From Cyber Security to Women in Logistics This Update of News Makes Essential Reading
Previously only crew members have been able to access a ship’s offline data sets. The Naval Dome Dashboard collects and collates all the data captured by the company’s Endpoint cyber protection system for use either at the company’s HQ, where personnel can access both online and offline shipboard data, aboard the vessel itself, to provide the master or chief engineer with a complete picture of the ship’s cyber status.
CZECH REPUBLIC – Ship sanitation solutions supplier ACO Marine plans to triple production at its Pribyslav plant in the Czech Republic to meet increased demand for its stainless-steel wastewater treatment products. Managing Director Mark Beavis said the new market of river cruises was developing rapidly for the company with a requirement to treat wastewater, for which ACO’s Maripur NF sewage fitted the bill.
The development means the expanded stainless-steel stock will all be produced under one roof and the development follows the opening of a new MENA (Middle East and North Africa) marine sales and service operation at ACO Marine’s facility in Dubai. The service centre will provide a testing ground for ACO Marine’s new Maripur NF membrane cleaning service, developed to help reduce operational and maintenance costs. While the mega-yacht sector will be an early beneficiary, the new service will be rolled out to other marine industry sectors later this year.
TURKEY – ITALY – P&O Ferrymasters has begun a new set of intermodal services from the Turkish ports of Pendik, Ambarli and Mersin to the Free Port of Trieste in Italy, with onward connections to its European intermodal network. The new services will depart six times a week in both directions and connect with rail links from the port of Trieste to P&O Ferries’ continental hubs at Rotterdam and Zeebrugge. The services are designed to cut transit times between Turkey and the major European hubs to less than a week.
CHINA – Automechanika Shanghai 2018, which ran from 28 November to 1 December saw the busiest fair to date at the event with over 150,000 visitors taking in the products of the 6,269 exhibitors. The fair, 14th in the series, looks at every aspect of the automotive supply chain and takes up 350,000 m2 across 13 halls and was accompanied by an extensive fringe programme lasting over the four days.
AUSTRALIA – Maersk Supply Service has been awarded a contract with Chevron Australia which will see two of its anchor handling tug supply vessels support the giant Chevron- operated Gorgon Stage Two drilling programme. Maersk Mariner and Maersk Master have been working in Western Australia since September 2017 and March 2018 respectively, where they will remain until the contract commences.
The two ships will provide towing, anchor handling, supply, and WROV services for the programme in the Northwest Shelf of Western Australia starting in Q2 2019. Throughout the programme, both vessels will be operated by local crews and supported from Maersk Supply Service’s Perth shorebase.
UK – Whilst on the subject of super yachts, one specialist in transporting such craft, Peters & May, has launched its own Charity Foundation. The certified UK charity intends to raise thousands of pounds for deserving causes around the country. It cements Peters & May’s commitment to raising funds and has been recognised as a grant-making organisation, with all money raised contributed to charities including Research, the Breast Unit Charity and Teen Marine UK.
The Peters & May Foundation is born out of a heritage of charitable roots, having raised over £100k since 2013 under the name of Peters & May. The foundation’s mission is to support people striving to make the world a better place through the advancement of health and education. It will be led by a team of trustees, including Peters & May CEO David Holley who is the driver behind the initiative, supported by Paul Tate, who ran the London Marathon last year in aid of Cancer Research raising £5,000, and Simon Judson.
UK – Narrow Aisle Ltd, manufacturer of the Flexi range of articulated forklift trucks and associated solutions says it is experiencing unprecedented levels of demand for its range of short-term rental (STR) trucks. The company has 25% more such equipment out on hire than 12 months ago with commercial director, John Maguire putting the trend down firmly to Brexit, saying:
“Customers who operate warehouses feel they need to bolster their material handling fleets with extra vehicles to cope with the additional goods they are storing on behalf of companies that are stockpiling products to ensure their business is not affected by possible future customs or port delays.
“With companies seeking to minimise the risk of supply chain disruption in March by holding increased inventory, warehouse operators across the UK are under intense pressure to increase storage capacity and maintain handling efficiency at their facilities. Anecdotal evidence suggests that businesses are seeking to hire additional storage space for periods of between just 6 and 12 months, in theory enough time to ensure their supply chains do not suffer as Britain leaves the EU.”
UK – The news that GB Railfreight has had its contract with Liberty British Aluminium extended for a further three years was welcomed by all parties. The contract will see GBRf class 66 locomotives hauling alumina from North Blyth to Fort William, on a service that will run six days a week. The service enables the delivery of critical supplies to an industry which is not only central to the West Highlands, but the Scottish economy as a whole.
In a statement Liberty said how important the carrier’s role was whilst GBRF MD John Smith commented the move ensured ensure the continuation of rail freight on the West Highland line. Nobody however was happier than Bill Reeve, Transport Scotland’s Director of Rail, who said:
”A competitive, sustainable rail freight sector supports our communities and our economy through a safe, green and efficient way of transporting products and materials. The Scottish Government welcomes the continued commitment of British Aluminium to rail freight to provide the raw materials for its production. This is another example of the importance of the West Highland Line to the economy, environment and communities of Lochaber.”
UK – Readers are reminded that they now have only a month to submit nominations for the 2019 everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards. That option closes on February 11 and our article in December listed the individual eight categories (with thirteen candidates recognised) and yes there is a specifically masculine award in there! At a time when the industry desperately needs to introduce new, competent blood, there has never been a better chance for you to promote a worthwhile candidate.
Over the 11 years the programme has been running, everywoman has showcased the breadth of opportunities within the industry along with the career journeys of those who have made an impact through their occupations. Significant progress has been made to create a more diverse workforce with more women than ever taking on senior management roles and a steady rise in female logistics graduates to 37%. Yet with women making up less than 20% of the transport and logistics workforce there continues to be a focus on career opportunity and awareness. You can see full details of how to nominate HERE.
UK – Our story of the protests planned for tomorrow (Saturday 12 January) by the RMT union against Condor Ferries is scheduled to go ahead but has now elicited a reply from the company in the form of a statement which we publish here in full for the sake of even handedness. It says:
“Condor is a proud and responsible employer and the RMT’s comments made in relation to our treatment of staff are totally inaccurate. We stand by our previous comments on the matter, Condor fully adheres to and indeed exceeds domestic and international employment regulations covering the wages, terms and conditions of staff and this includes compliance with the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006, especially including all jurisdictional minimum wage regulations.
”A very small number of non-EU seafarers are employed by Condor through a specialist recruitment agency and many return to work for Condor year after year, citing the positive working experience. These qualified and experienced seafarers are hard-working and valued members of our team and their welfare is of no less importance than that of all of our UK, EU and international employees.
”We reject the following accusations raised by the RMT, that Condor Ferries pays ‘poverty wages’ or ‘exploits’ our seafarers of any nationality. In addition, Condor is absolutely not ‘paid or subsidised by the CI authorities’ to operate our services, and our shareholder does not ‘extract’ a management fee from the company. Finally, the statement that contracts with the Islands’ governments are for renewal in 2019 is also incorrect.
”The erroneous and incorrect assertions from the RMT are unfortunately both wrong and inappropriate. Condor has operated for over 70 years serving the Channel Islands with lifeline freight and passenger ferry services and continues to do so as a responsible and prudent operator. We work closely with the authorities in Guernsey and Jersey to provide the best sea connectivity across our freight, Islander and tourism offerings.”
Photo: Two stories in one. Peters & May will doubtless miss the services of the now defunct Hansa Heavy Lift operation which proved useful in the movement of super yachts such as the one being loaded here.
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