After good 2012, Finnair cargo volumes decrease in January The Scandinavian airline Finnair was able to turn the whole year 2012 into a profitable one for the group for the first time since 2007. The carrier's operational result was EUR 44...
HHLA fulfils expectations The German service provider Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AG (HHLA) generated provisional corporate revenues of around EUR 1.125 billion in business year 2012, compared to EUR 1.217...
New operator for Telford international railfreight park DB Schenker Rail has officially become the new operator of Telford international railfreight park and has integrated the terminal into its existing terminal network throughout the ...
US ban on Afghan carrier lifted The Afghan carrier Kam Air has commended the US Central Command for its decision to suspend its recent contracting ban on the airline (cf. ITJ Daily of 31 January 2013) after its t...
Ewals Cargo Care participating in Green Freight Europe programme The Dutch service provider Ewals Cargo Care has joined Green Freight Europe, a voluntary scheme to improve the environmental performance of road freight transport in Europe. Over a...
Securing air cargo supply chain Speaking at the Secure Freight Forum held at the offices of the International Air Transport Association (Iata) in Geneva (Switzerland), the trade body's director general and CEO, T...
UPS to rollout electric vehicle fleet in California The US integrator UPS is set to deploy 100 fully electric commercial vehicles for parcel delivery in California. These electric trucks will reduce the consumption of conventional m...
USA: hundreds of transport infrastructure projects now underway The Association of American Railroads (AAR) has announced that the USA's major freight railroads plan to invest an estimated USD 24.5 billion in 2013. The money will be used to bui...
Commercial vehicle registrations increased in UK Commercial vehicle registrations in the UK rose by 5.6% to 18,931 units in January 2013, according to the latest data of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. Van registr...
CCO of Maersk resigns Lucas Vos, the chief commercial officer of the Danish carrier Maersk Line, is to leave the group by 1 May 2013. Vos, who has been a member of the company's management board since 2...
Fresh blood for EMS Chartering EMS Chartering GmbH & Co. KG has taken on another six shipping agents. They include Latvian national Anna Bockareva, Patrick Brunjes, Andrea Ahrenholz and Liguo Wanga (from Chi...
Nippon Express takes over Franco Vago in Italy Nippon Express (Europe) GmbH signed a purchase agreement for all shares in the Italian forwarding and logistics firm Franco Vago SpA at the end of January. Florence-based Franco Va...
SDV adding Colombia to global network The French logistics service provider SDV is creating a subsidiary company in Colombia, thereby extending its current network in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Uruguay to ano...
Conqueror the latest member of Elite Association of Logistic Networks Conqueror Freight Network has joined the Elite Association of Logistic Networks (Elite) after passing the qualifying criteria for membership. Conqueror becomes the tenth network to...
WCA expands management team On 1 February, airfreight industry specialist Reha Erman joined the WCA Family as regional manager for the Americas, after spending the previous seven years as director of sales fo...
Beyond the blame game The industry must look more deeply into casualties and stop criminalising seafarers
Rules for Use of Force article has error Sceg is not included in drafting team for ongoing development
Tomasos secures Chinese funding for tankers China Development Bank in bilateral finance for Guangzhou newbuild brace
Rightship EVDI backer welcomes IACS move on efficiency index Shipping can learn from energy efficiency financing models, says Carbon War Room
PSV to be given futuristic Rolls-Royce bridge system Platform supply vessel employs an innovative Rolls-Royce bridge design
Dim sum bonds set to attract maritime issuers again this year Following a lacklustre period of almost no interest, companies are eyeing the offshore yuan market again
LDA buys four handies for Roullier joint venture Vessels due for delivery this year and next
Greeks buy small tanker pair for $8m Price for combined chemical and oil vessels in line with market levels
Carisbrooke confirms hijacking Three crew kidnapped off Cameroon
Hijacking reignites debate over ransoms P&I clubs consider their involvement in paying pirates
Replacement found for damaged Emma Maersk Maersk Line shuffles ships around after engineroom flood
VLGC rate stagnation ends as charterers enter market Ships booked to take cargoes to Asia, where LPG prices have risen
P&O Ferries protests over Eurotunnel bid to run Calais and Boulogne Channel Tunnel operator's move could lead to 'substantial lessening of competition' in shortsea services between the UK and France
Impairment widens Nordic American loss Suezmax spot market specialist insists it is on solid footing as reported TCE rate posts decline
Maersk Line holds on to top performance spot in 2012 SeaIntel's container carriers' schedule reliability report sees MSC as most improved line
Scrapping activity slows to a crawl Meanwhile prices in the Far East close in on the Indian subcontinent market
Five crew dead in lifeboat drill accident in Canary Islands - Updated Lifeboat falls 51 feet into sea after cable snaps during Thomson Majesty call in Santa Cruz de la Palma
Mercator Lines sells VLOC at $23m loss to pay debts Singapore dry bulk owner needs to pay compensation to other owners
The industry's lifeblood Pious talk from shipowners about the attractions of a career at sea means little unless the industry lives up to its obligations to seafarers
Can industry learn from lifeboat loss? A range of possible failures raises the issue of a more holistic approach to lifeboat safety
Antwerp seals pact with Rosmorport Five-year collaboration is part of strategic development plan for Russian ports
Taking it onshore Support by several shipping giants for a drive to create jobs for younger people in Somalia is a laudable first step
Grimaldi sees ro-ro edge over shortsea boxes ITALY'S Grimaldi is aiming to capture significant volumes of reefer perishables from box lines on intra-Med routes
US investigating coal export royalties ROYALTIES for exports are being audited over allegations that traders are bilking US taxpayers out of money paid in connection with coal mined on federal land
Many lifeboat risk factors highlighted A RANGE of factors could have caused failure of Thomson Majesty's lifeboat winch cable, a technical authority told Fairplay today
US docker deal buoys box forecast for 2013 US BOX importers have raised their volume growth prediction because of the tentative labour accord reached earlier this month
Fire cripples cruise ship CARNIVAL Triumph remained adrift and waiting for a tow off Mexico today after an engine room fire knocked out its propulsion system
Seadrill-SapuraKencana rig deal completed SEADRILL has completed the merger of its rig tendering unit into SapuraKencana Petroleum, the Malaysian offshore services group
Bremerhaven sees recovery from reefer slip LIFTINGS of conventional fruit from Central America into Germany are expected to recover this year, as US multinational Chiquita juggles its delivery policies
Sugar refinery to be built at Hambantota INDIA'S Shree Renuka Sugars signed a deal today to build a $220M sugar refinery Hambantota's port in southern Sri Lanka
East/west box rates again drift lower BOX RATES on east/west trades are drifting lower for the second successive week
Damen takes Shipdock helm DUTCH shipbuilder and repairer Damen Shipyards has taken control of fellow Dutch ship repair group Shipdock
Loan to aid PNG's maps ASIAN Development Bank said it has agreed to lend Papua New Guinea's government $41.5M to pay for its a maritime safety scheme
Cochin Trucker Strike Enters Second Week A strike by truck drivers at India's Port of Cochin has entered its second week, preventing the movement of containers in and out of Vallarpadam International Container Transshipment Terminal, operated by DP World. Unionized drivers walked off the job on Feb. 4, calling for wage increases and additional benefits. "Despite intense conciliatory...
Indian Railways' Revenue Rises 20 Percent Indian Railways reported its revenue from April 2012 to January 2013 was Rs. 101,223.95 crore (about US$18.8 billion), increasing 20 percent from $15.6 billion during the corresponding period from 2011 to 2012. Total goods earnings rose 25 percent year-over-year to $13.0 billion for April 2012 to January 2013, from $10.4 billion...
States Committed Nearly $120 Billion for Transportation in 2012 State departments of transportation and local governments committed more than $117 billion in funding for highway, bridge, transit, port and other transportation-related construction projects in 2012, according to new analysis of the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association. ARTBA's monthly report, "Value of...
US Challenges India's Domestic-Content Requirements for Solar Program The U.S. has requested World Trade Organization dispute settlement consultations with India's government regarding domestic-content requirements in India's national solar program, according to Ron Kirk, U.S. Trade Representative. India's program allegedly discriminates against U.S. solar equipment by requiring solar energy producers to use Indian-manufactured solar cells and modules and by offering...
Annual Review & Outlook 2013: World Customs Organization Governments around the world are taking action to improve the external environment of their trading community by, for example, improving existing infrastructure, creating a better general business environment and enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of their national economic, institutional, regulatory and competition policies. High-performing customs services, well equipped to meet the...
Annual Review & Outlook 2013: Waterways Council The inland waterways industry looks ahead to 2013 with optimism. The inland system's locks and dams are aging rapidly, and this critically important infrastructure requires capitalization. Momentum for positive change is moving forward in Congress. We await action on a Water Resources Development Act in the Senate that could offer a...
Annual Review & Outlook 2013: U.S. Coast Guard For more than 222 years, we have been America's lifesavers. We protect people on the sea, protect against threats delivered by sea, and protect the sea itself. We're proud of our unique service and the thousands of lives we save. But we are more than a response organization. We also save...
U.S. Lines to Hike Rates on Westbound Trade From Canada U.S. Lines will hike rates on its Columbus service loading in Vancouver, British Columbia, to all destinations, effective March 1. The increase will be $160 per 20-foot container and $200 per 40-foot and 40-foot high-cube container. The rate hike will apply to dry containers only. It will not be applicable for refrigerated,...
Zim Restructures Asia-Med-Europe Services Zim Integrated Shipping Services will restructure its network this month to enhance the carrier's Asia to east Mediterranean and Black Sea service. The Asia Med Europe Service route will be as follows: Xiamen, China; Shanghai; Shenzhen, China; Port Kelang, Malaysia; Nhava Sheva, India; Mundra, India; Alexandria, Egypt; Ashdod, Israel; Haifa, Israel;...
Annual Review & Outlook 2013: Transplace We must fight the regulatory war on business. Now that the election is behind us, we know there will be no voluntary slowdown in the regulatory war on business. The supply chain industries are no exception, and we need to pursue multiple strategies to prevent unwarranted economic damage to our...
US Cargo Thefts Near Record Set in 2011 A new report from logistics security services provider FreightWatch International shows the total number of cargo thefts in the United States last year was close to the record set in 2011 - and the number of stolen meat shipments continued to climb. Shippers beware: FreightWatch predicts meat, poultry and seafood will be popular...
US Trade Deficit Dropped to $540.4 Billion in 2012 The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, through the Department of Commerce, reported that for the full year of 2012, exports of $2.2 trillion and imports of $2.7 trillion resulted in a goods and services deficit of $540.4 billion, which is $19.5 billion less than the...
Seattle Port Commission Names Finalists for Open Spot The Port of Seattle commission has announced the finalists for the commission vacancy. The six candidates are expected to attend two moderated forums on Feb. 26 and Feb. 27, with a final selection expected by early March. The finalists include Stephanie Brown, executive director of Washington ABC; Courtney Gregoire, attorney for the...
EU, US Fully Implement Mutual Recognition of C-TPAT, AEO U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the European Union recently implemented a mutual recognition decision between Customs' Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism program and the EU's Authorized Economic Operator program, which provides reciprocal benefits to C-TPAT members when exporting to EU member states. These benefits, which include lower risk score and fewer...
USDA Seeks Comment on Dairy Import Licensing he U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service is seeking comments on the Dairy Tariff-Rate Import Quota Licensing Program. Import licensing is one of the tools the USDA uses to administer the tariff rate quota system for U.S. imports of dairy products. For dairy products subject to tariff rate quotas, an...
2012 Container Volume Slipped 1.7 Percent at Hamburg Hamburg's container traffic slipped 1.7 percent in 2012 from 2011 on sharply lower Asian imports, but Germany's largest port expects cargo to grow again this year on rising European demand and stronger trade flows in its key overseas markets. At 8.9 million 20-foot-equivalent units, Hamburg's throughput was sufficient for the port...
US Customs' Aguilar to Retire in Late March Customs and Border Protection head David Aguilar will step down at the end of March, ending a 31-year career in which he served as deputy commissioner and then acting commissioner of the agency. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano didn't name his successor in her announcement of Aguilar's retirement. The...
UPS Expands LCL Service Worldwide UPS expanded its direct less-than-containerload offering to more than 300 additional ocean lanes in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and South America in 2012. The company added 139 Asia outbound lanes; 91 Europe, Middle East and Africa outbound lanes; 42 intra-Asia lanes; 36 intra-EMEA lanes; 33 North American outbound lanes;...
Barkerding Appointed to Port of New Orleans' Board Louisiana's Gov. Bobby Jindal has appointed Robert "Rusty" Barkerding Jr. as the newest member of the Port of New Orleans' board of commissioners. Barkerding will serve a five-year term, succeeding Valerie S. Cahill. Bakerding joins the board with 47 years of experience in the maritime industry. He is president and CEO of...
Milwaukee's Total Cargo Declines, But Overseas Tonnage Grows The Port of Milwaukee reported a decline in total cargo tonnage in 2012 because of winter weather that led to smaller volumes of salt and coal arriving at the port. However, the port saw an increase of 34.5 percent in the amount of cargo traveling to and from foreign ports in...
Kalmar inks order for 11 cranes at ECT Finnish cargo handling manufacturer, Kalmar, part of the Cargotec group, has signed a deal to supply 11 automatic stacking cranes to Hutchison Port Holdings' ECT ...
China Cosco responds to shareholder rebellion against Wei China Cosco Holdings has said any measures conducive to the company's operation can be exercised after thorough consideration, after some minority shareholders ...
Bunker prices creep up again More bad news for ocean carriers: bunker prices are heading north again. Indeed, Rotterdam-sourced IFO 380 was up $4.50 per tonne in today's trading taking the ...
Maersk hold on to top performance spot in 2012 According to SeaIntel's container carriers' schedule reliability report covering the whole of 2012, Maersk Line was the top performer, but Mediterranean Shipping ...
FESCO containers up 14.1% Russia's Far Eastern Shipping Company [FESCO] saw its sea container transportation grow by a year-on-year 14.1% in 2012 to 342,700 teu while its intermodal freight ...
China pips the US in trade As the Year of the Snake arrives in China, new data suggests that the nation has overtaken the US as the world's top trader.Official figures from the two countries ...
Crude charters trickle in The Lunar New Year holiday in the Far East has taken a toll on the spot market but the celebration hasn't derailed at least one leading charterer's appetite for tonnage.
Otto issues warning Otto Marine has warned investors that it expects to turn in a full-year loss following a series of familiar setbacks.
Rumours resurface Navigazione Montanari of Italy is back in the spotlight this week amid reports that it is moving forward with the sale of two aframax tankers.
ISC readies fundraiser International Shipholding Corp of the US is getting ready to reactive idle tonnage with funds from a share sale.
Target strikes again Target Marine looks to have found period work for a second bulker in under a week.
NPCC ties up funding National Petroleum Construction Company (NPCC) of Abu Dhabi has tied up a $100m financing package to fund a multi-purpose jack-up vessel.
WIS worsens Shiprepairer Western India Shipyard (WIS) has fallen to a loss in the first nine months of its financial year.
DNB lifts Wilhelmsen DNB Markets has upgraded Wilh Wilhelmsen ASA after revising its view of the car carrier market.
Chang Myung sells again Korea's Chang Myung is thought to have sold its last 1980s-built bulker.
Shooting for stock John Fredriksen has tightened his grip on Archer Energy following the offshore company's $250m private placement.
Turkish delight for Polarcus Seismic shipowner Polarcus has completed the sale of one of its advanced vessels to state-owned Turkish Petroleum Corp (TPAO).
India's coastal boost India is to back its coastal shipping industry with a new cargo subsidy, plus discounted port fees and loans.
Lawless broke the law Actress Lucy Lawless has been fined in New Zealand for boarding a drillship in an environmental protest.
NAT red again Nordic American Tankers slipped to a deeper than expected reversal in the final three months of 2012.
Snake could prove tricky China traditionally sees the year of the snake as a good omen but those in shipping may not be so keen to cheer its arrival.
Atlantic takes Blue sistership Atlantic Offshore has penned another management agreement with Ulstein's shipowning vehicle, Blue Ship Invest.
GNV fills the gap French operator SNCM has chartered an Italian ro-pax to fill the gap left by its holed Napoleon Bonaparte.
VLs lowest this century Falling Asian demand and an abundance of vessels have taken VLCC rates down to the lowest level this century, analysts say.
Crank killed seafarer A Romanian crewman was killed on a Maersk boxship by a metal handle that came loose during a bunkering operation in the UAE.
MISC bid "too cheap" Petronas' takeover of MISC has hit resistance from two minority shareholders.
Five hurt in clash Five people have been injured in a collision between a ferry and a cargoship off Istanbul.
Kyoei back in profit Japan's Kyoei Tanker has revealed a positive result in its first nine months, but the fourth quarter is looking negative.
Harkand thinks big A new company backed by private equity heavyweight Oaktree Capital Management is aiming to make a splash in the burgeoning subsea services sector.
Greek buys again AM Nomikos is being linked with its second panamax bulker buy in as many weeks.
GasLog gets mixed review GasLog's double newbuilding swoop at Samsung Heavy Industries against long-term contracts with BG has received a mixed reaction in the market.
Third bulker for Kuok Robert Kuok-controlled Pacific Carrier Lines (PCL) has bought another K Line supramax, according to brokers.
Uljanik's binding bid Croatia's Uljanik Shipyard has made a final offer to take over the loss-making 3 Maj yard.
Fancy a free ferry? An Alaskan borough wants to give away its unused ice-breaking ferry Susitna for nothing.
Fire disables Triumph Carnival Cruise Lines says an engine room fire has disabled one of its cruise ships about 150 miles off Mexico.
Damen buys Shipdock Damen Shipyards Group has continued its yard acquisition spree, this time hoovering up compatriot facility Shipdock.
Vos to exit Maersk Lucas Vos, a key figure in Maersk Line's extensive budget cut plans last year, is to leave the Danish liner giant.
Lifeboat fall claims five Five seafarers have been killed and another three injured after a lifeboat drill on the cruise ship Thomson Majesty ended in tragedy.
Panama Canal tries 'just-in-time' transits The service allows booked vessels to arrive much closer to their scheduled transit times, instead of arriving earlier and having to remain for several hours at anchor before actually beginning their transits.
Commentary: Lines struggle to cut capacity in Asia-Europe
ILA to meet in March to consider tentative master contract The union said its Wage Scale Committee, a group of about 200 delegates, will meet in Tampa, Fla., on March 12-14. The committee is the group that decides whether or not to recommend to union members to approve the union's master contract with employers.
US Airways-American merger coming soon The ownership of the combined company, which would generate $38 billion in revenues, is to include a 72 percent stake for creditors of American's parent company. US Airways shareholders would take the remaining 28 percent.
Aguilar to retire as interim CBP chief David V. Aguilar is taking retirement and will step down as the head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Homeland Security announced late Friday. His retirement takes effect at the end of March.
IAG pledges to minimize strike disruptions
NIT League continues push for rail reform The U.S. shippers' group said its proposal, submitted in 2011 to increase rail competition, "represents one of the best efforts to achieve rail regulatory reform since the passage of the Staggers Act over 30 years ago."
New arrangement for Cockett in ARA region Former management of ABC forms new service company providing barge management for the group.
MGO prices stay flat in Fujairah while tight avails continue Markets were firming in South African ports.
Sovcomflot predicts increasing use of LNG as ships' fuel Sovcomflot executive highlights LNG's advantages as bunker fuel.
Weak demand in Hamburg But Rotterdam market firms.
Shell looking at mini-LNG plants for Russia System used to fuel mines and ships in North America.
OW Bunker welcomes new trading manager in UK office John Tsogas left Aegean Marine Petroleum late last year.
Oil storage at Fujairah to rise this year But pace of construction slowing, say market sources.
Polish LNG terminal bunker option 'attracting interest' LNG bunkering still under consideration at terminal due to open next year.
LNG takes priority in initial IGF Code Developing IMO regulation to include all alternative low-flashpoint fuels could hold up adoption of LNG fuel solutions.
Strike looms over US West Coast ports The ILA clerks union didn't ratify its contract with its employers.
LNG as bunker fuel reaching 'bottleneck breakthrough' Sources say there is growing interest but more needs to be done to improve LNG's takeup rate as bunker fuel.
UK Chamber of Shipping supports ECA route exemptions The organisation says implementing route and time specific exemptions would help protect the shipping industry.
Winter storm to delay bunker deliveries at US ports A 'weather-permitting' clause was added to bunker fuel oil suppliers' deals.
The Suez Canal Authority has announced that it will introduce surcharges on transit tariffs through the Egyptian canal for most major cargo vessels, effective July 15.
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