Other News Snippets in Brief from the World of Shipping and Logistics

DENMARK – Danish Naval Architect firm Knud E Hansen which assisted in the restoration of the Danish Merchant fleet after the Second World War and moved on to developing car ferries, has announced a new company logo. The new design, picturing the superstructure of a modern cruise ship within the lines of a traditional Viking longship is to celebrate the company’s forthcoming 80th birthday next year.

CANADA – Trelleborg’s marine systems operation will exhibit at the 58th Association of Canadian Port Authorities (ACPA) Annual Conference in Ontario, Canada on the 6 to 9 September 2016. The docking, mooring and fender system specialist will be waxing lyrical on IALA compliant modular navigation and mooring buoys, protecting port infrastructure over a long and demanding service life, and how to minimise maintenance requirements, maximise efficiencies and improve safety.

UK – The Fork Lift Truck Association (FLTA) has launched Safer Site Pro, a step-by-step online guide to improving site safety. Available exclusively to members of the Association’s Safe User Group, the guide comprises 26 steps offering advice, guidance, and a series of practical tasks to be completed. Supported by valuable resources and relevant real-life case studies the course shows managers and supervisors overseeing fork lift operations how to assess their site’s safety and how to make tried-and-tested improvements often at little or no cost.

GREECE – China Cosco Shipping Corporation (CCSC) has completed the acquisition of a 51% stake in the largest port in the country, the Port of Piraeus. Cosco Shipping Hong Kong is now the controlling shareholder of the port, responsible for both its management and operations. The deal means an extension to responsibilities under the 35-year concession agreement Cosco signed in 2009.

UK – FRANCE – Eurotunnel has released its now monthly report on Shuttle traffic showing Truck Shuttles in July up 9% on last year. 137,091 units were transported against the 125,437 carried in July 2915. Coaches however dropped 8% to 4,793 whilst cars, motorcycles etc. rose 7% to 297,756. The tally means that the Truck Shuttle total was up for the ninth consecutive month as opposed to previous years.

US – Business Intelligence Group, LLC, of Southlake, Texas, has announced the acquisition of KFS, Inc., of Fort Worth, Texas. KFS is a non-asset based freight and logistics company with operations in Fort Worth, Dallas and El Paso, Texas. In future KFS will operate under the B.I.G. brand name as the existing team of managers and employees move to grow their three current facilities while exploring acquisition opportunities in other markets.

Photo: Capt. Xu Lirong, Chairman of the China Cosco Shipping Corporation, meeting with Alexis Tsipras, Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, whom he thanked for the Greek governments support in the takeover of the Port of Piraeus.