Shipping Search - Archive

Working Chassis Revealed For Inner City Logistics Truck

SWEDEN – UK – EUROPE – Having toured its prototype all electric commercial vehicle around Europe's major cities in the past months, Volta Trucks, the start-up lorry manufacturer, has revealed the first running prototype chassis of its Volta Zero, moving a step closer to full production.

Freight Forwarders and Cargo Handlers Extend MOU

WORLDWIDE – This week saw the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) and the International Cargo Handling Coordination Association (ICHCA) renew their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to reinforce collaboration between the two organisations in an online signing ceremony.

Return of Trade to the Water Prompts New Plan

UK – In the days of Empire, London was the largest and most influential port in the world. Not only did steamers enter the River Thames to move upstream the Royal Docks, but the Pool of London saw the wharves either side of Tower Bridge clogged with barges, wherries and vessels of all sorts.

Astronomical Rise in Container Rates Needs Proper Explanation Say Freight Forwarders

UK – WORLDWIDE – Some six months ago Robert Keen, Director General of the British International Freight Association (BIFA)expressed his ire at the seemingly random application of demurrage and detention charges being applied by the box lines for containers in their care.

Four Year Working Arrangement Settled

AUSTRALIA – Regular readers may have formed the impression that all transport related unions ever do is complain, not illogical as they are there to uphold the rights of their members as they interpret them. The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), Led by Paddy Crumlin, can often be particularly acerbic in its comments.

Needless Deaths and Injuries as Motorcycle Riders Spurn Helmets

UK – KENYA – Nobody will ever be able to accuse transport charity Transaid of not having a diverse portfolio. Having instituted professional driver training and introduced bicycle ambulances across Africa the organisation then stepped up to fight malaria. Now it's pushing the message that motor cycle helmets save lives.

Hackers a Threat to Vessels and Lives

UK – WORLDWIDE – With the perfect storm created by the pandemic and its effect of normal working methods, coupled with the rise in cyber-crime, much of it targeted at shipping and supply chain interests, comes a new, online course aimed at protecting individuals, companies and vessels from serious and potentially life-threatening incidents.

Our Weekly Look at the One Liners

UK – The London International Shipping Week (LISW 2021) headline conference, 'Driving Growth in a Disrupted World', will hear thought leaders from across the international maritime industry and government focus on driving recovery across the sector after the disruption caused by Covid-19. The event is to be held at International Maritime Organization (IMO) HQ on Wednesday 15 September 2021.

Global Authorities Under Fire as Crisis in Shipping Persists

WORLDWIDE – The Day of the Seafarer, normally a day of celebration, has this year served to focus attention from all quarters on the ineffectiveness of governments around the globe to properly deal with those who are at the heart of ensuring the pandemic crisis doesn't collapse the supply chain and bring society to its knees.

Commercial Driver Shortage Pressages Disaster

UK – Whilst groups such as Logistics UK decided to go it alone when lobbying government on the crucial shortage of commercial vehicle drivers which is presenting a very real threat to maintaining the supply chain, rival industry outfit, the Road Haulage Association (RHA) has favoured throwing in its lot with other heavy hitters in a letter sent directly to the Prime Minister.

Safety Paramount for Fast Food Producer

UK – Mention Domino's Pizza to anyone and it is hardly likely to conjure up a vision similar to that of our photograph. The truth is however that it is ultra-modern facilities like the company's 26,000 square foot catering facility near Glasgow that are the key to the supply chain which places the fast food within one's grasp.

All is Not Well in Australian Waters and Ports

AUSTRALIA – It is a busy time for maritime union interests at the moment with recent protests outside Parliament and the office of the Northern Territory (NT) Chief Health Officer over subjects ranging from the flagging of vessels to the coronavirus outbreak.

AR Glasses Provide Information from Anywhere in the World

NORWAY – WORLDWIDE – Yara Marine Technologies, which offers solutions to the shipping industry on many of the evolving problems which it faces, has taken to of late using the advantages offered by augmented reality spectacles.

Conference Gives a Chance to Hear the Latest Requirements of the Sector

UK – Attendance at this year's Logistics UK's 2021 Fleet Engineer Conference will prove of extra special interest to those operators in the road haulage sector. The event, taking place at the British Motor Museum in Warwickshire on 7 September 2021, will feature Kevin Rooney, the Traffic Commissioner for the West of England as a guest speaker.

Changing Nature of Trade Means Greater Stock Retention

UK – This morning the BBC woke up to the fact that the demand for warehousing in the country has probably never been greater when it ran an interview with Senior Vice President, Head of Capital Deployment UK at industrial property specialist, Prologis, Robin Woodbridge.

A More Sustainable, Social and Economic Supply Chain Target

SWITZERLAND – WORLDWIDE – Kühne Logistics University (KLU) and HELP Logistics are to cooperate together with the establishment of a new research centre for humanitarian logistics and regional development. Both institutions have the aim to support social and economic progress in low-income countries.

New Initiative to Push Development in the Merchant Fleet

NETHERLANDS – US – WORLDWIDE – Hydrodynamic research and maritime technology group the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN) has cooperated with the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and a host of other participants to take the investigation of the practicalities of wind propulsion in the merchant fleet to the next level.

Equipment and Packing Standards Must Not Slip Says Insurance Group

UK – WORLDWIDE – A perhaps somewhat forgotten downside to the current paucity of shipping containers is that, when desperate for suitable equipment, shippers and shipping lines alike might be tempted to utilise boxes which in better times might not be considered adequate for the job.

Black Hawks Up - Then Safely Down

POLAND – PHILIPPINES – Ukrainian heavy lift and project air cargo specialist Antonov Airlines has just safely transported its second batch of S-70i Black Hawk from Rzeszów, Poland, to Angeles, the Philippines.

Appointments and Departures in Transport and Logistics

UK – This week the United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA) named Clare Bottle FCILT as its Chief Executive Officer. A well-known logistics industry figure Clare will take over the role from 1 July and replace Peter Ward who announced he was to step down from the role earlier this month.

Tales from the Industry Round the World

UK – This week we saw one of the UK's oldest established names in shipping rebrand with a new website and contact addresses. Since opening a chandlery business in 1833 in Hull, close to the company's current headquarters, the John Good name has seen many changes prior to this one.

With the Age of Vehicle Capacity Over Shippers Need to Examine Themselves

US – UK – EUROPE – WORLDWIDE – The well-publicised shortage of heavy goods vehicle drivers is a problem which continues to afflict all regions and, in a week when the road haulage lobby met with the UK government for discussions on the situation, it is worth perhaps considering some options.

Virus Continues to Decimate Supply Chain

CHINA – There are few companies better placed to comment on the current situation regarding Covid-19 and its effect on container shipping than Danish giant Maersk, and this week the company has issued an update on the parlous state at the Port of Yantian.

30,000 Existing Vessels Estimated to Require Compliance

WORLDWIDE – Yet another acronym has recently found its way into the maritime vocabulary, EEXI, which stands for the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index, but this one needs serious consideration by ship owners. A regulation adopted at MEPC76 this week is due to take effect in January 2023.

These are Salad Days for EV Drivers - But Not for Long Perhaps

UK – Whilst there is undoubted enthusiasm to make the switch from internal combustions engines to electrically powered vehicles most are aware of some of the problems associated with the technology. Battery life and range of travel spring straight to mind. However there are other factors to consider.

Wearable Robotics Have a Future in Logistics Operations

ITALY – GERMANY – WORLDWIDE – Although it may seem a little science fiction to many, wearable robotics may have a major place in the prospective future of logistics and the pick and pack and supply chain warehouse environments.

Cargo Handling Group Upgrade Systems and Equipment

FRANCE – EMEAA – Worldwide Flight Services (WFS), which claims the title of the world's largest air cargo handler and is headquartered in Paris, has opened a new Security Operations Centre (SOC) for the Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa (EMEAA) region in the city, providing centralised 24/7 monitoring of its cargo handling operations.

Ultimate Aim is to Eliminate All Pollution from Logistics Operations

UK – The first daily riverboat delivery service on the River Thames for an NHS trust has begun trials this month. If the proof-of-concept pilot is successful, the service will operate on a larger scale, removing trucks from London roads, while providing a reliable delivery route into the capital during the day.

Lack of Attention Can Cost Tens of Thousands

WORLDWIDE – There can be few experienced staff in virtually any industry who are not aware of the dangers of cyber fraud, particularly the simple tactic of using a false email address. However the latest case illustrated by specialist shipping insurer's shows the damage which can occur even if just a simple mistake is made.

Hope for a Real Live Event Prompts Call for Candidates

UK – It has been a tough past eighteen months or so for many and, with the double whammy of the pandemic and Brexit, not least for the freight forwarders. So it is certain that many in that community will be positively slavering at the potential opportunity to network with old friends and sit down to a meal in convivial surroundings, both trademarks of the annual British International Freight Association (BIFA) Freight Service Awards.

Cross Channel Passenger Transport is About to Speed Up

FRANCE – UK– OK, so it might not technically be a freight story but the announcement from Brittany Ferries that the company is seriously reviewing the introduction of a 'flying boat', based on the Russian built 'Caspian Sea Monster'of the 1960's, is well worth a comment.

Partners Turn to Government for Aid to Growth of Sector

UK – What is being termed a 'Call for Action' to facilitate the growth of the air cargo sector has been submitted to the government by Aberdeen Standard Investment's AIPUT fund (Airport Industrial Property Unit Trust) and Logistics UK.

Indicators Show Steady Climb Back to Normality

SPAIN – Valenciaport shifted more than 100,000 export containers in May, a figure that represents an increase of 50% compared to last year, and 12.26% compared to 2019, a year not affected by the virus. Export TEUs have grown with respect to 2019 both in the monthly and accumulated (January-May) by 14.34% and in the year-on-year by 11.73%.

Bans and Sanctions Will Raise Costs and Damage capacity

BELARUS – WORLDWIDE – The disgraceful incident in which a journalist, Raman Pratasevich, was seized by the Belarusian authorities last month has led to the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) warning freight forwarders of the ramifications for the cargo community.

Call for Government Cash to Lead the Fight to Zero 2050

UK – WORLDWIDE – As we explained in an article in May, whilst the G7 meeting took place in Cornwall an equivalent group from the nations involved, all of whom represented their country's shipping interests and known as the M7 group, met simultaneously via Microsoft Teams to discuss current industry affairs.

US Program Shows the Way to Get Youngsters Involved

US – It is perhaps time for more road haulage and logistics interests in the UK and across Europe to take a look at an initiative across the Atlantic which is making a bid to end a crisis afflicting all communities – the chronic HGV driver shortage.

Compliance Planner Now Available Online

WORLDWIDE – DNV, the classification society, has launched what it believes is the first fully functional digital Compliance Planner, to help ship owners and operators wade through an ever increasing mountain of red tape apropos international regulations.

Some Stories Which May Have Escaped Your Attention This Week

UK – FRANCE – With one hand the pandemic gives and the other it takes away. Whilst the traffic levels through the Channel Tunnel for passenger vehicles were up against the first lockdowns in spring 2020, reaching 45,841 in May, this was still unsurprisingly a huge slump against earlier years. Le Shuttle Freight however transported 112,772 trucks, an increase of 25% compared to May 2020.

New Agreement with Space Agency

FRANCE – Nobody could accuse the management at French container line CMA CGM of sitting on their hands when it comes to promoting new, forward thinking initiatives over the past couple of years.

Recommencement of US - European Flights

US – GREECE – As the airlines around the world, yawn, stretch and get ready to go back to work comes the announcement of new cargo services between Chicago, New York and Athens.

MEPC 76 Talks May Generate Some Heat

UK – WORLDWIDE – Whilst the eyes of the mainstream press focus on Cornwall this week and barbecues on the beach at the G7 summit, there is a potentially discordant discussion occurring in London which may have eventually even more effect on the world in which we live.

Deep Blue Project Offers Resources to Fight the Criminal Gangs

NIGERIA – The announcement this week that the government has launched its 'Deep Blue' project, a significant investment in military and law enforcement infrastructure to step up the fight against piracy and kidnapping from vessels in the region, has been met favourably by the global shipping and oil industry lobby.

Tri-modal Accessibility for Numerous Import and Export Routes

BELGIUM – P&O Ferrymasters has entered into an agreement with Genk Green Logistics to build a 10,000 m² state-of-the-art warehouse near the Port of Genk. The companies say the warehouse will be ideally positioned to accommodate the import and export of goods requiring storage for international deep-sea routes and to the United Kingdom via both the English Channel and North Sea.

MSC Signs Up for Decarbonisation Equipment

SWITZERLAND – WORLDWIDE – Lugano headquartered Cavotec, which supplies industries, including the port sector, with the technology required to assist in their decarbonisation, has won a series of orders in the second quarter with a total value of €5 million to equip the world's largest new-build container ships with its ShorePower systems.

Details of Vessel Disposal Must be Revealed to the World

US – WORLDWIDE – Crowley Maritime Corporation has become the first US owned and 13th overall ship owner-operator that will publicly disclose its ship recycling policies, practices and processes through the Ship Recycling Transparency Initiative (SRTI), which was established late in 2018.

Whilst Passenger Carriage in Doldrums Cargo Figures Hold Up

WORLDWIDE – Because the data continues to be clouded by the effects of the global pandemic the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has this month continued its usual policy of issuing statistics for air freight transport showing comparisons to pre-Covid levels i.e. the corresponding month in 2019 not 2020.

With Warming Tripling Faster Than Elsewhere Action is Needed Now

WORLDWIDE – Today (8 June) being World Oceans Day, the Clean Arctic Alliance (CAA) is marking the occasion with a webinar at 3:00 PM in Universal Time (UTC) to consider the links between shipping's black carbon and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the 'Arctic climate crisis'.

Road Haulage Needs to Promote Itself and Entice Government Support

UK – The chronic shortage of commercial truck drivers afflicting not only Britain but further afield in some continental countries is seemingly getting worse with the average age of UK HGV drivers now standing in the mid to late fifties.

As Ship Strikes Kill Cetaceans a New Way to Identify More Responsible Companies

WORLDWIDE – Last week we gave a lot of coverage to the many risks which life at sea can throw up leading to the sinking of vessels and the injuries, and even deaths, of seafarers. Now the dangers which commercial vessels bring to other inhabitants of the ocean are in the spotlight, with a new campaign to protect whales.

Beware the Incautious Importer as Deadline for Delayed Declarations Looms

UK – Brexit, the headache that persists for many traders and agents. Since leaving the EU British businesses have fought the difficulties which come with changes to import and export procedures, mitigated only by the guidance and sage advice offered by the freight and logistics Associations which support the industry.

Appointments and Departures Contains Some Major Names

UK – Peter Ward, CEO of the United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA), has announced his intention to step down after six years at the helm of the sector’s leading trade organisation. His successor will be named shortly.

Some of the Lesser Industry Stories of the Week

UK – John Good Logistics, one of the oldest established names in British shipping, will be changing identity on 14 June. However as the new name is currently withheld you will apparently have to wait until the refurbished brand is revealed on the rebooted website on that date.

Retrofitting of Tanks Receives Outline Approval as a Stop Gap Option

UK – WORLDWIDE – Whilst the maritime world transitions to cleaner vessels as mandated by the IMO and the major governments, one of the easiest switches from heavy fuel oil is probably with the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Spectacular Films of Falling Gantry Handlers and Stacks of Boxes

TAIWAN – There is a ghoulish fascination watching the drama of an accident unfold and none more spectacular than when hundreds of tonnes of cranes and cargo collapse, only however when there are no serious consequences.

Diesel Moves Into the Realms of History

WORLDWIDE – As the pressure to ensure products meet ever higher standards with regard to their environmental credentials even the oldest and most respected names in the supply chain are having to innovate to stay ahead of the game. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the handling materials field where the heaviest bracket of cargoes has always previously relied on diesel.

Get to Drive a Raft of New Vehicles at Technology Expo

UK – With the business world in the UK beginning to emerge into the light like a post hibernation dormouse following the most devastating ever pandemic in living memory, commercial shows and other events are feeling brave enough to advertise their wares once more.

Government Money Available Now

UK – The news that extra government money for hiring new apprentices is now open for applications has been praised by the British International Freight Association (BIFA) which is encouraging its members to take advantage of the increased incentive payments that are now available.

Some Samples of the Problems Faced While Afloat

WORLDWIDE – Three emails which hit the Newsdesk simultaneously show some of the dangers faced by all manner of vessels and their personnel whilst out at sea. The latest piracy incident, a mysterious fire on a military vessel and the fate of a containership came all at once.

Major Multimodal Logistics Hub Under Construction

FRANCE – HAROPA Ports, the alliance between the Seine ports of Le Havre, Rouen and Paris, has announced the creation of a major river and sea port complex at Gennevilliers, a 90,000 m² multimodal logistics platform.

The Fight to Encourage Businesses Cutting Emissions Takes to the Road

UK – Sustainability certification outfit Planet Mark will launch its Zero Carbon Tour intended to encourage UK businesses to cut emissions with the unveiling of the country's first fully electric 'Carbon Battle Bus' at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, London on Wednesday 9 June at 1pm by Mitford peer Lord Redesdale and Conservative Andrew Griffith MP, UK Net Zero Business Champion.

Mersey Event to Take Place During London International Shipping Week

UK – Maritime UK has launched its National Apprenticeship Awards, designed to shine a spotlight on how the sector supports talent development. The awards will recognise and celebrate quality maritime employers and the individuals who have chosen to build a career in the sector. In the inaugural year, the winners will be announced as part of the Mersey Maritime Industry Awards, being held during London International Shipping Week in September.

Vessel Operator is Serial Transgressor of Safety Standards

AUSTRALIA – Officials at the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) described conditions aboard a Panama flagged bulk carrier as 'unbearable' as they issued a three year ban on the vessel entering the country's waters following one of the longest detentions of a foreign ship there.