Shipping Search - Archive

Two Year Deal with Family Firm

UK – EUROPE - Schenker Limited, the UK arm of the global logistics services provider DB Schenker, has been awarded a two year contract to handle Stannah Stairlifts European road freight requirements from the UK and the Czech Republic into Germany, Belgium, Holland, France and Poland. Daily movements from the world leader in stairlift design and manufacturing's Andover headquarters will see DB Schenker operating direct trucks into Germany, France, Belgium and The Netherlands.

Safmarine Adds Ports of Call to Established Service

AFRICA – ASIA – Container carrier Safmarine has added the ports of Beira in Mozambique and Toamasina in Madagascar to its weekly shipping service between Southern Africa and Asia. The box carrier believes the additions to its ‘Safari 3’ service will help boost freight trade between the two continents. Alan Mileham, Safmarine’s Far East – South Africa Trade Manager commented:

Bidder Drops Out of One Auction but More on the Table for Another

RUSSIA – Investors interested in the logistics market are looking carefully at the news coming out of Moscow recently. In April the Russian Government announced it was to sell 12% of its joint stock company*, Russian Railways RZD, operators of the longest rail, network in the country. RZD was due to dispose of several assets this year possibly now to include up to half of the shares in its London listed, intermodal cargo operation, TransContainer. This news follows this weeks announcement that one of the favoured bidders, Globaltrans Investment, were withdrawing from the forthcoming auction for a 75% stake (less two shares)in RZD’s rail freight carrier, Freight One citing ‘current uncertainty in global financial markets’.

WARNING - Links in this story contain disturbing images

UK – SOMALIA - On the day designated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as ‘World Maritime Day’ the entire ocean freight world was represented at the London launch of an across the board programme to pursue an effective humanitarian response to maritime piracy. With the theft of vessels and the abduction of their crews by pirates worsening year on year, this is the first time that the industry has produced a truly coordinated response aimed at dealing with the tragic consequences of this foul crime.

Felixstowe Racks Up 125 Years - and Two New Deepwater Berths

UK – The country’s busiest container port which has a throughput exceeding 3 million TEU (twenty foot equivalent units) per annum and handles 40% of Britain’s imports, celebrated its 125th birthday today in Royal style. A visit from Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, to mark the occasion coincided with the formal opening of the two new deepwater berths capable of handling the latest generation of freight carriers.

Baltic Dry Index Climbs Despite Stock Markets - But What of Container Shipping?

UK– WORLDWIDE – Despite the recent slump in stock markets the Baltic Dry Index seems to be retaining the steady improvement in bulk freight rates we have witnessed in the past month or so. Closing at 1927 yesterday means the BDI is at its highest point since before Christmas last year, although still far from the heady days of mid 2008 shortly after which it slumped to less than half its current value.

IRHA and Small Businesses Protest at Ministers Statement

IRELAND – A speech by Transport Minister Leo Varadkar stating he was considering more road tolls as a revenue replenishment scheme has left freight and road haulage interests up in arms. The Irish Road Haulage Association (IRHA) said in a statement in July that additional road charges would erode the county’s competitiveness. At that time the National Roads Authority confirmed they were examining the issue and yesterday’s revelation has brought more criticism from bodies such as the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association (ISME) and the AA.

Giant Vessel Makes Inaugural Trip

SOUTH AFRICA – Our photograph shows the 232 metre long MV Tijuca manoeuvring in the port of East London yesterday, laden with a consignment of luxury vehicles for the South African market, the largest car carrier ever to enter the port. The vessel is on its maiden voyage to the country with ports of call including Port Elizabeth and Durban. In East London the 13 deck ship took advantage of a recent expansion project which saw the berth at the car terminal deepened from 9.3 to 10.5 metres to accommodate larger freight vessels.

Meanwhile Thailand Aims for Central Role in ASEAN Group

THAILAND – With the future of the freight infrastructure in the country firmly on the agenda this month, news comes that one company, with a history of trading in the area, Kerry Logistics, has secured a contract with IKEA, the Scandinavian furniture and accessories group, to provide a broad range of supply chain services in the region. Meanwhile the country itself aims for a bigger slice of the regions freight trade.

Annoying Minor Charges for Drivers Eliminated

UK – Every haulage operator, large or small, knows the hassle associated with commercial vehicle drivers expenses incurred whilst out on the road. No matter how many fuel cards one carries and fuel bunker accounts notwithstanding there are always incidental expenses associated with freight and logistics operations on the highway. Now a Norfolk based company have introduced a system for settling non fuel related transactions quickly and efficiently whilst on the move.

Jungheinrich Offers both the Old and the New

UK – News from materials handling manufacturer Jungheinrich comes in two notices this week relevant to both second hand and cutting edge fork lift trucks. Firstly anyone interested in purchasing a ‘previously enjoyed’ truck might do well to pay a visit to two events the company has arranged for supply chain stakeholders giving prospective customers a chance to examine what’s available.

Complete Portfolio of Road Haulage Services in Strategic Locations

CHINA – Kuehne + Nagel is the latest European based freight forwarder to upgrade supply chain logistics services within in the country as it spreads its network of offices and road haulage operations particularly in the Central and Western areas. In April K + N launched its first long-haul shuttle between Shanghai and Tianjin departing both points thrice weekly on the 1,200 kilometre route.

New Routes to Three Countries Start this Year

UKRAINE – Whilst many countries are struggling with the rigours of slow growth, the country’s economy, linked strongly with development of its trade with Russia, has continued to improve since some very dark days in recent history. Now the cargo division of Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) say the recovery, coupled with anticipation of an additional rise in freight traffic due to the forthcoming football European Championships, has prompted it to inaugurate new cargo services to Delhi, Ashkhabad and Tehran this winter.

MOL Ships Demonstrated Excellent Seamanship to Rescue 64 Souls

JAPAN – During the course of a year, amongst the mundane, everyday reports that fill the freight and logistics press occasionally comes a story which not only reminds one of the inherent dangers associated with the shipping industry, but demonstrates the skill and courage that sometimes is called upon, often far from land and away from the watching eyes of reporters.

New Terminal Proposed for Ambient and Refrigerated Cargo

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND – Much as in the UK pressure is being brought to bear to ensure there are no monopolies when it comes to the management of airports within the Republic. In the light of this the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) which manages Shannon airport as well as Dublin and Cork and is state owned, has been searching for ways to secure its future and has now signed a preliminary heads of agreement with air freight group Lynx Global, a major US cargo carrier, to allow the development of a new cargo handling terminal of up to 200,000 square feet.

Direct Routes to Expand Panalpina Offering

ASIA – Supply chain provider Panalpina announced last week it was to introduce three new direct less than container load (LCL) services through its in-house NVOCC Pantainer Express Line. The new guaranteed weekly freight services are connected to the Panalpina key hub in Singapore and are all Singapore inbound from Haiphong (Vietnam), Phnom Penh (Cambodia) and Cebu (Philippines). As such this represents a further expansion of Panalpina’s ongoing Asian growth strategy.

Poorly Regulated Operators Targeted in Safety and Fair Treatment Campaign

ASIA – This week sees a further extension to the campaign by transport, maritime and dock unions protesting against the neglect of safety standards often found on freight and passenger vessels sailing under flags of convenience and ports which handle cargo in a dangerous or unregulated fashion. From today (26th September) until the end of the week there will be action by the unions at major ports in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Russia. Staggered weeks of action are being held in India and Sri Lanka in September, November and December, with inspections taking place this week in Cochin, Chennai, Colombo and Tuticorin.

African Port Strives to Shake Off the Old Problems

NIGERIA – Of all the countries in the world which stand as of major importance on the shipping map this must be the most confusing to anybody concerned with moving freight in or out of the region, and the Lagos port of Tin Can Island encapsulates all that is good and bad regarding global logistics, even the name itself somehow encapsulating the feel of Nigeria.

Mystery Surrounds Developers Client

UK - Good news this week for the Mersey Multimodal Gateway (3MG) freight park being developed jointly by Halton Borough Council, Stobart Rail and Prologis on a Brownfield site at Widnes in Cheshire. A mystery client has contracted for a new rail connected 110,000 square metre warehouse and office development to be constructed adjacent to 3MG on the formerly agricultural site North of Halebank Road, by Prologis at a reported cost in excess of £45 million. Secrecy surrounds the identity of the developer whose name is apparently protected by confidentiality agreements for commercial reasons.

GPS Technology Used to Gather Data for Infrastructure Research

US – Everybody, particularly professional freight truck drivers, complain about the regular delays caused by bottlenecks, often the constant lobbying will result in an infrastructure change but often not for many years. In Britain, for example, only regular travellers and local residents can understand the misery of driving for many years on the A3 through Hindhead before the recent road works resolved the problem completely. In a time of austerity how can the authorities differentiate between a standard trucker’s moan and a case where there are real costs to industry, logistics and the environment?

Volvo Innovation Results in More MPG

US – In July Volvo announced it was producing a cleaner, lean burn natural gas truck to satisfy the future needs of its environmentally aware freight customers and now, following a more conventional route the company is again bidding to save haulage operations fuel and pollution with the addition of a new powertrain package for its VN series tractors, which, in combination with the savings of 5% made with the 2009 introduction of Volvo EPA’10 certified No Regen engines with SCR technology, now offers hauliers a fuel saving of up to 8% over standard EPA’07 engines.

French Connection Select K + N to Handle Distribution

UK – Even the sadly unfashionable staff within the Handy Shipping Guide offices know the name of French Connection and now global logistics group Kuehne + Nagel have been awarded a five year supply chain contract by the leading popular fashion house to provide warehousing and distribution facilities for their clothing and fashion accessory products in the UK.

FFG's Cut in Spending Review

UK – SCOTLAND – Despite the strongest protestations from rail freight representatives and some very big hitters from industry the Scottish Government has axed Freight Facilities Grants (FFG’s) in its 2011 Spending Review. The FFG scheme has been under threat for some time but in January pressure was brought to bear by various logistics trade organisations and bosses from the whisky and water bottling industries leading to an extra £2 million in funding and a promise to reconsider the scheme which supports the intermodal shift from road haulage to rail cargo.

All Major Systems Can Handle New Con-way Software

US – Everybody in logistics is finding new and better ways of utilising modern communications technology and now it’s the turn of American trucking giant Con-way Freight with the launch of their enhanced smart phone app which can provide customer-specific rate quotes for iPhone, Android, and Blackberry users plus track shipments, view shipping documents and locate and call service centres.

GACAG Forms Four Separate Task Forces

WORLDWIDE – The Global Air Cargo Advisory Group (GACAG), first mooted at a meeting of minds at the International Air Cargo Association’s (TIACA) Forum and Exposition in Amsterdam last November, has issued details of the four Task Forces it has formed to study security, e-commerce, customs and trade facilitation, and sustainability of the global air freight industry. GACAG is made up of elements from its four founding members, i.e. TIACA plus the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA), the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the Global Shippers’ Forum (GSF).

Rumours Abound but Allport Deal is Old News

UK – A penalty one pays for sloppy journalism can have a negative effect far beyond a single story. Failure to investigate an article fully can damage and individual or organisation and that, it seems, is what could have happened to Allport, one of the UK’s leading freight and logistics operators had the facts not come out.

Multiple Sensors Ensure Non Tampering and Instant Positioning of Shipments

GERMANY – WORLDWIDE – In a move that would even make the late Ian Fleming scratch his head the latest bit of kit from Deutsche Post Group Company, DHL is an impressive jump in technology for anyone interested in the difficult task involved in the freight and logistics problems which surround extremely sensitive cargoes. Aimed principally at the shipping of pharmaceuticals the DHL SmartSensor GSM ensures the client can track his consignment right through the entire supply chain.

London Hosts CILT Event

UK – Those wishing to remain abreast of major threats to the global supply chain will have a chance to explore their concerns at the annual Logistics Lecture sponsored by The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in the UK (CILT). Not since the end of the Second World War have global supply chains been fraught with so much risk including environmental disaster, political turmoil, market turbulence, exchange rate fluctuations and pending regulatory changes. They all combine to create volatility and uncertainty that requires identification and management. Issues of long-term sustainability and environmental impact are returning to the market as regulators and consumers join the battle against carbon and greenhouse gas emissions.

Crowley Continues to Expand Through Acquisitions

US – CARIBBEAN ISLANDS – Crowley Maritime, which already serves numerous destinations in the region, has expanded its cargo services in the Caribbean with the addition of a full range of logistics offerings including freight forwarding, consolidation and Customs brokerage services in Tortola and Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands (BVI). In conjunction with these new capabilities, Crowley now also offers customers less-than-container load (LCL) shipping and air freight services between Miami; San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Road Town, Tortola.

TNT Sharpen Up their Haulage Services

CHINA –SOUTH EAST ASIA - Since freight and logistics group TNT started its Express Asia Road Network services (ARN) six years ago the company has made steady progress in expanding and enhancing its haulage operations. After successfully launching an electric fleet in Shanghai in September 2010, the company became even greener when it deployed its first fully electric fleet in Hangzhou this March. Now following trials lasting a year TNT Express has now integrated its Chinese day-definite domestic road network (operated by TNT Hoau - the Chinese freight group TNT purchased in 2007) with its ARN system, thus creating what it claims is the only scheduled pan Asia day-definite road network (China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore).

Schneider Says IDS is a New Look at an Old Product

US – Everyone involved in freight and logistics understands that economy of scale is one of the most effective ways to keep shipping costs down. Where road haulage is concerned full load trailer rates can simply be negotiated to ensure the optimum price for a reliable service but consolidating cargo into a groupage load is where the skill of a quality less than truckload (LTL) haulier lies.

US Drugs Smuggling Case Demonstrates Again the Problems of Forwarding

US – It appears that the romantic world of Rock and Roll can sometimes bite back when you are charged with handling the logistics problems of music and media artists as US freight carrier Rock It Cargo has discovered this week. Charges of cocaine trafficking raised against James Rosemond, a senior entertainment executive relate to flight cases regularly transported by the specialist showbusiness freight forwarder.

Icelandic Group Extends its Profile as Rail Traffic Builds

NETHERLANDS – ICELAND – EUROPE – Samskip, the container logistic specialist is seen by many involved in the freight industry as a local feeder box operator to Iceland and the Faroe Isles but is in fact one of the largest container groups on the Continent. Now the company has consolidated its image by renaming its Dutch Van Dieren Maritime subsidiary, purchased eight years ago, as Samskip Van Dieren Multimodal, with effect from 19th September 2011. Explaining the decision, Henk van Dieren, CEO of Samskip Van Dieren Multimodal, said:

Indian Christmas Trade Faces Setbacks - Again

INDIA – Late last month another action by workers at the port of Chennai brought both export and import freight shipments to a standstill. In what appears to be an increasingly common situation a small matter between two individuals, one a port worker, the other a freight haulier, ended with hundreds of containers backed up for over five miles as drivers boycotted the port.

Software Development Key to Publishing Supply Chain Contract

UK – WORLDWIDE – To be successful in a niche or specialised market it is necessary for a freight forwarder to stay abreast of, or indeed ahead of developments in the supply chain. Logistics group SBS Worldwide spent some time developing their own software, eDC [electronic Distribution Centre), to assist publishers reduce both the time taken and the cost of delivering books from printers in China and elsewhere to customers around the world.

New Port Provides Opportunity for Expansion

RUSSIA – EUROPE - US – Whilst the freight container feeder options available in the US remain in the doldrums due to the trade restrictions imposed by the Jones Act, services across Europe continue to expand. Unifeeder, a Danish based group which has been shunting boxes around the Continent since 1977, has announced the imminent commencement of shipments via the new, multipurpose Ust-Luga deep-water port situated in the Gulf of Finland and close to the Russian border with the EU.

Safmarine Use the Medium to.....Sell the Medium

WORLDWIDE – Seems obvious really, if you want the clearest possible way to let your customers know your latest technological developments, why not use technology itself to inform them. When Safmarine needed to let customers know how to track their freight consignments via the exact position of their shipping containers, they simply posted a video on social media site YouTube.

Success for EU Force and IMO Advises on Security Aboard

AFRICA –SOMALIA – OMAN - Piracy remains a growth industry in the region, subtly changing as attitudes harden toward the seemingly endless attacks off the Somali coast. The African West coast has also registered an increase in incidents with at least fifteen serious incidents off the shores of Benin and in the Niger Delta as various groups, with an eye to profit or politics, caused the Lloyds Market Association to designate areas such as the waters south of Cotonou, where a 12,000 tonne tanker the MT Emocean disappeared last month, and Gulf of Guinea in the region of the Beninese and Nigerian Exclusive Economic Zones north of Latitude 3° North, as war risk areas due to the number of attacks on freight vessels.

Short Strike Next Week to Have Knock On Effects

AUSTRALIA – The planned withdrawal of labour next Tuesday by staff of freight and passenger air carrier Qantas should last only four hours yet the effects on flights, including the carriage of cargo, could be felt for up to two days according to local experts. The strike, planned to last from 7am to 11 am on the 20th September, may include up to 3,800 baggage handlers, ground, freight, transport and catering staff.

Union 'Utterly Appalled' by Marine Pollution and Safety Savings

UK – In 1993 the oil tanker MV Braer grounded of the Shetland coast after fuel contaminated with seawater caused her engines to fail. The ship broke up and released around 87,000 tonnes of oil some of which washed up on the coast. Plans to deal with such incidents were heavily criticised, not least by New Scientist magazine and subsequently the Government introduced four emergency towing vessels (ETV’s) to assist tankers and other freight and passenger ships.

Russian Infrastructure Bids to Challenge Traditional Carriers

RUSSIA – Whilst the rest of the rail freight world whinges about the slow capabilities of cargo carrying wagons as against the High Speed rail advantages of passenger trains two subsidiaries of Russian Railways, RZD Logistics and TransContainer, are working on a joint project: express container trains. They are currently being tested on the route between Yekaterinburg and St. Petersburg.

GAC Find an Economical Way to Have Their Logo on a Set of Race Cars

UAE - MALAYSIA –WORLDWIDE – Countless millions of pounds, dollars and Euros are spent every year sponsoring F1 racing but logistics expert GAC has found a way to connect its freight activities with the glamorous world of high speed racing – without breaking the bank and at the same time encouraging youngsters in a worthwhile project which may well breed the race engineers of the future.

TfL Works to Manage What Will be a Busy Period

UK –The initial Freight Forum held by Transport for London (TfL) was well attended by various stakeholders including representatives from the Freight Transport Association (FTA) and the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and the meeting produced some useful information by way of a new online resource to assist in logistics planning for the forthcoming 2012 Olympic Games.

Apprentice Scheme to Battle High Unemployment Levels

UK – DENMARK – Following our coverage of the launch of its Sales Academy last month to encourage and attract suitable graduates into the freight industry, logistics group DSV now tell us it is launching its first-ever apprentice scheme in the UK, just as it says the country’s unemployment rate for young people approaches record levels. The apprentice scheme, which was launched earlier this year, places school leavers in roles across the company’s four divisions: DSV Road, DSV Air & Sea, DSV Solutions and DSV Commercials.

New Technology Tools are Essential to Truck Fleets and Forwarders

IRELAND – NETHERLANDS – UK - WORLDWIDE – Two major players in the European road haulage and logistics theatre have made announcements today regarding their preferred fleet management methods and the way they are working to achieve lower freight costs for themselves and their customers.

TIACA Protest That Trading Scheme is Fatally Flawed

EUROPE - The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) is urging the European Union to suspend implementation of its controversial Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) for aviation and to instead pursue a global agreement of aviation carbon emissions through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). TIACA say that the scheme is inefficient and will effectively tax air freight customers unjustly.

London Based Transputec to Supply System to European and US Centres

UK – EUROPE – WORLDWIDE -After operating similarly supplied systems at their Heathrow offices for the past eight years, Zurich headquartered Swissport International Ltd., which principally operates in the ground handling field, has appointed Wembley based Transputec Computers plc as the provider for its electronic air freight document management requirement worldwide.

Maersk Take the Fight to Opponents

DENMARK - UK – ASIA - EUROPE – In a bold move designed to out manoeuvre their rivals Maersk, the largest container shipping line in the world, today announced what they consider to be the first major step forward in box transportation for well over a decade. ‘Daily Maersk’ will offer guaranteed delivery times from four Asian ports to three major European hubs for any FCL freight deliveries every day of the week.

New Deal to Remove 30,000 Trucks from European Roads

EUROPE – Europorte, the freight operating arm of Eurotunnel, has joined in partnership with Italian rail specialist Trenitalia Cargo to further extend rail freight links between Italy and France. Europorte acquired the assets of Veolia Cargo in 2009 and bought out the interests of FirstGroup in GB Railfreight last year. The group offers rail freight transport including a range of traction options and infrastructure services and this month is commencing a program to fit all its trains with an intelligent location-based GPS system to improve traffic efficiency.

A Personal View from the Heart of the Tragedy

US – And so it seems the 10th anniversary of the twin towers tragedy in New York has passed relatively undisturbed by terrorist action despite raised security levels and a tangible feeling of trepidation. So how have the terrible events of a decade ago affected the freight industry, particularly at the heart of the disaster? A statement issued by GAC New York’s Port Manager Lisa Doherty, sums up the changes wrought by what has often been referred to as ‘America’s wake up call’. Here we publish the viewpoint of someone who has had to work within the rapidly changed landscape of port logistics in the Big Apple.

Twin Call to Government to Upgrade Infrastructure

UK – Felixstowe is the UK’s busiest container port handling over 3 million TEU’s per annum, around 35% of Britain’s box freight and yet the road infrastructure is the subject of constant criticism and with other port developments countrywide underway the Suffolk hub is likely to decline unless improvements are made. Now the country’s leading advocates for increasing the proportion of rail cargo to road haulage have added their weight to the argument.

Awful Tanzanian Vessel Death Toll Could Have Been Worse

TANZANIA – Once again we are witness to tragedy when the MV Spice Islander, a freight and passenger RoRo (roll on/roll off) ferry travelling between the offshore islands of Unguja and Pemba in the Zanzibar archipelago lost power whilst traversing the dangerous waters off the coast of Zanzibar. The strong currents in the area apparently caused the overloaded vessel to capsize and the current death toll stands at around 200.

US Freight Firm move from 'Negative' to 'Stable'

US- Last month a lot more people became aware of the name Standard & Poors (S & P) when the credit rating agency downgraded the US Government’s debt rating by one notch to the chagrin of state officials. Now however, at least for one of the major players in the American freight market, the company will be in favour, as yesterday the freight, logistics and trucking conglomerate that forms Con-way Incorporated had their rating revised by S & P.

Development to be Most Advanced in the Region

SPAIN – Yesterday witnessed an official visit to the Muelle Prat development in the Port of Barcelona, a container handling facility which developer Terminal Catalunya (TERCAT) says will be the most advanced semi-automated container terminal in the Mediterranean. The freight terminal will have an annual handling capacity of 2.65 million TEU with the first phase expected to be operational in 2012.

Air Logistics Community Forges Ahead with Documentation System

NETHERLANDS – A group of companies in the country’s supply chain have banded together to further promote the e freight system we wrote about when it was shown to a Russian delegation in June. Now the efreight@nl project, a collaboration between Schiphol Cargo, Air Cargo Netherlands and other supply chain partners within the Amsterdam airports cargo community, will be extended throughout Schiphol utilising the newly launched eFreight Online Academy.

Truck Drivers and Operators Both Face Discrimination Problems

US – UK – In what many in Britain are calling a claim culture the Courts are hearing more and more cases, many of which are spurious, in which people feel they, or their reputations, have been damaged in some way. A brief look at some of the cases on both sides of the Atlantic involving freight hauliers and their drivers may serve to illustrate the minefield which awaits those who, knowingly or unknowingly, transgress.

Big Guns Start Throwing BRICS

WORLDWIDE – When there is big money to be made, the opium trade, the Gold Rush, Kuwaiti oil, there inevitably follows a degree of dirty tricks or even war and the development of the new BRIC economies is showing the signs that some of the major factions are prepared to enter into conflict, particularly with regard to who controls the supply chain as enormous amounts of freight begin to travel the globe to support the rising stars.

Freight One to be Auctioned Next Month

RUSSIA – On the 28th July the Government of the Russian Federation mandated that an auction be undertaken for the sale of shares in joint stock company Freight One which, as the largest rail freight cargo carrier in a country with the second largest rail network in the world, makes it an interesting proposition for many heavy hitting investors.

Analysts Predict 90% Chance of Default

FRANCE – WORLDWIDE – Since they were traded in April the latest batch of CMA CGM notes their dollar value has slumped to $0.4725 cents, according to Bloomberg, rendering the French container shipping giant extremely vulnerable. The 8.5% notes were to raise $475 million and analysts predict credit default swap prices mean a 90% chance the third largest box carrier will fail to meet its obligations within five years.

International Effort to Defeat Crime Using Screen Technology

UK – NETHERLANDS – GERMANY – Tomorrow sees the launch of a new initiative between freight truck drivers and the police in an attempt to minimise the number of lorry related crimes so prevalent on the motorways of Europe. The ‘Stammtisch event’ is an Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) initiative set up to improve communication between the Police and commercial vehicle drivers and haulage operators.

Trucks Could be Made More Versatile

WORLDWIDE – Freight by its very nature will always depend to some extent on the delivery truck. Whether it be the express parcel van or a tail lift artic the end user can expect to see a driver at the door albeit now days with a hand held RFID terminal not the previously favoured clipboard – trains simply can’t deliver door to door.

New Ownership Claims Rapid Growth

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – Dubai headquartered Swift Freight boss Warren Erfmann claims he has increased monthly turnover since taking over the company in March. Swift was formed in 1989 by Issa Baluch, well known for venturing into the African cargo market at a time when others feared to tread and believed to be still serving on the group’s advisory board. Erfmann has continued trading in that continent but says other areas have contributed to his success.

Greater Capacity and Lower Running Costs as New Plane Takes Off

US – LUXEMBOURG – As reported earlier this month Cargolux, the European freight only airline, are due to take delivery of the very first new Boeing 747-8 Freighter this month and Boeing tell us that on the 19th September the cargo carrier will take off from Paine Field in Everett, Washington to go straight off and into active service. The following day at the Boeing factory there will be a celebration of the contract which marks an important milestone for both companies before Cargolux fly out the second plane from the order for thirteen of the new freighters on the 21st September.

Have You Checked Your Boots Lately?

US – One of the most neglected features of many freight trucking operations is the humble tyre (OK we’ll say tire as this is an American piece). Despite the fact that those ’boots’ are the only thing between the truck, driver, cargo and disaster only too often neglect leads to vehicular damage or, tragically, sometimes much worse.

Bank Loan Will Assist Modernisation Programme

INDIA – Like the boy who cried wolf the promises of investment that emanate from India often fall on the deaf ears of analysts tired of the seemingly endless proposals and press releases regarding Memoranda of Understanding which never seem to come to fruition. In the past Government owned Indian Railways has come under criticism, not least from ASSOCHAM which represents Chambers of Commerce, for delays and revisions. When however the Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced this week that it was to loan up to $500 million to the company for infrastructure improvement to freight and passenger services one is bound to take it seriously.

MOL continue Their Program of Improvement

JAPAN – WORLDWIDE – Everybody knows that the sea can be a cruel mistress and accidents, both whilst under way and when loading or discharging freight in port, are an occupational hazard which can never be completely eliminated. Container and bulk cargo shipping company Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) has actively pursued a dedicated policy of improvement, which we have reported previously. This week the ocean freight group has taken another step toward reducing accidents.

New Heavy Lift Venture Proves UK Ports Versatility

UK – KOREA – Another example of the ingenuity required when undertaking bespoke out of gauge contracts was demonstrated by freight forwarding group Allseas Global Logistics recently. Organising the transport from Scotland to South Korea of a heavy lift consignment measuring up to 7 metres in height required some creative thinking when a lengthy road trip from the manufacturer’s premises in Aberdeen was never going to be an option due to the extreme height of the pieces.

Fifty Five Tonnes of Bacon on the Hoof Reaches Moscow

CANADA – RUSSIA CIS – There’s project cargo and project cargo, having already successfully completed several logistics movements including the transfer of a whale, dolphins, walruses, rare horses, cows and foxes it probably wasn’t as much of a challenge as other freight carriers might think when AirBridgeCargo Airlines (ABC) faced up to its latest movement of live animals with the transportation of 1,150 pigs from Winnipeg to Moscow.

US and UK Sometimes Have Different Agendas on Waterborne Logistics Movement

US – UK – As we move further into the 21st Century the search for more ecological and economical modes of transport intensifies. The standard ISO shipping container has revolutionised world trade and amplified it to levels undreamed of a couple of decades ago. Now, in the bid to reach and promote ever more efficient levels of logistics, attention is turning to freight transport modes which were vital to our historical industrial development.

Cleaning Up the Supply Chain is a Priority

WORLDWIDE – This week freight forwarders and logistics specialists Damco has launched its own online pollution calculator. The new information is available online at myDamco, the browser-based customer/company interface. This service enables Damco customers to track CO2 emissions for all cargo shipped by ocean and air freight as it passes through the supply chain.