American Shipper

   The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has received 19 license applications and changes for review.    The FMC received non-vessel-operating common carrier license applications AGS Cargo USA, Doral, Fla. (Nathalie Diaz, secretary); Albarq Shipping Services, Stanton, Calif. (Denise E. Scott, president); Always Affordable Shipping, Hazlet, N.J. (Christopher L. Loux, member); Brian Hsu, Hayward, Calif. (Brian […]

Individuals knowing of any reason why an applicant should not receive an OTI license or amendment are urged to contact the Office of Transportation Intermediaries.

In the main east-west trades, reliability increased by 1.7 percent from Asia to Europe and by 1.4 percent on the transpacific eastbound trade. This development was particularly driven by Mediterranean Shipping Co., according to SeaIntel.

Capacity declined by 6.1 percent. For the year, freight volumes are down 4 percent, with capacity off by 3.4 points, according to the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, and reflected by three of the region’s busiest carriers.

   The Port of Portland in Oregon said Saturday a union representing 25 security workers at marine terminals reached a contract settlement, averting a strike that would have shut down three of the port’s terminals.    The port authority said with the the assistance of the Oregon State Conciliator Bob Nightingale it was able to […]

Head of the nation’s second largest container port recently said employers who operate marine terminals and the union representing longshoremen are working hand-in-hand in Southern California to maximize efficiency of cargo flows.

   The ocean carrier Hapag-Lloyd has now added a new port call at Qingdao, China, and a seventh vessel to its weekly AME service between Asia and Mexico.     Roundtrip voyage time on the AME has increased from 42 days to 49 days and transit times in both directions on the service have been increased […]

   American Steamship Owners Mutual Protection and Indemnity Association (American Club) said it will increase premiums 10 percent on all classes of premium (mutual and fixed-premium) for both protection and indemnity insurance and freight, demurrage and defense insurance for the policy year starting Feb. 20.    The company said its directors decided on the increase after looking […]

   A.P. Moller-Maersk says it plans to maintain its leading position in the shipping business, even as it increases investment in other sectors.    In a interview on CNN on Thanksgiving Day, A.P. Moller – Maersk Group CEO Nils S. Andersen commented on the group’s strategy, confirming his commitment to remain the world leader in […]

   The freight forwarder and third party logistics services company Damco said Monday it has released a new optimization tool aimed at vastly reducing the amount of time it takes a shipper to make changes to its supply chain.    The tool is meant to be seen as the strategic lever for the company’s Damco […]

   The containership ZIM Luanda arrived for the first time to the Port of Ashdod in Israel last week as part of the ZCA service’s new rotation.    The Israeli carrier said the ship discharged food, chemicals, paper, resin, and defense supplies from New York, Savannah, and Halifax and took onboard several hundred containers to export […]

   After a nine-month test phase, time:matters, the time-critical subsidiary of Lufthansa Cargo, has introduced its Emergency.Solutions offering to customers in the automotive, aviation, engineering, and oil and gas industries.    The new service is part of Lufthansa Cargo’s premium product. Though time:matters is handling the new offering, future additions could be outsourced to industry […]

   Bremen, Germany-based logistics services provider Kieserling Group will merge with Indian firm Compass Ocean Logistics to form Compass Logistics International AG with 40 branches in 18 countries.    The new company, effective Jan. 1, will have dual headquarters in Bremen and Dubai.    Until recently, the Kieserling Foundation, set up by the owner Karsten Kieserling […]

   American Airlines Cargo has increased its sales offerings in Central America by appointing FlyUS as its sole general sales and services agent (GSSA).    FlyUs, based in San Jose, Costa Rica, is responsible for American’s cargo sales across eight cities in seven countries, including Guatemala City, Belize City, San Pedro Sula, San Jose, Tegucigalpa, […]

   Danny Wan has been named port attorney for the Port of Oakland, effective Dec. 17.    Currently he serves as city attorney and risk manager for Morgan Hill, Calif., where he is part of the city’s executive management team.    In his new job he will be responsible for advising the port on a […]

James A. Capo, chairman and CEO of USMX, issued a statement saying “ILA leaders view bargaining as a one-way street that leads only in their direction,” while ILA president Harold Daggett retorted “USMX has continually played one port against the other but that strategy will not succeed.”

   Amin Ravan, an Iranian citizen, and his Iran-based company, IC Market Iran (IMI), have been charged Tuesday with conspiracy to defraud the United States, smuggling, and violating the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) in connection with the illegal export of 55 military antennas from the United States to Singapore and Hong Kong, the U.S. […]

   U.S. Customs officers in Atlanta confiscated 870 counterfeit wool ski caps earlier this month.    The shipment had a manufacture’s suggested retail price of $15,500, Customs and Border Protection said.    The counterfeit ski caps resembled children’s cartoon characters. They were discovered during a physical exam of merchandise from Ecuador that was listed on the […]

   Thailand agreed during President Obama’s visit there this week to participate in the Proliferation Security Initiative.    The PSI is an international collaborative effort among more than 100 countries to stop the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction and missile-related items. Participants agree to exchange relevant information on illegal arms shipments, interdict such shipments, and […]

The Tampa Bay port this week discharged more than 52,000 tons of Brazilian-produced corn from the ship King Fraser. The corn is being imported to offset drought-stricken U.S. production shortfalls and will be used for animal feed.