Remote asset tracking and information specialist SkyBitz is partnering with TMW Systems on a new integrated trailer tracking solution. The integrated SkyBitz-TMWSuite will provide for-hire and private fleet carriers a wider range of services to track and manage fleets. It will be a combination of existing visibility and management services from SkyBitz to […]
Bento Former CEVA Logistics executive vice president Joe Bento has joined SEKO Logistics as its chief sales officer for North America. SEKO is a full-service third-party logistics provider with roots in the freight forwarding business. It has more than 100 offices around the world. At CEVA, Bento also held the positions of president […]
Six maritime unions have formed a new group called the Maritime Labor Alliance.
Navman Wireless released an Android version of the mobile app for its OnlineAVL2 fleet tracking system. The new app will allow dispatchers, fleet managers, and executives to monitor and manage fleet activities from Android-based smartphones and tablets. The company previously had an app for the iPhone and iPad. The app is free […]
The Halifax Port Authority said David Henderson has been elected vice chairman of its board, succeeding Tom McInnis. McInnis was recently appointed to the Canadian Senate. Henderson is a sales professional with over 35 years of experience and is currently the Atlantic territory account manager for Samsung Electronics Canada Inc.
Star Information Systems (SIS) has signed an agreement with StormGeo to jointly develop a new set of software and services for the offshore and shipping industries. As part of the deal, StormGeo will also take a 15 percent stake in SIS with an option to increase this in the future, which the companies say […]
The new Boeing 747-400 services will initially operate five times weekly from Shanghai, via Chengdu or Chonqing. The flights return via Tianjin. The airline has slots for up to 10 flights per week from Amsterdam.
The agency has withdrawn a solicitation for a study on the “safety, economic and environmental issues of vessels with double hulls” due to a “lack of available funding and interest,” a spokesman said.
Apple’s announced release of its new iPhone 5 yesterday, as well as the introduction of the new Kindle Fire and other tablets – including the possibility of a “mini-iPad” – are expected to strengthen demand for air freight capacity and push rates higher. The air freight market “is very poor right now to begin with, in […]
The EcoLiner could haul bulk commodities or containers and its developers said “we expect this new concept to appeal to shippers of consumables particularly, oil companies and logistic operators keen to get their cargo off the roads.”
Container throughput at the Port of Virginia grew 24 percent in August on a yearly basis to 188,658 TEUs, the Virginia Port Authority said. The figure comes on the heels of three consecutive monthly records, including an 8 percent increase to 180,384 shipping units in July. Since January the port has processed 1.36 […]
The ocean carrier Mediterranean Shipping Co. has extended its Andean Feeder Service between its hub in Freeport, Bahamas, and the west coast of South America to include a full direct service to New York and Philadelphia. Previously the five-ship Andean Feeder loop turned in Freeport and a separate single-ship weekly shuttle connected New […]
Logistics industry knowledge provider Transport Intelligence (Ti) and executive search consultancy Hanover Fox International (HFI) have formed a strategic alliance for recruitment in the logistics sector. The partnership will combine HFI’s recruitment expertise with Ti’s 10 years’ of experience in the logistics industry, as well as its rolodex of senior level logistics and transport […]
The combined e-commerce logistics firms will offer a network of 18 European distribution centers, access to the Reflex warehouse management system, a European contact center, and extensive transport services.
Marine services provider Inchcape Shipping Services (ISS) has opened 10 new offices in India. The offices are located in Ludhiana, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Nagpur, Kanpur, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Indore, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru, and are the result of Inchcape’s significant increase in business with Hapag-Lloyd India. “Winning this additional business is a new chapter in […]
The environmental group Basel Action Network (BAN) said the U.S. Maritime Administration has adopted a new policy effectively ending the federal artificial reefing program that allowed the scuttling of old ships for artificial reefs. The practice dates back to the 1972 Liberty Ship Act. “Since the program’s inception, approximately 45 ships have been […]
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has received for review an application for a license change. The agency received the application from NTL Naigai Trans Lines (USA), Torrance, Calif. (Yoij Kurita, president) to add the trade name NTL Cargo One. Persons knowing of any reason why the applicant should not receive an OTI license amendment are urged […]
FMC reviews OTI license application
U.S. Xpress Enterprises, a Chattanooga, Tenn.-based trucking company, has named Latasha Neal vice president of driver recruiting. She has nearly 20 years of experience in the trucking industry, working primarily in the areas of driver recruiting and retention. Neal most recently served as director of recruiting and retention for Swift Transportation.
“It has been a challenge to develop a viable concept for transporting blades of this size (55 meters long) by rail in Europe, but well worth the effort,” said Mette Heileskov Bulow, transportation chief specialist at Vestas.
When Dow Chemical plans for the future it follows the approach that IBM gets the most headlines for: it looks decades down the road and prepares for trends and crises related to energy, environment, population, food, and other demands. The company is now shifting focus because of a trend that shippers can’t stop […]
The U.S. Commerce Department on Tuesday reported the country’s exports in goods and services for July was $183.3 billion, down 1 percent compared to the month previously. Imports for July also declined 0.8 percent to $225.3 billion, compared to June. “While there’s still more work to do, we remain on track toward […]
A trade organization for the agriculture and forest product industry said U.S. exporters are “extremely worried of massive economic loss” in the event of a shutdown of U.S. East and Gulf coast ports if longshoremen and their employers can’t agree…
U.S. grocery chain Kroger increased its fleet efficiency by 9.75 percent in the past year, reaching a 25.5 percent improvement compared to 2008 figures, according to the company’s latest sustainability report. The Kroger 2012 Sustainability Report said the company uses transportation management systems to improve the use of its store delivery and inbound […]
Two fleet management services companies have teamed up to work on GPS fleet tracking aimed at helping drivers improve their operations. GreenRoad, which offers driver performance management services, and GPS Insight, which provides GPS-based fleet tracking services for private companies and governments, are combining their efforts to produce a new set of products […]
The Australian liner carrier said shipments transiting the U.S. West Coast from and to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands will be exempt from its surcharge on inbound or outbound cargo at U.S. ports, if an ILA strike occurs.
U.S. Customs is eager for another industry expert to join its ACE development team after the successful run of former customs broker and forwarder Cindy Allen, Assistant Commissioner for International Trade Allen Gina said.
The global freight forwarder Panalpina said Tuesday it has started three new direct less-than-containerload (LCL) services from Asia to Europe. Operated by the company’s in-house non-vessel-operating common carrier Pantainer Express Line, the new weekly services connect Singapore to Prague and Budapest and Shanghai to Graz, Austria with guaranteed transit times. “There is […]
Dachser Transport of America Inc. (Dachser USA), the U.S. division of Germany-based Dachser GmbH & Co., has appointed John Barbasetti di Prun to director of ocean freight for the United States. In this role, Barbasetti di Prun will oversee all ocean forwarding operations for Dachser USA’s growing client base. Dachser has recorded very […]
The passage of S.B. 1243 (sponsored by State Sen. Alan Lowenthal, D-Long Beach) will mean the state’s tax exemption for marine fuel that was due to expire Jan. 1, 2014, will remain intact until Jan. 1, 2024.
Qatar Airways has appointed CHEP Aerospace Solutions to maintain and repair its world fleet of Unit Load Devices (ULDs) and galley cart equipment under a five-year contract. CHEP will use its overseas network of 50 repair stations to maintain the airline’s more than 24,000 ULDs and galley carts, and will expand this network […]
A news report on Monday interpreted Hapag-Lloyd’s temporary suspension of its service to Puerto Caldera as a response to the massive earthquake that occurred in Costa Rica on Sept. 5. The liner carrier clarified the suspension was actually the result of “extreme congestion” and “partial closure of most of their berthing positions” due to dredging […]
Meredith Broadbent, a Republican from Virginia, was sworn in as a commissioner of the U.S. International Trade Commission on Tuesday. Nominated to the ITC by President Obama on Nov. 8, 2011, she was confirmed by the Senate on Aug. 2, 2012. She will fill the commission term expiring on June 16, 2017. Broadbent […]
Intermodal pioneer Donald C. Orris will be honored Oct. 2 at the Containerization and Intermodal Institute’s Connie Awards event in Long Beach, Calif. Orris, who helped build stacktrains into the driving force of intermodalism, will be honored in addition to Matson Navigation Co.’s Chief Executive Officer and President Matthew Cox, who is receiving the […]
Finland has committed to funding new, greener technologies to reduce emissions ahead of the impending regulations due in 2015. As part of a national action plan, the Nordic country is attempting to comply with this and other European Union directives around the Baltic shipping lanes before they take effect. The new environmental regulations are […]
A box on board a “K” Line containership is likely the cause of an explosion over the weekend near India’s largest port complex, with the 20 crew members on the ship uninjured by the blast. Visible flames were reported on the 4,380-TEU Amsterdam Bridge, which is currently at anchor outside the Nhava Sheva port […]
Data2Logistics is planning to narrow its focus to infuse its system with up-to-date, market-based information and cost-saving freight bill auditing actions in the hope of benefiting shippers. The global freight bill processing, auditing, and cost-reduction advisor said combining these services will benefit both inbound and outbound shippers, whether they operate domestically or internationally, […]
Shippers should carefully read surcharge notices issued by container lines in the past two weeks in response to a potential longshoremen’s strike and port closure on the East and Gulf coasts to understand them, an FMC official said.
Demand Management has announced a new Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) module that will integrate these functions with its existing demand forecasting and requirements planning services. Demand Management, a global provider of supply chain management tools, said the new module will be part of its existing DSX supply chain software and will meet […]
The carrier will raise rates to $900 per 20-foot container and $1,000 per 40-foot container on its U.S. inland-haulage import (IHI) services applicable from Los Angeles and Long Beach on Oct. 7.
Import cargo volume at major U.S. retail container ports is expected to increase 8.5 percent in September compared with the same month last year, with strong increases expected into the holiday season.
The headquarters of the freight forwarder and logistics company Damco will move from Copenhagen, Denmark, to The Hague in the Netherlands in the first quarter of 2013, the company said Tuesday. Damco, a unit of the A.P. Moller-Maersk Group, will join sister company APM Terminals in the Dutch city, and away from the location of […]
Maersk Line has named Soren Strom as its new chief financial officer, effective Nov. 1. Strom currently holds the same position with Clipper Grou A/S, a Danish bulk and project vessel owner, where he has been the last two years. Prior to that, Strom spent 27 years with Ernst & Young, most recently […]
Venezuela has released the captain of a U.S.-flag cargo ship and dropped charges against the vessel and crew, said a U.S. union. Ocean Atlas, a heavylift ship operated by Crowley for shipping company Intermarine, has been in Maricaibo since Aug. 29, according to an account in Forbes. A Reuters report said the […]
Internet Truckstop, one of the largest Web-based freight matching services in the transportation industry, will be fully integrated with MercuryGate’s Transportation Management System on Oct. 5. The companies have worked together for years, previously integrating Internet Truckstop’s flagship products for searching and posting loads with MercuryGate’s platform. The companies said next month customers […]
Ship agency and brokerage T. Parker Host has appointed Cees van de Mortel to chief operating officer. He spent the last 12 years with Kinder Morgan Terminals in various senior management positions, and prior to that he was employed with the Dutch transportation and terminal company Vopak. Reporting to Adam Anderson, president, […]
Legislation granting Permanent Normal Trade Relations to Russia, with benefits accruing to U.S. companies in that market, has strong bipartisan and bicameral support in the U.S. Congress and could be passed during the next two weeks before legislators leave Washington to concentrate on the November election. Industry and legislative supporters of the bill see […]
Law firm Veneble said the number of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement actions by the Justice Department and SEC in the first half of 2012 stayed flat compared to levels in the first half of 2011.
The large shippers organization said a survey of its members found they anticipate “significant disruptions in their supply chains in the event of work stoppages at East and Gulf coast ports.”
Numerex Corp. has launched its supply chain management portfolio that allows large customers to optimize their inventory management. The platform provides real-time information about product sell-through, usage, and availability, which Numerex said can be leveraged into a variety of business intelligence and inventory systems to improve efficiency. The company specializes in interactive […]
Joseph Debose, a resident of North Carolina and a former staff sergeant in a U.S. Special Forces National Guard unit, pled guilty Friday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York to violating the Arms Export Control Act. According to court documents, Debose, 30, provided multiple shipments of firearms to […]
The transaction will finance the construction of the first nuclear power plant on the Arabian peninsula, which upon completion will number among the largest nuclear-generating facilities in the world.
The suspension at Puerto Caldera comes in the wake of a massive earthquake in Costa Rica last week that has caused congestion due to the partial closure of most of the port’s berthing positions
The world’s third largest liner carrier said Monday it had first-half operating profits of $104 million, aided by a $392 million operating profit in the second quarter. The line also saw large increases in revenue and volume.
Third party logistics services provider UTi Worldwide has appointed Richard G. Rodick to executive vice president of finance and chief financial officer, effective Oct. 1. Rodick succeeds Lawrence R. Samuels, who will assist him during the transition. Since 2007, Rodick has served as senior vice president of finance for Broadridge Financial Solutions, […]
Ceres has released an online questionnaire to help companies assess supply chain sustainability. The “Supplier Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ): Building the Foundation for Sustainable Supply Chains” was originally designed for the industrial goods sector, but Ceres said its recommendations around strengthening supply chain engagement can be applied to most other industries. The goal […]
R.R. Donnelley & Sons has broadened its growing logistics services through the acquisition of outbound mailing service provider Express Postal Options International. Express Postal currently provides outbound services to pharmaceutical, e-commerce, financial services, information technology, catalog, direct mail, and other business industries. Thomas J. Quinlan III, R.R. Donnelley’s president and chief executive […]
APM Terminals said it’s acquiring 37.5 percent of the public company Global Ports for $862.5 million, thereby entering the Russian market in a strategic partnership with the leading Russian transportation group, N-Trans. By buying the stake in Global Ports, APMT becomes an equal controlling partner in the leading operator of container terminals in Russia. […]
DB Schenker Logistics has launched a new set of online offerings for tracking air and ocean cargo. The company’s customers can now access a quick search feature, special filters and references that customize information, and create an automatic notification service. Those using its DB SCHENKERsmartbox service also get access to ocean freight container […]
The Grand Alliance and Zim will cut capacity on the transpacific lane to the U.S. East Coast from early October by merging two existing loops they jointly operate. The carriers will merge their SCE and SCE2 loops into one service from Oct. 8, with the combined loop to have a rotation of Busan, […]
C.H. Robinson, a tier-one global logistics provider based in Eden Prairie, Minn., said Thursday it has reached agreement to buy Polish freight forwarder Apreo Logistics. Apreo of Warsaw provides a wide variety of trucking services, warehousing and air and ocean service. The five-year-old company serves more than 2,000 customers with more than 300 employees […]
American Shipper has reported on many of the surcharges by liner carriers in the last few days. A side-by-side comparison can be found in a useful chart that lists all the surcharges by carrier, equipment and start date.
An antitrust investigation of five car carriers that started in Japan Thursday has been expanded to include requests for information by government authorities in the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Former long-time APL executive Robert Sappio has been named president and CEO of Rickmers Americas. He joins the Germany-based carrier from Alvarez & Marsal Business Consulting in San Francisco.
Financial services firm Hancock Holding Co. has appointed Deborah Conrad to vice president. Conrad, who spent most of her 35 years in international banking with the U.S. Export-Import Bank, will provide Hancock’s Whitney Bank and Hancock Bank financial guidance for businesses looking to access federal export finance assistance. She joined Whitney and […]
The Georgia port handled a record 2.98 million TEUs in the fiscal year which ended June 30, but faces increased competition from nearby Charleston. Savannah plans to hold the lead by deepening its harbor channel for bigger ships.
Navis, which provides software to about a quarter of the world’s container terminals, sees the future of its service space and operations heavily invested in the cloud. “We’ve been looking at the cloud for quite a long time. It’s just a matter of when the industry and our customers are ready, and on that […]
Tata Communications has been selected to deliver WAN (Wide Area Network) connectivity to more than 150 Cargotec sites in 50 countries across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas. Tata owns and operates one of the largest subsea fiber optic cable networks which connects to countries representing 99.7% of the world’s GDP. […]
To skip sailing positions from Asia in October, the ocean carrier Maersk Line has added an additional vessel to two of its three weekly services between Asia and West Africa, increasing roundtrip voyage time by one week on each loop. The carrier added a 13th vessel to its FEW2 loop, further increasing roundtrip voyage time from […]
Astea International has launched a new cloud-based service tailored to the needs of small and midsized businesses. Astea’s new ServiceVision platform provides subscription-based cloud services that allow companies to manage their customers, equipment, contracts, and warranties; advanced scheduling; parts and logistics management; work order management; analytics; and mobility services that operate in connected […]
After nearly seven months on a 10-week rotation, the ocean carrier Maersk Line has added an 11th vessel to its weekly Asia-Europe loop AE9, further increasing roundtrip voyage time from 70 days to 77 days in order to skip a sailing position from North Europe in September. Transit times eastbound from Europe to Asia on […]
Qualcomm has released the latest edition of its Trailer Tracks 210 (TT210), which provides information on the location and status of trailers to enhance planning, productivity, and security. For power, the TT210 device comes with an embedded solar charging system that’s designed to preserve the equipment’s uptime as well as extending battery life. Currently […]
The International Longshoremen’s Association and U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) have agreed to resume negotiations during the week of Sept. 17 at the request of a federal mediator.
Descartes Systems Group has released its latest quarterly report stating it reached record revenue of $30.5 million. This morning, Descartes announced financial results for its fiscal 2013 second quarter, ended July 31. The company’s quarterly revenues rose 6 percent from the year before, $28.8 million to $30.5 million, and also bested its prior quarter […]
With a federal mediator now tapped, the New York Shipping Association’s head is more hopeful that talks between the ILA and USMX may lead to a new master contract and not disruption to U.S. East and Gulf coast port operations.
Kirby Corp., the nation’s largest domestic tank barge operator, said it has entered into an agreement to purchase the assets of Allied Transportation Co., a subsidiary of Allied Marine Industries, and two affiliated companies. Allied is an operator of offshore barges and tugboats participating in the coastal transportation of petrochemicals, as well as […]
The ocean carrier has converted its North Europe and Mediterranean-to-West Africa WAF6 service into an exclusive West Africa feeder based on Maersk’s West-Mediterranean hubs in Tangiers, Morocco and Algeciras, Spain.
Australia’s ANL Lines, part of the CMA CGM group, has notified customers of a pending surcharge of $1,000 for a standard 40-foot container, if a strike or other labor disruption takes place by dockworkers at U.S. East Coast and Gulf ports.
The service, which is now offered at 14 origin ports in Asia, provides delivery in North America on a predetermined date. APL Logistics said its APLGuaranteed service for full containerloads will also be offered from Jakarta.
The leased container fleet grew by 10.6 percent in 2011 and is expected to expand another 9.5 percent in 2012, according to Drewry Maritime Research’s latest Container Leasing Industry report. The report highlights the way container lessors have picked up the slack of financially-strapped container lines in providing new boxes for the ever-increasing global […]
The liner carrier Mediterranean Shipping Co. said Wednesday it will raise bunker fees and some rates on the transatlantic trade from Oct. 1. The bunker rates to Northern Europe will be: $290 per TEU from the U.S. and Canadian west coast. $265 per TEU from the U.S. and Canadian east coast, and the Caribbean. […]
UPS formally notified the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that it is extending the Aug. 31 deadline until Nov. 9 for shareholders of TNT Express to accept its offer to buy their shares and take control of the Dutch express delivery company. The Atlanta-based company first announced the postponement on Aug. 22. Earlier […]
SynchroNet Intermodal Services has hired John S. Walter as director international sales. Walter will be responsible for sales of SynchroNet’s Web-based street-turn and stack-train services, and will focus those efforts on exporters, importers and non-vessel-operating common carriers. Prior to joining SynchroNet, he was the director of marketing for Transamerica Leasing/TAL International.
One industry analyst who asked not to be identified was surprised Japan antitrust authorities were investigating the car carrier companies, noting their long-time dominance of the business and close ties to the auto industry in Japan.
Qualified automotive and aerospace companies now have the ability to receive centralized processing of their imports at U.S. Customs’ latest Center of Excellence and Expertise. The agency said the new integrated industry center opened in Detroit on Tuesday, four months after first being announced. An announcement on the start of a new Center of […]
Non-vessel-operating common carrier Vanguard Logistics Services has expanded its presence in Central America through its new office in San Jose, Costa Rica. “After consolidating our presence in South America and Mexico, the next logical step was to institute a strong and visible Vanguard presence in Costa Rica,” said Hal Donahue, Vanguard’s regional managing […]
The Port of Baltimore’s public marine terminals set a monthly tonnage record in July of 853,818 tons, besting the previous record of 852,522 tons set in April, the Maryland Port Administration announced last week. The port handled 24 percent more cargo by weight in July than in June. Through the first seven months of […]
As cloud services began popping up in the shipping business, one concern that arose is the need to store data on a series of third-party cloud systems even if a company simply wants to share files and access specific computers on the go.
The lines are preparing shippers for the reality of the cost impacts of a potential strike by U.S. East and Gulf coast longshoremen at the end of September by implementing a major surcharge on shipments to and from U.S. ports from Oct. 1.
The liner organization said in a notice Tuesday that westbound revenues have declined considerably from levels seen earlier in the year, as demand in Asia has slowed and carriers have made concessions in their pricing.
Canadian National Railway said it will acquire more than 2,200 new freight cars and 1,300 containers in 2012 to support traffic growth and improve customer service. Jean-Jacques Ruest, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, said the new equipment is for “a range of markets, including forest products, metals, minerals, coal, iron ore, steel, consumer […]
Stephen Edwards has been named president and chief executive officer of GCT Global Container Terminals Inc., effective Sept. 10. He succeeds Michael E. Moore, who left the company in June. Edwards was president and CEO of Ports America, the largest terminal operating and stevedoring company in the United States, from 2007 to […]
EVA Air Cargo has joined the mobile revolution to give shippers and consignees faster and easier access to real-time air freight shipment status information through its new app. The free EVA Air Cargo App has been launched for the iPhone, iPad, and Android devices, and is available in four languages: English, traditional Chinese, simplified […]
The Port of New Orleans reported Tuesday that all terminals and truck gates are operating on normal schedules following a three-day shutdown to ride out Hurricane Isaac and restore power to portions of the port. Since the U.S. Coast Guard fully reopened the Mississippi River to commercial traffic on Sept. 1, terminal operators have […]
North Carolina-based less-than-truckload carrier Old Dominion Freight Line said Tuesday it has opened a new service center in Parkersburg, W.Va. The center is designed to serve seven cities in West Virginia, including Parkersburg, Clarksburg, Sistersville, New Milton, Harrisville, West Union and Ravenswood, and three in eastern Ohio (Marietta, Watertown and Athens). The […]
Energy management specialist Schneider Electric has signed an agreement to purchase supply chain and demand optimization software provider SolveIT Software. SolveIT, based in Adelaide, Australia, provides software for the supply and demand chain areas with a focus on optimization and predictive modeling. Its services are currently used by large organizations like Rio Tinto, BHP […]
The Port of Corpus Christi on Wednesday will inaugurate a repowered, cleaner-burning locomotive used to move railcars at its bulk terminal to and from the mainline. The Texas port used a $1.02 million grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, plus $256,514 of its own money under the matching requirements, to replace the locomotive’s […]
The deal is noteworthy because of the contract’s length, compared to typical forwarding contracts of one to three years, or less, and the volume – 60,000 TEUs per year – placed under the exclusive control of a single logistics provider.
Transpacific shippers who use 20-foot containers are likely overcharged on bunker fees, according to research by the maritime consultant SeaIntel. SeaIntel noted the transpacific trade is the only one where surcharges on 20-foot containers are not 50 percent of those assessed on 40-foot containers. Instead, bunker adjustment fee (BAF) levels on the transpacific […]
Groups representing companies in the apparel and luggage industry are calling on the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and their employers to resume labor negotiations, noting their members could face chargebacks from retailers . Talks on a contract to replace one that expires at the end of this month ended abruptly two weeks ago. […]
