Freight traffic restricted again on south side of the Simplon Building work in the Galleria Elicoidale tunnel near Varzo on the southern ramp of the Simplon revealed the need for some renovations that should be carried out as soon as possible...
Krone reports big jump in sales The Germany-based Krone Group generated a turnover of an almost record-breaking EUR 1.4 billion in its last business year. The company's commercial vehicle sector (Fahrzeugwerk Kro...
New York says no toll increase for commercial vehicles New York's Thruway Authority has given up a plan to raise truck tolls by 45% to reduce the deficit, after the commercial transport sector had protested vigorously against the schem...
Morningstar expands fleet The Canadian cargo airline, Morningstar Air Express, based at Edmonton international airport since spring 2012, has added an ATR-72 freighter to its fleet. The unit was formerly ow...
New blocktrain service launched in Russia A new blocktrain service is being launched by GCS/Ruscon, a logistics and intermodal operator that is part of Russia's GCS transport group. The train will run more than 1,100 km fr...
Traffic in Dunkirk almost unchanged Dunkirk, France's third largest port, handled 42.22 million t in 2012, a mere 0.6% less than in 2011. Container traffic, with a total of 260,000 teu, was 5% below the 2011 fig...
Cargo Care International gives NEO sales cover in Denmark, Sweden, Finland NEO Air Charter - a founder member of the Global Charter Alliance - has entered into a strategic partnership with Nordic-based GSSA Cargo Care International, in which the latter wi...
Shanghai International Port Group increases volumes by 2.5% 2012 Shanghai International Port Group (China) only saw a moderate improvement in its annual profits and cargo throughput for 2012. Despite container volumes increasing by 2.5 % to 32.5...
TNT/UPS - Liege airport's position Liege airport (Belgium) has noted the decision of TNT and UPS to cancel the merger (see ITJ Daily of 15 January 2013), estimating that "the failure of this merger reshuffles t...
Several leadership changes at Terex Corporation The USA-based Terex Corporation has announced that Kevin Bradley, currently president, Terex Cranes, will become senior vice-president and CFO, thereby replacing Phil Widman, who i...
DHL inks long-term contract with Panasonic in Great Britain DHL Supply Chain has landed a long-term contract worth more than GBP 100 million (EUR 120 million) from Panasonic for the management of its storage and transport activities in Grea...
Rhenus Freight Logistics opens new branch office in France Rhenus Freight Logistics, a firm owned by the German logistics service provider Rhenus, has opened a new platform for transport and general cargo activities in Saint-Barthélemy-d'A...
SBB names new media spokesperson Switzerland's state railway SBB has named Franziska Frey as the company's new media spokesperson, based at its head office in Bern. Together with Christian Ginsig, she is responsib...
Emerging Markets Logistics Index 2013 now published The 2013 Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index, a co-production of Transport Intelligence and Agility, has been published. The close examination of 45 emerging markets, amo...
Boxing cleverer Confirmed order and low prices do not mean a return to the buying madness of the boom
State of independence Some of China's shipping bosses are uneasy about being linked to the cash-rich government
Greece slaps new tax on shipbrokers Sector stunned by move that could spell the end for some players
Odds still stacked in hijackers' favour, says former navy pirate hunter Northwood moves into commercial maritime sector
MSC boosts Le Havre feeder links Normandy terminal increases its connections to the UK, Ireland and France
Yang Ming lands record low charter rate for ultra-large newbuildings UPDATED: Carlyle joins Seaspan in five-boxship order from Hyundai Heavy Industries
Tanker conundrum as fixtures rise but earnings fall Overall spot activity for large crude tankers rose by 5% from 2011 to 2012
BIMCO pulls out of 100 Series rules for use of force Shipowner body questions whether armed guards are protected if cases come to trial
Fincantieri faces tough call in general offer to STX OSV shareholders Next hurdle may prove insurmountable in Italian firm's bid to take shipbuilder private
China Merchant Energy Shipping orders three VLCCs Further orders expected as China seeks to tie up oil supply chain
December brings box slump to LA But port posts 2% upturn in annual throughput
Scrap the aged China's government should respond to some creative thinking from Hosco's boss
Appeal in Neftegaz-67 collision case opens in Hong Kong Jailed master says he did not know he was breaking safety rules
Pirate attacks hit five-year low Improvement reflects 'huge reduction' in incidents off Somalia's coast
Yangzijiang aims for $419m from warrants issue Shipbuilder to replenish working capital
Why BP has bucked the trend to order new tankers Targeting Indian demand raises the oil major's 'green' credentials
Results fall on reefer rate rises far short REEFER box rates have been pushing up, but by not even half as much as major container lines sought in their January increases, sector agents told Fairplay today
Georgiopoulos rebuts claim PETER Georgiopoulos and other GenMar executives have moved to dismiss a class action filed by disgruntled former shareholders
EU extends key tariff to Taiwan, Thailand THE EU was reported today to have extended to Taiwan and Thailand a tariff on a construction material transported by ship from China
Mombasa ivory smuggling ring smashed KENYAN officials were reported today to have seized 638 chunks of ivory - worth about $1M - that smugglers were trying to ship from Mombasa's port
Bullwinkel sees Lower Saxony port growth GERMANY'S Lower Saxony state said today it expects solid growth in cargo handling and terminal investments to continue this year
Omar Nokta quits Dahlman Rose again OMAR Nokta, the high-profile shipping analyst of Dahlman Rose, has resigned, with Sam Margolin taking over that desk today
Kremlin OKs auction of control at Vanino RUSSIA'S government has approved results of its December auction of the Kremlin's 77% shareholding in the port company of Vanino
Bill collector gains stake in FreeSeas STRUGGLING Greek drybulk owner FreeSeas is handing over 8-10% of its ownership to settle past-due vendor accounts
STX explains legal issues STX PAN Ocean told Fairplay today it has already been compensated for damage to one of its VLOCs, so that matter is not linked with a legal process involving its parent company
HK to require low-sulphur fuel at berth HONG KONG confirmed today it plans to require oceangoing vessels to use low-sulphur Diesel while at berth in its waters in 2013
Quanzhou bonuses sweeten shipping rewards SHIPPING enterprises in Quanzhou can receive 1M yuan ($160,000) from the local government for opening a new international shipping line
Registered CCS ships rise 15% CHINA Classification Society said it has 2,883 oceangoing ships registered as of end-2012, aggregating 57.68M gt, making a 15% increase year on year
Braemar waves goodbye to MSC Rena revenues BRAEMAR Shipping services said today its revenues from work on the New Zealand box ship wreck MSC Rena is fading faster than expected
Climb of won hurting Hanjin HANJIN Shipping's profits are being eroded by the rising won, even though box shipping's prospects have improved in the past year, according to KDB Daewoo Securities
HHI's new orders fall 23% HYUNDAI HI of South Korea told Fairplay today its new orders fell 23% year on year in 2012 to $19
Fitch Affirms Port of Seattle, WA's $312MM LTGOs at 'AAA' SAN FRANCISCO - Fitch Ratings takes the following rating action on the Port of Seattle (the port), WA's limited tax general obligation (LTGO) bonds: --$312 million LTGOs affirmed at 'AAA'. The Rating Outlook is Stable. SECURITY The LTGO bonds are secured by the port's full faith, credit and resources supported by a covenant to...
Graybar and M360 Sponsor Energy Summit ST. LOUIS - Graybar, a leading distributor of electrical and communications products and provider of related supply chain management and logistics services, has announced its sponsorship, along with M360, of an Energy Summit on Thursday, January 17. Graybar and M360 have invited Ameren Missouri to discuss cash incentives that are...
AMR Posts Fourth Quarter Profit, But Loss for Year AMR Corp., the parent company of American Airlines, today reported profit in the fourth quarter of 2012 was $262 million, reversing a net loss of $1.1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011. Quarterly cargo revenue was $170 million, sliding 0.6 percent from 2011's $171 million. The company reported a 1.2...
LA Port Breaks Ground on Rail Yard Project The Port of Los Angeles broke ground Wednesday on the West Basin Rail Yard project that will serve as a staging yard for railcars and free up land for construction of an on-dock intermodal transfer yard at the TraPac terminal. The $137.7 million project will be constructed with funding provided by...
UASC Revises France Terminal-Handling Charges United Arab Shipping Co. has revised its France origin terminal-handling charges on U.S. imports, effective Feb. 15. The charges are now 190 euros (about US$253) per 20-foot, 40-foot, 40-foot high-cube, 40-foot flat rack (in gauge) and 40-foot open top (in gauge) container, and about $478 for out-of-gauge cargo....
U.S. Lines Announces Australasia Bunker Surcharge U.S. Lines will implement a bunker surcharge for northbound dry and refrigerated cargo from Australia and New Zealand to the U.S. East Coast, eastern Canada and the Caribbean, effective Feb. 15. The charge will be $983 per 20-foot container. The reefer consumption surcharge will remain at 15 percent of the bunker adjustment...
Haifa Port's Container Traffic Hits Record High Israel's Haifa Port reported its container traffic in 2012 was 1.38 million 20-foot-equivalent units, an 11.5 percent increase compared with 2011 and a record high for the port. The previous record was set in 2010 with 1.26 million TEUs. "Dramatic growth" has been noted in the rate of unloading containers recently, the...
Asian Air Cargo Situation Unclear Ahead of Holiday As ocean shipping volumes and rates rise on trades out of Asia in anticipation of the traditional factory shutdown on February 10, whether air cargo operators will also benefit from a usual boost as the deadline approaches remains unclear. Air cargo demand from Chinese airports and Hong Kong has increased this...
CaroTrans Launches San Francisco-Japan Service CaroTrans has added a new weekly less-than-containerload export service from San Francisco to Japan. Transit time from San Francisco to Tokyo is 12 days; to Yokohama is 13 days; and to Osaka, Nagoya and Kobe is 17 days. There is no transshipment via Busan, South Korea, or additional handling via Los Angeles. The...
Maersk Line to Call at Krishnapatnam Terminal Maersk Line is adding a direct call at India's Krishnapatnam Port Container Terminal to its Chennai Express Service (CHX), a weekly intra-Asia loop linking India and the Far East. The new port call, starting Jan. 29, brings the number of container services at the east coast hub to three. Singapore-based Bengal...
Novoroslesexport Adds Cranes to Increase Efficiency Novoroslesexport, a subsidiary of Russia-based Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port Group, has received two new Liebherr LHM 550 cranes, with lifting capacities of 104 metric tons (about 115 tons) apiece. The cranes are expected to be commissioned in February. The new equipment helps fulfill one of the priorities in NCSP's Development Strategy to 2020...
Carriers, Shipowners Push Hong Kong to Regulate Emissions In his 2013 policy address, Hong Kong's Chief Executive CY Leung announced that the government will consider introducing new legislation to require marine vessels to switch to low-sulfur diesel in Hong Kong port and to step up efforts with Guangdong Provincial Government to extend fuel switching to Pearl River Delta...
HSH Nordbank to Offer Container Forward Freight Agreements Citing rising demand for freight derivatives for means of hedging against the volatility of rates, HSH Nordbank has announced plans to offer container freight forward agreements in the market. Dirk Reiche, head of products, noted that there were large swings in Asia-Europe spot rates over the past year and said that...
Piracy Falls to Five-Year Low Pirates attacked 297 ships in 2012, a five-year low and a 32 percent decrease compared with 2011's 439 ship attacks, according to a global piracy report by the International Chamber of Commerce's International Maritime Bureau. The report showed that worldwide figures were brought down by a "huge" reduction in Somali piracy,...
Seaspan Orders Five 14,000-TEU Container Ships Hong Kong-based container ship lessor Seaspan has signed contracts for the construction of five 14,000-TEU container ships at Hyundai Heavy Industries. The vessels are scheduled for delivery in 2015. Seaspan signed 10-year, fixed-rate time charters for the vessels with Yang Ming Marine Transport. After the initial 10-year charter periods, Yang Ming may...
BNSF Signs Agreement With OSHA to Resolve Whistle-Blower Complaints The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration has signed an agreement with Fort Worth, Texas-based BNSF Railway announcing BNSF's voluntary revision of several personnel policies. OSHA alleged that BNSF's employee practices violated the whistle-blower provisions of the Federal Railroad Safety Act and discouraged workers from reporting on-the-job injuries....
Trade Tech System Authorized to Satisfy Japan's Advance Filing Rules Trade Tech, which supplies cloud-based solutions for the logistics industry, announced that its electronic filing solution has been authorized by Nippon Automated Cargo and Port Consolidated System, the Japanese government's trade and customs clearance service, for Japan's Advance Filing Rules that will go into effect in March 2014. Since the rules...
US to Seek Deal on Services Trade U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk has notified Congress that the Obama administration plans to enter into negotiations for a new trade agreement on international trade in services. The negotiations will begin in Geneva with a group of 20 trading partners that represent nearly two-thirds of global trade in services, with the...
TOTE Services' President Aguirre to Retire Jorge Aguirre, president of ship management company TOTE Services, a division of Princeton, N.J.-based TOTE, will retire on Jan. 31, the company announced. Aguirre joined TOTE Services in 1980 as a port captain at its Philadelphia headquarters. He served as manager of operations, then senior vice president and in 2001 was...
Manufacturers Salute Walmart's Plan to Buy More US Goods The Alliance for American Manufacturing has applauded Walmart's announcement that Walmart and Sam's Club plan to buy an additional $50 billion in U.S.-made products over the next 10 years. Although Scott Paul, AAM's president, called the move a "game changer" and hopes other retailers will follow suit, he also said in...
More teenagers need recycling 2013 will be a record year for boxship deliveries: an estimated 1.9m teu of extra cellular capacity will be launched into largely flat-lining markets - including ...
Menlo opens number seven in Singapore San Francisco-headquartered Menlo Worldwide Logistics has opened a new $50 million warehouse and distribution centre in Boon Lay, Singapore; its seventh facility ...
MSC raises loans for Klaipeda project Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), the privately owned, Geneva-headquartered marine transport group, has negotiated 32.5 million in loan agreements with the ...
MSC tops the boxship recycling league The Mediterranean Shipping Company is certainly leaving its liner archrival Maersk Line standing in one sector: ship recycling.According to an Alphaliner report ...
HHI signs ultra-large boxship deal with Seaspan for $120m apiece
Pirate attacks hit five-year low Maritime piracy reached a five-year low in 2012, thanks to a 'huge reduction' in Somali piracy, but east and West Africa remain the worst-hit areas for such attacks.According ...
More bad eurozone data, but is the worst over? Figures released by the European Union's Eurostat office reveal that factory output in the eurozone declined by 0.3% in November - the third consecutive monthly ...
Workouts weigh on dry bulk Drawn-out restructurings of dry-bulk companies are likely to present a roadblock for even the healthier companies in the sector in 2013, a US-based analyst told clients today.
Ray of hope in OWS case A federal judge in Washington DC has delivered a ray of hope to ships' officers caught in the net of US prosecutions for oily discharge violations
Brightoil in breach Brightoil Petroleum has braced investors for a second half loss and revealed that it has breached a bank loan covenant.
CSIC on the rise China Shipbuilding Industry Corp (CSIC) has posted growth in earnings and revenue for 2012.
Greeks take tax hit Greek owners have agreed to pay a tonnage tax on vessels operating under foreign flags in a move that will keep most overseas earnings untouched.
Platou boosts Capital Capital Product Partners' creative dealing in the sale and purchase market following OSG's failure has won it an upgrade from RS Platou Markets.
Pool poised to pop? General Maritime (Genmar) has been hit with a flood of calls from owners and operators that are exploring enrolment in a fledgling tanker pool backed by Unipec.
Bibby builds subsea fleet Bibby Offshore has expanded its subsea fleet with the addition of what it described as its biggest vessel charter to date.
ITF urges crew help The ITF has called for help for the traumatised crew held for nearly three years on the UAE-owned Iceberg 1 by Somali pirates.
Piracy at five-year low Piracy is at its lowest level for five years, according to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB).
Lightering ship sinks Fourteen crew have been rescued after a lightering vessel sank off Bangladesh.
Yard subsidies revived? India's shipping ministry is trying to revive a subsidy scheme for shipyards nearly six years after it was scrapped.
Dahlman baton passes Chat concerning Omar Nokta's departure from Dahlman Rose was apparently confirmed today as the bank's maritime research coverage transferred to long-term colleague Sam Margolin.
Jensen steps back Frank Jensen appears to be taking something of a back seat at the Clipper Group following a reshuffle of its top brass today.
Coastal fined over spill Canadian owner Coastal Shipping has pleaded guilty to failing to inform authorities of an oil spill from a tanker in 2009.
Bank cuts Ezra rating OCBC has cut its rating on Ezra Holdings following a disappointing first quarter performance and a recent rise in its share price.
YZJ seeks cash injection Shares in Yangzijiang Shipbuilding (YZJ) took a dive today after the Chinese shipbuilder announced a fundraiser to help ride out the shipping downturn.
US Fab wins barge The US Fab shipyard in Oregon has a won a deal to build a deck barge for Harley Marine Services.
FREE settles in shares Freeseas will hand over a potential 10% of its stock to settle a legal dispute with Hanover Holdings.
Stuck with the roaches Eight Central American men have appealed for help in returning home from a cockroach-infested tug stuck in Canada.
Hanjin shares hammered Hanjin Heavy Industries took a beating today as investors reacted to news of a $170m equity issue.
German trio launch trust German shipowners Gerd Wessels, Stefan Jungerhans and Torsten Westphal are looking for investors for a new shipping trust focused on boxships and mini-bulkers.
Olympic signs with Reef Olympic Shipping has penned a long term contract for a subsea construction vessel under construction at Kleven Verft.
Rena revenue fading Braemar Shipping Services has seen income from the salvage of a Costamare containership tail off more quickly than expected.
Tecnomar snaps up NCA Italian state shipbuilder Nuovi Cantieri Apuania (NCA) has been bought by superyacht builder Admiral Tecnomar.
Samsung plots new yard? Analysts are unconvinced whether reports that Samsung Heavy Industries will build a new yard in South-east Asia will be borne out.
Maersk's Daily drain Maersk Line's Daily Maersk concept is still short of turning a profit, the company has admitted.
Ezion adds to backlog Ezion Holdings has won a further liftboat charter contract this time from a South East Asian state-linked corporation.
MSC top scrapper Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) was behind almost 25% of the containerships sent for scrap in 2012.
HHI seals Seaspan order Seaspan has ordered up to ten 14,000-teu containerships at Hyundai Heavy Industries in a deal potentially worth $1.2bn.
Volume growth to slow Container imports at major US ports are expected to see only modest growth in the first month of 2013 a trade body has predicted.
ILA, USMX continue negotiations Shippers are watching the talks nervously after ILA negotiators walked out of a negotiating session to discuss work practices in the Port of New York and New Jersey with the New York Shipping Association on Jan. 9.
Supreme Court to hear LA port trucking rule The nation's top court will review the constitutionality of an environmental regulation imposed by the Port of Los Angeles after a challenge brought by the American Trucking Associations was struck down in a district court in 2010.
Engineers: U.S. infrastructure investment needed
Pet food maker signs up with Transplace for TMS
Panama Canal to handle up to 14,100-TEU ships
USTR to discuss wide-ranging services agreement
Trade Tech authorized for Japan advanced filing
FMC reviews 6 OTI license applications
Virginia International Terminals CEO Dorto retiring "I've been here for 34 years and it is time," Joseph Dorto said. "You always hear, 'leave on a high note' and we just completed the second best year in our history, so I think this is the right time."
BlueWater Reporting: Liner capacity squeezed in 4Q 2012
TNT faced with few options after failed merger TNT Express has been plagued by managerial and operational issues, and with the latest blow coming in the form of a dead merger with UPS, the company will continue to lose market share, analysts say.
Brightoil issues fresh profit warning Company may have 'breached financial covenants'.
Cold weather cuts fuel oil exports Freezing temperatures could mean 10% fall in export volumes.
Prices softening in Fujairah Little movement in Suez market.
Mid-week prices head down in Rotterdam Hamburg prices 'very quiet'.
Five containerships ordered from Korean yard Vessels will be built 'using Seaspan's fuel efficient SAVER design.'
Strong winds close Novorossiysk to bunkering Adverse weather conditions expected to last until Thursday.
Amsterdam supplier deploys new barge Golden Arrow's new addition to service capital and northern ports.
'No recovery until the middle of 2014' for dry bulk Sector is struggling with overcapacity and high bunker costs.
Bunker prices weaken in Asia IFO 380 prices soften in key Asian ports.
HK legislation to enforce fuel switch 'under consideration' Public policy think tank Civic Exchange calls proposal 'a major policy breakthrough in ship emissions control'.
PSO seeking 1.23 million mt of fuel oil PSO is seeking up to 650,000 mt of HSFO and up to 180,000 mt of LSFO.
Promotion for Maersk fuel trader Rosenkrans is now European Trading Desk Lead at Maersk's fuel sourcing arm.
Cial Port seeking investors for integrated port Port project to focus on coal, bulk goods and bunker fuel.
South China refinery fuel oil output to drop Most of the supply drop stems from minor refiners, as output declines by 26% month-on-month.
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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