Some Smaller, but Important, Items of Shipping and Logistics News This Week
Supporters of the event which is designed to promote and stimulate interest in the UK maritime sector to the world include the National Maritime Museum, Seafarers UK, Marine Conservation Society, Thames Estuary Partnership, Coastal and Marine Research Group (RGS), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Coastal Partnership Network. Full details HERE.
UK – As part of the UK Autodrive project, one of the three consortia trialling automated vehicle technology as part of a government backed competition to support the introduction of self-driving vehicles into the urban environment, Jaguar Land Rover are seriously considering giving the vehicles of the future ‘google eyes’ which follow events such as a pedestrian across the road.
The technology is supplied by Coventry based Aurrigo and is designed to test whether such devices give the pedestrian confidence that the vehicle has ‘seen; them and will react accordingly. Be prepared, that autonomous juggernaut at the lights may soon be making dinner plate sized eyes at you!
UK – CHINA – Delaware Trader, the first of two 2,700 TEU newbuild containerships that China’s Guangzhou Wenchong Shipyard is delivering to Lomar Shipping this year, has been fitted with a seawater lubricated propeller shaft bearing system from Thordon Bearings. London-headquartered Lomar Shipping, a privately-owned shipowning and management company, operates a modern fleet of containerships, bulk carriers, chemical and product tankers.
The deal means another breakthrough for Thordon’s COMPAC system in the European-owned containership segment and, whilst environmental protection was a key factor in the decision to move away from oil-lubricated shaft systems, Lomar said despite the higher initial capital expenditure, the lower total cost of ownership from the long term savings offered by seawater lubrication, make it a very cost-efficient alternative to stern tube oil-based systems.
UK – DSV in the UK was recently awarded a two-year contract with GEO Specialty Chemicals to provide domestic and multimarket export fulfilment services for chemicals manufactured at the company’s state of the art production facility in Hythe, Southampton. The contract, which will run to April 2020, with the possibility to extend by a further one year, was won in a competitive tender process by DSV Road and DSV Air & Sea and includes domestic and international road freight, air freight and sea freight volumes, as well as warehousing services.
Founded in 1993, GEO Specialty Chemicals, Inc. is a world leader in providing high-quality, cost effective Specialty chemicals and currently manufactures over 300 products for a broad customer base throughout the UK and Worldwide. DSV says this business win follows a strategic move by the logistics group to grow its share of the chemical market in the UK.
UK – IRELAND – Thai Cargo has awarded Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) a five-year cargo handling contract in the UK and Ireland. Effective on 1 September, WFS will provide handling for Thai’s double daily Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 flights from London Heathrow to Bangkok as well as regional cargo handling across its UK and Ireland stations and trucking network connecting each airport location.
The Thai Cargo team in the UK and Ireland will also relocate to WFS’ Building 550 in the World Cargo Centre at Heathrow, where Thai will have a dedicated export facility with direct air-side access. The location is also conveniently situated adjacent to the UK Border Inspection Post at Heathrow.
SWEDEN – According to its mid-year report to June container volumes at the Port of Gothenburg rose by 19%, from 318,000 to 378,000 TEUs. The number of cars and intra-European RoRo units shipped increased by 10% and 4% respectively. Industrial action negatively affected the 2017 box totals but at 305,000 for the period may see the RoRo annual record total last year of 593,00 broken again. Car shipment have risen steadily for five years and the 152,000 shipped to June was the highest number for a six month period in the past decade.
YEMEN – The latest report we have from the war torn country comes from the GAC office resident there who tells us that the ports of Aden, Mukalla, Nishtun, Hodeidah and Saleef and the Rudhum and Ash Shihr oil exporting terminals are currently open and operating as normal with no security issues. The port of Mokha, Balhaf LNG Terminal, Ras Isa Marine Terminal and Ras Isa Petroleum Products Reception Facility are all closed.
US – News has come out of a cyber attack on the resources of Seattle based Alaska Airlines which just weeks before had closed a deal to acquire Virgin America. This occurred sometime in January 2017 after a known hacker, being watched by the US government, placed malware into Virgin’s website.
Although the compromising of secure data allegedly cost Alaska around $2.5 million its main business was unaffected as it only struck at the Virgin website. However industry analysts warn that aviation, whilst always at the cutting edge of mechanical technology, is often remiss in keeping its IT resources up to date in what could be a very, scary scenario given the problems faced by ocean merchant interests.
US – Diesel particulate emissions from Port of Oakland maritime operations are down 81% since 2005, according to data released today. As a result, the Port expressed confidence in reaching a self-imposed target: 85% emissions reduction by 2020.
San Francisco Bay Area environmental consultancy Ramboll reported Oakland’s improvement in a 100-page emissions inventory of 2017 Port activity. The results show a 5% in seaport emissions in the past two years despite tonnages rising 6% in the same period. The results are significant for Oakland workers, harbour truckers and residents near the Port who benefit from cleaner air.
ISRAEL – GREECE – Cyber defence outfit Naval Dome, which produces security devices to protect computer systems on board a variety of vessels, has just completed the installation of its multi-award-winning maritime cyber defence system on board the MY Lucky Mr when the luxury motor yacht was visiting Athens this month. Installation took just one hour to complete.
The 46 metre fast luxury yacht designed by Francesco Paszkowski and built by the Baglietto yard last year is, like any modern craft, from containership to fishing vessel, a natural target for hackers, with a multitude of systems of the most sophisticated technology available, most of which is connected and can be operated remotely by the owner or crew, and therefore susceptible to invasion.
Photo: Google Eyes may be a feature on future autonomous vehicles.
Advertise with us - for Free!
Claim your free directory listing and view our advertising rates >
