Shipping Search - Archive

Post-Holiday Job Changes Galore

UK – Freight and logistics announcements of staff moves start this week with the news that, after more than 17 years at the helm, Nick Lowe is taking early retirement from Dachser at the end of September to pursue other interests. His successor, Mark Rollinson, who has formerly held Senior Director positions at Schenker and Allport Cargo Services, began a three month induction and hand-over process on July 2.

Catch Up with Those Pieces You May Have Missed

UK – This week's look at the smaller items of news affecting the shipping and logistics sector begins with news of the 2nd international conference on the theme 'Society and the Sea 2018: Investinblue', convened by National Maritime and the Greenwich Maritime Centre (GMC) and being held on September 6 and 7 at Queen Anne Court, University of Greenwich, Park Row, London, SE10 9LS.

Bubble Reduce Friction and Improve Fuel Consumption and Emissions

ITALY – UK – There is no doubt that, as with the space race and the demands of wartime, the merchant shipping industry drives technology as the business of moving passengers and freight around the world gets ever more competitive. Once it was all about speed, getting the cargo to its destination as quickly as possible, now the impetus has shifted to greener, more efficient ships, vessels producing fewer emissions whilst using less fuel.

Beware the Trade Wars Says Aviation Boss

WORLDWIDE – In its monthly review of the world's air cargo traffic the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reports that for global air freight markets, July saw that demand, measured in its favoured comparator, freight tonne kilometres (FTKs), rose 2.1% in July 2018, compared to the same period the year before. This was the slowest pace of growth seen since May 2016 and well below the five-year average growth rate of 5.1%.

Hermes Opts to Take Over Seko Offices on Home Territory

GERMANY – In what represents a major shift in the parcel delivery and ecommerce market, Hamburg headquartered Hermes is to take over the offices of rival Seko Logistics in the country as from September 1. The deal has worldwide ramifications for the industry as the two will cooperate using the Seko global supply chain infrastructure which includes freight forwarding and IT solutions.

Rhine Tour was a Trade Show with a Unique Style Hitting Four Countries

EUROPE – The grand trip which saw forklift truck maker Hyster, accompanied by specialist container producer CakeBoxx Technologies hit the road, or rather the water, has come to an end having seen the range of equipment from the two companies, and a host of others, complete the 'Rhine Tour', with both enthusing about the fact they were able to show off their wares across four countries along the inland waterway.

Transaid Cooperative Trial Cuts Ninety Seven Per Cent of Deaths from the Disease

ZAMBIA – Many in shipping and logistics are used to putting their hands in their pockets for transport charity Transaid and can take satisfaction from the latest news that the organisation, in partnership with Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), in collaboration with a consortium of partners and the Zambian National Malaria Elimination Centre (NMEC), have completed the 12 month MAMaZ Against Malaria (MAM) programme pilot with exceptional success, saving the lives of many children in Serenje district, Zambia.

Throw in Brexit and Consolidation Seems to be the Keyword

UK – A new study by supply chain and logistics consultancy Scala has found that traditional major retailers' share of product volumes has declined in recent years, with volumes down nearly 5% since 2015. Hardly surprising is the conclusion that the erosion is a result of the emerging growth of discount retailers, expected to see an increase of almost 50% in their value over the next five years, due to customer demands for affordable convenience.

Vessel Reports on Fuel Consumed and Distance Sailed Due Very Shortly

WORLDWIDE – Shipping and aviation emissions verification company Verifavia is urging ship owners and operators to submit their data collection plans to verifiers by the recommended International Maritime Organization (IMO) deadline of September 1st 2018. The IMO Data Collection System (IMO DCS) which came into force on March 1st 2018 requires ships of 5,000 gross tonnage or above to collect and report data on fuel consumption, distance sailed, and hours underway to an IMO database from 2019.

Repairing an Aircraft? You Need a Mobile Hangar to Store It

WORLDWIDE – U Freight, the freight forwarding group celebrations of its fiftieth anniversary this year after being established in Hong Kong in 1968, has been looking to extend its presence in the global aviation and aerospace supply chain management logistics market and is now working with SOAR LP, which provides services for emergency repairs for large aircraft on ground (AOG) events, as well as scheduled airframe repairs. These include the crating and shipping of full size mobile aircraft hangars to various locations, with recent activity primarily in Asia.

(and no, that's not like it sounds)

COLOMBIA – The Colombian headquarters of Swiss freight forwarding and logistics group, Panalpina has been certified according to WHO Good Distribution Practice (GDP), an key international standard for the proper distribution of medicinal products for human use. The business unit in Bogotá is Panalpina's 31st location globally to obtain such an important certification for the healthcare industry.

So This is What the Government Thinks of HGV Drivers

UK – We have written before of the mish-mash of government proposals to deal with delays to the Port of Dover, particularly in the case of a failed Brexit negotiation. We had the giant lorry park thrown out by the Court after it failed to conduct an environmental study under its own planning legislation. Under the current proposals for Operation Brock, the two centre lanes of the east bound M20 will be used for access by emergency services and other selected vehicles whilst HGV drivers queue along the motorway, à la the discredited Operation Stack.

However Many Unhappy to Deal with the Present Administration

TURKEY –UK – Following up on our earlier piece regarding the latest rounds of tariff hikes and sanctions imposed, it is left to Davies Turner chairman Philip Stephenson, to try and put a positive spin on trading relations with one country. The independent freight forwarding and logistics outfit operates daily two-way overland and multimodal trailer services between the UK and Turkey with Turkish partner EKOL. Between them, EKOL and Davies Turner move around 70-110 trailers a week between the UK and Turkey, mainly groupage, along with sea freight containers.

Northern Sea Route Gets more Traffic Every Year

ARCTIC – When Maersk announced recently it was to embark on a trial crossing using the Northern Sea Route (NSR) it seemed a fairly innocuous event as we have covered many similar voyages over the years as the ice retreated for longer each season. However whilst the use of heavy fuel oil when in Antarctic waters has been completely banned since August 2011, that is not yet the case for the polar opposite, and the world's largest container carrier is being challenged to reveal what is powering the Venta Maersk as she sets off to skirt the Russian coast.

So How is the Trade War Going for You?

US – CHINA – WORLDWIDE – So by now just about everybody who works in freight and logistics knows there is a 'situation' with regard to international trade tariffs and the duty rates being imposed by one country on another's favoured exports. In April America imposed tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from China, as well as Canada and countries in the European Union. More rises followed with 25% hikes on more Chinese goods, net cost estimated at around $35 billion annually coming into force in July, as President Trump pursued his aggressive 'America First' agenda, simultaneously accusing the Chinese of 'dumping' trade goods on the US.

Perishables Spend Less Time in the Warehouse - More on the Shelf

UK – Having opened its new flagship 230,000 square foot temperature controlled facility in the Port of Tilbury earlier this year fresh produce logistics specialist NFT has now signed its largest single contract to handle 5,000 pallets of bananas and pineapples each week, amounts split approximately 50/50 between the two types of fruit, and the result means reduced time spent by the perishable items in the supply chain.

Globalisation Produces Another Joint Venture

CHINA – Swiss freight forwarding and logistics firm, Kuehne + Nagel has announced a partnership with Sincero, a Chinese automotive logistics group with a nation-wide operation coverage, to invest in a joint venture focusing on contract logistics for the automotive sector. Kuehne + Nagel will hold the majority share of the joint venture. Gianfranco Sgro, member of the Managing Board of Kuehne + Nagel International AG, responsible for Contract Logistics, commented:

Some of the Items Which Came Up This Week Including a Maritime Tragedy

UK – Starting the week's round up of bits and pieces of news from the freight and logistics sector is what the Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) describes as a 'stellar' line up for its forthcoming National Forklift Safety Convention, the 15th such event, which takes place on Wednesday 3rd October at the Heart of England Events and Conference Centre, Coventry.

Your Chance to Sponsor Intrepid Riders Heading for Paris

UK – FRANCE – Automotive and multimodal logistics group GEFCO has organised a support team for this year's BBC Children in Need appeal which will undertake the 4 day, 300 mile cycle ride from Coventry to Paris, and you still have the chance to sponsor the team as it attempts to raise £50,000 to help an enterprise which currently supports around 2,500 projects in the UK which work with charities to help disadvantaged children and young people to make their lives that little bit better.

Potential Disaster Requires More than Damage Control or Kent Will Be a Lorry Park

UK – Despite the government expressing confidence that a positive deal for Britain's exit from the European Union can be achieved, it today published guidelines regarding a 'no deal' Brexit which has proved singularly unimpressive to the home based international freight and road haulage community which has reacted with scathing unanimity.

Conference to Answer those Questions About the One Belt, One Road Concept

NETHERLANDS – CHINA – There has been much talk in recent times of the initiative 'One Belt, One Road' and of the Silk Road itself but doubt remains in many importers and exporters minds over the concept of an intermodal and rail freight route between China and diverse destinations within Europe. Just how much more expensive is this than ocean carriage? How much quicker and how does it compare to airfreight?

Personnel Moves Around the Industry This Week

UK – Appointments and departures across the freight, shipping and logistics sectors this week start with the news that, as part of its air charter business leadership strategy, Volga-Dnepr Group has appointed Konstantin Vekshin as Executive President, Charter Cargo Operations for Volga-Dnepr Airlines, effective since August 15. He will be based in London.

Government Must Change Customs Clearance to Inland Depots to Avoid Catastrophe

UK – 18 months ago the United Kingdom Warehousing Association (UKWA) produced a report on the problems facing the future supply of food to the Capital, however on last night's BBC's Ten O'Clock News programme CEO Peter Ward illustrated that the problems now facing that vital sector of the supply chain were being threatened by the Brexit crisis, and crisis it will be if solutions such as those offered by the UKWA boss are not heeded by the government.

Sanctuary Programme Aiming to Cut Mortalities Congratulates MSC

US – Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Cordell Bank and Greater Farallones national marine sanctuaries, off the US Pacific coast, honoured giant container line Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), and a handful of other global shipping firms that have shown a high degree of cooperation with their vessel speed reduction requests to help prevent disastrous vessel collisions with whales, as well as improve the local air quality.

Most Ever Boxes Carried on One Ship Claimed as Company Shows Resilience

DENMARK – WORLDWIDE – With a load of 19,038 TEU, the world's largest container shipping company Maersk Line claims that its 2nd generation Triple-E class vessel, the Mumbai Maersk has set a world record for highest-ever load, surpassing the 19,000 TEU mark for the very first time – not only for a Maersk vessel, but any vessel in the world.

Laser Technology to Scrub the Decks of the Future

JAPAN – Nippon Yusen Kaisha, best known as container shipping line NYK, has signed a memorandum of understanding with technology company Toyokoh to examine a joint business development to use laser technology to remove rust from vessels. Steel used on a ship's deck is always susceptible to rust due to the harsh outdoor ocean environment that can lead to corrosion arising from severe salinity, temperatures, humidity, and ultraviolet rays, all exacerbated by scratches resulting from wear from cargo loading, amongst other things.

Enhanced Technology Means Carbon Dioxide Can Be So Cool

WORLDWIDE – The world's second largest container shipping company, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has contracted to lease 2,000 40-foot high-cube refrigerated containers from SeaCube Containers that have been fitted with Carrier Transicold's natural refrigerant-based NaturaLINE® refrigeration system.

New Battery Contract as Short Term Hire Grows

UK – Energy management specialist Hoppecke Industrial Batteries has won a major contract valued at £1 million from leading forklift truck distributor Briggs Equipment to supply batteries and chargers for the company's short-term hire (STH) fleet. Briggs Equipment is the exclusive UK distributor for the Hyster and Yale ranges of forklift trucks and a variety of other materials handling equipment and the trucks have a strong presence in the freight and warehousing sectors in the UK.

Add Debt to the Woes of Troubled XPO

UK – It seems 2018 is not a good year for US owned global freight and warehousing outfit XPO Logistics, a company that has of late been mired in allegations of sexual harassment and dangerous working practices, and which has now been forced to put 627 jobs at risk at its House of Fraser warehouse facilities following the retailer's recent failure, leading the GMB Union to condemn the action taken by the freight and warehousing company, and criticising retail magnate Mike Ashley for putting jobs at risk.

New Partnership to Ensure Consistent Quantity and Quality of Bunker Stock

NETHERLANDS – Shipping behemoth AP Moller - Maersk and an independent tank storage operator active in the heart of Rotterdam's bunker environment Royal Vopak, have announced a partnership which will see the two launch a 0.5% sulphur fuel bunkering facility at the Port of Rotterdam, ahead of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) 2020 incoming global sulphur limit. Both operations have long and impressive histories, Maersk becoming the leading global container line and Vopak deriving its title from Van Ommeren and Pakhoed, two names very familiar to the shipping community.

As the Problem Escalates Steps Must be Taken to Avoid Another Calais Jungle Camp

FRANCE – UK – A few weeks ago one of our reporting staff travelled through the port of Ouistreham to embark on the Brittany Ferries service to Portsmouth and, on passing through the outskirts of Caen, which is served by the port, noted the number of young migrants playing football and generally sitting around. At the port itself there were several obvious attempts to smuggle away by individuals, all thwarted quickly by local militia, police and Border Control personnel.

Maersk Line Adopts Electronic Smart Upload and Diagnostics Platform

US – DENMARK – WORLDWIDE – CargoSphere, which launched its platform for ocean rate and tariff distribution in January 2017, has now seen the largest of the world's container carriers, Maersk Line, go live with the system's digital, fully-automated distribution for its contract rates and amendments. The CargoSphere eSUDS (electronic Smart Upload and Diagnostics Solution) and the CargoSphere Rate Mesh platform serve all global stakeholders in the container sector supply chain including carriers, BCO shippers, freight forwarders, NVOs and logistics service providers.

Despite Record Levels of Government Cash Regional Anomalies are a Worry

UK – The horrific events in Genoa last week has meant transport infrastructure investment has once again temporarily lifted the subject to the top of the agenda for mainstream media. We have illustrated before the need for infrastructure maintenance and investment to ensure future stability. Now, in the UK, a new report from the CBI insists the Government must build a coherent approach to improve infrastructure across the country and avoid the risk of regions being left behind whilst others pull ahead in a 'two-speed England'.

Revision of Facilities and Equipment Doubles Available Storage Space

UK – As with any modern freight and logistics provider, a major concern for Cheshire based H2Ecommerce (H2E), is the cost of space in operating its pallet storage warehousing which is combined with a range of retail fulfilment and logistics services on behalf of a string of clients spread across industries as diverse as printing and pet supplies. The company operates from a modern 27,0000 square foot facility in Crewe, 17,000 of which is dedicated to storage.

Finnish Equipment Supports World's Largest Box Port

FINLAND – CHINA – Materials handling group Kalmar, which produces everything from automatic stacking cranes to fork lift trucks and bulk ship unloaders, has secured an order to supply 15 units of container handling equipment to Shanghai International Port (SIPG). The order includes a total of 4 units of Reachstackers and 11 units of Empty Container Handlers, and is expected to be delivered in the third quarter of 2018.

Support Vessels to Ferries Can Reduce Costs with Battery Power

NORWAY – Rolls-Royce is launching a lithium-ion based energy storage system for ships, which aims to provide ship owners a clean, safe and cost-efficient complete system. Energy storage is a major green investment for a ship owner and returns are maximised when the system is correctly dimensioned for the specific ship, and includes intelligent power control. Rolls-Royce have been delivering energy storage systems since 2010, however the actual energy storage units were previously supplied by an external party.

Apprenticeship Provider Making Significant Progress in Quest for Quality New Industry Talent

UK – Ofsted recently conducted a monitoring visit to The National Logistics Academy as part of a series of such investigations to a sample of the new apprenticeship training providers that are funded through the apprenticeship levy. The Ofsted inspectors concluded that The Academy is one of a minority of new providers that was making 'significant progress' across all three of their inspection themes:

Swiss Group Eyes East African Development

KENYA – Just as rival box line Hapag Lloyd has revealed it is developing services to and from East Africa, another container giant, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), has agreed with the Kenyan Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure to revive the fortunes of the Kenya National Shipping Line (KNSL) in a country where trade is blossoming with GDP rising by around 6% in the wake of a good harvest and settled political climate following last year's elections.

Who is Heading Where Across the Industry

UK – Appointments and departures of staff in the freight and logistics sector starts with news that the Port of Tyne has announced Mike Comerford as a non-Executive Director of its Board. Comerford brings with him over 30 years of experience in shipping, maritime safety and engineering having held previous senior roles within the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Lloyd's Register, and Bureau Veritas. He is also a non-Executive Director of ferry operator David MacBrayne.

A Quick Look at Snippets of News You Might Wish to Read

UK – We start the week's round up of some of the smaller shipping and logistics news releases in Northern Ireland with the Freight Transport Association (FTA) bitterly complaining about delays to the sorely needed £130 million improvement scheme to Belfast's York Street. The junctions around Belfast's M1, M2 and M3 experience very high levels of traffic caausing delays to road haulage operators and it is now 9 years since the scheme was first mooted.

Investment in Technologically Advanced Cold Boxes Paying Off

GERMANY – EAST AFRICA – It is a busy month for shipping line Hapag-Lloyd which is investing in its container fleet and has ordered 11,100 state-of-the-art reefer boxes. The new containers will be integrated to the company's existing fleet of 91,000 reefers, with delivery gradually starting in August and to be finally completed by December 2018. The company is also continuing to focus on the growing market in East Africa. With an annual growth rate of approximately 6%, the region tops the list on the African continent. Kenya, in particular, is developing with significantly rising import and export figures as well as massive investments in public infrastructure.

First Salvoes Fired in What May be a Long War on Pollution

WORLDWIDE – Cleaning the world's oceans of plastic detritus is a subject we have returned to many times and the Netherlands is emerging as one of the countries dedicating itself to leading the charge with recycling and ocean clearance initiatives from such as The Ocean Cleanup which is now to receive support from none other than major shipping giant the Maersk organisation.

Multiple Fishing Crew Fatalities Blamed on Hit and Run Whilst Explosion Kills Two

INDIA – Not, it would appear, a good week for the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) fleet with two major incidents in the past few days involving two of the national carrier's ocean going Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs). An explosion in one of the cargo tanks aboard the 316,000 dwt VLCC Desh Vaibhav led to the giant oil tanker being abandoned by some of the crew whilst the resultant fire was extinguished with assistance from the Omani Navy in whose waters the ship was travelling.

Unions Demand Inquiry Into Granting of Dock Handling Contract

AUSTRALIA – It would be an understatement to say that relations between global union outfit the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and Philippine headquartered International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI) are not particularly friendly. Sackings, strikes, redundancies and even multiple deaths and murder in and about the company's terminals have unsurprisingly caused friction stretching back years.

Respectable Results Despite Box Terminal Woes

DUBAI – WORLDWIDE – Despite the problems port and logistics giant DP World has suffered recently with the seizure of its Doraleh container freight terminal in Djibouti, the group has still managed very respectable financial figures for the first half of 2018 with reported revenue growth of 14.4% to a respectable $2,626 million, supported by the acquisition of several new companies including Drydocks World LLC (Drydocks), Dubai Maritime City (DMC) and Cosmos Agencia Marítima (CAM).

Watchdog Punishes Postal Giant Whilst Appeal Expected

UK – The UK's regulator for communications services, Ofcom, has fined Royal Mail £50 million for a serious breach of competition law, after the company abused its dominant position in the postal and delivery market by discriminating against its only major competitor delivering letters. Royal Mail has said that it will appeal the decision, refuting any suggestion that it acted in breach of the country's Competition Act.

2018 Celebrates 70 Years of the IMO whilst Women are the Focus Next Year

WORLDWIDE – With World Maritime Day 2018 not yet upon us, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has already announced the theme for next year's event. Firstly however the 2018 celebrations, which as usual will be centred on the IMO London Headquarters. With the operation celebrating its 70th anniversary this year the topic is unsurprisingly 'IMO 70: Our Heritage - Better Shipping for a Better Future'.

State and Federal Agencies Call on Shipping and Transport Operation

US – Earlier this year, Crowley Logistics began executing a $2.3 billion Defense Freight Transportation Services contract that calls for the company to move cargo from thousands of suppliers through 41 major depots around the US. Now, under terms of that contract, Crowley is providing logistics management and transportation of supplies and equipment needed by first responders battling the devastating wildfires in California.

Refresher Courses are Central to Accident Avoidance

UK – This year's 'Safetember' which is sponsored by Windsor Materials Handling, runs nationwide throughout the whole of September 2018 and to mark the event Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) safety partner member Mentor FLT Training, is helping companies manage their forklift refresher training requirements with a free-to-use online Refresher Risk Calculator.

Subjects Range from IT to Shipbuilding

NORWAY – In a country which has always been at the very heart of the ocean merchant freight industry, the recent rebranding of Nor-Shipping, the biennial meeting place for so many branches of the global supply chain, is an ideal location, and next year the event is bringing its offerings right up to date for the show being held in Oslo and Lillestrøm, Norway, from 4 to 7 June 2019.

Competency Now Proved with New Cargo Certification

CANADA – SOUTH AFRICA – CHINA – Air Canada Cargo says that it has become the first airline to receive a new global certification for the safe transport of live animals. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) awarded Air Canada Cargo with the Centre of Excellence for Independent Validators for Live Animal Logistics (CEIV Live Animals) Certification following the successful completion of the verification process.

Trio Sign Memorandum of Association

UK – Rolls-Royce has signed an agreement with port operator Associated British Ports (ABP), and global towage operator Svitzer, to develop the next generation of technologies which will aim to 'keep Britain trading', a phrase now synonymous with post-Brexit scenarios. The agreement will see Rolls-Royce work with ABP and Svitzer, part of the Maersk Group, to develop the innovative technologies and systems needed to operate efficiently and sustainably well into the 21st century. The companies will focus on digitisation and Ship Intelligence solutions.

Another Comedic Choice for Prestigious Event

UK – Following a tremendously successful inaugural event last year the 2018 Freight Transport Association (FTA) Logistics Awards are set to return again to London in December and are maintaining the theme of having a highly talented comedic figure as the celebratory host, with one of the best-known faces on British and Irish TV, Dara O'Briain, in the chair this year overseeing the eleven award categories.

However Not All Are So Enthusiastic About Who Handles Their Data

DENMARK – US – WORLDWIDE – Having initially announced their collaboration on a blockchain technology project two year's ago, partners in the arrangement AP Möller Maersk and IBM, have finally go round to christening it, TradeLens, and since formally launching the 'joint collaboration' as they call it, at the beginning of this year, it seems they have been busily signing up interested parties, from port operators to logistics agencies, customs authorities and even rival ocean container freight carriers.

This Weeks Round Up of Smaller Items

UK – We start this week's look at some of the general news stories and updates from shipping and logistics in Manchester, where supply chain software and services company BluJay Solutions has agreed to acquire Grosvenor International Systems, a provider of customs and compliance solutions to the UK and European markets. Doug Surrett, BluJay's Chief Product Strategist, commented:

Solar Panels to Supply Sustainable Energy to Port Locations

NETHERLANDS – In an era when environmental responsibility and green issues are the watchword for any company involved in the global supply chain one freight forwarding and warehousing company is going to extraordinary lengths to fulfil its obligations. More than 41,000 solar panels will shortly generate sustainable energy in the Port of Amsterdam for logistics services provider CWT. Spread across five locations, the panels will together form the largest solar project in Amsterdam.

Freight Forwarding Agency Explains the Details

UK – Regular shippers, both importers and exporters, are now well used to the existing Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF) system, the current method by which HM Customs and Excise oversees the management of both the declaration and movement of goods into and out of the United Kingdom and is a means by which UK traders communicate with counterpart customs systems in the other member states of the European Union.

Shippers Outraged by Intransigence of Felixstowe Management

UK – Following up the disastrous introduction of a new Terminal Operating System (TOS) at the Port of Felixstowe in June it seems all is still not well with the container traffic at Britain's busiest box port, despite a contradictory statement issued this week. Local road haulage companies we have spoken to maintain collections of containers from the quays are running at about half the efficiency of normal service at both Trinity and Landguard terminals.

(and More Threatened in the Near Future)

US – CHINA – IRAN – RUSSIA – It seems US President Donald Trump is intent on punishing any and all who he feels are a problem and this week all three of the countries listed are in the spotlight. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), the body responsible for developing and coordinating US international trade, commodity, and direct investment policy, and overseeing overseas negotiations, has this week released a list of approximately $16 billion worth of imports from China that will be subject to a 25% additional tariff which it says is part of the American response to what it calls 'China's unfair trade practices related to the forced transfer of US technology and intellectual property'.

Cargo Capacity Continues to Outstrip Demand

WORLDWIDE – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released figures for global air freight markets showing that demand, measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTKs), rose 2.7% in June 2018, compared to the same period the year before. This continues the slowdown in air cargo growth that began earlier in 2018. Growth for the first half of year stands at 4.7%, less than half the growth rate in 2017, and the outlook for the rest of the year looks to follow the same trend with rising global trade tensions, initiated by the US being blamed.

Track Borne Cargo May See Viable Protocols Accepted to Avoid Jams

UK – Uncertainty for businesses, worried about delays and lost revenue from customs checks after Brexit, could be relieved if new proposals from the Rail Delivery Group (RDG) are introduced. These suggest that the creation of new Railway Customs Areas (RCAs) at rail freight terminals would avoid the need for a single border checkpoint, removing the prospect of congestion on the rail network in Kent and securing the £1.7 billion economic benefits every year it claims are delivered by rail freight.

Enquiry Result is an Inconclusive Fudge

SOUTH KOREA – The horrific tale of the Sewol, the freight and passenger ferry which foundered in April 2014 with the loss of over 300 lives, has taken another turn this week with the conclusion of the lengthy investigation into the disaster, ending with no conclusive findings and speculating that the vessel may have struck an underwater object, such as a semi-submerged shipping container amongst other diverse possibilities. In fact the investigation appears to have been a complete waste of time as no firm conclusions whatsoever have been arrived at.

Logistics Trade Fair Looks to the Future of the Supply Chain

GERMANY – WORLDWIDE – To say logistics is changing would be, to say the least, a little naïve. Logistics and the methods and technologies used in the supply chain to ship goods around the globe have, by their very nature, changed as the world around them did so. Successive generations see faster communications and modes of transport, but sometimes the pace of change is much quicker than hitherto, and we may well be living in such an era.

Two 13.6 Metre Curtainsides in Tandem on Spanish Highways

SPAIN – Spanish automotive group SEAT and logistics outfit Grupo Sesé have carried out a pilot test to analyse the performance of the duo trailer, a larger and more efficient freight delivery truck than those 'truck and drawbar' road trains currently driving on motorways in some European countries. The test journey was made from Zaragoza to the SEAT headquarters in Martorell and will be repeated in upcoming months while transporting components.

Shortsea Operator Changes Hands - Again

DUBAI – DENMARK – Global ports operator DP World is expanding its European logistics network with the acquisition of Danish container feeder and shortsea operator, Unifeeder for €660 million, from Nordic Capital Fund VIII and certain minority shareholders. Unifeeder will continue to operate on a fully independent, multi-user basis under its current existing management, and expects to see additional growth as a consequence of the transaction.

Despite Initiating Legal Action in London it Seems Negative Result Unpalatable to Djibouti

DJIBOUTI – DUBAI – UK –The government of the east African state which lies on the Gulf of Aden seems to have painted itself into a corner on the question of the status and ownership of the Doraleh container freight terminal and its seizure from concessionaries DP World, a subject which we have written on at length previously. After a series of court actions held in London, all of which the government lost, it has now issued a statement over last week's case in which it denies its involvement in the court action saying the result is 'biased' and claiming immunity from the decision arrived at by the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA).

Best July Figures for Three Years as Temperature Causes Cross Channel Problems

UK – EUROPE – Whilst newscasts may have shown scenes of misery over the past few days as a heat wave swept the UK, with huge queues of traffic awaiting shipment from the Channel ports and the horrors descending when Eurotunnel services were suspended for long periods due to air conditioning failures, not everyone found the situation quite so bad. Whilst thousands queued back as far as the M20 from the tunnel approaches in the last days of July, the rush meant record figures for P&O Ferries, which reported its best ever tourist carryings for a July on the English Channel in three years.

Temporary Restrictions Apply to European Routes

FRANCE – ITALY – SWITZERLAND – Just as half the continent sees families heading out on holiday so the problem of poor air quality is impacting on tourists and others wishing to drive on many of the most popular routes including road haulage outfits with freight payloads. Paris, Strasbourg, Lyon, Annecy and Isère (Alpine region, Grenoble) are all tourist areas which have seen vehicles travelling without the Crit'Air environmental badge and with Crit'Air Class 5, and in some cases Class 4, banned from driving.

Four Special Passengers Relocate to UK

JAPAN – UK – Shipping wildlife, or indeed any animal, is a very, specialised business requiring the utmost care at every stage. When the creatures in question are large and very definitely dangerous the details of transport need to be even more fastidious so when freight forwarding and logistics group DHL was contracted to ship four brown bears from the Japanese island of Hokkaido to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster it meant some very careful planning.

Passports Returned to Seafarers After 10 Months

DUBAI – Nautilus International, the UK headquartered maritime union which represents a range of professional seafarers including masters, harbourmasters, maritime lawyers and the like also stands up for yacht crews, and has just been called upon to intervene in a case where some of its 22,000 or so members had their passports confiscated by the Dubai authorities after a superyacht was impounded due to a high profile divorce.

A Global Review of Who Is Heading Where

GERMANY – Shipping group Panalpina has announced Christian Wurst as its new Regional Chief Executive Officer for Europe. He will join the company by February 2019 and will be based in Frankfurt, Germany, with responsibility for the Europe region. Wurst has more than 20 years of international experience in the freight forwarding and logistics industry and a broad knowledge of European markets and cultures. He joins Panalpina from Ceva Logistics where he most recently held the position of Managing Director, Germany.

Freight and Logistics News Pieces You May Have Missed This Week

NETHERLANDS – We begin this weekly round-up with a couple of statistics stories illustrating the current strengths of freight flows by sea and air, firstly with a Dutch port report that shows transhipment in the North Sea Canal Area at the seaports Amsterdam, Ijmuiden, Beverwijk and Zaanstad declining to 49.4 million tonnes in the first half of 2018, a decrease of 5.1%. The Port of Amsterdam itself saw transhipment fall by 4.8% to 40.2 million tonnes. In IJmuiden, transhipment declined to 9.3 million tonnes (-4.4%), Beverwijk registered a decline to 282,000 tonnes (-18.6%) and in Zaanstad transhipment sunk to just 84,000 tonnes, a slump of 59.3%.

Alleged Government Offers of Compensation Branded Untrue

DJIBOUTI – DUBAI – WORLDWIDE – The situation regarding the seizure of the Doraleh Container Terminal by the authorities has taken yet another turn this week as the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) again confirmed the illegitimacy of the Government of Djibouti's action when it took control of the Djibouti port facility from logistics group DP World in February and subsequently expelled all the group's staff from the country.

Pirates Persist in Hijacks in Coastal Waters

NIGERIA – According to a report by security firm EOS Risk, Nigerian pirates have kidnapped 35 seafarers from vessels in the Gulf of Guinea in the first half of 2018. From January through June 2018, EOS recorded 34 Nigerian pirate attacks on merchant and fishing vessels in the Gulf of Guinea. These attacks resulted in the kidnap of 35 seafarers for ransom and the hijacking of several vessels. These figures reaffirm that the region is one of the most hazardous in terms of maritime crimes and has surpassed places like Somalia where armed security aboard ships, Best Management Practices (BMP5) and the presence of naval forces have drastically reduced attacks.

On Line Marketing Must Bring Rent and Rate Cuts in High Street

UK – The latest crisis in the high street centred around retail group House of Fraser (HoF) is a tangible indicator of the state of the market, with major ramifications for the British logistics sector. It may also mean a considerable headache for those with investments in the urban commercial property sector. House of Fraser is undeniably in a parlous state, needing £50 to £70 million in short order to enable it to survive. Although seen as a British institution the current principal owner is Chinese group Nanjing Xinjiekou Department Store Co.

International Port Steps Up to the Environmental Plate Once Again

NETHERLANDS – For some years Port of Amsterdam has been giving discounts on port dues to vessels listed in the Environmental Ship Index (ESI) that have attained an ESI score of 20 points or higher, something we detailed in a story back in 2011. As of now, the port will be increasing this incentive by adding another discount, doubling the maximum ESI discount for vessels that are in the possession of an ESI certificate and using liquefied natural gas (LNG) for their main or auxiliary engines.

Three Major Crimes Now Against Container and Ocean Freight Community

UK – WORLDWIDE – After discovering that it was subject to a cyber security incident in November last year, Clarksons, which offers a plethora of support services to the shipping fraternity, has provided an update to the data breach, revealing more details about the security breach. This latest update comes a week after Chinese container shipping giant COSCO was itself subject to an attack, reportedly ransomware, in the US which debilitated the company's regional communications network, an issue it assures us that has now been resolved, plus the NotPetya strike against Maersk June 2017.

US Vehicles May Come to Europe

HUNGARY – US – EUROPE – Waberer's, the Hungarian headquartered road haulage outfit which runs over 4,000 of its own trucks, has been in discussion with Tesla with a view to test that company's much vaunted all electric semi-truck on highways throughout Europe. The talks took place during the freight company's recent tour of the United States in which executives undertook several meetings.

Co-Hosts Will Outline Codes of Practice and Electronic Driver Records

AUSTRALIA – No matter where in the world they operate freight trucking companies are finding ever changing laws and regulations make the road haulage game more difficult, and more expensive, every year. Events such as the forthcoming 2018 Supply Chain Safety & Compliance Summit, held by the Australian Logistics Council (ALC), this year at the Melbourne Park Function Centre between 5-6 September, will feature as co-hosts the Australian Trucking Association (ATA), giving attendees an opportunity to catch up on the latest legislative developments.

Multi-Purpose Craft has Unique Abilities

NORWAY – NETHERLANDS – GERMANY – Norwegian heavy transport vessel operator, Offshore Heavy Transport (OHT) is set to enter the offshore renewables and installation market with a unique new vessel for applications in the wind energy sector, decommissioning, the installation of offshore platforms, and for general heavy-duty maritime transport. The customised ULSTEIN Alfa Lift design has been developed by Dutch design company Ulstein Design & Solutions (UDSBV) in close cooperation with OHT and the first vessel, with options for up to another 3 units, will be constructed by China Merchant Heavy Industry (CMHI) to be deployed from early 2021.