into Europe

GREECE – TURKEY - BLACK SEA – CASPIAN SEA – Utilising the services of feeder facilities in the region is essential given the complexity of the multiple destinations in the adjoining countries and this week container line Evergreen has announced that it will be tying up with United Feeder Services (UFS) to operate its new East Black Sea (EBS) shipping service.

Twice Monthly Transatlantic Service Will Suit Oil and Gas Sector

UK – US – Regular long distance Ro/Ro ocean freight services are one of those peculiar branches of the shipping world that tend to fill, what at first sight appear to be very small, niche market needs. In reality of course the UK has, almost imperceptibly, once again become a net exporter of cars and light vans meaning, for what we often consider only container or bulk tanker companies, a lucrative method of spreading their freight portfolio a little wider and is a service which can also prove of use to those with particular general cargo requirements.

Advantages of Apprenticeships Evaluated for Job Providers and Would Be Employees

UK – In March Skills for Logistics launched a website dedicated to helping would be professionals in the freight and logistics sector evaluate the advantages of taking up an apprenticeship in their chosen profession, whilst employers can gauge the financial benefits of entering into an apprenticeship programme. The Skills Calculator is proving to be a resounding success and in just two months the website has already been visited by over 1500 individuals with 400 members joining the on-going discussions on the Skills Calculator’s LinkedIn page.

All the Global Logistics Staff Movements this Month Starting with North American Advisory Committee Team

US – Firstly a record number of appointees as outgoing  Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood recently announced the members of the National Freight Advisory Committee, a diverse group of professionals that will provide advice and recommendations aimed at improving the national freight transportation system. Comprising of 47 voting members from outside the Department of Transportation, the Committee will serve as ex-officio members. Members will serve two-year terms and meet at least three times per year and the roster includes representatives from the road haulage, rail, air and ocean cargo carrying communities plus union associates with port and shipping connections.

IFOY Awards Set to Become a Calendar Fixture

GERMANY – The recent Transport Logistics 2013 exhibition in Munich was host to the inaugural International Forklift Truck of the Year (IFOY) awards organised by leading German trade bodies, VDMA Materials Handling and the Logistics Systems Sector Association. The awards are open to all manufacturers of materials handling equipment who supply products or services to the European market with the winner in each category picked by a jury made up of well-respected trade journalists. Considerable satisfaction therefore for Jungheinrich which managed to collect two of the four possible awards.

Boeing and Thai Airways Work Together Supplying Precious Educational Items

THAILAND – US – Since Boeing introduced the 777 model in 1990, Thai Airways International has operated nearly every subsequent model produced and this month, when taking delivery of its newest 777-300ER aircraft, the two companies used the opportunity to carry a very special cargo to underprivileged children in the South East Asian country.

UK Based Company Again Seeks Applicants to Train for the Industry

UK – Freight forwarding group Davies Turner is again seeking applicants for its National Apprenticeship programme following the success of the schemes first three years and the high retention rate amongst the previous candidates. The new group of apprentices will be based at the main Davies Turner locations up and down the UK and will undertake a 20 month long apprenticeship with the company. The course includes the multimodal forwarding qualification developed and accredited by the British International Freight Association (BIFA). Davies Turner is targeting school leavers and graduates looking to make their first career move in the logistics industry.

Two Halves of Hull Drift Apart as Crew in Dramatic Rescue by Other Box Carriers

INDIAN OCEAN – The crew of the MOL Comfort which broke in half yesterday whilst under way after loading in Saudi Arabia, were en route to Colombo having been rescued by three other vessels under the direction of Indian Coastguard officials. The ship, formerly the APL Russia, a 90,000 dwt dry cargo carrier, 316 metres long with a breadth of 46 metres, has developed two massive cracks, splitting her hull into two pieces which, on last reports, were floating separately as tugs approached the scene in a bid to tow both sections.

LTL Carrier Gets Highest Accolade and Creates Jobs with New Service Centre

US – Con-way Freight, a less than truckload (LTL) road haulage operator and subsidiary of Con-way Inc., has been honoured with the prestigious Pro Patria Award, presented to its service centre in Manchester, New Hampshire, by the New Hampshire Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office. The accolade is the highest-level award bestowed by a state ESGR committee. According to the ESGR, recipients provide the ‘greatest support to Guard and Reserve employees through their leadership and practices’.

Twelve Vessels Will Meet IMO Paperless Standards

UK – IRELAND – County Wicklow based container operator Arklow Shipping, has selected Sperry Marine, a unit of Northrop Grumman’s Navigation and Maritime Systems Division, provider of ‘smart’ navigation and ship control solutions for the international marine industry, to upgrade twelve multipurpose freight and container vessels with VisionMaster FT Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) to enable paperless navigation. Sperry Marine will install all of the systems by the end of 2014 with the new system replacing the existing NaviECDIS that utilises the Voyage Management System that the company previously employed. Alan Dix, Managing Director of Northrop Grumman Sperry Marine, said:

Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM Agree Full East - West Trade Cooperation

WORLDWIDE – In a move which many in the freight and supply chain, not to say regulatory agencies, will view with some surprise, if not perhaps suspicion, the big three box carriers, Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM, have launched a ‘long term alliance’ which will see them combine their individual container shipping services into a rationalised set of routings on all the major East – West trade lanes across Asia – Europe, Trans-Pacific and Trans-Atlantic to be called the P3 Network. This move represents largest ever TEU cargo cooperation ever undertaken.

747-8F Cleared for South American Service

LUXEMBOURG – BRAZIL – Yesterday marked a landmark both for the Boeing Company and Europe’s largest freight only carrier, Cargolux Airlines International S.A., as the first ever 747-8 aircraft on a commercial flight into the country, landed on Brazilian soil. Cargolux was the first customer to purchase the giant freighter from Boeing and since that time has steadily developed new global markets. Flight CV7687 to São Paulo Viracopos marks the first commercial operation ever of a Boeing 747-8 into the country. Since that first purchase in 2011, Cargolux has now deployed its 747-8 freighter aircraft to 78 destinations worldwide.

Black Empowerment Project Continues to Grow

SOUTH AFRICA – Ten years ago, when the political and economic world in the country was learning to cope with a new situation two experienced local shipping executives, Robert Knutzen (ex CEO of the Golden Ocean Group), Jan Rabie (ex Director of Safmarine) joined forces with a third partner, Mark Watson, to create Marine Crew Services South Africa (Pty) Ltd (MCS) and Marine Bulk Carriers (Pty) Ltd (MBC) with the intention of empowering local black labour by providing employment aboard vessels whilst also helping South Africa dip its toe into the waters of ocean freight and cargo carriage.

All Category Sponsors Retained after Last Year's Record Breaking Event

UK – Once again the annual British International Freight Association (BIFA) Awards will be held at the Brewery in London and nominations for the 2013 event are now open. Freight forwarding groups and others from the shipping industry can register themselves, or a company or colleague they consider worthy, for one of several awards ranging from ocean and air freight through project forwarding and European logistics to environmental, supply chain and staff categories, all of which are on offer again this year.

Meanwhile another Bulk Carrier Sinking Shines a Spotlight on Older Vessels

UK – INDIA – WORLDWIDE - Whilst compiling our recent story on the sinking of the Swanland off the Welsh coast in 2011 we asked for an opinion from interested parties on the conclusions of the United Kingdom Maritime Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) into the tragedy. The ageing freighter, sailing under a flag of convenience and registered legally but with a cut rate agency, foundered resulting in six deaths. The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), quite rightly, reserved the right to comment until it had time to study the report in its entirety and today released its verdict as to both the cause of the accident and what should occur in its aftermath.

Los Angeles Port Decision will have Ramifications for Drayage Operators and Cargo Hubs beyond California

US – For some years now we have tracked the simmering row between road haulage and drayage interests and the Port of Los Angeles as to the extent of regulatory rights which an operation such as a container shipping port or terminal could exercise over the operators who hauled the freight in and out of its jurisdiction. The case was never a simple one but yesterday the U.S. Supreme Court finally ruled on the matter, at least in part.

Fashion Goods will be Top Priority on New 747-8 Freighter Route

US – HONG KONG - LUXEMBOURG – Despite its slough of labour problems, for air freight carrier Cargolux it’s business as usual. This week the cargo only airline announced a new service from Hong Kong to Columbus, Ohio, effective from 16 June. This means the buckeye state airport becomes the latest in the company’s network to be served with Cargolux’s new 747-8 freighters and the company said it was able to draw on the valuable support of forwarding company Hellmann Worldwide and the Columbus Regional Airport Authority in establishing the flight. The airport infrastructure and service at Rickenbacker International Airport was praised by Richard Forson, Interim President and CEO of Cargolux, when he unveiled the new route.

Signs Are That UASC will join the Ranks of the Mega Box Carriers

KOREA – GULF STATES – According to our sources in Seoul negotiations between the United Arab Shipping Company (UASC) and Hyundai Heavy Industries for the shipbuilder to supply up to seventeen container vessels are well advanced. The purchase has been strongly rumoured since UASC President and CEO Jorn Hinge hinted of future expansion when announcing the appointment of two new executives in April saying:

Eleventh Airline Has Financial Penalty Approved by High Court

NEW ZEALAND – WORLDWIDE - The New Zealand High Court has approved a settlement under which Air New Zealand will pay a NZ$7.5 million penalty for their role in the price-fixing offences which scandalised the air freight community and breached the country’s Commerce Act. The company is the last airline to settle with the Commerce Commission in its long-running air cargo cartel case, bringing the total penalties ordered in the case to NZ$42.5 million. Commerce Commission Chairman Mark Berry said:

Non-Members of RHA Can Attend Instructional Conference but Complimentary Motorway Passes are now All Issued

UK – Anyone operating in the road haulage sector will know just how hard it is to stay abreast of all the regulation changes that can occur and simply pass unnoticed when a commercial vehicle fleet manager is more intent on keeping the freight moving and the customers satisfied than reading the latest obscure directive. To avoid the potential banana skins on which many a road haulage operator has slipped up in the past, where does one turn to ensure the latest annual tranche of rules and regulations appertaining to training, safety, health and employment are met and understood?

One Third of the World's Produce is Ruined or Discarded Whilst Almost a Billion People Go Hungry

WORLDWIDE – Often the contrasts which are most noticeable between public and private bodies are timing, efficiency and verbosity. We hear platitudes from governments and international organisations but often with little or lamentably slow action to back them up. Just occasionally however a connection is made between the two which, if properly managed, can make a world changing difference and, hopefully, the latest cooperation between the United Nations and the specialised container division of the world’s biggest shipping company, Maersk, will prove to be so as the box carrier’s reefer technology supports the UN SAVE FOOD programme.

The Outer Limits Represent a Valuable Source of Revenue for Russian Airline

CANADA – RUSSIA – UKRAINE – OUTER SPACE – The start of the month saw another shipment forming part of the continuing role which Russian based freight airline Volga-Dnepr is playing in the current space programme. As we have reported previously the giant aircraft employed by the cargo carrier are essential in ensuring smooth, rapid intercontinental transit for the heavy, yet extremely delicate, pieces.

Maritime Investigation Reveals a Litany of Errors and Neglect Resulting in Six Fatalities

UK – COOK ISLANDS – RUSSIA –The Maritime Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has released its report on the sinking of the freight vessel Swanland on 27 November 2011, on her way to Cowes, Isle of Wight from Llanddulas, Wales. The 34 year old Cook Islands-registered general freighter experienced a catastrophic structural failure when heading directly into rough seas and gale force winds whilst laden with a cargo of 2,730 tonnes of limestone. The vessel sank at approximately 02:15 with just two of the vessel’s eight crew managing to swim clear. The pair of survivors were airlifted to safety by an RAF helicopter co-piloted by the Duke of Cambridge as the doomed ship sank off the Llyn peninsula. The body of the chief officer was recovered from the sea during an extensive air and sea search but the remaining five crewmen have never been found.

PM Promises Clear Guidelines as First Report of the Foreign Affairs Committee is Published

UK – EUROPE – This week whilst visiting the new deep water port, London Gateway, currently under construction alongside the River Thames, the Prime Minister David Cameron took the opportunity to address the gathering of journalists and assembled dignitaries, container shipping executives and heads of industry on his governments intentions as regards a referendum regarding Britain’s future place within the EU. In view of a government report* published today and the importance of the UK’s position in Europe with regard to freight forwarding and associated fields it behoves us to report on the matter.

New Service Joins Last Year's Successful Launch of iPhone Application

WORLDWIDE – Having introduced a mobile directory application for the iPhone in 2012 international freight and logistics support group GAC has now developed a version suitable for Android phones of version 2.3 and above. Users of the technology can now gain instant access to the Dubai headquartered group’s global network, searchable by name, service type or location. The app gives access to a database containing contact details by the thousand covering shipping, logistics and marine services across the entire GAC set up.

'Best in Breed' Solution to be Deployed across Vehicle Network

FRANCE – UK – Following a successful pilot, French road haulage and logistics group Norbert Dentressangle is investing an undisclosed six-figure sum in a mobile order tracking and proof of delivery solution, supporting enhanced operational efficiency and customer service. The operational transport management system, cadis, from mobile solutions provider, Kratzer Automation, will be deployed across the freight company’s day and night distribution network operations, in order to manage the delivery/collection processes from multiple depot locations across 550 vehicles on a daily basis.

East Coast Sees More Capacity as Sixtieth Daily Track Service Announced

UK – The Port of Felixstowe has officially opened the new rail terminal which doubles rail capacity at the container port. The £40 million overall investment, £35 million from parent company Hutchinson Ports with the balance financed by the European Union Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) fund, forms part of an overall scheme we have reported previously to increase freight capacity at the port which commenced with the new deep water vessel berths (8 and 9) which opened to shipping in November 2011 to accommodate larger container vessels. The new North Rail Terminal was inaugurated in a ceremony attended by His Royal Highness the Duke of York, local dignitaries and a large number of the port’s customers. Commenting on the new terminal, Clemence Cheng, Chief Executive Officer of Hutchison Ports (UK), owner of the Port of Felixstowe, said:

Hong Kong Headquartered Company Keeps expanding Further into China

CHINA – Hong Kong based freight forwarding group Kerry Logistics keeps using the natural advantages of having a long pedigree in the region by continuing to expand in China, adding to a growing list of distribution facilities which it owns and operates in the country. This year the tally of facilities has reached seventeen with the opening of the latest three in Chongqing, Wuxi and Xiamen which together boast a combined total area of 140,000 square metres. Kerry now owns and manages in excess of three and a half million square metres of operational space for its customers.

UKWA Convinced Current System Weighted Against Honest Third Party Logistics Operators

UK – After our story last month with the TT Club warning freight and road haulage interests of the draconian steps being taken by HMRC to penalise innocent parties for others avoiding the payment of duty on goods in store, comes another exhortation from the United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA), the trade association representing the interests of some 700 UK-based third party logistics (3PL) specialists says that similar tactics are being used by the Excise authorities even for simple, clerical errors.

Another Success for the Forces of Law and Order

SOMALIA – GULF OF ADEN – WORLDWIDE – Attacks on bulk freight and container shipping remain way down on previous years thanks to the ramped up security by both owners and the naval vessels which remain permanently on alert. Last week, the EU Naval Force (EU Navfor) saved fourteen Indian sailors from pirates who took control of their cargo vessel in the Gulf of Aden but abandoned the attack hours later after EU Naval Force warship HSwMS Carlskrona, working in tandem with NATO counter piracy Dutch warship HNLMS Van Speijk, neutralised the problem with no need for violence.

Prime Minister on Hand to Greet the Announcement

UK – WORLDWIDE – Today at London’s rapidly developing London Gateway deep water container port, which continues literally growing out of the Thames mud, the presence of the Prime Minister meant that something worthwhile was obviously happening. In the light of the revelation that DP World, the Dubai group whose project this is, had signed up the first customer for the logistics park, those of us familiar with the project were instilled with the feeling that the first of some very large dominoes was in the process of tumbling. The news that Marks & Spencer has committed to occupying up to a million square feet, in a port where its new distribution centre will sit mere metres from the container stacks, may well be a game changer for the face of UK imports and exports.

Abu Dhabi Group Selects Worldwide Flight Services Group

ABU DHABI – UK – BELGIUM – FRANCE- THAILAND – US – Etihad Cargo, the state of Abu Dhabi’s national cargo carrier, has appointed global ground handling agent Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) as its preferred handling partner for six of its international cargo stations, London, Brussels, Paris, Bangkok, Washington and Seattle. This agreement may be extended to take in other destinations at some later stage to other of the ninety two passenger and freight hubs the airline currently serves.

Tourists and Commercial Cargo Began to Flow Forty Years Ago This Month

IRELAND –FRANCE – In January 1973 both the UK and Ireland joined the common market heralding in a new age of ferry travel, particularly as trailer freight developed as a viable method of shipping cargo to France and beyond. In June of that year Irish Continental Line, subsequently joined by B&I Line under the Irish Ferries flag, began a direct RoRo passenger car ferry service between Ireland and France and so this month the Irish Continental Group, which now manages the service, is celebrating forty years since the passenger ferry vessel St. Patrick, specially constructed in Bremerhaven to service the Rosslare to Le Havre route, sailed on her inaugural voyage.

Troubles for Part State Owned Airline Continue

LUXEMBOURG – As predicted in our previous story in May, unions have rejected what the management of Cargolux, the freight only airline, described as a ‘final’ offer which entailed the resurrection of a Collective Work Agreement, which both parties say they wish in place, in return for a $12.5 million reduction in employee costs for the airline’s 2014 financial year. Unions say the current collective bargaining agreement was unilaterally terminated on September 28 last year by the management of Cargolux and will expire on 1 September 2013.

Envirotainer Produce 1000th Unit as Demand Persists

SWEDEN – UK – WORLDWIDE – One of the few steady growth areas for the freight industry in the recent past has been the shipping of temperature sensitive products such as certain pharmaceuticals as air cargo and, as the integrity of the cold chain has come under increasing scrutiny, companies like Envirotainer have evolved to meet both the increased volume and improved technological requirements.

Annual Ceremony Draws Closer as Finalists Are Announced

UK – The United Kingdom Warehousing Association has announced the finalists for each category in this year’s UKWA Awards for Warehousing. The overall winner of each category will be announced at the presentation ceremony which takes place at London’s Dorchester Hotel on Wednesday July 3rd. The UKWA awards have long been established as symbols of achievement in the 3PL sector and emphasise the importance of freight and logistics, within today’s economy looking to honour achievement in various facets of the storage and distribution sector, including environmental matters and individual achievements .

Another Good Month for Russian Based Airline

RUSSIA – FRANCE – GERMANY - At the 2013 Air Cargo Europe Conference and Exhibition, which took place in Munich (June 4-7), specialist heavy freight carrier, Volga-Dnepr Airlines, reached an agreement with Paris-Vatry Airport to base up to three of its new IL-76TD-90VD freighter aircraft at the airport to meet growing demand for quiet and environment-friendly air charter operations. The new agreement will see the aircraft deployed in Paris with immediate effect.

Jaguar Land Rover Partnerships Aim at Putting UK in the Forefront of Conceptual Vehicle Production

UK – Jaguar Land Rover and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), along with four of the UK’s leading universities, have announced a £10 million virtual engineering research programme which will aim to improve the quality and capabilities of simulation, using sights, sounds and even smells to make virtual simulation more realistic. Engineering projects such as this could have a major impact on the design of future multimodal freight options with virtual designs being used as a test bed for innovative behaviour in fields ranging from road haulage vehicle design to energy saving concepts in sea and air.

Key Personnel Amongst Those on the Ocean Waves

UK – Freight Forwarding group Bellville Rodair International (BRI) sent two vital members of staff on a maritime challenge when the BRI sponsored Bella of London in the JP Morgan Asset Management Round the Island yacht race at the weekend (1-2 June). The crew for the Grand Soleil yacht set off at 05:40 and included both Terry Walpole, BRI Chairman, and Katie Ould, Key Account Manager – Automotive aboard.

UK Competition Commission Decision will Overrule Any EU Finding!

UK – FRANCE – The UK’s Competition Commission (CC) has decided to bar passenger and rail freight service provider Groupe Eurotunnel from operating a RoRo ferry route between France and Dover after the CC found that the acquisition of three ferries and other assets from the former ferry operator, SeaFrance, could mean higher prices for cross-Channel passengers and freight customers. In response to this ruling, Groupe Eurotunnel said that it will immediately appeal the decision which the group finds ‘incomprehensible and seriously disproportionate’.

Record Cucumber Exports and another Worthwhile Social Project both Involve the World of the Costermonger

SOUTH AFRICA – MEXICO - A fruitful partnership between major fruit exporter, Dole South Africa, and shipping line Safmarine, has culminated in the opening of a colourful new computer laboratory and classroom facility at the Khensani Primary School in Soshanguve, Gauteng, which incorporates two shipping containers in its design. Although the Alida Riddell Computer Lab is complete, the school is still desperately in need of laptops for the new lab. Computers have already been donated by Dole, Safmarine and IBM, but the Maersk subsidiary are appealing to other organisations who have spare, used laptops or PCs in their offices to kindly donate these to the school. Their goal is to equip the lab with 30 computers or laptops. Speaking at the opening of the new facility on May 30, Khensani’s Headmaster Dr Fannie Sebolela said:

Air Bridge and Tailored Shipping Group Extends Presence in Mainland Europe

GERMANY – IRELAND – WORLDWIDE – Time critical logistics specialist Bespoke Distribution Aviation (BDA) which, whilst domiciled in Ireland and Germany operates throughout Western Europe via its hubs in the UK, France and the Netherlands, today announced the acquisition of working partners NightExpress GmbH and N.E. NightExpress Limited with whom it has run country specific freight services since 2007.

Unions Persist in Campaign to Obtain Answers with Demonstration and Questions at DP DHL AGM

GERMANY – WORLDWIDE – Despite some laudable efforts to demonstrate its green credentials Deutsche Post DHL is still making headlines for all the wrong reasons as a litany of complaints regarding the freight and logistics group’s behaviour with regard to terms of employment outside of its native Germany continue to rain down on it.

Several Major Products now need Ratification Prior to Importation

QATAR – Intertek, the company specialising in conformity for goods being imported into world markets which demand evidence of national standards has issued a list of items which now require ratification prior to entering circulation in the country by any freight method. The Government of the State of Qatar, through the Qatar Ministry of Business and Trade Department of Consumer Protection and the Qatar General Organization for Standards and Metrology (QGOSM), has expanded the range of products now requiring evidence of Conformity before entering into the Qatari market.

Modern Turkic States Targeted with High Value Consignments as Economy Expected to Boom

CENTRAL ASIA – FRANCE – ITALY – No matter the glamour of project freight forwarding consignments which draw attention to the air freight industry the bread and butter for the trade is usually the smaller, high value items which support it (as evidenced by the recent US gold robbery). Airfreight group Art Logistics says that with Kazakhstan’s annual luxury goods market worth in excess of US$900 million, demand for imported European fashion products, cosmetics and jewellery is growing quickly from the country’s increasingly affluent population.

Marseille Hosts President Hollande as Giant Ship Sails Home

FRANCE – WORLDWIDE – One of the three largest container ships in the world was officially inaugurated today by French President François Hollande in Marseille (June 4). The CMA CGM Jules Verne is the sister ship to the company’s Marco Polo and Alexander von Humboldt and can carry up to 16,000 twenty foot boxes between Asia and Northern Europe. The French shipping line now has a fleet in excess of four hundred vessels mostly employed in the carriage of freight around the globe.

Munich Joins Regular Destination List for Europe's Only All Cargo Air Carrier

LUXEMBOURG- US – GERMANY – Yesterday saw all freight airline Cargolux, commence a new, regular air cargo service between Atlanta and Munich via Luxembourg. Commencing on the eve of the Air Cargo Munich Exhibition and Conference, the latest addition to Cargolux’s expanding network of worldwide destinations will be served every Monday with a Boeing 747-400 Freighter prompted to some extent by the requirements of a German freight forwarding client.

GW Opens New Facility in Northern Bohemia

CZECH REPUBLIC – AUSTRIA - Austrian freight and logistics operator Gebrüder Weiss (GW) has continued its expansion in the region with the opening of a new branch in Jablonec nad Nisou in the territory of Liberec in North Bohemia. The new Czech Republic branch in Jablonec offers a wide spectrum of services from land transport and air & sea freight to individual logistics solutions including the less and full trailer load services the company calls ‘GW direct.line’.

Canada Secures Another 20 Year Lease Extension on ICAO after Middle Eastern Bid Withdrawn

CANADA – QATAR – WORLDWIDE – News of a mysterious change of heart comes in following our story in April in which we outlined details of a bid by the Qatari authorities to have the headquarters of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) transferred from Montreal to Doha when the current lease runs out in 2016. Although often thought of as a passenger orientated branch of the United Nations the ICAO has deeply entrenched interest in the freight and logistics sector, particularly regarding the security of shipments, many of which are carried in the belly holds of modern passenger aircraft.

Unveiling Tomorrow with Preview Video Here

UK- WORLDWIDE - Birmingham based company, Guardfreight International has agreed a deal with the Midlands Assembly Network, a group of ten companies offering services in the mechanical, electrical and electronic engineering processes, to bring a new solution to market that could potentially prevent the amount of cargo that goes missing every year. The collective will provide pre-production, manufacture and assembly of the E-Containerlock for Guardfreight International.

Baltic Exchange Launches a Novel Way to Raise Cash for Maritime Good Causes

UK – WORLDWIDE – The Baltic Exchange, whose members make up a large proportion of bulk dry cargo vessel owners and operators and various other diverse shipping and freight interests, have come up with a novel way of raising some cash for three particularly worthy causes, all directly linked to the maritime environment. The London headquartered Exchange is offering for sale online a collection of choral music called ‘Music for Seafarers’ with all funds raised going towards seafaring charities Mission to Seafarers and the Sailors Society as well as RNLI Salcombe where the Baltic has supported lifeboats for over 100 years.

Southampton Event Will Study Multi Modal Possibilities

UK – Freight by Water, under the management of the Freight Transport Association (FTA), have announced that they are to stage a free, one-day conference illustrating the opportunities and issues surrounding the use of short-sea freight services and evaluating the available options to reduce transport costs. The event, due to be held on 20 June 2013 at the Ocean Cruise Terminal, Southampton, will address issues of national significance as well as focusing on UK short sea cargo connections to western France, Iberia and the Mediterranean.

Now Faithful Owners are to receive a Little Something Back

UK - WORLDWIDE – Britain is of course a nation of animal lovers, one only has to look at the strength of opinion in the country currently regarding the proposed cull of Badgers which saw action on the streets this past weekend to realise this, and the realignment of the quarantine laws a decade ago regarding the import and export of pets did not just immediately see hundreds of dogs passing through the Channel Tunnel and on RoRo ferries in private cars but also boosted traffic for carriers prepared to ship pets as freight to many parts of the world from whence they could return without the need for six months enforced absence from their doting owners.

New Production Hall Fights as Irish Plant Fights off Eastern Competitors

IRELAND – PERU - WORLDWIDE – In recent years many Western companies have suffered the twin blows from a dawdling economy coupled with cheaper completion from Asia, but one company specialising in cargo handling solutions for ports as well as for the shipping and offshore industry, Liebherr Container Cranes, which has made on-going capital investments in its Irish production facility since 1999, has announced a further €50 million will go to extend its production facilities there.