Our Weekly Round Up of Freight, Shipping and Logistics Generally
Most recently the group has opened a distribution hub in Hong Kong for Feelunique, Europe’s leading online beauty retailer, to serve its rapidly-expanding customer base in mainland China and Brian Bourke, Vice President of Marketing at SEKO Logistics explained why the accolade was so important, saying:
“The Multichannel Merchant Top 3PL list is important to us because it is created by industry editors who can see and benchmark the best companies in the business. For customers, it is a trusted and reliable way to qualify the best from the rest.”
US – American Airlines Cargo continued to move an increasingly wide range of seasonal foods by air as worldwide Christmas and New Year celebrations begin. This month, the carrier brought nearly 14,000 pounds of one of the most sought-after entrees, Argentinian beef, from Argentina to Miami after restrictions on its transport were in place for 17 years. However, at the recent G20 summit in Buenos Aires earlier this month that policy changed.
Argentina is a country that is synonymous with high-end meat and has attained a world-class reputation for its beef production. Lorena Sandoval, Director of Cargo Sales at AA Cargo for Latin American and Miami said the AA team was ready and waiting to deliver the first air shipments of Argentinian beef within days of the regulation change.
US – CFI, a North American logistics and full-truckload carrier subsidiary of TFI International Inc. will assume responsibility for the operations of Optimal Freight effective January 1, 2019. Since 2011, Optimal Freight has operated out of Chicago, Illinois under the TFI umbrella to provide transport of truckload and LTL shipments throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. Its services include dry van, temperature controlled, expedited, over dimensional, LTL and intermodal.
INDIA – Force Majeure conditions were imposed at the Port of Krishnapatnam this week after a Severe Cyclonic Storm, ‘Phethai’, hit the area. The declaration was made at 02:30 IST on December 16 with a proviso that these would be lifted after the storm subsided and the Krishnapatnam Port Company had completed a further Risk Assessment.
FRANCE – WORLDWIDE – For the fourth consecutive year, CMA CGM says it has receive the highest distinction awarded by ratings agency EcoVadis and ranks among the TOP 1% most responsible companies in its sector. The container shipping group says it won the accolade for its performance on environmental policy, labour practices and human rights, fair business practices, and sustainable procurement issues.
NORWAY – UniSea, a provider of software tools for operational support and HSEQ to the offshore industry, has agreed to take part ownership of Yxney, an energy efficiency specialist with an impressive record of wins in its two-year history. The two Norwegian headquartered groups say a focus on fuel efficiency and related emissions is steadily growing in the maritime sector.
The pair claim a climate robust business model is quickly becoming a significant differentiator for ship owners and operators competing for contracts in the offshore charter markets, and with plug and play functionality, ship owners currently running UniSea can roll out the Yxney Maress energy efficiency management tool across their entire fleet virtually overnight.
UK – Building and civil engineering firm Britcon, has secured a £1.6 million contract to design and build a new warehouse and office facility for freight forwarding and cargo handling company Viking Shipping Services in Yorkshire. The contract, awarded following a tender process, is to facilitate expansion plans at the Selby site following continuous growth. It includes the design and construction of a new 12,000 sq ft state of the art warehouse with adjoining 4,500 sq ft offices. Currently Viking uses the site as a yard for storage of materials and loading/off loading lorries.
The site is of interesting historical relevance as home to the first railway station to be built in Yorkshire in 1834 with the county’s first main line service from Leeds. Viking now uses the original Grade II listed railway building for warehouse storage and offices. Britcon has started construction on site with an anticipated build programme of 29 weeks.
Photo: The Port of Krishnapatnam, hit by a cyclone warning this week.
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