American Shipper

WTO’s trade facilitation deal has sweeping potential but needs public and private buy-in

Ocean carriers Crowley Maritime and TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico have both invested heavily in services to the financially troubled commonweath and will be watching closely as it endeavors to restructure $123 billion in public debt and pension obligations.

Ali Maserrat, founder of an Uber-style courier called Peykyab, is disrupting the traditional parcel carrier model in Iran’s capital city of Tehran, and is now looking to spread his operation throughout the country.

The Southern California port handled 558,014 TEUs for the month, benefitting from the return of a Hyundai Merchant Marine service and the launch of new South Korean container carrier SM Lines’ transpacific offering.

North America’s largest provider of outsourced container freight station services has acquired Dicom Transportation Group’s Extra Express division for an undisclosed amount, according to a statement from majority owner Wind Point Partners.

The South Carolina Ports Authority will also welcome the largest vessel to ever transit the Panama Canal, the 13,092-TEU COSCO Development, when it calls at the Port of Charleston next week.

International Airlines Group subsidiary IAG Cargo saw revenues slip 2.3 percent year-over-year to 256 million euros (U.S. $278.7 million) in the first quarter of 2017, despite growing cargo volumes 3.6 percent compared with the same 2016 period.

The private equity group, which last year invested in TMS provider Transporeon, has sunk an undisclosed sum into the supply chain design software company.

Ukrainian heavy-lift air carrier Antonov Airlines is preparing its aircraft fleet and expanding cargo sales for future operations in the United States and Hong Kong, the company said.

The Omaha, Neb. transportation and logistics services provider will integrate MacroPoint’s visibility platform into its greater North American logistics solutions offerings.

The Berkshire Hathaway-owned Class I railway increased net revenues 8.8 percent year-over-year during the quarter, reflecting higher volumes and average revenue per car/unit.

Both the Port of Vancouver in British Columbia and the Virginia Port Authority have hosted record-size container vessels at their terminals in recent days.

President Donald Trump said in a recent interview with Bloomberg News he would “certainly consider” raising the federal gas tax, which has not been increased since 1993, but many Republicans have already expressed strong opposition to the idea.

The agreement will enable the global port terminal operator to invest in and develop India’s maritime infrastructure and economic trade zones over the next several years, DP World said in a statement.

The consolidation from four major east-west container carrier alliances to three is designed to improve operational efficiency and profitability for the carriers, but it may also limit service options for shippers and increase total landed costs.

The aircraft lessor and air cargo transportation provider reported net earnings of $10 million on revenues of $237.9 million for the first quarter of 2017.

The Darien, Conn.-based short line and regional railroad operator also released its first quarter 2017 financial results.

The air cargo services provider reported an income from continuing operations, net of taxes, of $0.04 million for the first quarter of 2017, compared to $0.5 million for the corresponding period in 2016.

The European Commission has given the green light for the acquisition of the Netherlands-based Vanderlande by Toyota Group subsidiary Toyota Industries Corp., less than two months after the agreement was announced.

Acquired from AerCap, the Boeing 747-400ERF cargo plane joins two other freighter aircraft in CargoLogicAir’s fleet out of the United Kingdom.