JAL Cargo cuts fuel surcharge Japan Airlines (JAL) has applied to the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to revise down its international cargo fuel surcharge for flights departing...
Gulf Air to move forward route cancellations Bahrain's principal flag carrier, Gulf Air, is to start cancelling two routes earlier than previously planned. The Bahrain - Colombo (Sri Lanka) service will stop on 3 February 201...
Qatar Airways to serve last Australian destination with different aircraft type Qatar Airways, which planned to start using the Boeing 787 Dreamliner from today on its thrice times weekly Doha - Perth (Australia) service launched last July, will, instead, cont...
Daimler axing jobs Daimler is cutting the number of employees in its truck division by 2,100 worldwide. The main reductions will be in North America (1,300 redundancies) and in Germany (800 jobs). Ac...
SBB Cargo leases mainline locomotives to TX Logistik SBB Cargo and TX Logistik have signed an agreement enabling the latter company to hire up to twelve Re421 locomotives. TX Logistik wants to deploy the traction for its customers' d...
CSX plans new intermodal facility in Quebec The transport service provider CSX Corporation, based in Jacksonville FL (USA), plans to expand its intermodal presence in the greater Montreal region and Quebec (both Canada). The...
USA: freight theft still high In 2012, the total number of cargo thefts in the USA was almost as high as the record high in 2011, according to the new US cargo theft report by FreightWatch International. A tota...
K Line enhances Jabco services As from the end of February, the Japanese carrier K Line will upgrade its two-sling intra-Asia service (Jabco 1 and Jabco 2), thereby offering better transit times between Japan an...
Emirates names new vice-president cargo business and product development Emirates SkyCargo has selected Moaza Al Falahi to be its new vice-president cargo business and product development. She has been with Emirates since 2003, when she started a gradua...
New hands to guide Cargotec The Finnish goods flow optimiser Cargotec Oyi, parent company of MacGregor, Kalmar and Hiab, appointed Mika Vehviläinen as its new president and CEO as of 1 March 2013. Tapio ...
Agility Central Europe changing CFO The logistics service provider Agility recently chose Dirk Hochmann to be its new chief financial officer. He replaced Achim Schlüsener who left the company in December 2012. Hochm...
FedEx opens first forwarding office in Thailand FedEx Trade Networks has opened its first office in Thailand, in the capital Bangkok, and added the country to its international ocean shipping service. The new facility will allow...
Asstra transports trams to St Petersburg The global transport and logistics service provider Asstra has made a contribution towards modernising local transport in St Petersburg by conveying a number of heavylift and out-o...
Automotive: new CEO for Adam Opel AG General Motors' Opel unit has named Karl-Thomas Neumann as new CEO. Neumann, who previously worked as head of Volkswagen China and for the supplier Continental, will take up his ne...
ABX Logistics Worldwide NV/SA settles US class action lawsuit ABX Logistics Worldwide NV/SA has entered into an agreement to settle a US class action lawsuit alleging anti-competitive practices in connection with certain surcharges for freigh...
Ex-Beluga boss to be charged with fraud BREMEN said today it is charging the founder of bankrupt Beluga, Niels Stolberg, with 16 counts of fraud
Navios Partners follow-on priced ANGELIKI Frangou's Navios Partners today priced a follow-on offering as shipping's access to US investors continues its rebound
KEPCO picks builders for 9-ship contract KOREA Electric Power has awarded its tender for nine Capesize bulkers to two Asian consortia
Exmar roars back ANTWERP gas carrier operator Exmar said today it strongly returned to profit last year
Yangzijiang's abandoned box ships spark talks CHINESE builder Yangzijiang is discussing with a German customer a possible cancellation of a nearly completed series of 2,550teu box ships, sector sources told Fairplay today
Logistics giant warns on freight volatility SHIPPERS must brace themselves for more erratic ups and downs in ocean freight rates this year, global forwarding group Bolloré Logistics/SDV has warned today
Box rates slip outside of reefer sector AVERAGE box rates softened again this week despite general rate increases approaching for most routes
Suspect charged in UK drug smuggling case A DUTCH man has reportedly been charged after cocaine and amphetamines valued at up to £13.4M ($21.2M) were seized at Harwich's port
China Exim seen imperiling shipping asset values A MOVE by the Chinese export credit group China Exim to fill the newbuilding finance gap left by commercial lenders threatens asset values, a shipping analyst has warned
Shanghai shipping insurance sector gains SHANGHAI'S income direct-written hull insurance deals totalled 2.26M yuan ($364M) in 2012, a regulatory panel for the sector said
PETRONAS offers to buy out MISC MALAYSIA'S national oil and gas company PETRONAS is offering to buy out its shipping subsidiary MISC for $2.8Bn
Siem lent $35M SIEM SHIPPING, the London group previously known as Star Reefers, said today it has been lent $35M by a principal shareholder
Japan's 2012 vehicle output rises 18% JAPAN's vehicle production rose 18.4% year on year to 9,942,711 units in 2012, marking a recovery from the earthquake/tsunami in 2011
Seadrill orders two rigs SEADRILL has ordered two jack-up rigs and warned that relocating its head office to London is cost it more than expected
Daiichi Chuo losses widen to $221.9M JAPANESE bulker operator Daiichi Chuo Kisen Kaisha widened losses to 20.2Bn yen ($221.87M) for the last nine months of 2012
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Predicts FY Loss of $2 Billion Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, the parent company of the Japanese ocean carrier MOL, reported a net loss of $678.1 million in the third quarter of 2012, ending Dec. 31. Quarterly revenue was $12.9 billion. For the full fiscal year of 2012, ending March 31, 2013, the company predicts a net loss of...
Alianca Receives Delivery of New 3,800-TEU Ship Sebastio Caboto vessel, the first of four to be delivered to Alianca. Ocean container carrier Alianca has received delivery of the first of four identical vessels to be deployed in its Brazilian coastal service. Sebastio Caboto, with a capacity of 3,800 20-foot-equivalent units and 500 plugs for refrigerated containers, is scheduled to...
Delmas Alters Brazil Port Itinerary Delmas' SAMWAF route with new Itajai, Brazil call. France-based Delmas Shipping, a containerized freight and roll-on, roll-off shipping company, has added a call at Itajai, Brazil, on its South American SAMWAF line, replacing the call at Sao Francisco do Sul, Brazil, in order to meet increased demand for refrigerated shipping services. Vessels...
Yusen Logistics' Net Profit Sinks 54.5 Percent Major Japanese international freight forwarder Yusen Logistics Co. said that its group net profit plunged 54.5 percent in the first nine months of fiscal 2012, which started on April 1, 2012, from a year earlier to $16.24 million. The company saw its group operating revenue rise 7.0 percent in the April-December...
Expansion of Newell Rubbermaid Facility Completed Newell Rubbermaid's new facility at Southern California Logistics Centre. Stirling Capital Investments has completed construction of a 76,800-square-foot facility expansion at the Southern California Logistics Centre, a 2,500-acre industrial and commercial complex in Victorville, Calif., that is part of Global Access Victorville. The construction enhancements were made to accommodate the increased nationwide...
UASC to Hike US-Middle East Rates Ocean carrier United Arab Shipping Co. will implement a general rate increase on all U.S. export cargo to the Middle East and Mediterranean, effective March 1. It will apply to all tariff ocean freight rates and service contracts. The rate hike will be $150 per 20-foot container and $200 per 40-foot...
Cosco Sets Bunker, Currency Surcharges Cosco Container Lines today announced an emergency bunker surcharge adjustment for both eastbound and westbound shipments in Far East to Northwest Europe and Mediterranean trade, effective March 1, until further notice. The new surcharges are $146 per 20-foot-equivalent between the Far East and Northwest Europe and $133 per TEU between...
Pakistan OKs PSA International's Exit From Gwadar Port The Pakistan government has cleared a proposal to transfer management and operation of Gwadar Port from Singapore's PSA International to China Overseas Port Holdings Ltd. The transfer was approved by Pakistan's cabinet council on Thursday, according to local media reports. "Both companies have settled their deal," said Pakistan Information Minister Qamar Zaman...
China PMI Reveals Fragile Recovery China's official purchasing managers' index subsided last month as signs of a full economic bounce-back proved illusory. The PMI dropped to 50.4 in January, down from the 50.6 recorded in the two previous months. However, the sub-index for new orders improved marginally to 50 points in January after contractions of 48.8 and...
Yang Ming Opens Branch in Australia Taiwan-based ocean shipping company Yang Ming Marine Transport today set up Yang Ming (Australia) with Inchcape Shipping Services to expand its market in Australia. Yang Ming currently provides two weekly sailings between ports in Asia and Australia. The China-Korea-Australia route includes calls at Busan, South Korea; Shanghai; Ningbo, China; Shekou, China;...
WTO Establishes Panels for Argentina Disputes The World Trade Organization's Dispute Settlement Body has established a single panel to investigate complaints by the European Union, the U.S. and Japan concerning Argentina's measures on imported goods, which allegedly violate WTO regulations, including trade and licensing agreements. Argentina said that it had repealed automatic import licenses, as well as non-automatic...
Ray LaHood's Freight Legacy Outgoing Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood's imprint on U.S. transportation goes far beyond cutting down on driving while texting and heralding high-speed rail. Arguably, the former Republican congressman's advancements in freight policy will last longer and have a larger impact on the national economy than the so-called sexier hallmarks of his...
Florida to Spend $8.3 Billion on Infrastructure Projects Gov. Rick Scott's Florida Families First Budget for fiscal year 2014 fully funds the Florida Department of Transportation's Work Program $8.3 billion investments in port, highway, bridge and other transportation infrastructure improvements. The budget includes $3.6 billion for the construction of highway projects; $765 million for maintenance and operation; $401 million...
Old Dominion Moves to Bigger Ohio Facility Old Dominion Freight Line today moved its service center in Toledo, Ohio, to an expanded 48-door facility with more yard space and a larger dock. "With the relocation to this expanded facility, Old Dominion is better poised for growth in northern Ohio and southeast Michigan," said Mike Leskovec, manager of the...
Carrier Investments at Long Beach Signal Importance of Terminal Operations The announcement that Mediterranean Shipping Co. will invest in the Total Terminals International facility at the Port of Long Beach comes barely one month after the port announced that CMA CGM is taking an equity stake in the Pacific Container Terminal that is operated by SSA Marine. "Two of the top...
Tacoma Hires Bellerud to Lead Container Business Tom Bellerud, Port of Tacoma's new director of container terminal business development. Port of Tacoma, Wash., has hired Tom Bellerud to lead container terminal business development. He succeeds Brendan Dugan, who left in 2012. In his new role, Bellerud is responsible for the profitability and growth of the port's international and domestic container...
MSC Buys Stake in Port of Long Beach's Pier T Mediterranean Shipping Company has increased its investment at the Port of Long Beach in California, according to J. Christopher Lytle, the port's executive director, in his "State of the Port" announcement. MSC has purchased a stake in the leasehold for the marine terminal operations at Pier T. The ocean cargo line...
Fourth Railway Package: good in parts The UK Rail Freight Group has broadly welcomed the 4th Railway Package, issued by the European Commission this week. But it believed the framework ...
Brussels drops feeder antitrust probe The European Commission has closed antitrust investigations into two schemes designed to stabilise conditions in the container and bulk feeder trades after members ...
Greek strike stymies transport A 48-hour strike by doctors, port workers and public sector workers in Athens against deeply unpopular austerity measures severely disrupted transport and shipping ...
MOL forecasts $2 billion loss Japanese shipping group Mitsui OSK Lines [MOL] projects that its full-year 2012 [to March 31 2013] net loss will be much worse than its previous outlook hitting ...
Carriers gamble on new GRIs COSCON has joined Hapag-Lloyd in announcing a mid-March general rate increase on the Asia - Europe westbound trade; in this case the GRI is $775 per teu compared ...
Pak packs up Michael Pak's career with Clarkson Capital Markets appears to be drawing to a close.
OSX to pocket $250m Eike Batista's OSX has launched the second stage of its potential $1bn fundraiser.
Navios casts net Navios Maritime Partners of Greece could have as much as $130m in dry powder when it completes its latest follow-on equity offering, according to Justin Yagerman.
NCL in fresh fundraiser Newly listed Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) is plotting a $300m fundraiser from a bond sale.
Spanish yards cry foul Basque shipyards' association Adimde has called on the European Union to investigate Dutch rivals' leasing system for new vessel orders.
Scorpio scores six more Scorpio Tankers is splashing out on up to six more MR product carrier newbuildings just two days after swelling its war chest by $230m.
Pirates get 10 years Two Somali men have been jailed for 10 years in Japan for an attack on an MOL aframax in 2011.
Mipo tipped for record Hyundai Mipo Dockyard of Korea could win new orders worth $4bn this year, its best ever annual return.
Capes come in earlier Bulker market watchers will now be getting their daily capesize fix two hours earlier as the Baltic Exchange shifts its assessments forward to reflect Asian activity.
Shipping like shopping We take a look at what was said in the market over the past week.
Pallas stretches Thun deal Swedish owner Pallas Shipping has stretched the time charter on one of its three vessels for a sixth year.
Fjord Line's bond boost Norway's Fjord Line has sold NOK 300m ($55m) of bonds to help fund newbuildings.
London's number 1 TradeWinds digests the digits making the headlines this week.
Orlova gets a tow The drifting cruiseship Lyubov Orlova has finally been taken under tow again off Canada.
Euronav stretching debt Belgian tanker owner Euronav is asking investors to extend debt repayments by swapping bonds.
Greece hit by strike The Greek seafarers' union has brought shipping to a halt in many of the country's ports with a 48-hour strike.
Maersk's China hope AP Moller-Maersk chief Nils Andersen believes Chinese imports offer the biggest growth potential for container lines in the current slump.
Siem seals upgrade funds Siem Shipping has secured financing from its parent company to fund major alterations to four of its vessels.
Grindrod feeling better South African tanker and bulker owner Grindrod is expecting to post a much better profit for the year just ended.
Nanjing under threat Chinese owner Nanjing Tanker faces suspension and a possible delisting from the Shanghai stock exchange as losses continue.
Airbus ro-ro aground A ro-ro vessel used to ship wings for A380 aircraft from the UK to France has run aground on a sandbank off Liverpool.
Sanoyas breaks its duck Japan's Sanoyas Holdings has booked an eco-bulker - its first new bit of business since last April.
Big John back at Dalian John Fredriksen's Seadrill has returned to China for another pair of jack-up drilling rig newbuildings.
Sasebo inks bulk trio Japan's Sasebo Heavy Industries has revealed three new bulker orders.
Seadrill expenses up Seadrill, the John Fredriksen drilling company, has warned it faces higher costs and downtime in the next few quarters.
COSL plans big spend China Oilfield Services Ltd (COSL) has unveiled plans to build two jack-ups and one semi-sub drilling rig this year.
Navios MLP seeks funds Navios Maritime Partners has embarked on a fresh round of fund raising with a planned share issue.
Suez to lift rates The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) is set to raise transit fees for shipping by between 2% and 5% from 1 May, it said Thursday.
Gladstone Port re-opens Gladstone Port has re-opened following the recent severe flooding, but is reported to only have one-and-a-half weeks' of coal stockpiled.
Removed barriers boost U.S. ag trade by $4 billion During past year, USDA has eliminated barriers, opened markets, secured the release of U.S. shipments held in foreign ports, and ensured the safe movement of agricultural products consistent with international standards.
Surface trade from U.S. rises in November
Japanese carriers report mixed 3Q results
ANA to lose 1.4 billion yen over 787 issues The Japanese carrier operated 17 planes before an exploding battery forced it to ground its fleet. In January, this led to 459 domestic and overseas flight cancellations.
World Economic Forum wades into Jones Act debate "Though justified for decades as national security measures, many cabotage regulations... are motivated largely by protectionist concerns for local industries and employment," the organization said.
Defense renews freight payment contract with U.S. Bank
MSC buys stake in Port of Long Beach's Pier T The world's second largest container carrier has decided to purchase a stake in the leasehold for the marine terminal operations at Pier T, the largest container terminal in the SoCal port.
Lytle stresses Long Beach's capacity advantage in annual address
Air cargo demand ends 2012 on sour note
Transport workers lose 14,000 jobs in January
Egypt protests affect ports
ILA contract talks continue "I think there is still a lot of skepticism and concern out there, rightfully so," said Curtis Foltz, executive director of the Georgia Ports Authority, during an interview with American Shipper. "But every day they are at the table, I'm more optimistic."
Bunker prices end week higher in the Americas Demand was heavy on the US Gulf, according to a local trader.
Weekly global bunker market update A weekly price round up of bunkering hubs from around the globe.
Washington State Ferries and DNV to conduct LNG workshop The LNG workshop will take place from February 13 to 15.
Vessels grounded after ro-ro sinks in Philippines PPA borrowed an oil boom from a nearby fuelling station to manage any potential oil spill.
ABS launches Operational and Environmental Performance Department Team will tackle critical industry issues of operational performance, energy efficiency and environmental compliance.
Brunsbuttel aims to be first mover in LNG bunker market Port's location offers opportunities for LNG bunkering.
Scorpio places another order for newbuilds Orders are continuation of newbuilding programme for fuel-efficient vessels.
Prices show gains in Fujairah Prices fall in Suez.
Prices stick to upward trend But price outlook mixed in Mediterranean.
'Methane slip' blots LNG's green credentials Environmentalist says reducing speed more effective against climate change.
Slow growth and high bunker costs are the new 'norm' Analysts say container sector needs strategies to cope with 'the worst of times'.
P&I clubs alert members to change in Iranian sanctions 'It would seem that ships stemming bunkers that contain a blend of Iranian origin crude oil will not be caught by the prohibitions.'
Exmar posts profit for 2012 Outlook encouraging for 2013, says company.
Bio-LNG: EUR400 per tonne possible Costs fall when bio-LNG comes from landfills, says Dutch firm.
MOL posts losses for first nine months of 2012 Only one of the big three Japanese shipowners not to report a return to profit.
Asian bunker prices end week on firm note Asian players report no problems with avails.
K Line posts profits for first nine months of 2012 But 'high fuel oil prices' and currency movements make shipping sector 'generally unstable'.
Yachts in Italy searched for bunkering violations Officials questioned captains on fuel tax-related issues, including charter contracts, oil record books and bunkering agreements.
Indian shipping firms face another tough year Market 'unlikely to stabilise until 2015'.
Bunker spill clean-up at Novorossiysk Spill occured during refuelling of asphalt and bitumen tanker Hercules.
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