Georgia Ports Authority unveils first four electrified cranes USA-based Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has unveiled its first four electrified rubber-tired gantry cranes (ERTG), making the GPA the first in North America to introduce this clean...
Rail sector welcomes Commission's vision for the future of transport and calls for effective implementation The European Rail Industry (UNIFE), the European Rail Infrastructure Managers (EIM) and the Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies (CER) welcome the publication...
Trains start using second Kazakhstan-China railway crossing Kazakhstan and China have started to operate a new railway crossing Altynkol (RK) - Khorgos (China). The Kazakh railway JSC NC KTZ completed its part of the Zhetygen-Altynkol railw...
Gefco launches groupage service between Austria and Croatia Austrian newspapers have reported that Gefco is stepping up its services in Southeastern Europe by the addition of a new national subsidiary - Zagreb-based Gefco Croatia in Zagreb....
Alpi Danmark is the new 24plus partner in Denmark Alpi Danmark A/S became the new 24plus partner for Denmark on 1 January 2013. The firm, based in Herning (Jutland), replaces the former Denmark partner Leman International ab. Alpi...
Management change at Renault Trucks The Volvo Group has made another change to its management. After Thomas Maurer took over responsibility for the Volvo Trucks and Renault Truck brands in Germany, Austria and Switze...
BLG changes board of management The German service provider BLG Logistics has announced that Andreas Wellbrock will assume responsibility for the contract logistics division and Michael Blach will represent the a...
Swisslog introduces new board structure Swisslog, a global supplier of integrated logistics solutions, reported that its chairman Hans Ziegler became head of the executive committee (EC) on 1 January 2013. In addition to...
RZD representatives join Gefco supervisory board Representatives of JSC Russian Railways (RZD) have now joined the supervisory board of logistics operator Gefco. The RZD president, Vladimir Yakunin, has been elected chairman of G...
Private Pakistani carrier connects Riyadh On 1 January 2013, the Karachi (Pakistan)-based carrier Shaheen Air launched three new services to the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh. Using an Airbus A330-300 aircraft, the airline ...
"Aeroscraft" completed The US engineering company Aeros has completed its "Aeroscraft" proof-of-design prototype, the world's first rigid variable buoyancy air vehicle (see ITJ 49-52/2012, Heav...
New intermodal platform for Liege airport The European Union is granting EUR 1 million from the TEN-T programme to support a series of studies that will lead to the realisation of an intermodal platform at Liege airport (B...
Trans-o-Flex raises prices by 5.5% in 2013 The express delivery service provider Trans-o-Flex has raised its 2013 prices by around 5.5% compared to 2012. Oliver Rupps, managing director of the Trans-o-Flex Logistics Group, ...
BNSF Logistics acquires EP Team Inc. BNSF Logistics LLC, a US-based third party logistics provider has acquired EP Team Inc, a privately held global logistics project cargo provider. EP Team is based in Flower Mound T...
United Shipping Inc has new partner in Qatar United Shipping Inc (USI), a worldwide association of independently owned freight forwarders and customs brokers with over 135 partner companies and 375 offices, has selected Evolu...
OSG seeks loan approvals OVERSEAS Shipholding Group has asked a bankruptcy judge to approve DIP financing and priority claims involving two creditors owed $579M
'K' Line to seek growth in Southeast Asia 'K' LINE president and CEO Jiro Asakura said today emerging markets in Southeast Asia offer promise, in contrast with stagnant OECD growth
Eurotunnel bids for control of Calais, Boulogne CHANNEL Tunnel operator Eurotunnel has confirmed to Fairplay it is bidding for the concession to manage Calais, the top French passenger port
STX boss warns Finland STX BOSS Jeff Roh warned today that if Finland's government does not invest in its yard sector, shipbuilding could leave altogether for STX France
MOL and NYK intend to cut spot tonnage MITSUI OSK Lines and Nippon Yusen Kaisha, Japan's two biggest shipping companies, said they aim to reduce spot tonnage to counter drybulk and VLCC overhang
China's steam coal imports rise to record CHINA's steam coal imports hit a record high of 14.45M tonnes in November 2012, up 30% from 11.15M tonnes in the previous month, Beijing said
Port Hedland iron cargoes to China rise 25% AUSTRALIA'S Port Hedland Port Authority said today its iron ore cargoes to China climbed 25% in December month on month
SHI looks to offshore SAMSUNG HI is targeting $13Bn of new orders this year, expecting $10Bn of these to come from the growing offshore sector
Scots protest cruise checks A TOURISM lobbyist has reportedly warned that a UK Border Force rule reinterpretation could deter cruise liner business
BIMCO: eco-ship zeal worsens overhang SHIPOWNERS' enthusiasm about fuel savings from modern eco-ship designs could worsen the current tonnage overhang, BIMCO has warned
BLT granted new extension BLT TOLD Fairplay today it has been granted another 75 days, until 18 March, to complete its debt restructuring
Transocean to pay $1.4Bn Deepwater fine OFFSHORE drilling contractor Transocean has agreed to plead guilty and pay $1.4Bn for its part in the fatal Deepwater Horizon rig disaster
US tax deal lifts project cargo sector WIND ENERGY tax credits included in legislation passed by Congress on 1 January to avoid the US 'fiscal cliff' will support project cargo imports for at least a year
STX shipbuilding boss pays price by quitting STX vice-chairman Lee Jong Chul has resigned from the South Korean conglomerate, less than a month after he was deployed to oversee its shipbuilding business
Sanctions kill Iran's Asian LPG exports SANCTIONS against Iran have wiped out LPG exports to Asia
JOC Trucking Employment Index Rises for Third Month The Journal of Commerce For-Hire Trucking Employment Index rose 0.3 percentage points to 94.2 in December 2012, its highest reading since October 2008, as U.S. employers created 155,000 jobs, about 4,200 of them in trucking. The increase from November was the third straight monthly gain for the index, which dropped slightly...
Yang Ming to Charter Mega-Ships From Seaspan Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp. plans to lease up to 10 new mega-ships from Seaspan Corp., Reuters reports. The Taiwanese ocean carrier will charter five of the 14,000-TEU ships for 10 years and has an option on five more, according to spokesman Winsor Huang. The ships, which will have a capacity...
MOL President Urges Cost Cuts MOL President Koichi Muto said the Japanese ocean carrier must reduce costs and "shift to a business structure that is not reliant on a recovery in freight rates." In his new year's message to staff, Muto said MOL's bulk business continues to lose money because of overcapacity that has reduced dry...
Customs Seizes Fake Pharmaceuticals U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and import specialists at Miami International Airport intercepted about 181,000 counterfeit pills during the last four months of 2012. In September and December, Customs officers selected two cargo shipments for evaluation, and together with import specialists determined that the cargo, described on the manifests as...
US Steel Imports Rose in November U.S. steel imports in November totaled 2.659 million tons, up 2 percent from 2.606 million tons in October and a jump of 25.4 percent from November 2011 volume, according to preliminary government data covered by the American Institute for International Steel. In the first 11 months of 2012, imports were 30.952 million...
Aluminum Catamarans Target Short-Sea Trade Former Horizon Lines CEO Chuck Raymond and his partners say they expect to sign contracts and start work this year on aluminum-hull catamarans using a new "cookie-cutter" design for coastwise, short-sea and inland transport. "We call it the marine pickup truck," Raymond said. "It's a standardized, simple design with good flexibility...
Kamada to Manage Econocaribe's US West Coast Region Econocaribe has appointed John Kamada as manager of its U.S. West Coast region. In this role, he will be directly responsible for sales and operations in the Pacific region. "John fits in great with the Econocaribe culture and we are confident his FCL experience will be beneficial to the freight forwarders and...
Hamburg Sud Improves Cutoff Times for Australia-New Zealand Service Ocean carrier Hamburg Sud is extending cutoff times for its Pacific Southwest service from Los Angeles to Australia and New Zealand, effective immediately. The dry cargo cutoff will be Fridays at 2:30 a.m., and the reefer cargo cutoff will be Fridays at 4:30 p.m. Vessels will depart on Sunday afternoons. The later cutoff...
JOC Inland Port Logistics Conference 2012 The JOC Inland Port Conference will illustrate to shipper organizations/BCOs how utilizing rail intermodal through inland ports, as part of a North American import or export supply chain, can help achieve meaningful benefit in reducing transportation and fuel costs, reducing supply chain risk, and expanding access to capacity. The event...
TPM Conference ith nearly 2000 attendees this past March, 2012, TPM continues to be a must-attend for transportation and logistics professionals in the trans-Pacific market. We are already eagerly planning next year's event. Not only can you expect a significant networking opportunity with your industry colleagues, but also an in-depth look at...
FDA Proposes New Rules to Bolster Food Safety The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today proposed two new rules to implement the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, P.L. 111-353. Under the first proposed rule, makers of food to be sold in the United States, whether produced at a foreign- or domestic-based facility, would be required to develop formal plans...
NAFTA Surface Trade Rises 7.6 Percent Surface transportation trade between the U.S. and its North American Free Trade Agreement partners, Canada and Mexico, jumped 7.6 percent year-over-year in October and 9.8 percent from September. Adjusted for inflation and exchange rates, trade in October hit $61.7 billion, in 2004 dollars, according to the Transportation Department. The value of...
2012: The Stories of the Year From labor battles to natural disasters, 2012 was filled with risk for shippers and the companies moving and managing their cargo. Here are the stories that defined the year. THE ILA VS. USMX As 2012 entered its final days, the International Longshoremen's Association was on the verge of its first coastwide strike in...
Freight-Related Transport, Warehousing Sectors Add 4,900 Jobs The U.S. freight-related transportation industry and warehouse sector added 4,900 jobs in December from November, while two industries key to volume growth - manufacturing and construction - added 55,000 jobs total. American employers added 155,00 total jobs in December, but the unemployment rate stayed at 7.8 percent, according to seasonally adjusted...
Shuster Confirmed as T&I Committee Chairman Rep. Bill Shuster Yesterday, Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., was officially confirmed by the House of Representatives to chair the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for the 113th Congress. "Working together, the committee will focus on reforming programs and strengthening America's transportation networks to make us more efficient, competitive, and prosperous," Shuster said...
SCFI: Asia-Europe Rates Rise Ahead of Scheduled Increases Asia-Europe rates ticked upward this week, showing support in advance of mid-January general rate increases that carriers are aiming for, according to the Friday release of Shanghai Containerized Freight Index data. Shanghai-North Europe rates rose by 4.2 percent or $52 per 20-foot container or TEU to $1,270 this week from $1,218...
WCI Shows Rise in Westbound Pacific Rates Backhaul West Coast to Asia rates inched up this week while backhaul rates from Europe to Asia slipped, neither showing much in the way of volatility. The World Container Index Los Angeles-Shanghai rate this week stood at $874 per 40-foot container, up from $841 last week. The rate has fluctuated with...
Cyberspace Invaders: Defending Your Data As a general proposition, companies divide their security considerations into physical security (facilities and people), supply chain security (goods) and financial security (internal systems). So, where does cybersecurity fit? The answer is within all three areas. We've all heard about systems being hacked and private information of individuals being compromised from...
ILA-USMX Labor Negotiations Timeline The ILA and USMX agreed in late December to a second contract extension, through Feb. 6. The extension averted a threatened East and Gulf coast port strike on Dec. 30. ILA wage-scale delegates had authorized union President Harold Daggett to call a strike if there was no agreement by Dec. 29. Complete...
Celadon to Buy Rock Leasing and Kelly Logistics Celadon Trucking Services has agreed to acquire Rock Leasing and Kelly Logistics. The terms and conditions of the transactions were not disclosed. In addition to its dry van business, Warren, Ind.-based Rock Leasing handles temperature-controlled shipments in and out of the Midwest, which enables Celadon to add this service category. Wadley, Ala.-based...
Germans keep buying Despite fears of a new recession this year consumers in Germany kept their purses open in 2012 spending another 2.1% at retailers across the nation.The economic ...
New COO at Geodis Wilson Geodis Wilson has appointed Eric Martin-Neuville as the new Chief Operating Officer (COO) and freight board member. He takes over from Fernando Gea who is retiring. ...
Eighth L-type for Evergreen This week in South Korea, Taiwanese carrier, Evergreen christened its eighth ship in a series of 20 L-type 8,452 TEU ordered from Samsung Heavy Industries, at a ...
Shards of light at the end of the European box tunnel
Jade-Weser-Port faces legal fight over vessel dues
BP trimming tonnage? Hellenic Tankers of Greece has been tipped as the buyer of two aframaxes controlled by BP Shipping of the UK.
OSG closes in on cash Creditors pledge $25m to help bankrupt tanker owner keep head above water.
Eagle leads dry rally Some of the biggest names in the bulker game watched their stocks surge in early trading Friday with many experiencing double-digit gains on the heels of heavy trading.
Allied under fire A legal battle between World Fuel Services and an insolvent Greek bulker operator is brewing in the Southern District of Florida.
Isacson steps down at Gard The insurance executive who has headed the Gard insurance group for the last 11 years is stepping down from this weekend with an interim management team taking over while he is on medical leave.
Berge bags VLOC quartet Berge Bulk has swooped on four distressed VLOCs which Nobu Su's TMT has been unable to pay for, brokers say.
Big bulkers in demand Capesize and panamax bulkers saw a sharp rise in sale and purchase activity during 2012, according to RS Platou.
Bond purse for Prosafe Oslo-listed offshore firm gets away $90m issue as market remains a happy hunting ground.
Union offers bail out A loan to enable financially troubled Mumbai based tanker owner Pratibha Shipping to scrap or sell vessels for further trading is to be offered by the National Union of Seafarers of India.
Kudo's cape hope NYK president Yasumi Kudo has expressed hope for an improvement in the capesize market from the second half of this year.
Muto fights MOL fire Koichi Muto has pledged to lead from the front as Mitsui OSK Lines looks to wriggle away from the red in the year of the snake.
Shipping Soothsayers Crystal balls have never been the most reliable of forecasting tools but TradeWinds found quite a few takers when it asked industry leaders to divine the outlook for the New Year.
Support for cape spree Arctic Securities has offered its support to John Fredriksen's capesize newbuilding splash which looks set to take Frontline 2012 into the dry-cargo sector.
Happier New Year for K Line K-Line painted an improving picture for the world economy, the shipping industry and its own balance sheet today.
Buying in bulk TradeWinds digests the digits making the headlines this week.
Smit to salve Kulluk Smit has been enlisted to salve the grounded rig Kulluk off Sitkalidak Island, near Alaska's Kodiak Island.
Libertad ordered free The Hamburg-based International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea has decreed that authorities in Ghana are to immediately release the arrested Argentianian naval training ship Libertad (built 1950).
Seanergy offloads BET Seanergy Maritime Holdings has completed its exit of the capesize sector by selling its subsidiary Bulk Energy Transport to affiliates of its largest shareholder.
Yang Ming, Seaspan in deal for up to 10 ships The 14,000-TEU ships, to be built by Hyundai Heavy Industries, will have a fuel-efficient design, and are expected to be used in the Asia-Europe trade. The deal will initially involve five vessels, with an option for five more.
APL, Hamburg Süd disengage on WC Latin America
Textainer buys more containers The lessor has acquired 24,000 TEUs in standard dry containers from the fleet it manages for about $32.6 million, increasing the percentage of its owned assets to 72 percent from 59 percent at the start of 2012.
IAG Cargo announces new route
Russian carrier adds third Boeing freighter
RLJ Cos. acquires R. Thompson Trucking
Freight Wing introduces intermodal truck skirts
Merged transatlantic trade group formally opens The Transatlantic Business Council has been set up to advocate for a comprehensive EU-U.S. economic agreement that further liberalizes trade and investment and promotes greater regulatory and standards convergence.
U.S. steel imports up 2% in November
'Disruptive innovations' cloud IT security A new report has highlighted the growing threats to critical information from what it dubbed "disruptive innovations" like cloud computing, social media technologies, enterprise mobility and big data analytics.
Bunker prices in the Americas end week firm Bunker demand in Los Angeles was said to be 'light to medium'.
Update: Kulluk grounding incident Department of Environmental Conservation says crews are ready to respond if any fuel is spilled.
New cruise ship calls to boost business for Houston suppliers 'As long as the port stays competitive for pricing and is bringing in vessels, then things will look bright.'
Oil fluctates as US jobless numbers decline Payroll numbers stronger than expected while large build in gasoline and distillates put a lid on oil prices.
Slow steaming 'is sub-optimal' Study suggests that, overall, slow steaming adds to supply chain costs.
Fuel oil demand up at Japanese power company TEPCO's inventories expected to rise in January.
IFO prices climbing in Fujairah South African prices lack direction.
Bunker markets firm as week closes Good demand in Gibraltar.
Khalifa port officially opens for business Project is landmark in UAE economic development.
New role for Stirling Joins WFS after two decades with DNVPS.
New trader for Trefoil 'Extra hands and knowledge are more than welcome,' says group CEO.
Bunker prices firm at end of first week of 2013 In Singapore, benchmark 380 cSt bunker fuel jumped $7.00 to average $626.00 pmt.
Bulk operator says 'market rules are being destroyed' By 'tonnage oversupply, high bunker price[s] and lack of sentiment for recovery'.
Unpaid bills spark Singapore arrests Two Singapore bunker companies make arrests over outstanding sums.
BLT secures another extension to debt moratorium The hearing before the Central Court of Jakarta has been pushed from January 2 to March 18.
MOL anticipates more losses Exposure of 'free tonnages' and high bunker prices blamed for poor results.
Vessel detained for smuggling diesel oil Diesel oil worth $1.18 million found in eight tanks onboard the vessel.
Shares of listed bunker firms begin 2013 higher Stocks of listed bunker firms mostly mixed in 2012.
German shipbuilder delivers 'eco' LNG tanker Vessel is 'a new type of gas tanker' which is equipped with dual-fuel engine.
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