GT Nexus said the U.S. Shippers Association (USSA) will use its supply chain platform. USSA contracts for about 50,000 TEUs of ocean freight per year. Member companies include manufacturing industry leaders such as Air Products, Amcol International, Llyondell-Basell, FMC Corp., Guardian, Phibro, Rhodia, Sekisui, and Solvay. “Our members are all very large, […]
The carrier will build two new tankers at NASSCO’s shipyard in San Diego, but said it’s commitment to build the ships is contingent on approval of a $340 million Title XI loan guarantee from MarAd.
At the request of the United States, the World Trade Organization has established a dispute settlement panel to address China’s imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on U.S. automobiles. The United States is challenging China’s imposition of duties allegedly because U.S. automobiles were subsidized and sold at less than fair value, or “dumped,” […]
BT Global Services has released new cloud-based capabilities for its BT Trace solution, which is designed to help companies manage their complex global supply chains. “Companies with a global supply chain deal with multiple issues, from counterfeiting and shrinkage to product recalls and perishable goods. This is typical for global companies active in […]
Protests continued Monday in Colon, Panama, over a law that allows for the sale of land in the Colon Free Trade Zone, according to the English-news Website Panama Guide. The Associated Press reported Friday that a 10-year-old boy was killed during violent protests in the city, at the Caribbean end of the Panama […]
The U.S. Export-Import Bank has renewed a 12-month export credit insurance policy for Wells Fargo to enable the export of American cotton to Menderes Tekstil Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., a large Turkish textile maker. The bank said the renewal of this policy will sustain jobs at Cordova, Tenn.-based Cargill Cotton and the Carolinas Cotton […]
The U.S. Export-Import Bank entered an agreement with trade credit insurer Coface North America Insurance Co. to provide reinsurance. The bank introduced its reinsurance product two years ago to help U.S. small business exporters obtain short-term export credit. Since then, participating private-sector insurers of export credit are eligible to apply for Ex-Im Bank’s […]
The U.S. Justice Department has intervened in a lawsuit that claims the Houston-based stevedore, Jacintoport International LLC, a division of Seaboard Corp., overcharged for loading food aid cargo.
The U.S. Commerce Department has initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations of hardwood and decorative plywood imports from China.
Liberty Maritime says proposed changes keep U.S.-owned firms out of MSP. By Chris Dupin A New York shipowner says proposed changes in the Maritime Security Program (MSP) would lock in the current participants of the program through 2025, limiting the military and making it more difficult for companies, including his, to compete for contracts […]
“Onshoring is still in its infancy and largely limited to anecdotes. However, the scales are beginning to rebalance for some industries as global conditions evolve,” wrote Michael Dolega, TD Bank’s economist.
RedPrairie Corp., a supply chain and retail technology provider, appointed Gary Conway to executive vice president and chief marketing officer. He will be responsible for RedPrairie’s global marketing strategy, including brand management, customer engagement, product strategy and marketing, and demand. Conway, a 35-year industry veteran, most recently served as executive vice president […]
The World Trade Organization Appellate Body on Thursday found in favor of the United States in a dispute challenging China’s imposition of duties on U.S exports of grain oriented flat-rolled electrical steel (GOES). A WTO panel agreed with the United States that China had acted inconsistently with its WTO obligations in imposing the […]
When wind energy company Iberdrola Renewable completes construction of a North American wind farm, Red Arrow Logistics comes up behind to pick up unused supplies and materials and transports them to the next build site.
RedLine Solutions, a provider of produce tracking solutions, and Junction Solutions, which offers market-specific and on-demand software to the food and beverage and multi-channel retail sectors, are partnering to eliminate the manual link between field labeling and a company’s mainline ERP system. The firms said this will make for an easier and more […]
U.S. Bank, a large volume freight payment provider, plans for continued growth of its transportation business by hiring two new managers. Keith Stopyra joins the bank’s Corporate Payments Systems business as Northeast regional sales manager for transportation payment solutions. Formerly with liner carrier “K” Line, Stopyra brings more than 15 years of experience […]
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is developing a strategic plan for the next 20 years, says Richard M. Larrabee, director of the authority’s Port Commerce Department. At the same time, Larrabee said the country should examine new ways to fund port-related infrastructure such as bridges and roads, noting that improvements […]
ChemLogix, a provider of chemical industry transportation management, technology, and supply chain consulting services, has launched a new freight brokerage service as part of its Capacity Management program. The company’s freight brokerage service was introduced to address capacity shortages currently challenging chemical companies across the United States. ChemLogix said it’s “positioned to assist […]
HID Global, a provider of logistics-oriented radio frequency identification (RFID) tag solutions, was picked by Bodega Norton winery in Argentina to refine its harvesting process. The Irvine, Calif.-based firm, in partnership with system integrator Fundación Ada Byron (FAB), worked with Bodega Norton to develop a solution to replace a cumbersome, outdated tracking system […]
TSC Container Freight, the non-vessel-operating common carrier and freight forwarding arm of The Scoular Co., will enhance its rail service visibility by deploying Descartes Systems Group’s IES Web Tracking solution. In addition, TSC Container Freight has expanded its relationship with Descartes by adopting Descartes’ cloud-based Ocean AMS (Automated Manifest System). “Reliable and cost-effective […]
Accellos, a Colorado Springs, Colo.-based provider of supply chain software, said Accel-KKR has made a “strategic” equity investment in its business. Accel-KKR is a leading technology-focused private equity firm with over $2.3 billion of assets under management. The firm focuses exclusively on middle-market software and technology companies with strong growth profiles. Details of the […]
Canaveral Port Authority said a Civil Works Review Board for the Feasibility Study for Canaveral Harbor on Oct. 3 gave unanimous approval for submission to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Port Canaveral said the project to widen its 400-foot-wide harbor by 100 feet and to deepen it by two feet along its […]
The United States and Israel on Monday signed an agreement to ease burdens on U.S. companies, especially smaller manufacturers, seeking to export telecommunications products to Israel, while maintaining the United States’ high technical standards and facilitating cross-border trade. Under the Mutual Recognition Agreement between the Government of the United States and the Government […]
Aljex Software has integrated TransCore’s DAT Direct into its transportation management system. Aljex customers can now access DAT capabilities directly from Aljex without opening a second application or window, the Middlesex, N.J.-based company said. DAT data can also populate Aljex’s screens and enhance the time-savings of Aljex’s SmartSearch. Integration with DAT Direct […]
The Japanese carrier expects worldwide demand for PCTC transport to “steadily expand” and its four new vessels on order will transit the new Panama Canal locks when operational in the autumn of 2014.
The U.S. Transportation Department said it’s scrapping obsolete ships in the Suisun Bay Reserve Fleet in California at a faster than anticipated pace. In 2010, the Maritime Administration said it would remove 28 ships from the fleet by Sept. 30, 2012. To date, 36 ships have been removed, and three more vessels are […]
The U.S. Transportation Department’s Maritime Administration said it will award $2.36 million to six state maritime schools. MarAd awarded $392,913 each to the California Maritime Academy in Vallejo, Calif.; Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Traverse City, Mich.; Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine; Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay, Mass.; SUNY Maritime College […]
Talks between the International Longshoremen’s Association and U.S. Maritime Alliance on a new labor contract will continue this week with assistance from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS).
Chicago-based law firm Freeborn & Peters LLP has formed a transportation team. The industry-focused group will address the legal needs of companies across the transportation sector, particularly those in the trucking, railroad, logistics and intermodal segments. The team, which includes 13 attorneys, will be led by Cindy Bergmann, a partner in the […]
The U.S. Commerce Department on Thursday reported the country’s exports fell 1 percent in August to $181.3 billion. Imports also declined 0.1 percent to $225.5 billion. Overall, the August U.S. trade deficit increased 4.1 percent from July to $44.2 billion. The Obama administration said a bright spot in the August trade figures […]
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), a shipowner group that says it represents over 80 percent of the world’s merchant fleet, has reiterated its opposition to proposals from the International Salvage Union (ISU) for a new separate award for environmental salvage in cases where salvors have carried out work when a ship or cargo […]
The U.S. Export-Import Bank has authorized a $117.5 million loan guarantee supporting exports of Boeing 737-800 planes to flydubai, a low-cost airline owned by the Dubai government. The bank is guaranteeing a 12-year loan from the Private Export Funding Corp. It is the bank’s first authorization supporting aircraft exports to flydubai. “This […]
Through their new multi-year agreement, both companies will supply and sub-lease containers to and from each other. Matson will also provide rail line-haul services, primarily on the CSX and BNSF railroads, to SynchroNet.
The Commerce Department on Wednesday announced its final determinations affirming Chinese-made solar cell imports are both dumped on the U.S. market and benefit from Chinese government subsidies. Dumping occurs when a foreign company sells a product in the United States at less than its fair value, while countervailable subsidies are financial assistance from foreign governments to […]
Industrial safety specialist Castell Interlocks has developed a data-gathering and analysis solution to maximize loading dock efficiency. Salvo DockMonitor integrates with the company’s Salvo Loading Dock Safety System to display live graphic information running on a PC interface for assessment of overall site performance and individual dock statistics. Castell said the system helps […]
Unisource Logistics Solutions, part of Norcross, Ga.-based Unisource Worldwide, has introduced a new ULS Freight App, now available for Apple and Android devices. The ULS Freight App provides Unisource customers with a mobile tool to handle their logistics requirements, including managing freight calculations and real-time estimates. “With the mobile app, they can […]
Agricultural Transportation Coalition (AgTC) members continue to have concerns about announcements made by many carriers in August and early September that they might impose $800 to $1,000 surcharges.
RedLine Solutions, a provider of fresh produce track and tracing technology, has launched a new Website (http://www.redlineforproduce.com), which features a blog by RedLine’s leadership, education Webcasts, how-to videos, and information on Produce Traceability Initiative (PTI) solutions offered by the firm. “Our new Website is extremely user friendly and packed with information,” said Todd […]
INTTRA on Tuesday released its Shipping Application Delivery Platform for rapid integration and deployment of individual applications of solutions in existing logistics, transportation management or ERP systems. “Now shippers and software providers for the shipping industry can quickly and economically embed INTTRA’s capabilities to extend and enhance their own shipping solutions,” the company said. […]
The U.S. Justice Department has charged a Customs and Border Protection officer, his girlfriend and an associate in Brownsville, Texas, for engaging in a multi-year bribery and alien smuggling operation along the U.S./Mexico border. The indictment, which was unsealed Friday in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Texas, charged CBP Officer […]
The research firm forecasts continued growth in perishable reefer cargo for 2012, and said “beyond that, population growth levels and GDP levels will see trade increase at an average rate of over 4 percent a year to 2016.”
PeopleNet, a provider of onboard computing and mobile communications systems for fleet management, said trucking company J.B. Hunt Transport Services has picked it for fleet-wide EOBR (electronic onboard recorder) and onboard computing needs. “PeopleNet will help us more easily comply with regulations and advance our commitment to safely sharing the roads with the […]
Next Generation Logistics, a developer of transportation management software and supply chain consulting services, and Data Masons Software, a provider of EDI and XML solutions, entered a technology partnership. Next Generation selected Data Masons’ Vantage Point EDI (electronic-data-interchange) solution to complement the capabilities of its FreightMaster TMS and Dynamics TMS software. “When […]
The U.S. International Trade Commission has started an investigation into the global competitiveness of the U.S. commercial olive oil industry. The investigation, “Olive Oil: Conditions of Competition between U.S. and Major Foreign Supplier Industries,” was requested by the House Ways and Means Committee in a letter received by the ITC on Sept. 12. […]
The U.S. Export-Import Bank is scheduled to hold a series of trade finance seminars in cities throughout Vietnam, one of the bank’s nine key markets, from Oct. 10-16 as part of a “roadshow” designed to boost U.S. exports to the region. The half-day seminars, organized in conjunction with the American Chambers of Commerce […]
IBM has introduced a new version of its inventory optimization solution – ILOG Inventory and Product Flow Analyst (IPFA). The latest version of this product, part of IBM’s Smarter Commerce initiative, includes a new simulation capability, enabling companies to more efficiently analyze safety stock levels to ensure forecasted inventory levels will meet customer […]
East Coast Warehouse & Distribution Corp. has opened an expanded non-intrusive (NII) inspection facility located in Elizabeth, N.J. at its comprehensive examination station. The 14-acre facility is located adacent to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s terminals in Port Elizabeth and Port Newark, and will be operated through a division known […]
The Citrus Growers Association of South Africa’s CEO said the plan by Maersk and sister company Safmarine to raise reefer rates $1,500 per 40-foot container is “overzealous” and “flawed.”
The Produce Marketing Association (PMA) and Western Growers have created a collaboration that will initially focus the two organizations’ resources on fresh produce food safety. Per a partnership agreement, the two groups will work together on “a joint mission of protecting public health and the industry, by ensuring food safety standards are effectively […]
The water levels on the Great Lakes have begun their seasonal decline, so the impacts of the dredging crisis will become even more pronounced in the fourth quarter, warned the Great Lakes Maritime Task Force.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in partnership with international regulatory and law enforcement agencies, took action this week against more than 4,100 Internet pharmacies that illegally sell potentially dangerous, unapproved drugs to consumers. The actions taken include civil and criminal charges, seizure of illegal products, and removal of the Websites. This […]
Drewry Maritime Research said some ship operating costs retreated in 2012, falling by up to 7 percent from 2011 levels, a year when operating costs rose 2 percent to 5 percent depending on vessel sector.
The New Zealand government and the Greek owner of the containership Rena reached a comprehensive financial settlement in respect to matters arising from the ship’s grounding on Oct. 5, 2011.
As part of the deal, the short line operator entered into a new five-year senior secured credit facility comprised of a $1.875 billion term loan and $425 million revolving credit facility.
ICS said shipowners worry about the sufficient availability of low-sulfur fuel to allow ships to comply with the strict IMO regulations on sulfur emissions and potential rising costs.
Eric Sisco, president of APM Terminals America, said the company’s proposal to lease and operate the Virginia Port Authority (VPA) facilities could free up cash for other transportation projects in the state. In a letter to municipal and county officials, APMT said its proposal would transfer ownership of its APM Terminal in Portsmouth to the […]
Joaquín Almunia, vice president of the European Commission responsible for competition policy, said during a speech in Nicosia, Cyprus, there is a “need to keep an eye on deals that would increase concentration in already concentrated markets.”
The Commerce Department said Chinese manufactured stainless steel sinks are being dumped on the U.S. market. Dumping occurs when a foreign company sells a product in the United States at less than fair value. The petitioner for the Commerce investigation is Elkay Manufacturing Co. in Illinois. Commerce preliminarily determined on Sept. 28 that […]
The U.S. Export-Import Bank authorized a $118 million direct loan to the Vietnamese government for the export of a Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. telecommunications satellite and additional goods and services. The loan, which represents Ex-Im Bank’s first satellite transaction with Vietnam, supported about 525 American jobs, according to Lockheed Martin estimates, and […]
UPS said its annual “Change in the (Supply) Chain” survey of executives in the U.S. high-tech and electronics industry are more confident about the future of global trade and U.S. exports than two years ago. “Citing legislative changes and rising labor rates abroad as factors, 85 percent of U.S. high-tech executives believe the Obama […]
Peregrine Storrs-Fox, TT Club’s risk management director, said “further delay in this modest legal change is frustrating, particularly since there was substantial consensus concerning acceptable ways to ensure that weight declarations are accurate.”
California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill that the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association said will enhance pilot safety in San Francisco Bay and its river system as well as Monterey Bay. PMSA said Senate Bill 1408 “requires enhanced safety and accountability in the state’s oversight of its licensed bar pilots…. Among other basic […]
Researchers warn unexploded bombs and other military ordnance in the Gulf of Mexico, as well as off the coasts of both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, could now pose serious threats to shipping and oil and gas rigs in the Gulf.
U.S. Federal Maritime Commission Reports, final decisions or orders made by the commission and its predecessor agencies between 1919 and 1987 are now available to the public through the FMC’s online Electronic Reading Room. Originally compiled in 28 volumes, these decisions are no longer in publication or widely available. With the addition of these […]
Coalition wants legislation that “would allow more balanced commercial relationships between railways and shippers. This would include the right to a service agreement between a rail company and a customer,” backed by a dispute settlement mechanism.
The American Institute of Marine Insurance will offer presentations on a wide variety of topics at its annual Marine Insurance Day seminar next month, and is offering the ability for the first time to view the presentations remotely. The Oct. 5 event will be held in New York and will include a half […]
Regulatory agencies of the two countries signed an antitrust memorandum of understanding on Thursday to promote increased cooperation and communication. The MOU does not change existing law in either country.
The United States and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Thursday signed a Framework Agreement for Trade, Economic, Investment and Technical Cooperation. The agreement will establish a Joint Committee to discuss areas where both the GCC and United States share mutual interests, including opportunities for enhancing economic, commercial, investment and technical cooperation, increasing the […]
The United States is undergoing the biggest fundamental change to its export control regime in a generation, but risks stalling and losing out on the much needed reform benefits for American shippers. Many of the country’s export controls were formulated more than 30 years ago when the United States and its allies were […]
“A number of our customers use GT Nexus as their core supply chain operating platform and we are able to support them by being a certified carrier on that network,” said Danny Danford, head of e-Business Integration Solutions at Maersk.
A working group reached a compromise and recommended that the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention be amended to require that loaded container weights be verified, but was “derailed” by some IMO members
Countering U.S. claims, a review of U.S. efforts to comply with a World Trade Organization ruling on illegal subsidies in the so-called “Boeing case” by the European Union found the United States has not lived up to its obligations, the European Commission said Tuesday. The commission has therefore decided to challenge the alleged U.S. non-compliance […]
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has received 25 ocean transportation intermediary license applications and changes for review.
FMC reviews 25 OTI license applications
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has received 25 ocean transportation intermediary license applications and changes for review. The FMC received non-vessel-operating common carrier license applications from ASC Global Logistics, Gardena, Calif. (Suwon Song, chief executive officer); Cargoworld Express, Houston (Ho-Leung Tse, managing member); D&P Wholesale & Distributors, Santa Ana, Calif. (Thanh V. Phung, […]
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has received 25 ocean transportation intermediary license applications and changes for review.
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has received 25 license applications and changes for review. The FMC received non-vessel-operating common carrier license applications from AB Group Shipping Corp., Miami (Marcela A. Prado, president); IP Logistics, Azusa, Calif. (Kenny Yip, vice president); Seastar International Group, Bridgewater, N.J. (Ying Zhao, president); Seven Seas Spirit, North Miami, Fla. […]
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has received 25 ocean transportation intermediary license applications and changes for review. The FMC received non-vessel-operating common carrier license applications from Advance Container Line, New York (Chris X. Chou, president); Cheryl G. Wilson, Des Moines, Wash. (Cheryl G. Wilson, sole proprietor); H.A.B. International, Miami (Harold A. Beharry, […]
FMC reviews 25 OTI license applications
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has received 25 ocean transportation intermediary license applications and changes for review.
The agency has received 25 ocean transportation intermediary license applications and changes.
The U.S. government on Monday removed Israel from the Special 301 Priority Watch List for improving its intellectual property rights (IPR) protections. “Israel’s action reflects the commitment of both the United States and Israel to providing transparent, efficient and effective patent systems for innovative and generic medicine producers,” said U.S. Trade Representative Ron […]
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said it will review Atlantic City International Airport and possible assumption of the airport as a way to expand the region’s flight capacity. The authority’s board of commissioners on Thursday authorized spending up to $3 million to review the financial, legal, environmental and business […]
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has appealed an order by a New York State judge to provide a New York state assemblywoman with a study of how bridge toll increases will affect the New York Container Terminal on Staten Island. Fares on the Goethals, Outerbridge and Bayonne bridges, which connect Staten […]
Japanese freight forwarder Yamato Global Logistics Japan Co. Ltd. has agreed to plead guilty and pay a $2.3 million criminal fine for its role in a conspiracy to fix certain fees related to air cargo services from Japan to the United States, the U.S. Justice Department announced Wednesday. As a result of the […]
If a strike by the ILA or a lockout by employers occurs after the current contract expires, President Obama could use provisions within the Taft-Hartley Act to declare a national emergency and return the longshoremen and employers to the bargaining table.
The U.S. Export-Import Bank authorized credit insurance to support the export by Air Tractor Inc. of nearly $900,000 worth of American-made crop-spraying aircraft to a biofuel and soybean grower in Brazil. This bank-supported export sale is the 20th of about 40 similar deals expected to benefit Air Tractor this year. The total body […]
The United States will contribute $1 million for trade-related technical assistance (TRTA) to the World Trade Organization. The WTO’s TRTA program provides training for developing countries to improve their ability to analyze issues, assess their interests and participate in the negotiations and other WTO activities. The program also provides these nations with help […]
“Based on publicly available documents, ‘export bases’ made at least $1 billion in subsidies available to auto and auto-parts exporters in China during the years 2009 through 2011,” the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said.
The International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) opened its annual meeting on Monday in San Diego with speakers cautioning the industry continues to face difficult times and warning insurance rates may rise. “Looking around us, the marine insurance industry is facing a pretty bleak ‘present’ with some old and well established – and […]
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday set an increase in the biodiesel required under the Renewable Fuels Standard from 1 billion gallons in 2012 to 1.28 billion gallons next year. Bio-based diesel products are derived from a variety of sources that includes grains, vegetable oils and wastes oils. “This action, which […]
The U.S. Commerce Department said 2011 merchandise exports from 367 U.S. metropolitan areas reached $1.31 trillion, with the same types of exports from non-metropolitan or rural areas totaling an additional $174.9 billion.
The U.S. government on Friday entered a memorandum of understanding with Brazil’s Micro and Small Business Support Service, the U.S. Association of Small Business Development Centers, and the University of Texas at San Antonio’s Institute for Economic Development to promote greater cooperation among small businesses in the two countries. In specific, the MOU […]
An ship formerly used by NASA to recover solid rocket boosters from the Space Shuttle will become the new training ship at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Maritime Administrator David Matsuda toured the Liberty Star on Friday as the ship was displayed to academy […]
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.”
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
