Shipping Search - Archive

75th Anniversary Bash Greets Transport Charity Patron

UK – This week saw London's Dorchester Hotel host the United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA) Awards, an extra special occasion, this being the 75th Anniversary year for that body. An amalgamation, forged in the heat of war to ensure the bombs raining down on the capital would not destroy the country's vital supply chain, and which has survived into the era of digitalisation and automation, to the point it would be unrecognisable to those early pioneers.

Catch Up on What You May Have MIssed

UK – The weekly dip into some of the news you may have missed this week from the freight and logistics sector starts in Britain where, on a nostalgic note, the concrete pour of the first slab of the Tilbury2 RoRo terminal took place this week. In the 1960's some of us dodderers witnessed the same event when the docks, originally constructed in the 1880's, last had a major extension (Editors note: Don't go on about it, I remember it well).

Shipping Groups Persist in Offences from Corruption to Pollution

US – Two executives were sentenced in US District Court in Miami for their role in a conspiracy to fix prices of international freight forwarding services. Roberto Dip and Jason Handal were charged with fixing prices in June 2018, and pleaded guilty in November 2018. A magistrate judge in Miami ordered Dip detained pending trial; he served over five months in jail before being released on bond.

Work Undertaken in Europe and the US Proceeds Apace to Negate Emissions

US – NETHERLANDS – SPAIN – Materials handling equipment manufacturer Hyster says it is progressing in its bid to perfect zero-emission container handling trucks. Two Laden Container Handlers and one ReachStacker are currently in development at the Hyster Big Truck Development Centre in the Netherlands. The zero-emission machines incorporate electricity at high voltage as the main energy source to power fully electric motors.

Straddle Carriers, Cranes and Reefer Container Infrastructure All Included

SPAIN – This week APM Terminals presented the company's short and middle-term projects as well as its latest investments in Barcelona, which came to a total of €47 million. The acquisition of 29 new straddle carriers (SC) was announced and recently APMT also equipped itself with 2 new Super Post Panamax cranes from Los Angeles. The two new STS cranes allow operations with ships of up to 23 containers across the beam. In addition, they are capable of lifting 100 tonnes and can also operate in TWIN mode (2x20'), which sees the terminal claim the highest productivity out of all the Mediterranean terminals.

Scheme Resembles Eight Year Old Promise

DENMARK – WORLDWIDE – For decades the ocean shipping industry has operated two entirely separate markets, bulk cargo and container freight using different methods of booking and pricing. Now Maersk, the world's largest box line has doffed its hat to the alternative 'spot market' with the release of Maersk Spot, which it says can offer a range of advantages to shippers and freight forwarders.

Statistics and Opinions Revealed as FTA Man Assists With Irish Border Problem

UK – Earlier this week, the Freight Transport Association (FTA) released its 2019 Logistics Report which found that declining profit margins have left logistics businesses struggling to fund their Brexit preparations. As uncertainties surrounding Brexit take their toll on the sector, Seamus Leheny, Policy Manager for Northern Ireland at the FTA, has been named as a member of the Department for Exiting the European Union's (DExEU) Business and Trade Union Alternative Arrangements Advisory Group. Commenting on his new appointment, Leheny said:

Transport Industry Celebrates Differences

UK – In its centenary year, The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) hosted its very first Big Logistics and Transport Diversity Challenge to encourage more diversity and inclusion within the profession. The exclusive nature of parts of the industry are gradually being diminished over time. The international nature of the freight profession means racial diversity has often existed in some sectors compared to other industries, however the gender balance is now also being addressed with the help of a wide range of organisations and in March Women in Logistics (WiL) was incorporated into CILT.

Changes Appear to Have Had Desired Positive Effect

UK – A change in lorry speed limits has saved businesses millions of pounds a year and could have helped improve road safety, according to a report from the Department for Transport (DfT), which has analysed the effect of increasing speed limits for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) in England and Wales.

Upswing in Turnover and Thirty Year Vision Announced

UK – Despite all the uncertainty over Brexit which has been lingering for a considerable time, it seems some of Britain's shipping facilities are doing OK, as many are looking to a long term future long after the dust has settled on any, or no, agreement, and trade once again has found its own level as freight volumes even out.

Laser Technology to Wind and Wave Power Receive Mentoring

NETHERLANDS – During the finale of the 4th edition of the annual innovation programme PortXL, the Port of Rotterdam Authority signed individual Letters of Intent with four enterprising new companies that are expected to help make the port more sustainable, more efficient and 'smarter'. The firms in question are Richtlijn Geodesie, Flower Turbines, Ladar Ltd and Planys Tech. In addition, the Port Authority issued a so-called Letter of Support to Eco Wave Power.

Government Wants Answers by September Regarding Ten Year Old Casings

UK – The Government has launched a consultation on plans to bring in new laws banning older tyres on large vehicles in an effort to improve road safety. Tyres aged 10 years and older would be banned from use on buses, coaches, lorries and minibuses in the new proposals which, if supported, could potentially see the new rules implemented by early 2020. The news follows on closely from the report published last month on decade old tyres on which the Freight Transport Association (FTA) later commented.

Pre-Registration Recommended for September Event

UK – IMHX the UK's longest running materials handling exhibition, takes place at the NEC, Birmingham on 24 - 27 September 2019. This year, more than 400 companies will be presenting the latest developments in intralogistics and supply chain technology, which the organisers claim makes IMHX 2019 the largest international logistics solutions exhibition the UK has ever seen.

Full Load Box Management System Adopted

UK – WORLDWIDE – As with many of the global port groups Hutchison Ports, operator of the Port of Felixstowe, has been branching out into other areas of logistics, and one venture, PARIS Optimal Transport Planning, which offers an enterprise and API solution for optimising full load transport via truck, rail and barge freight by using algorithms to reduce the number of empty miles, has apparently now been adopted by four of the six largest ocean container lines, all now using the PARIS Enterprise system.

Supply Change Switch to Twice Daily Trains Will Cut Emissions

UK – With the switch from road haulage to rail freight in mind PD Ports and multimodal specialist Containerships now have a new, dedicated service between Teesport and Doncaster in partnership with GB Railfreight. As the Northern UK gateway of Teesport sees tonnages grow annually, this twice-daily rail service will remove 120 daily road movements from the heavily congested UK road network, a journey of 90 miles each way per vehicle.

Sulphur Cap and the Demands of Cooperation Will Spur Newbuilds

WORLDWIDE – When Danish group Maersk Line announced in 2011 it had ordered the first of the mega box vessels with the building of the Triple E series, it marked a watershed in containership design. At circa 18,000 TEU news of these giants was received with a variety of reactions, culminating in a host of maritime rivals following suit.

Ex Editor of Handy Shipping Guide Passes Away

UK – This week's round-up of staff changes in the shipping and logistics world starts with the sad news of the death of Ian Martin Jones, a former Editor of the Handy Shipping Guide, who passed away after a short illness in the early hours of June 17, at the age of 72. Jones had been in the editorial business for almost 50 years, including a 10-year period in Fleet Street and nearly 30 years editing publications covering air, sea and multimodal freight logistics.

Half a Million Pounds to Help Cut Particulates and Nitrogen Oxides

UK – There was a financial boost for those who live by, travel or work on or close to the tidal River Thames this week as the city's drive to clean the air continued with news of a grant worth half a million pounds was announced. The money, from the Mayor of London's Air Quality Fund to be supported by the Port of London Authority (PLA) and co-ordinated by the Cross River Partnership (CRP) will see up to a dozen commercial freight and passenger vessels adapted to cut emissions, including particulates and nitrogen oxides.

What Has Been Happening This Week at Home and Abroad

US – This week's run-down of some of the general global freight and logistics stories starts with the news that American Trucking Associations (ATA) President and CEO Chris Spear has urged Congress to ratify the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement after its recent acceptance by the Mexican government saying free and fair trade was critical to the road haulage sector.

Materials Handling Equipment Can be Dangerous for Driver and Employer Alike

UK – The use of forklift trucks has always been a bit of a grey area for many of the companies which use them. Despite the fact that these incredible workhorses have the power to cause enormous damage in the wrong, or inexperienced hands, often users, including many in the freight and cargo handling community, have little or no idea with regards to legislation and their legal obligations.

Large Pollution Reductions Claimed from Oil Mixture

DENMARK – Shipping behemoth, Maersk is piloting a new carbon neutral product, which it claims to be the first of its kind in the industry, with select container freight customers which are engaged in employing sustainable solutions along their supply chain. Clothing-retail company, H&M Group, is the first company to trial the new fuel employed as part of the shift towards carbon-neutral transportation.

Beluga Whales Move to More Suitable Environment

CHINA – ICELAND – Freight only airline Cargolux has successfully completed the 6,000 mile relocation flight of two previously captive Beluga whales, Little Grey and Little White from Shanghai, China to Keflavik, Iceland. The pair now face the final stage of their journey by truck and ferry to the world's first open water sanctuary for Beluga whales. The pair have been an attraction at their current home since being captured 12 years ago but the British owners of the Chinese park have come under pressure to release them to a more suitable environment.

Consultations by European Commission Draw Comments

EUROPE – In the latter part of this year the European Commission will open a public consultation in which stakeholders in the sector will be asked to provide their personal views on how the functioning of the rail freight corridors could be improved. Most industry experts take the view that the corridors are not currently maximising the opportunity to exploit the long haul cargo market.

A Visitor to the Freight and Shipping Exposition May Get Some Surprises

UK – With the great and the good gathered for the Multimodal 2019 logistics trade show at Birmingham's NEC this week, to the relief of all the Brexit word has largely been avoided, (except for one noticeable seminar devoted to the subject) all parts of the shipping industry having long ago tired of the ineptitude of politicians.

New Technologies and Equipment at the Core of Emission Reductions

US – When it comes to environmental issues the State of California is often in the van, and now the Port of Oakland Commissioners have approved an air quality plan intended to drastically cut diesel and greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the Port's maritime operations. The plan, called the Seaport Air Quality 2020 and Beyond Plan, envisions a zero-emissions operation in the future.

Full Load Container Cargo Traced Worldwide

AUSTRIA – WORLDWIDE – The rapid evolution of container and freight tracking systems has been an essential tool for many in the industry, from forwarding agents with anxious clients to ocean carriers planning possible diversions and the latest company to release its solution for the tracking of FCL traffic is Austrian based logistics information provider, cargo-partner.

IAG Shows Faith in Supplier

US – WORLDWIDE – Despite the well-publicised problems surrounding Boeing's 737 MAX aircraft, grounded after two MAX 8's crashed within months of each other killing 346 people, the company has now received an order from the International Airlines Group (IAG), parent company of British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus amongst others, for a total of 200 model 8 and 10 aircraft.

Santiago de Chile Back on the Itinerary for European Airline

CHILE – EUROPE – Last week, Cargolux Airlines returned to Santiago de Chile on a re-designed South American routing. The air freight only carrier said that the destination, which been reinstated in the airline's expanding global network, offers new and interesting opportunities for development in the Latin American market

Trial Scheme Rolled Out to All Vehicles

UK – Midland Expressway Limited (MEL), operator of the M6 toll, has announced new toll prices including an additional off-peak rate, which will come into effect from 00:00hrs on Friday 12th July. The new pricing structure follows a series of product trials over the past 12 months to introduce a wider range of options for frequent users, which are now being launched to all eligible drivers. The uplift has been criticised by the Road Haulage Association (RHA), which said in a statement:

Virgin Looks to a Greener Future

UK – WORLDWIDE – Virgin Atlantic Cargo customers will get a further capacity boost as the airline becomes the first UK airline to announce a firm order for 14 Airbus A330-900neos, with an additional six as options, which it says reaffirms its commitment to flying the cleanest, greenest fleet in the sky. The aircraft will operate on both business and leisure routes for the airline worldwide with bases at London Heathrow, London Gatwick and Manchester Airports. Dominic Kennedy, Managing Director of Virgin Atlantic Cargo, said:

Mayoral Taskforce Sets Out Proposals for Cleaner City

UK – Last year Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, created a new taskforce with the intention of planning the essential infrastructure required to ensure the viability of electric vehicles in the metropolis. The EV Taskforce has now outlined the progression required to ease the passage of both private motorists and road haulage freight operations from diesel to electric vehicles. The past year has seen more than 140 organisations, from business, energy, infrastructure, government and the London boroughs, contribute to the work of the Taskforce.

Grants Support Short Line Railroad Improvements

US – In US rail freight news the US Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration has awarded a Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) Grant to the Ohio Rail Development Commission (ORDC) in the amount of $3,284,000. The money, together with other funds, will be used to rehabilitate the Port Delta Yard and construct mainline siding capacity in Delta, Ohio with new turnouts (points) for the Indiana & Ohio Railway Company (IORY) a short line freight railroad subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (G&W).

Finnish Straddle Carriers Purchased in Major Investment

UK – Forth Ports, which operates eight ports round the UK, has continued investing in its network with a multimillion pound order for eleven new Kalmar straddle carriers to upgrade and expand its container handling abilities. London Container Terminal (LCT) took delivery of six of the new Finnish box movers this week and Grangemouth will receive five new machines in early 2020.

Shipping and Supply Chain Event to Address Industry Training and Recruitment and More

UK – Just over a year ago we published a guest opinion by Andrew Thorne of freight and logistics consultants KTF Stone, in which he examined discussions at Multimodal 2018 with regard to Britain's imminent exit from the EU. At the time all parties in the sector felt the matter had dragged on far too long. What they will feel now, on the eve of the 2019 event, can only be imagined.

Asian Neighbours Help Take Up the Slack

US – Despite all the rhetoric about US trade wars with China, the Port of Oakland has managed to turn logical predictions about flows of containerised cargo on their head. Exports last month, primarily to Asia, were up 8.4% compared to May 2018 totals, whilst imports also rose, climbing 4.2% against last year.

Big Brother Comes to the Commercial Vehicle Market as EU Regulation Adopted

UK – A new EU regulation slipped quietly into place on Saturday June 15 which will have a profound effect on the country's road haulage industry. Despite a looming Brexit there is little doubt that regulation 165/2014 (updated by EU 2016/799) will remain in place whatever the outcome of the political shenanigans. Henceforth any new commercial vehicle with a mass of 3.5 tonnes or more (or a passenger carrying vehicle with more than nine seats), must be fitted with a 'smart' tachograph.

River Thames Returning to Life as South East England Facility Expands

UK – DP World is slowly forging ahead with its plan to be the country's premier deep water container port and distribution conurbation with work now well under way on the latest phase, LG231, the 231,000 square foot warehouse at its 212 acre London Gateway Logistics Park in the hinterland of the River Thames side site. The company will formally introduce the proposal at the 2019 Multimodal Exhibition at the NEC, Birmingham on Tuesday 18 June at 3pm.

Human Resource Update for the World's Largest Industry

WORLDWIDE – The weekly round-up of shipping and logistics staff changes starts in the air freight arena as Steven Polmans, Director Cargo and Logistics at Brussels Airport Company will soon take over as Chair of The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA), with Sanjeev Gadhia, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Astral Aviation, as Vice Chair from next month.

A Variety of Smaller Stories You May Have Missed

UK – As with any busy logistics operation, the facilities operated by Forth Ports require some staff to work with a range of machinery, from grinders to hammer drills, any of which can induce incurable Hand Arm Vibration (HAVS) condition, also known as white finger. To mitigate the risk the group, which operates eight of Britain's major ports, has rolled out Reactec's innovative wearable system which monitors the vibration exposure experienced by users.

US Says it Will Find the Culprits if These are Military Attacks

GULF OF OMAN – With two more apparent attacks on tankers this week as they transited the Strait of Hormuz, concerns are ramping up and sabres being rattled by the opposing powers. Whilst the US is gearing itself for a conflict with Iran, that country has hotly denied responsibility, with various factions claiming the incidents, including the four vessels attacked last month, ascribe them to other bodies.

Schemes Include Drones, Hydrogen Power and Greener Freight Technology

UK – The Department for Transport (DfT) has announced plans to innovate the UK's rail network with a £7.8 million investment to drive forward transformation of Britain's railways to become more efficient, greener, and cleaner. Drones capable of inspecting railway infrastructure, hydrogen train trials and a sound-bending wall to cut noise pollution are among 24 winning projects in the third round of the First of a Kind (FOAK) competition.

Standards Get Higher as the Years Roll By

UK – The everywoman organisation is celebrating the start of its 20 year anniversary in 2019 and today's annual everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards was the twelfth occasion that the gentlewomen of the transport industry have gathered to celebrate those who are viewed by their peers as the sectors most exceptional role models.

Infrastructure Adapted to Allow Unaccompanied Transport

SWEDEN – Anyone who has predicted that autonomous road haulage won't catch on will seemingly soon have to change their view as the pace of adoption picks up. The latest move in the field of driverless freight transport sees Volvo Trucks electric, connected and autonomous vehicle Vera form part of an integrated solution to transport goods from a DFDS logistics centre to a port terminal in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Thirty Two Collisions in Ten Years

UK – Bridge strikes are the bane of both the rail services and the road haulage operators whose drivers are the principal cause of such incidents. Now Network Rail has recently been forced to close a road in Birmingham for five months while complex repairs are made. The bridge, which carries the London North Western route railway over Landor Street in the Bordesley Green area of the city, has been hit 32 times since 2009.

Improved Safety in Global Fleet but Challenges Ahead

WORLDWIDE – Large shipping losses are now at their lowest level this century having declined by over 50% year on year, according to Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE's (AGCS) Safety & Shipping Review 2019. The annual study analyses reported shipping losses over 100 gross tonnes (GT) during the 12 months prior to December 31, 2018. It also identifies some of the key risk management challenges the maritime industry faces moving forward.

Companies Wish to Fight the Problem but Who Will Address the Possible Causes?

UK – WEST AFRICA – Last week saw a day-long symposium on Maritime Security sponsored by the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) and the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) on piracy in the Gulf of Guinea.

Once Again Wind Power Can Rule the Waves (and More Free Energy News)

WORLDWIDE – Last week it was a return to rotor sails as a method of reducing emissions from commercial shipping, this week it's kites, a subject about which we have previously reviewed past, unfortunately failed, attempts. Now container and tanker operator K Line has confirmed it will install the Seawing automated kite system to one of its bulk carriers to assist in the propulsion of the vessel when conditions are right.

Russian Coastal Project Examines Viability of Increase in Containers and General Cargoes

ARCTIC – RUSSIA – Global ports operator DP World has announced that it will be operating the proposed new ports that Russia plans to build along the northern sea route (NSR) in the Arctic to shorten shipping times between the east and west. The logistics enablement outfit, along with partners the Russian Direct Investment Fund; the infrastructure operator of the northern sea route, ROSATOM; and Russian miner Norilsk Nickel, have jointly agreed to implement the project for the integrated development of sea freight via the NSR.

After US Launch Logistics in the Home Cities Stand to Benefit from Electric Vehicles

NETHERLANDS – UK– EUROPE – Pitched somewhere between a motorcycle courier and a delivery van comes the new generation of vehicles, either pedal powered or electrically driven, properly described a tricycles but which are collectively generally simply called 'trikes'. These little utility vehicles are bound to become ever more popular in European cities where the drive toward cleaner logistics and quieter, more environmentally responsible road haulage operations are increasingly demanded.

Global Effort to Improve the Wellbeing of Those at Sea

UK – WORLDWIDE – Mutual P&I insurer in the small and specialist vessel sector The Shipowners' Club has announced a strategic partnership agreement with international seafarer welfare charity, The Mission to Seafarers intended to boost further the Mission's ongoing Seafarers Happiness Index, bringing greater scale to the programme and allowing the Mission to reach more crews aboard the world's merchant shipping fleet.

New Regulations Demand Attention from the Transport Sector

UK – It seems that the effort which the British International Freight Association (BIFA) has been putting in to ensure the UK logistics industry is trained and ready both for Brexit and for new customs regulations has been paying off. In addition to BIFA having its own dedicated website to explain the apprenticeships available to would be transporters and freight forwarders, the organisation says it has now seen massive interest for its recently launched, online training course that focuses on customs declarations.

Investment Groups Gamble on Term Effects of e-commerce

US – Back in March at the United Kingdom Warehouse Association (UKWA) Conference we heard details of the current, and upcoming, availability of warehouse space in Britain from Kevin Mofid from property agent Savills, and details of some of the major developments. It would seem this drive to create more, modern storage and transit space in the UK is being mirrored across in America, and once again the principal driver is e-commerce.

HR Announcements from Around the Global Industry

UK – The latest round-up of staff movements in the global shipping and logistics sector starts with a series of changes at the British International Freight Association (BIFA) board level, with John Stubbings named to succeed Mark Bromley as the National Chair of BIFA, for a two-year period. Bromley now becomes Immediate Past Chair, also for a two-year term.

A Smorgasbord of Stories Which May Have Escaped Your Notice This Week

WORLDWIDE – Airlines AirBridgeCargo (ABC) and CargoLogicAir (CLA) have become the first air freight only carriers to join the air cargo booking platform cargo.one. The pair say that via the partnership they can market to hundreds of freight forwarding companies digitally. The system is planned to go live later this summer after completion of the integration of the carriers' in-house systems with cargo.one.

In Six Months New Regulations Come Into Effect on ITF Registered Vessels

WORLDWIDE – There is more than a note of concern in the latest from the Joint Negotiating Group (JNG) of maritime employers and the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) regarding scheduled changes to the Collective Bargaining Agreement that were agreed at the last International Bargaining Forum (IBF) negotiations in February 2018, and specifically to the 'Dockers Clause', which comes into effect 1 January 2020.

Vehicle Manufacturer and Scientists Had Federal Aid for Successful Road Haulage Project

GERMANY – Three years ago we witnessed the first serious pan European trial of platooning, the system whereby semi-autonomous trucks travel in convoy, linked telemetrically with the lead, driven vehicle controlling the actions of the linked, driver assisted vehicles following behind successfully cross western Europe. One year ago freight group DB Schenker, HGV manufacturer MAN Truck & Bus and the Fresenius University of Applied Sciences began their own proposed trials to potentially revolutionise the road haulage industry, and now the conclusions have been published.

We Have Had Autonomous Vessels, Electric Ferries - Now the Engineer Works on Land

NORWAY – Another giant step toward automation of the shipping industry this week with the announcement at the Nor-Shipping trade fair in Oslo that classification society DNV GL, automation systems vendor Høglund, ferry operator Fjord1, and the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) have completed the first testing phase of the ROMAS (Remote Operation of Machinery and Automation Systems) project.

Maritime Industry Targeted by Low Earth Orbit Technology

WORLDWIDE – Global communications company OneWeb, has partnered with others to target the maritime industry and bring what they claim to be the first 'fibre-like' connectivity service to the market. OneWeb's network will look to produce a tenfold increase in bandwidth to the ocean shipping industry.

Major Produce Shipper Vows to Cut Environmental Impact as Sulphur Cap Looms

WORLDWIDE – The drive to reduce pollutants from the supply chain needs input, not just from the bulk cargo and container shipping sectors and the road haulage industry, but from the big brand names which dominate the markets which they operate in. One such is Fyffes, a name synonymous with the humble banana, but actually one of the world's largest and oldest tropical produce importers and distributors for a range of products.

Dismissal of Dockers Generates Severe Criticism

PAKISTAN – This week the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) has unreservedly condemned the recent sackings of eight union leaders by Hutchison Ports Pakistan operation after they were dismissed allegedly for trying to introduce an ITF approved union to the Karachi freight container handling facilities operated by its subsidiary at South Asia Pakistan Terminals (SAPT).

Public Consultation on London Congestion Zone Must Understand Logistics Needs

UK – Transport for London (TfL) has today launched a Public Consultation to garner opinion on certain traffic slowing measures to make travel in the metropolis safer. The main thrust of the proposal is to cut speed limits in the Congestion Zone from 30mph to 20mph. Cynics will say that rarely can they exceed 20mph in the Zone anyway, but statistics from TfL say a person hit at 30mph is five times more likely to die than someone hit at 20mph. Road haulage freight is often undertaken 'out of hours' and this needs consideration.

Acquired Multimodal Interests See New Birmingham Base

UK – Since its acquisitions of rail cargo and terminal group Freightliner and shipping container logistician Pentalver in 2015 and 2016 respectively, Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (G&W), which owns or leases 120 freight railroads and operates mainly on home turf in the US, as well as Australia and Europe, has been establishing a growing presence in Britain with its selected multimodal subsidiaries.

Orkney Uses Renewable Energy to Cut Maritime Pollution

UK – A project to supply locally produced 'green' electrical power to the MV Hamnavoe, the NorthLink freight and passenger ferry which serves Orkney from the Port of Scrabster on the mainland, is due to get underway shortly. The connection, to supply power to the vessel while she is docked in Stromness, Orkney, is believed to be the first large commercial ship shore connection in the UK, and is just one element of an overarching low carbon travel and transport project for the island town.

New Generation Crude Carrier Has Revolutionary Features

SOUTH KOREA – WORLDWIDE – Lloyd's Register (LR) has presented Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) with an approval in principle (AiP) for a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) 'eco-tanker' design, capable of using a combination of volatile organic compounds (VOC) mixed with LNG as fuel and Norsepower's rotor sail solution for wind-assisted propulsion.

New System to Replace Decade Old Software Next Year

UK – WORLDWIDE – Digitalisation is breaking out all over and now one of the major air freight carriers, Virgin Atlantic Cargo, is to adopt Accenture's cloud-enabled, end-to-end AFLS 8.0 cargo management platform to 'spearhead its digital future'. Virgin will be the first company to adopt the digital capabilities of the cargo management software suite.

Cargo Gateway Established for Groupage Traffic and More

GERMANY – Rhenus Logistics has opened a new operations facility for its Air and Ocean division at Leipzig/Halle airport in Saxony. The new facility, which opened on 1 June, enables the Rhenus Group to expand its logistics network in eastern and central Germany, as well as supporting its direct link to the company's international network through the groupage and air freight gateways in Hilden and Frankfurt am Main.

Technology Groups Work with Ocean Carriers on Zero Emissions Energy Distribution

SCANDINAVIA – Bulk ocean carrier and freight terminal group Grieg Star and RoRo ferry and logistics outfit DFDS are two of the partners in an all Nordic collaboration busily addressing the conundrum of cutting CO₂ emissions from the industry. Along with technology group Wärtsilä, energy firm Equinor and engineering groups Aker Solutions and Kvaerner, the six publicised their last six months work on their ZEEDS (Zero Emission Energy Distribution at Sea) project.

Shortage of Cash Causes Abandonment in What Transport Sector Sees as Short Sighted Decision

UK – In a controversial move today the First Minister of Wales announced that the much vaunted M4 relief road scheme was to be scrapped. In his decision letter Mark Drakeford said 'uncertainty as to the financial position of the Welsh Government, the cost of the Project, and its consequential impact on other capital investment priorities, was not acceptable' and therefore the Welsh Government would not supply the necessary funding. The decision was immediately met by a chorus of disapproval from the road haulage and general freight lobby.

Technology Spreads to the Panama Canal

AMERICAS – We have been covering the burgeoning activities of sub-aqua hull cleaning since HullWiper introduced its technology in 2014, and now vessels of all types transiting the Panama Canal can now take advantage of the innovative and eco-friendly hull cleaning solution, with the establishment of the first HullWiper operations base in the Americas, in partnership with subsea services provider, Talleres Industriales.

Section Welded in Middle of Ship Whilst Technical Changes Cut Pollutants

SPAIN – ITALY – The embarkation of a Grimaldi Line RoRo freight and passenger ferry, Cruise Roma, from the Port of Barcelona was hailed this week as the first case of a zero emissions vessel whilst in port plying its trade in the Mediterranean Sea. Originally built in 2007 the craft has been remodelled in the Palermo yard of Fincantieri, work which included a further 29 metre long midsection being added to the ship.

FITS to Aid Everything from Air Quality and Congestion to Communications

US – It's full steam ahead for the latest technology upgrade at the Port of Oakland with the news that the Alameda County Transportation Commission (ACTC) has received $12.45 million from the California Transportation Commission for the implementation of the Freight Intelligent Transportation System (FITS) programme designed to speed the processing of containers through the facility.

ECSA Boss Says Cut Unilateralism and Promote a Greener Environment

CYPRUS – The recent 30th anniversary AGM of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber heard a speech from European Community Shipowners' Association (ECSA) President-elect Claes Berglund in which he praised the Chamber for its contribution toward strategic concerns of the European shipping sector but heavily criticised the Turkish authorities for its ban on Cypriot vessels. Mr Berglund also is a director at RoRo ferry, tanker and ship management group Stena and he said: