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Problems Continue at Parcel Carrier's Depots

TURKEY – The union membership dispute we reported in July at express freight carrier UPS rumbles on despite the group's head office’s intervention. According to the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) trade union members in over forty cities worldwide will demonstrate tomorrow in a day of action to protest the company’s actions.

Babcock Marine Likely to Win Big at Both Ends of the UK

UK – After announcing they were to withdraw from the passenger service provision between Rosyth and Zeebrugge last week, DFDS said they were considering continuing the route as a RoRo freight only ferry service and would double the number of sailings for a trial period. Now it appears Babcock Marine is about to lodge plans with Fife Council next month to convert part of the Rosyth dockyard to an international container base, reportedly at a cost of around £85 million. Babcock took over the dockyard from the Navy in 1997, ten years before the group acquired the Devonport facility at Plymouth.

Aviation Income Down But Overall Net Earnings Up

NETHERLANDS – Time was when the only factors that affected the fiscal performance of an airport were aviation related. Nowadays there are other items to factor into the financial equation no matter how many passengers or how much air freight cargo passes down the runways.

So Much Work - So Little Money

US – The latest debate in American trucking circles concerns the so called FREIGHT Act 2010 proposed by Democrat Senator Frank Lautenberg and two of his party’s collaborators. The Focusing Resources, Economic Investment, and Guidance to Help Transportation Act, to give it the usual laborious, excuse for an acronym, title is a creditable attempt to develop a scheme which will be a nationwide blueprint for cargo carriage by strategically improving transport infrastructure whilst improving environmental and safety conditions and improving transport times.

Numbers of Intercontinental Movements Continue to Rise

UK – Department for Transport figures show that after a slight increase of 4% in the number of goods vehicles travelling from Britain to the continent in the first quarter of this year, once again there was a further rise for the next three months, of 7%, against last years comparable period. An increase of 3% (455,000) were powered vehicles whilst unaccompanied trailers jumped by 20% to 176,000. 22% of the powered trucks were UK registered (20% for 2009).

Record Temperatures Cause Chaos

BULGARIA – Record temperatures were recorded today across the country meaning that trucks over 20 tonnes are banned from travelling on the country’s under funded road network. A blanket ban was already in force from 1500 to 2000 hours on Fridays and Sundays from the 6th to the 30th August.

Turkey Latest Signatory to IMO Convention

TURKEY – WORLDWIDE – This week the International Maritime Organization (IMO) have confirmed that Turkey, one of the five major ship recycling nations in the world, has signed, subject to ratification, the Hong Kong International Convention for the Safe and Environmentally Sound Recycling of Ships, 2009. The Hong Kong Convention, adopted at a diplomatic conference in May 2009, is aimed at ensuring that ships, when being recycled after reaching the end of their operational lives, do not pose any unnecessary risk to human health and safety or to the environment.

4,000 Tonne Platforms Move North to Alaska

US - Berard Transportation, project forwarding and heavy lift specialists have moved a vast array of large objects since the late Roy Berard Senior started his ‘Building Mover’ business at the end of WW2 shifting houses without allegedly even breaking a window. The recent contract undertaken by Roy’s family company might have had even the old maestro a little amazed.

DHL Start Supply Chain into Pakistan Flood Area

PAKISTAN - After yesterday’s report of how FedEx were still assisting with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, a full five years on from the disastrous flooding of New Orleans, comes news of yet another logistics company moving in to assist victims of the recent inundation of the country by the worst floods in memory.

Giant Structural Concrete Components Carried into Poland

GERMANY – POLAND – In an extraordinary demonstration of project forwarding, DB Schenker Rail will be transporting 72 concrete elements of up to 37 meters in length each from Neumark in Upper Palatinate, Germany, to Wrocław in Poland for the Max Bögl construction company over the next few weeks.

Latest Financial Reports Good but Concerns on Overcapacity Continue

WORLDWIDE – NORWAY – Concerns running through the industry regarding the future rates of dry bulk freight also extend to oil tanker field according to the largest independent tanker group, Frontline of Norway. Despite posting improved second quarter figures last week the Bermudan registered corporation are predicting a downturn over the next few months. A company statement outlined clearly its expectation that it would produce ‘a materially lower result in the third quarter’.

Debate Continues on Who Should Deem a Truck Safe

UK – The debate over who should be responsible for testing and assessing Britain’s trucks for roadworthiness continues with the news that all of the major representative groups associated with haulage agree they wish to see major changes to the way freight truck and passenger carrying vehicle condition tests are administered. Currently the responsibility lies with the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA).

$ 4 Million Dollar Investment in New Facility

VIETNAM – It seems it is not only the Chinese who view the countries of the Greater Mekong region as the freight growth area of the future. This week Damco, the AP Moeller Maersk subsidiary, have announced they are to invest over $ 4 million in a new integrated logistics centre at Binh Duong, 25 kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City.

Association Sets out Plans for the Future Down Under

WORLDWIDE - Giovanni Bisignani, Director General and CEO of IATA the international air transport association, has been visiting Australia this week and took the opportunity to lay out what his organisation thinks of the air transport industry, present and future, in the region at a key time for the country given the uncertainty following the election result.

FedEx Sponsor New Orleans Summit

US – This is a particularly poignant moment in history for those who have ever suffered at the hands of floodwater. The current disaster in Pakistan, an inundation of Biblical proportions affecting in excess of 20 million people, far exceeds anything similar in recent history. This however is no consolation to the good folk of New Orleans made homeless in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Genco Take Delivery of Five Ships in Two Weeks

US – This week Genco Shipping & Trading Limited announced that it has taken delivery of the Genco Bourgogne, a 2010-built Supramax vessel, and the Genco Bay, a 2010-built Handysize vessel. The Genco Bourgogne is the ninth vessel to be delivered to the Company under its agreement previously announced on June 25, 2010 to acquire 13 Supramax vessels from Setaf SAS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Bourbon SA. The Genco Bay is the is the second of five vessels to be delivered to the Company under its agreement previously announced on June 9, 2010 to acquire five Handysize vessels from companies within the Metrostar group.

Border Agency Staff Always See the Dark Side

UK – Whilst most involved in the freight industry beaver away in various specialised roles, from fork truck driver to stevedore and Bill of Lading clerk, there is whole army of Government employees concerned with policing every facet of the industry. For most of us there is a blurred line separating HM Revenue and Customs and the UK Border Agency but this is to be expected as the two roles apparently overlap, in fact this is not the case.

Asciano - Stevedoring Write Downs Damage Bottom Line

AUSTRALIA – The Asciano Group have published a net loss of close to a billion Australian dollars after devaluing assets of its Patrick port operations by a roughly equivalent amount as it warned some months ago. After coming in for fierce criticism last year from the Sydney Ports Corporation, the News South Wales authorities subsequently awarded the stevedoring contract at the new Port Botany terminal to Hutchison.

COSCO follow Maersk With First Half Gains

CHINA – Just a week after Maersk announced their return to profitability another major force in container shipping has followed suit. COSCO Container Lines came in with a $170 million plus profit and the dry bulk sector of the China COSCO Holdings group, China COSCO, also posted improved figures as commodity freight rates climbed from the depths.

Change at the Top for LTL Haulage Firm

US - CANADA - In a sudden move Con-way Freight, the less than truckload (LTL) arm of Con-way Incorporated, have announced that President John G Labrie has left the group ‘to pursue other interests’. With no further comment available from either party, and with Douglas W. Stotlar, President and CEO of the parent company taking over from Mr Labrie with immediate effect observers are saying that the move is symptomatic of an internal policy rift.

CMA CGM Launches New Direct Service

FRANCE – ASIA – SOUTH AMERICA – French container shipping line CMA CGM have announced the launch of ACSA 2, a new direct service between Asia, Mexico and the West Coast of South America, operated in partnership with China Shipping Container Lines (CSCL), Hanjin Shipping and Hyundai Merchant Marine. The ACSA 2 service will deploy 10 vessels with capacities between 2350 and 2550 TEU.

With Environmentalists Holding the Senate What of the Future ?

AUSTRALIA -Even as negotiations continue between the trio of Independent outback MP’s and the two main parties the lower house may not be the crucial area of Australian politics as far as shipping and transport interests are concerned. It appears that the Green party will have the controlling interest in the Senate from July next year, possibly for the following six years and the potential for change will be, to say the least, interesting.

New Base For Marine Salvage Company

AUSTRALIA - US - The waters of the coast of Cairns are a Mecca for divers who want to access the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef. Overwhelmed by the variety of life under the warm seas they rarely explore the area for the plethora of wrecks whose remains still litter the seabed. As with the case of the Shen Neng 1 reported in May however, cases of groundings and shipwrecks in the open sea can still occur despite most of the inshore waters being protected with the shipping lanes a regular passage to container ships and bulk and coal vessels.

IMB Find Dishonest Dealings - and Stupidity

INDIA – A warning has gone out from the ICC Commercial Crime Services (CCS), the anti-crime arm of the International Chamber of Commerce, of serious maritime fraud emanating from the subcontinent. Several consignments of clothing and footwear, all of which appear on apparently genuine NVOCC Bills of Lading, in fact never existed. All the relevant documents carried the container numbers of actual boxes but the containers in question were dispersed around the globe at the time of issue.

LD to Cease Passenger Carriage on Dover - Boulogne Route

FRANCE – UK – French owned LD Lines are to cease passenger operations on their Dover – Boulogne service from September. In the second case this week a major ferry company have withdrawn a passenger service stating it is uneconomic. As with the DFDS Rosyth - Zeebrugge withdrawal LD hope to continue to service freight vehicles.

ASEAN Countries Plan their Future

ASIA – Following our coverage of the recent regional freight conference it seems ministers in China and the ASEAN countries are determined to press swiftly on with plans to develop the freight corridor linking the various countries concerned. At the 16th Greater Mekong Subregion ( GMS) Ministerial Meeting last week attended by all the countries alongside the river namely China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam plus senior representatives of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), all parties committed to push through the construction of a rail corridor and upgrading and harmonisation of the tracks and equipment.

YRC Sell to Texas Investment Group

US- UK – WORLDWIDE - Having peered into the financial abyss last year YRC, the US less than truckload (LTL) haulier have continued their policy of refinancing by selling off their logistics arm. YRC Logistics has been purchased by Texan venture capital firm Austin Ventures, known for start up and company growth capital investment. The deal, mooted in June, was completed last week for $38.7 million and the investors immediately rebranded the group as MIQ Logistics.

Guard Assaulted and Threatened with Knives

WARRINGTON/ UK – Cheshire Police are asking that members of the public and freight community keep a watch out for five trailers that have been used to steal a large quantity of vodka from a warehouse in Warrington.

UK Firm Shows Off Latest Hybrid Technology

UK – Devon based Ashwoods Automotive will be demonstrating their Ford Transit based panel vans at low carbon vehicle event LCV 2010, and simultaneously launching an exciting new technology. So far most clients are non freight based and include the likes of the Environment Agency, Transport for London and the Borders Agency, plus the councils of Camden, Coventry, Gateshead, Hackney, Islington, Leeds and Liverpool but some cargo delivery companies, like Riverford Organics have ordered such vehicles.

Green Party and Independents May Dictate Terms

AUSTRALIA – The fact that Australia now faces a similar problem to that of Britain some months ago, with a hung Parliament reliant on political deals to enable one or other party to form an effective Government, leaves trucking and freight interests waiting with some trepidation.

Ukraine Impose Restrictions Due to Imbalance of Trade

UKRAINE - A reported shortage of rail freight trucks in the country is causing a diplomatic hitch after the state rail authority, Ukrzaliznytsia, suspended permission for the nation’s freight cars from travelling into Russia. The problem is blamed by the Ukrainians on an increase in cargo levels and the reluctance of their neighbours to return equipment punctually.

Good News for Freight Traffic - Not So for Passengers

SCOTLAND – BELGIUM – After Norfolkline took over the running of ferry services from Rosyth to Zeebrugge in May last year the Scots Government were generous in their praise of what they considered a forward thinking initiative. Now that DFDS have taken control of Norfolkline however it has not taken long to axe the unprofitable route as a passenger carrier. Fortunately the company sees more opportunity as a RoRo freight operation and has acted accordingly.

TSA Trying to Cover All Eventualities

US – Despite the almost audible sigh of relief emitted by those associated with the imposition of mandatory screening for all air freighted cargo on 1st August, the relative success of the scheme so far should be viewed in context. By their own admission the U.S. Transportation Security Administration executive admit that, despite their certified cargo screening programme there is, as yet, no technology suitable for screening containerised cargo despite some worthwhile products on the market and hundreds of thousands of pounds invested in new robot technology.

Continuing Evolution to Reduce Fuel Consumption

CHINA – DENMARK – UK - Regular readers will know that the Handy Shipping Guide takes a special interest in products and innovation which make life in the shipping and logistics industry cleaner and safer. Ship design can offer much to reduce the carbon footprint of all types of vessels and whether it is a 'sharkskin’ coating or rudder, engine and superstructure design, hull type and power source can have a profound effect on a vessels performance.

Presidential Advisory Group to be in Five Sections

US – The Export Council, tasked with supplying the President with ways to increase and enhance the country’s competitiveness in the international marketplace and securing future American jobs, has announced details of the five subcommittee’s which have the goal of doubling US export shipments over the next five years.

Coalition Government Should Target Transport Infrastructure

UK – The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) have published the results of a survey of their members which makes interesting reading for those concerned with the future of freight transport in the UK. CILT membership includes leading managers and academics from every part of the freight, logistics and passenger transport sector including road, rail, ocean and air freight and during July the CILT canvassed 1,244 of its members regarding Government future policy.

Low Cost Delivery Vehicle Becomes Available

UK - ePower Trucks,a division of LiftSafe Ltd., and based in Oldham, Greater Manchester, have announced the first of a range of four XT vehicles they are introducing. Available from £30,000, the XT320E costs around half the price of the current 3.5 tonne electric vans on the market and, according to the manufacturers, can deliver better range on a single charge. The standard XT320E electric LCV is capable of 60 miles on a full charge of its 13KwH battery pack and can carry a 1,000kg payload. The battery technology, which is adapted from successful military use, is maintenance-free and can operate at temperatures of up to -20℃. The packs can also be swapped out in less than 3 minutes, using a forklift truck.

MOL Steps Up for African Children

JAPAN – AFRICA - Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL)today announced the company’s agreement to cooperate on a Japanese Organisation for International Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICFP) project to distribute shoes to needy children in Zambia. MOL will provide containers in service for the shoes, shipping them by sea to the port of Durban, South Africa, a gateway port to Zambia. On August 17, soccer balls and other supplies collected at Sogo & Seibu department stores based on a World Cup-related initiative, as well as children’s shoes, were loaded on the containership MOL Empire in the Port of Tokyo.

Atlanta to Host First Materials Handling Exposition

US - Material Handling Industry of America (MHIA) are to launch a new event, MODEXSM 2012, to be held from the 6th to the 9th of February 2012 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. MODEXSM 2012 will showcase equipment and systems solutions as well as learning opportunities that span the entire supply chain, from material handling to logistics across manufacturing, assembly and distribution.

Two Week Campaign Cleans the Streets

US – We often refer to the work of the US Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration who can be seen to actively pursue their remit all year round. Even the wider introduction of ‘Alcolocks’ to prevent driver taking control of a vehicle when intoxicated, will not prevent those who abuse drugs and endanger the lives of innocent citizens. There can be no more senseless act than driving a heavy freight truck whilst under the influence.

AP Moeller Maersk Announce Figures to 30th June

DENMARK – Following on from our report on Norden A/S profits for the first six months comes news that a much bigger fellow countryman and player in the freight market, container shipping giant AP Moeller Maersk, are another company more than happy with the turnaround in their fortunes. Yesterday sensible management, hard bargaining, a trade upswing and an industry wide realisation that low rates led down the path of disaster helped the group to raise their profit forecast considerably.

Switch from Agility to Anham Proceeding Smoothly

US - IRAQ – DUBAI – KUWAIT – In response to our latest story about the withdrawal of the US defence force contract from Kuwaiti group Agility in the light of accusations of impropriety against the logistics company, their replacements, Anham LLC from Dubai spoke to the Handy Shipping Guide to clarify the position following a meeting with Defense Logistics Agency Director Navy Vice Admiral Alan Thompson, who met with Anham senior management last week.

Danish Group Announce Profits

DENMARK – Norden A/S, which operates a fleet of 116 dry cargo vessels from Handysize under 25,000 dead weight tonnes up to Capesize ships exceeding 180,000 tonnes plus a product tanker fleet of around 70 ships with various new builds on order, have issued their interim figures for the first half of 2010, and they make interesting reading for anyone who wishes an insight into dry bulk shipping over the past few months in particular. The pool fleet includes the activities of Interorient Navigation Company Ltd.

Multimodal Freight Depot Developers Go Up Against the Government

UK – After the report last month that Eric Pickles, the Governments Community Secretary, had dismissed the development of an intermodal development on the site of the old Radlett Aerodrome near St. Albans, Hertfordshire, the developers, HelioSlough, have decided to launch an appeal against the decision, which will dismay many local private interests who have fought long and hard against the proposal.

Go Ahead German Group Sponsor Cargo Management Certificate

US - Always keen to promote innovation and education throughout the shipping industry, German heavy lift and oversize project freight specialists Beluga Shipping GmbH is the latest company to support a short course designed to fast-track project cargo management skills that otherwise may take years to acquire.

More Accusations as Shares Fall

KUWAIT – News this week that, despite the dismissal of Agility as suppliers to the US military after accusations of impropriety the logistics and supply chain group are still to continue to procure and freight food supplies to troops in Iraq and Kuwait until 4th December as was originally proposed. The contract is due to pass to the replacement contractors, Anham LLC from Dubai, covered in our exclusive story on the 15th April.

CMA CGM collect Their Latest Ship

SOUTH KOREA – As expected CMA CGM Group took delivery this week of the CMA CGM Corte Real built by DSME (Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering), the third of a series of eight vessels named after the great explorers. The vessel, with a capacity of 13,830 TEU is another giant container ship to add to the French company’s fleet.

Turkish Hauliers Face a Long Wait Over the Weekend

BULGARIA – Long delays were reported over the weekend at the crossing point at Kapukule near the town of Edirne as Turkish freight trucks which left on Friday to pass into Europe early on Monday formed a six kilometre queue. Over 240 wagons were reported as held up whilst crossing the border at Kapitan Andreevo but subsequent reports claimed there were no delays.

Dagestan Militants Sabotage Track Used for LNG Carriage

RUSSIA – Islamic militants are suspected to be the cause of a bomb attack on freight rail traffic last night in the Dagestan Republic, the largest in the North Caucasus. Local press state that around 10am yesterday an explosion occurred on the Kaspissiky-Tarki line, the target of which was an eight car freight train, some of the carriages thought to be carrying liquefied gas.

ASCO Take Over Stavanger Oil Industry Supply Specialist

UK – NORWAY – Aberdeen based oil and gas offshore logistics specialists ASCO Freight Management, who already maintain three offices in the country, have taken over Stavanger outfit Sped Partner to strengthen the group’s presence in the region. Richard Singer, AFM’s managing director, said:

ATA Post Pre- Election Survey and Want Fuel Based Pricing Policy

AUSTRALIA – As usual the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) are on the ball when it comes to the changing face of freight in the country. In their latest venture the group asked all political parties how they saw the future of the freight industry on Australian roads – and got some interesting responses.

Allegations of Attempts to Beat Iran Embargo

UK – US – A huge diplomatic row is brewing over the arrest, detention and possible extradition of Christopher Tappin, 63 year old director of Brooklands International Freight Services, a reputable freight forwarder established in 1976 and listed in the Handy Shipping Guide and members of BIFA, IATA and Fiata. Mr Tappin was arrested three months ago at his Kent home and faces extradition proceedings in a fortnight’s time with regard to a potential shipping contract.

Ambitious Plans to Rejuvenate Network

NIGERIA - Works are underway to modernise much of the country’s rail system by the century old Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) who have a monopoly and manage the 4300 kilometres of track. With Federal Government support various projects are underway including standard gauge lines between Ajaokuta – Warri and Kaduna - Abuja (Idu) to relieve some of the congestion from Nigeria’s crumbling road infrastructure.

Truckers in Scotland and N. Ireland to be Subject to UK Regulations

UK – After our report in May that the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) were to take the problem of illegal foreign freight trucks on English roads, now the Scottish authorities are to extend Scotland the stopping powers of enforcement officers that currently exist in England, Wales and, via the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA), into Northern Ireland. All VOSA powers, hitherto limited North of the Border, will now match those in the other UK countries.

Indian Scheme to Promote Rail Development

INDIA – There may be no such thing as a free lunch but according to the country’s East Central Railway their latest offer is the closest thing. The Railway Board is to offer land free of charge to interested parties in an attempt to revitalise shipping links throughout the region. The current facilities cannot cope with the volumes of freight which pass through the area.

Windsor Airport Development Will Continue Regardless

CANADA – Our story two days ago stated that Landstar Systems Inc. was planning to develop a multimodal freight hub on some 150 acres of land adjoining Windsor Airport in Ontario. The information was released by local government sources who now report they are ‘surprised’ that the company have denied any such intention.

Record Figures for National Carrier

SOUTH KOREA - Korean Air Lines saw air freight sales jump over 85% as US demand for electronic goods rebounded in the last quarter. The company, rated as the world’s largest freight carrier, had over $840 million in cargo sales out of overall sales of around $2,360 million.

Pan-Beibu Forum Brings Closer Cooperation

CHINA –The fifth Pan-Beibu Gulf forum closed today here in the ‘Green City’ of Nanning, the capital of Guangxi region in the South of the Country. Since its inception the forum has grown, both in numbers of representatives and importance. During his opening speech on Wednesday Chen Ruixian, vice director of the Pan-Beibu Gulf Economic Zone commented on the success of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area (CAFTA) which, since its inception on 1st January, has meant that than 90 percent (over 7,000) of products shipping between China and the members of ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, including Brunei, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore, have become tariff-free.

Schenker Shows the Way to a Cleaner Shipping Industry Future

EUROPE – German rail freight giant DB Schenker have launched the first CO2-free product on the continent with the introduction of their Eco Plus system. Deutsche Bahn obtains the electricity required for transportation from renewable energy sources in Germany at an additional cost passed directly to the customer. Audi are the first to utilise the process and is now shipping finished vehicles between Ingolstadt and Emden CO2-free.

Essex Based Course Available for Transport Managers and Drivers

UK – Novadata, based in the UK and Eire, has been providing haulage industry related training courses for over 18 years together with a full range of tachograph back up equipment and supplies, and now due to excessive demand the company has slotted in an extra CPC information day to arm those in the industry with full information on the new Driver CPC Regulations.

Publishing Sector Helps Woodland up the League Table

UK – The Woodland Group tell us they have once again been named one of the highest climbers in the latest IATA league table (for 2009). This time last year the group were delighted to rise in the ranks to 65th position (from 130th in 2007). Now the Essex based independent freight forwarder has broken into the top 50 with 49 on the International Air Transport Association listings.

But Can the Better Times Continue ?

UK – Our piece last month highlighting the parlous state of the Baltic Dry Index, dropping for thirty one straight sessions and bottoming out below 2000 points for the first time for over a year, was understandably a little pessimistic in tone. The Index fell subsequently for the following two sessions ending at a mere 1700 on the 15th July before starting to rally.

Patrick Defend their Position on Port Botany Terminal Tariff

AUSTRALIA – After Tuesday’s article on the problems at the Port Botany container rail facility and the proposals by Asciano subsidiary Patrick, to raise rail freight ‘window’ ‘rates, the company immediately responded to the Handy Shipping Guide with a press release illustrating their ‘at times tenuous relationship’ with Sydney Ports. For the purposes of fairness we now print this release in full.

Dominican Republic at Standstill Over Fuel Hike

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – A 24 hour strike yesterday brought freight deliveries and collections to almost a dead stop as over 30,000 truck drivers parked up their vehicles to protest against the Governments fuel tax policy which would see tax levels on diesel reviewed every three months.

Cargoitalia Increases Traffic Levels Again

ITALY – All cargo airfreight carrier Cargoitalia has reported a continuing improvement in performance for the first six months of operations in 2010, building on the strong start made in its first four months of operations. Operating on its three scheduled routes (Milan – New York, Chicago and Dubai/Hong Kong) the company managed a total of 173 rotations including charter flights. Average monthly utilisation was up 60% on the airline’s first four months of operation, at a total of 3,375 block hours.

Specialisation Pays Off for Atchison Topeka

UK – Worcester based 3PL specialist food logistics company Atchison Topeka were delighted this month to secure a significant contract with food ingredients company, ADM Classic. Headquartered in Speke, Liverpool, ADM Classic is part of the multi- national food processing giant ADM based in Decatur, Illinois operating over 230 processing plants in more than 60 countries across six continents supplying products ranging from vegetable oil and milling flour to chocolate.

Company Driver Crowned National Truck Driving Champion - Again

US – Less than truckload (LTL) specialists, Con-way Freight, certainly know how to pick a winner. For the second successive year a company driver has won the coveted title of Grand Champion at the 2010 National Truck Driving Championships held in Columbus, Ohio last week. Carl Krites, a driver sales representative based out of the company's Sidney, Ohio, service centre took the crown beating 415 other hopefuls who attended the 73rd annual competition conducted by the American Trucking Associations (ATA).

Bibby Make Another Acquisition

UK – Bibby Distribution has continued its policy of expansion through acquisitions with the takeover of key assets this week of the defunct haulage operator MRS Distribution from receivers KPMG. Bathgate based MRS have 11 depots (or 13 according to their website) stretching as far as Sheerness, Kent and Bibby have apparently purchased a large slice of the English operations in a sell off which sees the company split up.

Windsor Airport Set for Expansion

CANADA – US – Landstar Systems Incorporated, based in Jacksonville , Florida have expressed their desire to create a multimodal hub at Windsor Airport. The proposed site is 150 acres of land adjacent to both the airport and rail tracks. Landstar, who this week moved up one place in the Inbound Logistics Top 10 3PL Excellence Awards Survey, are reported as disappointed by recent delays when clearing shipments through other Canadian freight centres.

Unions Force Government to Address Safety Issues

MEXICO – As the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) quadrennial conference continues in Mexico City a delegation met yesterday with the Director General of the General Office of Exploration and Exploitation of Hydrocarbons at Mexico's Ministry of Energy to discuss ITF concerns about human rights violations and the lack of a proper health and safety regime in the country's offshore oil and gas sector.

Rail Strike Suspended but Rates Threaten Harmony

AUSTRALIA – Port Botany, set fair for a massive expansion after it’s half built A$1 billion container terminal development received another vote of approval from auditors this week, even on ecological grounds, was the subject of controversy as force majeure was declared on container rail traffic shipping through the Sydney facility because of planned industrial action over the next few days by rail freight staff.

Anti Corruption Body Looks Into Contracts Awarded

INDIA – The country’s anti corruption agency, the Central Vigilance Commission, have had a busy time of late what with investigating alleged irregularities in the preparations for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games in Delhi and today’s success in having legislation to protect whistleblowers passed by the Union Cabinet. Our principal interests however are in the ongoing investigations into deficiencies which have been noted in contracts prepared by the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL).

Negotiations Tougher for Customers and Suppliers After a Bad Year

WORLDWIDE - Trelleborg Marine Systems, the international company dedicated to providing specialised berthing and mooring solutions for the port, inshore and marine industries globally, recently surveyed almost 200 industry port owners, consultants and contractors on the subject of supply chain negotiations in the industry. The results confirm that both port owners and shipping companies are flexing their muscles when negotiating contracts with suppliers and clients in the wake of recent losses.

Pollution Clean Up Under Way but Danger Lurks Under Water

INDIA – The collision between the38,500 tonne container ship MSC Chitra and the bulk carrier MV Khalizia –lll on Saturday has had repercussions affecting two of India’s busiest ports. Both the Mumbai Port Trust (MPT) and the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) remain closed after the accident which caused well over 100 containers to fall into the sea, several deck borne boxes are believed to contain hazardous chemicals including pesticides.

Sweet Ending for Sugar Ship 'Syria Star'

SOMALIA – After her seizure by armed men on Thursday the MV ‘Syria Star’, a 18,838 dwt general cargo vessel, was released by her captors late on Friday night. The crew of twenty four, 22 Syrian and 2 Egyptians, on the St Vincent and Grenadines flagged vessel were largely unharmed but three who were carrying injuries, two of which were incurred in the original attack, have been treated by a helicopter borne medical team from the EU NAVFOR warship FGS Schleswig-Holstein.

News from around the Globe

UK – US – INDIA - KAZAKHSTAN UK – The battle of Bearsted appears finally to be over this week after Eric Pickles, the Government’s Communities Secretary, finally kicked plans to develop an intermodal road and rail freight depot ,the Kent International Gateway, after a Public Enquiry lasting over two months. This story has been running since last year and doubtless will continue, leastways on other sites, with proposals still in place for similar developments across the UK.

Meanwhile Crowley Gain Plaudits of Their Own

US – This week sees the Crowley Maritime Corporation in the news again for all the right reasons. Last month we told of the company’s efforts to assist with aid supplies to stricken Haiti and now they have revealed they are to donate $20,000 to the University of Alaska Foundation to establish a partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks geared toward advancing educational opportunities for students from rural communities where Crowley operates.

Good and Bad News for Long Beach

US – Local press reports indicate that it has been a variable week for the Port of Long Beach. The Matson Navigation Company have apparently confirmed that they will introduce new vessels into service from China adding over 230,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU’s) annually to the ports turnover by their own estimates. Matson will commence the second string of container ships, average capacity 3,500 TEU’s, from later this month, to be fully operational by October. The vessels will be deployed on the weekly China – Long Beach Express (CLX) service from the ports of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and bi-weekly from Shanghai. Matson currently offers customers a weekly service from Xiamen, Ningbo and Shanghai to Long Beach.

Heavier Trucks Require Extra Axle for Safety

US – The American Trucking Associations (ATA) have come out strongly in support of a new bill introduced on Wednesday by U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (Republican - Idaho), Susan Collins (Republican - Maine) and Herb Kohl (Democrat -Wisconsin.). The “Safe and Efficient Transportation ACT (SETA) of 2010, S. 3705 will allow states to authorize the operation of more efficient commercial trucks, resulting in safer highways, cleaner air and less costly freight transportation. Identical legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives, H.R. 1799, currently has 54 co-sponsors.

Logistics and Transport Group Pick New Chairman

UK – The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) who have featured regularly in our pages, principally as sponsors of Transaid, have appointed a new Chairman of their Humber Division. Kim Catterick, who is PD Ports Business Development Manager for Container Shipping will serve as Humber CILT’s chairman for the next two years.

Airport at Klagenfurt Will Host Latest Expansion

AUSTRIA – Just a month after announcing the relocation of their management to Frankfurt am Main DB Schenker Logistics have announced they are to develop a new, ultra-modern logistics terminal at the airport in Klagenfurt, Austria. The aim is to use the new terminal to further expand the position in European land transport on the regional Carinthian market and also in the long term to reinforce its position in air and ocean freight.

Jungheinrich Introduce 'Silent Drive' System

UK – Anyone connected with the shipping of goods is used to the electric whine of a powered pallet truck but for neighbouring businesses or residents a busy yard area for a freight consolidator or exporter can mean an unacceptable level of noise pollution. Now fork lift specialist Jungheinrich has announced the launch of an electric-powered pallet truck designed for use at sites where noise levels need to be kept to a minimum – such as retail outlets in residential areas.

OOCL Report TEU Totals up and Healthy Interim Figures

HONG KONG - Orient Overseas (International) Limited and its subsidiaries including Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) today announced a profit attributable to equity holders of US$1,284.6 million for the six month period ended 30th June 2010. OOCL carried 39% more containers in the period whilst the new rate increases, covered here fully in the past few months, held up to further boost the figures.

Management Change to North West Europe Regional Management Board

UK – EUROPE – Kuehne & Nagel have announced a senior management change in their North West Europe Regional Management Board which is headquartered in Uxbridge, United Kingdom, and spans around 150 locations in six countries including Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Norway, Sweden and the United Kingdom. As from the 1st August Daryl Ridgway has assumed the role of Senior Vice President, Seafreight replacing Diederick de Vroet, who has decided to return with his family to his native country of Holland.

Southern Air Choice Based on Trial Shipments

US - DHL Express will now provide express transportation of Southern Air aircraft-related parts to and from the U.S. in support of its global operations after a head to head trial against other service suppliers. Southern Air Incorporated, a U.S.-based cargo airline, has airline vendor locations all over the world, as well as its own facilities and offices in the US, Liege, Belgium, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Hong Kong and Shanghai, China, Seoul, South Korea, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sharjah, UAE and Bangkok, Thailand.

Two Conferences to Cover Regulation Changes Announced

UK - The modal regulations for the transport and shipping of dangerous goods by land in Europe, globally and domestically by sea, and also by air, change every two years following on from changes by the United Nations. The next set of these changes will start to take effect from January 2011. The regulations and changes affect all parties to the supply chain from shipper through to carrier and ultimately, to consignee.

Samskip Announce Netherlands - Scandinavia Link

NETHERLANDS – GERMANY – NORWAY - Samskip Multimodal Container Logistics are to introduce a new weekly service linking the Netherlands with Norway’s West Coast. The route commenced bi-weekly in June but necessity demands a doubling of capacity from the end of August to cater for increased demand during the fish season. The container and reefer service is on a door-to-door basis, whilst offering a quay-to-quay service for shippers’ owned containers.

Union Transport Conference Proceeds in Mexico

MEXICO – WORLDWIDE – The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), which represents over 4.6 million industry workers across the globe, have indicated the seriousness with which they are taking climate change by devoting today solely to seek strategies for fairer, more sustainable and less polluting transport. The matters discussed will be carried over to the organisations quadrennial conference which begins in Mexico City tomorrow.

New Video Advice for Tanker Drivers

US – There are few types of road accident as spectacular, or potentially as dangerous, than the ‘rollover’ of a road tanker. The vehicles, which carry fluids as benign as milk and as lethal as petrol, are inherently unstable if mishandled by a driver and US authorities have been giving their full attention to a problem which is ten times more likely to be the drivers fault than through any other factors.

ATMS gain distribution rights for Navista mobile devices

ATMS plc, Birmingham based provider of system solutions and hardware for the logistics market and freight warehouse providers, has been appointed as the exclusive distributor for the UK and Middle East for the Navista range of mobile terminals.

Agility Fight Back Against Contract Accusations

US – KUWAIT – The case against freight and logistics giant Agility came under the spotlight again last week when, in a surprise turn of events the United States Attorney's office in Atlanta on Monday moved to dismiss an indictment against Agility DGS Holdings, a PWC/Agility subsidiary. We reported the case originally in November last year when Agility strongly denied any misbehaviour by their staff with regard to supplies to US forces.

New Venture Begins with Trailer Purchase

UK – After the recent takeover of RoRo ferry specialists Norfolk Line by DFDS the new company formed post merger, DFDS Logistics, has commenced operations by purchasing 20 new Schmitz Cargobull refrigerated trailers. The reefers which will operate out of depots in Belfast, Peterborough and Larkhall, are the first DFDS Logistics’ assets to feature the organisation’s striking new brand and logo and will service several large food retail customers on routes throughout the UK, Ireland and the Continent.

September Take Off for Cargoitalia Expansion

ITALY – CHINA – Cargoitalia, the Italian air freight cargo operator which re-launched under new ownership in April 2009, is to add Shanghai as a scheduled destination next month utilising its recently-arrived third MD11 freighter aircraft. From September 8, Cargoitalia will operate direct non-stop flights from its Milan (Malpensa) hub to Shanghai Pudong every Wednesday and Sunday, departing at 05:00 and arriving at 00:20 the following day.

Bid as French Shipping Group Take Delivery of Giant Eco Friendly Vessels

FRANCE – SOUTH KOREA – CMA CGM announced a flurry of changes these past few days but no one was available for comment today after it appeared Belgian billionaire Albert Frère was moving to take a share in the ailing giant, fresh on the heels of the delivery of two new giant container ships (13,380 and 11,400 TEU respectively)the French registered CMA CGM Amerigo Vespucci constructed by DSME (Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering) and the CMA CGM Leo, built by the Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyards and registered in Malta.