Shipments of coal on the Great Lakes totaled 2.6 million tons in May, a decrease of 11.3 percent compared to a year ago, according to the Lake Carriers’ Association. Coal loads from Lake Superior ports totaled 1.6 million tons, just slightly below the level of a year ago. Included in that total were […]
The ocean freight division of the forwarding company Panalpina said Tuesday it plans to begin offering customers an order management system based on the latest version of the customer-facing application, LOG-NET. Panalpina said the offering, called MyPanalpina+, is designed to give customers enhanced order processing capabilities, better freight management services and improved visibility […]
Cargo volumes moving from North America to North Europe picked up in the first quarter, but are “unsustainable due to the austerity measures being taken by most European governments,” according to an article in the current edition of Drewry’s Container Insight Weekly. Drewry said exports from North America to North Europe improved significantly […]
An effort by container shipping companies to deal with surplus tonnage by cascading 8,000-TEU vessels into the trade lane between Asia and South America’s east coast “appears to have seriously backfired,” Drewry said.
Toronto-based Vitran has switched from direct to interline service, signing an agreement with an undisclosed West Coast carrier to offer service to California, Arizona and Nevada. Vitran has also contracted with a second carrier to service Colorado. The changes, which go into effect Aug. 5, will force the closure of seven terminals […]
Domestic and Canadian FedEx Freight shipping rates will rise an average of 4.5 percent on July 1, the company recently announced. The increases apply to shipments associated with the FXF 1000, FXF 501 base rates. Absolute minimum charges and accessorial rates will also change. The fuel surcharge will remain the same. The […]
TNT Express plans to layoff 850 workers in Italy and combine its smaller operations in the country into larger outposts at strategic locations. The moves, which are part of the company’s “Deliver!” reorganization program, will affect 20 Italian facilities. Service levels and network connectivity will not be affected by the downsizing, company […]
Operators of 60 U.S.-flag ships in the Maritime Security Program will only get about 75 percent of their normal monthly stipend in August and none in September due to sequestration of the federal budget.
The Express Association of America, representing the four largest integrated express carriers, DHL, FedEx, TNT and UPS, said it is forming an Export Committee to manage policy issues that effect shipping from the United States.
News reports say a Chinese company, HK Nicaragua Canal Development Investment, is working with the Nicaraguan government on a $40 billion project that would provide a vessel transit alternative to the Panama Canal.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection will begin full enforcement of the Importer Security Filing requirement on July 9, the agency announced Friday. On that date, the agency will begin to issue liquidated damages for ISF violations, such as filing incomplete, inaccurate or late documentation. The ISF rule went into effect on Jan. 26, […]
According to an Associated Press report, EU regulators are poised to approve Delta Air Lines’ purchase of a 49-percent stake in Virgin Atlantic without conditions. Delta purchased the stake in Virgin last December for $360 million, and officials from both carriers have been waiting on the necessary regulatory approvals from the U.S. Department […]
European and Israeli officials have signed a comprehensive air transport agreement, allowing carriers to fly between the countries on a limited basis. Current restrictions on flights will be eased over the next five years, and by 2018, both will enjoy unfettered access to each other’s airports. “Israel is a key partner for […]
President Obama’s nominee for U.S. Trade Representative, Michael Froman, spent Thursday on Capitol Hill telling the Senate Committee on Finance that his goals of promoting growth and bolstering the economy will be achieved by renewing Trade Promotion Authority and making sure pending free-trade agreements come to fruition. Obama tapped Froman, who has been […]
Gerry Wang, the chief executive officer of Seaspan, one of the world’s largest builders and charterers of containerships, told financial analysts that while freight rates are depressed, there is no shortage of demand for efficient new vessels.
Port operations will be put on hold for a half day on June 12 at the Port of Virginia so that port management and users can talk with longshoremen about market conditions, industry trends and efficiency at the port.
The way truckload carriers price their services has been affected by increased usage of transportation management systems, Stifel Nicolaus said. It also noted that shippers rely more and more on third- and fourth-party logistics providers.
Intermodal traffic rose 3 percent, year over year, to 1.21 million containers and trailers, according to the Association of American Railroads. May’s weekly average for intermodal traffic stood at 242,823 containers and trailers.
The Brazilian government has launched a $41 million real ($19.24 million) grant program intended to boost its competitiveness in the shipbuilding industry by generating new technology and equipment for vessels. According to a statement, the goal is to increase jobs in shipbuilding as well as increase the efficiency of the ships themselves. Individual […]
Grup Maritim TCB, a global marine terminal operator, said Mexican cucumber exports to the United States and Europe from its terminal at Puerto Progresso on the Yucatán peninsula reached a record high of 1,490 TEUs during the harvest season between November and April. The containers held about 30,000 tons of the vegetable. The […]
