Shipping

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has received 29 ocean transportation intermediary license applications and changes for review.

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has received 29 ocean transportation intermediary license applications and changes for review.

Ocean carriers Maersk Line, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, “K” Line and NYK issued general rate increases.

TNT Express on Friday said it has entered an agreement to sell its airline operations, TNT Airways and Pan Air Líneas Aéreas, to ASL Aviation Group.

Canadian Pacific published a third white paper regarding its proposed acquisition of Norfolk Southern Corp., and the U.S. Surface Transportation Board has begun to receive letters from rail customers in support of the controversial takeover.

A $60 million upfront payment by Ports America and TIL gives the Northern California port limited recourse following their departure from Oakland Harbor Terminal, according to a research note by Fitch Ratings.

Rates from Asia to Northwest Europe and the Mediterranean have dropped for the past five consecutive weeks.

The plummeting dry bulk rates are being blamed on an imbalance of fleet supply and demand, along with stagnant cargo trade resulting from the slowdown in China’s economy since last fall.

XPO Logistics Inc. continued to implement its cost cutting plan at the former Con-way Inc., closing freight terminals in what it described as “remote” locations.

The Overland Park, Kan.-based less-than-truckload holding company more than doubled its full-year operating income in 2015, despite a $28.7 million settlement charge that resulted in a net loss for the fourth quarter.

The Danish supply chain specialist has begun a review of “synergies” and “redundancies” following the close of its $1.35 billion acquisition of struggling third-party logistics provider UTi Worldwide.

The logistics provider and container terminal operator primarily attributed the declines in revenues and EBIT to the economic crisis in Russia and the Ukraine, the slowdown in economic growth in China and ongoing restrictions in the area of infrastructure.

Ocean vessels alone directly exported over 2.1 million metric tons of grain to international ports during the year, 80 percent more than the five-year average for the Lake Superior port.

Tradepoint Atlantic appoints manager of short-line railroad, while Breakthrough Fuel names VP of technology.

The trade ministers of Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States, and Vietnam at a meeting in Auckland on Wednesday signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement.

Gilbert “Gil” Ellzey Carmichael, who held presidential-appointed transportation administration posts in the 1970s, died Jan. 31 at his home in Meridian, Miss.

CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern Railway and Canadian National Railway, along with a handful of passenger railroads, will need until 2020 to implement positive train control, according to the Federal Railroad Administration.

Meanwhile, the intermodal transportation management provider and truck brokerage says it has closed its Hub Group Trucking terminal serving the Los Angeles, Calif. market.

The 19,100-TEU containership CSCL Indian Ocean remains stuck on a sandbank in the River Elbe outside Germany’s Port of Hamburg after a failed rescue attempt at high tide earlier this afternoon.

Net orders for North American Class 8 trucks in January dropped 48 percent year-over-year to 18,062 units, according to preliminary data from freight forecaster FTR Transportation Intelligence.

The asset-light trucking and third-party logistics company’s three operating segments all experienced year-over-year revenue declines in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Multiple strike actions called by both public and private sector unions in response to planned changes to labor and insurance rights, pensions and retirement ages are expected to begin today, according to Inchcape Shipping Services.

The merger of Dacotrans Sweden AB, GH Transport AB and Key Logistics AB into one single unit created a medium-sized freight forwarding and logistics business based in Gothenburg.

The Massachusetts Port Authority has promoted Lisa Wieland from acting port director to port director.

Although domestic container and ISO container volumes increased compared to 2014, trailer volumes declined, according to data from the Intermodal Association of North America.

The newly formed Alaska AeroNexus Alliance is looking to ensure that Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport remains a strong airfreight hub.

Kalmar, a subsidiary of cargo handling machinery maker Cargotec, received an order from the container terminal operator for 27 straddle carriers.

Hub Group names VP of corporate development, while Americold promotes COO to CEO.

A group of stakeholders at the Northern California port that includes cargo owners, terminal operators and labor representatives is exploring ways to measure turn time for drayage truckers as well as considering a possible appointment system.

The third-party logistics provider’s net income increased to $126.58 million despite revenues dropping 4.4 percent to $3.21 billion compared to the fourth quarter of 2014, according to the company’s most recent financial statements.

Construction and congestion issues resulted in fewer ships using shore power at the TraPac Terminal in the Port of Los Angeles, according to Executive Director Gene Seroka.

Employees of the third-party logistics provider have claimed in a letter to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission they were pressured to buy stock in CEVA, which then lost all their value in a restructuring, according to a report from The Loadstar.

The Abu Dhabi-based express carrier, having already completed two deals in January, 2016, says it has plans for further expansion.

The third-party logistics provider posted net sales of 359 billion yen for the nine months ended Dec. 31, 2015 and projects net sales of 480 billion yen for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016.

The Canadian government will provide nearly $2 million Canadian to open a new office in support of the reconstruction and economic recovery of the city of Lac-Megantic, Quebec, which was devastated by an oil train derailment in July, 2013.

Although the Swedish port experienced year-over-year throughput declines for roll-on/roll-off units and containers in 2015, Gothenburg saw a surge in car and oil volumes.

The American Institute for International Steel projects steel import volumes will continue to be weak as a result of a variety of factors such as the deepening slowdown in China, the weak Canadian economy and low oil prices.

A total of 2.3 million tons of dry-bulk cargo, primarily consisting of iron ore, was transported by U.S.-flag Great Lakes freighters on the Great Lakes in January, a 23.1 percent year-over-year decline.

The global third-party logistics provider purchased certain assets in Alfa Logistics and Kronos Logistics.

The Southeast Asian nation has selected the port operator and freight forwarder the Bolloré Group to build and operate the deepwater port at Dili under a public-private partnership agreement.

Japan Airlines awarded a new cargo handling contract to Worldwide Flight Services, the world’s largest airfreight handler, at New York’s JFK International Airport.

The Greenbrier Cos. shuffles CFO position, while CargoTec’s CFO leaves the company in July.

Aviation workers in Brazil and Argentina have walked off the job today at LATAM Airlines Group, arguing for improved work conditions.

Commissioner Rebecca Dye will the lead Federal Maritime Commission effort to develop commercial solutions to supply chain challenges and related port congestion concerns.

WesPac Midstream LLC and Pivotal LLC have established a joint venture to construct the first liquefied natural gas dedicated marine terminal in the world.

Hanjin Shipping, Korea’s largest container carrier, reported a net profit of $6 million in 2015 compared with a loss of $396 million in 2014 despite lower revenues.

Ride-hailing company Lyft settled a lawsuit with its California drivers for over $12 million, while Flower Foods, the bakery responsible for such brands as Wonder Bread, Nature’s Own and Tastykake, is facing 18 lawsuits in multiple states.

The Atlanta, Ga.-based parcel giant posted a net income of $4.8 billion on revenues of $58.4 billion for 2015, a year-over-year increase of 59.8 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively.

Google was recently granted a patent for its “mobile delivery receptacles” for its Project Wing program, while Chinese e-tailer JD.com has begun testing drone deliveries to the more remote rural areas of the country.

The Danish ocean carrier’s weekly service between Colombia and North Europe commenced operations last month with the Jan. 8 sailing of the Antwerp Trader from Turbo.

Lumber Liquidators was sentenced by a federal court in Norfolk, Va., on Monday to pay more than $13.15 million in criminal fines, community service and forfeited assets related to its illegal imports of hardwood flooring.

The Port of Cleveland, via its Cleveland-Europe Express (CEE) container service, will offer shippers ongoing transport to India starting this spring.

FedEx’s $4.8 billion acquisition of Netherlands-based parcel carrier TNT Express still needs approval from China, according to a joint statement from the companies.

The Jordanian airport handled 100,691 tons of cargo in 2015, a 7.3 percent increase from 2014.

Netherlands-based Samskip Logistics took full ownership of German logistics company Züst & Bachmeier (Bremen) GmbH.

Envirotainer, a provider of temperature-controlled air cargo containers, has signed a global master lease contract with Air China Cargo.

Thrutainers International and CaroTrans established a partnership to create an import and export less-than-container-load (LCL) service network between the United States and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Executive Director Chris Lytle says the Port of Oakland is “deeply disappointed” with the action yesterday by Outer Harbor Terminal LLC, a joint venture between Ports America and Terminal Investment Ltd.

   A subsidiary of e-commerce company Amazon recently registered as a foreign-owned non-vessel-operating common carrier with the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission, a move that has sparked further speculation that the online retailer is expanding into the transportation business.    Beijing Century Joyo Courier Service Co., Ltd. filed for registration with the FMC on Nov. 9, 2015, […]

Retail industry faces challenges along entire length of supply chain.

   I’ve been told train spotters and ship enthusiasts are sometimes called “anoraks” in the United Kingdom, after the coats they wear while waiting to snap photos. I could have used a warmer jacket myself on Dec. 31, the day I went over to the Port of Oakland to see the CMA CGM Benjamin Franklin […]

Ship lessor NSB has found a way to increase TEU capacity of its panamax vessels.

Seahorse Shipping hopes to make “jumbo barge carrier” a reality.

   To clarify, the future of the ocean liner industry isn’t here per se, at least not yet, but we may have gotten a glimpse of it at the end of 2015. French ocean carrier CMA CGM recently deployed the largest ship ever to call a U.S. port for test stops at the California ports […]

   This liability case emerged from the theft of a shipment of Sandoz pharmaceuticals in 2008.    Exel, Sandoz’s logistics provider, hired motor carrier Southern Refrigerated Transport (SRT) to transport the shipment, but the drugs were stolen in or near Dickson, Tenn.    Exel and SRT had executed a “Master Transportation Service Agreement” (MTSA).    The MTSA provided […]

The Israeli ocean carrier says changes to its management structure and business groups should make ZIM more agile and attentive to customer needs.

E-commerce giant Amazon.com Inc. referred to itself for the first time as a “transportation service provider” in its annual 10-K report submitted to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

South Korean shipping conglomerate Hyundai Merchant Marine may be looking to sell its subsidiary securities firm, tourism unit, port container terminals, or bulk carriers, according to various media reports.

The large roll-on/roll-off cargo vessel Modern Express has been listing at a dramatic 40 to 50 degrees in the Bay of Biscay and reportedly came within 27 miles of the coast of France.

The temperature-sensitive truckload carrier’s net income for 2015 surged 19.8 percent year-over-year to $35.7 million.

American Roll-on Roll-off Carrier Group will deploy the roll-on/roll-off vessel Aida as the seventh United States-flagged ship in its fleet.

DHL Parcel names new CEO, while CEVA Logistics appoints executive VP in charge of its South America business.

Executive Director Chris Lytle says the Port of Oakland is “deeply disappointed” with the action today by the joint terminal venture between Ports America and TIL, which says the reorganization is part of its “operational wind down” at the port.

Longshoremen at the port returned to work Monday after a wildcat strike employers called “extremely disruptive” to operations and retailers said reminded them of the labor issues this time last year at West Coast ports.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has asked that trucks not be sent to terminals after dockworkers reportedly walked off the job Friday morning.

Although rates from Shanghai to Northwest Europe and the Mediterranean have tumbled for four straight weeks, rates from Shanghai to the United States inched back up from last week.

Meanwhile, the truckload and logistics carrier announced Gary L. Werner will retire from his position as vice chairman and a member of Werner’s board of directors, effective Feb. 12, 2016.

The Houston, Texas-based tank barge operator posted net earnings attributable to Kirby of $226.7 million on consolidated revenues of $2.1 billion for 2015, year-over-year declines of 19.6 percent and 16.3 percent, respectively.

The Czech rail operator will launch a direct intermodal shuttle service between Rotterdam, Netherlands and Poznan, Poland Feb. 1.

The multimodal solutions provider unveiled its new short sea connection between Rotterdam, Netherlands and Gjemnes, Norway.

The Polish Port of Gdansk’s newest storage facility obtained a certificate of occupancy Jan. 15.

“K” Line appoints executive and managing executive officers, while ContainerPort Group names safety and compliance VP.

Japan’s three largest shipping conglomerates, NYK, MOL and “K” Line all saw their bottom line hurt by overcapacity and continued weakness in the container and dry bulk markets.

Chinese ocean carrier COSCON plans to take over the container shipping assets of fellow state-owned conglomerate China Shipping as soon as March 1, according to a filing with the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission.

Norfolk Southern Corp. announced a five-year cost cutting and restructuring plan in an attempt to stave off a hostile takeover by Canadian Pacific Railway, but one Senate Democrat says he wants to stop the potential merger in its tracks.

The French port handled 81.7 million metric tons of cargo in 2015 and expects to handle 83.7 million metric tons of cargo in 2016.

The owners of the Singapore-listed logistics provider Cogent Holdings Ltd. are seeking a buyer for the firm in a deal that could be worth over $280 million, according to reports from the Wall Street Journal.

The Canadian port’s $4.1 million rail spur that opened in May made it possible to move steel that arrived by ship out west.

The international oil shipping services provider posted net profits of $350.1 million on revenues of $846.5 million for 2015.

The hoverboards, which were seized by United States Customs and Border Protection officers in Chicago, Ill., arrived from China via air shipments and ocean containers.

C.H. Robinson has opened a second airfreight screening facility at Carson, Calif., to reduce delays for shippers and improve cargo tracking.

Consolidator Shipco Airfreight has added new offices in Taipei, Taiwan and Qingdao, China.

Port of Longview appoints interim CEO and DP World Group’s CEO retires, while ShipHawk names chief revenue officer and the Port of Houston Authority reappoints commissioner.

Port commissioners have scheduled meetings to discuss the termination of the Outer Harbor Terminal lease agreement and potential plans by port terminal operator TraPac to expand into the vacated facility.

Canadian National Railway reported fourth quarter earnings of C$941 million and full-year profits of C$3.54 billion in 2015, year-over-year increases of 11 percent and 12 percent, respectively, despite a weak rail freight market.

The Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security and the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control have announced further regulatory amendments to expand the types of U.S. goods allowed for export to Cuba.

The number four U.S. railway reported net income fell 29.4 percent as revenues dropped 12 percent from the prior year on lower coal, intermodal and general merchandise volumes in fourth quarter.

The expansion of the important Central American cargo gateway to accommodate larger containerships is 96 percent complete, according to the CEO of the Panama Canal Authority.

The French ocean carrier has doubled the size of its offices on Reunion Island, and plans to make the overseas French department its hub in the Indian Ocean.

The new port, which will be situated just 60 kilometers west of the capital city of Alger, will be equipped with 23 quay berths with an overall quay length of 6,320 meters.