Snippets of News from Around the Globe This Week

EUROPE – Real-time supply chain visibility platform FourKites® will launch its fourth annual European customer conference, Visibility 2021, on 7 October, to be held virtually. The theme of this year’s conference, ‘Go Beyond’ presents a bold vision for supply chains of the future, centred around automation, innovation and collaboration.

Supply chain leaders from across Europe have the opportunity to network, share best practices and insights, and collaborate on FourKites’ product roadmap during what the company say is the world’s largest virtual supply chain summit.

FRANCE – WORLDWIDE – Earlier this month CMA CGM announced that, with the spiralling cost of container shipping spot rates showing no sign of tailing off, it has put any increase to these on hold for all services operated under its brands (CMA CGM, CNC, Containerships, Mercosul, ANL, APL) until 1 February 2022.

Since the beginning of 2021, container shipping spot freight rates have continued to rise due to port congestion and the major imbalance between demand and maritime container transport effective capacity. The group says it is prioritising its long-term relationship with customers at a time it has increased its container fleet by 780,000 TEUs in the last 15 months.

US – UK – WORLDWIDE – At almost 50 years of age Michigan headquartered Blue Jay Solutions is a veteran in the supply chain software field and this month the company was snapped up by E2open, a B to B provider of cloud-based, software for supply chains for computer, telecom and electronics systems, components and services.

Texas based E2open was formed in 2000 and the deal adds circa 25% to its existing client base of ‘network participants’ which stands currently at around 220,000. Blue Jay offices across EMEA and APAC, with an estimated $40 billion in annual commerce spend and 1.9 billion annual transactions, will strengthen E2open’s global reach and ability to penetrate emerging markets using international leadership based in the UK.

UK – Supply chain and logistics group Wincanton has agreed to acquire 100% of the shares in Caledonia Bidco Limited, the holding company of Cygnia Logistics, a specialist mid-market eCommerce and multichannel eFulfilment provider, from Crescent Capital for a consideration of up to £23.9 million on a cash free, debt free basis.

Founded in 1999, Cygnia has become one of the UK's principal providers of supply-chain services and solutions to high-profile consumer-facing brands such as BrewDog, Moonpig, Molton Brown, Revolution Beauty, Whittard of Chelsea and Feelunique.

UK – With Duty Free sales back on the menu since January a subsidiary of ferry group Stena AB is opening two new duty free border shops, located in units built from shipping containers, in Wales. The first new outlet has opened its doors in Holyhead Port this week, with the second opening in Fishguard Port later in the year.

Swedish outfit R&F Travel Retail says, after 22 years in the wilderness, this is the first time Duty Free will be sold separately in retail outlets within the ports. The container format allows for modular growth if the idea takes off. Both Fishguard and Holyhead ports are owned by Stena Line.

UK – Last month Independent freight forwarder Davies Turner jumped seven places to 21st in the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport’s prestigious league table of the Top 30 logistics providers in the UK. The long-established UK-based international freight and logistics company notes that all the other companies in the top 30 table are either industry sector specialists, or part of a multinational. Last year was the first time that Davies Turner appeared in the table and it is pleased to have risen by seven places this year.

The CILT’s annual Top 30 table, featured in the CILT Focus magazine for August, has been compiled for many years and it is accepted that it recognises logistics companies who best exemplify excellence. The table is produced by assessing a range of key criteria made available through the MINT UK database, annual reports and the European Commission. It evaluates data such as financials, performance, professional accreditation, the gender pay gap and human resource factors.

DENMARK – FRANCE – UK – NORWAY – In a real international deal London law firm Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) has advised Societe Generale on a term loan granted to a Norwegian SPV managed by Clarksons Platou Project Finance AS, to fund the acquisition of two platform supply vessels and their conversion to battery hybrid emergency response rescue vessels. The conversion to be undertaken by Ulstein Verft before be bareboat chartering to ESVAGT A/S and time chartered to TotalEnergies EP Danmark A/S to be deployed in the Danish North Sea.

The two vessels’, the Hermit Fighter and Hermit Prosper, will undergo green transformation to a hybrid propulsion system, which will be undertaken by Ulstein Power & Control and involves the preparation of a battery deck house with a grid support unit for hybrid power. The hybrid system allows for completely emission-free periods, which will have a significant impact on the vessels’ operational expenditure and sustainability.

US – CANADA – Cargo carrier Amerijet International Airlines is to be represented by Exp-Air Cargo as its Cargo General Sales and Service Agent to represent its schedule across the ten provinces and three territories of Canada. The Québec based agency will provide full cargo sales, marketing, customer service and road feeder services connecting to Amerijet's cargo hub in Miami.

Photo: Wincanton has acquired Cygnia.